The rest of the week

It is a while since we went back home, but this is the first time I have had some time to check our blog. Since Ragnhild had blogged about what we did on the first and second day, I though I should blog about what we did the rest of the week.


Early on Wednesday morning, we joined some of the children on a music lesson. The music teacher had prepared a presentation about a traveler who  collected music. The traveler stopped and collected music from all parts of the world. The Norwegian students sang "Jeg gikk en tur på stien", and the Russian students sang a song from Kaliningrad.

After the music lesson we went to the World Ocean museum. The museum arranged some activities for us, which was really fun!

After the World Ocean Museum and lunch at the school, three of the psychology students showed us the beautiful city of Kaliningrad. 

Thursday was the last day. We went to the famous Kurshskaya Kosa, the National Park in Kaliningrad. The nature there was really beautiful. 

When we came back to the school, the hard part with  this visit started. We had a meeting with the director and some of the teachers in the school, before we had to say goodbye to all of the new friends we had made at the school. There were lots of sad faces. We ended the day with a visit to the city with the psychology students. 

We were all set the next morning at 6 o'clock in front of the school, really tired, but ready to go back home. The journey had been really successful, and it was really special. I really believe that this was one of the most memorable trip I have ever had. 

-Theresa, 2iba

Tuesday 23.4. Second day of our visit in Kaliningrad.

Tuesday 23.4. from classroom activities and sightseeing in Kaliningrad:

 Beautiful easter eggs made with colourful beads by clever and patient hands!

 Look at the needlework!

 These beautiful pictures are made with amber collected on the seashore by the children!

Sightseeing in Kaliningrad city, here at one of the six old city gates

 Immanuel Kant's grave at the old Königsberg cathedral.

We also paid Maxim Gorkij a visit!

 Always fresh flowers at this World War II Memorial. The memories are still strong, and lots of people have a relative lost in the war.

 The Amber museum

 Games at school

 Who am I?

Here we are!

Just a few glimpses from our first day in Kaliningrad and Skola Internat no 7. We arrived safe and sound yesterday afternoon and settled in our various homes, and met this morning (Monday 22.4.) to have a look around the orphanage and to see what has been done. We also participated in "Master classes" and learned to make beautiful items by our hands, and we visited the zoo together with a group of children. The spring has arrived, it was sunny and warm, and we had a great day!

Patience and accuracy is needed, and this boy has got it! A great picture of two pandas is coming to life between his fingers.

Albina told us what had been done, Maxim translated and we listended.

 Deep concentration.

 Trying to copy these beautiful matrjoskas, step by step.

 Very proud of our craftsmanship!

 Russian and LSK matrjoskas...

We had to have an icecream, of course!

Letter from Skola Internat no 7

We had a letter from Skola Internat no 7 that I want to share with you!

"I want to share with you our small pleasures. With help of money resources of your students we have repaired and equipped with furniture a sewing office (second), modernized an office of socially household orientation where children can study the theory of conducting housekeeping.


Our children (8 football players) have been invited to competitions on minifootball «On the Cup of the President of the Russian Federation» in Sochi. They travelled by the plane. Children worried and afraid to fly by the plane because it was their first life experience. It was amusing to observe them. They have received the grant from your students on personal expenses in a way to competitions and in Sochi.

Our children won "silver" in this competitions! They have won teams from Astrakhan, Khanty-Mansiysk, Norilsk and Moscow Region. But in the ending, has battled with school from Moscow. At the 0:0 the victory was defined by a penalty series.

Certainly, we were upset a little. But, nevertheless, the second place at competitions of such level - excellent result! We congratulate our children! I send you pictures of our young football players in our school and in airport before departure.




We saw the information of students on our joint project on the Internet. Interesting and good photos. All of us remember your arrival and time that we spent together! It was bright event for all of us.

What about your plans for the future?

Greetings to your colleagues and students from all of us."

Now they are waiting for our return, which will be in April 2012!

