First-Aid # 1

Today was the first day of our three-day long, 12-hour first aid course, that every first year at Red Cross Nordic is required to take.

We went over the very basics which I'd already mostly seen at the Lifeguard course; the first steps, from "Dr. ABC" to CPR or LoC and Secondary Survey, recovery position and "CLENSACH". It's basically what to do from when you first find a casualty and until there is an ambulance arriving, but of course we only learnt it for some situation. For example is things like epilepsy not covered until tomorrow. I could tell you about everything we learned, but I think that would be boring.

I thought a lot about this, and I finally came to the conclusion, that so far I LOVED IT. I have even re-considered joining the first-aid team. When I first heard about the mandatory first-aid course and all the opportunities students here can have to learn and develop first-aid skills I was convinced that I was going to grab that opportunity and definitely try to make the first aid team. I thought and think even more after today, that it is really nice and reassuring knowing what to do, if a situation should ever occur.

After a while being here, for multiple reasons I decided that this first-aid team probably wasn't for me anyways and that the mandatory course would be enough, but today really made me remember why I wanted it in the first place.

Not knowing first-aid leaves us walking around with a feeling of 'what if something ever happened?' Even to myself! I think it is one of the most relaxing things, having a basic knowledge like this. Now, since I have the amazing opportunity, that I see as a once in a lifetime thing, to learn a lot of first-aid here for free, I cannot see why I shouldn't. It is such an essential skill to know, because this little bit of knowledge can make such a big difference for another person's life.

I will write more on this feeling and if it changes the next couple of days...

Nordic Studies

It's third block on a Monday. I'm sitting in my room, under my blanket, drinking hot chocolate and blowing my nose. (I'm not really sick, I just have a free block.)

This week I made a deal with my Norwegian co-year; Christine, to get up with her at 6 am every morning, so I could realize how nice it is to have the morning to do whatever without other people around. So far I have kept it up and got up at 6 every morning this week, haha.

This did though, give me the opportunity to get a some pictures this morning:

and even though I have been close to fall on the ice more than many times today, it is really worth it, because I get amazed by the beauty of this place every day!

What I really wanted to write about, was the Nordic Studies program that all first years started right before Christmas, lasting the rest of the school year. Basically we have a session every Wednesday after House Cleaning, lasting about an hour. So far we have had Pete (teacher) tell about his experience of coming to Norway and adapting to the society. He has now lived here for ten years! Last week, all the Nordic countries did a short (about 10 min.) presentation on their country - ours with a focus on pigs. Did you know we in 2003 had 24 million pigs in Denmark?

There is going to be a lot of different workshops and later on, we get to sign up for what we want to go to. From Nordic movies and music to mythology and politics.

I wish you could all see how the snow is slowly coming down outside right now! BEAUTIFUL!

Back to basic

One week, maybe one and a half: that’s what it took for me to be back in the routine of being busy, busy, busy and forgetting to sleep. Meetings, deadlines, test, exams, activities, work-out and random other stuff suddenly takes up all the hours a day has (sometimes those hours are not enough!) But a lot of things have also changed, since we came back.

First of all, we (SH103) got a new shower curtain (yay!).

Our pool hours have changed, because Haugland, that we rent the pool from, is having financial problems, so they raised the prices, which resulted in us cutting about 18 hours of pool a week! In my opinion it is not as bad as it may sound like, because a lot of hours weren't used, or only used by one or two people (take Mondays, where I swam and life-guarded as an example.) These are the times that are cut. I find it annoying, of course, because it's most of the times that I used to swim, that are now gone, because I like swimming when the pool is not crowded, but I think it is all just a matter of getting used to going there on different times. And fortunately Tuesday and Thursday morning is still there :)

Also, I have started my new course, Theory of Knowledge (ToK). This course is mandatory for every IB-student all over the world, but is taught differently from school to school. Here, it is for example only taught for on year (January-December), where as at my old school in Denmark, they have it for the entire two years. From what I have heard, I got the best teacher, and though this might change after the summer vacation as my schedule might change a little, I am sure it can't be as boring a course as some second years have expressed.
The course basically questioning what we know, how we know it, what we can know and what we can't know. It questions every other subject we have and in the end, essentially, it should make us become 'critical thinkers.'

The first Monday we were back, we had an introduction meeting to our Extended Essay (EE). The EE is a 4000 word paper, supposed to prepare us for university papers and is also obligatory for everyone taking the IB diploma. Before February 12th (I think) we have to have handed in a sheet with our supervisor, whom we have to find ourselves as well, and who have to want to supervise and advise our EE/find the topic interesting, so we therefore also have to have an idea of what we want to do. This essay is by the way due in October, so we're starting extremely early, but it is nice, 'cause it makes us able to finish it before the 2nd year starts.
Personally, I asked my English teacher (because I want to write mine in English) and adviser, Pete. I told him about my thoughts and together we narrowed down a topic, that I find very interesting. At the moment I just started reading the book "American Psycho" which is, if I still want to after reading it, the book I will be basing my EE on. From here, I am planning on comparing the main character, Patrick Bateman's, surroundings and society and it's effects on him, with a real-life serial killer, who comes from a society like that.

I have this great, long list of blog ideas and other new things, but I'm going to cut it here for now, so I can go to my Saturday Night Party and you can take a break from reading.
More updates to come soon though!

Bathroom fun

I thought I'd share some scenes from yesterday, because it's funny!

A couple of days ago, our shower curtain fell down, which makes our bathroom a lake now, after someone showers - we have fun though! This is where we are storing it until they fix it ;)

Also, our power in SH went out for a while yesterday. This is how you go to the bathroom during that (we don't have a window in ours.) I carried this tray around me in the room wherever I went. Everyone should have one for emergencies! :)

Healthy life?

I cannot describe how incredibly much I enjoyed swimming today, even though I only had 35 minutes before my own life-guard shift. I am actually looking forward to tomorrow morning. Am I going crazy again? :)

And since I was super bored at my life-guard shit (NO PEOPLE SWIMMING :( ) I found this picture from one of my previous, bored shifts! Enjoy!

Back to ...

I think the biggest discussion, in my head, at the moment, is what to call this place. Norway, Flekke, RCN, college, school, as we say in Danish "kært barn har mange navne" (loved child has many names.) But what is it? Is it home? Yes, it's my home, at least for now. This is not saying that Denmark isn't my home, 'cause it will always be the home; the place I grew up and most importantly, the place with my family and friends. But I will still dare, cross a line, and say "I'm home."

Why? If you've read my previous posts, you will know how much this place is for me. Secondly, it is where I live! And third, but not least, I truly believe that "Home is where the heart is". And though, as earlier mentioned, my heart will always be in Denmark, so not only is it physically here, at RCN, Flekke, Norway, but part of it is also here psychically.

So with that being cleared out and me being home, I'm going to update a little from the travel.

Saturday morning, a group of 7, including myself, left Copenhagen airport and about an hour later, landed in Bergen. Here, the group got bigger, but also split ago, since some stayed in the airport and waited for others, some took the college bus back, and me and a group took the public ferry and bus. (We made it here first ;))

Here's a little update on my unpacking! Though I never took a finished picture..

I cannot wait for the the last people to arrive and the week (and school) to begin. Here's to another term of surprises, experiences and tons of good times!

Take care and enjoy a couple of pictures from my corner.