This is the first in a series of a posts that will give Liberians in Liberia and the diaspora an opportunity to share their stories. If you are interested in contributing, or know someone who might want to, send me an email. Below, Christopher Zarwu Ballah talks about adjusting to life as a refugee in Norway.
The African (Liberian) Man and His Life in Europe
My understanding and experience of life in the Norwegian society
Article and photos by Christopher Zarwu Ballah
When reading newspaper articles and reports from the United Nations on the ranking of countries with reference to security, the best country for women and children, the richest country, women empowerment, and social and health care, without doubt a country like Norway repeatedly appears on top. Norway is indeed a nice country to live in but the challenges, hurdles and bottle necks found in the country cannot be overemphasized. Just like every other country, Norway has its own problems of shattered hopes and dreams. Notwithstanding, I am enjoying my stay here with the hope and assurance that those challenges are incomparable to my achievements at the end of the day. To start, I would like to take you through my experience from day one as a neophyte up until now as a student of nursing at the College of Bodø (Høgskole I Bodø) branch in Rana.
With high hopes for exploring a better life abroad as many others from third world countries, I was fortunate to be one of a few hundred refugees selected for resettlement to Norway. With a huge thirst for education, I felt that my day of payback has come for academic deficits inflicted on me due to our own inability to resolve our differences amicably least to say govern our communities with honesty. Anyway, after a month of waiting for a travel date, on September 9, 2004 I finally boarded a Boeing 737 British Airways flight from the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana. After a horrible 7 hours of uninteresting journey above the ocean (by the way, I am acrophobic–extreme fear of flying), the flight touched down at the Heathrow Airport in London. My greatest worry was when the business of sky life would come to an end.
My first disappointment? Upon arrival at Gardemoen, as the airport in Oslo is referred to, I was told there was another flight scheduled for my final destination. This lasted an hour and arrived in Trondheim, the third largest city with a population of about 150,000 people, funny right? The country’s total is just 1 million more than Liberia, 4.5 million.
Nidaros Cathedral (Nidarosdomen), considered the most significant church of Norway, is located in Tronheim.The capital has only 500,000 inhabitants. I boarded a bus that took me two hours from Værnes Airport to my new home in Steinkjer, the Nord-trøndelag district headquater which is home to about 25,000 people.
September 10, 2004 was a completely new day in my life. I mean everything was new. I was in a new environment, among new people, new language, new weather, new shops or shopping systems if you like, just like a baby being born.
The Administrative Building in Steinkjer (Radhus in Norwegian).
Met upon arrival by representatives from the local refugee council, we were told to report at the refugee office the next morning. By the way, I had actually travelled together with some other refugee families. It was a sunny autumn afternoon with a temperature of about 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit) little did I know that this was an extremely cold temperature for anyone just coming from an area with an average temperature of 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). My new home had been preheated cognizant of the fact that an African was to live there.
The radiance from the sun penetrated the glass in an appeal to mimic the African weather and make a fool of me and indeed it did. The fact that I had always been kept in enclosed locations, flights, airport terminals and bus, I was unaware of the atmospheric temperature. With curiosity, I decided to take a tour of my new community. I stepped out in a short-sleeve t-shirt and headed for the supermarket. It took about 15 minutes and I began freezing. With every door shut and no one in the street, I took on the look of an athlete by jogging in an attempt to beat off the cold. I arrived at the shop and entered. I stayed for about 10 minutes and decided telling my ordeal to the guy at the counter. He pretended not to understand English and replied in Norwegian. I got angry with this guy as if he knew I had just arrived. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw a guy with a genuine chocolate face exactly like mine enter the shop. I was fast in greeting this brother with the hope of getting some help, and indeed it paid off. He called the refugee office and I was picked up for home.
But with all frankness, I actually thought it was winter without snow. I complained to the driver that the temperature was extreme. With a loud laugh followed by an empathetic smile, he said to me: “You are just beginning. It’s actually going to get triple worse this year according to forecasts”. Well, this interesting story must take a pause to be continued the next time as I am occupied with my school work. When we next meet, I will take you through the life of Norwegian learning from the ABC (beginners) class to the high school and now to the university. Follow my story.
About the author: I am a Liberian presently living in Norway attending a nursing college (Høgskole I Bodø). I have spent the last 3 years in Norway. I graduated from the West Africa College for Sustainable Development with diploma in Community Health in Ghana, and also graduated from the Preparatory College of Health Sciences with certificate in Health Assistance. I enjoy politics and sports. In recent time I have gotten engulfed into the Democratic Party’s primary drama between Hillary and Obama. I have actually learned a whole lot from it and a lot of disappointment too, especially with the “kitchen sink” politicking.
When reading newspaper articles and reports from the United Nations on the ranking of countries with reference to security, the best country for women and children, the richest country, women empowerment, and social and health care, without doubt a country like Norway repeatedly appears on top. Norway is indeed a nice country to live in but the challenges, hurdles and bottle necks found in the country cannot be overemphasized. Just like every other country, Norway has its own problems of shattered hopes and dreams. Notwithstanding, I am enjoying my stay here with the hope and assurance that those challenges are incomparable to my achievements at the end of the day. To start, I would like to take you through my experience from day one as a neophyte up until now as a student of nursing at the College of Bodø (Høgskole I Bodø) branch in Rana.
Nidaros Cathedral (Nidarosdomen), considered the most significant church of Norway, is located in Tronheim.
The Administrative Building in Steinkjer (Radhus in Norwegian).
Excellent posting, Shelby!
Really beautiful.
Good luck.