Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone! 

In Norway Halloween is a new thing.  The stores are really pushing it and getting the children interested with costurmes and candy!!  I made sure to start every class off with telling them Happy Halloween. 

Today is a really rainy day in Husnes, and usually I like rain but I have PE today which means I will be outside in the downpour.  Luckily, half of the students were inside so I got to join them and stay warm.  We played dodgeball but they have a little different rules.  We split up into two teams and they had 2 Kings.  Each King had 3 lives and started on the opposing teams end line.  We played with only one ball.


If you got a player out they didn't go to the sideline they went to the opposite side end line.  The players could throw the ball to them and they could throw it and get the players out.

Once there is only one player left on a side the King gets to come back over and play.  The King has 3 lives so you must kill him and get the rest out to win the whole game.

Also they do not call it dodgeball they call it CannonBall.  This was a fun indoor sports activity and hopefully I can teach them the American way.

Planning day!

Tuesday is my short with only one lab. We made fish cakes again, and since I have done this recipe before I am getting more comfortable helping, and with reading the recipe in Norwegian.  This was the same group of students that I had in sports yesterday so they felt comfortable with me.  The night before I saw one of my students at the bank and he helped me figure out how to operate the ATM and door, because of this we had a funny conversation about how I had no idea what I was doing.  My teacher informed me that we were going to try to have me teach Thursday!

This is what a Sami Fishcake looks like.  We served them with bread and carrots.

InneBrandy

Second week is underway and I am excited.  In my only lab today we made Fish cakes.  This is a recipe that the Sami’s used, so the students were getting in touch with their heritage.  The students were opening up more to me and even asked me to help them.  After foods I then had sports.  In sports we were inside playing innebandy, indoor hockey.  We played girls vs. girls and I was the goalie.  Innebandy is a very popular in Europe and is even in the Olympics, I did not know this.  The girls were very good and I held my own as a goalie until the last goal.  While the boys were playing I got to sit with my team and the girls really opened up to me.  We were talking about prom, sports, and also I taught them how to tell time in English.  Overall it was a great day. 

This is what it looks like. 

Night Life in Rosendal

After returning home and resting from the day activities it was time to get ready for night life in Rosendal.  We heard about two places to go; a little red cafe and a tourist hotel.  We went to the little red cafe first, as we were sitting a man in his early 30's told us his band was playing down at the tourist hotel and we should come to watch them.  We said we would, thinking after the show at the cafe we would head down.  A women came around saying the show would be 100 kroner, and with the age group a little older we decided to check out the tourist hotel.  We felt bad for leaving, but hey we are poor college students!!

We walked down the tourist hotel and the lead singer was outside, and told us to come in.  I asked how much the show was and he said 100 kroner.  We were debating whether to go in or not, so I told him how we are on a strict budget and it was a little too expensive, so we decided 50 kroner each.  I was a little barder for a bit and was very proud!  When we walked in everyone knew we were the "Americans."  We asked how they knew we were Americans, and they said 5 new young girls in this small town you had to be Americans!! 

We sat down as the band was getting ready to start and a friend of the band came up and started to chat with us about Norway, and how we like it so far.  After some discussion he bought us all beers and also a moose taco.  I have never eaten moose, but I will say it tasted just like beef!  The band was amazing, and we danced for awhile.  Bars close down at 1:30 in Norway so they played their last song (We Will Rock You), and after saying goodbye to the band and our friend we headed home fro the night. 

It was fun to get out and see what our little town had to offer and what people I age did on the weekends.  We met some really nice people and it was a great way to end our first week in Norway. 

Mountain Climb

Saturday was a day full of events!  It started out with our friend Steven coming over and asking if we would like to go up in the mountains with him while he skis. The cars he are a lot smaller than in America so only 3 of us could go, but we split up and our adventure began!  We drove for about 10-15 minutes up through some mountains, past a ski resort, and stopped at the beginning of a trail.  Steven got out and got all suited up for his ski/hike up the mountain.  I have only ever skied down a hill, I have never seen someone climb up a hill before.  As he glided off the three of us began our journey up the mountain.  Before we started we had to be the typical tourist and take a lot of pictures of our surroundings!


Steven- our trusty Norwegian tour guide

Up in the Mountains

Up on this trail we could see many different little houses.  I asked if these were people's house that they lived full time in, but Steven said that they were more like peoples weekend homes or vacation homes.  They were cute little cabins, but we didn't see anyone was in them as I assume they were snowed out as it was close to a foot of snow on a pretty steep hill.

If you look closely you can see the homes.


