Today I was in Larvik for Paola’s 19th birthday celebration, which also doubled as an occasion for the Vestfold-Telemark exchange students to bid farewell. (She’s returning to Colombia earlier in order to finish exams.)

Even though the sum of all our moments spent with each other barely fills a week’s worth of time, I still feel closer to her than I do with people whom I have seen every day through the year. Time is only second to chemistry, and we have surely made precious memories out of our brief moments together: singing Laura Pausini while searching for beer in Høvik, sunbathing on Drammen’s waterline, and sharing our latest and freshest romantic endeavors with each other.

But still, it surprises me that I am left with such a heavy feeling. I guess the reality of it didn’t really strike until that moment when I was holding her and saw the bus coming from the distance. And then saying goodbye with a kiss and a wave, unsure of when I’ll next see her again—that was the toughest moment.

Paola, for en herlig person du er. Jeg er takknemlig at jeg fikk muligheten til å være venner med så søt en jente. You make Colombia shine.