ElisabethNF

Dear MOM How are you doing? I’m really sorry that I haven’t written to you earlier, but as you may understand I have been quite busy. It takes time to settle down and get used to all this. The place, the people and even the food is so different from Norway. If you only knew all the times I have thought about you and the people back home. To be honest I have had some really tough times lately, trying to fit in to this new world. My new husband is a nice and handsome man, his name is William. I’m very lucky that God have given me this opportunity. Even though I don’t get to spend so much time with my new husband, I’m grateful. He travels a lot with his work, so I only get to see him when he decides to come home and rest. I live in a quite small house up in the country, together with William’s parents and his younger brothers and sisters. They are nice people and have taken well care of me. The travel went well and when I got here they gave me a warm reception. My first impression of the place was that it is very big and empty. You never see any people walking by. But when we need new clothes and some food we can go to the nearest village, which is about 4 kilometres from here. We either walk or take the horses that they have. They have lots of animals here, pigs, horses and sheep. One time I had to go to the village to get some new shoes, and that was not an easy job, because I couldn’t understand a word they were saying. Even though Williams mother have tried to teach me some English, I still couldn’t understand. But I guess it will come gradually. William’s mother is a really good baker, and she bakes bread every week for us to eat. Even though, I really miss your pastries. Nothing can beat it. We don’t have much to eat, but the bread she bakes keeps us satisfied. They own a big place. The fields never end, so it’s hard work every day. The sun keep shining and I haven’t seen a dark cloud since I left Norway. I really miss you and I hope that I one day can come back to you. Take care.

Love from Karen.

To Mother

I’m writing to you to say that everything is all right with me. I know you are worrying back home, so I will try to write to you as often as I can. I don’t know if you get this letter. Our military leader said that they are having hard times to send all the letters, but I really hope that you get this one. I just want you to know that I really miss you and that I think about you every day. I won't write to you all the things that happens here, because I know that just will make you more worried, but I won't you to know how much I really miss being home.

I want to write to you something that's been going through my head all day. Something terrible happened last night that made me realize how much my family mean to me. A man from my group died when he was outside our tent. He was just outside to pee, when he suddenly got shot by a soldier. We thought all that we were safe, but we were wrong. It made everyone realize that this is the reality and that it can only be a second difference between life and death. He was such a good man. Even though I didn’t knew him so well, we all get connected in some how. We all want to get back to our family and we all want to survive. One day when we were waiting at a camp, we were talking about what our wish for the future was. Some said that their biggest wish was to get home alive, and some said that they wanted their family to be healthy and happy.This man said that he’s only wish for the future was that his daughter still was alive when he got back. He told us that he’s daughter was very sick and that she didn’t have much time. He wanted to see his daughter for the last time. But unfortunately he was the one who got shot. My thought goes to the daughter that is suffering and at the top looses her father. I can only imagine how horrible it is for the family. So you can say that I have got some perspective on things after I got here. I just wish that they meet in heaven and can live in peace.

While I’m writing you this letter I’m sitting in one of the tents we sleep in. It’s really hot outside and we are starving, but the one thing I’m thinking about is that you shouldn’t worry about me. I’m always going to make it, and I promise you that I won’t give up. I won’t say that I’m not afraid and scared, because then I would be lying. I’m just hopeful, it’s the only thing I can be. I hope things are going well in Norway and that the rest of the family is ok. Give my love to them.

Hugs and kisses from John.