Hello dear friends and family,
Hei fra Norge! I arrived in Tromsø last week, and am finally getting around to setting up my blog. So many of you have been in my thoughts, so I hope this is a way that I can share parts of my experience here with all of you. I’ll do my best to chronicle what I’m up to and post pictures on here as well.
I had no idea what to expect upon my arrival – I came into this utterly unprepared and with very few expectations other than to be surprised. I know that my lack of preparation was in some ways regrettable, but also allowed me to be a blank slate upon my entrance into Norwegian life. I was absolutely awed by the beauty of the island. I was somewhat like a small child on the plane ride from Oslo to Tromsø; my face was glued to the window as we were landing and I could barely keep my jaw out of my lap. Simply put, Tromsø is breathtakingly beautiful. The island is ringed by the snow-capped mountains and surrounded by glistening fjords. Add in the cute, colorful houses and picturesque bridges that connect the island with the mainland and Kvaløya, the next island to the west, and you have a scene that at times seems unreal to me. I walk to work or look out my window and think to myself, “I can’t really be living here.” We’ve had excellent weather since my arrival – clear, sunny skies and warm temperatures. It’s safe to say that the natural beauty of Tromsø has far exceeded anything I could have anticipated, and I’m really looking forward to exploring it more as I settle in and using the endless hours of daylight to explore hiking trails in the area.
One of the main purposes of the Fulbright program is to foster cross cultural exchange between the US and other nations. I feel as though I have already begun to do this in earnest, as the University of Tromsø hosts many international students and faculty. My lab group has Norwegians and Germans, and the department hosts scholars from India, Armenia, Russia, the United States, Scandinavia, and many European nations. My flat mates are from Pakistan and Russia, and this international presence will only increase as students return to campus for classes in the fall. I love the diverse perspectives and experiences that my international colleagues have to offer, and I know that I am gaining so much from talking with them. It feels like a dozen different languages are constantly swirling around me, with people often asking and responding to questions in two to three different languages. I am less able to engage in this poly-lingual exchange, but hope to in the future as I will start Norwegian classes in August.
I was a bit nervous about how I would relate to the stereotypical Norwegian personality. Coming from the US, I wear my emotions on my sleeve and can have a boisterous personality – in direct contrast to the stereotypically reserved and even-keeled Norwegian. But in my initial interactions with Norwegians they have been kind, generous, welcoming and excited to talk about and share their beautiful country with me. It is evident that they are very proud of being Norwegian, and feel a strong sense of personal pride when talking about their city and the beauty of the surrounding land.
This week has been a period of intense interpersonal interactions and near constant observation and sensory input, but it’s also been an important time for personal reflection. I’ve had a great deal of time to contemplate what I hope to gain from this experience, and reflect on how the last four years at St. Olaf directed my growth as an individual. I am proud to say that four years ago, or even two years ago, I probably couldn’t have picked up and moved to a foreign country by myself. I am grateful for the sense of self-sufficiency that I’ve gained, and am enjoying my new independent living situation. It can be a bit daunting at times to think of finding an entirely new support system here, but at the same time very exciting. The possibilities are endless.
The past few days have been a whirlwind, I’ve only barely been here a week but it feels like so much longer as so much has happened already. Even though my first few days have been wonderful, I have so much to look forward to and so many exciting things coming up. We depart for our field season in Finnmark, the northern most county in Norway (yes, believe it or not you can go farther north than Tromsø), in a few weeks. I am really looking forward to our research and for the opportunity to visit this remote area of Northern Norway. I’ve heard our destination is very beautiful, and I can’t wait to get there. I’m also very excited to meet the other Fulbrights at orientation in Oslo, and for the arrival of the other international and Norwegian students to campus in early August.
Ha det!
Erin
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