Monday, January 13th
Today’s class was busy, starting with class discussions, group exploration, positive affirmations about our experiences and group members as well as rounding off the day with a collaborative essay.
Walking down to class at 10:00 am and the plans that would be discussed were not the typical daily schedule we’ve had from days so far. As everyone gathered in the classroom, we were under the impression that we could choose our groups and go on our merry way. However, things didn’t end up that way. After everyone was sorted into groups, we all chose places that we hadn’t been before and to take in the nature and the community around us. The plan was to take any transportation from Cochs Pensjonat and go at least 4 stops away ensuring that no one had been to the location prior to this day. For many of us, the start of our new adventures was off the bus stops all around Oslo.
There were shared experiences about the walks all around Oslo and what everyone took in during the silence of this adventure. Many of those had very insightful encounters with nature and the community around them while others had not. While the walks were helpful in seeing the different parts of the city, many students had their eyes glued to the ground in hopes of not slipping on the ice. Through the difficult climate, you could hear small chuckles all around from the near wipeouts.
This walk helped everyone including myself look past what’s around you, but at what you can see when you have a clear goal in mind. The idea was to look at the different locations in Oslo and find what Gender Equality looks like as well as what aspects are hidden within. Some of the aspects that groups looked at were higher education between men and women on the streets of Norway as well as looking at those who have a higher education. Others looked at school systems and found equality in teaching between men and women, along with those who are outside taking care of their children. In my group especially, we found that instead of traditionally seeing more women as preschool teachers, a man was watching the class of kids go sledding down a hill. Additionally seeing multiple people pushing strollers on the streets who aren’t just the presumed mothers, but fathers as well. This experience gave me a better look at what to observe in the world relating to gender equality, especially in different countries. It’s hard to compare what this experience would be like if it was back in Minnesota, in and around St Olaf.