Volunteer work in Norway: The BEST ever 😍

4^th to 26^th of September, 2022.

            I was not ready for that hug.

            Some really good films start from the middle. I mean, they show us a fragment of the story ongoing first, and only then they show us the beginning. Does not always work, like in The Old Guard, for example, but there are some great ones, like Wild.

            That is what I am trying to do with this chapter: I start with a fragment of the ongoing story. Damn it! Actually, it is a fragment of the end…

            It is difficult to even start writing about my time at Ellen and Espen’s house. There is so much to say, and yet, sometimes I just want to write a few sentences and leave everything else to the memory. They are among the most lovely, kind, fun and generous people I have ever met!

            Their house is a Villa from the 1900’s and it is gorgeous! They remastered inside, giving a more modern look, and what a look! It is also quite massive and I am surprise with how much space there is inside. Large living and dining rooms, a marvelous spacious kitchen, beautiful and huge garden with a lovely terrace. The bedrooms are upstairs, together with one bathroom. My bedroom is the biggest and with a wonderful view! The other two bedrooms are being occupied by another volunteer from Germany, Jonas, and a couple from Iran and Italy, Sara and Emanuele.

            The energy in the house is just so great! I don’t know how to explain.

          Ellen and Espen are married for over 40 years, and are now in their early sixties. They have 4 children: the oldest girl is already married and with a baby; the 2 boys also leave on their own; and the youngest, Mira, has moved recently to the basement. Well, the basement looks nothing like a basement, I have to say. First of all, it is huge! The bedroom is super spacious and there is a lovely bathtub and a shower in the nice bathroom down there. There is also a ping-pong and a foosball table.

            Since the beginning, I get along pretty well with the other volunteers but I spend most of the time with Jonas. He is so much fun! And even though he is only 21 years old, he seems more mature than that. We keep teasing each other, just like I used to do back in Brazil with my friends. The four of us are mostly eating together and spend some time together after the meals. I think this is the volunteer work where I have spent more time with other volunteers.

            The work is varied. On my first day I cleaned out the lichen of some wooden benches. But it took me the whole day and I still couldn’t finish. Mostly we worked in the restoration of the attic on the next-door building. We were plastering the plaster boards, the amendments between them actually, and sanding after; removing and adding boards; adding isolation boards; learning how to use 4 different electric saws; learning how to use the chainsaw, etc. But we also worked in the garden, digging out the weeds.

            They used the house as a B&B and on Airbnb before, but they asked our help to improve that too. We all came up with some ideas and suggestions but me and Sara worked really hard on updating their website and setting up de house for marketing photographs. I create breakfast trays, and a nice, relaxing spa bathroom on the basement. It was super cool and I realize how much I like doing something like that.

            We also spent a few days in their cottage in one of the islands near Oslo. Dear, Loki, the place is marvelous! To get to the tiny island, you have to grab this tiny ferry and cross the 20 metres distance. It is so cute! Ellen told us that some years ago, the ferry was not electric but manual, so someone always had to roll this huge hand crank in order for the boat to cross to the other side. As a sign of gratitude for the courtesy extended, the passengers would always say Tisun takk (Thank you, in Norwegian) to that person, before leaving the boat.

            The cottage is incredible! And it is much bigger inside than it looks! Three bedrooms, a large living and dining room, plus a super cute kitchen. The space outside is superb! An enormous garden / green area, with vegetables and fruits. Apples flourishing! And many siting areas to just relax and enjoy the peace and the silence. You can quickly walk to the water and enjoy a swim! I wish we had spent more time so I could go for a walk around the island. But we were working hard picking apples (more than 70 Kg!), cleaning the garden, digging out the last potatoes, painting the terrace and cooking! I prepared my vegetarian empanadas and everybody loved!

            One evening we go all together to the sea and they take a swim in the freezing cold water. Crazy people! Me and Sara just watch! Another evening we go there after darkness looking for the planktons. It was so nice! You move your arms in the water and you see these flashlights everywhere! But Ellen and Espen told us that it can be much more if it is a darker night and if you are actually swimming. I was thrilled anyway!

            One night, Espen prepares a traditional Norwegian dinner: boiled potatoes and carrots, fish balls, and a curry sauce. It is called Fiskboller.

            Espen and Mira teach us how to row a boat! At first, I was a bit afraid and seriously considering not to try. But Espen told me there was nothing to fear because we would be wearing life-jackets. And he insisted I should try, but in an encouraging way, not demanding or anything. I know that was his attitude that made me try it, and I am so glad I did! We went in pairs, so Sara and Emanuele go first, followed by me and Jonas. I was a bit nervous but Jonas was so cool and supportive, and everything went great! I could even hear Espen yelling from the deck: “You are a natural!” So sweet!

            That same day they also took us for a boat ride. What? Yeah! I know! It is a motor boat this time, and when Espen asks if anyone want to go in front, I called out “I do!”. It is a bit cold but it is so much fun! Sara and Jonas take turns by my side but I remain in front for the whole trip.

