the Inside this issue: Norwegian Three healthy breakfasts, the Nordic way american story on pages 12-13 Volume 128, #6 • March 24, 2017 Est. May 17, 1889 • Formerly Norwegian American Weekly, Western Viking & Nordisk Tidende $3 USD On health & wellness Norway has a reputation for clean, healthy living and a health-care system that takes care of its people. In this issue we’ll look at just a few aspects of health and wellness in the US and in Norway

What’s inside? Nyheter / News 2-3 Personlig mosjonerer jeg « Business 4 A tale of two systems ikke for å bli yngre, men for å bli eldre. » Sports 5 Doctors from the US and Norway discuss the – Karsten Isachsen Opinion 6-7 Health & Wellness 8-11 issues in their respective medical systems Taste of Norway 12-13 John Erik Stacy Norway near you 14-15 The Norwegian American Travel 16-17 Norwegian Heritage 18 Once again, Americans are forced to endure and by objective measures such as outcomes for health care talking points ricocheting through the various diseases, the U.S. doesn’t do any bet­ Arts & Entertainment 19 media. As promised during the election, Congress ter than Norway. So market forces don’t seem Norsk Språk 20-21 has presented a plan to replace “Obamacare” (that to be working in favor of the consumer here in Fiction 22 is, the Affordable Care Act or ACA). The replace­ America. This was true both before and after Barneblad 23 ment plan on the table is a bill titled The Ameri­ the ACA became the law of the land. And the can Health Care Act (“Trumpcare,” if you will). ACA, though it brought coverage to millions of Bulletin Board 24 An opinion voiced by some pundits is that previously uninsured Americans, did not bring “market forces” will work to simultaneously im­ down costs. In fact, the cost of insurance has $1 = NOK 8.472 prove health care and bring down cost through risen appreciably, and many Americans—nota­ updated 03/20/2017 competition. But Americans pay about twice the amount Norwegians do for their health care, See > systems page 9 In comparison 02/20/2017 8.3343 09/20/2016 8.2959 Photo: CH / Visitnorway.com 03/20/2016 8.3785 Spring flowers in Hardanger. This photo looks like it belongs in a drug commercial, making it perfect for this issue. 2 • March 24, 2017 Nyheter fra Norge theNorwegianamerican Nyheter Kritikk av soning i Nederland Ny nasjonalpark i Lofoten 14. mars var representanter for Miljø­ Sivilombudsmannen direktoratet på Reine i Moskenes og der slår fast i en ny rapport ble direktoratets anbefaling om å opp­ rette Lofotodden nasjonalpark presen­ at norske innsattes son- tert. Fylkesmannen­ i Nordland ønsker et vern av 104 kvadratkilometer, som skal ing i Nederland bryter være av nasjonal verneverdi på grunn med Norges menneske­ av det unike landskapet. — Lofotodden nasjonal­park er et flott prosjekt. En nas­ rettighetsforpliktelser jonalpark med akkurat denne type na­ Petter Winther ture mangler i de eksisterende nasjonal­ Aftenposten parkene i Norge, sier seksjonsleder Olav Nord-Varhaug i Miljødirektoratet. Saken Siden 2015 har norske myndigheter leid skal nå behandles av Miljødirektoratet og 242 plasser i Norgerhaven fengsel i Neder­ deretter Klima- og miljødepartementet. land, hvor innsatte som er dømt i Norge kan Norge har sluttet seg til konvensjonen om sone sin straff. biologisk mangfold som sier at 17 prosent Nå har Sivilombudsmannen, Aage Thor av arealet på land og i ferskvann og 10 Falkanger, kommet med en rapport hvor han prosent av verdens kyst- og havområder fastslår at innsatte som overføres til Norger­ Foto: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / BYRÅ, Aftenposten skal vernes. I Norge er i dag 17,1 prosent haven fengsel ikke er sikret tilstrekkelig vern Justisminster Anders Anundsen besøkte Norgerhaven fengsel i mars 2015. av landarealet­ allerede vernet. — Forslag mot tortur og umenneskelig eller nedverdig­ om å opprette flere nasjonalparker i Norge ende behandling. har ikke flertall i Stortinget, og vi har in­ Falkanger peker på at Norge ikke er fri­ atisk at myndighetsorganer fra en annen stat — Utdanningstilbudet i Norgerhaven er gen nye prosjekter i kikkerten. Det betyr tatt for ansvaret for å forhindre menneske­ i en akutt situasjon vil kunne benytte våpen ikke tilpasset innsatte med behov for videre­ at Lofotodden blir den siste nasjonal­ rettighetsbrudd, selv om straffen gjennom­ og tvangsmidler mot innsatte som er over­ gående og høyere utdanning. Innsattes reelle parken i Norge i overskuelig framtid, sier føres i et annet land. ført til Nederland for å gjennomføre straff. mulighet til å motta besøk fra familie og Nord-Varhaug. I rapporten fremhever Falkanger at I et forebyggingsperspektiv utgjør en slik venner er begrenset, sier Falkanger. (Susanne Lysvold & Andreas Budalen, norsk­e myndigheter ikke vil være i stand til løsning, der norske myndigheter er avskåret Han peker også på at soningen påvirkes NRK) å sette i gang en etterforskning dersom det fra å ivareta ansvaret for å beskytte innsatte, negativt av språkutfordringer og de ansattes skulle oppstå mistanke om tortur eller an­ en risiko for tortur og umenneskelig behand­ Ett av ti barn vokser nå opp i fattigdom manglende kunnskaper om norsk regelverk nen umenneskelig behandling i Norgerhaven ling, sier Falkanger i pressemeldingen. og praksis. — Hvis man ikke gjør noen tiltak, tror jeg fengsel. Sivilombudsmannen presiserer at de man får sosiale klasser i Norge, sier Has­ — En slik løsning fremstår som særlig fysiske forholdene i fengselet fremstår som English Synopsis: A new report states that the impris­ san Ali Omar, som er daglig leder for Ex­ problematisk i lys av våre forpliktelser etter gode og at de som jobber der får gode til­ onment of Norwegian inmates in the Netherlands is a violation of Norway’s human rights obligations. press skole. Han bruker fritiden på lekse­ FNs torturkonvensjon. Det er også problem­ bakemeldinger fra de innsatte. hjelp til somalisk ungdom. Målet er at de­ får vitnemål og tar høyere utdanning, og at barna dermed bryter inntektsmøn­ steret til foreldrene. Noe av bakgrunnen for innsatsen er at antall barn som lever i Vil innføre Redaktør nektes innreise husholdninger med vedvarende lavinntekt Thomas Nilsen, som er har økt med over 200 prosent siden 2001. Og innvandrere er overrepresentert i den hijab-nekt redaktør og journalist i fattige gruppen, viser en ny undersøkelse fra Statistisk sentralbyrå. Grensen for The Independent Bar- lavinntekt for en familie med to voksne Carl I. Hagen vil forby ents Observer, ble nek- og to barn er på totalt 443 000 kr. i året. hijab og andre religiøse Konsekvenser av fattigdom er et tema tet innreise til Russland det forskes mye på. En stor undersøkelse symboler for ansatte i med tallmateriale fra de nordiske landene, Oslo kommune Oda Marie Midbøe & viser blant annet at sykdommer kan ha en Ole Kristian Strøm VG sosial gradient. Barn i familier med lavest Eirik Kroken økonomisk status hadde høyere forekomst VG av astma, allergi, eksem, hodepine, mage­ 8. mars reiste en delegasjon med poli­ smerter og ryggsmerter. 14. mars ga EUs øverste domstol tilla­ tikere fra den danske utenrikskomiteen til (Torgeir Strandberg, Aftenposten) telse for arbeidsgivere å nekte ansatte å gå Russland, og med på reisen var Nilsen, som med synlige religiøse symboler på jobb, etter skulle dekke danskenes første Russland- Klimakutt til ingen nytte at en belgisk kvinne hadde fått sparken da besøk siden 2014, for avisen han er reporter Foto: Tarjei Abelsen / NRK Totalt slapp Norge ut 53,9 millioner tonn hun brukte hijab på jobb. og redaktør for. Thomas Nilsen i The Independent Barents Ob- CO2-ekvivalenter i 2015. Nå er også tall­ Nå vil bystyrerepresentant i Oslo, Carl I. Han kom imidlertid ikke lengre enn server ble nektet innreise til Russland i fem år. ene kommet som viser hvor mye hvert en­ Hagen (Frp), forby alle politiske, filosofiske til passkontrollen på den norsk-russiske kelt fylke slapp ut. Statistisk sentralbyrå eller religiøse symboler for kommunalt an­ grenseovergangen Borisoglebsk. beregner at to tredeler av Norges totale satte i Oslo. — På grensen ble jeg tatt til siden i meg om innreisenekten, men det fremkom at utslipp kommer fra landets fylker, ifølge — Det har blitt hevdet at det er i strid passkontrollen og invitert med på et bakrom. det var FSB som stod bak, utdyper han. beregningene til Statistisk sentralbyrå. med menneskerettighetene. Men nå er det Der ble jeg forelagt at jeg nektes innreise til Både pressevisum og presseakkrediter­ Tallene viser at det bare er sju fylker som avklart i EU. Et slikt reglement er ikke dis­ Russland, med henvisning til rikets sikker­ ing var i orden før reisen, understreker han. har klart å kutte CO2-utslippene siden kriminerende, sier Hagen. het, forteller Thomas Nilsen til VG. — Hva kan du har gjort for å bli nektet 2009. Hordaland har økt utslippene mest, Byråd for oppvekst og kunnskap i Oslo Han fikk en kopi av dokumentet som innreise? spør VG. mens Rogaland har det største kuttet med kommune, Tone Tellevik Dahl (Ap), synes forteller hvorfor han nektes innreise, hvor — Jeg har gjort jobben min. Jeg har lag­ over 700.000 tonn CO2-ekvivalenter i ikke det er et problem at ansatte har religiøse det henvises til artikkel 27 i den russiske et gode artikler om forholdene i de russiske perioden 2009–2015. I oljefylket har ut­ symboler på jobb. loven for inn- og utreise. nordområdene. Jeg har skrevet interessante slippene til energiforsyning blitt kuttet — Våre ansatte gjør en god jobb uavhen­ — Artikkel 27 tar for seg rikets sikker­ artikler om russiske forhold i nord, og ikke med over en million tonn, mens prosess­ gig av hvilke religiøse symboler de bærer og het. Jeg spurte om en ytterligere begrunnelse, noe annet, sier han. utslippene fra industri og bergverk har hvilket hodeplagg de har. men det kunne de ikke gi meg. Jeg synes det The Independent Barents Observer er økt mest. Mens rogalendingene har kuttet Hun tror ikke forslaget hans blir vedtatt. er veldig spesielt først og fremst fordi jeg er utslippene fra energiforsyningen, er det — Med dagens flertall er det vanskelig å den første norske journalisten som er nektet Se > REDAKTØR, side 21 nett­opp den samme kilden som står for se for seg at han vinner frem, sier Dahl. innreise siden Per Egil Hegge ble utvist fra den største økningen av utslipp. Russland i 1969, sier Nilsen. English Synopsis: Editor and journalist for The Inde­ (Trond Øyvind Karterud & Daniel Kol- English Synopsis: Carl I. Hagen (Frp) wants to ban Innreisenekten har en varighet på fem pendent Barents Observer Thomas Nilsen was denied beinshavn, NRK) municipality employees in Oslo from wearing the hi­ år, og varer derfor frem til år 2021. entry to Russia because the country considers him to jab and other religious symbols. — Det var grensevakten som orienterte be a threat to its national security. theNorwegianamerican News March 24, 2017 • 3 Høyre votes This week in brief Traffic woes in Oslo Life expectancy of Norwegian men still rising Oslo congestion is the worst in Scandinavia for dual From 2015 to 2016, the life expectancy at birth for men increased by 0.25 years, to 80.6 years. The age for women increased citizenship slightly to 84.2 years. Life expectancy has increased every The largest party in year since Norway started to estimate life expectancy. Norway has one of the high­ Norway’s governing est life expectancies in the world. Accord­ coalition has said yes to ing to the World Health Organization, allowing dual citizenship Japan’s is the highest; girls born there in 2015 could expect to reach 86.8 years. The country with the lowest average life expec­ The Local tancy is Sierra Leone, at just 50.1 years. Figures from the statistical office of Norway’s Høyre (Conservative) Party the European Union indicate that in the voted at its annual conference in favor of a Nordic region, Iceland has the highest life proposal to allow dual citizenship. The pro­ expectancy for women (84.5 years), fol­ Photo: Pudelek (Marcin Szala) / Wikimedia posal, made by the party’s youth wing, Unge lowed by Sweden and Norway. Traffic on the E18 in Oslo. Høyre, as well as a number of county repre­ In 2016, 40,726 persons died in Nor­ sentatives, received overall support. way, almost the same number as the year Michael Sandelson “This is a huge victory for everyone who before. The infant mortality rate was the The Foreigner feels Norwegian but also without rights in a lowest on record in Norway: 2.2 children system that is bureaucratic, old-fashioned, per 1,000 live births. Dutch sat nav company TomTom’s Traf­ Monday and Tuesday mornings, as well and unfair,” Daniel Skjevik-Aasberg of (SSB) fic Index 2016 lists Oslo as having had 24 as Thursday evenings, were the worst times Unge Høyre’s central committee told news traffic hotspots last year. of the week. agency NTB. Therese Johaug doping ban appealed Journeys took 38 minutes extra during Congestion levels in Oslo were around Norway is the only Nordic country and International Skiing Federation (FIS) offi­ peak hours (vs. one hour of driving in uncon­ 25 percent in 2010-14. These jumped by five one of only a small handful of European na­ cials are dissatisfied with sanctions against gested conditions) on a daily basis (week­ percent for 2015-16, giving the Norwegian tions that does not allow dual citizenship. the Norwegian cross-country skier. days). Morning peak travel times increased capital extra travel times of 30 percent. “Norway is almost alone in Europe in The Adjudication Committee of the by 57 percent and evening peak ones by 69 Oslo is in 52nd place on TomTom’s Eu­ denying dual citizenship as a matter of prin­ Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic percent (both measured in relation to uncon­ Committee and Confederation of Sports gested situations). See > traffic, page 6 See > citizenship, page 5 barred Therese Johaug from competing for 13 months. This took place on Feb­ ruary 10, 2017, but was made retroactive to October 2016. The Adjudication Com­ Utøya survivors lack support mittee established that the cross-country skier had taken Clostebol, a banned sub­ stance, unintentionally, based upon the A report shows advice of a reputable doctor. FIS’ Doping Panel (FDP) has found that survivors had that “the sanction imposed is on the low insufficient access to end of the range of reasonable sanctions and fails to adequately reflect the fact that care in recent years the athlete Therese Johaug failed to read the doping warning label printed in red on the package despite the fact that the medi­ The Local cation was unknown to her.” The FDP has filed an appeal to the Survivors of the terror attack on the is­ Court of Arbitration of Sport. land of Utøya near Oslo on July 22, 2011, (Charlotte Bryan / The Foreigner) in which far-right extremist Anders Breivik shot and killed 69 members of the Norwegian Oslo university quits collaboration to Labor Party’s youth wing, have not received assess age of asylum-seeking minors sufficient psychological support in the years In the past two years, the university has since the massacre, says a new report. earned almost 14 million kroner by taking The study was carried out by the Nation­ Photo: Rødt nytt / Wikimedia Commons orthodontic x-rays to help determine the al Center for Understanding Violence and The survivors of Anders Behring Breivik’s Utøya massacre received an outpouring of support, but ac- age of more than 3,500 asylum seekers Traumatic Stress (Nasjonalt kunnskapssent­ cess to psychological help has waned through the years. claiming to be under the age of 18. er for vold og traumatisk stress, NKVTS). After the Norwegian Medical Asso­ Many survivors found that treatment ciation in December ruled the practice as offers disappeared and that they were not Adrian Pracon, who was shot twice dur­ and mental” symptoms, it was hard to see unethical, the university has now decided proactively offered support during the period ing the attack, said that he had found the “fad­ who to turn to. against extending the collaboration. after the attack, reports broadcaster NRK. ing away” of support a problem as he tried to All of those on Utøya at the time of the “As a professional, I feel that—in “Some people didn’t need that much come to terms with what had happened. massacre were assigned a contact person in line with the medical association—it is help until a year or two had passed. And then “It can take a long time until post trauma their local municipality who was responsible highly reprehensible and unethical to they just ended up in the normal queue for and the serious consequences of it are felt. for coordinating follow-up checks and en­ practice methods which, to such a large health services,” Grete Dyb of NKVTS told The last few years have been a challenge, I suring needs were met. extent, are weak and deviate so much in the broadcaster. can’t deny that,” Pracon told NRK. But for most of the Utøya survivors, this their standards. This is especially impor­ “Waiting in line was something people Pracon said that he found it difficult to support was only valid for a year, according tant seeing the consequences are so great found difficult to do,” said psychiatrist and speak up immediately after the event and that for those who are subject to these exami­ trauma researcher Dyb, who led the study. by the time he began to experience “physical See > utøya, page 6 nations,” Norwegian pediatrician Ellen Annexstad told news agency NTB. This week’s news from Norway is brought to you through partnerships with: Norway has applied the age assess­ ment practices for unaccompanied mi­ nors since authorities discovered that a number of adult refugees had lied about their age to increase their chances of re­ ceiving asylum. www.thelocal.no & theforeigner.no (The Local) 4 • March 24, 2017 Business theNorwegianamerican Business News & Notes Norwegian launches two new routes and are now available for purchase with fares starting as low as $89 one-way includ­ Stats on startups from the US to Bergen Norwegian announced the launch of its ing taxes. Norway entrepreneurship at record levels fourth nonstop Scandinavian destination (Norwegian Air) with two new routes from Stewart Inter­ national Airport and T.F. Green Airport to Norway’s new AI powerhouse Bergen Airport Flesland beginning this July. Norway’s new powerhouse for artificial These new routes will operate on the new intelligence (AI) opened in Trondheim on Boeing 737 MAX, which has significantly March 7. The new center, Telenor-NTNU lower environmental emissions than com­ AI-Lab, will strengthen national competi­ parable aircraft thus making transatlantic tiveness and add valuable, future-proof flights even less expensive. competencies to the Norwegian society. “We are pleased to launch these two “Artificial intelligence is perhaps the new routes from New York and Rhode Is­ single most important technology of our land to Bergen so that thousands of Ameri­ century. In the future, AI will drive your cans and Norwegians can fly cheaply and car, revolutionize cancer treatment, and comfortably between the east coast of the make public services more efficient. With United States and the west coast of Nor­ this opening we want to accelerate the edu­ way,” said Thomas Ramdahl, Chief Com­ cation, research, and competency building, mercial Officer at Norwegian. “Travelers which will be crucial for Norway’s ability can opt for short weekend jaunts or longer to compete in the digital future,” says Sigve stays giving an economic boost to the econ­ Brekke, President & CEO of Telenor. omies on both sides of the Atlantic. These The new center is financed by Telenor new routes would not have been possible with NOK 50 million, and the company’s without the strong support from Stewart In­ researchers will participate in joint projects ternational Airport, T.F. Green Airport, and at the lab. NTNU contributes with academ­ the local authorities in New York and Rhode ic resources, infrastructure, and technical Island.” assistance while the research organization Photo: Pixabay “We welcome these new routes to Ber­ SINTEF will contribute with bringing the This is an actual photograph of what rising entrepreneurship looks like, complete with the dizzying ef- fect of adding all those numbers while standing up. gen Flesland and are proud to be the first air­ knowledge into practical use. Telenor-NT­ port in Scandinavia with air services oper­ NU AI-Lab will be an inclusive and sharing ated by the Boeing 737 MAX. Norwegian’s center where members of academia, busi­ new connections make traveling easier also nesses, startup communities, organizations, Rasmus Falck for Americans. For many tourists, Bergen is and authorities can contribute to and ben­ Oslo, Norway the first introduction to Norway and a gate­ efit from the development of new knowl­ way to the iconic fjords,” said Aslak Sver­ edge. The lab will be based on established Reduced oil prices made Norwegian en­ percent; however, female entrepreneurs were drup, Airport Director at Bergen Airport principles for research ethics, to which trepreneurs role up their sleeves and get go­ the more likely ones to attain employment Flesland. contributors must adhere. ing, and the number of startups now reaches growth. A total of 57.5 percent of women and Norwegian’s new Scandinavian routes (Telenor) a record high. 51.5 percent of men employed more people will operate seasonally during the summer According to a 2015 report from SSB in their companies. The same trends were (the Norwegian Bureau of Statistics) pub­ seen in limited companies. lished at the end of 2016, most of the new Eight out of ten entrepreneurs aged 16 entrepreneurs establish themselves in pro­ to 24 years with surviving personally owned fessional, scientific, and technical activities. enterprises between 2009 and 2014 had turn­ The second economic activity of choice for over growth. This was above the average of entrepreneurs is construction, and the third 65.8 percent. In limited companies, by com­ is wholesale and retail trade and repair of parison, it was entrepreneurs aged 67 years motor vehicles and motorcycles. Over half or more who were most likely to experience Sealift Inc. of the entrepreneurs are between the ages of growth in turnover. 25 to 44 and have an upper secondary edu­ There was no correlation between edu­ cation. Female entrepreneurs are on average cation and the likelihood that an entrepre­ • Ship Owners • younger than male entrepreneurs but better neur achieved turnover growth. While 70.5 educated, which has been the trend since the percent of the founders of limited companies statistics began in 2002. with over four years of higher education • Ship & Cargo Brokers • The statistics also show a five-year suc­ had turnover growth, only 39 percent of the cess rate for newly established enterprises in highest-educated entrepreneurs of personally term of survival, turnover, and employment. owned enterprises attained turnover growth • Steamship Agents • In 2009, there were only 14,034 entrepre­ the first five years they were in business neurs who founded limited companies; the compared to 77 percent of their lowest-edu­ corresponding figure for 2015 was 25,793. cated counterparts. The survival rate for the newly established enterprises varied by gender: a total of 49.3 percent of limited companies founded by Rasmus Falck is a strong male entrepreneurs were still in business innovation and entrepre- five years after being established, while the neurship advocate. The au- survival rate for enterprises set up by their thor of “What do the best female counterparts was 54 percent. do better” and “The board Seventy percent of male entrepreneurs of directors as a resource with surviving personally owned enterprises in SME,” he received his between 2009 and 2014 achieved turnover masters degree from the growth in their enterprises. The correspond­ University of Wisconsin-Madison. He currently ing figure for female entrepreneurs was 57.8 lives in Oslo, Norway.

