One month left!

One month from today I will be leaving my life here in Molde, to travel back to my home in Seattle. I wanted to write this blog post to look back on everything that I have done, and everything that I have learned along this journey in Norway. I want to start by thanking all of the people that made this possible and all the people that supported me in making the decision to come here. I was invited by my wonderful host family a little over a year ago to come live with them, and at first it sounded like a really nice thought, not thinking it would actually become reality. My mom talked with Astrid and Odd Tore about school, life in Molde, and how everything would work out. They were all so amazing about everything, and helped me so much in making this dream to travel a reality. I know my parents were both scared to send their son away for a year, to a place they had never been before, but I know they felt a sense of security sending me to live with this incredible family. We have had a bond with this family, the Eikrem-Finnøy's since we were blesses with the opportunity to have their daughter live with us in 2007, Siril (CC) <3 I was nervous about leaving my life and family in Seattle, not ever really being away from my family for more then 3 weeks or so, but I felt a certain comfort knowing that I had once met the Eikrem-Finnøy's and that CC would always be there for me if I needed her. It was so difficult to say goodbye to my loved ones in Seattle that day August 17th, 2010. I remember it felt like I would never see them again, the tears pored for the next few days. I felt immediately better once I was in the arms of my new family, the reuniting hug with my big sister CC, and the hugs from my new sisters, brother and parents here.

I started school the day after I arrived in Molde, exhausted. In fact I feel asleep in the police station while waiting for some papers to be filed that day. I wasn't united with my class till the third day of school when I had my first class period with them. I felt the kindness from all, everyone was so welcoming and nice to me. Just after the first week of school I had made some good friends. My social character helped me alot over the next few weeks in months, always searching for new friends, meeting new people and even saying hello to strangers. I have always felt the loving, kind nature of norwegians, even though they all describe them selves as cold and shy.... My friends here are incredible, I have been acquainted with so many wonderful people here that have welcomed me into their lives. I consider many here to be friends, wether I have talked to them once, or seen them everyday. It has been one of my favorite things about this year, and definitely one of the hardest things to leave, my friendships with these incredible people.

I took on the challenge of learning a new language, I have to admit I was scared and intimidated, but most of all excited. It took awhile to get the hang of it, and I have had many conversations, especially with my norwegian dad about the different stages of learning a new language are. From the first big hump of familiarizing your self with the sound and rhythm, to learning words and grammatical rules, to begging to understand sentences and phrases, and the biggest hump of all which is convincing your self to begin to speak. This last one was the hardest part of all, but thanks to a dear friend Lukas Tietgen , who is also an exchange student here in Molde, we told eachother that on January 1st we would only speak norwegian! and surprisingly we stuck to that, and the language became easier and easier everyday. It was amazing how the learning pace just took off after we began speaking it everyday. I must say I thank Lukas so much for not only being a great partner in learning the language, but being an incredible teacher as well. He has learned the language, i would say perfectly, and many say that is because he is german and they are very similar, but i know that he is an extremely intelligent guy with a big brain in him. I still can't say that I am great at norwegian, but I am at the point when I'm speaking it with my friends and family, i am able to sit in class and understand, able to do my homework (even presentations) and at the end of the day feel confident in saying that I know norwegian. It definitely is cool, and I will definitely continue to learn and study norwegian in the future and hopefully become better and better. Once again THANK GOD FOR SKYPE!!! I will be able to see and talk with people here even when im back in the states, amazing thing! :)

For those of you that have been following my blog, you know that I have traveled and seen beautiful places, met wonderful people, learned about a new culture and the traditions, tried amazing foods, learned a new language, grown as a person, become a more independent person and many more things. This year has really been a SPECTACULAR experience.

I am glad that I still have a month to learn and experience more, hopefully as much as possible! I look forward to sharing pictures, telling stories and maybe even showing off a little norwegian with all of you back home. Much love, Noah!

P.s. i'm putting up some pictures from the May 17th, norwegian constitution day.