I am a Red Cross youth delegates from Nepal Red Cross Society to Norwegian Red Cross Youth. I will be working here in the Arkershus supporting the Red Cross youth for 10 months.
Delegates from Sudan, Rwanda and we from Nepal had left Oslo and reached Oslo Airport for the departure of our home country on 20th June 2009. I was very excited to be back to Nepal after 10 months. I am on the 12 months youth exchange program among which I had completed my 10 months in Norway and now I was supposed to work two months in Nepal but according to Nepal Red Cross Society I have to work for three months. I was appointed in Kathmandu District Chapter to work and share my experience in this district with youth. After reaching Tribhuvan International Airport I feel so happy that now I had landed on my country on 21 June 2009. I had already asked our National society and also host National Society to change our flight route but they couldn’t able to change it. I had heard that transit in Delhi is not so good because lots of passenger had lost their goods. I also became the victim of that; it’s not only me my co-youth delegate also lost some of goods. The main thing is our lock looked like same but we lost something’s from our suitcase. But the lock of my suitcase was broken and they had metal wire lock on it. I thought they put new lock because my lock might be broken but the reality was different the custom officer in Delhi or whatever who are they; they had broken my lock and theft important things like handy camera and wrist watch and some other gifts. I couldn’t able to claim it because I had already brought bags to my home and knew my things were theft. Why the customs officer used to do it. I want to suggest the entire passenger that please does not keep any valuable things on the baggage and if you noticed your lock is not in your bag than do not receive your bag and open it on Airport in front of security officer or Airlines officer.
It was 14th of June we all the 16 delegates were supposed to meet together again at Haraldsheim but unfortunately we meet only 10 delegates. I was very excited to meet all delegates after 10 months. I was hoping to hear from all the delegates and know their experiences. But I am able to meet all the 16 delegates only on 15th of June it was very different feelings to see all together. We all were on the Home Coming seminar where all delegates had presentation about their experiences in a new country. Presentations of all delegates were very interesting and got chance to learn many new things.
I was also very happy to see the delegates on different national costumes. We almost all delegates spent 5 days together and shared experiences with each other.
I was very happy and also sad because our departure date was coming near. I was happy because I am traveling back to my home land after 10 months and excited to meet all my dear friends and my family members. Even though we have very few facilities in Nepal but also I am excited to be back and with my family and friends and eat varieties of spicy and tasty food. I was sad because I got lots of friends and afraid that when we are going to meet again. Any way I have to leave Norway after my most beautiful time of my life and I think this time will never come back in my life again.
I would like to thank all the dear friends who made my stay more wonderful and memorable and off course Norwegian Red Cross, Nepal Red Cross and all the staff of both societies.
Russ are the three weeks before high school students in Norway start their exams. This means partying, doing crazy stuff, driving around in big buses with huge sound systems and walking around in red, blue or black dresses. During this period most of youths are doing lots of crazy things like drinking lots of alcohol, having sex and many others !!
The color of the overall should match the graduate's line of study: Red for courses that are geared towards higher education (this is the most common color), blue for courses in Business (also higher education in economics and management), white for Medical and social studies , black for Engineering (such as mechanics or electrics), and green for agricultural fields. The two latter colors are rarely seen due to the lower student numbers in such courses. I had also not seen those two colors during this year Russ Celebration. Students who are on RUSS they have to wear a dress which are usually available in two versions, one full overall (with arms), and one resembling dungarees. Which of the two versions are more popular varies from year to year. Currently, the dungaree version is most popular due to influence from American rap culture. They have to wear same cloths whole three weeks. On the morning of the national day the attire is completed by the ceremonial addition of the russelue (Russ cap), which evolved from the traditional student cap used for university acceptance and graduation ceremonies. The ceremony involves the christening of the graduate, in which the graduate is awarded a name by his or her fellow graduates which, in their opinion, either characterizes an aspect of the graduate's normal behaviour, or the one exhibited during the russefeiring. This name is written on the brim before the cap is handed over. The cap should match the overall in colour, and should be worn for the entire national day, which completes the russefeiring. This way, the russ' attire is complete before they join the local national day parade, which is the culmination of the russefeiring. Other common Russ paraphernalia is the whip and the whistle. The whip was originally a birch twig, but is now often purchased and made from bamboo or plastic. It is used for banging things (such as the Russ' car) rhythmically while chanting slogans in the 17th of May parade. The whistle resembles a common sports whistle, and is also used to make noise in the parade. RUSS BUS Russ cards Russ cards (russekort) are ridicule card which look like business cards that the russ will hand out to anyone that asks for them. I had also collected some cards during this period just for fun. They contain a picture, contact details, and a slogan. Usually the picture is either a funny picture of the graduate him or herself, or a drawing, picture of a celebrity, or other funny picture. The name and contact details are usually spoofs and the slogan is a joke.
May 17th, is Norway's National Day which is celebrated all across the nation, from the largest community to the smallest, almost on every community there is parades, bands, flags, national costumes, festival services and festivities with everyone taking part, marking the day in 1814, when Norway adopted its new Constitution.
Today Oslo’s streets were filled with people around the Royal Palace. In Oslo, the children's parade is the main attraction, with all the city schools represented, 111 in all, each headed by the school's banner and brass band.