Exchange Rates Oslo Børs: Week at a Glance (March 20, 2017) Winners Losers Norsk Kr. 8.4722 Name NOK Change Name NOK Change Dansk Kr. 6.9212 Hiddn Solutions 3.20 20.75% Norske Skogindustrier 2.28 -12.98% 68 West Main Street, Oyster Bay, New York 11771 Belships 6.43 8.07% Intex Resources 1.58 -5.39% Phone: (516) 922-1000 Fax: (516) 922-6526 Svensk Kr. 8.8234 Havyard Group 14.45 5.86% Skiens Aktiemølle 29.50 -4.84% Islandsk Kr. 109.33 EMGS 5.79 4.70% Havila Shipping 0.20 -4.76% www.sealiftinc.com E-mail: [email protected] Canadian $ 1.3358 Skandiabanken 74.75 4.55% BW LPG 43.25 -4.63% Euro 0.9308 For detailed information about the Oslo Børs, visit www.dn.no. theNorwegianamerican Sports March 24, 2017 • 5 Sports News Four new golds for Bjørgen & Notes Norway’s queen Hockey: Norwegian teams play longest professional match of skiing makes The Storhamar Dragons of Hamar, Nor­ way, and the Sparta Warriors of Sarpsborg, quite the comeback Norway, made history when they played with four world the longest professional ice hockey game in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. championship gold The game started at 6:00 p.m. on March 12 and, after eight rounds of over­ medals in Lahti time, ended at 2:32 a.m. the following morning when Storhamar finally won 2-1. With 217 minutes and 14 seconds of Jo Christian Weldingh play over eight and a half hours, the teams Oslo, Norway beat the previous record of 176 minutes and 30 seconds—set by the Detroit Red Wings Marit Bjørgen came in first in the wom­ and the Montreal Maroons in 1936—by en’s 30-km race and secured her fourth gold over 30 minutes. medal in the 2017 Nordic World Ski Cham­ (Staff) pionship and her 18th world championship gold medal overall. Athletics: Iuel breaks Norway’s “I’ll count my medals when I’m re­ Photo: Bjørn S. Delebekk / VG 400-meter record tired,” Bjørgen told the press after her win. Marit Bjørgen has much to celebrate in her triumphant return to competitive skiing. Amalie Iuel from Tyrving ran 400 meters Bjørgen’s dominance this champion­ in 51.81 and set the new Norwegian record ship didn’t really come as a big surprise for during the USC Trojan Invitational in Los anyone who’s been following cross-country Two days later it was time for the 4 x 5 and the sprint relay, the latter with Weng as Angeles on March 18. skiing throughout the last decade, but this km relay, with the Norwegian team as big fa­ her partner. No country has won all of the Sølvi Olsen Meinseth set the old re­ being her comeback season after becoming vorites. The Norwegians did not disappoint. women’s cross-country gold medals at a cord of 52:45 in Bergen way back in 1991. a mother for the first time last year, no one Maiken Caspersen Falla broke away on the single world championship since Russia in “It was incredibly fun. I had a pretty quite knew what to expect. Especially after first leg, and the competitors were never able 1997, when there were only five on offer, crappy indoor season in my individual her semi-final exit in the sprint, the champi­ to close the gap. Bjørgen started her leg with rather than the current six. events, so it was fantastic to start the out­ onship’s opening distance. a lead to her biggest rivals, primarily Sweden The men’s team did not meet their door season with an awesome PR and not On the following 15-km duathlon, how­ and Finland, and didn’t have any problems own—or the media’s—expectations, win­ least a new Norwegian record,” she said to ever, Bjørgen was back on the top of the securing a comfortable Norwegian victory. ning only one gold medal, the 4 x 10 km re­ friidrett.no. podium, where she has been so many times In addition to Bjørgen and Falla, Heidi Weng lay, and no individual gold medals. Several (NRK) before. By breaking away from Finnish and Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen participated experts have been quite outspoken about the Krista Pärmäkoski in the last steep climb, in the victory. need for change in the management. Snowboarding: Gold to Sandbech she passed the finish line first, winning her In the championship’s last race, the 30- The FIS Nordic World Ski Champion­ Ståle Sandbech took the gold medal in the 15th world championship and making her km mass start, Bjørgen had a more difficult ships have been held in various numbers big air finals of the FIS Freestyle Ski & the most successful cross-country skier in way to the top of the podium than in the and types of events since 1925 for men and Snowboard World Championships in Si­ history. other races. She wasn’t able to break away since 1954 for women. Championship events erra Nevada, Spain. The Norwegian took “She’s the queen of cross-country ski­ from the rest of field, and it ended in a mass include Nordic skiing’s three disciplines: the gold ahead of American Chris Corn­ ing,” former multiple gold medal winner and sprint. Luckily for Bjørgen, Kalla broke her cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and Nor­ ing while Marcus Kleveland secured the skiing legend Thomas Alsgaard said after the ski pole a few kilometers before the finish, dic combined (the latter being a combina­ bronze medal. Silje Norendal took the race. while Weng made a mistake in the last turn. tion sport consisting of both cross-country bronze in the women’s final. In the next event, the 10-km interval With her two biggest competitors out of the and ski jumping). From 1924 to 1939, the (NRK) start, there never was any doubt. Bjørgen race, Bjørgen had no problem winning her World Championships were held every year, took the lead on the opening point and never fourth gold of the championship—her 18th including the Winter Olympics. After World looked back. In the end she beat the silver in total. War II, they were held every four years from Football: Gulbrandsen on starting line- medalist, Swedish Charlotte Kalla, with 41 She was both happy and relieved, she 1950 to 1982. Since 1985, the World Cham­ up for Red Bulls seconds—the biggest margin of victory in revealed in the post-race press conference. pionships have been held in odd-numbered Fredrik Gulbrandsen got his first chance to a world championship ever. In a controver­ “It has exceeded all expectations. I’m glad years. start in the MLS when his New York Red sial interview after the race, she thanked her it’s over now. It has been so thrilling,” she Bulls took their first loss of the season, good training partner and friend, Therese said. Jo Christian Weldingh grew up in Lilleham- losing 1-3 away against Seattle Sounders Johaug, for all her help and support. Johaug With Bjørgen’s 30-km victory, the mer, Norway, but is currently living in Oslo. on March 19. The former Lillestrøm and tested positive for performance-enhancing Norwegian women’s team completed a He has a BA in Archaeology from The Univer- Molde player is on loan from Salzburg, an drugs last fall and is currently suspended clean sweep in this year’s championship, as sity of Oslo and a BA in Business Administra- Austrian club. from all competitions. Caspersen Falla won the individual sprint tion from BI Norwegian Business School. (NRK)

< citizenship From page 3 ciple. This principle has been difficult to en­ into Norwegian society ... while maintaining focus attention on the remaining parties that force that over half of those who currently their birth identity.” have not accepted the principle of dual citi­ apply for dual citizenship are approved. But The decision is also likely to be of bene­ zenship, says Fox. The Christian Democrats Get a slice of Norway this is unpredictable and it is often a matter fit for Norwegians abroad, according to Fox. (Kristelig Folkepartiet) and Center Party every issue! of chance whether or not citizenship is ap­ “It will mean Norwegians living abroad (Senterpartiet) will be voting on the principle (206) 784-4617 proved,” Skjevik-Aasberg said. can more easily return to live and work in of dual citizenship at their annual conferenc­ [email protected] Donna Fox, co-founder of lobbying Norway, bringing with them their expertise es this spring. group Ja til dobbelt statsborgerskap (Yes to and global experience,” she wrote. Fremskrittspartiet (The Progress Party) dual citizenship) told The Local that the de­ Norwegians living abroad for extended is also contemplating dual citizenship, with cision represented a “major breakthrough” periods often find themselves denied demo­ the leader of the party’s youth wing, Bjørn- for its campaign. cratic rights or forced to renounce their citi­ Kristian Svendsrud, last week calling for “Høyre’s youth party has supported dual zenship to remain employed in their new dual citizenship to be discussed and voted on citizenship since 2014. The grass roots lob­ countries, according to the lobbying group. at the party’s annual conference in May. bying of Ja til dobbelt statsborgerskap has Skjevik-Aasberg told NTB that he The Labor Party (Arbeiderpartiet) has directly influenced this result,” wrote Fox. hoped Høyre’s MPs would now see the pro­ so far not taken a definite stance on the is­ The campaigner said that allowing dual posal through when it is put before parlia­ sue, saying that it may evaluate the impact of nationality would enable people with con­ ment during the spring session. Norway’s current singular citizenship policy nections to other nations to “fully integrate Ja til dobbelt statsborgerskap will now in a globalized world. 6 • March 24, 2017 Opinion theNorwegianamerican

< traffic An opinion column about current issues in From page 3 Norway and the United States ropean city rankings and comes 81st on the Join the conversation! company’s world scale of cities (with a pop­ On the EDGE ulation of over 800,000, but encompassing all city sizes). Both rankings are based on the Norwegians need to sink their teeth into healthcare congestion level (extra travel time). Figures for the other three Nordic capi­ tals surveyed, in descending order, are: • Stockholm: 28% extra travel time (33 Linn Chloe Hagstrøm minutes per day); morning peak 48%, eve­ The Norwegian American ning peak 61%; 65th in Europe, 92nd in world. People who live and work in Nor­ • Helsinki: 26% extra travel time (27 way get to benefit from the Norwegian minutes per day); morning peak 40%, eve­ single-payer health care system, which ning peak 48%; 127th in Europe; no world encompasses services ranging from see­ ranking, as less than 800,000 live in the ing a GP (fastlege) to receiving emergen­ Finnish capital. cy care or doing specialist appointments, • Copenhagen: 23% extra travel time to name a few. However, dental care is (26 minutes per day); morning peak 47%, not a part of the package. These services evening peak 40%; 86th in Europe, 124th in do not fall under the umbrella of pub­ world. lic health, which is odd considering the The world’s top five worst cities, in de­ otherwise wide range of coverage in the scending order, were Mexico City (Mexico), single-payer system. Bangkok (Thailand), Jakarta (Indonesia), Norwegian dental care is considered Chongqing (China), and Lodz (Poland). and practiced separate from single-payer Photo: Pixabay The U.S.’ Knoxville (Tennessee), Win­ health care. In Norway, this system con­ Healthy teeth are part of a person’s overall health, so why doesn’t Norway’s medical system cover ston-Salem (North Carolina), Dayton (Ohio), sists of a public sector offering dental it the same way? Syracuse (New York), and Greensboro-High services to parts of the population under Point (North Carolina) were the world’s the Dental Health Act and a private sector best—again, in descending order. that offers dental services to the general on the Parliament’s budget resolution, which equality, it is important to fill it. Everyone population. Here private practice dentists involves people exposed to torture or abuse, in Norway must have equal rights to good TomTom’s full list, which covers 390 world operate in a free-trade system, where people suffering from odontophobia, drug health, and this also includes teeth.” He places, can be found at www.tomtom.com/ each practice may freely choose the pric­ addicts who have received services under continued, “This is not the way it should en_gb/trafficindex. ing for their services as long as these are the Social Services Act for three months or be in Norway; your wallet should not de­ reported to the Norwegian Consumer longer, and prisoners (Government.no). cide how good your health is.” SV wants Council’s website: hvakostertannlegen, a The dentist office is dreaded by many. a settlement that gradually phases in a de­ < utøya public price list for dental care. We worry about having cavities that need to ductible of 2,500 kroner or about $292. Although these services are separat­ be dealt with or the bill at the end of the visit, This idea has great potential, but in order From page 3 ed, there are many exceptions and most or we experience discomfort with just the for it to work, there has to be a price ceil­ to the report. The standard of services pro­ importantly all people get full dental thought of seeing a dentist. The recommen­ ing on how much private practices can vided also varied depending on municipality. health coverage (except for orthodontist dation is a check up once a year, but often charge for their services. Dyb said that a contact person in such services) until they reach age 18. Ac­ the response is, “Oh god, it’s that time of the The Norwegian Dental Care As­ cases should be available for at least three cording to the Ministry of Health, the year again!” This causes a lot of people to not sociation is working tirelessly to make years. “It is clear to us that our mental health­ county must organize preventive mea­ see their dentist on a regular basis or avoid people’s teeth part of the body of single- care system is rigged for those who already sures for the entire population and pro­ going for as long as possible. Some people payer health care: perhaps the govern­ have an established complaint. In this case vide both regular and outreach dental ser­ postpose seeing the dentist for so long that ment will give this issue more priority in we have a post-traumatic reaction that can vices through the public sector to certain they get a backlog for treatments and the cost the coming election season as well? develop and become a mental health issue at groups in accordance with the law §1-3 becomes greater than anticipated. a later date. But this can be prevented with (Government.no). These groups include I firmly believe that teeth should be con­ Linn Chloe Hagstrøm the right kind of support,” the psychiatrist youth turning 19 or 20 during the year sidered part of the body—they really are! is a Bergen-based con- said to NRK. of treatment, people who are differently Why can’t dental care and health care go tributing editor, barista, Consequences of untreated post-trau­ abled, elderly with long-term illnesses or hand in hand? and alumna from Pacif- matic stress disorder can be serious, includ­ disabilities residing in institutions or el­ The Socialist Left Party (SV) is pro­ ic Lutheran University ing addiction, antisocial behavior and de­ derly homes, refugees and asylum seekers posing a dental health settlement. The cur­ in Tacoma, Wash. She is pression, says Dyb. living in public facilities, or other groups rent SV party leader, Audun Lysbakken, told passionate about social In total 77 people were killed in Breivik’s prioritized by the county. On top of this, Dagbladet: “Dental care is a big hole in our science, feminism, vol- massacre, in which a car bomb was set off in some can get free dental assistance based welfare state, and in a time of increasing in­ leyball, and her mini schnoodle. central Oslo in addition to the shootings on The opinions expressed by opinion writers featured in “On the Edge” are not necessarily those of The Norwegian American, and our publication of those views is not an Utøya. Breivik was sentenced to at least 21 endorsement of them. Comments, suggestions, and complaints about the opinions expressed by the paper’s editorials should be directed to the editor. years in prison in 2012. the Norwegian american’s(secret) plan for personalglobal domina enrichment!tion: shhh... don’t tell! Step 1—send us your Your Name: Norwegian-American ^ Friend’s Name: friend’s address*** Step 2—???* Friend’s Address: Step 3—you PROFIT!** City/State/Zip: * Step 2 is that we send your non-subscriber friend a sample copy of the newspaper (no other nefarious purpose, we promise!) ** If your friend signs up for a year’s subscription, YOU get a free month added to your subscription *** Call (206) 784-4617, email [email protected], or mail 17713 15th Ave NE, #205, Shoreline, WA 98155 theNorwegianamerican Opinion March 24, 2017 • 7

