Reflective Journal - Volda University College, Norway By Sharon McMaugh St.

Andrews College

Academic Study: Studying in Norway is definitely a unique experience. Volda University provides an international module aimed at integrating ERASMUS students into Norwegian society. The module was divided into four main areas over a three month period. These subject areas included Sports, Norwegian history, Norwegian language and society as well as School Experience. The sporting aspect of this module was the main focus out of all these areas, on average there was about nine hours of sports classes each week. Dance, ball games and indoor activities were taught. The dance classes were particularly enjoyable. I had the opportunity to learn Traditional Norwegian Folk dances, swing, aerobics and creative dance to name a few. Similarly, indoor activities focused on games and activities that would be suitable when teaching sport to small children. The third aspect of sport focused on games such as volleyball, table tennis, badminton and basketball. The teaching element consisted of a two week period involving a school take over. During the take over students from Volda University in their final year of study have the opportunity to run the local Ungdomsskule. This is a school for pupils aged between twelve and sixteen years old. The students must take over all the normal running duties of the staff of the school from teaching to maintaining inspections at lunch and break intervals. A principal, vice principal and head of each year group are selected from among the students. Each class receives four student teachers who share the teaching of the various subject areas according to their special areas of interest. This experience gives the students a taste of what teaching is really like as they are involved in the whole running process of the school. The student teachers are given a lot of responsibility, this is a great way of learning. I feel that I learnt a lot over this two week experience. During this period I taught English, sports and special educational needs in particular for pupils who needed additional help with English, or for those in which English was a third language. Cultural Programme: The International Club at Volda University is an organisation set up by students and the International Board, in order to help foreign students get to know each other as well as their fellow Norwegian classmates. The programme for the International Club involves a variety of themed nights aimed at getting to know different cultures from around the World. Every fortnight students from different countries host a social gathering at the local night club. Some of these nights included Latin American night, Chinese night, Turkish night, Austrian/ Hungarian night and African night. International students from these countries prepared traditional cuisine, music, dance and a presentation about their home country. These events were a great way of meeting other students and learning about the similarities and differences in our cultures. The International Club also organises Day Trips for foreign students. An International Day was also organised by the University. International students presented their home country by cooking traditional food, and by presenting their country at a gathering for Volda University. This gave Norwegian students the chance to learn more about where we came from and to see what countries was available for them to study in. Social Programme:

Norwegians tend to be very active and enjoy outdoor life. Students have the opportunity to join Natura which is a great way to discover the amazing nature surrounding Volda. Natura is a student group that organises trips and adventures, which include a variety of different activities. According to the time of year activities can include surfing, kayaking, skiing and mountaineering. During the month of February there is an annual student festival called Veka. This is when students get together for nine days of concerts. Famous Norwegain bands play at the local nightclub Rokken as well as the local Church. I went to about five of these concerts ranging from pop, rock, and jazz to hip hop music. Travelling to Oslo was one of the highlights of my stay in Norway. Staying in a youth hostel allowed me to explore the city on a budget. We visited Vigeland Sculpture Park, Holmenkollen - a famous ski jump as well as the Viking museum. Other areas of interest that we visited included the parliament buildings - the Storting as well as the Palace. Oslo city centre is a very culturally diverse city. A great way to get to see the city is to take the guided bus tours. In the city centre there is a park where you can go ice skating and listen to traditional music along the main street. Visiting the local tourist office provided us with lots of information on where to visit. During my stay in Norway I also visited the nearest city Alesund on several occasions. Our history teacher recommended visiting this city because of the architecture and as it is a famous fishing town., its also great for shopping. As Alesund is on an island it requires you to take a ferry across the fjord, and so there is great views on the way. Guidelines for future students: Norway is renowned for being one of the most expensive countries in the world, and it lives up to this expectation. However, ERASMUS students can still have plenty opportunities to travel and socialise on a budget. If you enjoy socialising the are two night clubs in Volda - the local hotel and the student house, as well as this there are several restaurants and pubs. The climate in Norway can be very changeable so it is important to have a variety of clothes suitable for the weather. It can vary from snow to rain or sunshine, and can be below zero in early Janurary. Comfortable and waterproof footwear is important especially if you wish to go mountain walking in the surrounding Norwegian countryside. It would be advisable to take ski clothes if you are interested in skiing as Volda has its own ski slope. As well as this ERASMUS students can join several skiing trips with the University. Travelling is relatively easy in Norway due to the good transport links, however bus journeys can be long due to the vast distance between towns and cities. A trip to Oslo from Volda takes approximately 9 hours. Taking a plane is another alternative but it can work out slightly more expensive. Buying an International phone card is best if you wish to call home, as texting and calling from mobiles is expensive. These phone cards can be purchased at the local hospital or at shops in town. Within your room there is a telephone which can be used for receiving incoming calls and can also be used for phoning other rooms within the same accommodation. If friends are family wish to call you in Norway the international code is +47. The rent for accommodation depends on which student building you are allocated. It is approximately 190 or 1900 kronner. At the start of each month a bill is received in the post and it can be paid in either the local bank or at the university. It is important to bring a prospectus of your home university as well as photographs. Traditional music and posters will also be invaluable when presenting your home country on International Day and at the International evenings. It is also expected that you should cook some traditional dishes for these events and show some traditional or folk dances. Booking flights early is important in order to get a good deal. Flights to Norway can be expensive as it is not a very common destination. It is also important to book a through flight so if a flight is delayed you will not miss your connections.

Overall reflection on the experience: Travelling to Norway was an exciting experience, especially because I was travelling alone and did not know what to expect. Preparing for the ERASMUS experience was stressful at times as the University workload was very demanding, as well as organising flights and preparing for the trip. However, once in Norway there is a more relaxed pace of life and you can really begin to appreciate the experience of living in such an unusual country. On arrival, I was greeted with great enthusiasm and a warm welcome. One of the International coordinators collected me from the airport and we stopped at their house for something to eat. The sports classes in Volda were very enjoyable. I had the opportunity to try out many sports I had never tried before. As we were placed in a class with Norwegian students this gave us the opportunity to make many new friends. As the classes were all practical this meant that it was easy to take part and understand what was happening despite the fact that the classes were taught in Norwegian. However, each student was given a translator if they needed help following the lesson. In sports I also had the opportunity to join two skiing trips. The first trip involved learning alpine, telemark and cross country skiing as well as snowboarding over a period of five days. The second trip involved helping young adults with special education needs to take part in ski activities and games. Such activities included snow rafting, zip lining and dog sleighing. This trip was based on voluntary work, pupils from universities volunteer to spend a week teaching skiing. Although these trips were not a part of the ERASMUS course, we were given the opportunity to join. These trips were the highlight of my stay in Norway. The school practice in Norway was also a very valuable experience. Although I was apprehensive about teaching foreign students I was made very welcome and I really enjoyed the teaching experience. The students found it an exciting challenge to speak in English during all my lessons. I had a brilliant experience on ERASMUS, one which I will always look back on with great memories. I have made many new friends, had a brilliant time and learnt a lot both personally and academically. I had the opportunity to visit a country I otherwise would never have visited, and learnt about their diverse and exciting culture. Any students deciding to attend Volda University will have an amazing experience ahead of them.