To Tromsø She Goes!

Greetings from the North...the waaayyy North! Tromsø, Norway, to be exact.

Yesterday was my first solo travel excursion from Lillehammer to Tromsø....and it was exhilarating, slightly terrifying (actually, just the preparations and the prerequisite period of worrying about it was the terrifying: the actual experience was about as smooth as it could have possibly been!) and wonderful! Hanna and I took the train from Lillehammer to Oslo together, as we were the only two of our American crew that were not setting off for Stockholm this weekend, so we opted to do some travelling during the daylight hours.

After we said goodbye, I was on my own to navigate the airport and make sure I was in the right place at the right time, while she road on further to catch her bus. The funny thing was, I got all of 100 yards away from the train when I found someone I know: one of our fellow international students at HiL was dropping his girlfriend off after her visit, so we spent a bit of time chatting and those few moments with a familiar face calmed my nerves and then I was good to go! Found my gate and ended up waiting, waiting, waiting (I was NOT going to risk any travel mishaps, so I made it to the airport nearly three hours prior to my flight. Probably not necessary, but whatever!). Once on the plane, I made a friend in my seat neighbors: a young mother and her two year old son who were flying home to Tromsø after spending some time in Oslo. It was so refreshing to chat with her, to ask questions, share my experience....what a gem of a family!

And what, exactly, am I doing in Tromsø, you might ask? I am here visiting the Elvemo family, who I know from my time at camp...first from doing a day camp three summers ago just prior to their moving to Norway and then again from our week at Family Camp together this past August. We had spoken briefly about the possibility of a visit during my time in Norway, and I was way excited at the thought of making the trek north, but what really set my determination was what Jonas (the seven year old boy) told me when we said goodbye this summer: ``Next time I see you, you will be at MY house!``

Here I am! What a treat to be among friends, to challenge myself to travel alone, to hang out with some wonderful kids and play and laugh for three days! I am humbled by the radical hospitality that they have shown...from picking me up at the airport, to greeting me with food and conversation, a bed with sheets (Don`t laugh-this is actually a big big deal for me! Our flats only have duvet covers and a fitted sheet and for a girl who LOVES the combination of sheets, blankets and a comforter, it has been a bit of an adjustment! But I digress.)

As I write this, I`m sitting, sipping a cup of coffee (again), listening to the wind bow through the trees and pondering all that the day will hold! I was up early to say hello to the kidders before they headed off to school for the day. Kamilla, Jonas, Sigrid and I were all very excited to be reunited! Darin and Ann Christin told me last night that yesterday at daycare four year old Sigrid announced that: ``America is coming for a visit!`` Amidst a breakfast of giggles and conversation and trying to get everyone out the door on time, I found myself so content...to be among friends, to hang out with some of my favorite kids, to have some independent experiences to share with my group when we all come back to Lillehammer on Monday morning-what a neat thing!

In a couple hours, Kamilla and I will be headed into town to show me around and walk a bit, have a treat and catch up! It is such a treat that she is done with school early today, Ann Christin and Darin are off this weekend, and I get to be a part of their lives for a few days! Tales of the weekend will be coming shortly!

Love from Tromsø!

Reflections on a lazy Thursday afternoon...

Hei hei!
Jeg heter Laura og jeg kommer fra Minnesota, men nå bor jeg i Lillehammer! Jeg drikker kaffe og skriver et blogginnlegg til dere. Jeg laere norsk og jeg snakke litt norsk nå. Jeg har det bra! 

Translation: 
Hi hi!
My name is Laura and I come from Minnesota, but now I live in Lillehamme! I am drinking coffee and writing a blog post for all of you! I am studying Norwegian and now I can speak a little bit Norweigian. I have it pretty good!


As you can see, life is really really good. I'm sitting here in Størhove, our little flat, sipping a cup of coffee (mmm, typical Laura behavior), watching the snow fall outside my window, listening to Mumford & Sons, and marveling at how wonderful everything is at this particular moment. Ahh...


