Kayaking, Mountain biking, Hiking & Co.

Exam

After spending the last few days studying a lot, I'm glad that the theoretical exam on May 11th will finally be over.

Since we don't have any trips for the rest of this week and next week, we will do some things at home and in the surroundings.

Buns and Cake

The two Danes from our course are masters at baking their own buns. After being jealous of their delicious buns for weeks, they offered us a kind of workshop where they explained how to make buns and gave us some tips. My first homemade buns taste great!

In addition to homemade buns, I also have my favorite cake this week. Maike baked me a kiwi cake for my birthday, which turned out to be excellent!

Kayak Day Trip

On Thursday after the exam, May 13th, we have our first kayak trip starting from the university. This day trip is intended as preparation for our larger kayak trip at the end of May/beginning of June. We meet in the morning at the rowing club in Kristiansand, right on the Otra. First, we go over some theoretical content about kayaking with Len on land. We learn how to hold the paddle correctly, how to behave in case of capsizing, and so on. Then we head into the water. First, we practice the different paddle strokes. Most of us are already familiar with them from canoeing, but it's different in a kayak with a different paddle. After all the technique exercises, we paddle upstream. We stop from time to time and get new input from Len. For example, we learn a lot about the flow dynamics of a river and how to cross rivers with a kayak. We go ashore for a lunch break. After that, we continue paddling upstream, crossing the river a few times for practice, and then return.

When we arrive back at the rowing club in the afternoon, the dreaded capsize training is on the agenda. Each of us has to intentionally capsize at least once and free ourselves from the kayak so that Len, and also ourselves, know that we can handle it if it happens for real. Overcoming the fear of capsizing is a challenge for me because I'm afraid of not being able to get out of the upside-down kayak. The 8°C cold water doesn't reduce my skepticism. Once I overcome it, I realize that the fear of not being able to free myself from the kayak is completely unfounded. It's easier than I thought. Since I was excited and somewhat frantic during the first capsize, Len advises me to do it again. So once more! After the capsize training, we pull the kayaks ashore and load them onto Len's kayak trailer. Then we quickly change into dry clothes and walk home.

Arendal

It's Sunday, May 16th. I'm going to Arendal together with some classmates. Arendal is about a 50-minute drive from Kristiansand on the coast. We go hiking on Tromøya, an island in Arendal. It's very flat here.

We walk along the beach and through a troll forest, which lives up to its name with intertwined branches and trees. Sometimes it feels like being in a fairy forest.

National Day ~ May 17th

May 17th is National Day in Norway! This day commemorates the signing of the constitution on the same date in 1814. It is a tradition on this day to have a hearty brunch with friends and family, watch parades, speeches, and concerts in the city in the afternoon, and enjoy fireworks in the evening. On Norway's National Day, around 13 million hot dogs are eaten (with 5.4 million inhabitants) and large quantities of ice cream are sold. I have heard that children are allowed to eat as many hot dogs and ice creams as they want on this day. In addition, Norwegians wear their traditional costumes on this day.

Despite Corona and rain, some parades, speeches, and a live concert take place this year as well. In the early afternoon, some other exchange students and I walk into town to watch the ship regatta, the speech at the harbor, and the brass band.

After the speech and the brass band, a live band plays on the stage for two hours. We celebrate and dance on the field in front of the stage in pouring rain.

Because of all the ERASMUS students, you hardly see any Norwegians anymore. They probably went home after the speech due to the bad weather.

In the late evening, the city fills up again. At 11 pm, a beautiful firework is set off at the harbor, which neither the Norwegians nor us ERASMUS students want to miss.

After the fireworks, we take the bus (public transportation is even free on National Day) back to campus.

Grimstad and Lillesand

On Wednesday, May 19th, I take a day trip to Grimstad and Lillesand with three friends. Grimstad and Lillesand are small towns located on the south coast of Norway, a little further east than Kristiansand. First, we go to Grimstad. Our main goal is to visit the second location of our university, 'UiA' (University of Agder), in Grimstad. The UiA in Grimstad focuses on 'Technology', and the buildings inside are very impressive. However, the town of Grimstad itself doesn't have much to offer besides a small harbor and a pedestrian street in the city center.

After visiting Grimstad, we continue to Lillesand. I already like Lillesand much better. We walk along the harbor, through streets with typical white wooden houses, and up to a viewpoint.

After a break at the viewpoint and having some ice cream, we return to Kristiansand.

Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park

The university and the city of Kristiansand offer all exchange students in Kristiansand a free visit to the zoo and amusement park called 'Kristiansand Dyrepark'. So on Friday, May 28th, I go to the park with three classmates. We spend half a day there. The 'Polar Park' section is home to Nordic animals. Here, we see wolverines, moose, wolves, lynx, and an Arctic fox, which are typical for the Scandinavian countries.

Bike Tour to Ålo

Ever since the multi-day bike tour to the South Cape in April, I've wanted to visit the picturesque village of Ålo on the south coast again. Maike joins me, and we borrow mountain bikes from the university to start a bike tour on Saturday morning, May 29th. On the way there, we take our time. We stop where we like or take detours to see bays and beaches.

We enjoy the scenery and the sunny weather. Both the coastal landscape and the weather sometimes make you feel like you're in Greece.

In the early afternoon, after about 40 km, we reach Ålo. I take some pictures here, and we sit by the water and have lunch.

However, not for too long, because we want to take a longer break at one of the beaches we discovered on the way there. So we turn around and head back. We stop at Høllesanden beach and take a slightly longer break. We sunbathe and go into the sea.

In the late afternoon, we continue our journey back home. We arrive home around 6 pm. The bike tour was approximately 80 km long.

Since it is still very warm in the sun when we arrive home, Maike and I prepare a pasta salad and baguette and have dinner by a lake in Jegersberg.

Hiking in Baneheia

The day after the bike tour, we only pack our backpack for the next and final trip and go hiking in the local area of Baneheia in the afternoon.

Final Spurt

Day after tomorrow, on May 31st, we will embark on our final trip with our Outdoor Education group! The last trip is the kayak trip to the island of Randøya. We will spend three days on Randøya and not only go kayaking but also learn more coastal activities such as motorboating, rowing, and fishing. We will also have a biology session on the coast.

Stay tuned for my next blog post about this final university trip!

Until then,                                                                                                Sara