Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

I found out that I was accepted to school in Norway on May 8^th and I left Seattle on July 12^th.  During the period in between I focused on making the most of my time. And I think I did pretty well. The last two months at home were great. I took all the opportunities I had to be with my family and friends. I’ve been blessed with many wonderful people in my life who I wanted to see before I left. I started packing early so I would have time to spend with others and not be consumed with my to-do list as the departure date neared. Since tutoring ended in mid-June I was able to make trips to Portland and Spokane to visit dear friends. The trip to Portland doubled as a tax-free shopping spree for big ticket items to avoid Norway’s steep prices.

To move from where you’ve lived for so long without knowing when you’ll be back is a strange thing. I have no plans to come home in the next two years. I may make a trip but right now I don’t think so. (Have you thought about a European vacation? Maybe you should :) Knowing I’d be gone for such a long time made me think about how I wanted to spend each day. When I accepted that my routine would soon be taken away it helped me to enjoy it more. I soaked up simple and familiar pleasures and focused on relationships. It gave me a good perspective on life and I think it’s a great way to live, as if you’ll be leaving very soon. I am so thankful for every chance I had to be with people I care about, including but not limited to: my parents, grandmas, brother, sister-in-law, nephew, aunts, uncles, cousins, and good friends from Highline, Whitworth, church, and work. Thanks, you all make me very glad.

Me & Dodo, a few hours before I left.

It wasn't easy to say goodbye to these two.

There were a few things to do in preparation for moving that were not as enjoyable as seeing most of you... Among other things, I had to: apply for a student visa and residence permit, close my bank account, open a new bank account, send all my money to Norway, get a new credit card, computer, and camera, resign from my posts at Highline, visit the doctor and dentist, have an eye exam, get a haircut, plan my trips to England and Poland, clean, pack, and shop for heavy-duty winter clothes. It’s hard for me to believe I did all that, but somehow, things got done.

Looking back, there isn’t much that I wanted to do that I didn’t get to do before I left. I was able to relax and enjoy my time, and redeem a ton of Groupons. Embracing all the good things I have at home helped prepare me for this adventure.  But it made me that much more sad to realize all I would leave behind. I can’t dwell on that, though… It’s time for something new. Besides, I (think I) will be back!

Packed and ready for take-off!

Velkommen!

The time has come for me to follow through on my ambition to start a blog. I will be living in Trondheim, Norway for two years as a Master’s student at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. I came to Norway because I want to get to know my Norwegian relatives, experience life in my “fatherland,” learn Norwegian, and study molecular medicine, in that order.

Why the name, “Delighted but Confused”? Because I won a contest! You can read about it here, on my friend Jason’s blog. Plus, I think “delighted but confused” describes life in a foreign country very well. I’ve been delighted and confused by Norway before, why not again?

I should have started writing weeks ago, but I didn’t. I already have many things to write about Norway but I also want to tell you about the past few months. So, my first posts will be recaps of leaving home and traveling through England and Poland before arriving in Norway.

I look forward to sharing with you the delight and confusion I will undoubtedly experience… welcome and enjoy!