I’ve landed in Minneapolis, and given that I’ve got a half-hour Lyft ride through rush hour traffic, I figure now is as good a time as any to start writing.
In about 36 hours, we will board our first of two flights taking us to Oslo, the capital of Norway, where we will stay for three days before trekking to Sogndal to see our relatives and the ancestral Foss homestead.
It’s a strange mixture of excitement and trepidation that precedes this trip for me. I’ve wanted to see Norway for my entire life—my family has always celebrated our Norwegian roots, and I’ve heard countless tales of the country’s legendary natural beauty. But, as is typical for me, I also worry about things I probably shouldn’t be worried about. Making friends. Properly appreciating this experience. Venturing out of my comfort zone.
I am immediately transported back to high school when my dad and I went on a roaring journey through the Australian Outback (okay, more like the gentle and easy-on-the-eyes ocean roads of Victoria). I remember having such a good time then, and I also head into this new journey knowing that I am a different person than I was in 2003. I am ready to experience new cuisine, new language, new people in a way I could not appreciate as that young kid in Melbourne. (My dad will be pleased to know I won’t insist on eating at the Hard Rock Café multiple times.)
I know I will experience at least a little bit of homesickness, so I do hope if anyone is reading this that you’ll drop a comment and say hello once in awhile. It really would mean the world to me to hear from you!
Next stop…Norway. (And hopefully we’ll get some pictures in here soon.)
SRF
Where the Waterfalls Mean Home 