Glimpses from our trip in April - May 2011

Nine students and two teachers headed for Skola Internat no 7 on April 29th. As usual, we went by bus - our favourite bus company Gjerdrum turbil - to Nynäshamn south of Stockholm, and then by ferry to Gdansk, and then bus again, with Andrej, who has taken us safely to Kaliningrad several times. Since we stuck to the rules this time and didn't carry hundreds of bags ands suitcases, passing the border between Poland and Russia went quickly and painlessly. This year's group of students were as excited as all the previous groups, not knowing where and with whom they would live and how the children would receive them. Of course this went very well - the hospitablity of the Russian host families were warming and made our Norwegian youngsters relax, and even though a mutual language to some extent were lacking , the communication seemed to work out quite well.

The orphans received us with some shyness and a lot of eagerness, and the little nervousness that might have been there, vanished rapidly. Since this was our second visit to school no 7, and since some of the kids knew us from earlier years at Skola no 3, the children had some expectations for the days we were going to spend together, and this gave us a flying start. We had a great week, going on excursions, on picnic, took part in classes, played football... all together with the charming children of Skola Internat no 7 and their friendly, helpful, humourus, warm and hardworking staff. Tears were shed on the day of departure, and there is a lot of memorable moments to cherish and nurse.

If you want to see pictures from Kaliningrad, you'd better search google...

On the first day we went for an excursion in the centre of town with children from 5th class, and here we are on one of the bridges that cross the river Pregolja where the old centre of Königsberg was situated before the bombing during the war. Here newly wedded couples "lock their love" and throw the key into the river.

Teutonic Knights outside the old restored church of Königsberg fascinate the boys.

Chernich, the little orphanage dog, loves the children, and they love him.

Refurbished bathrooms! We were happy to see the results of our fund raising. If you look further down on the blog, you can compare....

 Picnic on the seaside with football, "tourist competition", grilling, Uzbekian pilaff. Great fun, great food, great kids, and impressive work by the grown-ups.

Which group can make a camp first?

The school is happy about their psychology room, wchich we have helped decorate. The room is equipped with different games and gadgets that help the children develop coordination, concentration etc.

Keeping the balance... speachless and intense communication between Russian boy and Norwegian girl.

 Vyatcheslav, or Slava, psychology student, volunteered and practiced at the orphanage, and was a good interpreter for us.

 It is necessary to learn to make the famous and tasty Russian pancakes, blinis! 

Jana's beautiful application.

The pancakes are ready! 

We learned to make hearts and ribbon roses. Katja shows us how to do it!

Planting trees!

New playground challenges the boys. Here they can take out some of their energy!

We visited the new neighbouring school, an impressing, well equipped local school for 800 children from 7 to 17. The orphanage benefit from the neighbour as they use the swimmingpool and other facilities.

 Our Elisabeth impressed us by climbing quickly to the top!

The days before Victory Day, which is May 9th, the Baltic fleet and army practiced for the big parade. The sailors were friendly and smiling, and wars of all kinds seemed far away. Nevertheless, Victory day is a demonstration of muscels and power...

In the National Park of Kurskaya Kasa, the long sand tongue that reaches from Kaliningrad to Lithuania, we visited the ornitological station Fringulla, where migrating birds have been ringed for about a hundred years.

In "The dancing wood".

From the sand dunes, the biggest in Europe. View over the lake.

On our way back to Gdansk, we were lucky to get a brief stay in the old town. Like Königsberg, Gdansk was bombed and destroyed 90% during the World War II, but the city has risen from the ashes. Meticulous and patient work with a great sense for details and being true to history, the beautiful Old town tells many stories. It is strange to think about what Kaliningrad could have been... Bresjnev ordered the ruins of Königsberg Castle torn down as it reminded of the Nazis and of Western imperialism...

Now the Kaliningraders take great interest in the story of their region, and take well care of what is left from Königsberg.

Here are some glimpses from Gdansk!

We had a very nice trip, and hopefully new pupils in Lillestrøm high school's IB class will continue the project!

Welcome back!