The day couldn't have been more fun and amazing. After waking up and being a part of a swedish birthday celebration in the morning ( Sanna's younger brother) we left to the school and all of us met again. We were introduced in the teacher meeting to the whole school and to my surprise, I found this school bigger than i expected it to be - 150 teachers and around 1600 students - well, that was loads when I thought about the schools I saw and went to for my praksis in Norway. After a brief introduction, we were at work - preparing for presentations, doing the last minute works, etc. In all, I think we had 8-10 presentations which were divided amongst us. It was great, especially due to the response we got from the students. Inquisitive, questions, comments - all acted as a motivation for us to talk about our country, our host organisation and presenting different topics. We covered mainly India, CSA (our host organisation), religion in India, Indian politics ans economy, a brief importance of Mahatma Gandhi, gender roles in India and the concept of love and marriage. It was amazing standing their talking about your country, and it couldn't have felt better talking to groups who were interested in hearing you. We had different questions which made the sessions more interesting - about the caste system, what happens if you want to marry a person from a different religion, is pre-marital sex ok in India, culture shocks after being in a scandanavian country, etc., etc..
After a small discussion, conversation with Mattias about the differences in the cultures across the world, the level of tolerance, the economic development and also the economic segregation of countries on the basis of availability of resources, the education system in Sweden, India and Norway, we both decided to part ways meet at 7.30pm for a very Swedish concept of exercise, something called friske and svettis - and what is that - well, its one hour of vigorous training with music and some what like aerobics. It was funny and tiring and an experience which nearly all of us are bound to remember. It is a very swedish concept to get people together, and also at the same time concentrate on having a healthy body and life.
That was seriously fun.
And now I am waiting for tomorrow - overnight camp with students who plan to go to Bangalore this november..that should mean more fun, more discussions and more interesting perspectives.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
sweden - Day 1
Its 5.45pm now, and the day is almost to an end, and I cant believe it. I think the name of this blog should be changed to 'quickly passing days...Hmmmm... Well, the four Indians right now are in Sweden and the two guatemalans in Fyresdal. Its probably the first time (except our vacations) that that 6 FKs are not together.
So, we are in Sweden after a very long train journey which began yesterday at 1.25 from röra, then to trondheim, then to Östersund, and then to Götterberg. We were recieved by the very sweet Mattias, äsa and Lina who are the staff of the swedish school which plans to send some of its students to India and to Christ University. It was amazing spending the day just walking and looking around in a very amazing weather with loads of sun :) Met Sara, who is planning to go to India and had very many small conversations about food, religion and differences in culture.
Then met my host family (in lärum) Sana, who is also planning to go to India and went to a bowling evening so that we could meet all the others as well.
After just one day (not even literally one day) Sweden seems different from Norway... but dont ask me how, but it just feels different. Its more old here.. as in the house and the look of it, though some places looks way too developed, people are more comfortable talking english (atleast the ones we met.. it may also be cause they know we dont know swedish).
But one thing remains the same - people here are also extra and super sweet :)
This was just the first day which has made most us excited about our further stay here. Lets see.
So, we are in Sweden after a very long train journey which began yesterday at 1.25 from röra, then to trondheim, then to Östersund, and then to Götterberg. We were recieved by the very sweet Mattias, äsa and Lina who are the staff of the swedish school which plans to send some of its students to India and to Christ University. It was amazing spending the day just walking and looking around in a very amazing weather with loads of sun :) Met Sara, who is planning to go to India and had very many small conversations about food, religion and differences in culture.
Then met my host family (in lärum) Sana, who is also planning to go to India and went to a bowling evening so that we could meet all the others as well.
After just one day (not even literally one day) Sweden seems different from Norway... but dont ask me how, but it just feels different. Its more old here.. as in the house and the look of it, though some places looks way too developed, people are more comfortable talking english (atleast the ones we met.. it may also be cause they know we dont know swedish).
But one thing remains the same - people here are also extra and super sweet :)
This was just the first day which has made most us excited about our further stay here. Lets see.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
praksis and more...
Well, it was a special and long day, and for reasons way too many to mention here. Sitting in the hagestua, or the internet room, I realised again how time is flying. Well, its already 20th February (and in 2 and a half hours, it will be 21st). Time is flying, and no doubts that I've begin to realise it and feeling a little sad... Not sad about coming back (well, i'm waiting to see those familiar faces back home) but sad of leaving these people behind whom I've been close to in the past (soon) 6months..
lets leave that thought for now...
Today was the last day of my Praksis in Inderøy Ungdomskole and it ended with a smile on my face, and some sweet memories and thoughts. We had Action Day today, something which started last year, and we continued it this year and something which actually made us a little tensed as we wondered how it would be, but it went great. Made indian food (trust me.. it was loads of food making), watched Water, had a discussion about it, spoke about CSA and India, had culturals for the occasion, and said a bye to many people there.
It felt beautiful when Frida came up and told that she'll miss seeing me around, it was sweet when the teacher (whom I do not know the name of) came up and said, ''Its not your last day.. you're here till June, so you have to come visit us'', it felt nice when Nils gave me a hug and said that he'll miss talking to me...
What relation do I have with these people? I just had Praksis in this school for a little over a month, three days a week.. thats all. Its amazing when I see how people can be.. especially, to a stranger like me.
