Ordinary Norway life!

Everything I feared happened. All the things I secretly expected. I came home to Norway in December, and with time decided to settle down there, at least for a while. Back to normal small town Norway. Back to routines and normal life. No more adventures for me.

I decided to rent out my apartment to 5 girls in Hawaii, giving it up for now and do the same with my apartment in Norway. So I spent the first months living with my Mom and then with my sister before I recently moved to Sandnes, a bigger city (well, not quite New York) to rent my good friend Anett´s flat, while she is away on adventure in Los Angeles (well, one of us has to live an adventurous life at least).

Then I caved in and started to crochet (hekle) again... Lots. Like every day (I´ve become a crochet machine!).

Then I started to cook a bit more, sending pictures of my food to Cathrine and Christina every day! They cheer me on and tell me it looks amazing, which makes me feel good, even though I know my cooking is not great.

Then I bought a car. I call it Black Beauty - Isabella calls it "Black Booty". I introduced her and Lukas to my childhood favorite movie, Black Beauty, and even though the filming is so old, they really liked it. Now they help me take good care of the car, Kaleb pointed out it was dirty the other day, and Lukas and Bella tell people not to park too close to Black Beauty, because it is auntie´s new car. Well, new... 2009-new, that is!

Well, so I have my apartment, my car and I started crocheting and cooking. And I go for walks or run a bit almost every day. And visit coffee shops all around. What´s next? A dog??

Does this mean I´ll never live in my apartment in Hawaii again? Will I never again go to North Korea or South Korea, and be a part of groups or ministries or organizations that try to make a difference in the world? Will my next travels be to Gran Canaria to party with other Norwegians for a week, living in an all inclusive hotel with locals that know Norwegian and Swedish phrases, and are tending to my every need?


There´s nothing wrong with ordinary lives. And even when I lived in South Korea and Hawaii a lot of it was pretty ordinary. What is it I am so afraid of then? Is it the fear of becoming ordinary? Fearing that my life will not become something more, something bigger..? Fear that my life will not make a difference in the world, maybe.

I can´t say I´m ready to embrace it right now. It may take a while. Maybe I with time will have to start looking for adventures right here in Sandnes. Maybe there are some real ones here, right under my nose?

Black Beauty/Booty - Voilá! Though it is a part of settling down, I love it so much! Finally freedom!

Yes, so this is crocheting, something Kathrine Wetteland taught me a few years ago. Who would have known I´d spend so much time doing it, as sceptic as I was to anything seemingly "domestic" (husmorgreier).

Two of the pictures Cathrine and Christina have received the last days. Today coming up Grandiosa pizza. I´ll try out more cooking skills next week!

The apartment in Sandnes which I am so fortunate to rent. I love living here, I love the city, and more and more sun is showing up on my terrace. 

With new cities comes new parks, and almost every day I´m enjoying Bruelandsparken, Sandvedparken and Stokkelandsvannet. Spring is finally here!