The Miracles of the Innernets

Once upon a (long) time ago, I was a sophomore in high school. As such, I had to take a foreign language class. Although I had taken Spanish I as a freshman, I decided to enroll in French 1 instead of continuing on to Spanish II. I think I had only taken Spanish I as a filler class--I think I had wanted to take French as a freshman but I transferred into my school two weeks before classes began. I didn't have a lot of options. I basically had to take whatever was open.
So, in my French class, the neighboring desk was occupied by a very quiet, very shy foreign exchange student. I never understood the point of making a foreign exchange student take a foreign language. Weren't they here to learn English and experience America? Surely she could have taken French in her home country if she wanted.
Too bad the school board never asked my opinion. I had lots of them.
Over the course of the year, Guro gradually began to talk to me. I think it was mostly in self-defense. I talked a lot while Madame Holt was teaching, and I think Guro just got tired of the sound of my voice. I learned that she was a year older than our seniors and she had actually graduated from her high school before accepting the exchange spot. I learned that she loved running track and was pretty good at it. I know we talked about her family and her life in Norway and the difference between teenagers here and there.
After graduation, she went home. I received a postcard that summer. It's still in my high school scrapbook. Occasionally I've thought of her and wondered what she was doing.
And now, thanks to Facebook, I've reconnected with my Norwegian friend after 17 years. I have a love-hate relationship with Facebook, Tagged, MySpace, LinkdIn, Twitter, and whatever other networking sites I've been roped into joining...but occasionally, on days like today, it's completely worth it!




On a more sober note: (Kleenex warning) if you've never read Punk Rock Mommy, you should. I hate that I only discovered her site a few weeks ago. Andrea chose to go gently into that good night over the weekend, but it was done on her terms. Her words, her spirit, her honesty, and her courage will live on forever. Support your local hospice for allowing dignity to those in the final stages of life, and support the fight against breast cancer.