Out in the world

I've just finished a twelve year long epoch of my life. That just doesn't happen every day, but it's just happened. The day I've both dreaded and longed for has already passed. I've graduated! I've finished three years of upper secondary school, twelve years of roll calls, exams and loads of homework. But where am I heading now?

Some of my classmates have already moved to where they're going to study. I'm not leaving yet, but when I'm leaving, I go far... I'm heading for the other side of the line, to where it's colder the more south you go, where it's summer when we're freezing and beef is chewed all the time. Don't cry for me, Argentina! There's nothing to cry about; it'll be the year of my life!

In the meantime I enjoy the replacement of reading glasses with sun glasses.

Freedom!

Freedom!
I finished my last written exam today!
All my books are in the shelf
waiting
for the oral exam.
Freedom!


"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
John 8,36

Level up

Before I started school this year, I got to know what teachers I would have this year. I got very disappointed when I read the list. I didn't get the same teacher in Maths and Chemistry, and I didn't get the teacher I'd been hoping for in rather Religion or History. I got in a bad mood those days and was very frustrated. I even thought I would rather move to Oslo and continue school there than having these teachers.

As school started and went on, I experienced that my frustration was quite unfounded. I actually got quite satisfied with my teachers. I found my behaviour, though I didn't complain very much, quite spoilt. Because these few things didn't get my way, I didn't look forward to the semester. I lost my inspiration and motivation, but didn't even know who my teacher in Maths was or how the teacher in History would teach. Stupid of me, but a very everyday way to react and look at things in Norway, and I guess in other western countries too.

It's like our starting point is a perfect life, and that every little thing that goes "wrong" is cruelly spoiling our life, trying to pull it a level down. And we say "I don't think God likes me," and focus on every problem or challenge instead of counting the blessings. But then, if you rather look at our starting point as a down level life, and that every little thing that actually goes your way is trying to push you life a level up, you soon get in a better mood. You're looking for good things. You look at your day and see it's a good day because you got a text message from a friend who thought of you. The sun shone and somebody found your wrist watch which you had lost. The bus driver smiled to you even though you had to stop it on the road.

In the western world it is a challenge to see the blessings. We are surrounded by them, they're a part of our circumstances. Only when they're gone, we see how lucky and blessed we really are.

I got the teacher I wanted in Physics, in P.E. and in Norwegian. My teacher in Maths is inspiring, and so young! A 26 years old woman teaching Maths - that's so cool! My teacher in History is understanding and does not put anybody's name down if we're late for first class. The Chemistry teacher is calm and is not causing stress. I have a fantastic family, many friends, have been in Oslo three times within a period of six weeks, belong to a loving God who cares about the details in my friends' lives (and in my life). I have food and water and electricity, and lives in a land with democracy. I'm blessed. My life is constantly jumping a level up, but I have to remind myself about it.

Party, party...!

Friday night we had a little gathering, a little party in a way, at my house.
The keywords were Christians at my school, lasagne, salad and white bread, talking, smiling and laughing.

Some weeks ago, the New Generation group at our school decided to arrange a party for the Christians at our school. Not to exclude others, but to make a stronger unity among the ones who believes in Jesus at the school.
To realize this, we put up a list consisting of names on "supposed Christians". Then we planned, made posters and invitations, and waited...

Seven out of the 15 names we'd put up on list, were able to come. Some just couldn't come because of other things, like journeys. This was anyway an excellent number of people to make a relaxed setting. Though I was the hostess, I felt like I could relax (which was very nice after a quite busy school day..).

I think everybody agreed that this sort of gathering should be repeated.

... just the beginning...

A Norwegian lesson out of the ordinary

Our Norwegian teacher fainted today...!

She said she didn't feel well and asked the class to behave extraordinary calm and quiet... She started the roll call, and was half way to the end when she stopped and leant her back against the chair while closing her eyes. The class became more and more quiet... Then she opened her eyes again, and continued the roll call, but with greater problems. She quitted again, and rested her head and arms against the desk in front of her. It was weird. I suggested to my friend that we maybe should go after somebody. But then our teacher suddenly fell sidewards onto the floor.

We were quick, though. A couple of girls ran to her at once, while some other of us ran after grown-ups. The situation was quite weird, a bit creepy, and seemed in a way fake. We were told to leave the classroom, and were updated from time to time.

She regained consciousness after a little while, and sat up by herself. The ambulance came, and she went to the doctor.

Our poor teacher! She wanted to continue the lecturing after she "woke up"! She's that kind of person who hates staying at home by reason of sickness, but now she needs to be home until Thursday...

This incident made me think about two things:

* That I, when she fainted, actually didn't know exactly what to do, the right way to react, (that's maybe why I ran after some grown-ups instead) - what if I come into a more serious situation later, which require me to act even more quicker? What if it is about life and death? Hello! I even wondered if it was the right thing to give an unconscious person water!! My knowledge is really imperfect at this field...

* That some people don't know they're own limitations and that this could harm them very badly some day (even though everything went very well this time, after all...)

Good things happens

During the last week, a lot of good things have happened.

E.g. last Friday, when I had a long talk about Jesus, God, the gospel, sin, the Old Testament, the New Testament (and the difference), ++, with a good friend.

Or Tuesday, when the school year's first praying meeting gathered six people - twice the number of people normally gathered last year.

