Heading off to take on the world - the Class of 2011

H i g h S c h o o l N E W SThe International AwardSilver Expedition QualifierOn the morning of April 29th, 11 students in Grade11 were dropped by minibus close <strong>to</strong> Orrevatnet. Thechallenge was <strong>to</strong> get all of them back <strong>to</strong> school, navigatingtheir way along sections of the coastal path and acrossbeaches with the occasional section on the smaller countrylanes. They had <strong>to</strong> carry all of their camping equipmentand food and stay <strong>to</strong>gether as a team.About 50km and 2 and a half days later, they finally arrivedback at school exhausted and slightly more appreciatingof some of life’s simpler pleasures, a soft bed, food thatthey don’t have <strong>to</strong> spend ages cooking, and no rucksackon their back.The successful students were Pawel Kabulski, LenaHognestad Hjellvik, Robert Schleier, Steven Franckowiak,Daegan Elsborg, Emily Seidel, Teymur Abdullaev andEuan Gordon. James Rennie completed only the firsttwo days because of family commitments and will do hisqualifying walk next year.The students were amazingly lucky with the weather,sleeping on the beach at Vigdel and also along the coastNorth of Tananger.The Award is designed <strong>to</strong> foster independence and <strong>to</strong>challenge students <strong>to</strong> step a little outside their comfortzone and all of the students who completed the walk willhave faced a variety of challenges in getting <strong>to</strong> the end.Here are some of their comments:Worst moments?The worst moment were probably the second day, wheremy legs could hardly hold me up after the long walk. Itwas also pretty bad when Steven got those blisters onhis legs, which I mostly laughed about but I did feel badfor the guy. Carrying my heavy back-pack was horrible!Luckily Mr. Taylor fixed the weight distribution on myback, that made the trip bearable.The worst moment of the Silver Walk was waking up 3www.isstavanger.notimes in the middle of the night half frozen. The secondnight was nice and comfortable though (thanks again, Mr.Taylor).The worst moment was having <strong>to</strong> walk with my ”wounds”.Or putting up with Sir Slimey and his wife constantlyarguing... :)Best moments?The best was probably the whole trip. I had a lot of funwalking <strong>to</strong>gether with best friends and making fun ofEmily for being a walking back-pack. Walking on thebeach with my bare feet made life so much better. Ibasically worshiped the cool water that the waves broughtin. Food also tastes so much better when you feel you havedeserved it.Pretty much everything was really cool but the best partmust’ve been walking across areas without obvious publicpaths because there was a certain degree of uncertainty onwhat was going <strong>to</strong> be around the next corner.The best moment was at the end, taking <strong>off</strong> my bagand sinking in<strong>to</strong> the chair of Lena’s car with a sense ofaccomplishment. (And hunger)What did you learn?I learnt <strong>to</strong> always put on sunscreen, even if I think I won’tget burned. I learned how <strong>to</strong> put a back-pack on properlyand how <strong>to</strong> not make my shoulders and hips hurt. Andnow I’m always gonna put plasters on my feet <strong>to</strong> avoidgetting blisters. And I learnt how <strong>to</strong> not get on people’snerves when they’re tired.I learned <strong>to</strong> bring more warm clothes when you try <strong>to</strong>sleep outside on the beach. I also learned <strong>to</strong> bring some ofmy own sun-cream.I learned that tight boxers are the way <strong>to</strong> go.The Informer 1 June 2011 · 19