Thursday, June 24, 2010
Lærer, gi meg din hånd
One more item . . . This is a poem that I saw throughout Norway hanging in the schools. It is very special. It is called "Teacher, give me your hand." It discusses the not so perfect child striving for the respect and kindness of the teacher, even when being the most difficult. I found it very special and wanted to share.
Lærer, gi meg din hånd
av Magnus Midthjell
Gi meg din hånd, lærer!
Jeg er ikke som jeg skulle.
Er ikke som du vil.
Forstyrrer i timene, skravler,
Kommer med kommentarer
til ting du sier.
Er vel litt frekk enkelte ganger.
Du får klage på meg.
Bråk i gangen ved inn- og utmarsj.
De sier jeg slåss i friminuttene.
Doven, jo jeg virker vel slik.
Mye slurv i hjemmearbeidet.
Regneboka er ikke pen,
fettete og stygg
med mange feil.
Jo, jeg leser nok litt lekser,
Men ikke så mye.
Det hjelper så lite.
Jeg får ikke noe inn i hodet.
Du sier jeg må konsentrere meg.
Ikke så lett det, lærer,
Når en ikke er glad,
og når tankene flyr
som fugler over hav
uten kvist å sette fot på.
Stort å være glad, lærer.
Da ville jeg ikke vært slik som jeg er nå
Ikke vær sint på meg lærer.
Jeg mener egentlig ikke
å være vemmelig
Gi meg din hånd, lærer.
En usynlig hånd av kjærlighet.
Jeg venter ikke ros for prøver
eller for orden i skriftlige arbeider.
Men lyset i dine øyne
Det leter jeg etter
det som jeg ser der
når de flinke får sine prøver tilbake.
De med få eller ingen feil.
Gi meg litt vennlighet, lærer
en hånd av kjærlighet
fordi jeg er et menneske
med et hjerte som er tungt
bak en flirende maske.
Gi meg din hånd, lærer,
en utstrakt hånd av kjærlighet.
Lærer, gi meg din hånd
av Magnus Midthjell
Gi meg din hånd, lærer!
Jeg er ikke som jeg skulle.
Er ikke som du vil.
Forstyrrer i timene, skravler,
Kommer med kommentarer
til ting du sier.
Er vel litt frekk enkelte ganger.
Du får klage på meg.
Bråk i gangen ved inn- og utmarsj.
De sier jeg slåss i friminuttene.
Doven, jo jeg virker vel slik.
Mye slurv i hjemmearbeidet.
Regneboka er ikke pen,
fettete og stygg
med mange feil.
Jo, jeg leser nok litt lekser,
Men ikke så mye.
Det hjelper så lite.
Jeg får ikke noe inn i hodet.
Du sier jeg må konsentrere meg.
Ikke så lett det, lærer,
Når en ikke er glad,
og når tankene flyr
som fugler over hav
uten kvist å sette fot på.
Stort å være glad, lærer.
Da ville jeg ikke vært slik som jeg er nå
Ikke vær sint på meg lærer.
Jeg mener egentlig ikke
å være vemmelig
Gi meg din hånd, lærer.
En usynlig hånd av kjærlighet.
Jeg venter ikke ros for prøver
eller for orden i skriftlige arbeider.
Men lyset i dine øyne
Det leter jeg etter
det som jeg ser der
når de flinke får sine prøver tilbake.
De med få eller ingen feil.
Gi meg litt vennlighet, lærer
en hånd av kjærlighet
fordi jeg er et menneske
med et hjerte som er tungt
bak en flirende maske.
Gi meg din hånd, lærer,
en utstrakt hånd av kjærlighet.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Velkommen hjem!
We have arrived in Columbia. The flight back was fairly painless until the JFK to Charlotte leg - which took forever. The Oslo and Helsinki airports really have their customs and check in systems down to a science. There isn't the uncontrolled chaos that seems to fill the busy US airports. Finnair was a terrific airline and I would recommend them to any one - very comfortable and friendly. The suitcases are getting unpacked and the slow acclamation back to reality. I know it was not as hot today as it has been, but wow, it caught us off guard. After being cold for the last two weeks our body chemistry couldn't quite regulate at first. Still feeling tired and looking forward to heading to bed very soon. I am excited to go to work tomorrow and sharing all of the wonders we saw. I will upload the Bergen pictures tomorrow.
As a man at the Oslo airport teased me - we have now seen more of Norway than many Norwegians. It has been in many ways life changing. Thank you so much for following along with me, it has been an amazing adventure I will never forget.
Klem fra Maria!!!
As a man at the Oslo airport teased me - we have now seen more of Norway than many Norwegians. It has been in many ways life changing. Thank you so much for following along with me, it has been an amazing adventure I will never forget.
Klem fra Maria!!!
Riding home to Oslo
We took the overnight train back to Oslo. We stopped at all of the lovely small towns back to Oslo. Voss where they make the yummy water and all of the others. Sadly we did not have time to go up the Flåm. I wish we could have, but I think we saw more of the country than imagined in two weeks.
I wish I could tell you we rested on the train and arrived at the airport refreshed, but I cannot. It train ride was scenic and of course it was bright as dawn all night. In addition, it would be like sleeping on a roller coaster, up and down and through the mountains. Fortunately, Morgan slept. Her powers of sleep are amazing, she has been able to sleep well the entire trip. Simply boggles the mind.
We arrived in Oslo yesterday and began the long trek home.
