Reading Buddy + Winter Travel Plans

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         At the beginning of the year, a group of Norwegians volunteered to be lesevenner (reading friends) for the NLC class. We were each assigned a lesevenn, and our goal was to each meet up 15 times before Christmas break to read. 

        My reading buddy is a girl from the Global Class named Kristine (kris-teen-eh) and she is wonderful! Our first meeting in one of the first weeks of school was very awkward--I'd barely read a word of Norwegian before, and we didn't know each other. Now, we are great friends, and look forward to hanging out and reading Harry Potter together!

        Reading is one of my favorite ways of leaning Norwegian. I read some, and Kristine checks my pronunciations, and then she reads some so that I can hear the flow and read along to understand better. I've always been an avid reader, and tend to read well, so starting in a new language at a children's level was personally difficult. 

        My reading ability has greatly changed since I arrived--when I first began, I was reading badly and not understanding anything. Eventually I started to get the hang of the words, so my speed and flow got better, but I still couldn't understand much. Now, I am able to understand a lot more, which sometimes means my flow is off because I'm taking the time to comprehend. It's been a very interesting learning process, and I'm glad to have someone like Kristine helping me along. 

        I tell you this because Kristine was kind enough to invite me north with her to her home in Harstad for the beginning of Christmas break! We flew north yesterday on the 11th of December, and I am staying until the 16th. It is above the Arctic Circle so the sun never rises, and it's only light for a few hours a day. We took covid tests today--mandatory because of the travel--so hopefully by tomorrow we'll be cleared to explore the city. I'm so excited, and while I might not be able to go home for Christmas, I have fantastic plans waiting for me, both here in Harstad, and with all of my family at Aurebekk! 



Comments

  1. Andrea Hansen RitchieDecember 12, 2020 at 5:23 PM

    Love this! What an adventure!

    ReplyDelete
  2. JoyceDecember 13, 2020 at 9:58 AM

    Beautiful! Have a wonderful time

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sonja MerzDecember 14, 2020 at 5:42 AM

    Hope you're having a great time and staying warm up above the Arctic Circle!

    ReplyDelete
  4. KevinDecember 14, 2020 at 6:32 AM

    Hope you will be able to see the northern lights while you are there.

    ReplyDelete

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