Faiza and Ader from Somalia were reunited in the Oppland municipality of Otta in 2003. During the war in Somalia they had had to flee – each going their own direction at a different time. Faiza and the son went to the United States and Ader to Norway to a refugee reception center in the Lom municipality.

At first the time here was difficult for him; the climate, the language and the culture were totally strange for the Africans. But they feel now that they have it good in Norway, and choose consciously to live in a small town. “If a man lives in a big city he always has a network of Somalians around him and talks only about things that happen in the homeland. But if a man lives in a small town like Otta it ‘s easier to be integrated. We would never have had the same possibility for education and work if we lived in a big city,” says Ader.

The married couple has three children and they have settled down on Dahleflata in Otta. They have both gotten training in the health service field. Ader works in a group home for people with disabilities but Faiza had not yet found a permanent job at the time of the interview. They’re managing well in Otta where they have both Norwegian and foreign friends. They are eager to integrate themselves in the Norwegian community even though they miss, “family, friends, Somali culture and the days before the civil war began.”

The differences between their homeland and Norway are significant. Among other things, they are not used to calling up and making arrangements before going to visit someone…

”Peace and safety and possibilities for a good future for the children are the best things about living in Norway,”, say the two Somali, who are also anxious that refugees are open to Norwegian society and ”knock on the door” to be known.