Adventures in Arendal

July 8th

Norwegians will do anything for their guests.  At least the ones we know.  On Friday Gail and I checked out and took the train to Arendal.  To meet the relatives.  Gunnar Ravnasen and Laila Riber had been in regular contact with us since April.  They coordinated the planning, making sure everything went well.

Laila and her husband Per Gunnar met us at the train station.  We drove from there to the Clarion, our hotel.  Unbeknownst to us Laila had upgraded our room before we arrived.  It was a great corner spot with fantastic views of the harbor.  The weather was drizzly as Gail and I unpacked.  Right on cue the clouds parted and the sun emerged.  We all took a quick walk around the neighborhood, then PG asked, "Want to take a boat ride?"  He had steamed over earlier and met up with Laila downtown.  Down to the docks we went.

The winds were a little heavy.  So we stayed inside the harbor.  Laila had packed coffee and treats.  After traveling all afternoon those hit the spot.  Per Gunnar focused on the coffee.  We didn't give it much thought until he began joking that Norwegians drink coffee all the time.  As time went on Gail and I began to notice that was an understatement.  Decaf is not a choice in Norway.

Then it was dinner time.  Gunnar arrived right on schedule.  We took a table by the window, looking out at the water.  The fun and jokes began.  Gunnar is a retired teacher.  Everybody thinks Norway's schools are fabulous and the children are great and everything is peaches and cream.  It was people like Gunnar who make that image possible.  Gunnar was in charge of the problem students, the ones we used to call juvenile delinquents in America.  (That term may return if Donald Trump wins.)  It was an unusually challenging job.  Those kids often had trouble at home or emotional problems that make teaching next to impossible.  Gunnar prevailed with hard work, charm, and a clever sense of humor.  He was the life of this party.  He probably is the life of every party he goes to.

We covered a lot of ground at dinner.  Then we re-assembled in a private room.  Gunnar explained all the family relationships.  He even had a spreadsheet that displayed where everybody stood in the family tree.  My father was Norweigan.  He was born in America.  His parents met in Norway, moved to America during World War One, and settled in northern New Jersey ("Bergen County").  My grandfather Kristoffer built houses for a living.  Marthe did the books and worked outside the home.  My father attended college.  After serving in World War Two he earned a masters degree and became a scientist.  My parents visited Norway in the 1990s.  Gunnar took charge of that visit as well.  He confided that he was a little peeved with my father since he had to speak English the entire time.  Alvin really was named Oberth.  He could get along just fine in Norwegian!

That was not the case with me.  Gail picked up the language well.  German words.  English grammar.  She threw around words and phrases like it was nothing.  I had trouble with the language.  Good thing I had her around!

Laila and Gunnar planned the entire weekend.  Down to the smallest detail.  It was a huge amount of work.  It still seems amazing it all went so perfectly.  They said, "It's just Facebook."  Gail and I know better.  We had the time of our lives!