| Fred,
I know of a "FERVIK" Norway. Could it be the same? Fervik is
located on an island outside of Arendal called (TROMOY). There
is an old shipyard there and my uncle has a boat factory on the
island. (Southern coast). If it is the same, I could perhaps
help you out with some info.
The telephone directory lists Digital locations in Norway,
Oslo, Trondheim, Stavanger, Bergen....(I beleive.)
I had also heard when visiting approx 3 years ago, that DEC was
scoping out a Southern Norway location in either Kristiansand or
Arendal...to set up shop. But haven't heard anything further.
Let me know if I can help!
Good luck.
Karin
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| Karen,
Yup, Fevik is the name. My father lived in both Arendal and Grimstad
before Fevik, so all those names are familiar. During WWI at about the
age of 10 he says he fed the family by fishing off the coast around the
local islands. I'll ask if Tromsoy was one of them.
Lots of old stories abound, some very hard to believe, like a single
egg a year (maternal grandmother claimed only one-half a year). It is
hard to imagine such bad times and how people survived, especially in
contrast to the oil economies over there now. I have relatives that
seem to travel back and forth almost like we drive around in this
country - and I think they are just ordinary folks, but I do not
see them because most of the base of that operation occurs in Brooklyn.
I really enjoyed your answer and am gaining more and more of a desire
to see the area where I was born. But so many other things get in the
way. I've often wondered if I could get dual citizenship (or what it
might be worth). Right now the backbreaker is the last son in college
that has me dead broke (law school this fall maybe he will get rich and
send me - boy where have I heard that story before).
Fred
PS: What do you think of my "sing" comment in .0? Is it just
nostalgia that I remember as a "first time I did it" thing?
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| Fred,
I have been on vacation and have just read your message this morning.
My relatives also "landed" and based themselves out of Brooklyn
(Bayridge area) and mostly on Long Island (where I spent most of
my years.) Almost all of them have returned to Norway permanently,
and the others visit quite often. My father still retains a Norwegian
citizenship and is a permanent alien here.
I have an address for you: Royal Norwegian Consulate General
825 Third Ave Floor 17
New York, NY 10022-7584
These people can forward you some valuable info on requirements
policies, employment, citizenship etc... I wrote to them
a while ago and recieved a reply within 10 days. I beleive that
there is a sort of "freeze" on right now..in regards to granting
entrance for extended stays etc... however they do make exceptions
for people with family there or who are natives of norway.
Like yourself, I would like to go back and live in that area again.
Unfortunatly DEC has no sites close by Arendal/Kristiansand. I
keep hoping.
I have also heard many hard-time stories , most revolved around
the WWII time, when the Germans had occupied Norway. I don't
remember seeing any poverty. I do know that if a person was poor,
it was usually because it was their doing. The government seems
to take good care of their people. (High Taxes!)
I went to Norway on vacation in June of 1980 and didn't return until
August '81. I loved it there. Attended school and settled right
in to their comfortable way of life. Being under 18 at the time,
and with a Father of Norwegian citizenship,,, I had many educational
opportunities and programs to my advantage to aid with language
barriers etc... and also would have had the opportunity to to
choose a Norwegian Citizenship if I had stayed. I came back to
the united states and finished my education. (Sometimes I wonder
why? It wasn't as fun.) When I arrived in Norway, I had no real
knowledge of the language either just a few words here and there.
("thank you" and "Come and Eat" was the foundation of my vocabulary)
I had to learn the language very quickly. By the time I returned
to the USA I had quite a "sing" in my English! It was quite the
joke in my family.
Air fares are running approx $800 and up on Skandinavian Airlines
(SAS) these days.... I have noticed that TWA is occasionally
offering 599.00 roundtrip flights to Oslo. (you would have
to find your way via train, car , bus after that...)
The train is not very expensive and can offer some nice scenery...
Would you have any relatives to stay with if you were to visit?
Hotels are awfully expensive!
Karin
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