“The uncertainty was the worst. I had traveled so far and did not know if I would get permission for residency. It is painful when someone doesn’t know what’s going to be the end result.”

Bihayo Kashindi from Congo puts words to what many feel when they come here as refugees and asylum seekers. Bihayo had to flee from the war in his homeland and came to Norway in 2001. After staying at an asylum reception center, including one in the village of Vinstra, he settled down in the Gausdal municipality. Three and a half years later his family joined him.

Now, the three children have become four and the family has settled comfortably in the village of Follebu. Bihayo works as a teacher. He has knowledge needed both in the adult- learning courses provided for immigrants in the area and in the primary and middle schools. In addition, he has taken teacher training at the college in Hamar in neighboring Hedmark County.

Bihayo is active in making many open places where immigrants and Norwegians can meet each other. He believes it’s important for Norwegian society that such contacts improve. “We have much to learn from Norwegians. But I think, too, that Norwegians have much to learn from the immigrants.”