This was weirdly exciting and depressing at the same time :)

What are the chances in trying to go for a non-STEM Masters/PhD (or higher studies in general) in Norway (or one of "those" countries) after studying E for UG and then working in E for more than a decade (in the third world) and having no other experience at all? Or anywhere for that matter? Is there a way to go about it? (Now, this might sound entitled, and I apologise if it does, but without having to pay (at least) tuition for that higher education)

And, depending on how far north you go, should be taken seriously. In Iceland, out of my exchange students cohort of ~10, once the winter hit, one had to escape home and two were hospitalised after too much drinking. It can be a really tough experience, especially when you don't have close friends/family to contact and lose track of time.

I expect I'd be fine with this because I don't normally interact much with sunlight, the windows in my home have the blinds down 24/7, etc. But you can't really tell for sure without trying it.

Don't forget to bring your rain gear!

Not sure that is a perk. In EU (not sure about this exact offer in Norway) to get ANY money out of pension, you have to work like 30 years at the very same country (not EU). But it is mandatory social insurance (tax) of 10% to 40% of your income.

Quite far from the truth.

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/retire-abroad/sta...

Eligibility periods

In some EU countries, you must have worked for a minimum period of time to be entitled to a pension.

In such cases, the pension authority has to take into account all the periods you've worked in other EU countries, as if you'd been working in that country all along, to assess whether you're entitled to a pension (principle of aggregation of periods).

How your pension is calculated

Pension authorities in each EU country you've worked in will look at the contributions you've paid into their system, how much you've paid in other countries, and for how long you've worked in different countries.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Pension_Fund_of_Nor...

But that is what I am talking about! Maybe you get something, maybe not! And nobody knows if Norway will be in EU in 30 years from now!

This is not a stake where you get 10% share of your pension, for working there 3 years (10% of 30 years), but very vague promise.

> all the periods you've worked in other EU countries

What if I worked OUTSIDE of EU? I worked 15 years in Norway, than moved back to US.... Now I am freeloader and get NOTHING!!!

I don't know the specific case of the US and Norway, but some EU countries have extra bilateral agreements with non-EU countries. Italy for example has agreements with countries all around the world (among them the U.S.).

If you are worried that you may not get your money in 30 years, other agreements give the person going back to his home country the right to get back the money that he gave to the pension fund (this include the U.S.).

Now, this depends on the country, but I wouldn't discount the destination without checking first.

I am not worried. I am saying there is no contract that says you get X in N years! Maybe that maybe something, but it is very vague promise.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/freeload...

a person who uses money, food, a room in a house, etc. given by other people, but who gives nothing to them in exchange

Read laws, locals who only worked 15 years are also not entitled!

Ok then.

You wrote that in the European Union (nothing to do with Norway) you don’t get ANY (your uppercase) money if you don’t work « like 30 years » at the « very same » country. If you don’t stand by what your wrote so much better because it was false.

In fact it is similar in many countries (i.e. UK) where there is a minimum period required to get anything

This is not my experience (close friend in a flyover state makes 55k), so I googled and found this website: https://postdocsalaries.com/results

55k looks to be well within the normal range of American postdoc salaries.

More power to pure academics who don't pursue money or fame, and instead make an impact.