Study visit: NATO
Today the Social Science group in Gym 3 went to NATO for a study visit. We took the school bus into Brussels and met our contact person, a woman working by NATO. Our car was inspected, we got badges and went through a security check before entering. The headquarters were rather big and there were several buildings. We went to the Swedish part. Apparently, I did not know this, Sweden has a cooperation with NATO although it is not a member.
We met a man who held a presentation for us which was very informative, I learn't a lot about today's politics and how different institutions handle these matters. After this interesting presentation with question answering was over we went to have lunch. It was a vey big cantina with lots of nice food. We sat together with people working at NATO which was fun because we excahnged information about their work and about our school.
After this we went back to the school and went into the sun to study for the rest of the day. A very nice and giving day. Unfortunately I was not allowed to take any photographs so I had to steal one from google.
Study trip: Art museum
Today the students that have Art (bild/estetisk verksamhet) as a subject went on a study trip together. We went to Gent to visit a Design museum. Firstly there was a 1.5 hour busride to get to Gent on which we received tasks in groups of about 4. Our task was to read about Kaj Frank, the artist/sculptor whose works where exhibited in the museum. Some other people got to read about Coca Cola since that was another part of the exhibition.
On this trip we were not only Upper secondary students but classes 8-10 joined us on this trip. So when we arrived at the museum we got some time to prepare short presentations about different parts of the exhibition, with the help of the information we received at the bus as well as information found in the exhibition. After about half an hour it was time for lunch so we all went back to the bus to receive our lunch bags with sandwiches, fruit, juice and a waffle.
We ate our lunch outside, since the weather is a lot warmer here, and then returned to the museum. When we got there it was time for us to have our presentations. Classes 8-10 divided into two groups and so we held two presentations about Kaj Frank. I think it went well and all of the people in our group had a lot of interesting things to tell of some of his work.
He was very controversial at the time he began designing and creating houseware, Finnish artist. His most famous things were created in the 1960s and similar things now exist in most of our homes, we now find them normal and common. He realised that there was a need for simplicity in objects we use at home since many people were moving into apartments and did not have the same storage space. This is why Kaj Franks products were so great, they were often stackable and easy to store, also easy to clean. He won the Grand Prix for his collection and 21.5 million products were sold in Finland and other countries, there is also a prestigeous design award in Finland named after him. This year it is a hundred years since he was born which is why the exhibition is moving around the world. This is just some of the information we presented at the exhibition.
When we had held our presentations it was time for sketching. We made sketches of some of his things and also drew our own versions of these objects, inspired by his main ideas of design. When we were done it was time to go home and many people fell asleep on the bus ride back home. All in all this trip was interesting and I learn't a lot about Finnish design that I did not know before.
Study trip: Chocolate factory
Yesterday, the 22nd of November, all of the boarding students went to visit a chocolate factory in Brussels. It was an in-service day which made it the perfect day for such a trip. Everybody went by bus into Brussels and at the chocolate factory a very experienced chocolate maker told the students about how he makes chocolate, how things work in the factory and also everybody got to taste the result. All the students seemed to have enjoyed themselves, it was a successful trip.
When it was time to go home many people took the opportunity to buy chocolates for themselves or relatives back at home. The factory owner also gave everybody some chocolate when they left which was higly appreciated. I borrowed some pictures from another student, Jennifer Widen, who also runs a blog about her year in Belgium. You can read it here >>.
Study trip: Gent
Together with my friend Benjamin Bond I wrote a summary of our, Gym 3's, study trip to Gent.
On the 9th of September 2011 the whole of Gym 3 went on a study trip to Gent, a town in Belgium. Gent is particularly known for it’s remarkable medieval architecture that we greatly experienced while walking through the city. It is a busy town with a university and many students, interesting for us since universities are where many of us are going next.
We all took the train from Waterloo to Gent in order to learn about how the train system works and how to get there on our own. On arrival we met up with a local, previously a teacher at SSB, who showed us around through the city. We also went into the Saint Bavo cathedral, where we got to see famous paintings and sculptures. It’s built in Gothic style, from what we can recall. We visited the torture museum, which was inside an enormous stone-brick castle, an amazing experience!
Unfortunately we did not get to experience more historical matters that day for it was time to return home, to Waterloo. We got to try taking the tram to the train station and after that we took the train back home to Waterloo. It was a nice trip and not only did we get to see a lot of the city and learn about paintings etc. but we also learnt how to get to Gent and take the train.
Pictures: Victoria Håkansson
Study trip: Leuven
Now and then the school arranges study trips for the different classes in Upper secondary. This year each class (Gym 1,2 and 3) went to a different town or city, in Belgium, for a day. In each city the students got to learn about the place and go see important places as well as learn how to get there. Since I wasn't accompanying the Gym 1 students on their trip, to Leuven, I asked a student in Gym 1 to help me write a summary of their study trip.
On the 9th September, 2011, all of us in Gym 1 went to Leuven. It is famous for their university and its wonderful environment. We all met at the train station in Waterloo. We travelled by train to learn how the train system works in Belgium. Once there, it was time to visit Stella Artois, which has its brewery there. We walked around and saw how beer is produced and how it is packaged. It was very interesting because beer is very big in Belgian culture.
After the visit to the brewery we got some lunch money and had lunch. Then we had presentations that we had prepared in social studies. We were divided into small groups where we presented Leuvens church, library, university, great buildings and statues. Then it was time to return home and we walked towards the train station. All in all, the trip was fun. The highlight was the brewery because I’ve never experienced anything like it. Despite this we had to walk very much, but so we discovered Leuven more.
Written by Ellen Carlson Hanse, Gym 1
Pictures of some Gym 1 students in Leuven
