Halleluja!

After tonights party, it was time to go to church. To concert with the Liberian Community Gospel Choir, Congolesian Choir and my own musical group, a Norwegian/Congolesian trio called Daap.

Both the Liberians and the Congolesians are very good singers. And so relaxed. One kid joined the group, which was just fine.

At the end it really got heavenly extatic, like it`s supposed to be in a Gospel concert.
The Liberians were dancing around.

But in such a moment you see a very interesting meeting. Between African excitement and Norwegian stiffness.
The Norwegian audience got really anxious, thinking that they might be forced up to dance in the church.
The Liberians continued singing and shouting, taking each others hands.
Me and my friend, Yngve was sitting right up in front. And we both started sweating.
What if we had to take each others hands and sing "halleluja"?
We were not quite ready for that.
But then it was all over.
-Puhh...

Anyway, such meetings are very interesting.
-Let`s meet again, the Liberian Conductor said to me.
-Sure, I replied.

The battle between light and darkness

I`ve just finished this very fine party. 3 o`clock in the morning. Guitar and singing. And a very good attemt in Bobby McGee.

It has been cold. So the wood from the oven was singing along.
And at the same time there was this gigantic battle outside.
Between light and darkness.
The clouds were dancing nervously around in the battle roar.

And suddenly she was there. The Midnight Sun.
She wrestled through. Through the darkness. Through the singing. Through everything.
No point in sleeping now. It will be very bright.

Cafè life

I was so disappointed when I heard. The Africans of the town had a cafè today. With their tasty cookies. And I had missed it.
-Damn...

Well, it was nothing else to do, but going to the more boring, Norwegian cafè.
My mood was like the weather; Windy, grey and low...

But there, we met some friends.
They were laughing, chatting, the mood got better.
After a while, everyone had to go out. To smoke. Due to Norwegian law, noone can smoke inside. So regardless if it`s windy and cold, the smoking has to be done outside.
Standing there, we made som plans for the Saturday night.
-Yeah, why not meet tonight?
I felt I was happy again...

It`s rough

It was quite windy today. Western, near gale.
Well, western wind in North Eastern Norway is not too much. And it`s nothing compared to the storms at the coastline.
But at least it made the stuff coming from the sea to fly away.

Away

It has been such a nice day. Warm and sunny. The kids at my school took their books outdoor. Made the study there.
At the same time this is a sad day.

One of the boys has been sent back to his country. He and his family has applied to become refugees here. But was denied by Norwegian gouvernment.
And today the police was at their door early in the morning and sent them to the airplane.

The kids at school had difficulties in understanding why.
-Why did they have to do this,they asked.
The boy had lived here for three years. Speaking well Norwegian, playing like the rest of the kids.
And now he is suddenly gone. So quickly that no teacher or pupil could even say goodbye.

I spoked with him yesterday. We were sitting outside in the break, having a nice time in the sun. He had become quiet lately. As if he could feel what was going to happen. I patted his shoulders, asking if he was ready to go study again.
He followed in his quiet manner.
It was to become his last hour of study in a Norwegian school.
I hope it goes well with him.

Young photographer

This is one of the first pictures taken by my 13 year old son. He has received a digital camera as a gift. And the sky over Varanger fetched his attention at once.

His next picture is all the rocks in this area. After the ice-age, thousands of years ago, the land raised and left many sea marks in the landscape.

His last picture is of the "Ice-lake". A popular place to go picnic.
Great debut by the young photographer, right?

Made in the garden

This is my first article made this year in my garden. Thanks to a laptop and a wireless network.
Was sitting here with my cup of coffee and looking at life.
At three old women chatting and laughing.
Two seagulls did what they normally do this time of year. besides of the normal screaming.

Two African boys passed by with their bicycles.
An old Afghan man walked the other way (wonder what he was thinking about me, sitting here with my coffe and laptop).
And between the houses the Varanger fjord was shining bright and blue.

Men know how to read poems

I was in a very special community yesterday. 10 male gathered in one house. Young and old. The youngsters were watching Norwegian Idol.

The Idol Generation

The elder (!) were in the kitchen, reading poems!
Yesss!
Just look carefully on this last picture. They are the best you can get. A bunch of photo, music, writing and reading-lovers.
Placed in a house were there is place for both redwine and poems. And Idol.

The poem generation

And here is one of the poems of the night (maybe not correct translated):

The pool has
lights under the surface
Our shadow
fell through the stars

Grey National Day

Each year, at the 17. of May, our Norwegian National Day is celebrated all over the country. With children and musicians walking in parades.

