I have forever wanted to live outside of the US for an extended period of time. The past few years, I desperately needed a shift of perspective, to get totally out of my "lane." It has been so good for me to be uncomfortable, to get lost, and to have to figure things out when signs and loudspeaker announcements make no sense. To realize how different and the same we all are. I wanted our family to see that there are many ways of living, and that even the most agonizing frustrations of living in another country are affirmations that we can do hard things and get through them and still be OK. It's an important reminder of the struggles that others are facing around us every day in the US.
I love "educational" travel, or travel with a purpose, like working, serving, or making meaningful connections with others across the globe. It is quite a bit different living and working somewhere as opposed to being a tourist on a trip for a few weeks. One of the main differences is time - 'Time travel'. Whenever we're on a family trip, it's stressful to stick to a strict schedule and see all the sights. Being in Norway for months, especially during winter, helps us feel a lot more like locals - dealing with everyday issues like getting groceries, going to the doctor, working and doing school. Just like life in the US, there are good days and bad. We're living through winter, but there's a lot to experience here despite the snow and darkness. I'm glad we're here now, and not during summer while competing with tour groups and cruise passengers.
Here, our kids go by themselves to the grocery store, take the tram downtown, and study in Oslo's most incredible library (Deichman), or together we explore a park, museum, or district. Whit rides his bike all over town without a plan - he just goes and explores. A few times they've had the opportunity to attend classes with IB students from around the world at Blindern school. We usually get up in the morning and have the luxury to decide on our schedule for the day. We can walk more slowly, explore streets off the beaten path, browse shops where in other circumstances we may have to speed-window shop or take pictures as we walk (something I'm not very good at). My favorite moments, aside from conversations with Norwegian family and friends, are the interactions I've had with local people. A man outside a coffee and tea shop. An elderly lady on the bus. Baristas or waitstaff. Our server at a restaurant said, "You're in Oslo for a year! That means you can travel around to countries and not get jet lag in between!" Yes.
I haven't traveled nearly as much as some, but the idea of being planted in Europe, "effortlessly" traveling from country to country on long weekends or holidays has always seemed like the ultimate life goal. Yesterday, we returned from a weekend trip to Stockholm. A 45-minute flight each way from Oslo. Being able to book a fairly cheap flight and spend a weekend in any number of amazing places, so nearby, is mind-blowing to me.
Has it been effortless, traveling in and out of Norway during Covid? Ummm, no. We are still very much in a pandemic, and the ever-changing travel rules are evidence of that. On our trip to Italy in mid-December, cases were rising again and restrictions were tightening. We were unsure about making the trip at all. We had to "register" our entry before landing in Italy. We had to "register" our entry before returning to Oslo. We also learned that if you have a layover in a transit country, there is more documentation to complete as a result of passing through. In December, we didn't have EU Covid certificates, but Italy accepted our US CDC vaccination cards. We just had to show them at every restaurant and museum before entering. That was enough, for that trip. Our return from Rome to Oslo on Christmas Day was nightmarish, however. A 4-hour wait in line to get Covid tests (complete with Italians yelling and gesturing wildly at Rome airport personnel - really entertaining, but the most chaotic, disorganized airport scene I've ever witnessed) meant we missed our flight which required us to stay another night in Rome. Flight changes did not go smoothly. When we finally returned to Oslo, the process for getting a Covid test was simple, orderly, and smooth, taking about 20 minutes in total. Norway's practicality and efficiency triumph again.
We were more relaxed about traveling to Stockholm the first weekend in February. Cases have been declining, and pre-trip tests are not required at this moment. But still, on our return to Oslo, we had to show our residency cards, Norwegian entry registry codes, passports, and we had our EU certificates ready.
There is no question that Covid has sucked a good deal of the freedom and joy out of traveling, at least for the moment. The idea of "effortless" travel between EU countries right now is an illusion, and even if you research each country's entry requirements ahead of time, there will be surprises. Despite that, the ultimate gift is being here, savoring every moment, and experiencing 'time travel' - here in Norway and outside of the country when we get the chance. Travel continues to be full of unpredictability and frustration, but we know how lucky we are to be traveling in Europe, especially during a pandemic. Ready for Anything.
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