Chapter 9: Out to See the World

When Anette turned 18, she was no longer a foster child. However, voluntary transitional arrangements were in place so that she could continue her schooling without any major disruptions. Helene and Mikkel naturally still wanted her to live with them, and this had been agreed upon well before her birthday by them, her, her father, and the municipality.

Anette wanted to pursue a career in a field where she could work with and help people. She considered nursing, teaching, and physical therapy among other options. She also considered becoming a veterinarian, since she enjoyed being around horses. Ultimately, she was inspired by her case worker at the municipality, Ms. Johansen. Ms. Johansen had visited the foster family and spoken with her and Stef twice a year to make sure they were doing well. Anette decided to become a social worker like Ms. Johansen. The bachelor’s program was three and a half years long and took place at a university college. The nearest one was in Rindum.

However, first, she wanted to travel the world for a year. She explored many options and talked to friends and acquaintances about her plans. Wanting to see the midnight sun, she decided to go to Northern Norway right after high school, while it was still close to midsummer. She bought an Interrail train pass, which allowed her to travel by train throughout Europe for a month. She planned to travel with a backpack and stay in inexpensive hostels. After Norway, she would travel south through Europe to Pamplona, Spain, from where she would walk the Camino de Santiago. The route was about 700 kilometers (435 miles) long, and she expected to complete it in about a month. After that, she had no set plans. She hoped to meet someone to travel with, find unskilled work, or perhaps go home if she grew tired of traveling.