The past week has been quite lovely! Last weekend, all of the international students from HiL (our college) packed up for a weekend in the mountains. Wilderness time was so welcome! We spent the weekend with the other international students and our Norwegian buddies chatting, playing outside, and getting to know each other better, which was fantastic. The lodge we stayed at was out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful mountains...it was awe-inspiring and I felt so small in comparison!


When we got back on Sunday afternoon, Courtney (one of my lovely roomies) and I got creative and started baking with what we had at our disposal! What do you get when you mix five apples, a pear, half a jar of strawberry jam, granola, sugar, flour & cinnamon together? Answer: pure deliciousness! We've gotten quite handy in our baking skills, paricularly in terms of our innovative skills for using what's available! Sunday night concluded with a group meal at Joy's (our trip advisor) flat: chili, cornbread and our apple(pear)crisp! Mmm...a very midwestern meal & an altogether wonderful way to wrap up a great weekend!


Monday morning brought in Valentine's Day...and a sweet surprise! Our lovely male roommates, Erik & Dave, left Emma, Courtney & I a lovely Valentine's Day card and candy, which we found when we woke up on Monday morning! Awww~it made us really happy! These guys know how to make us girls smile! The rest of our day of love was spent in class, followed up by a trip to town for some grocery shopping (read: chocolate), candelit applecrisp eating, family photos AND some travel planning. Which leads me to some VERY exciting news....


I booked a flight to Tromso, Norway (wwwwaaaaaayyyyy North~up past the Arctic circle) to go see some dear friends next weekend! My first solo excursion...uffda! I'm super excited to see Darin, Ann Christin, Kamilla, Jonas & Sigrid, a family I've known through various camp experiences for a few years now. So, next Thursday, I'll deviate from the rest of the group (who will be spending our long weekend in Stockholm, Sweden...kinda jealous!), and set out on what's going to be a slightly terrifying/exhilerating experience of travelling on my own!


And the rest of the week has been equally wonderful! We're in the process of making plans for a weekend trip to London in March, as well as planning our respective Spring Break trips. As of now, Al, Emma, Courtney, Dave & I are tentitively planning on France, Spain, and either Italy, Ireland, or Austria. Sounds good to me! Along with all of the excitement of travel planning, it just feels good to be established here~to come back to our flats after a weekend away made me realize just how quickly this place has become comfortable. I am so blessed to  live with such great people (our flat has so much fun together! It's kinda ridiculous how much we like each other.), and beyond that, I feel so fortunate to be able to soak in this experience: I'm not super busy, so I have time to devote to learning Norwegian, to discuss our classes and the cultural differences we're encountering, to spend a random Wednesday afternoon strolling through downtown Lillehammer. What a refreshing change of pace; I think it's good for me.


Prayers & peace~L.

The Prettiest Girl in Lillehammer....

Last April, I made a new friend. His name is Lyle.
Our first exchange was based around the subject of socks~and the fact that I was just wearing sandals. He was worried about my feet being cold. I explained that I was celebrating the first day of spring by setting my feet free. What a silly, beautiful way to make a friend.
Lyle is an older man from Moorhead, a retired pastor who now attends Trinity, frequents my favorite coffeeshop, Moxi Java, and is a regular at chapel. Through all of our encounters in the last year, Lyle has become my adoptive grandpa.

Lyle is one of those unexpected blessings who has absolutely changed my life. He is full of wisdom and wit, great life advice, and he always leaves me with thoughts to ponder. He always leaves me with a smile, and reminds me of the power that a smile has-a smile is like sunshine.

As I was preparing for Norway, I spent a few weeks in Moorhead, just spending time hanging out with friends, working at Trinity, dancing at the studio. During one of these days, I was at chapel and I ran into Lyle. We exhanged updates on life and we talked about my upcoming journey. He proceeded to tell me this story (as told from his perspective):

When my mother was younger, her neighbor always came over for tea. Her neighbor was an elderly woman from Lillehammer who loved her dog, getting on in years & was lonely. So my mother had her & her little dog over for tea & coffee everyday. This little old lady would tell stories of her time in Lillehammer as a young lady, and everday she would end her story with  "...and I was the prettiest girl in Lillehammer!"

