Norway Living

My name is Gunnar, and I am what would be described as a “norsk-amerikaner” (Norwegian-American).  I was born in Norway, to Norwegian parents, but we emigrated to the United States when I was just a few weeks old. 

I therefore grew up in the U.S. within mixed cultures.  At home (at least during the early years), we spoke Norwegian and probably lived much like they did in the “old country” (such as with our food choices and Christmas traditions).  Outside of our home, we learned English, and tried to learn American ways and how things worked in the American culture.

This was not easy.  Even our names set us apart – we were constantly asked, “What kind of name is that?” and “Where do you come from?”  We were outsiders.

After living with one foot in each culture for several years, we eventually became more “Americanized” and drifted away from the language and ways of our ancestors. 

Eventually, I came to more fully understand the U.S. culture and language (along with its nuances and idioms that had always caused us problems).  But I never felt completely “at home” in the American culture – I needed roots, ancestors, and a heritage that just weren’t there.

When I was 23 years old, I made my first return trip to Norway.  I was here for several weeks, and I fell in love with the country.  Here were the roots I was looking for, here was the heritage that I needed and the language that I was losing.  That was when I first decided that I wanted to return to Norway.

Over the following years, I made numerous return visits to Norway, and I had even relocated here for a short period in 1980 – 1981.  But financial obligations and economic conditions were such that I was not able to make the transition and actually move to and live in Norway.  It was only a dream.

That is, until I retired.

During the last several years of my working career in the U.S., I made plans and preparations to make this transition possible.  I put away money that I used to make a down payment to build a house in Norway (which I called my Retirement Home).  I arranged my personal affairs that would facilitate my move here. 

As a side note, building a home while living 8,000 miles away is an adventure of its own, which I also share in this blog. 

Then, upon my (early) retirement, I finally had a source of income so that I did not HAVE to get a job in Norway in order to live here (that was a major stumbling block for me previously).

Now, I live in my personal Retirement Home in Norway, and I am experiencing the culture, the food, the beauty – in short: the life – of this remarkable place.  I’m trying to make up for lost time; I’m trying to experience a small part of that life that we missed out on when we moved to the U.S.

Since I’ve lost much of the Norwegian language during my years in the U.S., picking up communication skills has become a challenge for me, but I’m learning.  The people I’ve met here are welcoming, gracious, and wonderful.  I’m getting to know the relatives that I knew before only as names or as images identified in photographs.

This has been a great experience for me, and this blog is my attempt to share some of these experiences.

If you see something that is interesting to you, please comment.  If you have questions, please ask.  I would enjoy having a dialogue with you.