Settling in.. or so I think so..

Life is getting a little easier every day living here. I think I am adjusting fine to all the differences, such as the food, scenery, school, language, and schedule.

 I get to school each day around 8:15 and I am done by 12:15 or 1ish each day, which is crazy weird and short compared to American schools! The students here also get a lot of breaks, whenever the teacher feels its needed, she lets the students out to play. The playground is way different too. There is some actual play equipment as well as a large open area with dirt piles (due to construction of the new school/playground they are building) and trees in a semi-open area. Students run, jump, dig, climb and play all over the place, and teachers just let them do it! There are not any rules really!

I played soccer with my students today. They are SOO good!

Tire Swings!

School can be quite confusing at times, because I am working with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade, it can be confusing knowing where I should be and when, as well as what I should be doing. I feel like I do a lot of sitting and guessing what the teachers and students are saying to each other. I am becoming very good at reading expressions and guessing what students want. On Wednesday I was in the second grade, I was completely amazed on how much more advanced they are with their English and behavior overall. I was able to get to know all of their names and help them with subtraction in math!

The 2nd grade classroom!

Today we got to go for a trip up near the mountains, not quite in them yet! The 1st and 2nd grades went together and we walked up there and the students got to play and walk around for a bit. I was surprised when all of the students went over and played on the ice, the teachers just let them. Students were sliding on their stomachs and going head first, and the teachers were totally okay with it, which was weird to me, that would never be allowed in America! Two second graders were actually left wandering off into the mountain on this trip. They just continued to walk off and my teacher had to run up to find them over lunch! It was quite scary, but luckily they knew where they were because they lived around that area. 

Students having fun on the ice!

Tomorrow the whole primary and secondary schools get to go on a trip up into the mountains. We will be skiing and sledding in the snow! I am pretty excited to finally get up in the mountains! Check back in a couple days for some pictures of our adventure!

So far, everything has been going so well. I am starting to become more comfortable with everything and I hope to learn some Norwegian very soon, I would like to be able to somewhat talk with my students! Tuesday night us 5 girls went and played volleyball, which was really fun, but also somewhat intimidating. We played with some secondary school teachers, and they were all so good! My arms are bruised from the ball, its been so long since I've played, it was still really fun though! Tonight we are going to Zumba, I have never done it, but am excited to learn. The first grade teacher, Siv, who I work with most at school, is the instructor, so that should be fun!

Definitely loving the view outside our windows in the cabin! The water was so calm yesterday!