Letters to the Editor theNorwegianamerican Published since May 17, 1889 Do you have something to say? 17713 15th Ave NE, #205, Shoreline, WA 98155 Tel: (206) 784-4617 • Email: [email protected] Write to us at The Norwegian American, Letter to the Editor, 17713 15th Ave NE, #205, Shoreline, WA 98155, or email us at [email protected], subject line Publisher Ragnar Meyer-Knutsen Letter to the Editor. Letters may be edited for style, clarity, or length. Editor-in-chief Emily C. Skaftun [email protected] Assistant Editor / Nyheter, Business, Heritage & melanin From the recent article “How to be proud of 900 million. With this difference it seems Sports, Travel of your heritage (even if you’re white)”: it is a lack of political will that permits Rus­ Molly Jones [email protected] Dear Editor, “But if the reason you’re proud to be sia an outsized power. Add the U.S. and it Opinion Editor Thank you for the insightful editorial Norwegian is because of the melanin defi­ becomes even more one-sided. Linn Chloe Hagstrøm [email protected] of Feb. 24, 2017 (“How to be proud of your ciency it may have given you, or if you think Sincerely, Taste of Norway Editor heritage (even if you’re white)”). that all Norwegians look a certain way, then Erik Nicolaysen Daytona Strong [email protected] We have much to learn when we “walk we are starting to have problems.” Chappaqua, N.Y. Advertising in the shoes of the other.” I appreciate the Ahh, it’s so nice to learn that as a White [email protected] introduction of topical issues and starting the Dear Erik, Norske I have melanin deficiency. Alas, it’s Subscriptions conversation. such a terrible disease to suffer from! Sad! I don’t have access to the Wall Street [email protected] I also like seeing the comparison of ~emailed anonymously Journal to check the source, but my googling Norsk vs American positions on social, po­ tells me that there are 28 countries in NATO, Contributors litical, and economic issues. It keeps me Dear Anonymous, not 26, and I’d have to do more math than I Larrie Wanberg Grand Forks, N.D. thinking and open to new understanding. As I’m sure you know, melanin is the care to to add up all the GNPs. Julia Andersen New York, N,Y. Tove Andersson Oslo, Norway Med vennlig hilsen, pigment-producing compound responsible for But crucially, the United States is one of Patricia Barry Hopewell Junction, N.Y. Arnt Monge determining the color of one’s skin and hair. I the 28 countries. So we can’t add it to NATO. Melinda Bargreen Everett, Wash. used the term as a lighthearted way of saying According to my unimpeachable source Terje Birkedal Anchorage, Alaska M. Michael Brady Asker, Norway Dear Arnt, light skinned, which may perhaps have been (Wikipedia),­­ the U.S. represents $16.3 trillion David Burke Skoppum, Norway Thank you for your thanks. We plan to insensitive to those with a true deficiency, of NATO’s $36.2 trillion GDP (it doesn’t list Carla Danziger McLean, Va. / Albany, Calif. keep trying to look at things from an Ameri- such as those with albinism or Waardenburg’s GNP, but for comparison it says that Russia’s Daughters of Norway Members Various Gary G. Erickson Sunburg, Minn. can and a Norwegian perspective—or rath- syndrome. For that I apologize. GDP is $1.4 trillion) and about 319 million of Rasmus Falck Oslo, Norway er from the many perspectives that make up However, I suspect you of simply troll- NATO’s total population of 906 million. Christy Olsen Field Seattle, Wash. each of those!—and we do hope to start con- ing me because you disagree with my posi- What people in Europe are fearing is Sunny Gandara Beacon, N.Y. Heidi Håvan Grosch Sparbu, Norway versations around these difficult things. tion. In which case: if that’s the best you can that they may have to subtract the U.S. from Rosalie Grangaard Grosch Arden Hills, Minn. It’s hard to keep up a conversation on do, I consider myself proud. NATO, which would be a huge blow, as the Kari Heistad Edina, Minn. the Letters page of a biweekly paper (but Sincerely, U.S. has not only the largest military budget Victoria Hofmo Brooklyn, N.Y. Leslee Lane Hoyum Rockford, Minn. keep the letters coming!). We do, however, Editor but the highest military spending per capita. Roy Jorgensen Hopewell Junction, N.Y have pretty lively discussions in the com- Interestingly though, Norway holds sec- Ilan Kelman Agder, Norway ments threads on our Facebook posts. Visit ond place in per capita defence spending. Michael Kleiner Philadelphia, Penn. Norway’s Putin concern Scott Larsen New Westminster, B.C. us at www.facebook.com/naweekly. Clearly they are worried about something. Thor A. Larsen Fishkill, N.Y. Sincerely, And given that more and more Russian jets Lexi Seattle, Wash. Editor Dear Editor, and submarines and warships have been Solveig M. Lee Seattle, Wash. Richard Londgren Thousand Oaks, Calif. Today’s (Feb. 27) WSJ article states spotted above and around Norway, their Donald V. Mehus New York, N.Y. Russia has a GNP of $1.5 trillion and a popu­ fears may be well founded. Christine Foster Meloni Washington, D.C. lation of 150 million. NATO has 26 countries Sincerely, David Moe Sun City, Calif. Maria Stordahl Nelson Seattle, Wash. with a GNP of $40 trillion and a population Editor David Nikel Trondheim, Norway Ken Nordan Batavia, Ill. Barbara K. Rostad Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho John Erik Stacy Seattle, Wash. Otis P. Nelson Northwood MN Kjell Holmes San Diego CA Rolf Kristian Stang New York, N.Y. Janet Oberg Seattle WA Jens Olaussen Bellingham WA Judith Gabriel Vinje Los Angeles, Calif. Kierstyn Power New City NY Dianna Walla Tromsø, Norway Runa S. Shumate Lake Los Angeles CA 2. april Linda Warren Washington, D.C. Marvell Skipsnes Seattle WA Henning Amundsen Bergen Norway Jo Christian Weldingh Oslo, Norway Brian Thorbjørnsen Duluth MN Odvar Holm Vista CA The Norwegian American strives to make Ingvald J. Pederson Fairview OR its news report fair and accurate. If you have a 28. mars Joan Vatn Seattle WA question or comment about news coverage call (206) 784-4617. • The Norwegian American re- Gullak H. Edse Edmonton AB Canada serves the right to edit any and all submissions for 24. mars Betty Larson Sioux Falls SD 3. april style, grammar, accuracy, and/or space, and the Bill O. Bekkestad Hol Hallingdal Norway David Leirmo Ferryville WI Magdalene Emra Oregon City OR right not to print submissions deemed libelous, Erik K. 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Want to see your birthday in The Norwegian American? Email [email protected] or call (206) 784-4617. Must be submitted one month in advance. NB: Has someone on our birthday list passed away? Please notify us! 8 • March 24, 2017 Health & Wellness theNorwegianamerican Clenched fists: Norway cancer rates The crippling, hereditary “Viking Disease” has new treatments, but still no cure lower for immigrants Ethnic Norwegians suffer more than non- European immigrants from certain cancers

M. Michael Brady Asker, Norway

The headline on the front page of the lished in a scientific paper by staff oncolo­ February 6 edition of Aftenposten, Oslo’s gist Kirsti Vik Hjerkind and colleagues in and Norway’s leading newspaper, read “Inn­ the International Journal of Cancer (Further vandrere får mindre kreft” (Immigrants get reading). For most forms of cancer, the Can­ less cancer). A subheading explained that cer Registry research found that incidence “Ikke-europeiske innvandrere rammes langt was lower among immigrants than among sjeldnere av tarmkreft, brystkreft og lunge­ ethnic Norwegians, expressed in ASR, the kreft, sykdommer som ofte skyldes livsstil” Age Standardization Rate, a measure used (Non-European immigrants suffer less intes­ in epidemiology and demography in com­ tinal cancer, breast cancer, and lung cancer, paring different populations. However, ex­ diseases often due to lifestyle). ceptions were found. For example, the ASR It was staggering news, in face of com­ for eastern European men was 50.7, signifi­ monplace belief in the healthiness of tra­ cantly more than the 33.3 for ethnic Norwe­ ditional fare. The increasing share of fat, gian men, reflecting the higher penchant for sugar, alcohol, red meat, and salty processed smoking among ethnic eastern Europeans, meats in the Western diet may well explain both before and after immigration to Nor­ the higher incidence of cancer among ethnic way. Photo: MikkTooming / Wikimedia Commons Norwegians than among immigrants from Dupuytren’s Contracture causes connective tissue in the hands to stiffen, pulling fingers toward the eastern countries. Further reading: palm. It’s a progressive disease with no cure. So remarks Dr. Wasim Zahid, personally • “Innvandrere får mindre kreft” (Im­ and professionally qualified to give relevant migrants get less cancer), Aftenposten, print opinion. He’s a second-generation Pakistani edition Feb. 6, 2017; online edition title Judith Gabriel Vinje Norwegian, born in Oslo in 1975 to parents “Inn­vandrere rammes sjeldnere av kreft enn Los Angeles who were among many who immigrated to nordmenn” (Immigrants suffer less often Norway from the Kharian Province in Paki­ from cancer than Norwegians) link: www. My 22-year-old granddaughter has the She’s seen a case that’s somewhat more stan in the mid 1970s. He finished secondary aftenposten.no/norge/Innvandrere-rammes- early signs of Viking Disease—a hereditary developed than hers. Her 80-year-old Ger­ school at the top of his class and then went sjeldnere-av-kreft-enn-nordmenn-613527b. affliction of the hands that can result in per­ man-American paternal grandfather has it. on to complete a medical degree at the Uni­ html (in Norwegian only) manently clenched fingers. Tradition has it On his right palm, you’ll see a distinct “V” versity of Oslo. In 2005 he started practice • “Ethnic differences in the incidence of that the disease originated with the Norse­ where the cords are slightly swollen. (The as a cardiologist on the staff of the Dram­ cancer in Norway” by Kirsti Vik Hjerkind et. men, who spread it throughout Northern Eu­ V is coincidental—it’s not code for Viking.) men Hospital. In 2016 he completed a PhD al., International Journal of Cancer online, rope and beyond. But he’s lucky; there is no bending of the fin­ in ultrasound cardiac imaging, and today he Jan. 27, 2017, link: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ Being Norwegian, Danish, and Ger­ gers. We hope she will be lucky too, and that is a specialist on the staff of the Oslo Univer­ doi/10.1002/ijc.30598/full man, she certainly has the genes. Centuries a cure will be found before she reaches her sity Hospital. He also is a published author, ago, Viking raiders, traders, and settlers older years. But, as she notes, “I’m proud of frequent lecturer, and prolific contributor to left behind a set of genes that would rise up my heritage—even if it’s painful.” social media, called Twitterlegen (The Twit­ to plague future generations. It is their de­ ter Doctor) for his commentary on health and scendants who are the recipient of genes for Krokfinger in Norway integration. blond hair, blue eyes, and Viking Disease— The highest incidence of Dupuytren’s Dr. Zahid’s remarks reflect two decades Dupuytren’s Contracture. Disease is found where Vikings made their of scientific inquiry conducted 1990-2012 home—in Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Swe­ by the Cancer Registry of Norway and pub­ Genetic disorder den, Germany, the UK, as well as Australia Viking Disease is a genetic disorder that and other places Scandinavians migrated to. mainly affects older people. It is usually pro­ It is a progressive, incurable disease affect­ gressive. The hand develops a crippling con­ ing millions worldwide. (There also are cas­ dition medically known as Dupuytren’s Con­ es found in Spain and northern Japan. Viking Photos: (right) Cancer Registry of Norway, (below) Olav Olsen / Aftenposten tracture, or Dupuytren’s Disease. It is named destinations?) Kirsti Vik Hjerkind (right) and Wasim Zahid (be- after Napoleon’s surgeon, Baron Dupuytren, Scandinavian and British immigrants low) are two of the cancer researchers who’ve who reported on it in 1834. [Dupuytren’s is brought the genes along with them when noted a higher rate of certain forms of the disease pronounced Doo-pwe-trens.] they came to the U.S., settling heavily in the in native Norwegians than in non-European im- There is good reason it is technically northern and Midwestern states. migrants. called Dupuytren’s Contracture. The condi­ As many as 25 percent of people over 40 tion results in some of the fingers becoming in Western countries have it. But it has also permanently clenched—claw-like—due to been seen in a 12-year-old boy. In the U.S., the formation of stiff “cords” in the palm. (In more than 10 million Americans have bent Norway, it is known as krokfinger—crooked fingers from the condition, with 20 million finger.) You can’t put your hand in your more in earlier stages with skin tightness or pocket, you can’t wear a glove, you can bare­ a lump in the palm, like my granddaughter. ly do anything with the clenched hand. There Dupuytren’s runs through the blood, is no cure, although there are steps doctors meaning it is a hereditary disease, although can take to alleviate the condition. there are factors that may trigger it. There It is unusual for someone as young as my are at least nine genes involved. Some are granddaughter to manifest the disease. Her inherited from the mother, and some can symptoms are minor. There is a raised area on come from either parent. Other than heredity, the palm of one hand, and the beginning of medical professionals still don’t know what swelling of the cords that lead to the fingers. causes it. She’s been advised to “monitor it.” It may be The disease has baffled surgeons for many years before her case gets any worse, centuries. The only recorded cures have been and it might not change at all. She says that reputed miracles. In the Norse sagas, there is her hand is sometimes sensitive and achy, but her fingers are definitely not yet involved. See > dupuytren’s, page 18 theNorwegianamerican Health & Wellness March 24, 2017 • 9 Doctors from the US and Norway discuss both medical systems

< systems From page 1 bly healthy, young “invincibles”—remain outside the insurance pool. With this in the background, The Nor­ wegian American was privileged to interview two doctors, David S. Johnson from the U.S. and Ivar Halvorsen from Norway. Dr. John­ son is a family physician with Allina Health in Plymouth, Minn. Dr. Halvorsen, from Stavanger, Norway, is a Public Health Of­ ficer and “Overlege” (consultant) at Køhler Legesenter. Here is some of what they had to say when asked about the systems of health care in the U.S. and Norway:

