Thank you!

I have just come home from a two weeks' marketing tour visiting schools and talking about Hald. It has been a great experience in many ways: I have gotten to see places I have never seen before, I've met lots of great people along my way and I finally got to some bigger towns where you can get falafel at a reasonable price.

But I think the main reason why it has been a great trip is that I have been received so well in so many places. You see, when you go off into unknown places, carrying lots of stuff and not really knowing where you're going or where you'll sleep you end up depending pretty heavily on others. That can be very scary, especially in a country like Norway where we are used to being independent and managing our own stuff.

However, people really came through for me wherever I went. So I would like to dedicate this (pretty long) blog post to all the great people I met along my way, who made my journey a lot easier. You have definitely given me back a lot of faith in Norway and its people.

- To Maybrit, Earth and Julio: Thank you for coming with me to the train station in Kristiansand and seeing me off! It made me able to leave very encouraged, knowing I had great friends to come back to after two weeks.
- To Nora: Thanks for letting me sleep at your place and for introducing me to new foods such as spinach pancakes and falafel. :)
- To the strangers in Aker Brygge: Thank you for helping me carry my stuff. I was really cold and tired, and you came in just the right moment.
- To Idunn: Thank you for coming with me to KG, it really mattered to have someone there who knew the place and the students.
- To Ida, Marlene and their roommates: Thank you for letting me sleep at your house and for a very nice, relaxing day including great food, nice conversation and movies among other things. I really hope to come back some time.
- To all great KIA goers in Oslo: Thank you for the warm welcome we got from all of you. A special thank you to the guys who walked me to the train station (I forgot the names, sorry!). I felt very taken care of. And of course, to Joffe for giving me the idea of going even though he didn't show up himself, hehe.

- To Mesh, Carol and James: Thank you for a wonderful welcome in Bergen! I was tired and cold after traveling by train the whole night and you gave me a warm bed and some breakfast. It's wonderful to know that whenever I am in Bergen I can stop by your place. I appreciate all of you very very much!
- To the teachers at Danielsen: Thank you for welcoming me in a great way and even let me leave some of my luggage in the teacher's lounge untill the next morning.
- To my brother Eivind: Thank you just for being the great guy you are, in every way. You're awesome!
- To Linda: Thank you for coming with me to Kongshaug and helping me out with the stand. It was invaluable to have someone there who knew the place. Thanks also for a great conversation, interesting reflections and good advice. :)
- To Conny: Thanks for waiting patiently when I was 40 minutes late, and for an inspiring and encouraging conversation.
- To Gjermund: Thank you for helping me find my way around Framnes, and for lending me your computer. It was really helpful to know someone there. Also thank you for getting the Hald DVD to Bergen when I forgot it.
- To guys at YA: Allthough it was a coincidence, thank you for having Mexican Night just the time I was there!
- To my mom: Thank you for having us over for porridge, and for a nice conversation. Thank you for really taking an interest in what I am up to. I appreciate that very much.
- To Hald people: Thank you for being part of Hald evening and for making it a very memorable day. I hope to see you all in my home again some other time. Also, thank you for cleaning up very nicely. Thank you for great conversations both after International Church and on Monday evening. :)
- To Natasha: Thank you for coming with me to Bildøy. I am very glad you were there, and you did a great job. Also thanks for contributing your baking skills to the banana cake! (See previous blog post)

- To my dad: Thank you for all the help figuring out the bus schedules and the best way of getting myself and my extreme amounts of luggage to where I needed to go in the best way possible. I can always count on you.
- To the driver of the bus from Bergen to Haugesund: Thank you for charging me student price even though I said I wasn't a student and for helping me find the next bus I needed to take.
- To the driver of the bus from Haugesund to Ølensvåg: Thank you for helping me get off at the right place and for making sure I got from there to Lundeneset.
- To the stranger in Ølensvåg: Thank you for finding a cab and for splitting it with me and making sure I got to where I needed to go.
- To the teacher at Lundeneset who also happens to be the mom of a former Hald student: Thank you for giving me a great welcome in Lundeneset and for making sure I got back to Haugesund the next day. You really saved me a lot of worries.

- To Hilde: Thank you so much for giving me an amazing welcome in Randaberg. I had a wonderful time at your place! Thank you for driving me everywhere, for feeding me chocolate and for lots of great conversations. I felt so welcome. Also thank your mom for fixing my trouser and your dad for letting me try farm fresh milk. You guys are amazing. :)
- To Therese: Thanks for a great conversations and for helping me carry my stuff! Hope to see you again some time.
- To Hald people in Stavanger: Thanks for good times and nice conversations. I had a great time together with you!

- To the staff at Hald: Thank you for praying for me while I was away. It was a great encouragement.
- And last but not least, Maybrit and Zsofia: Thank you for welcoming me home in a great way, for helping to carry all my stuff, for great supper and for listening to my stories. You guys are the best roommates I could ask for. :)