Category: High School – Norway

The Foods Every Exchange Student in Norway Must Try
Greenheart Travel note: Daphne is a high school student from New Jersey studying in Norway during the 2020-2021 year.

By: Daphne Becker

If you plan on studying abroad in Norway, there are three different groups of food that you will be eating:

1. Traditional Norwegian food
2. Sweets
3. Random foods that everyone in Norway eats.

Before I left to go abroad, of course I needed to eat my two favorite foods that I thought I wouldn’t be able to eat until I landed back in the United States. Those were bagels and Mexican food. I am from New Jersey, so I think our only other competitor with bagels is New York, and we definitely have the best bagels by far. We also have a large Latino population, so we have some pretty awesome Mexican food too. These are the two things that I thought I would be depriving myself of because I wouldn’t be able to get them.

It’s safe to say that Norway 50 years ago is very different then Norway today when you talk about food. Traditional Norwegian food is very bland due to the fact that Norway actually was a very poor country until 1969 when they hit oil. They were only eating what was available to them, so it was potatoes, fish, and brown anything. Norway is the definition of “brown lunch” – and if you don’t know what that is, it is where everything on your plate just has no color.

So, here are the top 5 traditional Norwegian foods that your host family will have many times a week.

Photo courtesy of Georg Eiermann via UnSplash
- Salmon or Cod– Norway has some of the best most fresh fish that I have ever tasted and it’s safe to say that you will be eating this at least once a week (maybe more) with your host family.
- Bread with pålegg – In Norway, a typical breakfast and lunch is bread with pålegg. We don’t have an English word for this because we don’t really eat pålegg, but it is basically anything you would put on bread (ex. Cheese, peanut butter, jelly, lunch meats, etc). You will be eating this every single day, probably even twice a day if you go to Norway. You also do not eat this like a sandwich, you eat it as two separate pieces of bread (this is VERY important to note). I am personally not a huge fan of pålegg bread because I think it is very bland, but it is part of the experience!
- Brown cheese, or Brunost in Norwegian- Brunost is a very typical pålegg. It is a mix of goat and cow’s milk, and is a brown sweet cheese. The milks are boiled for many hours and the water evaporates, so that turns the milk sugars into caramel which gives it the brown color and the sweet taste. Brunost is definitely an acquired taste, and for me I am in the middle. I don’t really know what I think about the cheese yet, I think that my taste buds are still getting used to the sweet taste and the sticky texture.
- Potatoes– This is a no brainer. Norwegian’s have potatoes as a side with any dinner. You should expect to have them boiled with no seasoning, in boats, mashed, literally any way you could imagine. Just when you think you are having spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, think again, you may be having red sauce, meatballs, and potetbåter (potato boats). This is definitely something you will be eating every night!
- Norwegian Meat (moose, reindeer, lamb, and elk) with brown sauce- I call the meats that I listed above, “Norwegian Meats” because these are things that I have never eaten before I came to Norway. Lamb is something that people probably have eaten before they came to Norway, but I had never. The only one that I really like to eat is reindeer, that has to be by far my favorite. It is always eaten with brown sauce or brun saus in Norwegian! To be honest, I am not sure what it is made of. It is sort of a sweet creamy sauce that is of course, brown. Norwegians LOVE brun saus! My host family even eats it with a spoon after they finish the food.
That wraps up traditional Norwegian foods you will definitely eat with your host family many times a week! Although they are very different to what you may be used to, it is important to give everything a try because you may be surprised!

This one is the fun part. Norwegian baked goods and sweets are the best! They know how to bake here for sure!

Here are 5 sweets that you need to try in Norway!