I think this is a unique parade and may be become a world attraction, and there were also many tourists watching.
The long parade march up on Oslo's main street, Karl Johans gate, to the Royal Palace, where they are received by the Royal Family standing on the front balcony, waving to the crowd.
I was in Oslo with my co-youthdelegate and youth leader of Oppegård Red Cross Youth and her parents. They were helping us to explaining all the happenings as well about the National Costume which varies from place to place.
Norwegians abroad on this day are also gathering and celebrating Norway's birthday, be it at an embassy, a mission station and also private arrangements.
Perception of neutral humanitarian organization Red Cross was brought among all by Henry Dunant, 150 years ago as a witness of battle in Solferino. He saw the need for a neutral humanitarian organization and brought his feelings by means of book “Memory of Solferino”. A neutral organization that does not take positions in the conflicts, that is only there to help victims. Red Cross Red Crescent and Red Cristal is the world biggest and most popular humanitarian organization extended over 186 countries. I have been part of this organization from last five years as volunteer. Seven basic principles: Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality leads Red Cross to be more popular and among them Neutrality is the main key which made easy to get access everywhere during conflict as well as on other situation also. The theme for this year is “Neutrality” which is one of most important principles of Red Cross. Norwegian Red Cross society had organized a seminar on Neutrality in Henry Dunant Hall on the building of National society. Seminar begins with welcome speech by Norwegian Red Cross President Sven Mollekleiv and than we had keynote Speaker Martti Ahtisaari, 2008 Nobel peace prize laureate “Is Neutrality a tool in Peace negotiations?” We also heard from President of Palestinian Red Crescent Society Al-Khatib on Practice of “Neutrality in the midst of conflict”. He had shared lots of good examples and challenges they have to face during the period of conflict. Similarly there was Chile Eboe-Osuji, Head of Chambers ICTR had speech on Neutrality and the practicalities of prosecution, Anne-Marie de la Rosa, legal adviser of ICRC spoke about “The legel premise for and legal benefits of neutrality” and Inge Lønning spoke about Parliament’s responsibility to ensure respect for the neutral space in humanitarian action.
Hamar is a beautiful town of Hedmark District on the shores of Mjøsa Lake. We haven’t spent long time to view Hamar but whatever we got it looks very beautiful town. We are invited to disseminate our knowledge about human trafficking globally and in context of Nepal by administration of Ungdom Skole Hedmark in association of Hedmark Red Cross. I had been to Hamar with my co-youth delegate Durga and Kristine Leader of Akershus Red Cross youth. But we also met youth leader and member of Hedmark Red Cross youth when we reached school. There were altogether 300 students to whom we hold our presentation. We begin our show with Auction, our short introduction, presentation and movie made on Ant-Human Trafficking project in Nepal. We were so happy after presentation because all the students were so quite during presentation which helps us to share all information to them.
After presentation we visited Hedmark Red Cross office and got opportunity to meet all office staffs and know each other also updated about activities of Red Cross youth and Hedmark Red Cross.
Bærum Red Cross youth group is back with Asylum activity in Hvalstad. This group was one of the active Red Cross youth group in Akershus District before last year youth delegate leaved district. Since we arrived at our district we start to think how to get back in action to this group with continuous meeting and talk with youth leader of Bærum. We get success to bring this local group back in action after 7 months since we arrived. Now, the group is back on humantrain action with one year plan of action and activities on Hvalstad Asylum Center.
e visitied Hvalsted with four Red Cross youth member on 3rd of May 2009 with a motto to know the youths on Asylum center and introduce us with them. It was the wonderful meeting with all the youth and we had spent two hours with some icebreaker dancing with them which was the main choice of youth in Hvalstad Asylum center.
I am expressing mine views and feeling through this blog as been in journey as youth delegate working for Norwegian Red Cross from Nepal Red Cross. I am sharing mine experience working on this very beautiful land with full of honest and very helpful people.
Delegates from Sudan, Rwanda and we from Nepal had left Oslo and reached Oslo Airport for the departure of our home country on 20th June 2009. I was very excited to be back to Nepal after 10 months. I am on the 12 months youth exchange program among which I had completed my 10 months in Norway and now I was supposed to work two months in Nepal but according to Nepal Red Cross Society I have to work for three months. I was appointed in Kathmandu District Chapter to work and share my experience in this district with youth. After reaching Tribhuvan International Airport I feel so happy that now I had landed on my country on 21 June 2009.
I had already asked our National society and also host National Society to change our flight route but they couldn’t able to change it. I had heard that transit in Delhi is not so good because lots of passenger had lost their goods. I also became the victim of that; it’s not only me my co-youth delegate also lost some of goods. The main thing is our lock looked like same but we lost something’s from our suitcase. But the lock of my suitcase was broken and they had metal wire lock on it. I thought they put new lock because my lock might be broken but the reality was different the custom officer in Delhi or whatever who are they; they had broken my lock and theft important things like handy camera and wrist watch and some other gifts. I couldn’t able to claim it because I had already brought bags to my home and knew my things were theft. Why the customs officer used to do it. I want to suggest the entire passenger that please does not keep any valuable things on the baggage and if you noticed your lock is not in your bag than do not receive your bag and open it on Airport in front of security officer or Airlines officer.
