My name is Clara de Lacerda. I am a Brazilian Geographer, and I am currently taking a master course in Architecture and Urbanism (in Rio de Janeiro- Brazil).
Sometimes, it seems like a distant dream when I think about my time in Norway…Everything I lived during those 6 weeks in Blindern was so intense and so deeply moving that fills my heart with joy and warmth. Going to Norway had been a wish I had been holding since my teenage years, when I read almost all of Jostein Gaarder’s books.
It took me a while to identify that what I most liked about those stories I read, apart from the philosophical approaches, was the fact they were set in Norway! My teenage “ self’’ had enjoyed discovering the streets and the forests of Oslo ( and other places) together with the personages from the books. I only realized it in 2019, when I first put my feet on Norwegian soil.
This was my first time in many ways… The first time I went on a trip to another continent by myself (I had to cope with my fear of airplanes!), the first time I went to Scandinavia, and finally, the first time I’d been taking a course abroad with people from all over the world.
Living in Blindern was a remarkable experience. I am not sure if it was all the emotion, because I was in Norway, or if it was the mystic summer nights and the trolls , but I had the impression that Blindern studenterhjem was a magical place indeed… It had a good atmosphere to making friends and to having koselig moments. I am really grateful for all the friendships I have made there, as well as all the memories I will carry with me forever. I think my trip would not have been the same without my friends, whom discovered Norway with me. It is nice to think that we all came from different parts of the world, but we were there hanging out together and sharing so many aspects about our own cultures. Very enriching indeed.
In fact, this was something which the Norwegian language teacher Erik Skuggevik had talked about on his farewell speech, during the last night of ISS. He said:
(…)“The meaning of life. We are maybe not that well equipped to understand it. But the meaning of time we all know. We know it isn’t measured in seconds, minutes or days, how silly – it is measured in units of sharing. The meaning of time is a conversation, a helping hand, sharing a meal, sharing a goal; a friend, whether short-term or long-term, gives meaning to time, doing things together is what time is for. Maybe even learning together. So, the night is young. What should we remember? We will soon part, but so what? We are part of one another already. And maybe we will forget in years to come, but we can’t unlive lived life. So let me end with a message from everyone at ISS, but especially from your teachers: Learn, be curious, feed your longing... But most importantly: Take your time – and then give it away (…)
This made (and still makes) completely sense to me. Of course I was sad to be leaving, but inside me, it felt good to know that we can’t unlive lived life.
My time in Norway still resonates in me. All the knowledge I acquired with my teachers and colleagues, helped me professionally. When I came back to Brazil, I applied to a Master Course in Architecture and Urbanism, and my project deals with Oslo’s urbanism and Rio’s urbanism. All the experience I had in ISS contributed to the person I am today.
Another fact connected to the previous farewell speech that made an impact on me… “ Learn, be curious, feed your longing”… at the beginning of 2020, I wanted to feed my longing by starting to learn Norwegian by myself with online courses and books. It is rather challenging, but I am enjoying my time! I cannot finish this message without wishing: Happy 75th anniversary, ISS! ?
See more photos from Clara's ISS experience in the 2010s photos!