Some of the most important people I have met this year. I have been amazingly lucky to have spent so much quality time with all of my Norwegian families and friends. It feels utterly surreal that tomorrow I will be in Canada again, right now it barely feels like Canada even exists. I have taken over 6,000 pictures this year and filled 4 journals with scribbles that only I can read depicting what I have done each day but nonetheless there is a looming feeling that I will forget my experiences here. Yesterday I went to the grocery store to stock up on foods I will miss in the next months, and I have been fortunate to recieve lots of wonderful presents this year as reminders of people and places that I hold close to my heart now. Being an exchange student this year has changed my life in many different ways, and probably countless ways that I don't even recognize. I find it hard to put into words how truely grateful I am to have spent a year of my life exploring this country and exploring the meaning of family, friendship and travel. Closure isn't something that is easily achieved, but hugging my friends and family goodbye I have to remember that the goodbye dinners and all my 'lasts' here do grant me closure and I am trying to embrace that. Bags are packed, and my plane leaves in less than 20 hours. I can't believe its over, I would relive every moment of my time here if I could, and I couldn't be more happy with the way I have spent my year. Sitting on the plane here I was full of anticipation and Norway was a blurry mystery of mountains and trolls. Now I like to think I understand Norway, I am fluent in Norwegian and feel like belong here, but the mystique of Norway has not dissipated. Something I am looking forward to about going home is the first time I will passingly hear Norwegian/Swedish/Danish as I'm walking down the street and my heart will jump and my head will fill with memories. I try to keep in mind that saying goodbye to everyone here only means that saying hello next time will be all the more special. Jeg kan bare gleder meg til det. Jeg har ikke ord til å si hvor takknemelig jeg er, og jeg håper at alle sammen vet at jeg snakker sant.
