Viking Magazine - September 2018 - 25

The collaboration
with Telemark,
its successes
and next
steps were the
focus of group
discussion at
Sons of Norway
headquarters,
Minneapolis.
bring the ones he whittled for me to
Norway and take pictures of them in
front of the amazing scenery. "
For Sonja Zbinden, the trip to
Norway was a chance to explore a
region she'd always had a fascination
with. During her week-and-a-half
visit this past March, she-along with
Livingston and 13 other students-
A Lasting Impact
While the Norwegian
students have not yet had
an opportunity to come to Minnesota,
Porsgrunn's teachers have made
multiple trips, meeting with faculty at
Minnetonka High School to determine
ways they can implement some of their
teaching strategies back in Norway.
Faculty from Porsgrunn and
Minnetonka high schools met
to share their enthusiasm and
ideas for the exchange.
and an idea exchange, " Wacker says.
" It's wonderful to see how some of our
material is being implemented in the
larger world. "
" I don't think any of us took the
experience for granted. We really made
the most of it while we could. "
-Sonja Zbinden, student
lived with a host family, attended
IB classes at Porsgrunn and spent a
day sightseeing around Oslo. Her
favorite part, however, was learning
to Telemark ski among the fjords
and mountains of Rauland, where,
at night, she bonded and cooked in a
cabin with her American classmates
and new Norwegian friends. " It's
really special, " she says. " I don't think
any of us took the experience for
granted. We really made the most of it
while we could. "
Minnetonka's Writing Center-
staffed by English teachers and student
writing coaches to help students
with everything from college essays
to scholarship applications-was of
particular interest. On a recent visit to
the school last December, Porsgrunn
staff spent time learning more about
the Writing Center, how it's run and
its purpose. As a result, Porsgrunn is
opening the doors to its own skrive
senter this October. " It's a cultural
exchange, as well as a curriculum
But the impact of the program goes
far beyond the classroom. From big
takeaways-like the Minnetonka
students learning to forge their
independence-to fun lessons taught by
the Norwegians, such as foreign phrases
and how to make authentic Norwegian
waffles, the lasting effects this experience
has on students and teachers alike is
undeniable.
" The volunteer hours I put into this
program are paid back tenfold by seeing
these students interact so well with
other students from another country, "
say Wacker, who this fall kicks off the
fourth year of the Norway program at
Minnetonka. " There are no barriers.
They see each other for who they are,
and when you look at all the divisiveness
around the world, and you see these
students build these great relationships
and exchange ideas-whether religious
or political-it gives you hope. "
sonsofnorway.com VIKING SEPTEMBER 2018 25
http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - September 2018

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