-I’ve come to stay, Iona asserts. Sortland is now her new home, not far from Andøya where she spent several of her teenage years and attended high school. As recently as February, she was living the city life in Barcelona.
The thought had been on her mind for a while, and the longing for the people, the fresh air, and access to nature grew stronger. Eight years had passed since Iona first set out to experience the world, but the hectic life in London, Cape Town, and Barcelona couldn’t compare to the peaceful existence in the north.
When she found love with an old acquaintance from her time in Vesterålen, the only thing left was to find a new job. With experience spanning various industries, most recently in digital marketing, it turned out not to be a problem.
Missing the Northern Norwegian summer
She quickly received an offer for an interesting job at a digital agency in Sortland. With that settled, all that remained was to pack up and bid farewell to the city where she had spent the past two and a half years.
– It was time to come home. Barcelona was fantastic in many ways, but the homesickness simply became too strong. I already knew I would be home in time to experience the North Norwegian summer, but when I got myself a boyfriend from Vesterålen, it really started to feel urgent,” Iona says with a twinkle in her eye. Vesterålen is not the only place Iona grew up, but if you ask where she is from, she is confident in her answer – she is from Andøya in Vesterålen. Additionally, she has many fond memories from her time in Lofoten, where she lived for several years in Skrova and Ballstad.
A ten-minute walk to work
Distances in Northern Norway are by no means daunting for someone who has spent many years in some of the world’s largest cities. On the contrary.
-When I lived in London, it took me an hour and a half to get to work because it was on the other side of the city from where I lived. In Sortland, I walk to work in ten minutes, and everything you need is just a stone’s throw away, Iona explains. Now she looks forward to many fantastic mountain hikes, skiing trips, and boat excursions in the wild nature of northern Norway. Iona leads an active lifestyle, and besides spending a lot of time in forests and fields, you can often find her at the gym.
Nothing beats the midnight sun
She has also had a great longing for (North) Norwegian fish, which, according to Iona, cannot be compared to the fish you buy abroad. Vesteraalens fish balls are one of her favorites, but a salmon dinner is never a disappointment. Above all, she is most excited to see the midnight sun again when summer arrives.
–There’s nothing that compares to the North Norwegian midnight sun. Barcelona, of course, had plenty of sun to offer, but being able to take an evening stroll or enjoy a glass of wine in good company with the midnight sun as a backdrop is something truly special. That’s when you truly feel alive,” Iona concludes.
