Kristine, Finding Home
Now Available in Paperback or E-book
|
In 2017, A New Life, New York to Chicago was included in the anthology, Family Stories from the Attic, edited by Lisa Rivero and Christi Craig. It is part of the account of my maternal grandmother, Kristine Kristiansen’s immigrant experience. With my mother, Odny, she traveled from a small town on the West coast of Norway to her husband, my grandfather, Fredrik Hjelmeland. Married in Norway, my grandfather had preceded my grandmother to the United States to prepare for her to join him in building a life together. Their reunion was delayed by the birth of my mother. A New Life tells of my grandmother’s anticipation of that reunion and lifts up a fragment of her immigrant story. Kristine, Finding Home Norway to America was published in 2019. Drawing on multiple written primary sources it is creative non-fiction. My grandfather’s letters home to his sisters and brothers have been preserved and translated from Norwegian. A smaller number from my grandmother survive. n addition, I have used a series of essays my mother Odny Hjelmeland Reckling wrote for her Norwegian class when she was a student at St. Olaf college from 1942 to 1946. These documents provide the opening quote of each chapter. Finally, I have the benefit of oral history and photos. I have traveled often to my grandparents and mother’s home in Norway, the first time with my maternal grandmother, Kristine. This experience and these resources allow me to imagine the feelings and conversations that took place. In this narrative, I have tried to convey the story within the facts we have. It is my goal to share with future generations of my family, the strength of spirit that is their heritage and some of the fascinating people who came before them. |
Praise for Kristine, Finding Home
|
Kristine, Finding Home is a story about resilience and dignity in the face of monumental life challenge. As Norwegian immigrants to America during the Great Depression, struggling with economic scarcity, Kristine and Fredrik were able to maintain a sense of human dignity - an invaluable legacy passed on to their daughters. This sense of dignity compelled them to cherish the Norwegian culture while ultimately embracing American citizenship and all that it offered. An entertaining and inspiring read!” Richard Staff, R.N., MSW and Norwegian - American Musician.
|
“There are books you can nestle into and feel like part of the family. Kristine, Finding Home is one of those. From beginning to end, I was Kristine's little sister, listening to her, admiring her, sticking up for her at each turn of her fascinating life. From Norway to Illinois, Kristine's story captivates. It is a pleasure to read.” Judy Bridges, author, “Shut Up & Write!"
|
“This is a wonderful story: endearing, heartfelt, informative, inspiring. Your characters are real and relatable. Fredrik the dreamer, the entrepreneur. Odny and Ruth, feisty and tough, yet vulnerable. And, of course, Kristine, who is “everywoman”: she’s smart, sensitive, calm, loving. (Her reactions to situations are SO spot-on.) Even the minor characters are believable. The quoted material at the beginning of each chapter really enriches the narrative, as do the Norwegian words. Thank you for bringing me into the lives of these interesting people.” Carolyn Kott Washburne, Journalist and Editor.
|
From Norway today, “I have heard stories about Kristine and her journey to the States since I was a child. My grandmother, Margit, often told me stories over dinner at her kitchen table in her home in Førde. She lived only a few blocks away from The Kristiansen House and I remember well a photograph of her family outside that house, taken just days before Kristine left to join Fredrik in the US. I have made the same journey as Kristine did several times in my life. Kristine inspired her children to keep in contact with their relatives in Norway. We, Kristine and Elisa's great grandchildren, are therefore gratetful for the friendships we have with each other 3 generations later. ....Aleta writes well and I believe her book can be as interesting to others as it was to me. Because human migration is not a new thing, it is something that has happened throughout history. Everybody wants to make the best possible life for themselves and their children and this story, that started more than a 100 years ago in Norway, might not be that different from the stories we see on the news every night.” Olaug Marie Reiakvam, MD, Oslo, Norway, Great-great grand-niece of Kristine K. Hjelmeland.
Norwegian to English Glossary
|
ach ~ oh
bedehuset ~ parish hall, house of prayer bestefar ~ grandfather blåbær ~ blueberries bløtkake ~ sponge cake with fruit filling and whipped cream boller ~golden baked soft rolls deg ~ you Du må reise nå, Alt er ferdig ~ You must leave now, everything is ready. Er du sultan ~ Are you hungry |
ekte Norsk Jul ~ authentic Norwegian Christmas
far ~ father farvel ~ goodbye, farewell farina ~ Cream of Wheat fiskekaker ~ fish cakes flatbrød ~ flatbread frokost ~ breakfast fryktlig ~ horrible Fru ~ Mrs. Gladelig Jul ~Merry Christmas |
|
|
|
|
|