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It's been one of the toughest week of my life, our lives, in many ways. Last Friday, 22nd of July 2011, is a date that no Norwegian alive will ever forget. It was the day when a very different reality was imposed on our dear little country than what we are used to. I have been quite reflective since then, especially about the politicians in my country, who I often criticize. What has struck me more than anything is that they have led the country. Emotionally, rationally, steadily. In fact, I have felt very blessed. Every political party has shown why Norway, in the bottom of things, is a wonderful country to be from, even though it's easy to complain about. It has been particularly difficult being away from Norway in these days. I felt, more than once, that I should just go back, just to be with my people, with my family. However, I chose to stay here, and rather use the wonders of modern technology to stream Norwegian television 5-6 hours a day at home to feel like being in my Oslo.
Often, when talking about Norway, people from abroad speak about oil-money and an "easy life". Of course, this has its merits. But in the end "being Norwegian" has nothing to do with wealth, nor with material goods at all. It's an approach to life. A way of being. A way of seeing the worl. Nothing to do with "having it easy".
This strip of land in the very North of the world has always been one of the toughest places on Earth to survive. Hard. Weathered. Cold. Windy. Stormy. Dark. Bad soil. It is not where the great civilizations of the past came to build their cities. It is not where people chose to settle out of comfort. Norwegians have learnt how to live on this little piece of the planet. Always in peace. Always quietly going about our business. Working hard in order to live well. Taking care of each other. With absolute transparency. Valuing modesty. Personal sacrifice. Family.
This week, Norway has been just about the greatest country on Earth. How do we face terrorism? "With more Democracy. With more Humanity"
I feel more Norwegian than ever.
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on a different note completely.........
One thing that just struck me is that I have settled here now. Two weeks after moving into what will presumably be my room for the next two years, I feel comfortable. And it's very interesting, because I compare it to my life the last 10 years - since I moved away from home, and actually, I have never lived as comfortably as I am right now.
It's strange to express why that is, because for sure my position as AI VP Finance is as demanding and challenging as I wanted it to be. And for sure every day, from the second I walk into the office early morning - often an hour or two before the others, until the time I leave, always as one of the last, I am working hard. Of course, to a certain extent I get stressed and challenged, but I have come to a point where I appreciate that. Of course, my project and to-do lists are long as life. The demands from the AIESEC network and internally in the team, and especially from myself are sky high. Yet.... I am comfortable.
I think it's related to logistics somehow. Living a 5 minute walk from the office, having a nice place to live, having enough to support oneself, having joined a gym and having a great team around you - does that kind of thing. It makes you comfortable. And not the kind of comfort where people should say "get out of your comfort zone". Rather the kind of comfort that allows you to be everything you can be. To find energy to be the best you can be.
As August, my favorite month of the year approaches, I feel ready. To be my best. To do my best.