   



While were about half way up the mountain here came Steven flying by in his skis.  He said he was going to go up once more and by that time we should be at the top as we didn't have much more to go.  It was very tiring walking up a mountain, especially when you don't have the proper gear.  Well we walked and walked and climbed and eventually we saw the end!!!!  When we reached the top their was a extra rock so we climbed on top of their to get the best view!  I was so proud that I climbed a mountain but boy was I exhausted!  I should of been running 3 miles a day before I took my trip to Norway!

Panorama View from the Trip

Roomie Climb!

 I made it!!!!

 EXHAUSTED!!!

                                              Steven and Nikki at the top!---->

It's Friday!!!!

This has seemed like the longest week to me in my whole life.  It's not a bad thing I just think my body really needs the weekend to sleep and get back in track with student teaching! Fridays are a good pace for me as I have lecture right away in the morning then we have lab and finish the day with sports. 

In lecture I had to introduce myself for the last time, and my teacher said by the third time I had really done a great job explaining things to my students in English.  She said I slowed down and used simpler words to help describe what I was talking about.   The students are just so amused by the driving ages in America!  We had lab with a different group today and we made fish cakes.  It is a traditional Sami meal and it was delicious!  We had a few kids gone so I helped a young student with his job and we spoke English and talked about movies, jobs, and differences in Norway than in America.  It felt good to finally connect with one of the students and I am sure there will be more to come!

It is snowing pretty hard right now and I am curious to see if we go outside for sports or stay in the warm cozy gym!

Friday Night Folk Dance

Friday night we were invited to attend a dance in a near by city.  All week long there has been a folk music festival and today they were going to have a dance to teach traditional Norwegian dance.  When we got the concert hall we were the youngest gals there but it still made for an interesting evening.  We heard different chorus groups, bands, and even saw a professional folk dance couple.  We broke for a little bit to have coffee (Norwegians love their coffee) and cake.  After we ate we met back up at the main hall for the dance!  We started in a circle and we learned the steps to tradtional folk dance.  I don't know how to describe it, except for the fact it was similar to line dancing, but not really.  After spinning, waltzing, and stomping our feet the dance ended and we got rides home from a band member and also a teacher.  It was a new experience that I will probably never have the chance to do again.  I will saw I heard more folk music in a week then I have my whole life, and probably will ever hear.



Waiting for the dance to start

First day at my Norway School

Today was my first day at my second placement in student teaching.  Our school is about 20 minutes from our cabins so one of the cooperating teachers picks us up to takes us to our school.  We leave around 7:30 am and we arrive around 8:00.  Our daily schedule is different than in the states, we start at 8:40 and ends at 2:15.  The teachers get a lot more breaks and are not allowed to give sanctions or what we consider detentions.  I wasn't sure how this was going to work but the students are actually very well behaved.  In the FCS room there are 3 kitchens and are a max of 12 students in the lab.  They have lab once a week and lecture for an hour also once a week.  FCS is required for all ninth graders, but after that it is not offered.  Also foods class is the only FCS class, there is no child development or sewing.

On Monday I had 2 different labs and we made Rollkake and Porridge.  This was my first time ever having porridge and I was pleasantly surprised how good it was.  Everyone I met has been so nice and so helpful.

FULL DAY

Thursday are my busy busy busy days!  I have lab from 8:40 until 2:15.  My teacher had a meeting in a different school so I had a substitute with me all day.  We made tomato soup with macaroni, and another group made rollkake with porridge.  The kids did a great job cooking, and I actually sat with a table of kids and ate with them.  There was some talk in English but most I just sat and listened to them talk. 

Today was the first day of snow in Rosendal.  The kids were so happy and excited to see snow it was shocking.  I am used to people hating snow, and they would be happy to never see it again.  Norway is funny how it can snow one minute, switch to rain, and then be sunny 5 minutes later, kind of reminds me of Iowa.  I learned that even if there is bad weather they do not cancel school or have delays.  Being so close to mountains I am sure the kids are more than prepared for these cold trips to school.  Europeans have tires that are studded with a nail like metal in their tires to get better traction on the road.  I have heard of chains on tires but this is a really good idea and I don't know why it isn't in the states. 

SPorts for the first time

Today was my first day for sports, also known as PE in America.  We were supposed to be inside and play basketball, but since we share the gym with the elementary, they had it occupied with a play.  Since this happened we went outside and played futball.  This was my first time playing but I held my own against the other girls.  A big difference between US PE and Norway PE is that the students in Norway always go outside rain or shine. 

