May 17, 2022

SKIEN, NORWAY – My last two days have been full of exciting experiences. I traveled from Oslo to Minot’s sister city Skien on Monday and when I arrived met Rolf Haugen at the station. We dropped my things at the hotel and then headed over to the Ibsenhuset where I got to tour all of the spaces inside.

After our tour we had lunch with the group of politicians that will be traveling to Minot for Norsk Høstfest 2022! I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the town before I was picked up to go to the local team’s soccer or football game. Before the game we had a wonderful meal in a private room and I gave a presentation on Norsk Høstfest to the mayor, Hedda Foss Five, and multiple other politicians.

On Tuesday morning I was met outside of my hotel and we took a walk up to the church to see the inside and listen to a few songs. We then walked over to the city hall to start the Syttende Mai celebratory parade. The morning started out with the children’s parade that I was able to observe from the balcony of city hall before walking the streets following the parade. Thousands of children participate in the parade and it is truly amazing to see. After the parade was finished we went to Ibsenhuset for coffee and cake with senior citizens in the community, the mayor, and other politicians. This was followed by a symphony concert in the Ibsenhuset. I was then taken up to Brekkeparken for a traditional lunch overlooking the park. The festivities did not end there, as the community civic parade began at 5pm where I walked with Mayor Hedda Foss Five and the other politicians through the entire parade. Rolf Haugen, his wife Jorun, Jan Terje Olsen, his wife Margrethe and I then finished off the day’s festivities by having a lovely meal and conversation at Henrik & company. It has truly been a day I will never forget and I am looking forward to my next few days here in Norway!