The trip began at Munich Airport. For many, it was their first flight, so we stayed in groups and explored the airport. We had planned plenty of time, so we were able to have lunch and go through security without any stress. After a smooth flight, we arrived in Oslo. We were impressed by "Lufthavn" as the word for airport. From there, we took a train to Hamar, the administrative center of Innlandet County. We then continued by bus to our accommodation in Rena. Our accommodation consisted of Norwegian-style cabins located on a golf course. Henri, an acquaintance of ours, told us a bit about Norway and our location. After that, we settled into our rooms and adjusted to our surroundings. Some of us explored the nearby forest that evening, hoping to spot moose.
The next day began with a morning walk to Henri's house, where he had invited us for breakfast. A twenty-minute walk later, we had arrived. He gave us a brief tour of his home. Impressed by his property, we enjoyed a breakfast of local products in a magnificent hall. After this experience, we drove to his parents' farm. There, we were shown and given a demonstration of their wood chipper. We also learned that heating with natural gas and heating oil is severely restricted in Norway. Therefore, the wood chip market is very lucrative there. Following this introduction, we drove directly into Henri's forest in a tractor-trailer combination. At various stops along the way, we walked right into the woods. He explained some of his silvicultural progress and forestry practices in Norway. We had lunch at a hunting lodge along the route. After five interesting stops, which also covered topics related to fishing and hunting, we drove back to Henri's farm. There, we had a barbecue and relaxed for the rest of the evening.
Impressed by the short nights in Norway in June – just three hours of darkness – we were highly motivated on the third day. That day we could choose between fishing, hiking, or cooking. The hikers went on a three-hour circular hike, which allowed them to experience the landscape very intensely – especially the flora and fauna. The cooks peeled five kilos of shrimp and prepared penne with fried shrimp and a sauce. The fishermen were also successful – tight lines! At lunchtime, the whole group met again, ate together, and shared our experiences. In the afternoon, some went hiking again, while others washed the dishes together. Some played games. The hikers spotted capercaillie – a male, a female, and chicks. In the evening, there was an intensive search for moose – using hides and stalking, but unfortunately, without success.
The next day we went to Rena, and from there took the train via Hamar to Oslo. Once in Oslo, we continued by bus to our accommodation. We arrived – and then headed back to the city center. There we went for dinner, and depending on their energy levels, some explored the entire city.
After a restful night, we traveled by bus and train to the Norwegian Agricultural Advisory Service East (NLR). There, they gave us a presentation in English explaining their work. Afterwards, we went to their fields, where they showed us their fields of broad beans and rye. Full of new knowledge and hungry, we continued on to the port in Gressvik. We took a boat to Gamlebyen in Fredrikstad, where we had lunch. Satisfied, we then explored the old town, which was explained to us by a local. It had been shaped by wars, and we learned a great deal about Norway's past. After an interesting guided tour, we continued to the main destination of our trip: our partner school in Tomb. Upon arrival, we had the opportunity to eat again. We were then given a tour of the entire campus. The grounds include a small forest/park, a museum, barns with pigs, cows, and horses, as well as numerous pieces of machinery. The interaction between us and the students was particularly impressive. In the evening, we returned to our accommodation.
The departure took place during the night, as the flight took off at 6:45 a.m. So the day began at 3:00 a.m. We returned to the airport by bus and train. Everything went smoothly there, and we arrived home safe and sound, full of new impressions and knowledge.
Photos from the trip:
