NORWAY next destination

The decision was made Wednesday!!
Not by us, but by YARA's headquarter in Oslo. Very easy that someone decided FOR us eventually, because we would never have come to a decision. But sad for T-I, he loved his job here. His colleagues are very upset as well.
And so is the school. We have received some heartbreaking e-mails from teachers who will miss Sondre and Anniken (and us!!) tremendously.

It's hard to realize that 9 years of adventure and fun in this fairytale-life we have had is over. It's hard to realize that we will lead a ordinary life as ordinary people. We are used to exploring and excitement all the time. Never a week is the same. It's like we haven't had a everyday life for 9 years. We've been on a veeeeery long holiday :-)

Sondre had a couple of bad days with a lot of crying - but has already started to mention a few things about what to do in Norway, so I think he will be fine. But he has the most wonderful group of nice friends, who it will be impossible to say farewell to :-(
One of his best friends is also moving to the US at the same time and hopefully it will help that they are 2 in the same situation.
He wishes to go to a normal Norwegian school. Good for us because it's free!

Anniken will never come over it. She is so devastated, upset, sad, angry that I'm crying just thinking about her heart...... She won't or can't speak to us. It's so painful. She has "moved in" with her best friend Laura. When I was 15/16 years I could hardly go on summer holiday because I couldn't be away from my friends. And she will be torn away from her environment, her whole life, to the other side of the world. Even the school psycologist could get nothing else than tears and screaming out of her.
We have applied for the International school in Sandefjord. The one in Oslo is far too expensive. So if she will be accepted, we will settle in Sandefjord and Thor-Inge just have to travel to Oslo each day for this period. But the last thing I heard from Anniken was that she and Laura wish to go to Australia as exchange students in 12th grade!!! Fine for us, as long as she can focus on something nice that can heal her heart a little this difficult period!! Then, time will show...

I am terrified !! I don't know what is expecting me. We have changed after 9 years away and I feel more home in an international community than in a Norwegian one. And knowing how difficult it was for Cathy and Gitte to return makes me even more scared. But luckily I have great friends and a family who is prepared to help us. And of course I'll continue to see Cathy and Gitte :-)

There will be no more trips to Porto de Galinhas, Praia do Rosa, Buenos Aires or Rio - BUT, Gitte in Copenhagen is only an hour away, Birthe in Brussels is two hours away, to fly to Cathy in US costs 1/3 of the price from here, we can go to the Alpes, to France, to Italy and of course rediscover NORWAY.
And the list of things we are looking forward to only gets longer;
-drink fresh water from the tap
-no begging children in the light crossings
-no barking dogs at night
-no lizard in the kitchen (but maybe a mouse?)
-no risk of being robbed all the time
-FRESH AIR
-hiking in the mountains
-skiing
-shrimps
-rakfisk
-real Christmas and not a fake plastic one
-the kids can bicycle (if they remember how to)
-Anniken's parties will end, and not START at 11pm
-things to watch at tv that are actually interesting!!
-we will not need the 11 people who take care of the security day and night for the 7 houses in our condo!!

But no maid. No personal trainer. No massage lady, guitar teacher ot maths tutor coming home to us.

Puhh, where shall I start??
How to organize the moving? Thank God, T-I has the best secretary in the world!!
But first; ENJOY THE LAST 6 MONTHS!!! (and stockpile more beautiful shoes, dresses, handbags, bikinis, gemstones without T-I noticing!!)