Baloo comes to Norway

A good friend of mine Ethan is also known as Baloo the Bear. I need not explain, just know that it is so.

We met as freshman at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA and after surviving many late night German study sessions we miraculously graduated together four years later.

(2008)

Now that I think of it, we've experienced a lot together. In addition to our many college adventures, we road tripped to Southern Oregon to watch a mutual friend get married; Ethan braved his fear of children and visited me and my family in my hometown of Poulsbo; I checked out his hometown Lynden on a break from a business trip in nearby Bellingham; I visited him while he was studying in Salzburg, Austria; and we survived (some of us better than others) a fairly hungover jaunt to Germany...

(2006)

...and now he has managed to visit me in Norway!

(2010)

We spent our days catching up with each other and moseying around Hamar: walking on the frozen lake, checking out the church ruins at Domkirkekoden, popping in and out of cafes/pubs and meeting with my local friends.

Our nights were spent indulging in other equally as entertaining activities. I will say that I am slightly disappointed that Ethan did not at any time burst out in spontaneous dance or imitate German police officers. There's always next time and a few additional local brews, I suppose.

A highlight from his visit would certainly be grilling up some hot dogs and eating some smash in the sun on the Mjøsa. If we weren't surrounded by snow and/or sitting on a tiny island frozen along with the lake, I think we could have easily been tricked into thinking it was actually spring in this part of the world too!

I was also glad Lars, Ethan and I found time to check out Vikingskipet before he left. Especially since we all dig the Winter Olympics so much.

Then before we knew it, it was Sunday, and Ethan was set to leave. We drank our sorrows down with some tasty, authentic hot chocolate from a relatively new coffee shop called Tante Gerda...

...and then made our way to the train station where we quickly said tschüss. With whom, tell me, am I supposed to eat fish sticks now?

We've been through a lot over a handful of years, Baloo and yet our friendship hasn't changed much at all. Thanks for that.

Looking forward to our next reunion...Vermont? Toronto? Hawaii? Who knows!