This is the first of several articles written by a Norwegian-born teenager living in the US, returning to Norway for the first time this summer. She has promised to share her experiences with us...
Hi. My name is Martha Melsom and I am 16 years old. I live in Annapolis, Maryland, USA, but I was born in Norway. I lived in Norway until I was ten, at which point my family and I moved to Annapolis. This summer I am coming back to Norway to reconnect with old friends and family and to explore the country.
Arriving in new countries has always been exhilarating for me. Even if I have been to a country countless times before, there’s something exciting about leaving home and arriving someplace new. When you travel you immerse yourself in a new environment and you learn so many new things; this is exactly what I hope to do this summer in Norway. Although I already speak a lot of Norwegian, I have come to learn more and to make sure I don’t loose the solid foundation I already have. I´ve also come to learn more about my roots and to see some of the beautiful scenery Norway is known for. As I go, I will be keeping a travel journal recording my experiences and most memorable moments of my trip. This is the beginning of this journal and I hope you enjoy it.
When I arrived at Torp Airport in Sandefjord, it was much colder than expected, but having been cooped up on an airplane for 10 hours, it was a nice breath of fresh air. After claiming my luggage, I meander out to the joyful greeting from my uncle and we then continued to my grandparents – my father’s parents. As we drove the winding road to Stokke, I couldn’t help but feel that my adventure has started- the houses and landscape are so different from what I’m used to in Annapolis. Here dwellings appear to be generally more spread out; and houses are unique and different from each other - each house has its own personality. On the drive to my grandparents’ house, it was fun to see some Scandinavian individuality again; in America almost everything looks the same to me. As different as it all seems, I feel at home in Norway.
On Thursday, the 23rd, I left my grandparents and took the train to Bærum, where I spent the first 10 years of my life. The train ride through Vestfold was nice and quite, and I got to enjoy more of the traditional Norwegian countryside. Upon arrival at Lysaker, I took the bus (something I have never done in Annapolis, but always used to do when I lived here) out to Snarøya, and then went on a boat ride with some old friends - we’ve all gotten a bit older, but my Norwegian friend’s and I just pick up where we left off. From Snarøya, we went straight to Aker Brygge, the harbor in Oslo. We got out of the boat and got some hot chocolate in town to warm up; out on the water it had been much colder than expected. From there, we took the boat around to the famous opera house in Oslo. The giant marble building with the glass statue on the water was a beautiful sight. As we headed back towards the harbor again, I was elated to see there were so many bonfires along the water in celebration of St. Hansaften – mid-summer’s night eve. Being out on the water, with the light smell of burning wood and the saltwater breeze on my skin, seeing all the bonfires crackling in front of almost every house on shore; it was just the way I remember St. Hansaften should be, and a very good start to my summer in Norway.
Contributed by Martha Melsom
(More from Martha next week)
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With all of the important outdoor festivities, the weather is very important on this day, and the whole nation watches the weather forecasts..
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The Ministry of Environment has set aside an additional NOK 10 million in order to better secure and fireproof Norway's ancient stave churches.
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Norway's Queen Sonja this week opened the exhibition entitled “Munch|Warhol and the Multiple Image” in New York City. The exhibition brings together the works of two of the greatest printmakers of the 20th century.
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The Norwegian film "Kon Tiki" opens in theatres in LA and New York today, Friday. The movie is expected to screen in 400 theatres across the U.S.
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