Our Great American Adventure

If there's anything I'm certain of, it's that neither of of us won't ever forget the summer of 2009. Just a little over two weeks ago my family and I returned from what I've tentatively called 'Our Great American Adventure'.

It seems a bit preposterous to term a four-week vacation 'Adventure', but there are several reasons why I think it's, at least partially, justifiable: 1) This was our very first vacation together abroad as a family. Our eldest daughter is 11, and prior to our trip to the USA she had never ventured anywhere outside Norway, except for a full week in Sweden two years ago. But since Norwegians share a common history with Swedes (we were in a political union from 1814 to 1905 e.g.), usually we don't refer to holidays in Sweden as having spent time 'abroad'.

2) On three separate occasions we have met with Olaug's American relatives in Norheimsund, Hardanger, or here in Bergen. During the last visit to ancestral turf, one of the visiting Americans (the man's name is Leland) broke the news that preparations were underway regarding a reunion of the descendants of Tore O. Tolo, Leland's paternal grandfather. Not at all certain that any from the old country would be able to participate, he still was hoping that some of us would. In less than the split of a second, the idea had caught on well with at least four people: my wife, my brother-in-law, my sister-in-law and myself.

So there was never really any doubt as two our willingness to go. The pivotal point was finances. Once we had got the chance to go to the US, most of us were adamant that the stay had to be a lengthy one, since we all were aware that vacations in the US are, necessarily, highly money-sapping experiences. But the money issue was soon resolved, and just before Xmas last year our travel agency had booked the necessary flights and hotel rooms. We were set for something we knew would stay with us for the rest of our lives.

DESTINATION USA

3) The third reason this vacation was going to be exceptional, was the country we were going to be holidaymakers in. I can answer only for myself, but given its history, in my mind the USA holds an appeal to foreigners that isn't rivalled by any other nation. Big politics and the suffocating presence of cheap Hollywood culture aside, there still are zillions of reasons to go and visit the only superpower on planet Earth. Need I mention even one?

As the date of departure drew rapidly closer, our excitement soared day by day. We knew we were going to see some familiar faces and a host of new ones. Norma would be there, as would Bryan and Marti and their boys, as would Leland and Nancy, as would Luther and Kay. Our first destination would be Seattle, Washington, home of Microsoft and Bill Gates - and a handful of Americans that were far from total strangers to us, the arriving legal aliens.

To be continued.