            Back in Hvalstad, all of sudden, they tell us we are going to watch an ice hockey match. What? Amazing! It is a very important match to the team they support. None of us volunteers have ever watched an ice hockey match before, so we are all so excited! Before entering the building, a surprise: they are distributing FREE cake! A delicious strawberry marzipan cake. Just lovely! We get to our seats and soon the match starts. It is just like in the films: all the lights, music and the smashing of the players against the wall. Before I used to think that was only in the films. Nope! They actually do that! There were some fights too. And the crowed was going crazy too, but in a mannered way, not like in Brazilian football matches. There are a lot of people though. And our team won!

         This night is when I realize how Norwegian men are charming. Dear, Loki! Everywhere I look at it, there was a charming Norwegian guy. I can tell for sure that Norway is the country where I have seen more charming men. Only losing to Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.

          And since we are in the subject… I think it is time to talk about Espen. He is amazing! He knows so much about so many things, and he loves reading too. And I think he is very charming! I love his greyish hair and his beautiful blue eyes, but what is really incredible is his smile. Oh, wow! And he is so helpful at home too! He cooks very often and always, always gather the plates from the table after we finish eating and starts to clean up. What I don’t understand is why at the same time he has this mentality that women should be more careful about carrying heavy stuff, as once he told me. And he can be a bit rough sometimes, in the edge of rudeness, but I don’t think it is intentional thought, just the way he was raised or something.

           Me and the volunteers go up the mountains in one of our days off. It was fun! But we walked a lot! Way more than I was planning to. And we saw so many Norwegians on the way. They really like outside activities.

            We are all so much into something all the time, that I barely have time to work on my personal stuff. Usually after dinner we keep talking or playing Chinese chess and other board games. It is so much fun! Everybody in Norway has one at home and they love to play it! Among all this and time passing so fast, I barely manage to do some writing.

         I am also working on the process or renewing my passport. Yep! It finally happened! I am running out of blank pages and, a while ago, I decided it would be better to renew it here in Norway, or basically anywhere in Europe. After a lot of stress (from my part, because I am so nervous!), and almost selling a kidney to pay the fee (a steal of 150€!), things turned out to be much simpler than I thought, but it is way too long to explain here, so let’s just say that, in the end, everything worked out thank to the “jeitinho Brasiliero” (Brazilian little way).

            To recover not only my new passport, but the old one and my birth certificate, I have to make an appointment at the Brazilian Embassy. But their working hours are shitty, only from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., so it is really hard to find an opening. I could ask to receive via mail, but I don’t want to risk. That’s when a big “coincidence” happens.

            On the 16^th of September is to be the Oslo Culture Night, where almost all the museums and galleries in Oslo will be for free after 5 p.m. There will be also a lot of performances and exhibitions open air all over the city. And they come up with a different opening time for each event, so you can see as much as possible. I think that is fascinating and I would love to go. It would be difficult to choose where to go and what to see, but better to see something than nothing. The only problem is: public transport. As many other things in Norway (if not everything), public transport is expensive. The train for 2 zones (the one I need) is about 7 Euros one way. Crazy, uhm? It takes about 25 minutes or so but it costs bloody 7 Euros!

            When I came to drop off the documents on my Embassy, I got a lift with Espen to the city, we all did because it was our day off. And to go back home I bought a ticket. The thing is, not finding / knowing where to validate the ticket, I didn’t. And not having anyone coming to check the tickets on that particular train (they actually do that quite often), I had a still valid ticket after using the train to go back home. But that was only one and I didn’t want to exchange more cash just to get another ticket and go to the Oslo Culture Night. So, I made peace with myself about not going and that was it.

            But it happens that, the only time available for me to pick up my passport was when? On the 16^th of September, at 12.30 p.m. Can you believe that? There was nothing one week before or later, when I would be already gone from Oslo. I don’t know if that was just luck or something else but for sure it was huge! Since the beginning Ellen had told us she would drive us to the city on that day, so we all could go and enjoy, I just needed to use my return ticket back and voilá! I will write a separate text only about my experience in Oslo.

            Now, back to the lovely Boger’s family / home, it is such a joy to work here. My room is so amazing and the view… ah! The bed is huge and so comfortable that I also want to sleep a lot! During sunny mornings, me and the other volunteers have our breakfast outside and it is so nice!

            Ellen and Espen provide us with so much food! And delicious, healthy, quality food! Sometimes I even think it is too much! For breakfast there is always muesli, oat flakes and cereals, nuts, dried fruits, fresh fruits, different types of yogurt and milk. There is always a lot of coffee! And that is so lovely! But we also have always some delicious bread, cheeses, spreads, salamis, eggs, tofu, bacon, veggies, etc. The fridge is always full!