Or yesterday, when a girl I often talk to at the bus, came together with me to 3pStation, our church's youth group.

Or today, when New Generation at my school arranged a stand in the canteen, which made our school mates in a good mood, and moreover gave a friend of me the ability to preach the gospel to some of her class mates.

:)

(Photo: Illustration)

Back to school...

Yesterday: First day at school. A lot of talking from our always-talking-Norwegian-teacher-who-this-year-will-teach-not-
only-Norwegian-but-also-citizenship-and-because-of-that-she's-
going-to-talk-in-not-lesser-than-eight-of-my-school-lessons--
teacher...
BUT also a lot of nice talking to my school mates who I haven't seen since June! :D That was nice :)

Today: The school year's first lessons...
Spanish, Chemistry and Maths.
I had to concentrate more than usual during the Spanish lesson today, since I studied French this summer... (It's "Me llamo Silje," not "Je m'appelle Silje", and "ahora," not "maintenant"... hehe ;P)

We've got homework. Already. In all today's subjects. But not much. Luckily.

I have a new teacher in Maths this year! I'm very satisfied, because last year's teacher made me feel like Maths was boring (and I know it really isn't...). It seems like Maths is going to be more interesting this year...

We have got four new students in our class. One of the new girls is taking Maths, Physics and Chemistry, so probably we'll do some co-operating :)

At Friday we're going to make body lotion in Chemistry.
Cool!

Finished, done, the end!

I don't have any school left this semester!
Unless I get an oral exam.
But that won't happen :)
(My teacher said the odds were inconceivable low...)

... and it's only the 9th of June!

Exam time...

The class are to be examined in English next Thursday (1st of June).
There were only two out of five classes (on my level) that are to be examined.
We got to know yesterday.
The sports class are to be examined in training doctrine (?)...
It's not that bad.
This is my final year studying English, actually.
Maybe it'll be a nice "the end"?
And the probability for having an oral exam is now rather small... :D
Not bad!!!

A shallow text about homework

I like school...

I like the people there...
Especially those in my class... :
The people I know very well in my class...
The people I know a bit in my class...
The people I nearly don't know in my class...
Most of the teachers...

I like most of the subjects... :
I like Spanish...
I like English...
I like Nature & Science...
I like Mathematics...
I almost like Norwegian...
Most of times like P.E. ...
I sometimes like Economy...

But I really don't like homework!
Especially when I don't fix the tasks...
Especially when it's in Maths...
Because I normally fix all the tasks in that subject...
But today I don't.

I'm glad my teacher in Maths do.

The Greatest Christmas Gift

I know, I know! Why read about Christmas in February?
Don't ask! Just read! :)

Few days before Christmas Eve (2005) the New Generation group at our school (together with another Christian schoolgroup) arranged "The greatest Christmas gift" where we gave away more than forty New Testaments and told the people that came about Jesus - the Christmas Gift from God. And people really listened!
You know, to be a Christian is not to do a lot of stuff. To be a Christian is to accept and receive the Great Gift from God - Jesus! It's all about a relationship - Jesus wants to be your best friend!
You can read more about this happening (in Norwegian) at the Norwegian New Generation Website. (Just click the headline or the picture.)

Term has started...

Well... then the summer vacation came to its end and people from Sortland have already finished a whole week at school...
For me and those who are as old as I am, this week has been more special because we've started at a new school (videregående skole) with new teachers and new classmates. Yeah, it has been an interesting week...! Only four persons from my old class join me in the new one.... But luckily two of them are two of my best friends! :)
My teachers seem to be very clever and professional, and the class starts to act like a class (if you know what I mean...), which I think is very positive! :)

It doesn't seem like we have so much homework to do as last year either.... :)

~ Silje ~

This is the Norwegian New Generation website. It is updated very often (maybe not now in summer) and gives reports of what happens through New Generation at schools all over the country.
Read more about New Generation in my article "What is New Generation?" or better; check out New Generation at their own website.
(Just click the picture or the link to the right...)

What is New Generation?

New Generation is a Christian pupil- and students' organization started by Stephan Christiansen, a man from the south (-east?) of Norway. New Generation have over 200 schoolgroups only in Norway. The organization's vision is to make the Christian gospel available in every school in Norway through these schoolgroups. The groups consist of pupils/students at the school. Most of the groups pray for their school - for example their teachers and classmates - every week. Often they arrange meetings or maybe a good-mood-arrangement for everybody at the school - to make Jesus known in the correct and not-manipulated way.

If you want to read more about New Generation, please click at one of the links to the right.

My dear Solveig

Yesterday I had to say goodbye to Solveig, a friend I've known for about five years. She's around 20, and she's been a great Inspiration (with a big "I"!) to me in the New Generation-work at school. She's very creative, she always sees the possibilities and she never gives up. Her heart is in the right place and she always wears a smile :)

This morning she started to drive to Stavanger where she's got work at the New Generation national office. I will probably not see her before September - if I go to nordic 05 - a big international New Generation festival which will take place in Scandinavium, Göteborg, Sweden.

It was very strange to see her empty flat yesterday. While everybody else at her age moved from Sortland, where I live, to study, she stayed, working as a school-evangelist.

Solveig - du e diggbar og du rula! Gleda mæ t å se dæ igjen!

~ Siljeklem ~