On-Arrival Training

In the second week we were at the on-arrival training.

The on-arrival training is a part of the EVS program. As an EVS voluteer you take part in two of these trainings when you are in your host country, the on-arrival training and the mid-term training.

In the training you meet other volunteers (about 25 people) who stay in your host country and you talk, play games, take part in activitiees and get general information about for example the insurance.

The place where we stayed is called Selbu a small village (not even a village more or less four houses) situated a 1h ride from Trondheim.

We were explained that people here in Norway to not measure distances in km or miles but in hours because even if a city is just  60 km away it doesnt mean that you can be there in 45 minutes. It can take 1 1/2h if you are unlucky. This has to with 1. that you are even on highways not allowed to drive faster than 100km/h and 2. you are somewhere between mountains and fjords and you have to cross these.

In Selbu we stayed at the Peder Morset Folkehøgskole. It is a school where disabled and not disabled people live together and do activities like hiking, riding, hunting, media and a lot of other things.

We stayed in a house with other volunteers who are volunteering in Norway.

In the first three days it was much about getting to know each other and therefore we played a looooot of games, which could be in the end a little bit tiring.

We had also some lessons about the Norwegian culture and language and some stuff concerning the EVS like insurance etc.

On thursday we did a hiking trip. Unforunately Charlotte and I had just sneakers with us which was why we had almost a whole lake in our shoes afterwards ...

We walked up on a mountain top and had a little lunch with cheese and bread and a really great view! The day after we had city tour through Trondheim and watched the famous cathedral and the old houses. Some of the group took a beer in a really nice pub and just enjoyed the sun.

For me I have to say that i was a little bit dissapointed because the city I saw is not as beatiful as I expected.

In the evening we went to restaurant in a tower where we had a big meal with pizza as much as we wanted and a great view over the city and the fjord. It was amazing !

Additionally, the platform of the restaurant turned 360 degrees in an hour so we could see all the area around while eating.

On the last day we just had some talking and a social evening where we danced and sang songs and made a quiz with the students.

On Sunday we left at twelve and had to wait four hours until our plane left and we did some games in the airport with all the volunteers.

After one hour flight back in Stavanger (I was holding Andris'hand because of the plane's shaking almost all the way) we unfortunately took the wrong bus from the airport to our home and ended up sitting and freezing no idea where waiting for a bus in our direction.

It was so good to be home again.

Léa