 Hey! My name is Grunde Woll Jørandli, I’m 17 years old and I’m
from Kristiansand, Norway. Kristiansand is the fifth largest “city” in Norway,
with around 75,000 inhabitants, and is located on the south coast of Norway.
I’ve lived in Kristiansand all my life with my dad, Inge, my mum, Reidun, and my
5 siblings, Birgitte, Jonas, Vegard, Brede (twin) and Sondre. I know, it’s a big
family. And just so you know, that is not the average number of kids in a
Norwegian family. It’s usually around 2 or 3.
It was one of my brothers, Jonas, who introduced the idea
of being an exchange student to me. He said that he regretted that he didn’t
do it, and said that Brede and I should do it. After reading and thinking
about being an exchange student, I knew that I had to do it. It’s one thing
to say, “oh, why didn’t I think about being an exchange student”, but to
live with the knowledge that I could do it, but didn’t dare, is worse. So
both Brede and I decided to give it a shot, and I ended up in Jacksonville,
Florida, and he in Visalia, California.
I love to travel, and I’ve been to a lot of different
places in Europe. I’m a sporty person, and love to try out different sports.
I’ve played soccer, handball and floor ball in Norway, but I’m open for new
types of sports. On my free time I like to hang out with my friends and
listen to music. In the winter I love to go skiing, both cross country and
downhill, but I guess I wouldn’t be able to do that here, but I’ll survive.
J
After being in the US for 3 weeks, I can’t say that it has
been anything other than great! I’m really enjoying it, and I couldn’t wish
for 3 better families then the ones I got.
The Covington’s, the Klein’s and the Ochoa’s. I have met
all the family members and they are all really nice. I’m really lucky.
J And I want to thank everyone who has made
this opportunity possible for me, and say that I am really enjoying this. |
|
Monday, August 4 was the date when my year abroad would start. I
had been packing and emptying my bags several times since Thursday, July 31, and
was starting to feel ready to go. I couldn’t wait to actually start my year in
Florida, after filling out a lot of forms and answering a ton of questions from
friends and family about what I would think my year would be like.
So on Saturday, August 2, my twin brother and I invited 18
friends over to our house, to get a last evening with our friends before we
left. It was a very nice evening, where we got a chance to say goodbye and,
of course, answer a lot more questions. J
My flight went early on Monday from Oslo (Norway’s
capitol) to Newark, New York. I said goodbye to my parents on the airport,
and went with my brother to the gate. I think that by having my brother with
me a part of the way, made the moment where I said goodbye to my parents
less sad. Because I knew that I wasn’t alone, not yet.
I said goodbye to Brede in New York, and I knew at that
moment, I was alone. But I wasn’t sad. I actually went around at the airport
smiling and thinking. I was in the U.S., I was on my way to Jacksonville, my
new home, and I was really excited. I had a 6 hours waiting time in New
York, but that wasn’t a problem for me. I was sitting there at the gate,
waiting. I didn’t dare explore the airport. I was too happy finding the
right gate, and did not risk it. I also didn’t eat. I was probably hungry,
but I had too much on my mind to be able to eat. When the plane finally
came, I got on it, and fell asleep before it took off. People were already
leaving the plane when I woke up, and I can’t remember being more tired than
I was at that point. I was so sleepy, and I had that annoying sound in my
head from the plane engine. I don’t even have words for how tired I was, and
that was the first impression I would give my host family. I was surprised
by how many people met me at the airport. It was 12: 30 am, but there they
were, with welcome signs, balloons, and, of course, cameras.
I have now been in Jacksonville for a month, and it has
been great. I have been really busy, but in a good way. I’ve never done so
much in a month. Let me give you a short summary of what I did the 3 weeks
before I started school:
1st Week: I arrived, I was out eating with the Covington’s
(my first host family), I met Al Kalter (chairperson for all exchange
students in Florida) and his wife Sue, I had my first Rotary meeting, I had
my school registration, I was out eating dinner with the Klein’s (my second
host family), I was in St. Augustine, and I was at my first football game
with Barry (the Jaguars vs. the Falcons).
2nd Week: I was at Epcot (a part of Disney world in
Orlando), I met Agnete (an exchange student) at the airport, I was at a
pool-party, I had my first cross-country practice, I was at my school
orientation, I was at my second Rotary meeting, I was at my first baseball
game with Al and Sue Kalter (Suns game), and I was tubing in the Ichetucknee
river.
3rd Week: I had my own Surprise-Party, I was out shopping
with Cynde, I was out eating with the Ochoa’s (my third host family), I was
at a Bonfire-party, I experienced my first tropical storm (Fay), and I was
at the Inbound Orientation in Lake Yale for all the Rotary exchange students
in Florida.
I have now started school. The school is very different
from Norwegian school, both in a good and a not that good way. I love that
sports are connected with the school. That is awesome. In Norway I’ve just
been playing on a local team, which isn’t that big of deal. When you’re on
the school team, and you represent the school, it’s much more serious, which
is a good thing. J
A thing that I don’t really like about my school here, is
that you have so little time between the classes. 5 minutes from one
classroom to another isn’t much time, especially at a big school. I’m used
to having 10 minutes between every class, and because my school isn’t that
big, we can use those minutes to relax a bit. We can meet friends and
actually take a break.
Well, I think that’s it for now. I have had a great first
month in Jacksonville, Florida. I can’t believe that it’s only one month
since I left my home in Norway. My life in Norway seems like a totally
different life from this life I’m living now. But at the same time, I can’t
believe it’s already been a month. I’ve enjoyed every week, every day, every
hour, every minute of my exchange so far, and I am really looking forward to
spending the following months here.
|
And I can’t say thanks enough to the people who have made
this opportunity possible for me. My Rotary sponsor club, my Rotary host
club, my three host families, the Covingtons, the Kleins, and the Ochoas,
my family in Norway, and everybody else that has helped me, THANK YOU SO
MUCH! J |
My arrival |
At the Norway pavilion
in Disney World |
Tubing in the
Ichetucknee |
My surprise party |
Inbound orientation
at Lake Yale |
|
Grunde Woll Jørandli
