DINNER WITH FAMILY - BERGEN, NORWAY - DAY 5
I woke up feeling really sick, but I thought taking a probiotic would fix everything and the moment I took it, I instantly felt better- Not completely but pretty close.
I have an appetite again, and scarf down a healthy breakfast with Ove. He tells me his secret new business endeavor, and asks for help to make some videos and designs. I even suggested a logo, and he loved it so much, Ove and his brother Arne will be using it. He’ll pay me when he gets the money, so I’ll keep track of my hours, but he’s family so it’s also a pleasure and I don't mind. After breakfast, Anita gets ready, and I take photos of the family albums to share with the Swedish side of the family when I get to Gotland.
Anita, Ove, and I go for a ride. We had plans for a hike but we spent too much time driving around, so we skip it. Instead, Ove lets me drive his manual ‘66 car! I actually do really well, and I was smiling from ear to ear driving a classic. Ove loved it too, and Anita was filming.
I only have the car die once when trying to park in a tight spot. I was terrified of hitting another car with Ove’s priceless one, but he’s a very good teacher, and I parked it the second time, no problem. I get to say I drove a ‘66 Cortina through Norway! And I suggested to name the car “Tina” from CorTINA, but also because I love Tina Turner. Ove loved the idea, and that’s the car’s official name now.
We stop at a harbor, and come to a popular shop for the boats. Anita buys us pizza baguettes, and honestly, it’s the best thing I’ve ever had. I can fully enjoy it with my stomach being better. Anita is quick and she pays for all of us...Ove wants crab to eat later, so I pay for that, even though it was only half a crab. I bought beers the day before, so I think they know I’m at least trying to contribute.
After lunch, we head back home to eat more. We enjoy crab sandwiches, get ready for the big family dinner later tonight.
Ove and I pick up Mor, (Bjørg), *(Mor means "Mother"), and drive over to Arne’s place. On our way, a few American tourists are stuck on the road with a flat tire and a wrecked side. Ove helps them of course. He’s a good egg. I can understand Mor's Norwegian quiet well because it sounds like northern Swedish when Farmor and Farfar would speak to me. She tells me Ove has always been like this. Even as a kid, he was always helping people, and going out of his way. I could tell from his actions, but it's still a really sweet moment.
We carry on, and I meet Arne, his wife, Solfrid, and his eldest son from an Argentinian woman, Sten. All of the siblings are close, but Ove is especially close with his older brother, Arne. Ove told me that Arne used to be a really bad kid growing up, always getting into trouble. It got to the point where he got kicked out of school, and chose to work on a ship as his way of "shaping up". When he returned home, Arne had all of these sailor tattoos and stories of traveling all over the world, and as a result, Ove thought the world of him. I call Arne the secret American in the family. He’s a gruff, tough, daredevil sailor, who now has a construction business. He loves American country music, driving / racing monster trucks, and shooting guns for sport. He would LOVE living in the States.
Ove's other brother, Od Bjorn, and his wife couldn't be at the dinner because of health reasons. They're really sorry they can't make it.
At dinner, we have the best Swedish meatballs *(haha), and cake and coffee after. We speak in Swedish, English and Norwegian. As I said before, I understand Bjørg’s Norwegian the best. Everyone else who grew up in Bergen sounds like Swedes from Skåne- It’s a little harder to catch everything. *(Skåne is in the Southern part of Sweden, and they don't really pronounce their "R's". Everything is sort of spoken from the back of the throat, rather than using the tongue. It's just like if you came from the Midwest in the States, and then came to visit the deep South- The accent is pretty distinguishable). Sten and I bond over Rick and Morty. I later learn he has a motorcycle, and has been caught a few times speeding...I wonder where he gets that from.
After dinner, the family agrees to take me fishing with Arne, Solfrid and *Izzy. Izzy is a recovered narcotic addict that has been staying with them to get clean. She’s amazing at playing Pokémon on her mobile, and has become rather obsessed with it. She's at a super high level, and often travels into the city to go with her friends on Pokemon raids. My dark comedy mind instantly thinks her addiction shifted from narcotics to a Pokémon video game... Much better this way though.
I say goodbye to Ove here as he has to go halfway home to see his girlfriend before leaving the following morning to Oslo. And Anita has to take Bjørg back home. Sten also has to take off for work the next morning, but I thank everyone profusely for all that they’ve done for me in just two short days. They hope to see me again next year, and I hope I can see them too.
Later in the evening, I fish with the rest of the family. Norway is beautiful, so while I’m fishing on and off, I’m photographing and filming most of the time. Arne, Izzy and Solfrid don’t notice the spectacular nature, or ever morphing cotton candy sky as much. It's a wonder how anyone could possibly get used to views like this. I break my concentration when Izzy catches four fish likes it nothing. We talk and fish, and I find out that Izzy is also a really accomplished hiker. I think because of the landscape and environment, Scandinavians are naturally pretty good at hiking and being outdoors, but Izzy informs me that she'll go for a 10 mile hike up a mountain everyday just because she's bored. People get into narcotics for a myriad of reasons, but I never guessed it could be because some people are automatically good at everything, and simply have nothing better to do. It's likely to my benefit that I have to suck at something for many years until I finally become good at it.
Solfrid catches a fish, and then I FINALLY manage to catch one as well. The experience was one of a kind, and I thoroughly love fishing just as much as when I fished as a kid growing up.
We head home. I thank and say my goodbyes to Solfrid, and Izzy and Arne take me home. We hang out at Anita’s for a bit and between the family, we agree that Arne and Izzy should take me into Bergen city tomorrow. Anita offers for me to stay with her and she’ll drive me in and out of the city, but I already booked my hostel. She then asks if I want to do a laundry in the morning and she can drive my clean clothes to me the following evening. This is just the nicest! Anita is so kind, but that’s more work for them, and I can’t accept, especially after everything they’ve done for me already. But what a good family to have!
My stomach is starting to feel a bit weird again so I go to bed and take another probiotic. Before I head next door, Anita tells me not to worry about the sheets or anything, but of course I’ll take care of it. I just hope the probiotics work so I don’t need to see a doctor in Norway. It’s merely a comfort thing that I’d rather go to Sweden, or not have to see a Doctor at all. But of course, if I can’t stand it, I’ll go.
P.S. I also found out why the houses are black here. Ove told me that black paint absorbs heat the fastest because it’s so wet and rainy in Norway all the time. I told him my theory that I thought it was because of all the black metal music. We agree- That’s the real truth.
-eM
