How I Ended Up in Norway (III)

On the 10th of August 2019, I got on a plane for the first time in my life after saying goodbye to my friends and family at the Husea Kutako International Airport, located about 45 km east of Windhoek. As soon as the familiar faces disappeared behind the check-in point, I started to feel alone and a little scared but one feeling overpowered all those, and that was the excitement that was slowly building up in my stomach as we approached the huge 'metal sky bird'.

I was the last passenger to get on board because, let me put it this way, they had issues with my visa. The lady that was supposed to check me in, spent about 15 minutes walking around and asking her colleagues whether the visa was real or not. She touched it, passed to the next person, disappeared behind some door and came back and did the same thing again before finally returning to her desk and gave me a green-light. I must admit, my family was getting worried and I was slowly losing it, I couldn't even standstill, thank God it worked out!

A few minutes later I was on the plane, experiencing all the wonderful feelings that I had expected prior to my first plane experience and also, the tears that rolled down my cheeks freely. I was seated alone, not initially, but they moved me to the back of the plane and told me to have a good flight. Mind me, I was moved away from all the other passengers who were white and placed alone, but then again, it could just be me looking for trouble (smh).

My flight had been rescheduled which messed with my flight to Oslo, meaning I had to spend the night at Frankfurt International Airport to catch-up with the flight the next day. One of the flight attendants from Air Namibia was like a guardian angel to me. She took me with her and showed me where I could rest and organised a hotel for me a few kilometres away from the airport but I told her that I didn't want to risk getting lost the other day so, she found me someone who took me to my terminal and I lingered around there the whole night so that the next day I didn't have to run around looking for the right terminal. Trust me, that was the best decision.

Meeting up with Aunt Iselin at Oslo Airport was the best feeling in the world, finally seeing a familiar face and having a conversation with somebody I knew? That was amazing, I realized just how awesome it was to be around people that you really vibe with. I was exhausted and hungry but a good ol' hug from Aunt Iselin and some laughter had already fixed that. I must admit, I felt like a thousand kilos had been lifted off of my shoulders and I could sort of 'relax', knowing that I was safe.

I asked about a hundred questions in the first few hours that we met, everything was new to me and I was so curious, I wanted to learn as much as I could and Aunt Iselin didn't hold back or get tired, she told me to the finest detail about the simplest things I asked. One of the first comments I made was about the transport system, how I thought that was very convenient (they showed the time left before the next destination) and the trains and buses were very fancy to me (they still are because we don't have such back home).

We stopped at a restaurant and Aunt Iselin paid for a pizza-buffet so all I had to do was get my butt over there and eat as much as I could from the variety of pizzas, that's what I did! It was amazing, I don't know, some part of me still couldn't believe that a few days ago I was singing and having a good time with my sister, cousins and friends and suddenly I was in Norway with Aunt Iselin, just as we had hoped and planned!

That was not my final destination though, we made it to Aunt Iselin's aunt's house somewhere in Oslo and spent the night there. I remember thinking to myself that night as I lay in bed:
How unpredictable life can be sometimes, I can't believe I'm in lying here... in this clean smelling sheets, already feeling like my life is definitely going to change.

The next day, we sorted some clothes that Aunt Iselin's aunt gave me among all the other stuff that was donated by friends and family and friends of friends of Aunt Iselin. I literally only had my laptop, my travel documents, some pictures of friends and family and my diaries in a school bag pack and a pair of jeans, some tops and pumps in the little suitcase that I had. On that thought, the staff at Husea Kutako Airport asked me whether I was really going to be living in Norway for a year because my luggage seemed like I was going away for a weekend!

I felt really blessed, I felt lucky, I felt loved and I felt appreciated. Aunt Iselin had really gone out of her way to get me to Norway and also took care of everything else that I would need, including other equipment for trips and so on. I still don't know how to say thank you to her and many other kind-hearted people that had contributed and wished us well with me coming to Norway and everything. I will forever be grateful and now that I'm writing this, I want to admit that this really felt like it was a miracle... something out of a fantasy book. I will always be grateful.

Later that same day, we headed to the airport again, this time heading to the very north of Norway. It was a two-hour or so flight and we finally arrived in Kirkenes, not yet our final detsination, but it was pretty close. After doing some shopping (I got a new pair of jeans and toiletries), we drove to Pasvik Folk High School which would be my home for the whole year, and that it was.

I decided to write this because I wanted to share my experiences and adventures and I felt like I was ready to share my story. Also, I like the idea of sharing stories like this and spreading some sort of positive energy into the world by inspiring somebody out there to just keep being you. Honestly, that phrase is so underrated these days, like really. Just keep being you, someday, somebody's gonna see that spark in you and make a way for you.

It might not happen like it did with me, but somehow, things are gonna fall through for you too. Matter of fact, you probably don't even need somebody to help you, you'll do so great and take others under you wing, that's the kind of life I dream of. I wish you all the best, and remember, only you can be the perfect you, don't change for anybody!

NB: I forgot what I wanted to say here but I will edit it later!

glowing hearts, Queen

#blogging #travelling #germany #norway #writer #namibia #blog