Today we had our last few hours in Oslo. It’s a bittersweet departure as I’ll miss this beautiful city, but I know what lies ahead will be another exciting leg of our journey. I’m sitting on the train, watching Oslo get smaller and smaller and I can’t help but think back on my favorite parts of the city. Our group went on-site visits, listened to lectures and presentations, had delicious meals, and navigated the strange place together with joyous bewilderment.

While all of these experiences were amazing, the best parts to me were the little things. I ordered tea in Norwegian. I touched the freezing ocean with my fingertips. I ate a matpakke (a Norwegian packed lunch) on the tram. All these ordinary things were made magical as layers of Norwegian conversations surrounded me.

Another unexpected part of our first week was the daylight hours. I thought going to Norway, where the sun doesn’t rise until 9 am and sets as soon as 4 pm, would be difficult. However, I quickly realized that Oslo didn’t go to sleep when the sun went down. Oslo was beautifully lit with small sparkling lights hanging in all directions.

I’d walk through the city and pass storefronts with cozy displays. It seemed the people of Oslo fully embraced the darkness of the winter months– not wanting to extend the daylight hours, but simply making the darkness their own. It made the night less tiresome and scary.

What a joy to be in this place with these people! Now we are onward to Lillehammer, a snowy town of about 30,000 people, which will be a big adjustment from Norway's capital city!

Mange Takk, Oslo!