It was 20 years ago, so a lot of things I don't remember the details of anymore. Often it is more like you are left with an impression. I could be watching people doing construction work on houses with a lot less safety procedures and equipment than I am used to seeing.

But with manual stuff I noticed e.g. a lot of money related issues. Much more cash and cheques usage. We use more cards. I saw several times manual car wash. Never in my life seen that in Norway. In New York I remember seeing parking being handled with a guy taking payment rather than using a machine to write out tickets.

Generally a lot more paperwork in the US. Dealing with health care, government or anything is usually a lot more forms and papers to fill out. We do most of that electronic. E.g. tax returns an pill subscriptions are electronic in Norway. I don't know what it is like in the US today, but 20 years ago it was definitely not in the US.

A lot of stuff isn't necessarily automated in Norway, it simply doesn't exist. You got bag packers in the US in the groccery store. Never in Norway. At airports there are a lot more people directing you where to go in the US. In Norway it is primarily sign based. I rember at a fine restaurant in the US in the late 90s, they had people turning on tap water and giving me towels. Pretty useless job.

A lot of bag carriers everywhere. At airports, hotels etc. We would normally just give you suitable equiment to move your luggage easily. Not a whole person to do it.

Safety focus is not as prevalent as in Norway. You don't have seatbelts on public transportation, special seats for small children, in busses or in cabs.