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Published: December 31st 2013
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In 1869, Henrik Ibsen, Norway's most celebrated playwright, wrote his first major dramatic success The League of Youth. In a scene later in the play, a patient of Ibsen's character Dr. Fieldbo, is complaining about the short sighted nature of the human condition. She implores of the doctor to suggest a cure for this, to which the doctor replies that only through "the spectacles of experience; through them you will see clearly the second time."
I visited Norway at Christmas time in 2005. I was a teacher in Leeds England at the time, was single, making British pounds and decided I could finally afford to explore my Norwegian roots in Oslo as well as attempt some down hill skiing in Geilo. I recall very little about the trip beyond what was recorded in my blog at the time (
http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Eastern-Norway/Oslo/blog-33511.html). On this trip, forced to pay close attention by my position as the group leader, I walked the same streets and saw many of the same sites, this time accompanying a group of young people who were on their first big trip away from their parents. They were seeing Europe for the first time, and like my first trip
to Europe in high school were often more interested in buying kitchy souvenirs and seeing slight differences on McDonalds menus than in learning about architecture, history or models of city planning, things I nerdily thirst for while travelling abroad. Throughout this trip, I attempted to push them to soak up and appreciate the culture and history and had varying degrees of success in this pursuit. Some enthusiastically pushed themselves, others politely indulged my enthusiasm, and others still ignored me and asked regularly for more time to shop. For my students, these baby steps towards independent travel are important and the impact a trip like this might have on who these students will become down the road is still unknown. The spectacles of experience I brought to this trip helped me be a better guide for them, but it also helped me to see these Scandinavian cities as models of sustainability that our society should learn from. From the use of public space, to the impressive level of funding for cultural institutions to the green principles that drive policy, learning about these countries first hand nourished my political self and reinforced my convictions in socialism. This however is not the message
I sent back home to parents lest I be black listed through my school's own much gentler and Lutheren version of McCarthyism. As such, I will share with you entries from the blog I set up for parents to read about their children's travels. The entries are mainly descriptive and at times can sound a bit like a promotion for EF Tours (the students did pay $4,000 to go on this trip and should be made to feel it was money well spent). The narrative below, marked by italics, will continue through the next 4 entries, and will provide a record of the trip. I promise you will read a more candid version of myself in February 2014 when I write once more about our trip to Sayulita Mexico. Hasta la proxima!
While hysteria has yet to set in many of our students have taken to giggling at things with no inherent comedic value. Some of the students have only slept an hour since our time in Calgary, and despite their exhaustion, spirits run high. Finally however, after a glorious sunny day in Oslo where we visited the Royal Palace, The parliament buildings, the Akherhus Castle, and the futuristic neighbourhood of Akerbrygge, after a lunch of falafel and shwarma and a supper at a hip restaurant, the students are finally sleeping (hopefully!?) soundly in their rooms! Despite their tired nature, the tour got off to a fabulous start. I can only hope that the students unbridled enthusiasm and respectful behaviour continue this way all trip!
8AM- Anker Hotel- Oslo- A beautiful breakfast buffet complete with brown Norwegian cheese provided the hearty sustenance we would require for a day full of new experiences. We would begin with a bus tour from our local guide Rosanna. As we drove through downtown Oslo towards the brand new- glacier inspired opera house, Rosanna regaled us with some of Norway’s long and mostly tragic history. Generations of occupation by the Denmark and Sweden finally gave way to Norwegian independence in 1905. As such, though Oslo is an ancient city, in many ways it looks more to the future than to the past. From the opera house we enjoyed magnificent views views of the ancient city of Christiana (Old Norway) and the harbour. Rosanna then toured us through a variety of Oslo's most famous landmarks, enroute to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. The impressive park with over 212 bronze and granite statues which work together to provide social commentary on a variety of human themes. Students were challenged to interpret the sculptures for themselves, and many students suggested later that this was the most meaningful part of the day. The artistic part of our day continued to The National Gallery where we had the chance to view the Edvard Munch exhibit (including his iconic painting- ‘The Scream’). Again Rosanna really challenged the group to interpret the meaning behind the paintings and really dig below the surface. An afternoon at the open air Norsk Folk Museum was an opportunity for students to view a historical slice in time of Norway’s past, embodied in beautiful stave churches and unique sod roof homes. Finally we boarded our cruise ship through a slice of Oslo Fjordland towards Copenhagen. The ship has jacuzzis, a nightclub, and several coffee shops and restaurants. Only moments ago we came from watching a live band in the ships nightclub, and now the students are off to their rooms. Just as we are finishing breakfast tomorrow, we should arrive at port in Denmark!
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taracloud
Tara Cloud
So Courageous!
Chaperoning a group of high schoolers on holiday--I'm impressed. I used to teach history at a city college where my mentor told me that if I reached one student, I'd succeeded (pretty depressing advise). However, best wishes on transforming a few of your charges into proper travel nerds who'd choose a museum over McDonalds. And I love your line about being a socialist at a gentle McCarthyite school--tricky when you teach history!