Ola Nordmanns gate 45

2013 Skjetten

Norway

 

15th of March 2010

 

Mr. Ben Dover

510 Awesome Blvd

Paris, Texas

U.S.A

 

 

Dear Ben

The other day I got to thinking; it’s been a long time since our last talk, so I decided to write this letter telling you about how I’m doing out here. First things first, it’s freezing out here. The temperature is so cold that they use this whole other scale of measuring heat; it’s called the Celsius scale. I don’t get it, but apparently 20 degrees is really warm in Celsius. My host-family is really nice; they get up early on school days just to see me off. Yeah… the Larsens are incredibly cheerful, almost to the extent that they are freaking me out. As I mentioned before, Norway is freezing, but that aside I’ve really grown fond of this country. I am currently attending Wang sports academy, a high school, well sort of… they actually have an education system that’s different fro ours .

 

The school days are filled with surprises for me, for instance you know how in the U.S, the “foreign kid” would be the laughing stock of the entire school, you know… the bully’s first pick, but here they practically worship me for being one. They don’t label people as stereotypes on account of his or hers surroundings, they rather accept people for who they are and try to learn as much as possible from them. At least, that’s what they are doing to me. Another thing, the school system here is so much more relaxing, as far as tests are concerned; they have between 2-6 tests a semester, all depending on the subject and the teacher. If truth be told it’s a lot more fun going to school here, you should see the way they handle the evaluation process. Tests are virtually nonexistent, back home we have to go through a weekly regimen of tests, while these arctic bastards barely take any tests at all. As far as dress codes goes, there are none. You and I, being raised catholic and all, are used to wearing a white shirt, a blazer, and black pants everyday at school; these guys are prancing around in whatever they want. Yesterday I saw this girl; she was wearing all black clothes, had like 8 piercings, and looked like she was going to a funeral, as the carcass.

 

As for the classes themselves, they are held in completely random classrooms. The teachers move around just as much as we do, can you imagine old Mr. Johnson doing that; he’d probably have a heart-attack. Also, you wouldn’t believe the lack of formality here, they are on a first name basis with all the teachers, and can eat in class. School aside there’s not really much to do here, that’s why I can’t wait to come back home. I’m impatiently awaiting your response, so see to it that you write back.

 

Intolerantly yours,

(Signature)

Tommy N.