Every time Lyle told me this story, he would smile and tell me that it was my turn to be the prettiest girl in Lillehammer...ahh, fer cute! And so far from the truth--Norweigians are the most beautiful people in world (except perhaps the Icelandic people)!

But Lyle's story makes my heart smile. And like all of his stories, it's made me think. My advisor at Concordia has a saying about stories that has hit close to home as I pondered this tale from Lyle: "I believe stories are true. Some of them actually happened, but all of them are true." This woman was indeed the prettiest girl in Lillehammer. True story.

And now it's my turn. To soak up the beauty that surrounds me (mountains surrounding me, majestic pines leading our eyes heavenward, crisp air rejeuvinating me as I walk to class or stoll through town). To absorb the sheer awesomeness of this experience in the people I'm traveling with and the people I've met. To learn about and question my place in the world. There is beauty here. And there's something truly beautiful about knowing that there are people at home-people like my friend Lyle-who are sending love my way and supporting me all the way.

The day I left Moorhead, Lyle gave me a present: a little. gold address book embossed with the Concordia seal: "So you always remember where you come from, even when you are the prettiest girl in Lillehammer."

It's not about being drop dead gorgeous or thin or stylish. It's about being open to laughter, to love, to knowledge and wisdom that comes from the people you encounter on a daily basis. That's what makes us all--you, me & everyone else--the prettiest person from wherever we are. How very cool.

Love from the prettiest girl in Lillehammer.

Books & Babble

Setting off on this adventure, I realized that my church life was going to look much different than it does at home. My communities were going to be drastically altered, and there would have to be some adjustment. Living in a country where less than 3% of the population goes to church is vastly different than my upbringing in the Midwest. Not a bad different, just different. Anyhoo, as I was preparing, I sent out a plea for books to sustain me in my travels...and I have quite the supply! Thanks friends!

A slight tangent (since I never ever tangent when I speak, right friends?! Ha): At Extravaganza, one of the keynote speakers was Enuma Okoro, author of Reluctant Pilgrim (one of the books I've already finished & which I highly recommend!). Her words have given me lots to ponder as I’ve embarked on this journey. She started her message by referencing her title: “I am a reluctant pilgrim. Always on the journey.” Starting out on this adventure, I struggled to let myself really allow that it was okay to go away for three months. Leaving my friends, family, relationships. Taking a hiatus from my ordered, crazy busy world…I am a reluctant pilgrim of sorts. It was tough. And when I stop soaking in the gorgeous scenery, meeting other international students, hanging out with the rest of the Concordia/Luther crew…it’s still tough. There’s a part of me that is starting to miss the comfort of my schedule, being constantly surrounded by people who know me, can read my face, get my weird-not-always-super funny attempt at humor, people who call me out when I’m clearly not speaking my mind...but that’s because what’s back home is comfortable, familiar…never easy or mindless, but it’s mine. In that sense, I am a reluctant pilgrim.

And I most certainly am on the journey of a lifetime! Despite any pangs for the familiar, I am totally and completely soaking up these people, these experiences, these classes: This is the opportunity to let go and do something different. A journey to greater independence, confidence, communication skills…the list goes on.

Throughout last fall, I had several conversations (usually over coffee) with some dear friends regarding this pilgrimage. Advice, wisdom & love was present in all of these convos, but in particular, these few stick out as gems that have sustained me in my preparation & my travels.

