Norway is a country in Scandinavia, the northernmost part of Europe. It has the same amount of people living there as in my home state, Minnesota, but is so long that it could stretch from New York to Florida! Norwegians are proud of their amazing nature, from deep fjords (fi-yords), long arms of the sea that reach far inland, to tall mountains. There are so many opportunities here for nature lovers like me!
After my study abroad, I knew I wanted to return to Norway to do research. I also wanted to connect my interests in the natural and social sciences by studying how we can live well while taking care of the Earth. I learned about a program called Fulbright, which sends students, teachers and professionals to other countries to teach or research. I applied during my last year of college and, to my surprise, got in! This is how I ended up in Norway on a Fulbright Student Research grant!
I will be living in the city of Ås, a small town just a 15-minute train ride south of the Norwegian capital city called Oslo. I will be doing most of my research at a local university, but will travel a lot this year to interview experts on my topic! As a political scientist, I do my work in many different ways. I read a lot of academic articles on my computer, analyze data that others have collected and, sometimes, collect my own data through interviews or surveys.
I will be doing more than just working while in Norway! I hope to join a community orchestra so I can continue playing music. I also love the great outdoors, so I plan to go on many hikes and adventures -- be there rain, snow or sunshine.
