Life as a foreigner!

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Home, But Not Home: A Foreigner’s Journey of Belonging

The Struggle of Two Worlds

There’s a common saying: “There’s no place like home.” But what if you live between two homes—never fully belonging to either? What if your heart is rooted in two soils, yet your feet can only stand on one?

I’ve been living in Norway for 22 years now. This country, with its breathtaking fjords and quiet strength, has given me a new life, new opportunities, and yes—many beautiful moments that I now call home. But at times, I still feel like a foreigner. Not because I’m not welcome—quite the opposite. But because I will never look Norwegian. My skin is brown, my eyes are brown, and although my hair was once black, it's slowly turning grey.

Sure, I can dye it blond. But let's be honest—I’d look a little wild, a little off. It just doesn’t fit the rest of me. And that’s part of the deeper truth: there are parts of me that will never blend in, no matter how hard I try.

The Language Barrier and the Desire to Belong

I’ve learned to speak and write Norwegian. But not like a native. There’s always a gap—a hesitation, a grammar rule I forget, a word that doesn’t quite land. And though I love languages and speak English too, it can be frustrating. Language is power. It connects people. And sometimes, not speaking like the locals makes you feel like you're always just a little bit outside the circle.

Still, I keep learning. I’m turning fifty soon, and I’m the type of person who wants to learn everything. A little here, a little there. I know I’ll never be an expert in one thing—but I celebrate every small step, every word learned, every sentence I get right.

Grateful for the Journey

Despite the challenges, I’m incredibly grateful. Norway welcomed me when I needed a place to grow. It gave me a new start, new experiences, and new dreams. It may not be the country of my birth, but it adopted me. It let me plant roots.

And yet, when I return to my country of origin, something feels different there too. I speak the same language. I look like everyone else. I eat the same food. But it no longer feels like home—because home now has another address. My bed, my things, my life... they’re in Norway.

A Foreigner Everywhere—But Not Alone

So what does that make me? A foreigner in Norway. A foreigner in my home country. Living between worlds. And that can feel lonely sometimes.

But I’ve learned something important: No one has everything. Life isn’t always tidy. But we make the best of the place where we’re planted. We grow where we can. And we trust that our journey has a purpose—even if it’s not always clear.

The Hope Beyond All Borders

There’s one truth that gives me peace, no matter where I am: I will never be a foreigner in heaven.

One day, I will go to the place Jesus promised in John 14:1-2:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

What a promise. A home beyond homes. A place prepared not by governments or languages, but by the One who sees us fully and loves us completely.

Wherever You Are, You Are Seen

To anyone else out there who feels like they don’t quite belong—whether in a new country, a new culture, or even in a familiar place that no longer feels the same—I want to say: You are not alone.

You are learning, growing, adapting, surviving—and thriving in your own way. And that is something to be proud of.

So live your life fully, wherever God places you. Because He is already there, preparing your forever home.