American Independence Day in June?

Yes, the US Embassy in Oslo holds it's Fourth of July festivities in June.  That's because the Norwegians desert their beautiful city for their summer holidays.  Some go to their summer cottages, others go to Spain.  But, enough leave that it is difficult to hold a large official diplomatic event- so, June it is!

US Ambassador's garden/ Fourth of July party

US Ambassador's Residence

There are more pictures on the US Embassy Oslo Facebook page.  The pictures here are some that Nick took himself

Oslo (it's in Norway you know)

Nick has been in Oslo for 4 weeks now.  He is over his jet lag, now he is just over worked! 

He keeps sharing pictures of that beautiful city, Frogner Park, the carriage house he lives in.  Old apartment buildings.

My grandparents were Norwegians who emigrated to the US where they had five sons.  My father was the middle son.    I grew up hearing my grandmother's very strong Norwegian accent, and feeling pulled toward that country.

My family visited Norway and many of my dad's relatives when I was three years old.  I don't remember that visit, but have seen pictures.  Nick and I went to Norway on our honeymoon in 1972.  We met some of my dad's relatives then.

In 1984, we moved to Tromsø, Norway where we lived for two years, and our third child was born.

I made a trip to Norway in 1997 and saw the old homestead and the house where my grandfather was born in 1888.   There are still family members living there today.

This is the Kjørrefjord family homestead in Farsund, Norway

And now Nick is back there working at the US Embassy for the summer.  I plan to go too, in July.

I already posted some of Nick's pictures here.  Today I am posting some more.

I stayed with my dad's cousin in the apartment building on the right when I visited in 1997.  My dad's cousin told me that Quisling had lived in that building before WWII

Nick, hard at work at the US Embassy, Oslo

This is the carriage house that Nick is living in.  His apartment is on the top floor. He was in the two bedroom apartment on the second floor, but two female secretaries who don't know each other will be getting the two bedroom apt and Nick is now in the one bedroom upstairs.

Kids skateboarding in Frogner Park