Vanse

What do Vanse and Brooklyn have in common? More than you might think. In this small village in Farsund you will find American cars in every colour! Plenty of cowboy boots. Mac and cheese, and that quintessentially American soda, Dr Pepper. Not to mention a whole festival dedicated to the USA! And on top of all that, you find it sitting quite naturally alongside Norwegian village life, schools, community spirit and nature close at hand.

For the residents, the American side is not a backdrop or a nostalgic gimmick. It is part of the history, the humour and everyday life.

– People here don't think too highly of themselves, says Christina Breisnes, owner of the American store Trunken. It is located on Brooklyn Square in Vanse, by the way – and yes, that is the real name.

– It's a playful place, this. Suddenly you see a big Donald Duck walking by, or a gorgeous American – the car, that is – cruising past. People here are called Joanna and Steven, and our dialect is full of English words. We might say «nå må du ta ut garbagen» (take out the garbage), «nå må du behave deg» (behave yourself) or «nei, nå ble jeg så confusa!» (I'm so confused!), Christina laughs.

On Brooklyn Square you can order pancakes with maple syrup and a milkshake, while cowboy boots stand side by side with Norwegian hiking gear in the shops around the square. Along the streets you catch small glimpses of a 1950s and 60s USA: a subway sign, a «Central Station», and buildings and details that could have been lifted straight out of an American small town.

At Larsens Bakery the American style runs from floor to ceiling. Here you will find both traditional Norwegian baked goods and American classics such as milkshakes, apple pie, pumpkin pie and lemon meringue pie. And outside, colourful, elegant cars roll past. A turquoise 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. A black Corvette. Or perhaps a Ford Mustang. Or, it must be said, plenty of perfectly ordinary cars too.

– I don't think for a moment that there is anything special about it when I get into my American car and start it up, says Christina.

– I'm just popping to the shop. This is everyday life for us in Vanse.

The explanation lies several generations back. In the 1800s many Norwegians left for the USA in search of new opportunities. Many came from Lista and the surrounding area, and several settled in the New York region. They sent letters and parcels home, often full of small, exotic tastes of life on the other side of the Atlantic.

Sweets, clothes, recipes and other American goods found their way back to Lista. Many emigrants also came home with trunks full of American things, new ideas and stories from the big country far away.

That is how the connection between Lista and the USA was kept alive. And in Vanse it has never quite disappeared. Families still keep in touch with their American relatives, and many hold both Norwegian and American citizenship.

– We have a long history of people going to America, so the ties are strong, says Christina. She has spent part of her own life with family in the USA. And some things from America she simply has to have.

Behind the American signs and retro shops you find a perfectly ordinary – and at the same time rather unusual – small Norwegian village. Around 2,000 people live here, with kindergartens, schools, sports clubs, a brass band, scouts and an active community life. In short, everything young and old need in everyday life.

The meeting places are many and varied. Vanse ungdomsforening, the youth association, has existed for more than 125 years and has been an important gathering place for people in the village across generations.

For families with children, having everything close by is part of everyday life. It is a short way between home, school, leisure activities and shops, and much of it can be reached on foot or by bike.

When the working day is over, nature is never far away either. Lista offers a landscape of beaches, lakes, farmland and open moors. Here you can walk, fish, swim or simply be outdoors. Often just minutes after closing the front door at home.

– Honestly, the nature here is absolutely fantastic. There is something very special about the light here on Lista. I can well understand why artists have travelled from far away for ages to experience it, says Christina.

And then, once a year, Vanse goes completely wild. It's time for the American Festival!