Wednesday, August 6, 2014

My way to RCN

So... I was amazed to find out that I will manage to get a visa for a short course(it came just the day before) and started packing my stuff. After a kind of "goodbye-thing" with friends, I had one day off with myself, but unfortunately did not really do anything except off packing. Super-excited! Norway! Just had one thing to worry about, I was supposed to be there at 26th of July, but I got there at 27th. In the way I changed tree planes, first two (Yerevan-Moscow-Oslo) were in a transit, and before the third one (Oslo-Bergen) I had to take my luggage, which I did. In an infinitive line where I was standing and waiting to hand my stuff again, suddenly people started to panic. Majority of them were Norwegians, so I did not understand at first what was going on. Later, as they explained the power went down and we had to carry out luggage by ourselves. But this was not all. Our flight was as well delayed. Afterwords, we learned that we will fly by the other plane with the other crowd. When finally my plain landed I went to this place where we take our baggage from and was waiting for the last thing. But turned out that some sort of problems happened and most of us were not able to get our stuff and had to wait for few days. As I also arrived later (27th of August) no one was there to meet me and I had to organize my transport(at least most of it) by myself, at the same time keeping updated the college and the family to not make them worry and to know if I am on the right track.

Before I was thinking that spending the night in the terminals or stations is pretty fine... Well, I still think so, but its not that easy when you have to carry with you 2 bags (one about 8 kg), laptop, ipad, and be attentive not to sleep too long to miss smth. In the morning I checked once again if the baggage arrived or not and getting a negative answer I took the train from the airport to the city center.

As soon as I arrived( I already know, as that time I was sure, that I was supposed to go to Lazik) I went to the administration office and asked if how could I get to Lazik. They checked it twice, but no Lazik was available. So I asked them if they know Flekke. They checked it too, but the answer was again negative. And then, trying to act clever, I asked them if they know about Flekkefjort (as I thought at that time, the Flekke was the abridged version). And the answer was positive. I was so glad after all. I have been told to take a bus to Stavanger, tehn to take one from there to Flekkefjord.

As I already talked to admission office and asked how much would I need to get to college and the answer was 500 Kr, I did not bother myself to take more then 700. So I took this bus which costed me almost 500 Kr, and got in the bus. I was exactly on time which was one more reason for me to be glad.

In half way wifi suddenly worked in my ipad and I noticed that the direction the bus was going with was right opposite. In next busstop I went to the driver and asked him if he knows the location of Flekke or Haugland, he did not. And I finally remembered one more name: Førde, which saved me. I was told to take a bus and go back. Then take the one right to that place. Which I did. In a way I managed to get into a ferry twice, was really nice. The driver was kind, and knowing, that I confused my bus did not take money (I did not really have enough even). Was about 5,and I was in the bus-station again, in the city center of Bergen. I waited for 3 more hours, then got in the bus. As I have previously asked drivers about paying with credit card, I was not worried about getting Krons. But as turned out my card was not working in Norway. But this time again I was lucky enough to meet a nice driver and he accepted Euros. In half way to Forde, in Lavik (as I later discovered the right name), Peter, our IB coordinator met me. He drove me to the college ad in the way told me about it some more details. I almost did not sleep for 2 days, but as soon as I got to the college I was so fresh. So-so exited to meet all new people, students,volunteers, interns, teachers,staff, every single one! So I did not sleep much that night. All the folks were nice and friendly, and knowing that I still don't have my stuff, majority of them suggested theirs instead. Had a great time so far. Will try to make next post ASAP! Take care folks! Ahh, btw, here some pics from my way.


random Coca-cola I got in Bergen Airport, with my brothers name on it ((:



 In the Airport in Yerevan, waiting for a flight


near the bus-station in Bergen


boat house, college 



 colorful tree, near the fjord and again the boat house (only not in my pic :D :P)





 In a ferry, on my wrong way from Bergen to Stavanger