It has been a long time since I have posted. My sister got married to Mats, and for this truly wonderful occasion we had to travel home. We also made stops in New York on the way to Norway and in Seattle on the way back.
We have been back in the Dom Rep for a while already, and it feels good. The trip home to Norway was like a huge breath of fresh air, and right now I feel like I recognize myself even in this crazy place. I don’t want to get too “deep” here, I am not on some way to enlightenment on this island. But it truly has been something else so far. Murderers, victims, suicides, attempted murder, burglary, racism, tragedy, poverty, epidemics, robbery, violence, malnourishment, petty crime and now most recently massive hurricanes have provided a strange, constantly changing, constantly challenging constant in our 8 months here. And I guess unlike the experiences I have had traveling, this time we cannot simply leave when things go bad. We are here to stay. And to endure and live with all the scariness, imagined or real has been an eye-opener. Especially as the Dominicans around you laugh, dance, drink and enjoy life. But why wouldn’t they, this is their reality, everything is as it should be. Me… I do not really get it. Or sometimes, when I am feeling less respectful of other perspectives, like I am the only one getting it. Well, it’s pretty nice to be back anyway. And the calendar is full of experiences planned in the last months we have here. I think it will be over before we know it.
While we were gone lots happened too. A bomb went of in my beloved Oslo and kids were gunned down on an island in a lake not far from where I grew up. I was in New York while it happened, it was a surreal day. In Oslo two weeks later flowers, drawings and candles were all over the city from all the people wishing to express their sympathy with the victims and their families. It was sweet too see. Norwegians are a strange introverted, self-satisfied and skeptical bunch, but also genuinely caring, sweet and generous. Sometimes I feel like people do not understand us, we probably seem easy to classify and figure out. But to me all attempts at understanding us seem to miss that “Norwegianess” that we all share. It’s not something that can be easily explained, but in a way that is part of it. Its a feeling, a shared way of being. And that in itself is something. I love Norway and Norwegians, with all our awkward shortcomings, cold winters, love of the bland and aspirations of mediocrity. It is one of the best places in the world. You just might have to be Norwegian to see it that way.
After Norway we traveled on to Seattle for a few days, and as always it was great. The Pacific Northwest is a wonderful place. So subtle, varied and comfortable.
Well as we all know, good things do not last forever, and before soon we were on the plane back to the domirep. And as I said earlier, it feels pretty good. Certainly better then before we left. Our calendar up until we leave is filling up very quickly and it almost seemed like it would be all coasting to the finish line from here on in until we leave. But that is not true. The Dominican Republic will do that to you. Let you think things are fine, easy and it’s no biggie. But as soon as you have relaxed it will throw another challenge in your lap. Like a major hurricane will come your way. Or the road to your workplace will become a river of mud because of some half-baked attempt at improving the road. You just don’t know what will happen. But you can bet your sweet bottom something will. And all you can do is grin and bear it, and cross your fingers that the next thing will not be any worse than the last. And maybe take solace in the fact that contrast is often what makes an image. Maybe in life as well.
From the Republic of Crazy, a slightly saner more relaxed Mr. K still enjoying the memories of home.
Stay safe y’all