Yes, we did it! "The Girls wave" in Norway.

This winter / spring the women group has had a project to become more active and do some sport.

I think we have managed wery well. Every small step foreward is an award!

We started with a week free training at a sport centre for women only. After the free week, two of the women continued, they paid what it costed and they have been real eager to go there for 2 months now. Unfortunately, the center closes down in the end of this month because of too few signing up for membership!

When the snow - at last - melted away, we started our "Walk and talk"-group. Once a week we have been out walking and talking. We have been 9-10 refugee-women and 3-5 Norwegian women. These walks have been useful in more than one way. In addition to the activity, all have been forced to speak Norwegian. But perhaps the best part is that women who have minimal contact with the Norwegian society outside school, suddenly "know" someone outside school. One day one of the women had met one of the Norwegian ladies in town. They stopped and talked, and the Norwegian lady were presented to "my" ladies children. Small events that are big to some!

Of course it is also important that the Norwegian women get to know some of our new citicens. Breaking down barriers goes both directions!

When we started walking, I told that the final goal was to attend the 5 kilometres long "Jentebølgen" - "The Girls Wave" in Drammen- 40 kilometres from Kongsberg. The women thought is was soooo long, they would never manage! But they have become stronger every week and when they had to take the decision whether to join in or not, 5 of the 10 decided to go. Some are alone with small children and could not go, even if they wanted.

So on Wednesday the 26. of May the "Culture bus" took us to Drammen.

The group is waiting to start. We were 8 women, 3 from Burma, 2 from Afghanistan and 3 from Norway. We wear a yellow ribbon around the head, so that it should be easy to see each other. There were around 1500 "girls" in all ages waiting to start, so it was helpful with the ribbons.

Of course, we had to warm up before we started. We were instructed by a lot of women from a gym studio.

And "YES" - we got warm!





The 5 kilometres were in nice surroundings along the river. Here we are, all in a good speed and good humor.

Along the route we were served something to drink. Two places there were musicians playing cheerful tunes and there were even people with flags shouting nice and optimistic greetings to us! The 5 kilometres did not seem so long, because of entertainment and a lot of people to look at. Some even took the chance to talk to some strangers!

Yes, we managed to walk the 5 kilometres! We got our medals, and for most of the women it was their first medal ever!
They were all very satisfied with the tour to Drammen and did not regret, even if they got a bit stiff in their legs....







Of course, we did as Norwegian girls / ladies do after "Jentebølgen" and similar arrangements: We went to a resturant and celebrated. ........with pizza and water!

We will not stop activities now! We have to continue and set new goals. And next year we shall have more than 5 refugees joining " Jentebølgen!"