Early in November, I sat with one of you in Moxi. As we were sipping on our respective  peppermint mocha & hot chocolate, I started rambling on about how I wasn’t ready to leave, to abandon my life when things were just sooo good; questioning what sort of insanity had possessed me to sign up for this thing anyway. And he stopped me and reminded me that there is real beauty in leaving when things are great-making it all the more exciting to return! And he did so by citing one of my favorite movies “You know, you don’t need to go all The Holiday and leave the country only when men are being stupid. You’re allowed to go when things are good, you know?” The way he said it, accompanied by the teasing, compassionate tone reminded me that this really is okay—doing something that is truly focused on me for a change…something I had never thought about before.

Another bit of wisdom came in the form of a text, something that was said regarding something completely other than Norway. All it said is “Take a risk.” I don’t do this. I don’t risk—I am a completely safe, naïve, straight & narrow kinda girl…but this study abroad program is a HUGE risk. A leap of faith. A pilgrimage. Journey’s never are without risk, never without some sort of unexpected blessing & challenge. New people, new school, new country, learning a new language~uff da! There’s a risk for you!

And the Sunday afternoon before I left, I sat with one of my dearest friends & mentors in the Hyatt Regancy atrium chairs, finally allowing myself to grieve the leaving, express anxieties about all these new experiences that lay ahead. Not so much the words that she said, but the listening ear, the friendly presence, and the hug she gave me when we finished talking…that made all the difference. To hear a still, small voice, a gentle whisper remind me as we hugged that it would be okay, that she’d be thinking of me, sending me love, reassuring that God would go with me…that fifteen minute conversation was such a blessing.

Thank you friends. For your love & reassurance. For letting me ramble and babble….for being genuinely curious as to what I’ve been up to! You are so wonderful and I am so incredibly thankful for each of you and the role you play in my life. Love you much!

Prayers & Peace~L.

Home Sweet Lillehammer!

Here I am, snuggled up for the evening in my lovely little flat. Home sweet home!

Two days ago, I finally got a chance to put sights, sounds, smells to the place that will be home for the next few months. The ten of us Americans represent one third of all of the international at the University here in Lillehammer, the others of whom we met yesterday morning~right before we began our first day of classes! More on that later though…

We are staying in two little flats in one of the student housing developments here in town. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living area & a kitchen make for a pretty simple layout for our little apartment. We’ve had to get a little creative to make it our own, but we’ve done a pretty good job of settling in, complete with grocery shopping, having some “family time,” arranging bedrooms & unpacking. I know, oh for cute! Emma, Courtney & myself are the ladies of the house, with the resident guys being Erik and David. It is a really healthy group~lots of wit, humor & personality, which makes for a really fun, lovely atmosphere.

The first day of classes approached quickly after having had a month and a half off…kind of a rude awakening! But thankfully, it seems like we have a good mix of courses that will be interesting and keep us busy! All of us Americans are taking the same set of classes, which include culture & history, Norwegian language, a Scandinavian food course, and Legacy of Luther (which includes an overview of Islam as well). I’m super excited to learn about this place that is home for the next few months, as well as to gain at least a bit of survival Norwegian to avoid my wide-eyed, “ahhh, I don’t understand” face as often as possible. And most of you know, I’m a Luther lover…so that’s what I’m reeeallly looking forward to! Pretty diverse areas of study, some of which will contribute to my major progress, some that will just be fascinating to soak in the information (and then sit a four hour exam come April…eeek!).

Overall, I’m feeling good. It’s so nice to be settled and to know that I’m not going anywhere for the next few months~particulary when you factor in the fact that since December 17^th, I have moved out of my apartment in Moorhead, moved home, been back and forth between Esko and Moorhead three times, staying at various friends houses & being their resident “futon creature” for a few days at a time, took a jaunt to Kansas City, Missouri for the Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza (Such a fantastic weekend! So many great people in one place!), spent a layover-length time period back in F-M saying a few final farewells, then headed home to Esko…and two days later I was flying to Iceland. Whew. Constantly in motion, never in one place for more than a few days…so it feels fantastic to be able to just be home in our little flat.

Home. How bizzare, huh? But here I sit, surrounded by friends, and life is good!

Peace to you dear friends~L.