Norwegian American

Over the years, Norwegians have become more, and more Americanized. Through the movement of people, specifically to and from Norway, the Norwegian culture has been diluted. Norwegian’s immigrated to America for several reasons, but in general, they all wanted to live a happy and profitable life. Norwegians unknowingly, sacrificed their culture to do so.

The start of Norwegians immigration to America occurred in 1821. Quakers in Norway were unhappy with the Lutheran Church and wanted to escape prosecution, so the group sent two members of the Quaker community, Cleng Peerson and Krud Olsen Eide, over to America for exploration. Eide died soon after the two men arrived in America, but Peerson returned to Norway to organize the buying of land. On July 4, 1825, a ship called Restauration left Norway with 52 Norwegians opposed to the Lutheran Church. Ninety-eight days after the ship departed, they arrived and settled in New York.

After the Civil War in the United States, in 1865, large quantities of Norwegians immigrated; about 110,000 entered over an eight year period. From this time on, many Norwegians were settling in the upper midwest in states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and North and South Dakota.

The second wave of mass immigration took place from 1880 to 1893. Before 1880 a majority of Norwegians migrated to America with their family, but in the 1880s, that changed. Younger, more educated Norwegians started to settle in the United States.

In the last half of the 1800s and the early 1900s, another large wave of Norwegians came across the ocean, about 800,000.

Norwegians came to America for many reasons other than religion. Sometimes, more than one reasons were combined to help make the decision to leave their Norwegian homes and make new lives for themselves in the United States. Several were drawn to the farm land available in America. The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed immigrants to live and to farm on land with the promise that they would receive full ownership of it after five years. Other government actions such as treaties with Winnebagoe, Wahprekeut, and Mdewakariton Indians opened up even more land for Norwegians and other white settlers.

Another appealing aspect of America was the differences between the two counties socially and politically. In Norway, people lived under a strict social system that forced people of lower class to show signs of respect to the upper classes. The experience for the lower class was quite degrading. The United States didn’t have any official protocol for interactions among people which created great appeal. Politically, America seemed like a land of freedom and opportunity. In the United States in the nineteenth century, people held regular elections to place officials in power, but in Norway, at the time, only those that were apart of an elite minority population had a right to vote. The possibility of voting rights was quite appealing to men and women; white men were given universal suffrage in the 1820s and by 1860, many states in America were looking at allowing women to vote.

In Norway in the 1860s, as an effect of the ever-increasing population, there were less jobs available. Not only did the population growth affect the number of jobs, but also many jobs were being replaced by machines since the world was just beginning to be more industrialized. Also, potential wages were ultimately far better in America. For farmers living in Norway, little land was available to the average Norwegian. During this period, individuals with farm land faced crops that were failing and farm foreclosures.

Many Norwegians were influenced to migrate because of the promotions made by agents, newspapers, and writings. Norwegian settlers often wrote letters back to friends and family in Norway telling them of all the benefits associated with living in America. Here is a passage from a letter written by a man, Ole Munch Raeder, to relatives in Norway telling of the riches in America, “What an impression it would make on a poor highlander's imagination to be told that someday he might eat wheat bread every day and pork at least three times a week! Here even a tramp can enjoy a chicken dinner once in a while.” Sometimes the letters would urge family to come to their new homeland. Letters increased the “American fever” a great deal.

Norwegians who found life in a new culture, at first, found it difficult, but most did well and some decided that the new country was not for them, so they went back to their home country, Norway.

Not only has Norwegians identity been compromised my their immigration to the United States, but also vise-versa, Americans and other nationalities migrating to Norway. Through movement, Norwegians culture and many other cultures around the world have placed themselves vulnerable to different cultural influences. Many Norwegians are discovering that immigration leads to the weakening of a feeling of identity. The world continues to shrink and cultures are becoming more globalized. For Norwegians, globalization has affected their natural characteristics and will continue to threaten their culture as immigration continues. Norwegians will probably continue to face an identity crisis as long as immigration occurs. The world, everyday, is becoming more globalized culturally.

Eriksen, Thomas. "Norwegian Identity". Bergen Guide. Dec. 3 <http://www.bergen-guide.com/406.htm>.

"Norwegian Immigration". Dec. 3 <http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/mnstatehistory/norwegian_migration.html>.

"Norway and Immigration". Dec. 3 <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAEnorway.htm>.

"Waves of Norwegian Immigrants". The Advocates. Dec. 3 <http://www.energyofanation.org/3f9c3958-cf6f-43ed-a9bf-05b8ad118870.html?NodeId=>.

Invisible Children Film

On November 16, I viewed the human rights film, “Invisible Children.” The film focused on the issue of human trafficking, especially sex trafficking. Human trafficking was not a topic I was informed about or even really knew existed to the extent illustrated in the film. I was really shocked and horrified to learn some of the things young children suffer through being victims of sex trafficking.