In the south it is mostly quite warm this day. Springtime with flowers and green grass.

But here, in Arctic Varanger it`s mostly cold. Very cold.
Like today. Pluss 4-5 degrees Celcius and a heavy, eastern wind. It almost ripped the banner off the childrens hands.

Then it`s better to be invited home to a family for coffee and cakes.
Like this cake;
Looking like the Norwegian flag, in red strawberries, white cream and blue blueberries.
-Horray, for the 17. of May...

Party in a small, Arctic town

There`s just two places to go out on a Saturday night in our town, Vadsø.
So, the traditional way to party is to first meet at home with some friends.
And so we did, yesterday.

People were relaxing, eating pizza and chatting about their multicultural town.
One guy told he had found out that he is not only a descendant after Finnish immigrants. He also have indegionous Saami blood.
There`s more and more people who find this out now.
Another talked about that something should have been done to make Afghan, Congolesian and other refugees meet the Norwegians. Like some multicultural party.
-There`s many who wants it, but nobody who does anything, one said.

Then we went out. To one of the two places.
The music at the pub was very traditional. Some local musicians playing music by Creedence. This American group stays as the most popular group for centuries in Arctic Norway.

Finally, we went to a small smack. Played guitar, sang, relaxed in the narrow cabin.
In the morning, on our way home, it was snowing.
-Seems like it`s winther again, the taxi driver said.
-Yes, indeed, I replied.

Strawberry and cream on their way to town.

The midnight sun will soon be here

The midnight sun is just around the corner. Actually it`s supposed to be here at our Norwegian National Day, the 17. of May.
And now, the evenings are very bright.
These pictures were taken 11 o clock at night.

First taste of summer

This has been such a warm and wonderful day! The first day this year when we could put away the winther clothes.
Well, pluss 8 degrees Celsius might not be the warmest temperature compared to other places around the world.
But after a long winther, it just feels marvellous.
The local wine and liquer-store had a long, long queue of excited customers.
Others were sitting outside in the sun, looking into the calm landscape of the fjord.

Later on, we might get some cold winds and even snow again. The ice on the White Sea in Russia will melt and send heavy fog onto us.
But it doesnt matter. This day fills our bodies with pleasure...

Details

Ekkerøy is the place to go, if you want to watch the sky, the birds or small details.
Here is some of the details from a trip this weekend.

Love and hate

I`ve got this love/hate relationship to the seagulls.
It`s springtime now. The night is bright. And the seagulls are screaming awfully. Most of them just outside my bedroom.

Then I hate them! Very intensely!
But when I take a trip to the bird mountain at Ekkerøy and see all the seagulls working very hard on their nests, then... well, I guess I don`t quite love them, but they get my symphathy...

Made by the Ski Club

Tomorrow there will be a new store in Vadsø. And it`s made by the local Ski Club. Fathers and mothers of the young skiers have put down a lot of work to build the store, to make money for the club.

Me, I feel I don`t belong in the environment. I`m not very practical. And feel quite unsure about what to do.
And when the fathers discuss the latest news in how to make the skis run fast, I don`t understand anything.

Anyway, all the parents of the young skiers have put down a tremendous work until late at night for many weeks.
And it makes good money for the club.

The sky over Ekkerøy

The sky is the main subject in this flat landscape of North Eastern Norway. On the small place Ekkerøy along the coast, it`s more than enough of it.

Many places around the world you`ll have to pay a lot to get a good view. Here, there`s so much, and you get it for free.

We were there this weekend. Young and old. Relaxing. Shooting with an airgun. And watching more of the sky.

Rack of lamb ribs and Workers Day

This the dinner of today. Lamb ribs, a Norwegian speciality, just as special as "lutefisk". It`s called "pinnekjøtt", meaning something like "stickmeat". It`s salted, sometimes smoked, dried out in fresh, cold air for several months, and then steamed in a pot, layed upon stiches from a white birch. The stiches are supposed to give the meat a special flavour. Then served with potatoes and mashed swedes (strange name).
It`s normally served around Christmas. But since I have made it all by myself (I`m very proud of it)I need most of the winther to dry the meat.

The other subject is that today is the 1. of may, the Workers Day. And for the first time I didn`t participate. Just being occupied with cooking.
I have enjoyed to sing international workers songs, and hearing speeches from the towns communists and socialists.
I guess I`m getting lazy. Staying home with food and family.
But I did hum to one of the songs...