Lina Sheahan, Belmont library faculty, and Dr. Dan Schafer, history professor, co-led Belmont’s Maymester in Norway program this year. Sheahan’s write up of the group’s Syttende Mai experience in Bergen was recently published in The Norwegian American.
In the recap, Sheahan writes, “Before we even left the States, I tried to explain that Syttende Mai was ‘like the 4th of July, but on steroids,’ but I knew that nothing could prepare anyone for the festivities.”
“We gathered in the lobby and I handed out sløyfer (the traditional Syttende Mai ribbons) and Norwegian flags. Everyone was dressed to impress, with the men in suits and ties and the women in dresses or nice pants, which was important because the biggest surprise before we left the States was that I registered us for the hovedprosesjon (main parade), and we would march along with other school and civic groups in Bergen.”
Read more about the group’s experience here.
