Norwegian news

You are interested in what is happening all over Norway but the Aftenposten is a closed book to you? Just visit http://www.newsinenglish.no to follow the local top Norwegian news stories, in English.

ISU Juleball, Dec 5th

Hey everyone. Today is the highlight of this semester, the Juleball. We hope to see you there and have a great time together before we all go on our Christmas holiday.

See you 8pm, G1-018 on campus.

Nature around Kristiansand

As you probably have heard, the nature in Sørlandet (the Southern Norway) is famous for its beutiful coastline, beaches (in Hammersanden and Mandal), valleys, rivers and lakes. Below you will find some links which you will find very useful if you want to explore the areas around Kristiansand.

1. First of all, if you need any sort of advice about outdoors activities in Norway then make sure that you speak to Johne H. Westersjø from the Friluftsliv (Outdoors activities) department at the Faculty of Health and Sports. It might be also possible to borrow some of the outdoors equipment from the department.

2. Kristiansand og Opplands Turistforening. KOT office is part of the national DNT network. They arrange various trips to the mountains (hiking, skiing, climbing, paddling, cycling), and quite often to the Setesdal valley. For a small membership fee you will get discounts for lodging at the cabins in the mountains. Visit their local office in Kristiansand center and talk to them about all those various opprotinities.

3. Christiansand studentseiling. The Student Sailing Club is open for every student at the University of Agder. There is no membership fee. There are opportunities to go on local regattas. Personally, I had one of my best experiences out in the sea this spring with these guys!

4. Kristiansand roklubb. Kristiansand Rowing Club is situated on a West bank of the Otra river. You can join the club for a membership fee. For more information ask Janis Gailis who lectures at the University of Agder.

5. Bragdøya kystlag. Bragdøya is a nearby island, which is nice to go for camping. Contact them if you want to find out more about the life at the sea. It might possible to join some trips to the sea.

6. Midt-Agder Friluftsråd. Here you will find information about all the nice areas around Kristiansand which are suitable to go hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing (in winter) or sunbathing (only in summer of course!!). Ask Kjetil Fossheim if you could join some events or tours together with Norwegians, such as Grønn Løype (the Green Routes) for example.

7. Lars Verket. Lars Verket is an expert in paddling. Ask him about renting kanoyes and kayaks. He has also published a comprehensive guide about kanoying in Sørlandet (the Southern Norway) which you can buy from him or the KOT (mentioned above).

I wish you all the best of luck and exciting adventures in the nature! And if you have any questions or concerns, just ask anyone from the ISU Agder. We will be happy to help.

Friluftsliv advertisements

I thought that you might like to see those advertisements about the outdoors activities in Norway. Det er kåselig - as Norwegians like to say.

Kulturrabatt for ungdom

If you are aged between 16 and 20, you can order yourself a youth discount card (Kutur kortet) for cultural events in Vest-Agder.

You will get entry discounts to the following events, festivals, concerts and museums:

- Quart (rock music festival)
- IK Start (local football team)
- Agder Teater (performances)
- Kristiansand symfoniorkester (classical music)
- Norway Rock Festival
- Opera Sør (classical music)
- Kristiansand Internashonale krikefestspill (international church festival)
- Fjellparkfestivalen i Flekkefjord (alternative music festival)
- Sørlandets Kunstmuseum (art museum, alternative movie cinema)
- Nordsjøfestivalen (international music festival)
- Vest-Agder Museet: Kristiansand (historical houses museum), Gimle Gård (botanic museum), Setesdalsbanen (trip with an old train), Flekkejord Museum, Lista Museum, Mandal Museum, Sjølingstad Museum, Bredalsholmen dokk- og fartøysenter (shipyard and ship preservation center).

To find out how much exactly you could get discounted off the entry fee, please contact the information offices directly or write a message to the Vest-Agder Fylkeskommune here. Entry to some places with the card might be free.

To order the youth discount card (Kutur kortet) please fill in the form here and you will get is sent by post.










Sorry for those who are older than 20 :)

ISU National Assembly

On Friday me, Morgan and Vladimir departed on a night train to Oslo where we attended the ISU National Assembly. There we presented the newly established ISU Agder and later the same day got officially voted in as a thirteenth ISU branch in Norway. Now ISU Agder replaced our neighbours ISU Telemark becoming the youngest branch in the country.

During the weekend we have discussed how ISU could help Norwegian student organizations to include international students in their activities. We also talked about how to improve ways for arriving international students to adapt in a new social and academic environment. On Sunday, delegates of ISU branches voted on the changes in the Constitution and Platform.

The National Assembly was organized by ISU BI. Everyone loved the modern BI campus. That is probably because we had our breakfast and lunch on a roof terrace in seventh floor.

I must say I am absolutely impressed with the people I met there. One of my best experiences this semester. Extremely recommended. We came back home with head full of fresh ideas for ISU Agder.

Discover Norway

Check out the featured Norwegian video: