Kay and Sylvia's Norwegian Adventure 2015: Hogskole i Bergen

Today was a day of rest for Mother and me in the morning. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and then went to the lounge for tea. Mother is still working on the cross-stitch quilt-top. I ran a few errands late this morning including a stop at a small silver shop near the hotel. A couple of Americans were behind me and looking at small flags on standards. One asked, "Do you have the American flag?" The clerk kindly said, "We have Norwegian flags." The American asked again about American flags!

This afternoon I went to the Hogskole i Bergen (Bergen Teacher's College, Bergen University) to meet with several colleagues with whom I collaborate when I come to Bergen after the student teaching experience in Rosendal. I have taught 1-3 classes each November since Fall 2011 and one this past spring. The classes I teach in the fall include music in the elementary school to music majors and pre-school music to Kindergarten teachers. (Kindergarten in Norway is from age one through age five.) This spring there was a special class for international teachers from Denmark, Estonia, Germany, and Spain. All of the classes are taught in English and essentially present how to teach English through music.

Since we were traveling back from Nesttun last night by the Bybanen, Helge warmed us to be sure we kept tract of our tickets, which cost 35 NOK, close to $5.00. (As a retired person, Mother paid 18 NOK.) If you are caught on the Bybanen without a ticket, the fine is 750 NOK, close to $100! Today I was traveling to the Kronstad stop to the Hogskole to meet with my colleagues. The train was boarded by three security officers at the Byparken (beginning of the route) and once the train started, they came through and checked everyone's ticket. After the meeting at the Hogskole, I found out that one of my colleagues was checked today for her ticket and she couldn't find it - she was given the fine. She had come by bus to one of the Bybanen stops; she had her pass (a one-month pass with her name on it good for the bus and Bybanen) on the bus so knew she had it at that point and then must have dropped it. Sure enough, someone called and said they'd found her pass so she can prove that she had the ticket. We'll see if her fine is cancelled!

When I arrived back in the city center, I stopped to get fish soup from a place that offers take-out. It is just off Torgallmenningen, the broad 'commons' area in the city center. It was nice to just have our simple supper in the hotel room. The good new - take-out is cheaper than eating in the small seating area in the restaurant!