Viking Magazine - April 2013 - 40

nections with the children of
Norwegians living abroad.
Typically, students who
attend fall into one of three
categories: those with one or
two Norwegian parents living
outside the country; those
with Norwegian relatives,
such as grandparents; and
children of expats from other
countries living in Norway
whose parents want to introduce
them to the culture.
Christine Hultin Ben Ali,
who lives in Tunisia, sent her
youngest son Jamil to Norgesskolen
for fi ve summers
starting in 2003.
" When you fall in love
you will move to the end of
the world without thinking
about the consequences, "
Hultin Ben Ali writes on
Norgesskolen's website. " But
when you have children,
Norway suddenly feels far
away. For me it was important
that my children could
speak Norwegian just as well
as they could speak Arabic
or French. "
Since that fi rst summer,
Norgesskolen has welcomed
676 students, ages
9 to 18, representing 55
different countries.
" The main focus is to learn
the Norwegian language, "
says Norgesskolen director,
Lisbeth Bø Håverstad. " Then,
of course, to introduce [them]
to Norway, to the history, the
culture, the food, the way of
life. In short, teach them what
it is like to be Norwegian and
live here. "
For this reason, the offi cial
language of Norgesskolen is
Norwegian. All activities and
classes are held in Norwegian,
and students are encouraged
to speak the language to the
best of their ability.
It's a School, Not a Camp
Norgesskolen's campus is located
in the heart of the Norwegian
countryside in close
proximity to lakes, forests and
the Oslo fjord, giving students
easy access to every kind of
outdoor adventure.
" It's located at an agricultural
school, with livestock
and other farm animals, and
it is surrounded by a beautiful
park with a rose garden, "
says Hanne Aaberg, secretary
general of Norwegians Worldwide.
" It gives you a genuine
feeling of å være på landet
(being in the country). "
For students coming from
densely populated cities, the
fresh air and open spaces
are part of the appeal, and
staff take full advantage of
the outdoor classroom with
activities such as camping,
hiking and group sports.
Students also have a chance
to taste authentic Norwegian
cuisine and celebrate two of
Norway's best-loved holidays
while at school: Christmas
and Syttende Mai.
Fun and games are certainly
part of the picture,
but Norgesskolen isn't a
summer camp, it's a school.
Students are divided by age
and language ability, and
they spend four full hours a
day in the classroom.
" The school focus is
important because the main
purpose of Norgesskolen is to
give students an opportunity
to improve their Norwegian
language skills, whether they
have some previous knowledge
of Norwegian or are
beginners, " says Aaberg.
Norgesskolen also gives
students an understanding
of the Norwegian school
system, and serves as a
jumping off point for many
who choose to continue their
education in Norway, whether
by attending a Norwegian
folk high school or returning
to Norway for university.
Cassandra Opsvik Ferreira
is 19 and has lived all over the
world-Rio de Janeiro, Morocco,
France, Madagascar.
Her Norwegian mother sent
her to Norgesskolen when she
was 12. She returned enthusiastically
for fi ve summers.
She now attends university in
Oslo and works part time as a
city tour guide.
" Norgesskolen made me
want to live in Norway, "
she says. " I got accepted in a
very good Parisian university,
but I decided to study at the
University of Oslo, and I don't
regret it. "
Bonds to Build On
Parents may send their
children to Norgesskolen to
" I still hang out with most of the friends I made
there. Some of them live in Oslo, and we are
practically best friends because we have so much
in common. We're Norwegian but not totally. "
Cassandra Opsvik Ferreira, 19, Oslo
40 VIKING APRIL 2013
sonsofnorway.com
http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - April 2013

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