More photos from the D2310 Conference

These three photos are additionally from the D2310 Conference, held 10-12 October. I presented our D6420 banner and the gift (a John Deere tractor miniature) from DG Jim Prather to DG Lars Eide on Saturday afternoon during the conference. Photos compliments of Karl Øyri, D2310 Secretary.

Presenting the D6420 banner along with some brief comments

With DG Lars Eide of my host D2310

Talking with a Rotarian during the 'House of Friendship' at our Ambassadorial Scholarship table

Rotary District 2310 Conference

This weekend was the Rotary District Conference hosted in Oslo at the Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica.  The two other Ambassadorial Scholars in District 2310, Lucas Franco and Travis Rice, and I set up a table and spoke with conference attendees about the scholarship program during a 'House of Friendship'.  The awareness of the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship program in this district, and I assume most of Norway, is low amongst Rotarians, so we tried promoting it at the conference.

Left to right, Lucas Franco (Washington), me, and Travis Rice (Missouri)

Our display, complete with three individual posters, two general posters, sponsor club banners, map of the US, and items representing our homelands

Photo collage I compiled and printed as a large poster

Some fun items representing Illinois and the Midwest

Posters

The scholarship program explained in brief

After the conference, outside the hotel

Rotary Club visits

The following photos are from some of my visits to Rotary Clubs in Oslo.  The first two are from my host club, Holmenkollen, on 30 September, and the remaining three are from a visit to the Ljan RC for an ambassadorial presentation on 6 October.

Holmenkollen RC meeting, with the presenter describing the 2 new ski jumps being constructed in Oslo over the coming years.  Recall that Holmenkollen is the area where the current ski jump exists, so this topic was of particular interest for the club members.

Discussing the ski jump construction project and timeline for completion

At the Ljan RC meeting, ready to present

Ljan RC meeting

Rotary banner exchange with the Ljan RC

A walk along Akerselva and an Oslo festival

These first five photos of the flame twirling people are from a candlelit walk along a river called Akerselva in the city of Oslo.  I joined a group of peers from the Oslo Rotaract club for this event on 25 September.  As the 'VisitOslo' website explains it better than I can:

"River walk by torchlight.  Annual event in honour of the autumnal equinox in Oslo - when night and day are the same length.  Almost 3000 torches light up the Akerselva river from north to south, creating a mystical atmosphere around the 8 km long cultural journey.  Experience light sculptures, choirs, folk music, jazz, dance, art installations, trolls and gnomes."

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"Pimp our city"  Maybe an idea for litter control in La Salle or Des Moines?

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These next photos are from a special festival hosted in Oslo on 26 September.  There was a long list of activities available to enjoy, and we opted to take a tour of the Norwegian Parliament (Storting), view a ballet performance at the Norwegian National Ballet, and watch the fireworks show from atop the Oslo Opera House (the building that looks like a big white/blue barge).  I went with a young Rotarian in the Holmenkollen Rotary Club (my host club) and two other friends.

Our Storting tour guide explaining the drafting of the Constitution of Norway

A view down the main staircase in the Storting

Inside the Storting chamber

Tour guide explaining the unicameral Storting structure

The Storting has been formally divided into two departments, the Lagting (upper house) and Odelsting (lower house), but recent legislation passed will dissolve the Lagting in 2009.

A cryptic-themed ballet performance

View of the Oslo coastline

And fireworks....

Rafting trip to Sjoa River, complete with pendel-jumping

During the weekend of 19-21 September I took a trip with about 13 other international students to a rafting center near the town of Otta, located north and a bit west of Oslo.  The bus ride was approximately 6 hours long, but free coffee and tea made the time fly.  We spent two nights in little wooden cabins, with 4 to a room in bunk beds.  Saturday was the day filled with activity...rafting in the morning, pendel-jumping in the afternoon, and a steam in the sauna in the evening.  Most of Friday and Sunday was spent traveling by bus.  Pendel-jumping was a fun experience.  It consisted of getting strapped in with safety cables and jumping off a bridge, then swinging like a pendulum above the river.  Again, all safety measures were taken with these activities, and trained guides were present.

Beautiful view from the bus along the way

The rafting was organized by the Sjoa Raftingsenter NWR.  This is the main lodge with the reception, kitchen and dining area, but we stayed in little cabins sprinkled around the area.

A traditional sauna, heated with a real fire within a cast iron stove.  Great smell of birch.

Cheesy smile, but a nice backdrop

The beautiful tropical Norwegian climate...

The Sjoa River

Group shot right before we hopped into the rafts

That's my boat!

Going through a little canyon

The jumping bridge

Panoramic shot from atop the bridge

Our guide explaining the instructions for the pendel-jumping

Pulling someone up

Ready to jump...

In mid-swing

Getting pulled up

Climbing and Rappelling at Kolsåstoppen

On 16 September I took a trip organized by the University of Oslo Student Life to the mount seen below for climbing and rappelling.  If you look at a previous post you'll also see that I had been at the same location a while back for a hiking trip with friends.  I was with a group of about 8 other international students and 2 trained guides.  We first hiked to the top, then took turns rappelling down, ate some pølser (hot dogs), and finally each climbed up and belayed down.  All the proper safety equipment was used of course. 

A view of the Kolsåstoppen hill.  We were climbing and rappelling at the top where you can see the exposed rock.

Looking up the cliff

Rappelling down

Right before the climb up

Climbing

Belaying down after the climb

View from atop Kolsåstoppen