Reflections About Norway by Christine Regnell (age 17)

My name is Christine. I am 18 years old and live in Norway. Norway, by the way, is a country on the other side of the world. I have been an exchange student here in the United States for a year and I am going to tell you about some of the differences for young people between life in Norway and life in the United States.

One of the most obvious differences is the fact that we are given more independence and considered adults at a much earlier age than you are here. This can be both a benefit and a drawback, since we have to take responsibility for our own actions at a much earlier age and we do not always have the experience or knowledge to really evaluate what we are doing. One thing that I had problems with when I came to the United States was curfews. I had been considered old enough to make my own decisions for a long time back home, while here I was considered a child who needed curfews for my own protection. I think that is one of the things I like most about Norway- no curfews!

Another obvious difference is the school system. It is much harder in Norway and the teaching methods are closer to those used in colleges here. The challenges we experience are a good thing, since they prepare us better for college than most American high schools do. I have experienced that most kids going to college from an American high school struggle because of the difference in teaching methods and higher expectations from the professors.

There is a lot less crime in Norway than there is here. Norway is a pretty peaceful little country with no gangs or any other kind of brutal violence. This is not to say that there is no violence at all, because it happens everywhere, but it is not even close to the same level of crime found here in the U.S. Norway is also a beautiful country nature-wise. It is a big country with a little population and most of the country is untouched by civilization. Norway has always been known for its beautiful fjords and mountains. If you ever get a chance to go there, I would strongly suggest it. It is well worth the trip!