Participants:
Carlos
Carlos was born in 1973 in Rotterdam. He came to Norway with his wife, Bea, in 2005. Carlos is a qualified chef and used to work as a chef in restaurants in Rotterdam. He felt that he had to change something in his life and he changed jobs. The last four years before coming to Norway, he worked as a postman. In Norway, he and his wife established a guesthouse. Carlos got back into the kitchen and became interested in cooking again. Now he runs his own business, a restaurant in Lillehammer called “The Little Pancake House”.
He is glad he has no boss, which means much less stress at work. Most of his relatives live in the Netherlands, but his mother has moved back to Cape Verde.
Arriving in Røyrvik in Nord-Trøndelag in Norway was a big change for him and his wife. They met new people, new scenery, a new climate and a new culture, all of which were quite different from in the Netherlands. Carlos missed having friends to watch football matches with and talk about everything. It was difficult to have close Norwegian friends in the same way as in the Netherlands.
Arriving in Røyrvik in Nord-Trøndelag in Norway was a big change for him and his wife. They met new people, new scenery, a new climate and a new culture, all of which were quite different from in the Netherlands. Carlos missed having friends to watch football matches with and talk about everything. It was difficult to have close Norwegian friends in the same way as in the Netherlands.
Long distances in that part of Norway and cold winters were also new to them. After ten years in Norway, Carlos has got used to it and thinks it is fun to have a lot of snow. He and Bea moved to Lillehammer and started their own restaurant. They lived in several places in Norway, but they like Lillehammer best. They decided to continue living in Norway as long as it is interesting for them. That means they may live here for the rest of their lives or move in a week’s time.
The things Carlos misses most are friends like the ones he could meet on the streets of Rotterdam, Dutch food and beaches. The couple keeps in touch with some Dutch people in the area, but they are all busy with their own businesses and social life does not work in the same way as in the Netherlands.
It is important for Carlos that their daughter also knows the Dutch language and culture, in spite of growing up in Norway. He is aware that she is becoming more Norwegian than Dutch, which he finds quite understandable.
It is important for Carlos that their daughter also knows the Dutch language and culture, in spite of growing up in Norway. He is aware that she is becoming more Norwegian than Dutch, which he finds quite understandable.