Hello fellow Reusch followers!
My name is Ethan Horvath. I am 19 years old, and I am currently playing professional “football” in Norway in the Tippeligaen (their top league) for Norway’s #1 team, Molde FK (MFK). I am currently MFK’s #2 keeper and sit behind Norway’s current #1 National team keeper. EV thought it would be a good idea for me to share my story with “you”, so this first entry is just going to be introducing myself to you and giving you some background on Molde and Norway.
After being scouted on a European Tour with the Orange County Blue Stars, I came to Molde with my parents two and a half years ago when I was 17. I was home schooled by my Mom for the last year and a half of high school. My parents moved to Norway with me because of my age and visa limitations. They sacrificed two years of their lives so that I could get my career off the ground. They have just returned to the US a few months ago, so now I am officially “on my own”. I do speak, or message with them almost every day though.
Living in Europe is different to say the least. I live on the west coast of Norway in the fjords on the North Sea (or the Norwegian Sea). Molde is a town of less than 30,000 people. Compared to Denver where I was born and raised, different doesn’t even come close to describing it. It is beautiful though, no doubt. I live in a two bedroom flat that is the 2nd floor of a house owned by my landlord, who lives with her family on the 1st level. There is a couple who live above me on the 3rd floor. It is a 10 minute walk to the stadium (Aker Stadion) where the team is based and we do all of our training. I never had time to learn how to drive, so I don’t have a driver’s license. Don’t need one! I walk everywhere I need to go, and if I need a ride, I have 20 or so teammates that can help me out. Molde is the perfect town to learn how to become a professional footballer. It has exactly what you need, no more, no less. No distractions means more focus on football and things that really matter.
Norway is the 2nd most expensive country in THE WORLD to live in. Because of this, I almost NEVER eat out. I usually have breakfast and lunch at the stadium 5-6 times a week, and am on my own for everything else. A large cheese pizza in Norway costs about 20 US dollars. (Their pizza isn’t very good either, but when you’re desperate, you’re desperate!) The average meal at a casual restaurant costs about 32-35 US dollars. So, even like back home, cooking for yourself is always cheaper than eating out! I don’t make the big bucks yet, so every penny, or ore, counts! I do the grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and laundry etc. all on my own. I have to pay my rent and electric bills, ON TIME. (BTW, McDonalds just opened up 2 month ago! However, we aren’t allowed to eat there unless we have several days off in a row so it doesn’t affect our training!)
This is just a quick overview of me and my situation. Next time I will tell you more about the football piece of things. If you have any questions, please ask, I will do my best to answer them. Until then...
Keep It Clean (your net that is)
Ethan Horvath (E)