There is no place like home in Ula where I grew up. I grew up surrounded by beautiful nature on the sea side of Norway. We were always outside playing for hours when I was little, either we were fishing crabs, bathing, building cottages or playing games, it was always something to do.

I love that I was able to grow up close to the water, it really have effected my life later on. I tend to seek the water when I need a break or need to think. It is actually when you look back you realize how much this time and surroundings have affected you.

 My favorite season of all in my hometown was and are still summer time. Our little town, suddenly come to live again. From being a quiet place with approximately 250 people in the winter time, the population grow at least x 10. Everybody came to spend their summer holidays in their cabins, boats or at the camping. Everybody is just so happy and enjoying life. I love to see everybody this happy. We eat ice cream and strawberries everyday, going on spontaneous boat trips, BBQ every night, spending days at the beach reading books or hang out  with friends, life is just so easy.

When I was approximately 8 year old, my parents took over the marina by the pier in Ula. This is a little store and ice cream shop, and also a place where all boats came to fuel up there tanks. Ula Marina also function as a little connection point for everybody. Year after year, people are meeting here to talk about the past years happenings and to hang out. After being a part of my family’s business for the most of my life, Ula Marina has been a part of my child hoods as well. I have been spending hours on the marina, and in the later years I also worked here for my parents. I have probably sold thousands of ice creams and waffles.  

It was a job to be there selling waffles and ice cream, but I enjoy it. It was more to me than just a job. It was a process of working hard and strive to earn money to move on with other projects and plans when fall kicked in and Ula Marina closed down for the next season. I spent a lot of time thinking and dreaming of what I could do in the hours working there. By learning the value of hard work and also taking on more responsible you grew as a person.

At the marina I have met so many amazing people and friends that I will keep forever. And I remember when I was younger that every season when the same people came, you told them about your past year as well as your plan for next year. I think most of them chock their coffee when then little ice cream girl from Ula, was heading for Sydney and then New York. It is quite a contrast to be honest.  Everybody loved it and have to laugh about it too, because it is a little funny to think about.

Now, I am one of the persons that are coming home to Ula every summer. I am not the one waiting for the people to arrive for the season, I am actually one of them arriving. This year it will be quite different, because when I am coming home now I really do not know for how long, I guess everything depends on how things turn out with Miss Norway. But I am very excited to come back home to Norway and stay for a little. After a long time gone, I do miss the peace in Ula.  I have so many projects coming up with my sponsors and my work, and of course Ula Marina are one of them, so I am really looking forward to that.

I can’t wait to enjoy an ice cream by the pier and catch up with familiar faces from last year again at Ula Marina.

Love,

R