David S. Johnson: Research and some of the care in America is excellent, but some things in our system are really messed up. For example, the pricing of medication can be extreme. There is now a low-dose ver­ Photos: (left) courtesy of Ivar Halvorsen, (right) courtesy of David S. Johnson sion of Viagra available for pulmonary hyper­ Ivar Halvorsen (left) and David S. Johnson (right) are doctors in Norway and the United States, respectively. They recently shared some thoughts on the tension that costs $1,100 for a 10-day course. relative merits of both countries’ systems. Generic Viagra [Sildenafil] costs $10, so if patients or providers are unaware, they may buy something that is over 100 times more can then rearrange schedules to take the im­ IH: You will always be offered your own GP news. In fact, with the amount of attention expensive than necessary. I’ve also heard that portant things first. There is a patient coordi­ [fastlege]. If you go abroad for some years given to healthcare, it is difficult for me to 40% of health-care premiums are spent on nator, a nurse, usually calling up the patient and come back, you will be asked to choose understand why we can’t move to a system biologics like Humira and Enbrel, now used after one or two days, telling the patient what a GP. You pick your own “fastlege” and you that is more like Norway. for things like psoriasis and not just crippling is going to happen and when. The patient has can choose in the hospital system. You have Perhaps it is because many Americans arthritis. How much of this is driven by profit the phone number of the coordinator so they the freedom of choice to decide which hos­ imagine themselves as rugged individual­ motive? The drug companies making these can make contact whenever they want. This pital you would like to use. Both the current ists, even if they are all doing the same thing. products are making a lot of money and have has improved service very much. Time-sensi­ (right-leaning) government and the govern­ They want to make their own decisions, so recouped their costs and more. tive conditions like cancer have always been ment of the left a few years ago agree on the mandatory aspect of Obamacare sits Also, we live with patchwork system of prioritized and treated immediately. this. Former Prime Minister Gro Harlem poorly with a lot of people. This means that insurance plans and providers of health care. Brundtland moved to France. She wanted a a lot of people choose not to get insurance A patient may check to be sure that a hospital DSJ: A relative in Sandnessjøen wrote about hip replacement and wanted it done in Oslo. but use the emergency room for treatment, and surgeon is covered under the plan, but her hip replacement at a Norwegian hospital. But the rules did not allow this. In fact, she and that is covered through subsidies [tax perhaps the anesthesiologist is not so then She had a femur fracture, and she shared a lot got operated [on], but that was outside the money]. So we are paying for it in a very ex­ the patient gets a bill for the entire anesthe­ about the experience, and at the end she wrote system. She was not aware of that limitation. pensive way. siology, even though the patient did the best “All this was done at no cost to me, and I am But if you have a fracture as a Frenchman in they knew how to make sure that they were happy to pay my taxes so they can do this.” Norway, you would get treatment. IH: In Norway, the use of the emergency covered. These issues add to the uncertainty There is also some coverage for cos­ room has been falling since 1989. We got that many patients in America face when IH: When the government in Norway shifted metic surgery and dental cost in the system. “socialized medicine” in 1984. The munici­ getting care. And I also understand that the parties 10 or 15 years ago, there was a focus There is a cut-off line for what the public palities got the responsibility to set up GP most common reason to declare bankruptcy on tax issues, but now people are more con­ will pay and what is a private matter for offices. Before that it was free to set up your in America is because of health care bills. cerned with service for their tax money. For things like breast augmentation. Regarding own office as a businessman. The “fastlege a time, Norway was reported to be the most dental coverage, youth—up to 19 or 20 years ordning” (the system of personal doctors) Ivar Halvorsen: In Norway, the state bargains expensive health care in Europe, but that old—are covered. And psychiatric long-time started in 2001. with pharmaceutical companies to lower also counts nursing home care. Norway is, in patients also have dental care covered. But prices. But this causes a delay for the newest fact, somewhere in the middle of the Western all others have to pay. DSJ: In America, “Obamacare” has helped medications. And that is a bit difficult because countries when it comes to cost. Everyone It is important to have a system that peo­ some 20 million more people get health in­ some persons will always need a medication in the system can expect health care. Some ple trust. When Norwegians go to the vot­ surance. It is too bad more healthy people that is there but not offered in our health-care people do fall out of the system. There are ing booth, health issues will always be very haven’t signed on and made it more sustain­ system. Usually it takes one-half or one year. a small number of people that get pro-bono important, and health care issues are often in able. As a doctor, I know many patients and On the second day of every month, we have help from doctors—such as refugees that are the news. I have seen some patients’ insurance premi­ a small group of important directors decide not granted asylum—because they have no ums go up dramatically. Here in Minnesota what we are going to offer in Norway. This rights. Every EU citizen will get help when DSJ: Hospitals are in the news in America both the Democratic Governor Mark Dayton forum of directors, together with the health they stay in Norway, but not elective surgery. too. Consumer Reports and others review and the Republican legislature have made it minister, does the negotiation. So we get the hospitals and report re-admission rates, in­ a priority to get the Affordable Care Act to drugs we need, but not always in the time we DSJ: Ivar, you told me that when Norwe­ fection, etc. There are government sources truly be affordable. need it. Regarding treatment delays in Nor­ gians move, they are assigned a new doctor too. And if it comes out that a surgeon took way, I can now mark a referral, and hospitals in the new town. Can you expand on that? off the wrong foot, it will definitely hit the

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Larrie Wanberg Features Editor

As a retired health-care provider and cancer survivor, I can share good news in cancer treatment from a unique perspective. One day, I was feeling in the prime of health, despite advancing years in my mid-80s. The next day in the ER with fever, tests led to the diagnosis of bladder cancer. Two years of comprehensive treatment followed, including state-of-the-art surgery. This personal story is about the marvels of medicine today, al­ though the ordeal over months of chemo, surgeries, infections, and set­ Photo courtesy of NCH&HC backs are evident in such a journey. Norwegians know that a hyggelig environment is necessary for wellness. For me, the outcome is ironic from my perspective as a former child therapist, often with children and adolescents on oncology wards in military hospitals—my current experience as a patient “puts the shoe Victoria Hofmo on the other foot.” Brooklyn, N.Y. As a parent, my son Lars in his 40s had surgery at the same medi­ cal center for bladder cancer and is now a survivor for over 10 years. It is amazing to me that one can be considered a Although these interiors are wonderful, the exte­ Genetics can be a factor and is testable. senior from age 55 to 100 plus. As people live longer, rior spaces are even more impressive. A large portion My surgical treatment was done at the University of Southern Cali­ healthier lives, society must rethink this definition! of the property has been preserved as an open green fornia (USC) Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles, But, in the meantime, health care for seniors is space. This garden soothes the soul and mind with its where a urology surgeon removed a section of the large bowel and being transformed. Two Norwegian-American philan­ ponds, gazebo, and landscaping. constructed it as an internal bladder, called an “Indiana Pouch,” which thropic organizations are growing to serve this popula­ Why is the Home doing so well? According to the is emptied every four to six hours by catheter through a navel port. This tion. Both the Norwegian Christian Home & Health NCH&HC, “We attribute at least part of our excellent enables me to progressively lead a “new-normal” life of functioning Center (NCH&HC) and Eger Lutheran Homes and results to the fact that we are bound by our mission: to while extending my life. Services, Inc. have been serving Brooklyn seniors for care.” And the Home is not resting on its laurels. “Fu­ The manner of and ongoing relationship with my surgeon is differ­ over a hundred years. ture plans include a wellness program, general health ent from surgeons I’ve known in the past—he’s personable, has plenty and nutritional counseling, and health-related semi­ of time to listen and advise, and provides light humor and genuine From widows to wellness nars as adjunctive treatment methods.” smiles—with the results that when I leave the clinic exam room after In 1903, the Norwegian Christian Home was cre­ periodic follow-ups, I’m feeling good inside me from supportive care ated by the Hansens, a married couple, to provide a Final days with dignity from the doctor, nurses, and even the receptionist. caring residence for elderly widows. In 1911, they be­ What about health care for those who are in their This evolving culture of patient-centered care in teaching centers gan to include men. They have since grown exponen­ last days of life? At Eger Lutheran Homes and Ser­ carries with it the sights and sounds of “good medicine,” with emphasis tially, providing rehabilitation and respite care, support vices, Inc., the focus is Hospice Care. on the teamwork skills of advanced medicine and the future of health services, and three levels of housing: Independent, for Eger was founded in 1916 with funds and two care. those who can tend to their own care; Assisted, a long- Brooklyn homes donated by Carl Michael Eger and Earlier this month on a follow-up clinical visit, I received the good term senior care option that provides support with through the hard work of Eger’s sister, Catherine, and news that no new cancer was detected. The surgeon showed me the meals, medication, bathing, dressing, and transporta­ Pastor Charles S. Everson of Our Saviour’s Lutheran results on a digital screen from a CT scan. tion, as needed; and Skilled Nursing, for people who Church. The home moved to Staten Island 10 years later “Keep active... keep writing,” he said. “Awareness of advances in require services that only a licensed nurse can provide. for a much larger property. Carol Ann Benanti told Stat­ bladder cancer is a principal need for the general public.” He empha­ NCH&HC’s Independent Living option offers en Island Advance that as of 2012, “with 378 beds, the sized that the available options for treatment have expanded in choices Brooklynites (and others) a well-maintained home—a skilled nursing facility is among one of the largest New and successes, including in elderly patients like myself. I outlined with growing concern, as housing is scarce and prices have York health-care centers,” and “the campus continues to him my optimistic three-year plan for my next retirement at age 90. been increasing faster in this borough than those in expand with gardens, a log cabin, Founder’s Park, Eger We concluded that patient-centered care by a treatment team Manhattan. It also allows folks to remain part of the Way, [and] Harbor House Assisted Living in 2004.” throughout the health-care delivery system is, indeed, the future—even larger community. Hospice care is limited in New York, with far today. According to their website, this service also pro­ more need than rooms and service available. But Eger vides residents with “three quality meals each day, Health Care and Rehabilitation Center has risen to individually formulated to meet all special dietary meet the dire need. According to Eger, our “mission needs and served in a formal dining room.” Residents is to care for the chronically ill seniors, the disabled of are checked regularly and rooms have mechanisms to any age, and to provide end of life care. We have been signal for help if needed. Household chores, including providing hospice care for decades.” laundry, are taken care of. And if further assistance be­ In 2012, The Addeo Hospice Residence opened at comes necessary, residents have a way to age in place Eger. Its creation was a true partnership bringing to­ by moving to an Assisted or Skilled Nursing room. gether many on Staten Island. Eger home contributed As our health-care system is upended, one good the land and an eight-bedroom home. After fundrais­ thing has come out of the chaos: a focus on preventa­ ing and renovations, the home dedicated to hospice tive practices and creative health service opportunities care opened, providing eight wonderful rooms. The that allow for living healthier lives. NCH&HC now Staten Island University Hospital Hospice handles the offers rehabilitation services for residents, as well as care in the residence. outpatients. Locals have given it rave reviews. Eger, like the NCH, also maintains the importance Stanley Carlsen, who’s been an in- and outpatient of interior and exterior environment for health. And of the NCH’s Rehabilitative Services, said, “The Nor­ like the NCH, they continue to look to the future, with wegian Home was excellent as far as the nursing service plans to renovate and create new systems of health ser­ and therapy. And the doctor was good also. The nurses’ vices for older adults. aids were especially excellent. Best out of all the hospi­ tals I’ve been in, and I’ve been in four hospitals.” A Norwegian legacy Another essential factor for healing is the environ­ What a wonderful legacy our Norwegian ances­ ment, and being an institution created by Norwegians, tors have given to the city of New York in the form of this organization’s emphasis on the environment is par­ the Norwegian Christian Home and Health Center and ticularly evident. The common spaces, especially the Eger Home and Rehabilitation Center. Both have been dining room, are cozy and elegant, and include “sitting serving our elders for over a hundred years, and today Photo: thelanguageofcancer.tumblr.com rooms, a chapel, a library, a crafts room, game and ac­ their core missions continue to expand to treat the entire Larrie meditates during his chemo treatment, which started in 2015. tivity rooms, an auditorium, and an exhibit gallery.” human being inside and out, through all stages of need. theNorwegianamerican Health & Wellness March 24, 2017 • 11 The Great Norwegian Porridge Feud How a war between “science” and tradition left its mark on a staple of Norwegian food

classes in Norway, if not through the written word then orally. Terje Birkedal Schools for teaching women “domes­ Anchorage, Alaska tic science” in Norway were established as early as 1865 and they became common After helping me with the solution to the by the end of the century. The irony is that “Great Lutefisk Mystery,” Kari-Anne Peder­ over time these schools were taken over by sen of the Norsk Folkemuseum suggested Norway’s women, who also ended up set­ that I might be interested in the “Norwegian ting the curriculum. Both the Norwegian Porridge Feud” of the 19th century, and she Women’s Rights Association and the Nor­ sent me a copy of “Popular Diet in Norway wegian Women’s Health Organization were and Natural Science during the 19th Cen­ instrumental in steering these schools to­ tury: The Porridge Feud 1864-66” by Astri ward teaching young women practical and Riddervold and Andreas Ropeid, which was informed approaches to cooking and other published in 1984 in the journal Ethnologica aspects of domestic science that reflected Scandinavia. It was one of these two authors, both the wisdom of tradition as well as the Astri Riddervold, who had researched and proven findings of modern science. explained the practical nutritional benefits of By the turn of the century, the sway of making and eating lutefisk in another schol­ Asbjørnsen and the German “experts” had arly work. faded in the face of persistent resistance from You may be thinking, “Why would I educated Norwegian women and their male care to read about Norway’s Porridge Feud?” academic allies. Still, the effects of the Por­ Because this feud about porridge was a big ridge Feud on Norwegian food culture did deal while it lasted, and it had a major impact not fully disappear until the start of World on Norwegian history and society that rever­ War II, when refined flour, sugar, syrup, and berated well into the 20th century, and most coffee and the like were no longer available likely influenced the food habits and lives of in quantity to the Norwegian people. It took Norwegian immigrants to the United States. a lengthy and devastating five-year war to The feud was actually about the very cultural bring a final end to Norway’s long-standing soul of Norway. Photo: Synøve Dreyer / TINE Mediebank Porridge Feud. During the war Norwegians The opening salvo of the feud was fired Rømmegrøt, with or without raw flour, was a staple of the Norwegian diet in the 19th century. had to turn increasingly to their traditional by none other than Peter Christen Asbjørn­ diet for survival, and by the end of the war sen, the famous collector of Norwegian folk­ the last vestiges of Asbjørnsen’s teachings tales. In 1864, writing under the pseudonym inferior to men in their cognitive abilities. To and sugary syrups were excellent sources of had become, for the most part, history. “Clemens Bonifacus” (The Gentle Helper), teach them philosophy and music was futile; nutrition, and that coffee was a good substi­ By the way, Finnish food researchers he published Fornuftig Madstel (Sensible what they needed was thorough and focused tute for meat. They also touted the virtues of have recently proposed that the traditional Cookery). With the publication of that book, training in domestic management, again, of margarine over butter and discouraged eat­ Norwegian practice of adding a handful of the feud began and it was fought with great course, informed by scientific principles. In ing dairy products, both fermented and non- raw flour to the cooked porridge may re­ intensity in Norwegian newspapers, pub­ addition, this group of influential “experts” fermented. A central tenet of Asbjørnsen and lease beneficial enzymes that give the grøt a lic meetings, periodicals, and cookbooks argued that “bad diets” were the cause of his followers was that Norwegian women sweeter taste without benefit of sugar. Those throughout the rest of the century. The ef­ poverty, not the result; they believed that needed special school-based training in “sci­ Norwegian women; they are so smart. fects of the feud were felt clear up to the start “good diets” would eliminate the poor of entific” cooking and other aspects of domes­ of World War II. Europe. Their ideas were not only adopted tic science; this schooling was essential if What was seen as particularly incendi­ by Asbjørnsen, but also heartily endorsed by Norway hoped to become both a healthy and Terje “Ted” Birkedal was ary was Asbjørnsen’s attack on the tradi­ many of Norway’s prominent doctors and prosperous nation. born in Stavanger, Norway, in 1946. He grew up in Col- tional Norwegian practice of stirring an ex­ other learned men. In 1866 a Norwegian doctor proved orado and earned a Ph.D. tra handful or so of raw, whole-grain flour The counter punch to Asbjørnsen’s at­ through scientific experiment that Asbjørn­ in Anthropology from the into the porridge after it had been thoroughly tack on Norway’s diet and women was deliv­ sen was wrong about the nutritional value of University of Colorado. He cooked and was ready to eat. He claimed this ered by Eilert Sundt, the founder of Norwe­ the extra raw flour added to cooked porridge. retired in 2012 but remains traditional technique was wasteful, contrib­ gian sociology and ethnology, in the journal Nonetheless, Asbjørnsen’s book remained active in his field and has uting no nutrition to the dish. He argued that Folkevennen. popular and sold well among the upper mid­ served as the President of Sons of Norway Bernt this last-minute addition of flour could not be In a series of articles published between dle classes and middle classes. Other popu­ Balchen Lodge in Anchorage since 2012. He has digested by the body and thus Norwegians 1865 and 1866, in which he represented the lar books on cooking and home economics, conducted archeological fieldwork in the Ameri- all over the country were wasting enormous Association for the Enlightenment of the translated from German to Norwegian, also can South, the Great Plains, Norway, Canada, amounts of flour in the process of making People, Sundt criticized Asbjørnsen’s assault echoed Asbjørnsen’s message. In the end, Guam, and Alaska. He has always been passion- this old-fashioned kind of porridge. Keep in on the intelligence of Norwegian women Asbjørnsen’s teachings permeated all social ate about Norwegian prehistory and history. mind that in the 19th century, porridge (grøt) and Norway’s “thousand year’s old (food) was a key, if not central, element in the Nor­ tradition.” The disparagement of women by wegian diet. Asbjørnsen was particularly jarring because Asbjørnsen had much more to say in his Norwegian women of the mid-19th century Community Connections book that ran counter to traditional cooking customarily had important roles as managers and domestic practices in Norway, all of it on the farms of Norway. They were often in Four generations of our Andersen family gleaned from an arrogant coterie of “natu­ charge of the livestock, kitchen, storage cel­ ral scientists” writing in Germany and else­ lar, and barn, as well as the general economic where in Europe. Believing themselves to be affairs of the typical farm family. enlightened by the insights of contemporary What Asbjørnsen and his adherents ar­ “science,” these professors believed that the gued was nothing short of quackery and Signe I. Lockwood European diet needed to be radically trans­ prejudicial nonsense, hardly science-based formed in accordance with “scientific prin­ wisdom. Among other things, they believed Signy Mountz ciples.” Science told them women were not that refined white flour was more nutritious only inefficient and wasteful cooks but also than traditional whole-grain flour, that sugar Signe Andersen Kulp LEWIS O. TITLAND Quality Accounting & Tax Services for: Certified Public Accountant Small businesses Signe Lockwood (206)789-5433 Individuals 221 1st Ave. W. Ste. 400 Specialized Assistance Seattle, WA 98119 12 • March 24, 2017 Taste of Norway theNorwegianamerican Breakfast for a modern Viking: Move over bacon and eggs; we’re serving up healthy breakfast the Nordic way

