Lynn received a scholarship from the Sons of Norway to attend the International Summer School at Oslo University in 2005.  With her were about 500 other students from over 90 different countries joined Lynn at the Summer School.  Lynn's focus was on perfecting her Norwegian language skills and learning more about Norwegian culture. 

While in Norway for the Summer School, Lynn also attended many festivities commemorating the dissolution of the Union with Sweden in 1905.  Most of her talk focused on this.  Lynn pointed out that in some of the smaller towns Norwegian independence from Sweden was hardly even celebrated.  Most of the celebrations took place in Oslo.  Lynn has a friend who is the fourth highest ranking member of the Norwegian Parliament, who invited Lynn and her husband Tom  to many of the important political events celebrating 1905.

Lynn and Tom were at the Norwegian Parliament when the King and the royal family opened up the ceremonies.  It actually turned out to be a very Scandinavian event.  There were more Swedes present than Norwegians, Lynn said, and speeches were given in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, and English.

Lynn also brought and put on display a lot of memorabilia from the occasion, which was very interesting.  Lynn's talk was informative - yes, she's a teacher - but she mixed in her great sense of humor to make it very entertaining as well.  It was about what is going on in Norway today, and it was very well done.

A great presentation by Lynn Sove Maxson.  Members really enjoyed talking to Lynn and Tom after the presentation and having a chance to view items from her trip and about the 2005 events in Norway.