Children of the Islands

Could you imagine growing up on one of the islands we're now passing? In earlier days, children along the coastal route lived close to life’s realities. Many had to carry water, row to the store, watch sheep, or care for younger siblings from an early age. School was not a given, and some had to walk over mountains or row for miles just to get there. Still, there are countless stories of play, songs, and imagination. What they all have in common is that children used their surroundings and made their own toys. Hide-and-seek, jumping in hay, and playing with homemade boats, swords, and dolls were popular activities. Their small communities were often the only world they knew, and they knew everyone on the island. At the same time, they learned responsibility, togetherness, and pride. Many of those who now hold important positions in Norway grew up or have roots on islands like these – carrying with them the strength of a childhood where everything mattered.