Learning about the Schools in Norway 🇳🇴

The start of my week began with a day at an elementary school and a day at a vocational training school. 

At the elementary school, Os Barneskule, I was hosted by Ms. Karianne, Ms. Sigrun , and Mr. Per. 

I shared a PowerPoint about Rhode Island, Martin Luther King, junior, and his legacy today. 

LESSONS LEARNED from Os Barneskule 

*teachers stay with the same group of students for many years

*teachers have multiple preps

*students do not wear their shoes in the classroom 

*Norwegian schools face many of the same challenges that schools in the USA 🇺🇸 face:  discipline struggles, fair wages, adequate planning/prep time. 

                 ✏️Tusen Takk Os Barneskule❤️

 📚  (A thousand thank yous Os Children's School)📝

A special thank you to Ingrid Nissan Kjørsvik for organizing the day

✂️✏️📌🖍

At the vocational training school, Os Vidaregåande Skule, my friend, Tone, graciously let me teach her social science class. I introduced the students to Rhode Island along with an abbreviated information session on American political parties.  

Followed by a school debate in preparation for the national election on September 11, 2017. 

KEY LESSON FOR THE STUDENTS:  Vote!

📝Tusen Takk Os Vidaregåande Skule📚

and Tone Hadler-Olsen

❤️

Norway 🇳🇴 from the Water

A water view changes everything. Seeing a country from the water 💦 offers a different perspective --a day spent kayaking and a short ⛴ ferry ride showcased the many islands and the rocky coastline. 

A view from my good friend Tone's house....

Eating My Way Around Bergen

Love, ❤️, love, love Norwegian food. First, it started with ferry ⛴ food, svele, a pancake filled with cream. 

Another favorite ....salmon

And the new Norwegian 🇳🇴 wasabi....ramsløk

The desserts are rich and not too sweet. 

One of my favorite desserts, Suksessterte (success torte), was made by my friend's mother, Marie Heldal. 

Cooking class with my friend, Marianne. I am learning how to make knekkebød(crackers).

Visiting Friends in Norway 🇳🇴

Never one to turn down a deal, I took advantage of Norwegian Airlines and their cheap deals to Bergen, Norway 🇳🇴 from our tiny Providence, Rhode Island airport. I am visiting two Norwegian friends I met when I was 15 and a Girl Scout. 

Norway 🇳🇴 is a monster compared to little Rhode Island. Norway 🇳🇴 is 103 times bigger than Rhode Island!

Here in Norway 🇳🇴 I am experiencing "boot camp" as my friend works to turn me into a forest troll (skogtroll).   

Each day we have done a different hike. There have been lots of rocks to climb over and swampy paths to slog through.  

Regrouping in Makati, the Philippines 🇵🇭

Our last stop in the Philippines 🇵🇭 included a night in Makati, the financial district of metro Manila.   We had the honor of staying at the Peninsula Hotel, the same hotel where I stayed two years earlier. We ate a delicious meal totaling $9 at the Dipping Dumplings, did some last minute shopping at SM, and swam in the gorgeous 🏊🏽 pool. A breakfast 🍳 buffet feast wrapped up our visit. 

Goodbye Philippines 🇵🇭 and mouth watering mangoes 😋...until next time!

 

A More Rustic Experience...Sunset Colors

Our second stop on Palawan required a three hour van ride and a short boat 🚣🏾 trip to Sunset 🌅 Colors-- a collection of bungalows on a strip of sand. We slept over the "restaurant "/kitchen and ate the most delicious foods. This accommodation took us off the grid with no hot water, a couple of hours of electricity each day and LOTS of 💦 swimming time. Snorkeling, searching for critters, and good 🥘 food filled our days. 

A 💰 money faux pas kept us to a $16/meal budget...And we didn't starve😬😂but we were limited to boku juice (fresh coconut 🌴 juice) and 💦 to 🍹 drink.  Every adventure has a story to tell.....😜

  

Doing what Makielskis love ❤️ to do...poking around for critters......

 

New Experiences in Daluyon

An opportunity to experience the new, the beautiful, and the different...

Zip lining over water

Paddle boarding

A visit to the Underground River, one of UNESCO's new 7 natural wonders of the world 

Many, many, many mangoes 

And lots of beach 🌊 time

Exploring the Island 🌴 of Palawan

After a sad goodbye to our friends at JRU, we hopped a flight to the Island 🌴 of Palawan. The flight took just over one hour but transported us to an island paradise. The 🌴 island is about 400 miles in length but it would take more than 12 hours to drive. We arrived in Pureta Princessa (located in the middle of the island), hopped a small van, and drove to Sabang (4 hours north).   This resort, Daluyon, was located next to the Underground River and is an environmentally conscious hotel--a compost bin in every room and each bungalow had solar powered lights. 

Celebrating Literacy

So excited to meet with the Jose Rizal University's High School's librarian, Miss Rosario Campo Camarines, again.  Like the students of Davisville Middle School, JRU students love ❤️ to read, too. I was excited 😊 to bring a collection of books 📚 from Rhode Island to share with the JRU students.   I wonder what great 👍 things we will do together in the future. 

So glad to have met Miss Rosario!

(Backup) Food Meant to be Shared

One aspect of the Filipino culture that I have fallen in love with is how many food items you order off the menu are NOT for individuals but to be shared with 2-3 people-- you can't order for just one!  This must create s strong sense of community ❤️

Visiting Jose Rizal University

In some ways, it feels like coming home. We spent two days visiting with old friends, touring classrooms, and learning about the Filipino educational system. Many thanks to the teachers, students and principals who made our visit extra special. Jackie spent her time visiting grade 12 classrooms and Erik spent his time mostly in grade 9 classrooms. Both kids received a warm welcome and learned a great deal thanks to the talented teachers at JRU. Sir Rufo de Leon, Once again, made it our visit extra special with his well-planned itinerary and great conversations. Thank you, JRU. We hope to return in the future.

Returning to the Philippines

We did it!! Eight pieces of luggage, 4 carry-ons and four very tired Rhode Islanders.  We had no problems with our eight large pieces of luggage but we were given much grief over our four carry-ons. We were not prepared for a weight limit with our carry-ons. This meant that we had to shift items around quickly to bring our carry-on weight down to about 7 kg each. Now we board a 15 hour flight to Taiwan and then a three hour flight to Manila. Hopefully, I will watch some good movies. 

Traveling the Silk Road at DMS

 Bringing closure to a great year as we traveled the Silk Road.....tomorrow I live it by traveling to the Philippines!