Bø i Telemark

Ok, I am going to Norway.

Unless something blows up, my intention is to leave on the 13th of August to head back to Norway. I figured folks reading out there might have interest in hearing a tad about this.

PLU has an agreement with Høgskolen i Telemark (University in Telemark) where the classes transfer back and forth with ease as if it is the same institution. The only difference really is the location. The cost difference is only living expenses...why not take part? I am doing Fall Semester 2014 there. Høgskolen i Telemark has a couple of campuses but their primary campus is in Bø...not to be confused with the other Bøs that are around Norway. It is kind of a common name. Feel free to hit google maps to see where Bø is located (pronounced bueh). It is about 2 to 2.5 hours west from Oslo.

Stock photo also shows campus

Bø itself is quite small. During the school year the population surges to a bustling 7,500. My kind of town. The town is known for a few things. The school, agriculture, and the countries largest waterpark. Like many Norwegian towns they are big on outdoor recreation. A river runs through it.

The Norwegian education system differs from the American in a multitude of ways. One of these differences is in the amount of work involved throughout a semester. The amount of assignments are very low giving a lot of time throughout the semester to do as a person wishes. The kickers are the tests at the end. They last 4-6 hours and are all encompassing...for each class. It is important to keep up throughout the course on readings so a person is not cramming for the end. It is much like general contracting or self employement where steady pay is not coming in but a budget is used. I like it. What does this mean for me? Hopefully more free time.

I have made a good number of friends from Denmark while at PLU and plan to head to Denmark. I will also connect with other friends in Norway that I know through PLU or from the last time I was in in Norway. I am very much looking forward to seeing folks again that I have not seen in a few years or have just said good bye to within the last couple of weeks.

Like I said. I fly out on the 13th of August. My housing contract begins on the 14th of August. The place I have rented is sort of on the outskirts of town and seems to be pretty nice. More info and pictures of that in August!