                When Sara and Emanuele take one weekend to go camping, it is only me, Jonas, Ellen and Espen one night. We have a lovely dinner and hot cocoa by the fire place. After, me and Jonas start to dance. It is so much fun! We dance Irish music, Brazilian music and other things. At some point, Elle join us. I keep trying to make Espen to also come and dance, but at first he refuses. Finally, he gives up and join us too. He and Ellen are so cute together! It is a wonderful night!

            We always have dinner together and Ellen, Espen and Mira prepared us some delicious dishes! Always delicious! Mira made some Norwegian Tacos, which were incredible! She prepared, very patiently, rice paper rolls, with an amazing peanut butter sauce, which were TO DIE for it! I could eat that every day! She also prepared the famous Norwegian waffles for us for lunch one day. What a treat! In Norway they have waffles with brown cheese, jam and sour cream. Just like in heaven… Ellen and Espen delighted us with the best of Norwegian cuisine: fårikål (lamb meat cooked with cabbage and whole black pepper seeds, served with boiled potatoes and carrots); Tilslørte Bondepiker (apple pure, with whipped cream and bread crumbs and sugar fried in butter); moose and reindeer meat (Espen slowly prepared the meats in the oven, the gravy and the berry sauce, mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables and mushroom); cloudberry dessert (this berry is very famous in Scandinavian countries and I hadn’t tried until now! They served the berries slightly mashed, with whipped cream and a tiny bit of cloudberry liquor). And last but not the least, there was always brown cheese (brunost) in the fridge, this Norwegian delicacy (it is goat cheese) which we all fell in love with it. Ellen even bough three different types of it, just so we could have a taste of each one of them.

            They also took us to the beach on day, where we made a camping fire and had the famous lømpe hot-dog (a flat bread made of potatoes, which you have with grilled sausages, fried onions and sauces) and pancakes. It was so incredible and I was so touched by their gesture!

            There was another type of Culture Night, this time in Asker, and they also took us. Another great night! There were performances and light shows along the river side, so we just enjoy some hours of walking and admiring. There were some really good stuff, like this little guy made out of LED, who grew up and become a giant made of lights; and on the dance performances, a young boy performing ballet really caught my heart.

            Jonas left one week before the rest of us. It was very sad for all of us. The house was a less fun without him.

            Just next-door leaves Bjørn, Espen’s mother. She is 96 years old and just recently moved here to leave under their supervision. I think she is lovely, funny, sophisticated and strong lady. But they tell us that sometimes she goes a bit nuts. Who wouldn’t at the age of 96, right? Anyway, she joined us a few times for dinner and she is always very pleasant and polite, repeating how much she enjoyed whatever dish was made and interacting with all of us. One night she invited us all to go for a pizza night in Asker. We go to this really nice restaurant, Italian style and chef, and we have some delicious pizza and wine.

            On our last night we played one last match of Chinese chess. I win! I am so happy! Even though I have the feeling that Espen let me win… Laugh. But it doesn’t matter, I win! Mira made us a phenomenal Oreo cake! It is so delicious but I don’t know why I tried to be polite and only had one piece.

            Next morning it is Mira’s birthday and they have a tradition of getting the birthday person cake and coffee in the bed. They do that for years. Around 8 o’clock I stop the cleaning of the bathroom and me, Ellen and Espen go to the basement to wake up / surprise Mira. I think it is fascinating what they get her for her birthday: tickets to a ballet performance! Oh! What a dreamy gift!

            Ellen has a meeting in Oslo, so she will give me a lift to outside of town, where I can hitchhike to Trondheim. She is so sweet and kind to us all, always arranging lifts and making sure we are comfortable, safe and have everything we need. She is very calm and peaceful. Even the way she speaks gives you a sense of peace and tenderness.

            After cleaning my bedroom and the bathroom, I prepare some sandwiches and because Ellen insisted, I also bring with me a small chunk of brunost.

            When I am all set, waiting for Ellen by the staircase, it happens. Espen walks towards me, and with his arms wide open asks: “Brazilian hug?” (I have told them the other night that we Brazilians are huggers! We always hug people when we encounter them, and then when we are leaving again, even when you just first meet someone!). But the hug he gives me… oh! It is not just a hug! It is an amazing hug! It has so much feelings and honesty on it! And our faces are stuck together for the whole time. What does that hug mean it? It meant anything? I don’t know. All I know is that I was not ready for that hug. It caught me so out guard! I didn’t know how to react or what to do. I mean, of course I hugged him back, but I could have done better! I could have given him a really great hug! I am a specialist on hugs! When I want to…

            On our way, Ellen stops in a Kiwi (the best Kiwi of Norway) and gets me two bars of chocolate and some wool pantyhose. What? I know! She is so fantastic!

            When we arrive at the gas station where I should stay, it is closed for restoration! No! But Ellen is an angel, so she drives me all the way to the next one. And there is where I say goodbye to the last member of my beloved Boger family.