Madelynne Williams- Blog Abroad
Blog #1
My first week in Bergen, Date: August 03-August 09
Blog #2
Do polar bears roam the streets of Norway?, Date: August 05
Hi :) My name is Madelynne; you can call me Madee. I hope you learn something about the study abroad experience from my blog. I do plan on writing about my adventures and fun experiences in Bergen, Norway, as well as other places I travel to, but I also intend to talk about the challenges I will and have faced. I want to give readers the full picture, especially those who are undecided or contemplating an experience like this- like I was.
I arrived in Bergen on an average Monday, a bit apprehensive about beginning my semester here, but more tired than anything. I made my way to my dorm and was greeted by a kind note my roommate had left me, explaining that in case we missed each other when I arrived, she wanted to introduce herself. This did wonders for my nerves, as I had no idea what having a roommate out here would be like.
I unpacked all my luggage and walked to a cafe near the closest train station, where a small sandwich cost a whopping 160 kr (roughly $16), but it was still delicious! This was jarring until I entered the grocery store, where I spent 30 minutes gawking at the prices. It makes sense, considering they have incredibly fair wages here, but as an American, this was shocking! I thought I was prepared, considering I did the required cost estimating/research during the Study Abroad application process. Beyond that, I felt some embarrassment, as I’m sure I looked silly with my eyes wide and mouth agape as I wandered cluelessly around the store. This was only made worse by the awkward interaction I had with the store clerk when he greeted me in Norwegian. After I was accepted to the program, I began learning Norwegian, but hearing the language in person was far different than I imagined. I couldn't return the greeting, nor could I answer his question about whether I wanted a bag. It felt like my first day on Earth! Not really, though; I’m just being dramatic :p
My hours and days following my first trip to the grocery store consisted of getting to know my lovely roommate and trying to make friends. Which has been nerve-wracking, but when you move to a new country with hundreds of other people in the same situation, you find you have a lot to talk about. Putting yourself out there is incredibly important at a time like this, and I knew that. It’s equally important to remember to stay hopeful! It may feel challenging to befriend many people at the start, but you will find your friends. I myself have not made many, but I have made enough to have already enjoyed some experiences, like a home-cooked meal, thrifting at a couple of lovely thrift shops, a trip to IKEA, and a couple of nights out. During big transitions, you must be kind to yourself (shout-out to my roommate for reminding me of that).
Anyways, talk to you later!
Well, we can reasonably assume that they do not. However, my answer to this question is more complicated and polarizing than you might expect.
No, polar bears do not meander through the beautiful cities of Norway. However, the way the international studies faculty asked the question is what stuck with me.
I sat in a large lecture hall with 200 of my peers and watched the presentation for incoming international students. They were talking about Norwegian culture and norms in a humorous fashion. Then they clicked to the next slide depicting a polar bear swimming in deep blue water with the question “Do polar bears walk in the streets of Norway?” A boy from Brussels raised his hand and said, “Yes! They do!” The woman presenting said, “OK”, then asked us if anyone was from the United States. I raised my hand slightly; she spotted me and asked me to raise it all the way. I did, and the entire auditorium turned to look at me as I sat at the very back, until one other person raised his hand as well. She then explained that when she visited America and told people that she was from Norway, several asked if polar bears roam the streets here. After a small chuckle, she said: “But you know, Americans think that Norway is the capital of Sweden!” … I believe that was supposed to be the punch line of her joke- some laughed; I did not. That was not funny to me at all. I was immediately embarrassed and, honestly, humiliated. I was confused as to why she had to call out the American people in the room before joking about how “stupid” we are and also confused as to why the joke was made at all. It made me very unsure about my decision to come to Norway, as this was not the only experience in which my Americanness was seen as inferior.
I understand why the world perceives Americans as it does, and I was warned about this, but I did not expect that the disparagement of Americans would manifest in the form of disrespect. Recounting this story is in no way an attempt to convince anyone not to study abroad. While this polar bear joke was unfair and I should not have to prove my intelligence or worth to anyone because I am American, it highlighted the importance of my time here in Bergen. Whether you are up for the task or not (you decide), when you are from a fractured country like the United States, you must prove that the stereotypes are exactly that: unfair perceptions based on behaviors that do not reflect an entire group. Trying to make friends will, more often than not, be riddled with political conversations, and in my case, it will feel like not even your university staff will believe in you. However, this will be your opportunity to show that the majority of Americans do not support what our politicians are doing, and that their actions do not speak for us. This is incredibly important when many people in Norway and countries alike have concluded that people from the U.S. are not intellectual beings capable of deviating from fascist ideals and hateful ideologies.
On the positive side, better days will come. It is incredibly beautiful here, and people are kind, aside from a few bad apples, but you can expect that anywhere. Exploring has been exciting, as you will pass a random street and get a perfect view of a beautiful hill with multicolored houses. Enjoy the pictures attached.
I will talk to you later. Bye!
