Norway

Life as an expat is such a double edge sword. Having lived life as an expat surrounded by so many people from all corners of the earth for going on 7 years now, I can say my life has been undeniably enriched in a way I never would have experienced otherwise. The exposure of new cultures is one thing, but the friendships we have made with people we never would have had the chance to meet anywhere else has been the most cherished part of expat life. My kids' friends at school hail from many countries covering several continents. And likewise, my friends also share this same heritage. We have become friends with some truly special people from all over the world. But in expatville people move. A lot. And sometimes it really hurts. Madeleine's first and closest friend all her 4 years at this school and her family moved this summer. And as it would turn out, her mother is one of the dearest people I have ever met and I am lucky to also call her my friend. People move all the time in expatville and sometimes it hurts more than others. This family is just very special, so this one really hurt. This Norwegian family has left their mark on our hearts. When it came to say goodbye, we got a very nice surprise, an invitation to join them for a few days at their summer home in Norway. So not long after our return from the US we hopped on a plane to spend a few glorious summer days in Norway with our dear friends.

To say this visit was magical is nothing short of the truth. We didn't visit any major Norwegian attractions, no cruising the fjords or anything terribly newsworthy. But that is exactly what made it so wonderful. Getting to spend a few days in their corner of Norway in a town called Tvedestrand, a place that is so personal to them and so filled with the snapshots of their lives and the lives of their heritage, was just such a uniquely memorable experience. Days were filled with walks down the hill, evening swims in the fjord, boat rides through the narrows, wandering through the local village, swimming at the rock waterhole and just enjoying the fresh air on the deck. Nights were filled with delicious shared dinners, board game tournaments, movies and chatting over tea until the wee hours. To experience this in this place with these people is something I will never ever forget. And just made saying goodbye that much harder. So grateful for their friendship and the memories we take with us.