3rd Week of Novemeber

Its funny how life can take you in a journey that you have never imagined even in your wildest dreams. Its strange how things can change in one day. Its funny how fear can sometimes rule your life and avoid you from experiencing life changing experiences. When i was given the opportunity to go to Norway, i remember deep down in my heart i really wanted to go. My brain on the other side was telling me logical things like. Do you know how far away you will be from home? They speak a different language from you? Its cold at that place? Are you going out of your mind? But because of the curiosity in my heart and the longing for change i had in my heart the fear did not win.

I remember the first 2 months in Norway, my brain was telling my heart i told you so, and look what you have gotten us into now. I personally felt a deep pain of stupidity and could not believe how i could have talked myself into doing something like this. In life i have noticed that life is how you make it to be, i could still be mopping around complaining to myself about the weather, the language, the difference of culture ect or i could take this whole experience and embrace it. It was really a decision i had to take for myself and it was a hard decision.



I have looked at a typical young South African my own age, and what kind of memories they will build for themselves. I looked at myself, also a typical South African young person and what kind of memories i will have. Firstly i want to give you a sneak preview of my life here in Norway. I live with an Armenian girl, now this is me living with a girl from a country i did not even know existed. When she calls home she speaks Armenian, which sounds extremely strange to me but i am sure my Zulu sounds just as strange to her. I have a contact person that has lived in South Africa for 2 years also on an exchange program, what are the chances of me working in Norway in an office where the most important person to me here in Norway has lived in South Africa. I work with a great crew of people, all from different parts of Norway who each individually share a part of Norway with me in a different way. I work on things that i feel really makes a difference in people life, whether big or small. I work for an organization that focuses on youth development in a very holistic view. I have a friend who i meet at the Norwegian course from Ethiopia, who plated my hair yesterday. It ironic how while she was plating my hair, i kept thinking to myself who would have thought this time last year. I would be in Norway sitting on the floor with an Ethiopian girl plating my hair and my Armenian roommate taking some pictures or even being in a Norwegian class, where i have meet people from Austria, Phillipean, England, Poland, Somilla ect.
My life has changed, the way i look at people has changed. I have realized that i am part of a global world and a cultural diverse world. Where my culture is not better than yours or the other way around. Life is not only in the city or town that you are from. I have found life in a totally different part of the world for myself, and this life is a life that has thought me more then any part of my city or country would have thought me. I am still going to have hardships in this country and things will never be like being at home but I have made life long memories and the next time i see someone from a different country in my country i will make sure that i don't see them as strange because now i have also been a stranger in a strange land.