Day 9: Actual observation day

Everybody at the dinner. 

As implied by the title I was actually observed today.  Sylvia and Donna both came into 3rd period and observed me teach (for the second time to this class) about the Education System in America.  The class is a Social Studies class that had recently talked about the schooling system in Norway and how the taxes Norwegians pay for are used.  Upon reflection it was a very broad topic and the pupils don't really know the whole system.  But they should be able to tell you if taxes pay for that level or if the family will pay for that level of education.  I consider that a success since that was my main goal.  Of course there are always so many things that I would probably have done differently but I know those things because of what happened today and the experience I had teaching that lesson.

Morten, the school principal, had bought pizza for us and it was really nice to sit with Sylvia, Morten Linda and talk about Norway, education, America and teaching in general.  Sylvia always has great questions that I really like to answer.  Hopefully from that conversation I will actually be able to visit the upper high school that is right close to the lower high school that I am currently at next week while the 10th graders are gone on their trip.  That would be awesome!
After school there were two exciting things.  The first is that Erland asked me if I already had plans for tomorrow after school.  I said that I didn't.  He invited me to come over to his house, have dinner and then go skiing with him!  I am super excited!  He was excited as well.  Erland loves to go skiing.  I will borrow some equipment from him and it is going to be great!

Representing Husnes Ungdomskule.
Front: Brooke, Siv Hege, Kylie.
Back: Andrew, Erlend, Steiner, Morten

Stein and I looking fly!

The other exciting thing was the "Hello Dinner."  I am not sure what else to call it. We were able to meet Anna Sofia the superintendent of the Kvinnherad Municipality and she greeted us.  Then Sylvia and Donna gave gifts out to cooperating teachers, principals and schools.  We also had this really great meal.  I am being honest right now.  I don't care for fish.  I have had fish the last two nights actually and it is just blah.  I don't hate fish.  It's not like I won't eat fish.  But I will probably never go and pick fish as an entrée anywhere.  I like to eat just about anything else over fish.  It has been a good experience though eating the fish and finally being able to answer the question whether or not I like fish.  I feel as though I can generalize that because between today and yesterday I had three different kinds of fish.  I have given fish a chance.
Stein told us that he was going to wear one of his two ties that he has.  So, I knew that I needed to wear a tie as well.  So I got dressed up pretty fancy.  I think that Stein and I look pretty good together.

At the dinner we got "fortune cookies" but it wasn't a fortune cookie.  There was a funny story or something that came inside.  It was weird.  But whatever. that is what they do here.

After all of that there was group that got together and played volleyball at 8:45.  It was great!  Two weeks ago we played volleyball and it was good.  It was more of "get the ball over the net" kind of volleyball.  Tonight we had some "bump, set, spike" rallies and I really enjoyed myself.  I even worked up a sweat and will go take a shower because of it.  I am excited for volleyball next week.