Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Day 15: Tysdag

Today I would like to comment on the responsibilities that teachers have here in Norway.  Since there are breaks between classes a teacher or two is selected to go out into the hall and monitor the students’ behavior in between classes.  You just put a fluorescent vest on and then walk around.  It is interesting what the students do in between classes.  They have their segregated groups.  The different grades pretty well stay separated and the girls like to lay on each other or lay against each other.  The boys typically stand by each other and talk.  Phone usage is very common as well.  Almost everybody has a phone and is playing with it somehow if they are sitting down.  It is just interesting.  There are also three tables for table tennis and those are always full along with a line waiting to play.  One kid serves to the “king” who only has to score once to keep playing.  The challenger has to score not once, not twice but three times in order to overthrow the “king.”  I thought that that was a bit much but I have been surprised at how fast they still move through kings.  Another responsibility of teachers is to go to the cantina that is nearby.  There was one time that I had to go with Erlend.  It is up at Helsesenter where kids can buy some like lunch supplement or something.  It is kind of interesting.  Contact teachers are also in charge of parent teacher conferences which are going on now.  Each student meets with a parent and one of the two contact teachers during the day.  I thought that that would be interesting.  Maybe not something that I would want to try back in America but that is the way that it is done here.

I love Tuesdays because we play volleyball for a couple hours.  Last weekend I bought a gym shirt at a store in Bergen and I tried it out today.  It was weird.  Don't get me wrong.  I felt cool in my shirt but it was still weird.  I played pretty good though.

We play volleyball at two different times with different people.  Earlier in the day (4:45-5:30pm) it is some student teachers, Stein and then a couple teenagers from here in Rosendal.  The skill level is low but it is till pretty fun.  My main focus there is diving and practice jumping after balls.  My little floor burn to the left is from the earlier playing time.  Stein is really competitive and can I say that "I allow him to win"?  It is mostly true.  I can say that I don't try my hardest to win.

The later volleyball time is much more competitive.  I try really hard to play my best.  I did a good job today.  Mainly it showed in my defense with my blocking.  I was probably most proud because I did it without being in the net very much.  Sometimes I have a hard time with that.

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