Hello everyone! My name is Sadie Benson, and I am an upcoming sophomore at the University of Alabama, majoring in Finance and Accounting. This summer II, I am studying Literature in Norway. Before travelling here, I read a book titled Madhouse at the End of the Earth to learn about and be introduced to the Norwegian Arctic Exploration. When we arrived in Oslo, we were able to go to the Fram museum and walk on the real ship that the famous Norwegian explorers, Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen, used for their journeys in the Arctic waters.
Oslo was a beautiful and clean city, much smaller than New York City, but still incredibly beautiful. We travelled to small islands off the coast to have class and jump in the freezing cold water shortly after. We had a guided tour of the city, where we were able to see castles, old architecture, fjords, and my favorite: the city hall. Overall, this city was incredibly beautiful in every direction I looked.
One of the most incredible things I have ever experienced was being in the capital city of Oslo for the Norway vs. Brazil World Cup match. Many of the shops in the city closed early in preparation for the big game, hosted at 10PM Norway time. Although the game started what I would consider pretty late, the town was incredibly alive and sunny due to the country being so far north, and my friends and I had a hard time finding a place to watch the game. The city square was hosting a watch party, but it was at capacity over two hours before the game started. We ended up in a church courtyard decorated with the red and blue of the Norwegian Flag. I met a local woman, who was kind enough to draw Norwegian Flags with markers on my face, so that I could feel full of team spirit. The Norwegian win was an exciting upset, and I will never forget doing “The Row” with so many others in this amazing city.
So far, this trip has been amazing and beautiful. I never want to leave this country. I cannot wait for what awaits me next!