I failed to do some research about this, so I do not have the best clothes to be out in the snow and rain running around.  I assumed that we would be inside the gym playing typical Norwegian games, but you know what they say about assuming.  The weather is starting to get worse so  I was thinking about buying some gear to be outside, but when I went to the mall the prices were just so high.  A water bottle was 35 US dollars.  I either need to win the lottery here to buy some more fitting winter clothes, or just hope I don't get sick. 

The kids are a little shy to talk to me, but hopefully they will warm up to me more once they start getting used to me. 

Bike Ride Around Town

After I got home from school on Thursday I decided to take a bike ride around town.  It was a beautiful day I know winter is coming so I took full advantage of the day.  I was going to go up around the Baroniet which is a popular tourist attractions in Rosendal.  Wikipedia said "Rosendal was a barony in the current Kvinnherad municipality in Hordaland. Barony was the only and was created in 1678 by King Christian V of Denmark and Norway .  The castle was completed in 1665 and is currently operated as a living museum with guided tours, concerts, lectures, theater, art exhibitions, accommodation and meals."

We were given a map so I followed that until my destination.  It took me a little bit longer as I stopped to take pictures along my way.

 

Light Snow in the Mountains



Typical Norwegian Houses

Fall Leaves!! I love Autumn

 

After I went to the Baronet I followed the signs to Steinpark.  It is a park which has stones from all the way back in the 1500s.  This was a little park, but quite interesting. 

 

Overall it was a great little afternoon trip.

Short Day Long Prep

Tuesday is my short days at school.  I have only one lab and then the rest of my time is used to study and plan.  We made another rollkake and porridge.  The labs are split up where each student in the lab group has a job, two cook, one cleans, and one sets the table.  I feel in America this would never work as each student wants to cook and no one would want to just clean up.  Although only two cook everyone gets to eat.

Since I did not have a lot of planning to do I took all Tuesday to translate three different recipes.  I also started to make my presentation that was all about me!  We got invited to go to another concert so we stayed in our town and did a little site seeing.  We met the Valen principal at the mall and he took us out to eat at PePe's Pizza.  We had amazing pizza with even more amazing dessert.  The concert was put on by the children of the school and it was so cute and fun.

First day in my New School

Today was my first day at my second placement in student teaching. Our school is about 20 minutes from our cabins so one of the cooperating teachers picks us up to takes us to our school. We leave around 7:30 am and we arrive around 8:00. Our daily schedule is different than in the states, we start at 8:40 and ends at 2:15. The teachers get a lot more breaks and are not allowed to give sanctions or what we consider detentions. I wasn't sure how this was going to work but the students are actually very well behaved. In the FCS room there are 3 kitchens and are a max of 12 students in the lab. They have lab once a week and lecture for an hour also once a week. FCS is required for all ninth graders, but after that it is not offered. Also foods class is the only FCS class, there is no child development or sewing.

On Monday I had 2 different labs and we made Rollkake and Porridge. This was my first time ever having porridge and I was pleasantly surprised how good it was. Everyone I met has been so nice and so helpful.  In the morning we had a meeting with the whole staff and the principal introduced us as the student teachers, but we also discussed their new school schedule.  The students are now allowed to have 1o minute breaks outside in between classes. 

Adjusting to the time zone

It was saturday night and I just couldn't fall asleep.  2:00 am, 3:30 am, 5:00 am, and I am still wide awake.  The last time I remember was 6:30 am and I finally shut my eyes.  I heard some noise in the morning as my roommates were getting up as they had slept through the night, next thing I know I wake up and its 3:30 in the afternoon.  I slept my whole afternoon away!  We were invited to go to a concert, as it is a folk festival going on.  We were to meet infront of the town hall at 5:40, so as soon as I woke I had to get ready for the events ahead.

At the folk music festival we got to see many music acts.  It was very different from what I am used to but isn't that what studying abroad is for?

I didn't think the time zone would be that hard, but Iowa is 7 hours behind and I am definetly feeling the effects of that.
So far I love my time at Norway and I'm sure it will only get better. Tomorrow is my first day with the students.

First full day in norway

We were told to be awake by 11 as we would begin our tour of the town. We walked around and saw the bank, grocery store, shopping center, put all field, school, and much more. Rosendal is right on the water and this is our view from our porch.


After our tour we met our teachers for lunch at the town hall. We were provided pizza and coke! Not a lot of Pepsi products around. My teacher unfortunately could not make it but I meet a lot of nice people. The superintendent Asbjourn handed us two cell phones which we could use to call people in town. It was a rainy day and rather be soaked from the tour we were ready to get back to our cabins and get warm. We didn't have a lot of food in the cabin so we headed back to the grocery store. We each get 500 kroner a week for food, so four of us decided to put our money together and plan the meals. After we made our list our grocery shopping wasn't so bad. Our totally came to $600 kroner leaving us each with around 350. We don't live to far from the store but when you are carrying all the groceries back it feels like forever! The rest of the day we unpacked and got settled in to our new home.

Location:Rosendalsvegen,Kvinnherad,Norway

Flight

Today is the day! Time for me to leave good ol Iowa for a big change in scenery, Norway. I left my house around 730 to head for the Des Moines airport. My bag weighed 52 lbs, 2 lbs over so I removed a binder and was ready to go. Saying goodbye to my mom was hard, and a little tear was shed, but I was ready for my venture ahead! I boarded my flight from Des Moines and took an hour flight to Chicago. Our plane however was about the size of Kim Kardashian's closet.


When I arrived to Chicago our plane taxied for about 30 minutes, which put me a little behind. I was surprised the Chicago airport did not have a train system as I had to walk quite a way for terminal 1. I had about an hour and 15 minute wait so I grabbed a quick lunch at the McDonald's next to my gate. I didn't see the two girls from Iowa state I was traveling with while I was boarding so I figured maybe I was flying alone. Luckily, the boarded later and all was good. I was sitting on the aisle, and he asked if I was sitting alone. I answered yes and he asked I would switch seats with his girlfriend. She said that she bought 2 tickets so no one would be sitting next to me. This worked out perfect for me and my 8 hour flight begun. During the flight I watched 3 different movies on the small screen.


They served a lunch/supper about 2 hours in, and it definitely wasn't what I was expected. I would recommended eating before you get on the plane.


After sleeping for about 2 hours we finally arrived in Frankfurt, Germany. We had about a 2 hour layover. I was looking for a breakfast sand which I am guessing is an American thing as I could not find it, so I selected a mini pizza. Finally our last plane arrived and our next stop would be Norway!!! By this time we all had been up for close to over 24 hours. No one was sitting next to me so I got to spread out and sleep. WE FINALLY MADE IT!!!!!


We passed customs and now all we had to do was wait, 4 hours! We made good use of our time as we got something to eat. My quesadilla was 149 kroner which is about $30 US dollars. Everything is expensive in Norway. We played Bananagrams, UNO, and card games to pass the time.





After four hours of games and trying to stay awake we boarded a bus which took us down to the water taxi that would take us to Rosendal.






During this time we met the other two girls who we would be living with from Utah. They had also been traveling all day. We were all pretty beat when we finally arrived to Rosendal. Stein, the middle school principal, picked us and drove us to our cabin. We dropped off our luggage and off to Stein's house we went for supper. His wife made us a wonderful meal, and we had great conversation. The day had finally ended and off to bed we went. The day was long and tiring but I was excited for what was to come next.

Location:In the air ✈

Packing Day

As you all know I am traveling abroad to Norway to finish my student teaching. Today is packing day, which packing for 2 months is hard and crazy! Travel day is tomorrow, lots more to do.

Friday!!!

Foods was a eating day as we enjoyed the fruit pizza and the ice cream.  The ice cream wasn't a huge hit, but everyone loved the fruit pizza!  I think next year though I would still like to do this as it is strictly fruit and what I thought was good.

Child development had it's last day of work day.  We had them  presenting Monday but as I will be gone on a field trip we moved it back to Tuesday.

Family Relations finished up with love today.  We did a fun "quiz" and tested if their relationships were love.  They had a fun time with this but it also was a great discussion on what love is.

Is It Love? Dr. Laura's Love Quiz

First Lab

Well today I administer my first food labs by myself.  We are learning about fruit and so I thought that the kids would like to make ice cream.  This isn't your every day kind of ice cream but ice cream that is only made of bananas.  I got this idea off pinterest and had tried it for myself.  Four kitchens made different varieties of ice cream, which were strawberry, chocolate, chunky monkey, and vanilla.  While the four kitchens did that I also had a group make fruit pizza.  Everything went really well except my last lab, where a kitchen unscrewed the blender and their ice cream went all over the blender and the counter.  I understand mistakes happen but this was infront of my Iowa State advisor and my principal!!  I knew it was a mistake and something I am sure I will deal with later on in foods.

Ice Cream made of Bananas Recipe and Fruit Pizza

In child development it was another work day for their prenatal development project.

Family Relations had their Break up and Love ladder quiz.  The students did good for the most part.  After the quiz we then did a brief lecture on love.

Love PowerPoint

Health started in the book about First Aid.  We made a foldable that had three pull down sections that were labeled check, call, care.  Inside the paper we listed the steps that you take in an emergency.  I am getting better with my health class and am becoming more comfortable.

