In February I became involved with an organization called
CISV http://www.cisv.org/. As an international Peace Education
organization, CISV inspires action through our community of volunteers
worldwide and our global network of local Chapters, educational programmes and
projects. In the belief that our Peace Education experience is something
everyone can gain from, we have programmes for all ages, starting with 11-year
old children.
Interchange
is the program I was involved in over the summer. From the end of February to
the middle of March I met with various families and 14/15 year olds to see who
was interested in the program and was a good fit. By the end of March there
were 5 girls ready and willing to be a part of the Interchange. I met regularly with the family and the
girls to plan out what we would do for the two weeks that the Norwegian
delegation was in Denver. By the time the delegation arrived at the end of June
we had a wide array of activities including a musical production of Hairspray,
shopping on 16th Street Mall, going to Steamboat for the hot springs
and a rodeo and a few other site seeing activities.
June
27th the Norwegian delegation arrived and the fun began. All of our
activities went over smoothly and we really bonded and connected with each
other. The ten girls and the Norwegian leader had become like family to us!
Then August 14th I took the Denver delegates to Norway for the
reciprocal two weeks.
It
always fascinates me to go to another country and to live with locals and not
stay in a hostel or hotel. I feel like I get a genuine sense of what it would
be like if I had grown up there.
Things
I learned while in Norway:
1)
Brown cheese is delicious, especially for breakfast
2)
Waffles with strawberries on them make the best
dessert
3)
The strawberries must be from Norway. Being so
close to the Arctic Circle the fruit gets a few mores hours of sunlight than
normal fruit does making it that much sweeter.
4)
One piece bathing suits are not allowed on the
beach
5)
Unless the sun is shining the ocean is too cold
to swim in
6)
The ocean is not as salty for what ever reason
7)
The cost of living is 3x as much as America
8)
The minimum wage is 3x that of Americas
9)
Fjords are more prevalent in Finland
10) Finland
is not considered Scandinavian, but Iceland is
*** I have new friends in Norway! And will always be welcome
there***
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