I first wondered why we have this Praksis and even remember enquiring with Ms. I about the same, but now realised that subtly, so many thoughts have came into my mind, and so many experiences, experienced. And it is true, you learn more when you have different things around you, especially a whole different society, a whole different system and some amazing people.
Thank you Inderøy Ungdomskole for that sweet welcome and that beautiful farewell.
I will come visit again :)
Now, I am off to Sweden.
lets leave that thought for now...
Today was the last day of my Praksis in Inderøy Ungdomskole and it ended with a smile on my face, and some sweet memories and thoughts. We had Action Day today, something which started last year, and we continued it this year and something which actually made us a little tensed as we wondered how it would be, but it went great. Made indian food (trust me.. it was loads of food making), watched Water, had a discussion about it, spoke about CSA and India, had culturals for the occasion, and said a bye to many people there.
It felt beautiful when Frida came up and told that she'll miss seeing me around, it was sweet when the teacher (whom I do not know the name of) came up and said, ''Its not your last day.. you're here till June, so you have to come visit us'', it felt nice when Nils gave me a hug and said that he'll miss talking to me...
What relation do I have with these people? I just had Praksis in this school for a little over a month, three days a week.. thats all. Its amazing when I see how people can be.. especially, to a stranger like me.
I first wondered why we have this Praksis and even remember enquiring with Ms. I about the same, but now realised that subtly, so many thoughts have came into my mind, and so many experiences, experienced. And it is true, you learn more when you have different things around you, especially a whole different society, a whole different system and some amazing people.
Thank you Inderøy Ungdomskole for that sweet welcome and that beautiful farewell.
I will come visit again :)
Now, I am off to Sweden.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
DÁLLOJ GÅ MÅN LIDJIV
Dálloj gå mån lidjiv nav vuonnak ja mánná,
aktu mån vellahiv sun asken.
Dálla lav mån nav stuorre gå balvva,
iv gåjt de sjiehta das suv asskáj.
aktu mån vellahiv sun asken.
Dálla lav mån nav stuorre gå balvva,
iv gåjt de sjiehta das suv asskáj.
Karen Urheim
This is a Samme song which says a that when I was small I used to lie in my mother's lap. But now Iam big like a cloud and cannot any more lie in her lap.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
my fellow fk
I felt a little ashamed when I asked about guatemalan history in details to C with whom I am literally living for the past 5months and who comes from Guatemala. 5 months and I just remained ignorant about it. Well, today I wake up. I'm sitting in hagestua (the Internet room) and she's on the next computer and we are talking about Guatemalan history, something which is disturbing for her, I can see that in the way she talks about and in her eyes.
Guatemala had a civil war from 1960 to 1996, but she says its not over yet. She says people still kill each other, more due to the usage of narcotics in her country. Its difficult to live there, even though its my home she says in norsk. It was a war between the government and the indigenous person from Guatemala, mainly the Maya people, and she is one of them. In 1996, they signed the peace agreement between the government and the guerrilla forces to maintain peace. So, why did they fight for 36 years and kill each other? It all agravated with a man called Rios Montt came into power after a coup. This man declared to kill all the indeginious people of Guatemala. he was accused of military massacres of civilians, but nothing happened against him He lives peacefully now in Guatemala, she says with anger in her voice.
The country was divided into two- the local civilian defence patrols of the government or the guerrillas and they fought with each other. One group faught to supress an unarmed group, while the other fought for its rights as a human beings. My grandmother was killed because of this due to this war, she said. Its not that great a situation now as well, she tries making me understand. The government still is in the hunt for the guerrillas, she says. The US presented as if there was no need for UN intervention during that time, but now UN is there, working and helping. They are working now, yes they do, but now... we needed them more many years ago, she says in norsk.
I dont know how she felt after talking about all this, cause she and her family being Maya indeginious themselves faced those injustices. Du trenger også å leser om revolution (you also need to read about the revolution)
Det skal jeg gjøre :)
(that I shall do...)
Guatemala had a civil war from 1960 to 1996, but she says its not over yet. She says people still kill each other, more due to the usage of narcotics in her country. Its difficult to live there, even though its my home she says in norsk. It was a war between the government and the indigenous person from Guatemala, mainly the Maya people, and she is one of them. In 1996, they signed the peace agreement between the government and the guerrilla forces to maintain peace. So, why did they fight for 36 years and kill each other? It all agravated with a man called Rios Montt came into power after a coup. This man declared to kill all the indeginious people of Guatemala. he was accused of military massacres of civilians, but nothing happened against him He lives peacefully now in Guatemala, she says with anger in her voice.
The country was divided into two- the local civilian defence patrols of the government or the guerrillas and they fought with each other. One group faught to supress an unarmed group, while the other fought for its rights as a human beings. My grandmother was killed because of this due to this war, she said. Its not that great a situation now as well, she tries making me understand. The government still is in the hunt for the guerrillas, she says. The US presented as if there was no need for UN intervention during that time, but now UN is there, working and helping. They are working now, yes they do, but now... we needed them more many years ago, she says in norsk.
I dont know how she felt after talking about all this, cause she and her family being Maya indeginious themselves faced those injustices. Du trenger også å leser om revolution (you also need to read about the revolution)
Det skal jeg gjøre :)
(that I shall do...)
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