– This is something I will never see or experience again in my life, says 17-year-old Brede Ubostad from Lyngdal. A rather different school year awaits. Brede is one of this year’s students at Fullrigger Sørlandet. On Monday, the ship set sail for the Atlantic Ocean, together with 66 boys and girls from eight nations. The vast majority are 17 years old and will have an exchange year on the world’s oldest ship of its kind. The full-rigger was launched in May 1927 and was previously a school ship for sailor training for school ship boys. In 2014, she became available for upper secondary education, where young people from all over the world can apply for an exchange offer. Brede Ubostad (17) from Lyngdal is ready for a school year completely out of the ordinary. Photo: Vetle Hjortland / news There were many tearful goodbyes at the harbor in Kristiansand before this year’s litter sailed away. – I have given my mother strict instructions not to get completely hysterical, and I think she will be fine, but of course it will be sad. A school year at sea The school route for the 66 pupils starts in Skagerak, before the journey continues down the European continent. They follow a route that in the old days was called “trade winds”. Three weeks on the open sea await them after the New Year, when the ship turns its course for the Caribbean. There they will visit islands such as Grenada, Guadeloupe and Puerto Rico. Brede’s parents say it will be tough to be without their son for almost a year. – I haven’t put on mascara today. It’s a sensitive day, says Kathrine Ubostad. – I’m a little envious. Think of that year with those experiences, says father Stig Ubostad, who has a very close relationship with his son. Nora Caroline Tvedt is both nervous and excited before the school year. She told her parents the day before. – It will be challenging, but I think we can create a nice family with all the students on board. Håkon Johansson Skjelbred and Klara Bergvall say they are excited about what it will be like to be far away from their family for so long. – I’m a little scared, because I’ve never done anything like this before, says Håkon. – I feel you develop and face challenges in a completely different way. Both in collaboration and as an individual, adds Klara. An educational journey – Today there are a lot of emotions going on and a lot of excitement. There are 66 young people who meet for the first time, and then there are around 120 mums and dads, uncles and aunts who stand on the quay with a small lump in their stomachs. That’s what Knut Arne Gjertsen, director of the Fullriggeren Sørlandet foundation, says. The education on board places emphasis on students gaining international experience, and everything is taught in English. In addition to completing a year of upper secondary education, the students are also part of the operations on board. Gjertsen calls it an educational journey, and all the students have been through two rounds of interviews before they were selected. – They learn a little about how to operate the schooner. They stand at the helm, act as fire guards, look out, peel potatoes, scrub the deck, set sails and tear sails. It gives them experience and knowledge about having structure in life. To the parents, he can promise one thing: – Now they leave as young boys and girls, but I promise you that you will come home grown men and women. Knut Arne Gjertsen is managing director of Stiftelsen Fullriggeren Sørlandet. Photo: Vetle Hjortland / news Deprived of the phone An important part of the time on board the full rigger is to be disconnected from the phone. In everyday life, much of our time is spent looking down at the small screen, but when the youngsters go out to sea there is no dear mother. The phone must be handed in. – They do so somewhat reluctantly at first. It’s a bit heavy for the first two weeks, but they think it’s delicious after a while. It is both for safety reasons, but it also has another reason. – It is part of the education that is about the fact that there is more in the world than what is on the screen, says Gjertsen. These rivers get a different school year on the school ship Sørlandet. Photo: Vetle Hjortland / news The young people news has spoken to are somewhat divided on what they think about a mobile-free everyday life. – I’m looking forward to it, and think it will be very good. It will be nice to free yourself a little, says Nora Caroline. – It’s one of the things I’ve dreaded the most, but it’s also a bit nice to get away from the mobile phone, says Håkon. – At the start it will probably be a bit unfamiliar, but I think we will benefit a lot from it, and we will probably get to know each other much faster, adds Klara.
ttn-69
– Lots of emotions – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
