“To Tromsø!! Why? Why not Italy, it’s the same distance!!” – said my friends in Oslo when I told them I would leave to Tromsø. For most of them, the Northern Norway is a forgotten place.

But I went here 2 ½ years ago with my suitcase and a lot of butterflies. I left the University in Oslo and Morocco where I lived one year in the huge city of Casablanca, and I was so ready to explore the Northern area of my own country.

In my head it was wild nature and prairies where reindeers lived. I had heard about the Sami people, but didn’t know their history. I was sharp enough alhamdoulillah, to realize that my imagination was a result of a huge lack of knowledge, like most of the people in the South. I wondered how we could go through the school-years, like Northern Norway didn’t exist. Norwegians are proud of their country, but it would seem that the Northern area is not included. A shame! With a study-place at the University of Tromsø, I was doing something about it. The view from the airplane was amazing! Not to speak about the air in Tromsø; so clean and FRESH!! Especially after the highly polluted Casablanca, I had a feeling it was too fresh, just too much oxygen for my lungs to handle. I couldn’t wait to explore Tromsø. I went straight down to the city centre where I sat with a huge tuna sandwich and a cup of coffee at Knoll og Tott. I sat there, watched people passing while I reminded myself that this was the place I now should be calling home. I’m Norwegian, but I felt I was in another country. I was happy to see the great variation of people. They say there are more than 140 nationalities in Tromsø; that made me relaxed. If they make it, I will for sure make it!

I was worried about being alone with my faith; could it be Muslims this far North? I was amazed by the reality; More than thousand Muslims have their homes in Tromsø, and many brothers and sisters are going regularly to the Mosque. Now the mosque feel like home, and my Muslim sisters are like my closest family, alhamdoulillah.

Tromsø is a city of opportunities when it comes to education, culture, organization-work and sports, to name some. This little but big place is surrounded by majestic mountains, forests and water to enjoy at any time. I can’t name one single thing about Tromsø which are not good, and no other place in Norway can be compared to it. Oslo where I grew up, tries to be big, something else. Tromsø just IS, like a non-shaped diamond, to be poetic.

I hope you will enjoy your stay in Tromsø, and that you will share your time with us!

as – Salaam alaykom

Rahma Søvik