Supportive shoes

Today was a full day of teaching again!  I learned one hard lesson though.  WEAR SUPPORTIVE SHOES.  I try to match my shoes with my outfit but flats are just not doing my feet any justice.  I am going to have to start wearing tennis shoes because by seventh hour I just want to sit and teach which is not very effective.

In Foods today we are finishing up our Fruit PowerPoint.  I added the last part and also added a little review at the end so I could assess to see what they learned.  I told them not to use their notes, but since they were out a lot of them referred to them.  I was okay with that I was just trying to get across to them that if you can answer without your notes then you will do great on your test.

Fruits PPT with Review

In Health we are starting a new unit and it is Chapter 28 First Aid.  We just finished taking a test yesterday, so I started the class out by reviewing the test.  I was happy with the scores, for the most part.  I took the test out of the book so I do not have an example to attach.  Since the period was a little shorter since we reviewed I wanted them to get an idea of why it is important to study first aid.  I hand made a article review and we reviewed.  For the most part it went very well, the favorite part was telling stories about when they preformed first aid or when they had first aid performed on them.

In child development we went over our quiz about reproduction.  The scores were all over the place.  I had some who missed 2 then I had some that missed over half.  I had to think if I didn't do a good enough teaching it or was it the student's lack of studying or paying attention.  It is hard to know when the responsibility lies on you or the students.  I told the students what was going to be on the test and what to study so I didn't know what else to do besides giving them the answer key.  After we reviewed, we then started on our new unit, which is Prenatal Development.  We have 9 groups so each group got a month.  They are starting their presentation and also making a poster.

Female Reproduction Test
Male Reproduction Test

In family relations we had a lot of activities going on.  We started off with what drives the opposite sex crazy.
What drives the opposite sex crazy!
Suggestions for Girls From Guys
Suggestion for Boys From Girls

After we discussed this we then went into LOVE.  I had them read a story about a long lost soldier and a girl he has been writing to but doesn't know what she looks life.  It tells their story and before the end the students have to create their own ending.

Love Story

I also sent them home with an interview that they had to do with their parents or with some 10 to 15 years older than them.  I am doing this so we can see how things have changed.
Parenting Interview

My Day at the Middle School.

Today I spent the day at the middle school.   The only time I have spent observing a middle school was in a practicum in college.  Since I will not be student teaching in a middle school setting I decided to come to the middle school for a day.  There were some major differences that I observed.

1. Middle schoolers are a lot more energetic.  
• High schoolers you can tell are more sluggish and are as excited to talk in class.  The sixth graders got excited to have a scavenger hunt in their kitchen, and I sometimes miss that excitement to do activities.
2. NO CELL PHONES!
• Middle schoolers are not allowed to have their cell phones, which means no cell phone usage in class!  I understand the need for the cell phone as I was too that student in high school, but as a teacher it can be difficult and annoying!
3. Much smaller classes.
• My average class size is 20, with my biggest class being 25 students.  In the middle school  the biggest class is around 12.  I am from a small school and I feel comfortable in this type of setting, but bigger classes have gotten me out of my comfort zone.  
4. Class requirements.
• The middle school is required to put up the learning expectations.  For example, the 6th graders- Students will be able to find and recognize kitchen equipment.  They also have to read something in the beginning of every class.  The teacher must model it and then the students have to read it by themselves.  After they read it they are asked a question.  This is to help their reading comprehension.

There are many other differences but also similarities.  It was good to observe a different classroom and get a feel for the middle school atmosphere.  

Last Monday

Today is my last monday my school.  Next Monday I am taking a field trip with some of my FCCLA students to the Fall Leadership Program.

Today I am taking over ALL the classes.  It was my first day to take over Foods.  It was a nice transition because my cooperating teacher went over their vegetables test and I was in charge for the last 20 or so minutes.  I made a PowerPoint about fruits and also a note guide for my students to follow along.

Fruits PPT
Fruits Student Notes

In Child Development we played Jeopardy for our review over human reproduction.  I had a few mistakes in my PowerPoint, but the students really enjoyed it.  After we were done with the review I gave them time to get on the website http://msjensen.cehd.umn.edu/webanatomy/reproductive/  This was a great review for them.

Jeopardy Review-Human Reproduction

Family Relations we finished with the movie and we are now moving along to Breaking Up.  I followed out of our books and made a PowerPoint about breaking up.  This was a good lesson because they had a lot of comments and stories to talk about.

Breaking Up PPT

My time is coming close to an end and time has just flown by!