Our first day in Norway was absolutely unforgettable. After arriving in Bergen on Sunday March 16th, where we were warmly welcomed by our host families we started our project PETS on Monday. We kicked off our project on Monday at Tertnes vgs., a Norwegian school. We started the day by introducing ourselves and getting to know the Norwegians and Germans. It was a bit nerve-wracking at first, but also super exciting to meet everyone.
Next, it was our turn to present our school. We had prepared a brief presentation about life back home, and it felt great to share insights about our origins and our school system. The Norwegians seemed genuinely interested and had plenty of questions, which made the whole thing really fun. Afterward, we had lunch together in the school cafeteria. It was a chill atmosphere, and we started to have some interesting conversations—most people were curious about what we thought of Norway so far (spoiler: it’s stunning!).
In the afternoon, the real adventure began: the cabin trip! We took a bus through the most amazing snowy landscapes to a cozy cabin in the mountains. Once we arrived at Kvamskogen, a mountain plateau in the Hardanger region that contains several ski resorts, and more than 1700 cabins, we were divided into four international groups. Our task was to observe and document everything about sustainability throughout the week for our final presentation on Friday. Afterwards, we got straight into cooking together. We made tacos—apparently a Norwegian tradition for these kinds of gatherings. It was so much fun preparing everything as a group and then sitting down to eat and chat.
But, my highlight of the day came later: playing hide and seek in the snow, the Norwegian way! It was dark, the snow was everywhere, and it made the whole game so much more thrilling. We were running around, trying to find each other, and laughing so hard that we completely forgot about the cold. It was a unique experience that I’ll never forget.
After all the excitement, we returned to the warm cabin, where we played a few more games to wind down. It was such a great vibe, and it already felt like we’d known each other forever, even though it was just the first day. All in all, Monday was the perfect start to our Erasmus adventure. We laughed, made new friends, and had so many amazing experiences—and this was just the beginning! (Bea, 7E)
Tuesday
On Tuesday morning, after enjoying a delicious breakfast prepared by our teachers and some students, we took a walk to a nearby mountain, where we spent over an hour sledding. The fresh air and snowy slopes made it an exciting and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Once we finished sledding, we were driven back to the cabin, where a bonfire was set up and sausages were grilled. After our meal, we split into our designated groups to tackle various cleaning tasks around the cabin. Group one was responsible for cleaning the kitchen, which included vacuuming and mopping the floor. Group two took care of the living room, ensuring it was tidy and vacuumed. Group three focused on the bathrooms, cleaning the sinks and toilets while also vacuuming the surrounding area. Lastly, group four cleaned the bedrooms and took out all the trash which was clearly separated in organic waste, paper and plastic.
After completing our chores, we had some free time to play cards, relax, and chat with our newfound friends. When the time came, we packed our backpacks and prepared for the journey back to Bergen.
The bus ride lasted about an hour, and upon arriving at the Åsane Terminal, we all went back to our host families. It was a fun and eventful day, filled with both activities and relaxation. (Magda, 7E)
Wednesday
On Wednesday, we went to mount Fløyen. We took the Fløyen Banen, an electric funicular that operates sustainably, to reach the summit. The mountain is one of Norway´s most famous sites, with an expected 2.5 million visitors in 2025. Once we arrived at the top, we took pictures and were guided to the Fløyen restaurant on top. Ms. Inge explained the sustainable aspects of the area, which included eight energy wells that provides 80% of the heating and ventilation and 40% of the tap water. The restaurant building was beautiful, and a lot of the floors were made from recycled chairs.
Continuing onwards, we went to the lake on top of the mountain, where we enjoyed hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls, called kanelbolle. The nature school offered various activities for kids. We received our tasks for the day. We were split up into two groups and set off to our stations. My group began by making spinning toys out of old Christmas trees. After that, we learned how to cut wood and make a fire. We received an introduction on how to arrange the wood so that the fire wouldn’t go out immediately and so we could place a pot on top.
Once we understood the basics, we got to work cutting. Two members of our team focused on making small splinters, while one person used an axe to chop the larger pieces of wood. After preparing everything we needed, we successfully built our fire.
After these outdoor activities, we returned home to rest before meeting at the ice skating rink. Although the blades of our skates were quite dull, the ice was fantastic for skating. After a while, it was time for our dinner reservation in the city center. Since we were at an Italian restaurant, we enjoyed pizza and pasta while having fun chatting with each other. A bit shocked by the prices, we returned home and quickly fell asleep, smiles on our faces as the exhaustion of the day caught up with us. (Tara, 7E)
Thursday was another exciting and eventful day in Bergen:
Our day in Bergen began with a guided tour of the inner city at Bryggen, a UNESCO world heritage site that consists of the old Hanseatic wharf and buildings, led by students from the Norwegian school participating in this project. They showed us some key spots, including the famous sausage stand, 3 Krones, the university district, several museums (e.g. Bergen Kunsthall, Maritime Museum…), architectural landmarks (e.g. Bergen Cathedral, Bergenhus Fortress or the Rosenkrantz Tower…), and a theatre. It was a wonderful way to immerse ourselves in the city’s culture and history.
After the tour, we had a break, and all the students split into smaller groups to grab a bite to eat. Unfortunately, my friends and I couldn’t finish our meal because we had to catch a tram to the Bergen Science Centre VilVite. Once we arrived, we were divided into four groups and worked on different sustainable tasks that were both interesting and educational. Following the fair, we had the opportunity to experience something unique—the 3 km long Fyllingsdal tunnel designed specifically for cycling, walking, and other sustainable forms of transportation. Walking through it was an exciting experience and truly highlighted Bergen’s commitment on eco-friendly infrastructure.
In the evening, we returned to our host families for a short break before meeting up again for a fun bowling night. It was a fantastic way to end the day, and we all had a fantastic time together. (Julia, 7E)
Friday
On Friday, our last day in Bergen started with waking up and heading to school. The first hour was dedicated to finishing our sustainability projects, which we had been working on throughout the week.
There were four groups, each presenting in different ways:
• Group 1 created a vlog showcasing everything sustainable from the week
• Group 2 made a fun Kahoot quiz about sustainability and concluded with a poem
• Group 3 performed a rap and showed a video, which was considered the most creative—almost everyone agreed on that.
• Group 4 also prepared another Kahoot focused on the sustainable aspects in Norway.
At the end, we voted for the best group, and Group 3 emerged as the winner. Afterward, we participated in another Kahoot quiz to test “how Norwegian we are,” featuring fun questions and interesting facts about Norway. Next, we enjoyed lunch, where we were offered drinks and delicious burritos. Following lunch, we got ready for a hike up Mount Ulriken, the highest of Bergen’s seven mountains, standing at 643 meters (2,110 feet). The hike was quite steep and challenging, but once we reached the top, we took some time to enjoy the breathtaking view and took pictures. Around 3 pm, we took the gondola (cable car) down the mountain and had some free time. As a group, we decided to go home, freshen up, and then meet again at Bryggen to buy souvenirs for our loved ones back home. At 7 pm, we all met at Egon, a very nice restaurant, where we enjoyed our farewell dinner together. Two hours later, some of us went outside the city to a beautiful spot to sing, dance, and watch the northern lights—a perfect ending to a great day and an even greater week. (Betül, 7E)
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