What I miss about Tromsø

In case you don't know Tromsø, it's a small city way up north in Norway. It's funny how much I actually miss living there. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite fond of Bergen, but Tromsø is so... different. In a good way I mean. There's so many things that makes this city special, but of course it has its downsides as well. How do you think you would handle not seeing the sun for a whole winter? It's so dark you wouldn't believe it. The snow contributes to light up a bit though. Anyway I sure didn't think much of it before I left Bergen. Of course I can handle the winter darkness i thought to myself. Piece of cake. But that was and is indeed the biggest downside of Tromsø I think. It is quite something what lack of sunlight does to you in the long run. The dark sky surely has its way of sucking out what's left of your energy after long days at the university. The result? Dead tired, but luckily I got more and more used to it. Thank god!

I can also remember how cold it was. Bergen is nothing compared to that city of ice. It didn't matter how much clothes I was wearing or if the ovens in my apartment where fired up to the maximum. It was still freezing which by the way left me with a ridiculous high electricity bill. But there are some fine memories and those I will never forget. I was more pissed of about it then, but now there's a smile on my face just thinking about all of it.

I remember feeling like Bambi on the ice walking up and down the streets there. Boy, did I have some embarrassing moments that year. Before I knew it, my feet no longer touched the ground and boom, there I was laying flat on the icy ground with nothing but unwanted attention, feeling the pain immediately taking over. The worst part was getting up the little hill where I had my apartment. You wouldn't believe how I had to struggle up there. Mostly I had to hold on to these monsters of needle bushes while dragging myself upwards. Cause if I didn't I'd bee sliding against my will downwards again. It has to be said that I accomplished most of my attempts getting to my apartment though. But once, I decided to try a new strategy so I could get to my way around. Of course I was really drunk at the time that idea struck my mind. I took a new back way I had never walked before. When the snow reached my chest I finally realized that this way wasn't the smartest way to take after all. Silly me! I mostly get my brilliant ideas after drinking, getting more creative by each drink. Unfortunately you don’t get both smart thinking and a creative mind by letting the alcohol take control.

So what is it that draws me back to this place? How can I miss this city so much?
Well I'm so thankful that I got the opportunity to get to know such great people. Many of them where so entertaining. I had some good laughs all right. Oh, how I miss them.

What else do I miss then?

I certainly miss watching the northern lights flashing beautifully over the black sky. It's breathtaking. Like nothing I had ever seen before. I was just as fascinated the last time I got to experience such a sight as the first. I also miss breathing in clean air and just walking with some friends in town doing nothing but joking around.
And I do admit that I miss the university as well even though I cursed it a few times.

No, I don't regret my year up there. Not for a second...