Daytona Strong Taste of Norway Editor

For as often as we’re told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it seems to be commonly overlooked, bypassed in the rush to get out the door in the mornings. Even when we do take the time to fuel our bodies, I wonder how often we’re thinking about the food in light of our overall health. As this issue’s special focus is health, our Taste of Norway section will share some recipes to inspire us all to eat well the Nordic way—specifically for breakfast. In our first recipe, British food writer and cookbook author Diana Henry has come up with a toasted breakfast muesli with the clas­ sic Nordic ingredient rye, accented with hazel­ nuts, dried cranberries, and a variety of seeds. Excerpted from her lovely book A Change of Appetite, which has a handful of Scandina­ vian-inspired dishes scattered throughout, the recipe seems simple yet special. From Henry’s muesli, we move onto Photo: Laura Edwards / courtesy of Mitchell Beazley two recipes from Nordic Light by Simon Full of healthful seeds and a pleasing texture, Bajada, a book we originally featured in our muesli or granola is a great way to start the day. September 9, 2016, issue (www.norwegia­ The wonderful thing about granola and muesli is namerican.com/featured/nordic-cookbooks- that the ingredients and flavors are variable and entice-and-inspire). Bajada, a Stockholm- can be easily adjusted to reflect one’s personal based photographer and cookbook author, tastes. grew up in Australia and was introduced to Scandinavian food when he cooked in a Swedish restaurant years ago. In his first book, The New Nordic, you’ll find a scatter­ ing of traditional dishes mixed with what one could call modern Nordic recipes; in the lat­ Food Policy and Applied Nutrition, exam­ est release, he looked to raw, dairy-free, and ined the so-called Nordic Diet along with a Toasty Rye Muesli with Hazelnuts vegetarian cooking as inspiration to make the look at what following such a regimen might recipes lighter, he said in an email interview look like on an ordinary day. No matter what & Dried Cranberries last year. The book includes such recipes as health needs we each may have, I’ll say that venison, pickled chanterelles, and mustard for me, personally, with my Nordic tastes, the Recipe excerpted from A Change of Appetite by Diana Henry, rye crumble, which you can find excerpted in menu sounds pretty spectacular. published by Mitchell Beazley 2014, RRP $34.99 hardcover. our September 2016 issue. Here, you’ll find his millet porridge, cardamom, cacao, and Daytona Strong is The Nor- This makes a change from regular muesli, but you can use the same basic quantities and coconut, along with his oat, pear, and carda­ wegian American’s Taste of substitute oats or quinoa flakes instead and use whatever nuts you like. I have to admit I do mom smoothie. Norway editor. She writes add a little brown sugar (1/2 tsp. per bowl) or a drizzle of maple syrup, but you do what you While we’re covering only breakfast here about her family’s Norwe- like. Or you could increase the quantity of dried fruit. Another nice touch—though it won’t today, you can read more on the Nordic Diet gian heritage through the be to everyone’s taste—is to add some toasted and crushed caraway seeds. Very Scandi. in “The Nordic Diet: Eat like your ancestors” lens of food at her Scandi- The muesli can be eaten plain with cold milk or heated with milk as in this recipe. in our September 2016 food special issue (find navian food blog, www.out- the article at: www.norwegianamerican.com/ side-oslo.com. Find her on 100g (3 1/2 oz.) rye flakes 60g (2 oz.) dried cranberries or dried food/the-nordic-diet-eat-like-your-ancestors). Facebook (www.facebook.com/OutsideOslo), 50g (1 3/4 oz.) spelt or barley flakes sour cherries Our contributor Emily Vikre, of Vikre Dis­ Twitter (@daytonastrong), Pinterest (@dayton- 100g (3 1/2 oz.) toasted malted wheat 2 tbsps. raisins tillery in Minnesota and who has a PhD in astrong), and Instagram (@daytonastrong). flakes 2 tbsps. poppy seeds 25g (1 oz.) wheat bran 20g (3/4 oz.) sesame seeds to serve: th 50g (1 3/4 oz.) sunflower seeds milk 17 of may GreetinGs! 10g (1/4 oz.) hemp seeds Greek yogurt & chopped fresh fruit Purchase your space in our annual 17th of May Issue 10g (1/4 oz.) linseeds (both optional) 60g (2 oz.) unblanched hazelnuts

Name:______Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F / gas mark 4. Put all the flakes, the bran, the sesame, sunflower, hemp, and linseeds into a roasting tin and spread them out. Bake for about 15 Message:______minutes, turning the contents over a couple of times. (You can also do this in a dry frying pan City, State:______Phone:______if you prefer, it just takes minutes. You’ll smell the toasty aroma.) Roughly chop the hazelnuts and put them into a roasting tin too. Bake for about 4 min­ Gratulerer med utes (you can also do these in a dry frying pan and in fact it’s easier to make sure they don’t Happy 17th of May! burn that way). dagen norge! Mix all the ingredients for the muesli together. You can store this in an airtight container Bjorn and Nina Ola og Berit for up to two weeks. Steffensen Nordmann To cook, put 50g (1 3/4 oz.) of the muesli mix and 75ml (2 1/2 fl. oz.) milk per person staten island, n.y. Blue mounds, Wis. into a saucepan. Heat until almost boiling, stir gently, then cover and leave to sit for five minutes so that the ingredients can soften. $20 for small ad $25 for large ad Serve the muesli and milk and add yogurt and fresh fruit as well, if you want. I especially like blueberries with the rye flavor. Deadline: April 25 – mail this form today! Makes about 500g (1 lb 2 oz.). theNorwegianamerican Taste of Norway March 24, 2017 • 13 Skipping breakfast? Try these Nordic-inspired recipes instead

Millet Porridge, Cardamom, Cacao & Coconut

Recipe excerpted from Nordic Light by Simon Bajada, published by Hardie Grant Books 2016, RRP $39.99 hardcover.

A great way to introduce more grains into your diet is through porridges. Porridges are to Scandinavians what fry-ups are to Englishmen. There are an endless amount of toppings and flavor combinations that can be used to vary your porridge. This bounty-inspired combina­ tion works well with any grain, though I particularly like it with millet.

250 g (9 oz. / 2 cups) millet flakes, 500 ml (18 fl. oz. / 2 cups) coconut rinsed milk or oat milk 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom 60 g (2 1/4 oz. / 1 cup) toasted 2 tbsps. coconut oil coconut flakes 1 tsp. natural vanilla extract 80 g (3 oz. / 2/3 cup) chopped toasted 2-4 tbsps. brown sugar or honey hazelnuts 2 tsps. cacao powder 2 tbsps. cacao nibs

Put the millet flakes, cardamom, coconut oil, vanilla extract, sugar, and cacao powder in a saucepan together with 1 liter (36 fl. oz. / 4 cups) of water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until all the liquid is absorbed. Divide the porridge between bowls, pour over the milk, and top with the coconut flakes, hazelnuts, and cacao nibs. Serves 4.

Photos: Simon Bajada / courtesy of Hardie Grant Books Top: With cardamom, cacao powder, and coconut oil, who wouldn’t want a bowl of this millet porridge to start the day? Left: No time for breakfast? No more excuses! This healthful breakfast option has just six ingre- dients, and all you have to do is blend it! (And don’t get us started on the flavors—oat, pear, and cardamom? Yes, please!)

Oat, Pear & Cardamom Smoothie

Recipe excerpted from Nordic Light by Simon Bajada, published by Hardie Grant Books 2016, RRP $39.99 hardcover.

I have a love–hate relationship with smoothies. The idea of people replacing meals that are full of different textures and flavors with drinks makes me squirm—yet a cold sweet-and- sour fruit smoothie in the morning can be hard to beat. Frozen fruit gives smoothies a nice coldness without requiring ice and helps make use of over-ripe fruit that’s on the way out. Bananas are often used and are great for this, but why not experiment with other fruits to see what you can come up with? Smoothies are also the perfect vehicle for natural nutrient powders, so feel free to add a teaspoon here or there if you are so inclined.

500 ml (18 fl. oz. / 2 cups) oat milk 100 g (3 1/2 oz.) plain yogurt 2 pears, cored, peeled, and frozen 2 tsps. honey 6 cardamom pods, seeds extracted and 2 tsps. bee pollen crushed

Chuck all the ingredients except the bee pollen into a blender and blend away. Pour into glasses and sprinkle over the bee pollen to serve. Serves 2.

Subscribe to The Norwegian American! (206) 784-4617 • [email protected] news • business • sports • opinion • recipes • & more 14 • March 24, 2017 Norway near you theNorwegianamerican What’s going on in your neighborhood? Calendar of Events california Nordic Celebration and Marketplace Oslo Chamber Choir at Carnegie Hall Washington Scandinavian Festival April 15 April 9, 8:30 p.m. SBSCA Founders’ Gala April 1—2, 10:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. Edina, Minn. New York, N.Y. April 1, 5:30 p.m. Thousand Oaks, Calif. The marketplace features vendors with Scandi- This performance with feature the Oslo Cham- Seattle, Wash. The festival will feature music, dancing, navian items for sale, demonstrations, scholarly ber Choir along with other choirs and an or- Celebrate the Seattle-Bergen Sister City Asso- demonstrations, lectures, vendors, geneal- chats, treats, and more. It concludes with a meal chestra. Tickets range from $29 to $85 and can ciation’s 50-year jubilee. Join the members of ogy booths, and activities for young and old. and program about Easter traditions in Norway. be purchased at www.carnegiehall.org/Calen- the SBSCA with Mayor Ed Murray and Mary Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for teenag- Everyone is welcome! At the Interlachen Country dar/2017/4/9/0830/PM/Gotham-SINGS-Choral- D. Kane, CEO of Sister Cities International, ers, and free for children. At Kingsmen Park Club. Contact Karla Brown at kbrown@vester­ Festival-Ensemble-Showcase/. as well as guest of honor Jennie Eisenhower. at California Lutheran University. Visit www. heim.org or (563) 382-9681 for more info. Mingle at the no-host cocktail hour; enjoy a scandinavianfest.org for info. Sondre Lerche Concert gourmet dinner; enter the silent auction; and 20th Annual Ibsen Festival April 15, 9:00 p.m. hear world-class music. Formal attire or tra- Freya Lodge Scandinavian Brunch April 21—23 New York, N.Y. ditional Norwegian costume. At Seattle Yacht April 22, 12:00 p.m. Lanesboro, Minn. Hear Norwegian singer, songwriter, and instru- Club. Tickets cost $85 and can be purchased Santa Rosa, Calif. The festival celebrates Scandinavian theatre, vi- mentalist Sondre Lerche live at the Bowery Ball- at www.eventbrite.com/e/seattle-bergen- Welcome singer and storyteller Kari Tauring, sual art, music, and dance, centered amidst the room. 18 and over. Doors open at 8:00 p.m. Cost is sister-city-association-founders-gala-tickets- who will present on Nordic runes and the völ- opening of The Commonweal Theatre Company’s $20 to $25 and tickets can be purchased at www. 32028923372?aff=es2. va stav at Nordic Hall. Serving omelets, kring- Ibsen production, a world-premiere adaptation of ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1397035?utm_ ler, and fruit; mimosas available for purchase. When We Dead Awaken, which opens on April 16 source=fbTfly&utm_medium=ampOfficialEvent. Nordic Woodcarving with Eric Holt Tickets at www.freyalodge.org; cost $17 for at 7:30 p.m. The festival offers events throughout April 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, 9:00 a.m.—3:30 p.m. members and $22 for non-members. Contact the weekend. With 2017 being the final install- Fire and Ice Concert Tour Seattle, Wash. Anne-Marie at (707) 894-1807 with questions. ment of the festival, the approach is retrospec- April 22—23 Learn Baroque Acanthus, Rococo, and Viking/ tive in nature. Visit www.commonwealtheatre. Troy, Poughkeepsie & Rhinecliff, N.Y. Dragon styles. All levels welcome. Visit nordic- Bjørnson Lodge 107th Anniversary Party org/programs/ibsen/ for more info. Bjørn Bolstad Skjelbred will be the Master of dragon.com for cost and more info. April 23, 5:00 p.m. Ceremonies at this tour, which includes world Pleasant Hill, Calif. Espen Lilleslåtten Performance premieres by himself, Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen, Lessons from the Arctic Celebrate at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant. Entrée April 21, 7:30 p.m. and Conrad Kehn. Free and open to the general April 7—August 27 choices are New York steak, Chicken Toscana, Minneapolis, Minn. public. At 1:00 p.m. on April 22 at the Troy Public Seattle, Wash. Fresh Salmon, and Pasta Primavera; cost is Norwegian violinist Espen Lilleslåtten will -per Library in Troy; 3:30 p.m. on April 23 at The Re- An expansive survey of the legendary Nor- $50. Mail check payable to Bjornson Lodge form Grieg’s Violin Sonata No. 2 in G Major, Op formed Dutch Church in Poughkeepsie, and 7:00 wegian explorer’s life, this exhibition explains with food choices to Nancy Eikeberg, 2211 Co- 13, and Nordic works by Johan Halvorsen, Carl p.m. on April 23 at Morton Memorial Library and how Amundsen spent his youth preparing for loma St., Oakland, CA 94602-2311 by April 17. Nielsen, and others. At Mindekirken. Community House in Rhinecliff. a life in the Polar Regions, his first trip to the Antarctic, three years spent with the Inuit in cOLORADO nevada north dakota the Arctic, and the historic Race for the South Fjellheim Lodge Frokost 25th Anniversary Party Spring Luncheon and Bake Sale Pole. At Nordic Heritage Museum. On April April 2, 11:00 a.m.—1:30 p.m. April 22, 5:30—11:00 p.m. April 8, 10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m. 8, join exhibition curator Geir Kløver at 3:00 Colorado Springs, Colo. Las Vegas, Nev. Minot, N.D. p.m. as he dives deeper into Amundsen’s mo- Enjoy a Norwegian cold-style breakfast. The Celebrate with a dinner, program, silent auction, Thor Lodge will be having their spring bake sale, tivations, tactics, and achievements; free with cost is $20 for members, $22 for non-mem- and dance to be held at Boulder Station. Cost is luncheon, pie and ice cream social, and the table admission. bers, and $10 for children 12 and under. Res- $40. Reservations must be made to Erik Pappa by of used items known as Grandma’s Attic. There ervations are requested by March 29 to Kathie April 4. Contact (702) 683-6817 or erikrpappa@ will be lots of baked items for your Easter dinner Olympia Norway Day at (719) 266-9592. gmail.com for more info. as well as a good selection of books and a purse April 15, 10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m. and scarf table. If you have any questions, con- Olympia, Wash. Florida new york tact Martha at [email protected]. Norway Day is filled with music, arts and Unn Magnussen Friberg Exhibit crafts, an abundance of Norwegian history, “Norwegians in Hawaii” & Fredagstaco oregon genealogy, and delectable foods. Norway Day April 7, 5:00 p.m. now—April 1 Birthday Brunch & Scholarship Awards Ceremony is the coming together of Scandinavians from Ft. Meyers, Fla. New York, N.Y. April 9, 8:30 a.m.—1:00 p.m. around the country to celebrate a unique Join the Gulf Coast Vikings for a meeting fea- Artist Unn Magnussen Friberg moves between the Portland, Ore. way of life and a heritage abundantly rich in turing guest speaker Jon Satrum, who will be abstract, the designed, and the depiction of the Grieg Lodge #2-15 will celebrate its birthday at culture. In the Expo Center at the Thurston discussing Norwegians in Hawaii. Tacos will visible reality, usually limited to a few colors in a Norse Hall with a delicious brunch. The Support County Fairgrounds. also be served as part of Fredagstaco Night. monochrome scale. At the Gregg Gallery. Our Scholars Raffle will take place during the At the Plantation at Somerset. “Timoun” Photo Exhibition brunch. The 2017 Scholarship Awards will be pre- Rosemaling with Marilyn Hansen April 21, 22 & 28, 9:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m. illinois now—May 8 sented at 11:00 a.m. Tickets may be purchased by New York, N.Y. calling Kathy Gasperson at (503) 235-3643; cost is Seattle, Wash. Palm Sunday Service & Concert Norwegian photographer Sveinung Arthur Kon- $10 in advance and $12 at the door; $5 for chil- Explore this traditional Norwegian form of April 9, 11:00 a.m. radsen and Haitian/Norwegian Prosjekt Haiti dren ages 5 to 12; and free under 5. Seating is decorative folk art or brush up on your paint- Chicago, Ill. Foundation present this exhibition, a heart-warm- limited so please purchase your tickets in advance. ing and design skills. All levels welcome. Tak- Join Minnekirken for a Palm Sunday service ing testimonial to the challenges of being a child in ing at least two classes is recommended. Cost and a Nidaros Cathedral Girls’ Choir concert. the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. penNSylvania is $36 per class for Nordic Heritage Museum At Trygve Lie Gallery. Bondelandet Lodge Program: The Stavig Letters members and $38 per day general admission. massachusetts April 21, 7:00 p.m. Norumbega Annual Potluck Supper Nordic Book Club: Encircling Lancaster, Penn. Wisconsin April 7, 6:30 p.m. March 28, 6:00—7:00 p.m. Enjoy refreshments before watching a documen- The Coffin Ships West Newton, Mass. New York, N.Y. tary on the Stavig Letters. Written in Norwegian April 22, 2:00 p.m. Enjoy the annual potluck supper and a Nordic Encircling is an audacious and daring novel by Nor- and translated into English, the Stavig Letters are Stoughton, Wis. treasures exhibit by Steve Oyangen. wegian author Carl Frode Tiller, which confronts an extensive collection of letters between two This program by Glenn Borreson is about the the relativity of memory and identity. In the Hall- brothers. At St. Thomas Church. If you have ques- Norwegian immigrant experience crossing the Fire and Ice Concert Tour dór Laxness Library at Scandinavia House; free. tions, contact Jeanne Addison at (717) 793-7428. Atlantic Ocean on a “coffin ship,” and specifi- April 24, 4:00 p.m. cally the story of one of his ancestor families North Adams, Mass. The Summer Without Men VERMONT and their struggle to begin a new life in Ameri- Bjørn Bolstad Skjelbred is flying in from Oslo April 3, 7:30 p.m. ca. Free; at Livsreise. to be Master of Ceremonies at a concert tour, Fire and Ice Concert Tour New York, N.Y. April 21, 22 & 24 which includes world premieres by himself, The Summer Without Men Fosselyngen Torsk Supper and Bake Sale is an adaptation of Colchester, Middlebury & Bennington, Vt. Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen, and Conrad Kehn, as April 22, 4:00—7:00 p.m. American author Siri Hustvedt’s bestselling novel Bjørn Bolstad Skjelbred will be the Master of well as a solo by Magnar Am. Free and open Milwaukee, Wis. by Karen-Maria Bille and Peter Langdal. Hustvedt’s Ceremonies at this tour, which includes world to the public. At Eleanor Furst Roberts Audito- This buffet at Norway Hosue includes boiled play tells the universal story of a woman’s search premieres by himself, Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen, rium, Massachussetts College of Liberal Arts. codfish, Norwegian meatballs, boiled potatoes, for her lost identity after her husband has left her. and Conrad Kehn. Free and open to the public. At and much more, as well as sales of homemade At Victor Borge Hall; free. 2:00 p.m. on April 21 at McCarthy Center for the minnesota baked goods and other various items. Cost is Arts Recital Hall at Saint Michael’s College in Col- Norwegian Glee Club Lutefisk Dinner $13 for adults and $5 for children ages 4 to Heroes, Heroines & Tricksters chester; 8:00 p.m. on April 22 at Mahaney Center April 1 11. Open seating is on a first-come, first-serve April 8, 11:00 a.m. for the Performing Arts Concert Hall in Middle- Edina, Minn. basis. Call (414) 321-2637 for more info or to New York, N.Y. bury; and 12:00 p.m. on April 24 at Everett The- Enjoy lutefisk, lefse, meatballs, and gravy RSVP for large parties. Ellen Shapiro and Jean Hale recount stories of ater at Southern Vermont College in Bennington. served family style. Seatings at 2:00, 4:00, and young folks from Norway who outwit the greed, 6:00 p.m. The Glee Club provides entertain- the ferocious, and the cunning. At Scandinavia ment at each seating! Cost is $20. House. Free; ages 5 and over. Send your event to [email protected] or call (206) 784-4617 to be added to The Norwegian American! Check www.norwegianamerican.com/events for complete listings Event listings are free, but space is limited. Please contact us at least one month prior to event. theNorwegianamerican Norway near you March 24, 2017 • 15 Honoring the past & celebrating the present Seattle and Bergen mark 50 years of friendship with Sister City Golden Jubilee

