Norway

Did you ever catch yourself thinking about something that didn't really make sense at the time and then discovered that years later it is actually happening? Well, I have. When I was 17 and reading a book called "Hunger" written by Knut Hamsun, from Norway, and I wondered how would that book sound in the original language.

That's why, as years passed by and I have been admitted to University of Stavanger for an entire semester, I have signed up for a language course just for the sake of reading the original version of "Hunger" (also known as "Sult").

I realised that it has been more than three months since I have arrived to Norway and started a semester so far, and that I never wrote anything about Norway. How selfish of me to keep all that to myself, huh?

To start off, my first 4 days in Norway were catastrophic. I, along with the rest of the emmirians, was promised good and cheep accommodation in Stavanger. However, upon arrival I discovered that 5 of us were placed in Sola, a nearby town. It was horrible. Not only we were supposed to pay almost 600 Euros per month, there was very poor public transportation: two busstops (20 and 30 minutes walking). The buses ran every 30 minutes during the day, God knows if they ran in the evenings, and to go to school -- we had to either walk 30 minutes to get to the busstop, or 20 minutes and chance 2 busses. No shops or supermarkets nearby. NOTHING!! We were trapped in a deserted place which yes, had a nice view to the lake, but it's Norway, there are lakes EVERYWHERE!!

So, I spent 4 days crying and cursing my life for having to end up there. So, I did not sign the contrract and had to find a new place to live. My decision was final. My friends moved out as well.

After quite a traumatic experience I moved out. And so has begun my semester in Norway.

One of the things you should know about Norway is that it is BEAUTIFUL. I have never seen such landscape, fjords, lakes. I admire how the Norwegians live so close to the nature and preserve it. They don't cut trees to open restaurants. They don't destroy architectural landmarks to build unnecessary buildings they won't be able to sell. No. They preserve it all.

Stavanger is rainy. Very rainy. As a matter of fact -- when the sun comes out, the city looks different. It looks magical.

 

Living in Norway definitely has its advantages and disadvantages. I will probably write about it some other time, when I don't have two gigantic essays and hundreds of pages of academic readings.

How my parents made me go to Uganda

Some of you wonder how I broke the news about my decision to go to Uganda to my parents.

In rather homogenous countries, people are less used to the dialogue of intercultural communication, and most information that they obtain of other cultures and nationalities is through media. Hence, their ideas are highly dependent on what the media is showing them, which, we all know, is not always objective. So, breaking the news to my parents was a bit challenging.

I knew that they wouldn't be in the state of utmost happiness about my decision, so I only told them about it when I was 150% sure that Uganda is where I want to do my internship.

I told all my family members about my decision separately. First, I told my mom. Then my brother, and only then - my dad.

Before I write about their reaction to my decision, I would like to tell you that my family is sacred to me, so I didn't want to do anything they would be completely against. I wouldn't risk ruining my relationship with them for an internship. They were always very supportive of what I did, and were there for me when I needed support, advice or anything else, for that matter.

But I really wanted the internship! So... I had no choice but to persuade them that it was a good idea!

Even though I broke the news to everyone separately, they all seemed to have gone through the same stages:

1) Denial

No, you are NOT going. No way! OVER MY DEAD BODY!!

2) Bargain 

But you can go to any country in Europe... You can go to Spain!! You can go to Italy! What about Germany? Or France? ... No, not France, you won't understand French. But you can go to New York... Costa Rica! Please go to Costa Rica...

3) Guilt-tripping

We told you what we think about your "plan". It's dangerous there, and you will probably be eaten by a tiger... But if you want to get malaria and die there - sure. That's your decision!! We raised you... We didn't sleep at night for you... and this is how you are thanking us? By endangering the life of our daughter?

-----

After about a week of talking, weighting all the pros and cons, begging and crying, we have finally managed to come to an agreement that we shouldn't talk about it anymore...

But soon, they just said "Ok, we are not telling you to go to Uganda. We are just telling you that it is your decision, and we are aware that we can't do anything to stop you. So, do what you think is right."

I said "ok" and decided to look carefully to Ugandan projects, so I would start applying. While doing that, I also read about the partners of EMMIR in Sudan. That also sounded very interesting, and I hinted to my parents that I might also apply there (you know, since they were so cool about Uganda).

I loved their reaction!

"NO, GO TO UGANDA! PLEASE GO TO UGANDA!!!!"

And that's how my parents persuaded me that Uganda was the right choice!! :D

p.s. Mom and Dad, I love you!

Oooh, that Internship Question

Do you remember my post where I was asking advice which organisation to do an internship with? And I had options in London, Lebanon, etc? Well, here is time to talk about it a little more.

After months of thinking which organisation would be most suitable for me to have an internship with, tons of applications and no answers (or unsatisfying answers: "Thank you for your interest. We will take let you know if anything comes up) -- I gave up. It is exhausting for an individual to apply to so many places, because most of the organisations prefer networking with other ones, not individuals.

So, I decided to apply to one of the EMMIR partners. Which one?

Drumroll, please...

UGANDA!

Yes, Uganda.

I applied to Refugee Law Project, where among my duties would be teaching English Language to the refugees.

Now, the weird thing is that Refugee Law Project (RPLP) is one of the organisations I learned about during my first week working in UNHCR. I was given time to read all the conventions and do a little research on what organisations are there in the field of forced migration. I remember googling it and spending an hour in RLP web-page thinking - "Ah, I wish to work there one day" and realising that there is no way I would do that.

And once again, the expression of "Be careful for what you wish for, cause you just might get it!" comes to mind.

My application was successful, and with 3 other friends I am going to spend 2-2,5-months (August - October) in Uganda.


I anticipate the following reactions, so... here are some answers to that:

1) Why?

Why not?

2) Do your parents know you are crazy?

Yes!

3) It's dangerous! You can get HIV, Malaria, blah, blah, blah... 

You can get HIV in other countries the same way as in Uganda. And Malaria: there are pills for that!

4) You can get mugged, raped, killed, eaten by animals or ... or other people may eat you!! 

No! :/


On the other hand, I am not fond of people thinking that I am making sacrifices by going to Uganda.

-You can go to any European countries. Why go to Uganda?

First of all - it is GREAT work experience. As a job, working in the refugee camp is interesting, rewarding and most importantly - educational. Everything I was reading about and researching would make a lot more sense when I work in the field.

Secondly, it's a whole new world!

Now I know that there are going to be challenges during those three months, and maybe more challenges than I imagine now. But I am also sure that I will have as awesome time as anywhere else. I see it as an opportunity to grow, learn and experience. I am not sacrificing anything to go there. And no, any other internship in Europe won't be better for me!