Midtårssamling // Midyear Orientation

January 29, 2018

Midtårssamling // Midyear Orientation

HEEELLLOOOOOO EVERYBODY!!!!! I really can't remember a time when I was so happy and am not sure it's possible to be this happy ever again and I just don't have the words to describe how fantastically fantastic this weekend has been. I am currently lying in bed writing this, more than a little depressed that the orientation is over and that I'm back to normal life. What I would give for a few more days with the other exchange students... If you want to hear why I was so incredibly happy, keep reading! And if not... well you should still keep reading; maybe you'll be able to take some of the positivity flowing from my words out of your screen for yourself ;)

This most amazing weekend began for me on Friday morning. I finished packing my things and headed out around 9:30 to make my way to Oslo Sentralstasjon where I met the other Oslonians (not sure if I made that up) to take a train to the Oslo airport. There we met a few others and hung out as we checked our bags and waited for our plane. That was the first time I had seen some of the students since August and it was crazy how we just picked up from where we had left off and were already such good friends despite it only being the second time we were meeting. I sat next to Robin and Klara on the what might have been the prettiest flight I've ever taken as we flew over the mountains, lakes, and rivers of Norway. After a short 55 minute flight we arrived in Trondheim where we would be staying the rest of the weekend. We were some of the last people to arrive and greeted everyone with huge smiles and hugs. A little later we loaded onto a bus and began driving to Vassfjellkapellet where we'd be staying, picking up a few more students at Trondheim Sentralstasjon on the way.

An hour of gorgeous driving later, we had made it to the middle of nowhere. Sort of kidding. We got off the bus on the side of the road next to a snowy path and began the hike up to the cabin we were staying at. It was only a 20 or 30 minute hike but at a pretty good incline the whole way and I'm not sure I've ever been so happy to see a building in my life. I was one of the first people up and took off my winter clothes quickly before collapsing on the long couch that went along the wall in the main room with a few others. When everyone else had made it up we began the orientation with some get-to-know-you games and hanging out and eating. The whole weekend was conducted in a mix of English and Norwegian to suit the range of language abilities. Later we had taco for dinner then did some activities related to cultural differences and then finally had some free time! A bunch of us played card games and mafia and Never Have I Ever and just enjoyed the company of some of the most amazing people in the world. I cant't remember laughing and smiling that much in so little time ever. Since some people had had to get up really early that day, we all had to go to bed around 11/11:30 but the time went by so fast and even me, a die-hard sleeper, was sad to have to break up the fun.

The next morning I woke up to do meditation at 7:30 with a bunch of others which was so great and the best way to start the day. We then all enjoyed a nice breakfast together as we watched the sun come up as the clusters of far-away lights in the villages disappeared and the breath-taking mountains came into sight. Gotta love Oslo but it doesn't have a chance when it comes to a scenery battle. Since Saturday was our only full day we had a bunch of workshops about exchange stuff in small groups. We talked about culture shock and school and making friends and host families and how we ourselves had developed over the first half of the year. We were able to talk about what was going well and what was going not so well and get input from other people about how to tackle different problems. While it was really nice to get to talk more seriously with others, having only one short weekend made that free time even more coveted and I wish we had an extra day just to hang out with everyone.

Saturday afternoon some of us had an epic snowball fight that later turned into capture the glove. That was possibly the best part of the whole weekend but it's really hard to pick one moment as there were so many amazing ones. I ended up lying in the snow laughing so hard I was crying several times. The snow was beautiful and although there was a clearing for us to play in, we were surrounded by trees and it really felt like the setting of a fairytale. After having chili for dinner we had a "farewell party" which was just hanging out and dancing and talking. I didn't want the night to end as we jammed out to Tri Poloski (YFU Norge 2017-18's anthem), Bohemian Rhapsody (for the third time in my exchange year), and a ton of Spanish songs. We had a ton of time for this which meant that I got to talk to a bunch of different people, some of whom I hadn't really talked to before! In addition to the people that had arrived in Norway in August, the second-semester students that had arrived only a few weeks before were also there and it was so fun to talk to them and hear about the beginning of their exchange. A little before midnight a bunch of us who were really tired ended up going to bed, but apparently some people were up until 4 am!

Early Sunday morning we said goodbye to a few that had early flights out before some more meditation, breakfast, and making of matpakke (basically like a packed lunch). Afterwards we packed our things and began cleaning the place up. Later that morning some of us went out and took pictures and played around in the snow, trying not to get too wet before having to begin the travel home. We had a the last bit of freetime once we came back in and then began the trip down, back to civilization. Let me just say it was a lot easier going back down the hill. We took a group picture, loaded back onto the bus, and headed off for the airport. The drive back was even prettier and looking out over the fjord and mountains was inexplicably gorgeous. I found several houses outside the city that I have already claimed for myself later in life:) At the airport we got some food and began the goodbyes as people slowly left for their respective flights. We were a good-sized group of people flying back to Oslo and finally it was our turn to go home. The sun had already set at that point so that flight back wasn't as pretty but I was just trying to hold onto the last moments with these people before having to return to normal life. Even though my life now is really great, normal life was the last thing I wanted in that moment.

Now I'm back and in writing this I've realized that the vibes this weekend cannot be written in words. I'll never be able to capture the feeling of having 30 best friends in one room, most of which you've only spent time with twice. I can't describe the energy in the room when everyone is dancing to music from all over the world with people from the countries the music is from. Experiencing it is the only way to understand the connection between people from around the world, even if being exchange students is the only thing you have in common. It makes my heart hurt knowing that some people will never get to feel these feelings, to feel their heart and minds opening up and being able to be completely themselves, one hundred and ten percent. These orientations are worth the year abroad alone and if you're reading this and have the opportunity to do a year abroad, please, please, PLEASE take it. I swear there is nothing as magical. Nothing.

Word of the Post:
et smil = a smile

I really hope some of the emotions can be felt through the pictures, they're my last hope!