available at www.eventbrite.com. The SBSCA has been engaged in a cam­ Special Release paign of “March madness” with a member­ Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association ship drive, gala preparations, and overall planning for their “Year of Bergen.” This On September 11, 1956, President spring Reinhall is traveling to Norway for Dwight D. Eisenhower convened his White pianist Angelo Rondello’s performance of House Conference on citizen diplomacy with Seattle composers at the Grieg Academy on the dream of forging relationships in which May 2, as part of the Seattle Music Exchange “people of different cultures could celebrate Project. While there, she will be meeting and appreciate their differences and build with officials from the City of Bergen and partnerships that would lessen the chance of doing research to lay the groundwork for an new conflicts.” This was the genesis of Sister October trip with a Seattle delegation. The Cities International, today a worldwide orga­ group will spend three days in their sister nization that spans six continents with 2,300 city and then travel up the Norwegian coast partnerships in 150 countries, encompassing on the Hurtigruten cruise line. For informa­ tens of thousands of volunteers, all with one tion about the trip or the Year of Bergen, common goal: world peace. To fulfill their email [email protected] mission, sister cities around the globe have or join the SBSCA’s 656 followers at www. built up exchange programs in community facebook.com/seattlebergensistercities. development, youth and education, arts and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said culture, and business and trade. Photo: Kim Carson Photography / courtesy of SBSCA that life’s most urgent question is, “What are Community service is the life force of Jennie Eisenhower, American actor, singer and great-granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisen- you doing for others?” Dr. King understood the Sister Cities movement, whose global hower, founder of Sister Cites International, will be the honored guest at the Seattle-Bergen Sister City that to serve, all anyone needs is, “a heart volunteers receive no monetary compensa­ Association Founders’ Gala at the Seattle Yacht Club, Saturday, April 1. full of grace” and “a soul full of love.” The tion for their work. “Stepping up to serve is Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association has in my blood,” remarks Seattle-Bergen Sister taken heed of these words during their 2017 City Association (SBSCA) President Lori certs, master classes, book readings, film Eisenhower, reads from Ike’s famous 1956 jubilee celebration, as they work to strength­ Ann Reinhall, “something very special and series, art exhibits, and travel exchanges. White House speech that started it all. The en their friendship with their sister city and perhaps unique about being an American.” The year of celebration kicks off on Satur­ gala will be an opportunity for all of the 21 give back to their community at home. The Reinhall is extremely proud of her father, day, April 1, at the Seattle Yacht Club with Seattle Sister Cities to gather, as well as rep­ organization is open to everyone: all that is who served in Europe during WWII, as well their Founder’s Gala. While the association resentatives from Washington State’s other needed is an interest in Norwegian-Ameri­ as her mother, who volunteered in her com­ has been on an upswing during recent years, Norwegian sister cities: Tacoma-Ålesund, can exchange and the core values of citizen munity her entire life. “They were part of this event will focus on those who laid the Kent-Sunnfjord, and Issaquah-Sunndal. The diplomacy at the heart of Sister Cities Inter­ Eisenhower’s great generation, and I want to earlier groundwork for its success. Mayor Ed celebration is open to the public, with tickets national’s mission. carry on their legacy,” she adds. “My own Murray will be there to welcome everyone to generation was inspired by President Kenne­ an evening of festivities that includes a full- dy’s motto, ‘Ask not what your country can course gourmet meal, a Nordic-themed silent do for you—ask what you can do for your auction, and live entertainment from some country.’ These words still resonate strong­ of the Seattle Nordic community’s favor­ ly today, and Sister Cities has given us the ite performers: pianists Aaron Otheim and opportunity to make a difference in a very Angelo Rondello, violinist Allion Salvador, meaningful way.” and soprano Laura Loge. The president and With the 50-year jubilee of the SBSCA, CEO of Sister Cities International, Mary D. Reinhall and her committee have risen to Kane, will deliver the keynote address. But the occasion to do just that. For their golden the highlight of the evening will be when anniversary year, the group has planned a guest of honor Jennie Eisenhower, actor, flurry of activities, including lectures, con­ singer, and great-granddaughter of President

Scandinavian Festival returns after hiatus

Special Release California Lutheran University

After a one-year hiatus, one of the Cooks will demonstrate how to make largest Nordic festivals in the western U.S. æbleskiver, lefse, krumkake, and more. Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church will return to California Lutheran Univer­ Scandinavian food available will also in­ sity in Thousand Oaks on April 1 and 2. clude Swedish pancakes, Icelandic fish Den Norske Lutherske Minnekirke The 42nd Scandinavian Festival will and chips, Viking dogs, Swedish meat­ The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church offers the best venue in Chicago for Norwegians celebrate the cultures of Denmark, Fin­ balls, and open-faced sandwiches. and Scandinavians to gather and celebrate Norwegian traditions. Along with Pastor David land, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Performers include storytellers, mu­ Schoenknecht, we welcome you to our warm and friendly family of members. Bible Study starts at 9:30am followed by worship service at 11am. Please visit us soon! Sámi people. The festival will run from sicians including the ABBAFAB tribute 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. band, and Swedish folk dance groups. For kids, the festival includes Chil­ New this year at the genealogy booth March /April 2017 dren’s Theater, performances by chil­ will be Family Tree DNA, which sells a March 26 “Fantastisk 4th” Family Worship / dren’s groups, and a puppet show. Kids variety of DNA kits. Local genealogy ex­ Sunday School can earn passport stamps for crafts linked perts will also be on hand. to the five countries. Visitors young and The Scandinavian American Cultural April 2 Norwegian/English service / old can dance around the maypole. and Historical Foundation is sponsoring Holy Communion Festivalgoers can wander through the event. April 9 Palm Sunday service followed by an authentic Viking village, as well as a Nidaros Cathedral Girls’ Choir concert Sámi community gathering. They can ask Admission is free for children, $5 for teen- a rune reader for advice and visit Nor­ agers, and $10 for adults. Two-day tickets April 14 Good Friday service, 7pm wegian elkhounds. Families can try Dala are available for $15 for adults and $7 for April 16 Easter Sunday Breakfast, 9:30am horse croquet and play the ancient Viking teens. Parking is free. For more info or to game kubb. Scandinavian vintage cars volunteer, go to scandinaviancenter.org Festival Worship at 11am and motorcycles will also be on display. or email [email protected]. 2614 North Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647 • (773) 252-7335 • www.minnekirken-chicago.org 16 • March 24, 2017 Travel theNorwegianamerican Diary of a Guidebook Writer: The twists and turns of the Atlantic Road

David Nikel Trondheim, Norway

A few months ago, I wrote a column about whether or not it was worth visiting the Nordkapp at the northern tip of Norway. I concluded that while the experience at the Nordkapp can be underwhelming, it’s made worthwhile by the journey there. The Finn­ mark region is wild and desolate, so much so that on some roads you’re more likely to spot a herd of reindeer than another car. The same is true of the Atlantic Road.

An engineering marvel The setting of countless car ads on tele­ vision, Norway’s Atlantic Ocean Road (At­ lanterhavsveien) is a small stretch of Route 64 that connects Kristiansund with Molde on Norway’s fjord-filled Photos: (above) CH / Visitnorway.com, western coast. The five-mile stretch of (left) m_dickson / Foap / Visitnorway.com, highway that’s known as the Atlantic (below) David Nikel Road seems to defy gravity and the Above and left: The main attraction of the Atlan- rules of engineering as it leaps, twists, tic Road is the road itself. Rent a car to experi- and turns across small islands and ence it fully. Below: Of course there are also many beautiful rocky outcrops. and interesting places to stop along the road. As famous as the road is for driv­ Averøy island is one of these, full of opportunities ing, it’s almost as famous for the bad for hiking and relaxing in nature. weather. On each of my three visits, I’ve been blessed with great weather, but many others aren’t so lucky. Al­ though temperatures are mild thanks to the Gulf Stream, the road is exposed to open ocean. Fierce storms that whip up the water and throw it across the road occur every year. But that’s not to put you off! The exposed nature of the road at the very top of fjord Norway means the waters are a haven for all kinds of fish. They draw a worthy sight, it’s worth slowing down to fishermen and birdwatchers from across Eu­ enjoy the journey there. Rush to the Atlantic rope throughout the year. You’re almost cer­ Road as part of a packed itinerary, and you’ll tain to be sharing the pedestrian areas around be missing out on so much. the road with a few locals looking to catch their dinner. The journey there Kristiansund is a charming, if windy, Things to do small town reminiscent of Ålesund for its To deal with the increased numbers of watery location. To reach the Atlantic Road visitors in recent years, improvements have from Kristiansund, take the Atlantic Ocean been made to the road’s tourist facilities. Tunnel (Atlanterhavstunnelen), a tunnel An information building home to a café and three and a half miles long that plunges 820 rest­rooms sits helpfully on one of the islands, feet below sea level making it one of the while other small parking lots and pedestrian world’s deepest undersea road tunnels. It’s trails have been built and improved. subject to a hefty toll, but it’s much quicker My recommendation is to drive the full than the long way around. relaxation you could wish for at Sveggen. by boat, the Atlantic Road really does require length of the road to fully appreciate the area. The tunnel emerges on the eastern side The small fishing village and its surround­ a car to make the trip worthwhile. There is a Return the way you came and stop at which­ of Averøy island. Most travelers cross the is­ ings, including a nearby nature reserve, are public bus between Kristiansund and Molde ever part of the road appeals to you the most. land to the beginning of the Atlantic Road, the perfect place to stop for a picnic or to en­ that runs along the road, but this is no way to Don’t forget your camera! but Averøy is worthy of closer inspection. joy the peace and quiet of an overnight stay fully appreciate the scenery. While the road and its surroundings are Just minutes from the tunnel’s exit is all the at the waterside Sveggvika guesthouse. If you are visiting Norway on a cruise Overnight stays are also possible by the or the Hurtigruten ferry and you are offered Atlantic Road if you want to experience the an organized trip to the Atlantic Road, my area almost totally free of traffic during the advice would be to check exactly how much long summer evenings. Several of the cozy time you get at the road before being whisked Where in Norway? cabins offered by Atlanterhavsveien Sjøstuer away. The joy of this area is found by wan­ come complete with a small boat that you are dering off to truly enjoy the juxtaposition No correct answers for the free to use for fishing or simply to see the of this engineering marvel set in a glorious vintage (c. 1953) shot of area from a unique perspective. natural environment. the Leirfoss waterfall, just For the more active, Averøy and the At­ outside Trondheim. Better lantic Road are home to several fishing, hik­ ing, cycling, and diving opportunities. David Nikel is a freelance luck next month, readers! writer based in Norway. Have a photo for “Where in The advantage of renting a car He runs the popular www. lifeinnorway.net blog and Norway?” Submit it to naw@ Over the past year, several people have is the author of the upcom- asked me about visiting the area by public na-weekly.com! ing MOON Norway guide- Photo: Roar Irgens transport. While many parts of Norway in­ book. cluding the fjords are easy to visit by rail and theNorwegianamerican Travel March 24, 2017 • 17 A hidden waterfall in Iceland’s Westfjords Succumb to the force of nature as you come face to face with thunderous Dynjandi

Elisabeth Beyer Vancouver, B.C.