I wish I could tell you we rested on the train and arrived at the airport refreshed, but I cannot. It train ride was scenic and of course it was bright as dawn all night. In addition, it would be like sleeping on a roller coaster, up and down and through the mountains. Fortunately, Morgan slept. Her powers of sleep are amazing, she has been able to sleep well the entire trip. Simply boggles the mind.
We arrived in Oslo yesterday and began the long trek home.
Fløibanen Funicular
First of all, I totally forgot to tell you one of the neatest things about the hotel in Bergen was that it is haunted. There are two nice ghosts who live in the oldest part of the hotel. One of them is named Elise. We never met them, but we did look.
There are always those word that sound so funny you have to love them. One of them for me is funicular. For this reason, I have always wanted to ride one. The Fløibanen Funicular in Bergen is one of the world's most famous. We rode to the top of the Fløyen mountain to see the view and we were given so much more. The ride itself, up the funicular was inspiring. The incline was so steep you felt you would fall off. The windows and roof provided a spectacular view. Once we reached the top it was a lovely retreat we did not expect. The views as mentioned earlier were unbelievable. In addition, there was a wonderful restaurant in a beautiful old building with a lovely large veranda, a playground, and numerous hiking trails. We had the best time exploring the trails and playing on the playground. It was a wonderful way to spend a few hours discovering the area.
Later we came back down the mountain and finished exploring Bergen. We walked over to the Akvariet the Bergen Aquarium. The seal show was a lot of fun. Our zoo and the South Carolina aquarium are really so amazing that we were a little underwhelmed. But it was nice to visit.
The city was so pretty, the whole region is lovely. More later!!!!
There are always those word that sound so funny you have to love them. One of them for me is funicular. For this reason, I have always wanted to ride one. The Fløibanen Funicular in Bergen is one of the world's most famous. We rode to the top of the Fløyen mountain to see the view and we were given so much more. The ride itself, up the funicular was inspiring. The incline was so steep you felt you would fall off. The windows and roof provided a spectacular view. Once we reached the top it was a lovely retreat we did not expect. The views as mentioned earlier were unbelievable. In addition, there was a wonderful restaurant in a beautiful old building with a lovely large veranda, a playground, and numerous hiking trails. We had the best time exploring the trails and playing on the playground. It was a wonderful way to spend a few hours discovering the area.
Later we came back down the mountain and finished exploring Bergen. We walked over to the Akvariet the Bergen Aquarium. The seal show was a lot of fun. Our zoo and the South Carolina aquarium are really so amazing that we were a little underwhelmed. But it was nice to visit.
The city was so pretty, the whole region is lovely. More later!!!!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Bergen
We had one of the best nights sleep in a while last night. This beautiful old building, was comfortable, economical and simply wonderful. If you ever stay in Bergen and want something other than a commercial hotel, I would visit Det Hanseatic Hotel.
We are heading out now to take the funnicular up the mountain. I'll write more tonight.
Klemmer!!!
We are heading out now to take the funnicular up the mountain. I'll write more tonight.
Klemmer!!!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Bergen - wow!
We had our first rays of sunshine this morning as we cruised down the coast. The colors of the unfolding landscape was simply stunning. Even Morgan remarked that even the rocks are beautiful. I am so grateful that we were blessed with sunshine while here. It is amazing how the colors explode once the sun shines.
The ship pulled into Bergen this afternoon to sunny skies and crystal blue waters. I have to say that Bergen is the most beautiful of Norway's large cities. The rhododendron and lilacs are in full bloom. The brygge (harbor) area is alive with history and beauty. The city is nestled between seven mountains and the neighborhoods scale up along the mountainsides - WOW!!
The hotel we are staying at is the Det Hanseatic Hotel. It is located in the brygge in the Hanseatic buildings. The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities to establish and maintain a trade monopoly along the coast of Northern Europe - Like OPEC today. It stretched from across Europe during the 13th–17th centuries. The Hanseatic cities had their own law system and furnished their own protection and mutual aid. They were political powerhouses in their own right. Bergen was one of the main trade cities for the league and the buildings from the time period are part of the world heritage protection.
The hotel is part of these buildings, and it is beautiful and exactly like I had hoped. The building is from the 17th century built upon the foundation from a 13th century buidling. It is old timbers and lush colors. After the two nights at sea not sleeping I am incredibly excited about sleeping in this wonderful old hotel. We are right on the water and we can hear the sea gulls and water activity. It is so soothing.
Tomorrow we will explore more of Bergen beyond the water front.
Hugs to all!
The ship pulled into Bergen this afternoon to sunny skies and crystal blue waters. I have to say that Bergen is the most beautiful of Norway's large cities. The rhododendron and lilacs are in full bloom. The brygge (harbor) area is alive with history and beauty. The city is nestled between seven mountains and the neighborhoods scale up along the mountainsides - WOW!!
The hotel we are staying at is the Det Hanseatic Hotel. It is located in the brygge in the Hanseatic buildings. The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities to establish and maintain a trade monopoly along the coast of Northern Europe - Like OPEC today. It stretched from across Europe during the 13th–17th centuries. The Hanseatic cities had their own law system and furnished their own protection and mutual aid. They were political powerhouses in their own right. Bergen was one of the main trade cities for the league and the buildings from the time period are part of the world heritage protection.
The hotel is part of these buildings, and it is beautiful and exactly like I had hoped. The building is from the 17th century built upon the foundation from a 13th century buidling. It is old timbers and lush colors. After the two nights at sea not sleeping I am incredibly excited about sleeping in this wonderful old hotel. We are right on the water and we can hear the sea gulls and water activity. It is so soothing.
Tomorrow we will explore more of Bergen beyond the water front.
Hugs to all!
