Living in Norway

Most people haven’t even heard of Norway, so I don’t know what you think about when I say Norway. Maybe you have heard of the terrorist attack this summer or maybe the butter-crisis?

Norway is a country in Northern Europe, it is not a small country, but we only have about 4,9 million habitants. We have a very long cost line, and snow in the winter. I could not imagine a better place to grow up in than Norway. The country has an excellent education system, free hospitals, beautiful nature and a more than great economy. Norway has actually been elected the best country to liv in several years in a row. (read here)

In Norway we have something called the welfare state. The Norwegian welfare state assures that no one falls on the outside of the society. For example: If you are handicapped or are not capable of working, the government pays a contribution so that you can afford things like food and clothes. The public school system is free, and you don’t have to pay for your education before you start studying at a university. The perks of living in Norway are many. But for me it is the traditions, nature and culture that make Norway the best place to live. We might not have huge malls or endless high skyscrapers, but we go on ski hikes in the winter, beautiful fjords and the russ celebration. Also Norway is a safe country to live in with a low crime rate compared to other countries.  

I think that the difference between living in China and Norway is big. The countries have two completely different societies, cultures, governments and traditions. It is like to different worlds, with different values and priorities. I can’t compare the two countries, because I don’t know where to begin. They have a communistic regime, are the most populated state in the world and the majority of the population is Buddhist. It seems like the two countries have nothing in common, at least I can’t think of anything. Can you?

Project Lesotho

The other day we started a project, Project Lesotho. The purpose with Project Lesotho is to raise money which we will send to Mamoeketsi Primary School in Lesotho. Our goal is to collect 14 000 NOK (around 2400 USD), the money will primary be used to set up an internetwork for Mamoeketsi Primary School. They will also use the money to buy the most basic things like paper, pencils, food and clothes.

The reason for our cooperation with Mamoeketsi Primary School is that our English teacher became friends with one of the teachers from the Primary School at a conference. The teacher from Lesotho informed about the poor economic situation and their everyday struggles at her school.  She even came to Norway to tell about her country and a project the she has set in process. As Lesotho is a very poor country and have a bad health condition, most people can’t afford going to the doctor. The population use indigenous plants as medicine instead, the only problem is that they rip up the hole root when collect plants. Therefore the indigenous plants are now endangered. The concept for the project started by teacher from Lesotho is to preserve these indigenous plants.

My English teacher though it would be nice if we could help out this Primary school in Lesotho that her friend works at. We, the students, though that was a good idea and have already arranged a collection. For now we have collected about 3500 NOK (about 600 USD), let’s just hope that we can manage to collect 14 000 NOK by March. You see, Akershus County have granted our English teacher and three students permission to fly down to Lesotho and visit Memoeketsi Primary School.