If you’re interested in seeing some of the most spectacular, jaw dropping, out-of- this-world waterfalls, you need to head to Iceland. With over 14 percent of the total land­ mass being covered in lakes and glaciers, it should come as no surprise that waterfalls flourish in this inspiring country. There are the famous falls Gullfoss and Goðafoss, both of which get plenty of visitors each year and are easily accessible if you’re driving the Ring Road. Then there are the lesser known gems—waterfalls that are out of the way at the end of long, bumpy, un­ paved roads, that get far less traffic than their famous counterparts. Waterfalls like Dynjan­ di in Iceland’s breathtaking Westfjords. Dynjandi is approximately 85 kilometers (about 50 miles) away from the port town of Ísafjörður (the largest town in the Westfjords with a population of 2,600), which was the last stop in Iceland on last summer’s Holland America cruise. Here I set off on a tour run by Wild Westfjords to see the tremendous Dynjandi Photos: Elisabeth Beyer in person. From Ísafjörður we drove about Above: Iceland’s changing weather brought out a 30 minutes until we reached the blink-and- rainbow over the fjord by Dynjandi. you’ll-miss-it village of Þingeyri, where we Right: “The thundering one” herself, 60 meters turned off onto a winding gravel path that across at the bottom. wound it’s way up the side of a mountain. Below: Some typisk Islansk buildings in Iceland’s I wasn’t envious of our driver, who did Westfjords. a fantastic job navigating the narrow road up past the snow line and down the other side of the mountain. During the winter the road is closed due to heavy snowfall, restricting access to Dynjandi. When we got back down to sea level, I got my first glimpse of Dynjandi from across the fjord. Even from a distance, I could see that this waterfall was special. With water cascading down over 100 meters into the fjord below, it’s an impressive sight to say the least. At the top, the waterfall is roughly 30 meters wide and stretches to 60 meters at in Ísafjörður. I couldn’t resist picking up an the bottom, where it divides into a series of Icelandic wool toque for myself—one of the smaller falls. few souvenirs I purchased on the whole trip. When we reached the parking area be­ And with that, it was time to hop on low the waterfall, there were only a handful board the bus again and head towards of other vehicles, mostly belonging to people Ísafjörður. camping nearby. Many people come to Iceland and only Here I was able to experience the con­ visit Reykjavík, the Golden Circle, and the stantly changing weather that Icelanders are Blue Lagoon, but the country has so much always talking about. First, we were pelted more to offer. Iceland is such a naturally by rain and a fiercely cold wind. A few min­ diverse country, and I highly recommend utes later, the sun came out, producing a gor­ seeing as much of it as you can. If you’re geous rainbow above the fjord. Not long after looking to be amazed by your surroundings that, it was back to wind, rain, fog, and the and also interested in seeing something that occasional peak of sunshine here and there. not all tourists know about, head on over to Our guide, a bearded mountain man the remote Westfjords and pay a visit to Dyn­ who wore a completely waterproof outfit ex­ jandi. Undoubtedly, the highlight of my day cept for his woolly toque reminded us that in After spending an hour marveling at us over the mountainous road again, we ar­ was standing in front of this waterfall and Iceland “there is no bad weather, only bad Dynjandi and the fjord, we began the return rived back in the village of Þingeyri (popula­ marveling at its immense scope and thunder­ clothing.” trip back to Ísafjörður, but first we made a tion: 250), which we had passed on the way ous sound. Dynjandi means “the thundering one,” few more stops of interest along the way. to Dynjandi in the morning. and this waterfall certainly lives up to its The first stop was at Hrafnseyri, the Like most other coastal communities in Elisabeth Beyer is a Ger- name. The rush and crash of the water grew birthplace of Jón Sigurðsson, a national hero Iceland, the sea has formed the culture and man-Canadian travel writ- louder and louder as I was walked up the who was the leader of the Icelandic campaign industry in Þingeyri. er and blogger based on rocky path to the widest part of the falls. for self-determination in the 19th century. Due to its location in the fjord the west coast of Canada. When I finally stood face to face with We had the option of visiting the small Dýrafjörður, the village established itself She loves to explore dif- The Thundering One, its vast size, enormous museum dedicated to Sigurðsson, but instead into an important fishing center in the West­ ferent cultures and desti- sound, and the sheer force of nature over­ I chose to sit in the onsite café and enjoy some fjords region. nations, favoring natural whelmed and amazed me. The views onto homemade berry and Skyr cake. Don’t miss There are only one or two shops in Þing­ landscapes to big cities. the fjord and mountainous landscape were out on trying some Skyr if you’re in Iceland! eyri, but they offer handmade local items that You can read more about her travels at her per- just as striking as Dynjandi itself. After our bus driver expertly navigated cost significantly less than those in the shops sonal blog www.sidetrackedtravelblog.com. 18 • March 24, 2017 Norwegian Heritage theNorwegianamerican Nordic Naturals Clenched fists in the sagas < DUPUYTREN’S Joar Opheim grew his Norwegian longing From page 8 into a healthy American business a reference to the skald Bjorn Krepphandi— oped that can be done in a doctor’s office. whose name means “crippled hand.” The One involves a collagenase injection of a sagas also record four incidents of miracle new product, Xiaflex, followed by manipula­ cures set in Orkney and Iceland in the 12th tion of the fingers. Xiaflex is injected into the and 13th century. The condition of the hands hand to dissolve the problematic collagen. A that are supposedly healed by priests bears day later, the doctor tries to straighten the fin­ a resemblance to Dupuytren’s—“fingers ger. Several injections, spaced over months, clenched in the hands.” might be needed, especially if more than one In The Longer Saga of Magnus, we read finger is affected. Xiaflex is very expensive, of a man named Sigurd from the north of but the manufacturer assists in paying. Shetland, which was heavily settled by Vi­ Another new treatment involves making kings. He had “cramped hands,” so that all many small punctures of the diseased cords the fingers laid against the palm. “He sought with a needle and then straightening the fin­ the halidom of the Saint Earl Magnus and gers. The recovery time for both procedures there he got his cure with straight and lis­ is minimal and the early results are promis­ some fingers for all his needs.” The sagas ing. also tell of a servant woman whose bent fin­ Mild cases of the condition can be eased gers were freed when someone kicked her in by stretching exercises, according to Web­ Photo: Joar Opheim the hand. MD. Radiation therapy is also being used. One aspect of Lofoten was missing from California, so Opheim made a business of remedying that. Nonetheless, a real cure has not yet been Knots and frozen fingers found, although research is continuing, ac­ In Dupuytren’s Contracture, the connec­ cording to Dr. Charles Eaton of the Dupuy­ M. Michael Brady tive tissue under the skin of the palm con­ tren’s Foundation, who has introduced a new Asker, Norway tracts, keeping fingers from straightening. treatment with radiation to the U.S. Knots form under the skin, eventually form­ The Viking Disease is a silent epidemic In the late 1980s, Joar Opheim, a School American market. ing a thick cord that can pull one or more that usually isn’t noticed until it is a severe of Business student at Santa Clara University MBA in hand in 1988, Opheim went on fingers into a bent position. problem. Geneticists are trying to find the ex­ in California, integrated well into the life of to acquire business acumen in the competi­ The ring finger is most commonly af­ act cause and are making some progress. For Silicon Valley. But he longed for one facet tive world of Silicon Valley business, mostly fected, followed by the middle and little young patients with Dupuytren’s Contrac­ of everyday life in Bodø, the Norwegian city by working for Seagate Technology, a lead­ fingers; the thumb and index finger are only ture—like my Norwegian-Danish-German north of the Arctic Circle on the mainland ing supplier to the burgeoning personal com­ rarely affected. More than one finger can be granddaughter, a true Viking princess—let’s and just south of the southern tip of the Lo­ puter market of the 1980s and early 1990s. In affected. Dupuytren’s contracture progresses hope they stay proud of their unique heritage foten Island chain, where he had been born 1995 he founded Nordic Naturals to further slowly and is often accompanied by some and that an end to the disease will be found in June 1959, brought up, and schooled until develop and manufacture fish oils, its name aching and itching. in the near future. he went abroad in for higher education. a reflection of the progenitor of the part of It is a capricious disease. Sometimes, the That facet was tran, the ubiquitous cod the world of Opheim’s heritage and also the nodules go away without any treatment. And liver oil that Norwegian children grow up source of the oils on which it was based. not everyone with nodules will experience with, one spoonful a day. In school, they The rest is history. Today Nordic Natu­ contracture. Others have crippling recur­ Minneapolis-born Judith learn that tran is rich in vitamins A and D, rals offers more than 150 fish oil products, rences even after many operations, accord­ Gabriel Vinje has been a journalist for nearly 50 and later they may learn that it contains high in a range of flavors and compositions for ing to the Dupuytren’s Foundation, which is years, including a stint as levels of omega-3 fatty acids, all beneficial specific benefits and needs. Its products are compiling an international data bank in its a war correspondent. Now to health. If they’re curious, they may ask distributed to more than 30 countries on six research efforts to find a cure through DNA a Los Angeles resident, she about Möllers, the brand on the bottle, and continents, expanded proof of the Norwe­ sampling. started writing for Norway be told that it’s the surname of Norwegian gian adage that tran er sunt, året rundt (tran Times in 1998, and has pharmacist Peter Möller, who in 1854 de­ is healthy, year-round). Expanding treatment options been with the paper through its merges and vised a new way to make tran more palatable In the past, Dupuytren’s disease was al­ changes. An active member of Sons of Norway, and founded a company to manufacture it. The word: The Norwegian word tran can be most always treated with surgery. Surgeons Edvard Grieg Lodge, Glendale Calif., she is Student Opheim satisfied his longing traced back to the Low German word trān, now perform more than 70,000 procedures also a member of Odins of Raven, a Viking re- for tran by filling his suitcase with bottles the root of the modern German word trän each year. In a very few extreme cases, am­ enactment group on the West Coast, and writes of Möllers Tran to take back to California (teardrop). The Old Norse word for it was putation has been necessary. frequently about Viking Age subjects for sev- whenever he was home on vacation. With lýse, meaning “illumination medium,” as it Two new treatments have been devel­ eral publications. time, he realized that the effort of carrying was first used as a fuel in oil lamps. suitcases full of Möllers Tran eastward across the Atlantic signaled a business opportunity. The company: Nordic Naturals, Inc., 111 So he set about further development of fish Jennings Drive, Watsonville, CA 95076, tel: oil from the High North, including flavoring, (800) 662-2544, email: info@nordicnatu­ taste, delivery, and processing to suit it to the rals.com, website: www.nordicnaturals.com. Community Connections Happy birthday, engagement, birth, family reunion, etc! Your name and message here!

For more information, call us at (206) 784-4617 or email [email protected]. Photo courtesy of Judith Gabriel Vinje A very early sign of Dupuytren’s, the raised area in Vinje’s granddaughter’s palm (on the left side) is sometimes achy but not yet causing a problem for her fingers. theNorwegianamerican Arts & Entertainment March 24, 2017 • 19 A time to think Book review: SATC’s reading of Thinking Time shows that Two rivers flow in though circumstances may change, love is always a matter of the heart, not the head a haunting memoir

Rosalie Grosch Arden Hills, Minn.

“The river I call my life is about to burst from its banks and take a course through hell.” Mikkel Aaland, the author of his mem­ oir, The River in My Backyard, takes us on a journey down two rivers. As young boys, Mikkel and his brother, Erik, spend the summer in Ulefoss, Norway. Their father, fearing political upheaval in America, felt the boys would be safer with his family who lived in Norway. Once the boys arrive, Erik and Mikkel are eager to explore the land, which they also discover is the meaning of their last name—Aaland meaning, “Oh Land.” They are cautioned about the river that is deep and cold and runs swiftly through their backyard. But as the memoir begins, the reader is introduced to the other river in Mikkel’s life, Photo: Ellinor Dilorenzo / courtesy of SATC the metaphorical river that runs through the From left to right: Back row: James Edward Becton, Kwasi Osei (director), and Oliver Burns. Front ancestral line of his family. This river he calls age he finds cleansing and healing. row: Margaret Curry, Jordan Monaghan, and Maryam Myika Day. his life, “Navigates through rapids and falls, Aaland’s memoir is more than just a re­ twists and turns, through the waters of mad­ telling of events. He digs deeply into the past ness, patricide and atonement,” and the reader experiences that continue to haunt and shape Julia Andersen travels every inch of the journey with him. his life. From the darkness of the bomb New York Mikkel Aaland writes bravely about the shelter built by a fearful father—the place tragic event that shatters his family. With the author called his room during his grow­ Scandinavian American Theater Compa­ women and Nazi soldiers was brutal. “Un­ courage and clarity, he tells of the mental ill­ ing up years—to the light of understanding, ny presented a play reading of Thinking Time less we remember that, we won’t be able to ness of his youngest brother, Hans; the murder reconciliation, and atonement, the reader is by Norwegian playwright Liv Heløe at Scan­ look at similar situations today and try not of their father; and his own lengthy personal carried down the two rivers until they come dinavia House in New York on February 13. to repeat the same mistakes, giving ourselves search to find understanding and healing. together, bringing unity and peace. The drama is drawn on the juxtaposition time to think.” Hegland said during Q&A Pictures taken by Aaland, who is a pro­ The River in My Backyard has been de­ of two women falling for forbidden men dur­ session. fessional photographer, bring to life the vivid scribed by other readers as a healing journey ing World War II and in present time. Ruth, A few moments of the play, however, and heart-breaking story that seems to pull of epic proportions, haunting, courageous, dying great-grandmother, shares memories felt far fetched. Although Ruth and Nina face a family in so many different directions. As brilliant, heart-rending, and moving. of meeting her German husband-to-be in similar challenges, it was hard to buy into a Aaland tries to come to grips with the sudden Nazi-occupied Norway, and her great-grand­ romance between a young privileged Nor­ death of his father, he is forced to look back­ Mikkel Aaland is a photographer, writer, and daughter Nina is infatuated with Moreno, an wegian girl and an illiterate Romanian street wards, down the two rivers in his life, and in author of over 15 books. The River in My illiterate immigrant from Romania. Nina’s musician she met a couple of times. It was so doing sees his father as a man with many Backyard is available through bookstores story mirrors her great-grandmother’s and not clear what attracted her to him. I also did interesting and somewhat bizarre passions and online. You can reach the author at mik- presents her romantic choice in a historical not appreciate the use of pantomimic ges­ and his present life as shattered and broken. [email protected] context. tures during the reading. It made it strange, Returning to Norway after he learns Written on commission for Theater Junge especially in the scene where Ruth dies, that he, as the eldest son, has inherited the Generation (Germany) and Brageteatret (Nor­ and Hilde “touches” her grandmother. Ruth Norwegian property, he finds the land clut­ Rosalie Grangaard Grosch way), the play was inspired by Heløe’s aunt stood on the other side of the stage in a paral­ tered with the French cars his father loved was born into a Norwe- who moved to Germany during the war. lel story. Far be it for me to advise SATC, but to collect and take apart and the debris that gian/American family in Decorah, Iowa. A gradu- American actors—Jordan Monaghan a couple of small tweaks will go a long way. spills out everywhere. Over the many years ate of Luther College, she (Dirty Beautiful, True Blood, Secret Life of Thinking Time’s main message is that the family travels to Norway, and during the taught music and Eng- the American Teenager), Margaret Curry, love and circumstances do not change over one year when they live there, the land is lish in American schools, Maryam Day (42nd Street), James Edward time. In the end of the play Nina poses the cleaned up. The beauty that surrounds him taught English and de- Becton, and Oliver Burns—performed a question: “What choice do I have?” She can brings some degree of comfort. This, too, is veloped a team teaching program at Trinity translated version of the play at this reading. choose to believe that Moreno is a thief, like a metaphor, as he lives through the slow re­ School, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was a drama/ Judging from the audience’s response her music teacher told her, or she can choose storing of wholeness in his life. music/English teacher at Balob Teachers’ Col- and questions during Q&A session after to believe that he is a genuine man. Spectators Although Aaland does not speak of any lege, Lae, Papua New Guinea and Activity Di- the show, the cast created a mostly moving are left to dig into themselves for answers. one religion, he does write about a healing rector/Consultant for a long term care facility performance of the material. Maryam Day through religious practices. His Japanese in St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN. She is a contrib- brought humor and sassiness to the role of friend, Kazz Tagami, invites him to make a utor to Chicken Soup for the Soul and has writ- Julia Andersen is a free- Ruth, especially in a scene where she is torn holy pilgrimage, and in making that pilgrim­ ten numerous articles for publication. lance writer based in New on whether or not to go for a German soldier. York. She is a Columbia Henning Hegland, one of the founding University graduate and members of SATC, said that it was impor­ has a particular affection tant to keep memories about WWII’s conse­ for Scandinavian films. quences alive. He explained that the postwar The Scandinavian Hour treatment of children born from Norwegian Celebrating over 50 years on the air! KKNW – 1150 AM Vesterheim Saturdays 9 – 10 a.m. PST the national Norwegian-American museum and heritage center Streaming live on the internet at: • The largest collection of Norwegian-American artifacts in the world • A national center for folk-art classes • Open all year in Decorah, Iowa www.1150kknw.com 20 • March 24, 2017 Norsk Språk theNorwegianamerican

Norwegian Language Corner NORWEGIAn 101 NORWEGIAN FOLK TALES, FAIRY TALES and TROLLS Language practice with Heidi Håvan Grosch

Health, Safety, and Environment (Helse, sikkerhet og miljø) Volume 2 With 21 classic folk tales, fairy tales, and trolls from Norway in Norwegian and English, “Tuss og Troll” is now serialized in the Norwegian American Weekly’s Norwegian Language Corner. The stories are from the collections of Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, and retold by Øyvind Dybvad, Gard Espeland, Velle Espeland, Johannes Farestveit, and Nana Rise-Lynum. Translated by Alexander Knud Huntrods and Odd-Steinar Dybvad Raneng. Illustrated by Solveig Muren Sanden, Jens R. Nilssen, and Ralph A. Styker. “Tuss og Troll” was edited, designed, and published by Deb Nelson Gourley of Astri My Astri publishing. Copyright © Norsk Barneblad.

The Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) created the Working Environment Act (Arbeidsmiljøloven) in 1977 to protect (å beskytte) the health (helse) of employees in a variety of work settings in Norway. The Act (loven) applies to (gjelder for) all land-based opera­ tions (landbasert næringer) who have employees, and not only provides rules (regler) which attempt to prevent hazardous (farlig) and strenuous (hard) work but also gives employees the right to influence (rett til å på- virke) their own working situation. Therefore, all workplaces are required (pliktig) to have an elected safety representative (et valgt verneombud). If there are fewer than (dersom det er mindre enn) 10 employees, they can have a written agreement between the leader of the company (bed- riftsleder) and the all the employees (alle ansatte) stating that they will not have a safety representative for the next two years; elections (valg) or written agreements (skriftlige avtaler) are re-negotiated every two years. Kolbrennaren The Wood-collier When a company has over 50 employees, they must have a special work del 6 av 6 part 6 of 6 environment committee (arbeidsmiljøutvalg). One element of creating a safe working environment (et trygt arbeids­ — Ja, ja, sa kongen, — eg er like glad “Oh well,” said the king, “I don’t mind miljø) is risk assessment (risikovurdering) as a means of preventing body anten du veit det eller du ikkje veit det, if you know or don’t know, but you are the strain (belastningslidelser), injuries (skader), and accidents (uhell). Pos­ men du er den vise prest og sanne profet wise priest and the prophet who can fore- som kan spå om komande ting, og vil du ik- see the future, and if you don’t tell me, you sible hazards (mulige farer) or situations (situasjoner) that might be eval­ kje seia det, skal du missa både kappe og will lose both your cape and your collar,” uated are risks involving chemicals (kjemikalier), sound (lyd), dust (støv), krage, sa kongen. said the king. radiation (stråling), and machines (maskiner), as well as interactions with — Men det er det same, eg skal prøva “And if it’s all the same, I will try you fellow employees (andre ansatte) and customers (kunder). So, for ex­ deg fyrst, sa han. Og så tok han det største out first,” he said. And with that he took ample, if you are working with noise (støy), you have the right to have a sølvkruset han åtte og gjekk ned til stranda. the largest silver mug that he owned and hearing test (hørselstest); if working with dust you have the right to have — Kan du seia meg kva som er i det kruset, went down to the beach. “If you can tell me a lung test (lungefunksjonstest); or in a day care (barnehage) with small så kan du nok seia det andre og, sa kongen what is in the mug, then you should be able og heldt på krusloket. to tell me the other as well,” said the king children, you are entitled to a vacation (just kidding). Employers are also Kolbrennaren vreid berre hendene og holding onto the lid of the mug. required to provide training (opplæring) when necessary (når det er nød- bar seg ille. — Å, du ulukkelegaste kryp og The wood-collier wrung his hands and vendig) to insure (for å sikre) a safer working environment. krabbe på denne jord, kva har du no for alt carried on. “Oh you most miserable crea- At workplaces where toxic (giftige) or hazardous (farlige) substances ditt slit og slep! sa han. ture and crab on this earth, what have you are used or produced, it is particularly important (er det spesielt viktig) — Ja, der ser du om du ikkje visste det! now got for all your struggles and sweat!” that employers and employees are both familiar with (kjent med) the sa kongen, for han hadde ein stor krabbe i said he. safety regulations (sikkerhetsbestemmelsene) and that they comply (føl- sølvkruset. “Well, there you see, as if you didn’t Så måtte kolbrennaren inn i storstova know!” said the king, because he had a big ger) with them. Therefore certain types of businesses such as garages til dronninga. Han tok ein stol og sette seg crab inside the silver mug. midt på golvet, og dronninga gjekk att og So the wood-collier had to go into the See / Se > Health / helse, page / side 21 fram i stova. — Ein skal ikkje gjera bås til parlor to the queen. He took a chair and uboren kalv, og ikkje tretta om namnet før sat himself in the middle of the floor, and barnet er født, sa kolbrennaren. the queen just walked back and forth. “One — Men maken til dette har eg korkje should not make a stall for an unborn calf, høyrt eller sett, sa han. — Når dronninga and should not quarrel about the name un- går imot meg, så trur eg mest det vert ein til the child is born,” said the wood-collier. prins, men når ho går ifrå meg, ser det ut “But the likes of this I have never heard som det var ei prinsesse. Noko meir veit ik- or seen,” he said. “When the queen comes kje eg, sa han og sukka. towards me, I think it is a prince, but when Det var tvillingar, så kolbrennaren råka she walks away from me, I think it is a prin- det den gongen og. Og for di han kunne seia cess. Anything else I do not know,” he said det som ingen kunne vita, fekk han pengar i and heaved a sigh. lassevis, og så vart han den høgaste i landet It was twins, so the wood-collier was nest etter kongen. Tripp, trapp, trille, han correct this time as well. And because he vart meir enn han ville. could say what no one could know, he was given loads and loads of money, and be- came the highest in the land—after the king of course. Now, that is the end of this story, as now he had more than he had ever wished for.

