Isabel's Polar Night

Isabel’s Polar Night

Isabel opened her suitcase and started to unpack. Her father had already left for a meeting. “ This is going to be so boring, ” she mumbled. “ How can you have fun when it’s dark and cold all the time?” Isabel and her father lived in Florida. But for the next month, her father was working at a university in Tromsø, Norway.

The city was north of the Arctic Circle, and they had arrived during the polar night. Because of Earth’s tilt, polar regions receive almost no sunlight during this time. In Tromsø this lasts from November through January—three whole months! Just then Isabel heard a knock. It was the university student who lived next door.

“ Hello, ” Erik said with a friendly smile. “ Ready for your tour of Tromsø? Dress warmly—it’s cold outside! ” Isabel forced a polite smile in return. “ Ugh, ” she thought. “ Right now my friends are probably at the beach! ”

Isabel followed Erik as he pointed out restaurants, theaters, and shops. She spotted a group of kids wearing ski gear. “ Are they going skiing?” Erik grinned. “ Why does that surprise you?” “ It’s dark outside! Isn’t it dangerous to ski now?”

“ There are lights on the slopes. And it’s fun to ski at night! ” “ What else can you do during the polar night?” Isabel asked. “ Well, many people go to concerts and cook meals together. People like to go ice fishing and ice skating. We can even feed reindeer. ”