
THE LONG RETURN
The Long Return is a collection of essays, field notes, and reflections written from Norway and beyond.
More than a century and a half after my great-great-grandfather left Norway for America, I now find myself tracing the journey in reverse, building a life in the country he once left behind.
In 2026, several timelines meet. It has been ten years since my first visit to Norway, five years since I left full-time life in the United States, and nearly two years since I applied for residency in Norway.
Part field journal and part personal practice, this site explores place, belonging, wonder, and the long process of finding one's way home.
I write about Norway and the U.S. Midwest, migration and family history, music, nature, grief, and the stories that connect us across distance and time.
About Me →
Notes from a life between landscapes.
Letters to the North
One of my favorite things about writing The Long Return has been discovering who is out there.
Some readers write to share family stories. Others send book recommendations, travel tips, memories, photographs, questions, or reflections about places they've called home. Sometimes a stranger writes and introduces me to a new corner of the world, sending me down a path of wonder and curiosity to learn more about it.
It feels like a slow, quiet way of sending a signal into the world and seeing who answers.
Not in the social media sense. Not followers, algorithms, or audiences.
Just people writing to one another.
If something you've read here resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you.
Whether you're writing from Wisconsin, Norway, Minnesota, New Zealand, or somewhere in between, consider this a place for correspondence.
Perhaps we share an interest in Norway, family history, travel, books, migration, music, or the experience of building a life between places.
Or maybe we've simply found ourselves asking some of the same questions.
A Few Prompts
If you're not sure where to begin:
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What are you reading?
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What are you listening to?
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Where do you feel most at home?
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Is there a place that changed you?
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What journey are you currently on?
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What has surprised you lately?
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What story from your family history stays with you?
Or simply tell me a little about yourself.
I'd be glad to hear from you.
Send an email:
mpeterson@uwalumni.com
Send a letter:
Leknestangen 5
5593 Skånevik
Norway
Send a note:
