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So far Edmund Cluett has created 595 blog entries.

International Food Festival

2018-10-16T09:32:28+01:00September 18th, 2016|

On Saturday 17 September RCN students Azlin (US), Juan Pablo (Colombia), Paula (Germany) and Ximena (Guatemala) joined local 4-H youth and young asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Syria to prepare a feast for members of the local community at Hyllestad School. This was the realisation of our first collaborative project with the 4-H, and we learned that food can bring people together in wonderful ways!

The planning for the event began in the spring, but the concrete preparations took place in three sessions this term. First the students joined their partners for an afternoon of ice-breakers and cooking, followed by a dinner together where they sampled and learned about each others’ dishes. The night before the event we met to set up tables and prepare the gym at Hyllestad School. On this occasion Juan Pablo’s chicken dish was the focus of a meal before we headed home to rest up before the Big Day.

The kitchen at Hyllestad School was a hive of activity on the 17th, with food from Afghanistan, Syria, Norway, Guatemala, Colombia, Germany and Mexico prepared at different stations and a harmonious, supportive, enthusiastic atmosphere fostered by the cooks and supervisors. The meal was scheduled to begin at 13.00 and we had no idea how many to expect, but visitors began arriving at 12.30 and patiently waited as food was gradually brought to the gym, served, and – as many empty plates and smiling faces suggested – enjoyed by those in attendance.

Once the food had all but disappeared the Mottak youth set up speakers, put on their music and danced, drawing others into their orbit and adding a special element to the day. We have been enjoying the company of youth from Sørbøvåg mottak at our weekly community gammaldans, but this time they showed us their dances, filling the school lobby with their energetic movements and sounds.

Thor Heyerdahl Jr Lecture

2018-10-16T09:32:31+01:00September 14th, 2016|

Thor Heyerdahl Jr being introduced in the auditorium

Thor Heyerdahl Jr being introduced in the auditorium

This week we have welcomed Thor Heyerdahl Jr to UWC Red Cross Nordic.

His father, Thor Heyerdahl – scientist, archaeologist, author and explorer – played a hugely significant part both as International Patron of the United World College movement and, at a later stage, in developing the concept of a United World College in Norway. We continue to be grateful for the support and energy Thor Heyerdahl committed to the establishing of our College in the fjords.

Please click here for the speech given by Thor Heyerdahl at the official opening of the College on 30th September 1995.

Thor Heyerdahl Jr, his son, has this week been visiting classes at RCN, meeting the management teams at the College and RKHR about developments on campus and projects and the Biology / E systems teachers, and has visited Flekke School. He also gave a hugely stimulating presentation, entitled ‘In and Out of my Father’s Footsteps’ to all students and the Education Staff in the auditorium – part of our commitment to the Environmental and Nordic Pillars and to educating the current generation of students about the history of the College and the UWC legacy of Thor Heyerdahl.

Please click here for a speech given by Rektor Richard Lamont (at the Nordic Association as part of the centenary celebrations of Thor Heyerdahl) about the vision of Thor Heyerdahl and the other members of the founding team of this College.

Thor Heyerdahl taught us of the possibilities of living on a raft or papyrus ship within speaking and touching distance – day and night – with ‘room only for people who could shake each other by the hand’. Following in the footsteps of Thor Heyerdahl and those responsible for the founding of the College, we continue to encourage our students and staff to contribute to society, both now and in the future, by reaching an open hand to fellow humans everywhere.

Kayak Leader Course at RCN

2018-10-16T09:32:31+01:00September 14th, 2016|

In the wavesLast weekend the Autumn Kayak Leader Course happened, luckily in good weather! Ten second year students qualified to become Kayak leaders at RCN over the two-day course. On Saturday we focused on personal skills and techniques: paddle strokes, packing, entry and exit of kayak and a fair amount of practice rescues. We stopped for  lunch spot at the end of Flekke fjord on Ungholmen in beautiful weather. The day ended with lots of capsizing, rescues and good-natured splashing. Before dinner we packed kayaks and most of the equipment on the trailer in anticipation of the Sunday.

On the fjord

The final day we had decided to drive to the coast to get to paddle in a different environment, and possibly get to experience some wind and waves. A 40-minute drive saw us at Korssund where we packed our boats and put into the water. We paddled through the narrows and went out to sea where we were more exposed to wind and waves. Some of the participants tried out the waves in areas where the waves were breaking, while the others started preparing lunch. After refueling we followed the coast north with a fair amount of wind and some waves coming at us from the south-west. It was a slightly exciting journey for some but everyone made it without going into the water. The rest of the journey was easier but the need for towing ended up being necessary as one participant got seasick. After a long day on the water we arrived back at the starting point at Korsssundet. We got into dry clothes, and packed up the kit, we evaluated the trip and summed up the course before going back to the College.

Our newest kayak leaders are Sina, Amanda, Alberte, JP, Bela, Mai, Maria, Azlin, Magnea and Marloes.

Takk for turen

There is More in You than You Think

2016-09-08T15:28:31+01:00September 8th, 2016|

Anne-Mette Bredahl held the introductory lecture to our RCN Life Skills Programme for first year students. The lecture is part of our work to strive continuously towards building a resilient culture at the College. At an individual level Anne-Mette told about her great loss in life – when she became blind shortly after graduating from school. She had to re-learn and re-navigate, and – to her great surprise – discovered her athletic potential.  The discovery was made when embracing a new element – the Norwegian winter, by finding where her own possibilities and limitations were and by her interactions with others. Food for thought for our new students who are taking to an entirely new community and environment amid the fjords.
Anne Mette-Bredahl is visiting Haugland as a psychologist, as part of a professional team from Sunnås Hospital.  As an athlete she has won numerous gold medals from both the Paralympics and World Championships in Nordic Skiing.

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‘There is more in you than you think’ is a quote from Kurt Hahn – founder of UWC.

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