by Amy Russell
TC News staff
The flight took 24 hours and when she stepped off the plane she entered another world.
Janne Rommetveit began her adventure in August of 1993. She left her home in the small town of Bryne in Norway and journeyed to America to become an exchange student at Texarkana College.
She arrived in the hottest part of the summer, when the humidity can be claustrophobic. That was the first major change. In Norway the hottest days are only around 56 degrees and people are likely to go swimming.
She left her home in Bryne, which she described as “a small, cozy town,” to come to America to go to college.
“In Norway there is only secondary school and universities with nothing in between,” Rommetveit said. “I wanted to learn the language and study here.”
She says she is enjoying her studies at Texarkana College, including journalism. Journalism has provided the Norwegian extra experience and practice with English.
Due to people’s natural curiosity Rommetveit says she has made friends easily.
Still, she does miss her home. She especially misses her family, which includes her parents and one younger sister, her boyfriend and brown cheese, She also misses the nature in Norway-the mountains, forests and sea.
The holiday season is approaching and Rommetveit will be missing her home even more. Norway has its own holiday traditions. She said that everyone opens their presents on Christmas Eve. Someone in her family will dress up as Santa Claus and surprise the younger children.
Next, on Dec. 13, is Saint Lucia’s Night. This holiday is similar to Halloween, The girls dress in white and wear wreaths of candlelights around their head. The boys, called Starmen, wear triangular hats. The children go to houses singing Christmas carols and receive candy. The day is in honor of Saint Lucia, who forces away the devil and all evil.
The exchange student will be returning to Norway in June of 1994. Although she will be happy to see her family and friends, she will miss Texarkana.
“I will miss my host family and the warmer weather,” Rommetveit said. “Also, I will miss school. Everything is more free here, In Norway, if you choose one major in college you must stick to it and only take what is required for that subject.”
The one thing Rommetveit said she will not miss is country music.