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Tuss og Troll 2-vol-set $35.95 with FREE shipping in USA. www.astrimyastri.com theNorwegianamerican Norsk Språk March 24, 2017 • 21

< health / helse « Personally, I exercise not to become From page / Fra side 20 younger, but to become older. » (bilverksteder), day cares, and those in the – Karsten Isachsen mechanical industry (mekanisk industri) are required to use occupational health services (bedriftshelsetjeneste / BHT). A BHT can be staffed by nurses (sykepleiere), doctors Pondus by Frode Øverli (leger), occupational hygienists (yrkeshy- gieniker), and physiotherapists (fysiotera- peuter) or occupational therapists (ergotera- peuter), and acts as an advisor (rådgiver) to its member businesses (medlemsbedrifter). It is, however, the Norwegian Labor Inspec­ tion Authority that determines (som avgjør) if a business is following the letter of the law (lovens bokstav). Failure to do so (unnlatelse av å gjøre dette) can result in orders (ordre) to correct the situation within a given time limit (innen en gitt frist), fines (bøter), shut­ down of operations (nedleggelse) or police action (politiaksjon).

You have no My husband, Morten Håvan, has Hmm... Here heartbeat! Hmm... been working as an occupational hygien­ there’s silence! Very weak... ist (yrkeshygieniker) for Inneherred HMS, a BHT, for over 17 years, so I asked him Lunch by Børge Lund how things have changed (hvordan ting Gah!!! There har endret seg). “There is a greater focus it was again! (større fokus) on efficiency (på effektivitet) and profit (lønnsomhet) in businesses (i bed- riftere) and in general,” he comments. “That can mean that the stress level (stressnivået) for employees increases (øker) and so more things can affect health (så flere ting kan påvirke helse), resulting in a greater need (større behov) for occupational health ser­ vices (bedriftshelsetjenester).” I asked him what he thought employers could do for overall employee health (generell ansattes helse): “Have a BHT (bedriftshelsetjeneste), and we will guide them (veilede dem).” See here, yes! A new You’re suffering from Sigh... More serious project to put my personal acute motivation, Kjell! than I thought! stamp on... This’ll be fun! Further information in English: • The Working Environment Act: www. Hjalmar arbeidstilsynet.no/artikkel.html?tid=79289 by Nils Axle Kanten • The Working Environment Act booklet (2002): www.arbeidstilsynet.no/binfil/down­ load2.php?tid=97753 • Site specifically geared towards for­ eign workers in Norway: www.arbeidstil­ synet.no/fakta.html?tid=240098 • The Norwegian Labor Inspection Au­ thority: www.cite.gov.pt/asstscite/downloads/ noruega/Labour_authority_Norway.pdf • The Working Environment Guide (in­ teractive) www.arbeidstilsynet.no/working­ environmentguide

< REDAKTØR Just one more pastry, then. Nonsense! We have an excuse! I see, but didn’t you Fra side 2 Gotta watch my weight! Those extra pounds are after adopt your childr... ow! pregnancy, I always say! en nettavis som dekker Barents-regionen og de arktiske områdene. Nyhetssakene skrives både på engelsk og russisk. Han Ola og Han Per by Peter J. Rosendahl, with new translations by John Erik Stacy — Vi har tidligere hatt problemer med innreise, men da har det vært problemer med visum eller andre papirproblemer. Nå hadde jeg akkreditering og pressevisum, men får begrunnelse om rikets sikkerhet. Innreisenekten får store konsekvenser for hans virke som journalist, men avisen skal fortsette som før, sier han. — Jeg synes det er veldig problematisk. Det finnes en relasjon mellom Europa og Russland som på ingen måte er god, men Russland har selv fremmet at de arktiske Isn’t this going great, Ola? nordområdene er territorier for dialog også But what is it that It’s powered by med Norge. Hvis jeg som reporter og redak­ drives the electricity. I have the tør ikke får delta i den dialogen, gjør det ar­ propeller? battery on my back. beidet mye vanskeligere, forteller Nilsen. 22 • March 24, 2017 Fiction theNorwegianamerican What We Do for Love fiction by Tim Chapman Illustration: Plunderpuss

Mosley was alone in Frank the little room behind the chapel as he inspected the collection of crutches, photographs, and testimo- nial letters that covered the wood paneled walls. It was early, and he was the church’s first visitor of the day. He read the yellowed letters from people who had been cured of arthritis and stomach ailments. He stud- ied faded photographs of grandmothers who were able to use their gnarled hands for the first time in years and children who were walking again after a crippling injury. He fingered the crutches and the discard- ed artificial limbs, though Frank couldn’t imagine that the holy dirt could grow back an arm or a foot. The church was in a small town in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and was well known for the miracle of its sacred earth. People journeyed from all over the world to scoop the healing earth from the hole in the sacristy floor. The hole itself, el pocito, was miraculous. Pilgrims came and scooped earth out of the hole all day long, but no matter how much was taken, the next morning el pocito was full again. pay for Frank and Gloria’s wedding. filled with dirt every night.” “What difference does that make, anyway? Frank had driven all through the night “My wife has cancer,” Frank said. “I fill it,” the priest said, “every night, Are you saying that only poor people need from Sausalito to get some of the sacred “What do I tell her to do with the dirt three hundred and sixty five nights a year hope or that you’re stupid if you believe in earth. While he drove he thought about when I get it home? I mean, how does she for the last seven years. I have it delivered miracles?” the miracle. It was ridiculous. What sort of use it?” once a week from a local nursery. Twice “No. Hey, I’m sorry,” Father Leonard person believes in holy dirt? Why would “Has she started chemotherapy yet?” a week around Christmas, because of the said. He pulled a letter from the waistband God make such a thing in the first place? If the priest asked. crowds, you know.” of his cassock, handed it to Frank and He wanted to heal someone He wouldn’t “No. She goes in for a radical mastec- “So you don’t believe in it either?” plopped down on the pile of dirt. “Read have to fool around with dirt. It was mass tomy next week. They’ll start chemo after Father Leonard giggled and covered the last three lines,” he said. hysteria or some kind of mind over matter, that.” his mouth with the back of his hand. It Frank read: Daily insulin injections the power of positive thinking. The whole “Some people take the dirt home to seemed an inappropriate sound for a priest, are very hard for a five year-old boy, and we thing was probably bullshit, but Frank bathe in, some eat it or put it in liquid and it occurred to Frank that Father Leon- really can’t afford them any more. We’re so needed to believe in it. He had tried to to drink, others rub it on their afflicted ard might have started his morning with happy that the sacred earth has cured his imagine a world without Gloria. The idea limbs. I suggest putting a pinch in a cup booze instead of oatmeal. He inched closer diabetes. Thank you, Father Leonard, and was too terrible. Frank was kneeling over of tea. Make sure you give it to her be- and caught the familiar scent of malt. praise to God. the little hole, spooning dirt into a plas- fore she starts chemotherapy, though. You “What about all the testimonials and “It came in yesterday’s mail. There’s no tic, sandwich bag, when Father Leonard don’t want her to be eating dirt with a sup- discarded crutches on your wall?” he asked. name or return address,” Father Leonard tapped him on the shoulder. pressed immune system.” “I don’t know,” the priest said. “May- said. “This family has stopped giving their “Excuse me, sir,” the priest said. “May “No,” Frank said, “I suppose not.” be those people would have gotten better child his insulin, and I don’t know how I have a word with you?” Father Leonard cleared his throat a anyway. Maybe some of them just think to get in touch with them. Even if I did, “Frank stood up and brushed dirt few times before he spoke again, as though they’re healed.” He stopped speaking and what would I say? ‘Take your child to the off the knees of his trousers. He was a he was trying to decide the best way to looked around, as though he was afraid of doctor because it’s all a fraud’? ‘Give up full head taller than the priest and had to phrase a difficult question. being overheard. “Maybe some stop tak- your faith’?” Father Leonard’s hand shook duck as he followed him through the little “You don’t believe in our sacred earth, ing their medicine and get really sick or as he took the letter back and put it in his arched doorway. They walked out a side do you?” die. I haven’t got a clue.” pocket. “My life is a lie. I’m going to shut door, around to the back of the church, It was more a statement than a ques- “That’s awful. They’d be better off if this place down, and if the archdiocese and stopped next to a mound of black tion, and Frank was surprised by its direct- they never took the dirt.” dirt. The church was on a ridge, and sev- ness. He thought priests were supposed to “Probably,” the priest said. Continued on the next page > eral small houses and trailers dotted the encourage faith. He took another drag and “Do you tell everyone who comes here landscape on the mountainside below. snapped the cigarette away. It sailed out about the dirt, I mean, that the replenish- Tim Chapman is a former Frank offered the priest a cigarette and, over the precipice and down. ment miracle isn’t true?” forensic scientist for the when it was refused, lit one himself. It was “No,” he admitted. “I think it’s pretty “No, you’re the first. They wouldn’t Chicago police department who currently teaches writ- a crisp, winter morning and the smoke he much a crock. Why? Do I have to believe believe me, anyway. The pilgrims who ing and tai chi chuan. His pulled into his lungs was made sharper by to take some dirt?” come for the dirt are mostly poor people, fiction has been published the mountain air. He had bought the pack “Not at all,” the priest said. He mo- uneducated. All of them are desperate for in The Southeast Review, at a gas station. He hadn’t smoked in years, tioned toward the mound of dirt. “Take a miracle. Occasionally, college kids stop the Chicago Reader, Alfred and he thought how upset Gloria would all you like.” in. They’re usually just curious or think Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, and the an- be if she knew. He had quit a lot of things Frank picked up a handful from the it’s funny. I don’t often see someone with thology, The Rich and the Dead. His first novel, Bright and Yellow, Hard and Cold, was a final- on account of Gloria—smoking, drink- pile. It was the same color and consistency a Mercedes and a six hundred dollar suit ist in Shelf Unbound’s 2013 Best Indie Book ing, breaking people’s legs. Fortunately, as the dirt in his sandwich bag. scooping dirt out of the hole.” competition. In his spare time he paints pretty Papa Bennie hadn’t been angry when he “This is the same stuff?” he asked. “I “How do you know what my suit pictures and makes an annoying noise with his left the Organization. He’d even offered to thought the hole in the floor miraculously cost?” Frank felt himself getting angry. saxophone that he claims is music. theNorwegianamerican March 24, 2017 • 23 A monthly feature to share Brought to you by with kids and grandkids BarnebladBarneblad Heidi Håvan Grosch Making a birth announcement

When babies are born in Norway, it is normal to put their picture in the local newspaper. Most of the time, the mother and the father are also in the picture. Sometimes, the picture is just of the new baby and their brothers Can you make a birth announcement and sisters. It is also normal to write in the caption under the picture how for yourself? much the baby weighed (in grams), when he or she was born, and how long he or she was. A birth announcement might look like this: Community Connections Community Connections Put your baby picture here. It can be only you, a picture with your mother and father, or a picture with your brothers and sisters.

______og ______(mother’s name) (father’s name) Ken og Rosalie fra Sparbu fikk ei datter på Sykehuset Levanger fra ______fikk ei datter / en sønn på 14. november. Jenta har fått navnet Greta Ann, veide 4455 gram (the town where the parents live) (choose daughter/datter or son/sønn) og var 52 cm lang da hun ble født. Greta er lillesøster til Heidi, tre Sykehuset______. og et halvt år gammel. (name of hospital/sykehuset) (date: day then month) Jenta/Gutten har fått navnet ______, (the girl/jenta or boy/gutten has received the name) (fill in your name) Ages: Four = fire Eight = åtte veide _____ gram og var ______cm lang da hun/han One = en Five = fem Nine = ni (how much you weighed) (how long you were) (when she/hun or he/han Two = to Six = seks Ten = ti ble født. Hun/han er lillesøster/lillebror til ______Three = tre Seven = sju/syv Half = halvt was born) (she/hun or he/han is the little sister/brother to) ______, ______. So three and a half years old would be … tre og et halvt år gammel. (name of siblings) (their ages when you were born)

Measurements: * 1 pound = 453.592 grams, so multiply the number of pounds by 453.592 to Months (don’t capitalize the month) get the number of grams. januar april juli oktober * 1 ounce = 28.3495231 grams, so multiply the number of ounces by februar mai august november 28.3495231 (or 28.35) to get the number of ounces. mars juni september desember

You can also use this conversion chart: www.metric-conversions.org/weight/ So January 23rd would be 23. januar (remember to put a period after the pounds-to-grams.htm number, and put the number before the month).

< Continued from previous page sends in another priest to run things, I’ll fraud? He couldn’t let that happen. a fake perhaps they’ll get worried and take can’t get back to sleep until I see her move show this letter to the press.” “It doesn’t make any difference wheth- him to the doctor.” or hear her breathe. I need to know she’s Frank put his hand in his pocket and er you or I believe in this crap,” Frank said. Frank grabbed Father Leonard’s sleeve there.” He reached out a hand to smooth felt the bag of dirt. He wanted to explain “My wife believes in it. She read an article and yanked him to his feet. He felt like Father Leonard’s rumpled cassock, but the to the priest what it was like to walk with in some magazine. I’m sorry about the kid punching him, but instead he shook him, priest pushed him away and walked un- Gloria after dinner in the cool evening air. with diabetes, but my wife needs this mir- hard, hoping the violent action would so- steadily back to the church. Frank looked How, when she smelled the night-bloom- acle. If you go to the papers...” He looked ber him up. When he released the priest he down at his cigarette for a minute, then let ing jasmine, she would stop and close her at the priest, still sitting on the dirt. “Can’t was embarrassed and couldn’t look at him. out a sigh. He knew what he had to do. He eyes, and how seeing her like that made you wait awhile before you do anything? Instead, he lit another cigarette. He com- followed the priest inside. him feel as though someone had reached Give me six months, please. That’s not too posed himself as he watched the smoke curl By the time he returned to his car the into his chest and wrapped a warm, com- much to ask.” away and drift up into the unclouded sky. flames were licking the wood beams above forting hand around his heart. Gloria was “I can’t promise that. In fact, going to “Look, I’m sorry I got rough,” Frank the windows of the old church. By the counting on the dirt. What would she the papers may be the only way to save this said, “but every night I wake up, maybe time he got to the highway it was just a think if she saw in the papers that it was a boy’s life. If his family hears that the dirt is three or four times, just to stare at her. I pale glow in the eastern sky. 24 • March 24, 2017 Bulletin Board theNorwegianamerican

New Nordic Heritage Museum “Topping Off” N.A. notes Fundraising ahead! Some of you perhaps re- member that two years ago we ran an online campaign to save this paper. Well, we’re doing it again! Get ready for incredible perks including a cookbook of recipes featured in The Norwe- gian American, aquavit from Old Ballard (local pickup only), and Photos: Emily C. Skaftun more! Seattle-area Nordics gathered on Details to come. Stay tuned! a cold and gloomy Friday, March 17, to witness a milestone in construction of the Syttende Mai ahead too! Nordic Heritage Museum’s new building. We may be getting ahead To commemorate the completion of the steel of ourselves (should I wait until frame, the final beam was “topped off” with after Easter?), but we’re just a small fir tree and flags. According to the Nordic Heritage so excited for Syttende Mai we Museum, “‘Topping Off’ or ‘Topping Out’ can’t wait. is a centuries-old Nordic custom which So remember to get your dates as far back as the Viking era. Topping and respect, as well as to ensure good fortune current location for remarks and a toast. order in for a 17th of May greet- off involves placing an evergreen tree, as the project moved forward.” The new Nordic Heritage Museum, ing in our huge issue, and re- bough, or wreath atop the final beam of a Before this final beam was hoisted to its expected to open in 2018, is the realization of member to take lots of photos new structure. Norsemen venerated hardy final position, it was painted red, white, and many years of planning and fundraising. The on the actual day and send them evergreen trees because timber was vital to blue, and multi-colored pens were available 57,000-sq. ft. museum and cultural center will to [email protected] for our their way of life. Wood was a staple for both for those in attendance to leave their mark on be located in the heart of Ballard (on Market photos issue in June! And ad- ships and homes, and taking time to thank it. Around noon, the crane lifted the beam and Street) and will include a refined layout and the forest for the lumber was important to intrepid workers secured it in place to applause expanded exhibition and educational spaces vertisers, don’t miss the biggest the Vikings and their connection to nature. from below. As if the weather had been waiting organized around a linear “fjord.” issue of the year! Write to ads@ As the tradition evolved overtime, timber politely, the first few drops of rain were felt na-weekly.com today to reserve framers would still ‘top off’ the frame of a at almost that exact moment. Construction For more information on the Nordic Heritage your ad space. new building as a symbol of appreciation continued as the party moved to the museum’s Museum, visit nordicmuseum.org.

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