The child victims of trafficking may be exploited for commercial sex, including prostitution, pornography, and sex tourism. The most unsettling part of the film was seeing pictures of young children being portrayed in such sexual ways and knowing that the child’s innocence was stolen from them. My heart ached for these children because I could image the pain and mistreatment that they had and did endure. Child victims of human trafficking face several significant physical and psychological problems such as sexually transmitted diseases, anxiety, depression, shame, and many others. Most children will suffer long-term from the destructive effects of exploitation.

It made me angry to know that there are adults placing so much pain on a young child when, I believe, adults’ main job is to protect children, not destroy them. A victim of sexual exploitation can never grow up normal or have their childhood back, they will be forever scarred by the indecencies placed upon them.

This film dove deep into the raw, hard facts of sex trafficking. As hard as it was to watch, I know that it is important to know about this form of slavery, so that something can be done about it. Right now, human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the world and the fastest growing. If we ignore the cruelties placed upon children, teens, women, and men, then nothing will ever be done about it.

My Education, My Plan

In ten years, I see myself working happily as a Dentist. Dentistry is the only career I really want to pursue. Dentistry just fits for me in many ways. If I’m not able to become a dentist, my dreams would be crushed. I know that I have a ton of hard work in front of me, since dentistry is a very competitive field of study.

I didn’t always know I wanted to be a dentist. One day, over the summer, I was pondering over my options and someone suggested dentistry because I would look good in a lab coat. I had, at the time, just laughed, but as I thought about the idea, it sounded like the perfect career for me for many reasons. One reason being that in high school I really enjoyed and excelled in science courses. I’m also a very investigative thinker; I like to solve problems and come up with solutions. It’s important to me, to be able to help others and, also, work with others. I want a career that brings me some kind of accomplishment at the end of every day.

The very first thing I will do to get closer to my goal, is to do well in my classes at UNCG. To prepare me for dentistry, I’m taking several science and math courses over the next four years and I am enrolled in the pre-dentistry program. I really want to take advantage of my education because I know that everything taught to me now, is only going to improve my life later.

After graduation, I will, sadly, leave UNCG to attend UNC Chapel Hill, where I will enter into the dental school. It will be wonderful to finally be able to dive into courses that will be directly related to my profession of choice. That’s when my education will probably be the most thrilling and fulfilling for me. I have not decided if I will specialize in a given area of study yet, but I have a while to make my mind up.

The next step in my plans, after receiving my degree, is to pass written and practical examinations that are required by the state to obtain a license to practice. Then I will finally, and happily, be able to go out and seek a job in dentistry. I am not yet sure if I want to establish my own office or not. As long as I get to practice, I’ll be happy.

I have recently been throwing around the idea that someday I may want to travel to poverty stricken countries and provide dental care to those who cannot afford it. I have this passion to help others in need, especially the less fortunate. If I can use the dental skills I obtain to improve someone's life, it would be extremely rewarding. After reading Enrique’s Journey and personally knowing a mother whom had left her son in Mexico to pursue a better life, I’ve been inspired to become a dentist even more, so that I can provide dentistry to those who struggle just to feed themselves each day.

When I think about my future, I get excited. There is a lot of good I can do with my education I obtain. The excitement I have is my motivation. When I struggle, get frustrated, or get discouraged, I’m going to picture where and what I’m going to be doing in my future if I just keep on working diligently. I want to be a dentist, no doubt about it.

The Film "Beijing Bicycle"

On November 18, I attended the film “Beijing Bicycle.” The film tells a story of two young men, each from different social status, yearning for acceptance and success. For Guei, a bicycle represents a way to work, earn income, and survive and for Jian a bicycle would allow him to fit in with his friends and be “cool.”

The story starts off with Guei receiving a job as a mail carrier and one of the major benefits of the job was receiveing a mountain bike to do his job sufficiently and fast. His job started off rocky and it got worse for him when his precious bike was stolen. Guei was fired from work until he is able to get the bike back. Guei was motivated and determined to find his bicycle even when the chances of finding it were slim.

Jian purchased Guei’s bicycle from a flea market with money he stole from his parents. After being promised a bicycle for years, Jian was no longer going to wait for his father to follow through with his word. In need of fitting in with his friends, he committed immoral acts.

Eventually, Guei discovers Jian with his bike and steals it back but Guei is caught and beaten by Jian’s friends. The boys, one day, have another quarrel over the bicycle and come up with a compromise; they will share the bike between the two of them. They both realize the value the bike has to the other and they come to respect each other.

The film concludes with a violent scene; the two young men find themselves being beaten by a gang of young men. Not only are they being beaten, but damage is done to the bike. Guei cries out in pain, to leave the bicycle alone. You really see how much this bike means to Guei; he does not care so much that he is battered, he just wants his bike to be all right. For the young men, the bicycle provides an escape to better things and opportunities and it is more valuable that there health.

Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe

On November 16, I attended the Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe Theatre performance at UNCG. Although, this fairy tail was meant to tell the story of Christ’s crucifixion, I see the story in a different way.

I really like this story of four children finding this secret world, Narnia, in the wardrobe and rescuing it from the reign of an evil witch. The Wardrobe allowed these children to find an escape from the war and all the bad things that went with it. They were separated from their parents and sent to live with a professor in an unfamiliar place. Being in the land of Narnia provided some relief to these four children; they got to fight and defeat something outside of their real lives.

Not only were the characters entering into this new and adventurous world of Narnia, but also us, the audience, was able to escape from the stressful events in our own lives to join the characters in their journey. The children in the end of the story, step out of the wardrobe to find that after being in Narnia for 15 years, they are at the same point in time that they were in when they entered. The audience, when they step out of the theatre performance, after watching this magical story for hours, feel like they are at the same point in time as they were when they entered the theatre. The story of the Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe is about giving children and adults an escape, if not only for an hour or two, from the hardship and stressful events in real life.

Nazario Lecture

Today, November 16, I attended a Lecture by Sonia Nazario on her novel, Enrique’s Journey. Her book focused on the journey of a young boy from Honduras to the United States to reach his mother. The boy, Enrique, took the dangerous journey in desperation to be with his mother who left him at a young age. Sonia Nazario reenacted Enrique’s travels on the top of trains and wrote this mind altering book.

Nazario first was inspired to write this novel when she had asked her Latino house keeper a question about her children. Nazario learned that this women had made the trek to the United States illegally to provide for her children and, unfortunately, had to leave her children with the promise that she would be home in a couple of years. Nazario started with this question about how a woman, a mother, could sacrifice being with her children. She could not see what could be so horrible or difficult in life that a woman would have to make that kind of decision. Nazario learned that in some Latin countries, there are places where people are so poor that they would only be able to feed their family one small meal a day, their children would not be able to attend school past the third grade, and their children would be put to work to sell items on the streets or pick through garbage for sellable items. Thats a very sad life for a young child and these mothers didn’t want to see that life for their children. These nurturers’ that travel to the United States illegally, would rather suffer and endure the terrifying and dangerous trek than let their child starve.

In Nazario’s novel, I was able to put my feet in not only Enrique’s shoes, but also his mother’s shoes. I’m more understanding of the reasons people live here illegally. This countries illegal immigrants travel from suffering hard economic conditions and they are left with one choice, to cross the United States boarder.

Kandahar

Last week I viewed the film Kandahar. In the beginning of the film, little is known about the main character, Nafas, other than that she wants to reach Kandahar. As the story progresses her mission is revealed. The story takes place in Afghanistan, the dry and sandy country. I was surprised by how much I did not know about the way of life in Afghanistan. The culture is so different from ours.

In the beginning, we watch Nafas disguise herself in the traditional burka from head to toe, as a wife of an old Afghan man entering back into the country. On the journey, they get stopped by a thief that takes everything they own including their way of transportation, a small buggy-looking car. They were left, stranded in the middle of the desert, with nothing.

The old man decides to abandon Nafas in the next town and she is left to find a knew way to Kandahar. A young boy, about the age of 12, says that he will take her to Kandahar for a price. They come upon an agreement and they head into the desert by foot. Eventually, they come across a well where many women are sitting around and washing clothes in wide, shallow shaped bowls. The young boy fetches water for the two of them. Continuing their journey, Nafas falls ill and has to stop to see a doctor.

At the doctor's, the room is divided by a sheet with a whole cut in the center. This is because men are not allowed to look upon women in that culture. The doctor treats Nafas's illness and he realizes that she is not from Afghanistan. We, the viewer, then find out that Nafas and her parents escaped from Afghanistan to America, but had to leave her sister behind. Nafas tells the doctor that she is on her way to Kandahar to stop her sister from committing suicide by the second solar eclipse. The Doctor then reveals that he is not Afghan, but a black American, in Afghanistan to help the people in the country. The doctor proceeds to tell Nafas that he will help her find her way to Kandahar and save Nafas's sister.

The doctor takes Nafas to a place in the middle of the desert where two women hand out prosthetic legs to Afghans who lost their leg due to land mines. They find a poor man that will take Nafas to Kandahar. The poor man instructs Nafas that they will join a group of people on their way to a wedding and that they will pretend to be a family member of the bride. The wedding group is stopped and Nafas and the poor man are taken captive.

It is unknown to the viewer if Nafas is released and if she makes it to Kandahar to rescue her sister or if she fails and loses her sister. The ending is left open for you to make your own assumptions and keep you thinking about the film. I really enjoyed the story of Nafas's journey to save her sister from suicide in a country where women are prosecuted and where some have to live with the lose of a limp because of land mines. The film opened my eyes to the struggles the people face that we, in America, do not have to worry about.