Thanks to the Erasmus+ program, I have the opportunity to spend two months in Norway and get to know the school, culture and nature here. I have been here in Molde for five weeks now and have experienced a lot already thanks to my host family, which does a lot of activities with me. I have also made lots of new friends by now!

Molde is a small city located at a Fjord, which is about four hours away from Trondheim. It has a beautiful panoramic view with snowy mountains, and it is only about one hour from the Atlantic coast.
Even though I have already been here for a couple of weeks, I amazed by the beautiful scenery every day.

At the beginning of my stay, we made a trip to the famous Atlantic Street, which consists of eight bridges that connect small islands along the cost of Norway. That was really impressive and perfect for taking cool photos.
Even though the weather in Molde is changing a lot, there has been enough snow for skiing. My host family likes to go on cross country ski trips and to sit by a small fire with marshmallows and hot chocolate afterwards. Even though I have never been skiing before, it was easy enough to learn, so we could soon go on longer trips with more hills together.
Last week the Norwegian students had “Vinterferie”, during which we went on a couple of trips. One day we took the ferry over the Fjord and drove to Ålesund to visit its Aquarium. Ålesund is famous for its beautiful architecture and location on the Atlantic coast. We visited a panorama point from which you could see many islands and fjords.

School life and the school system are very different from Germany! One example is that the Norwegian students decide in 10th grade on what kind of school they want to go. Before that, they all go to the same type of school.
It was especially confusing for me that you call the teachers with their first name, not their family name. I go in the 10th grade of Bergmo Ungdomsskole. My school day starts at half past nine and has three different lessons, which each last one and a half hours. After every lesson there is a break for half an hour. School ends at 2 p.m. every day, even for the 10th grade. There are fewer subjects than at home. Chemistry, Physics and Geography, for example, are all taught in one subject which is called “Naturfag”. We also have “Kunst og Håndwerk”, in which the students learn to sew, crochet, work with wood and develop other crafting abilities.

When I am writing this, I have only four weeks left in Norway, and I am sure that I will experience even more during this time. Norwegian culture is very open-minded, and it is easy to get to know and talk to strangers. So, every time we meet people, we end up singing and playing board games together.
I have never felt homesick since I arrived here, because I love being in Norway and because of the possibility to call my friends and family in Germany whenever I want. On the contrary! I am sad to think of having to leave my Norwegian life soon. A part of me will stay here and I am sure that this will not be my last visit to this beautiful country and the friends that I have made here.

Jael Schramm, 10c

Hej! So begrüßt man sich in Schweden.

Nachdem die Schülergruppe aus Schweden bereits eine Woche bei uns war, sind wir, Schüler der 10. Klassen, am Samstag, den 25. März 2023, auch endlich selbst nach Schweden gefahren. Mit Zwischenstopp in Stockholm dauerte es fast einen ganzen Tag bis wir in der Stadt Örebro angekommen waren. Diese ist ungefähr so groß wie Erlangen und die siebtgrößte Stadt in Schweden. Eines bemerkten wir bei unserer Ankunft sofort: Hier herrschte noch Winter.

Am Sonntag machten wir erstmal ein gemeinsames Barbecue im Schnee. Am Montag zeigten die Schweden uns dann ihre Schule, das Karolinska Gymnasiet, und wir sahen schon etwas von der Stadt. Am nächsten Tag kam direkt ein großes Highlight: Wir fuhren nach Stockholm. Dort besichtigten wir nicht nur den Königspalast und das Nobelpreis Museum, sondern auch Monumente wie die „Vasa“, eines der größten und am besten erhaltenen Segelschiffe ihrer Zeit. Zum Abschluss besuchten wir noch eine Ausstellung über die Europäische Union im Kulturhaus.

In unseren letzten Tagen nahmen wir noch am schwedischen Unterricht teil und machten sogar eine typisch schwedische Fika – ein Kaffeepäuschen mit selbstgebackenen Plätzchen. Schließlich war es am Freitag, den 31. März 2023, auch schon wieder soweit, dass wir nach Hause mussten. Viel zu schnell, wie wir fanden.

Denn dieser Erasmus-Austausch war für uns alle ein Erlebnis und eine Bereicherung, er hat uns nicht nur sprachlich weiter gefördert, sondern uns auch Einblicke in ein neues Land mit seiner Kultur verschafft. Außerdem konnten wir viele neue internationale Freundschaften schließen.

Zum Abschluss blieb uns nur noch, unseren Partnern auf Wiedersehen zu wünschen – oder wie es die Schweden sagen: Hej då!

On Sunday evening, the students from Karolinska Gymnasiet, Örebro, arrived and welcomed by their host families. But we were not yet done traveling!

On Monday morning, we left Erlangen and went to visit castle Schney. There, we participated in the POL&IS roleplay, in which the Swedish and German students took on the roles of nations and international organizations such as the UN. This simulation was conducted in English to help us bond with each other.
We learned a lot about politics and current global affairs. Although it was just a simulation, it felt quite real to us. During these three days, we immersed ourselves completely in the gme and connected with our Swedish partners. We worked hard from morning till evening to complete our diverse tasks in the hope of making our world a better place. Everyone was sad to leave the beautiful location of the castle, but the political fun had to come to an end at some point.

On Wednesday, we returned to Erlangen, no longer burdened by the problems and issues of international politics. Back at the CEG, our exchange partners got to see our school, the city of Erlangen and beautiful Nuremberg. We had lots of fun with our Swedish friends individually and in small groups and made plans for activities with friends in the evening.
Friday, we had to take our exchange students to the train station to say goodbye – or, in Swedish: “hej då!”

Bill (10a) and Jasmin (10c)