News of Nnorway, issue 4, 1999
Though spending the summer abroad, the University of Virginia graduate isn't really going to a foreign country. Norway is the homeland of her mother.
Gotthardt's mother, Kirstin, from Mosjøen in Norway, married an American and settled in the U.S. Gotthardt was born in Mississippi where she lived for eight years with her mother, father and older sister Astrid. Then the family moved to McLean, Va., where her parents still live.
Both Gotthardt and her sister have grown up with the Norwegian culture, customs and spirit. Norwegian Christmas and May 17th are regular holidays at the Gotthardt's.
English was the spoken language at home, so Gotthardt doesn't speak her mother's native tongue, yet. During the six-week program with the International Summer School Gotthardt will submerge herself in Norwegian.
Gotthardt said that though she has always wanted to speak Norwegian, she is glad her mother never forced her to learn.
"It was something she wanted to leave up to us," she said. "I respect that a lot, and here I am going off to do it by myself."
Though she considers herself an American, Gotthardt said that she certainly also feels akin to Norway and that being 50 percent Norwegian is something she is proud of and emphasizes.
Gotthardt said that being exposed to two different cultures growing up has had a very positive impact. "I feel that I am maybe much more able to accept differences or accept different ways of living," she said.
When it comes to food, the Norwegian in Gotthardt leaves telltale signs. "I definitely eat more like a Norwegian," she said. "And, just the way I live I guess, more influenced by my [mother] than anybody else."
It has been a while since Gotthardt has stayed in Norway for an extended period of time, so she is really looking forward to visiting family this summer. After the summer school is over, Gotthardt will stay in Norway for two more weeks, traveling to see family in different parts of the country.
Gotthardt has two cousins who live in Oslo as well, so she will be well taken care of when she arrives in the Norwegian capital.
Part of Gotthardt's plan for this summer is to run the half marathon in the Midnight Sun Marathon in Tromsø. The run begins at midnight on July 3. So Gotthardt will celebrate the first hours of July 4 on her feet.
Gotthardt is an active runner who has three marathons under her belt. Since she has run them all in the last six months, she decided to just do half marathon in Tromsø, she said.
Her first marathon ever was the Marine Corps Marathon here in Washington, D.C. Then she ran the Disney Marathon in Orlando, Fla., where she qualified for the Boston Marathon. Gotthardt ran the Boston Marathon in April.
Gotthardt said that running has always been a passion. In high school she ran track. Her first years at UVA, she was on the crew team. But when the sport turned varsity, she went back to running.
Gotthardt remembers going around to different rowing meets and thinking to herself, "I would love to run here." So, it was only natural that she would hit the running trails again.
When returning from Norway, Gotthardt will continue her education at UVA's nursing program.
Gotthardt said she is really looking forward to spending some time in Norway on her own, to experience the culture by herself, and to see family of course.
Information
To learn more about the University of Oslo International Summer school, please visit www.uio.no/iss/iss.html