Wendy Nijssen (The Netherlands)

((Frivillegsentralen, Dale, Fjaler) Email: wendyinorge@hotmail.com

Why are you a volunteer?

In the beginning of august I finished my studies ‘pedagogical sciences’ in the Netherlands. I specialised myself in the area of handicapped people, and during my studies I learned that Norway was ahead of The Netherlands, for example with respect to the integration of handicapped people in society. As a volunteer in the EVS program I was able to enter a project in which I could gain some working experience in the area of handicapped people. Besides this I think its is a great opportunity to live in another country, get to know their way of life, get to know new people from all over the world and to be able to cope with all kind of things yourself. And I do think it is a good way of showing other people (and yourself) that it is ok to do things for free and not everything is about money. You learn to appreciate the small things in life.

Why did you choose Norway?

I chose Norway because I learned that this country was ahead of The Netherlands concerning the care for people with a handicap and I was very curious and eager to learn from them and hopefully bring back some knowledge and use this in my future life.

What did you do?

I work as a volunteer at the ‘frivillegsentralen’ in Dale. I work two days a week at a daycentre for mentally handicapped, one day a week I work with elderly people and the other days I work at the frivillegsentralen where I do all kinds of things. Two evenings a week I go swimming and play football with the handicapped and I am working on a club for these people. I also join the organisation of an international café to improve the integration of international students and local students. Together with another volunteer I am trying to open the café more for the local people in Dale because there are not many places they can go to. I will work with Afghan refugees as well in a group for women, organising free time activities.

What is bad about being a volunteer?

I haven’t met any real bad things yet. It is difficult sometimes to really do what you want to do (with respect to a job), because you are not a normal paid person. And you cannot take the work of a normal paid person.

Three typical norwegian things?

I think I met more than three typical Norwegian things…At least typical for the people I work with here in Dale:
Norway is expensive.
They eat a lot of cakes.
They eat dinner between 3 and 4 o’ clock.
There is no age difference in social occasions.
There is no hurry, you can do it tomorrow as well.
Alcohol policy.
Floor heating in every bathroom.
Norwegians love to run up a mountain just to write in the book and to see who has been there before.
There is mostly no plan when you are going to do things, you just have to do.
People are very trusting, leave their cars open, need no lock on the bike and leave things they sell at shops outside.

What was your first phrase?

Jeg heter Wendy og jeg er fra Holland. Jeg snakker ikke norsk.

Your best norwegian experience?

People are very kind and helpful in Norway. We got, for example, all the stuff we needed for our house (beds, tables, chairs, refrigerator, oven) for free , just by hanging up a posters to ask for things we needed at the local shops.

Your favorite norwegian food?

I haven’t eaten all typical Norwegian food yet, but I like the ‘fiskekaker’, ‘Laurdagsris’, and ‘Sveler’.

If you had optional things to do, what would you do?

I would like to go fishing, skiing and touring around Norway.

The most important phrases in your job:

Kanskje du kan snake litt sakte til meg?
Du er så flink!
Vent litt!

Picture below:
Three volunteers in Bunad (Norwegian traditional costume) on the 17th May 2003. From the left:
Franca
Lise
Wendy