Photo courtesy of Cherry Laithang via Unsplash
- Freia Melkesjokolade– Freia is the Hershey of Norway, but 100 times better. Norway has very good dairy, so that is probably what makes the milk chocolate so good. This is a must, and a staple dessert in every Norwegian home, and something that you will eat if you “gå på tur” or skiing or anywhere! Freia is even so good, that if you are standing at the castle, and look down Karl Johans Gate you will see the Freia logo because the king loves it so much that he needed the logo to look at.
- Boller- Boller is a sweet bun that is eaten all the time in Norway. You can find them with or without raisins, and I prefer them without. They are very common and are eaten all the time. You will be able to find them at any store you go to.
- Skoleboller– Skoleboller is not a traditional Norwegian dessert because it uses coconut, and coconuts do not naturally grow in Norway. They are a variation on the traditional boller. It is a boller filled with custard and coated with coconut flakes on the outside. You will be able to commonly find them in any grocery store, bakery, convenient store, etc across the country.
- Waffles– Norwegian waffles are very different from the traditional American waffle. They are thinner, crispier, and in little heart forms. They also are not eaten with butter, syrup, and a fork and knife. Norwegian waffles are eaten with jam, brunost, or butter and sugar. You also eat them sort of like pizza with your hands. These are also very common to eat when you go out grilling or “gå på tur” with friends or your family.
- Pancakes– Norwegian pancakes are also way different then typical American pancakes. They are similar to a French crepe because they are thin and flat. Norwegian pancakes are also typically not eaten with butter and syrup like an American pancake is. My mom has made them for my siblings and I for our whole lives, so before I came to Norway I had already tasted them. I always would usually eat them with maple syrup or jelly. In Norway they are eaten with either sugar and lemon or jelly. Sugar and lemon sounds weird, but it is definitely really good!
The last category is random foods that all Norwegians eat. These foods are not traditional Norwegian foods that every Norwegian family will eat on a regular basis.

Here are 3 non-Norwegian foods that you will be eating with your host family, and that you definitely need to try regardless of what I say about them!

Photo courtesy of Engin Akyurt via UnSplash
- Fredagstaco (Friday taco)- Norwegian fredagstaco is probably one of the most random things that I have been eating almost every Friday night since I arrived in Norway. Taco is eaten by 8.2% of the population every Friday. It is a variation on a traditional taco, but with a Norwegian twist of course. Personally, this is my least favorite food that I have been eating in Norway. They are usually made with flour tortillas, ground beef with taco seasoning, Norwegian guacamole (avocado and a little lime), corn, and tomato paste. I don’t mean to sound spoiled when I say this, but I think that I am just used to a more traditional taco. To me, I just prefer something a little less bland and a little more traditional.
- Grandiosa Pizza– Before fredagstaco took Norway by storm, they had pizza Friday with Grandiosa frozen pizza. Grandiosa frozen pizza is similar to the taco in the way that it is not traditional. They are of course made with Jarlsberg cheese which is a Norwegian cheese, so of course it is pizza with a Norwegian twist. They have crazy toppings like a fredagstaco pizza. The pizza is not bad, but not great.
- Pølser– Pølser are Norwegian hot dogs. They are directly translated to sausages instead of hot dogs, but they are far from a sausage. You will be eating pølser when you go out grilling with your family of friends. They are eaten just like a hot dog, in a hot dog roll with ketchup, mustard, and/ or crispy onions. Hot dogs have never been one of my favorite foods, and I eat them but don’t love them. It is fun to grill them when you go out with friends or family!
To sum up, Norway has many traditional and non-traditional foods that are eaten all the time. Traditional Norwegian foods are brown and do not have a lot of taste, but non-traditional Norwegian foods are very random, and a mix between Norwegian cuisine, and cuisine from other countries. These are all foods that you must try when you go to Norway, and probably will be eating multiple times a week!
April 8, 2021
How Does Social Life in Norway Differ from the U.S.?
Greenheart Travel note: Daphne is a high school student from New Jersey studying in Norway during the 2020-2021 year.

By: Daphne Becker

Daphne having a snack while enjoying the outdoors.

Norwegian’s typically have a reputation for being very outdoorsy people, and I can confirm that is true. A very typical question from a Norwegian is “Skal vi gå på tur” Which means “Should we go for a walk?” If you have ever even been on vacation in Norway for just a couple of days, you have definitely heard this phrase being said.

Now, I know what you’re probably thinking, that you go on walks all the time at home just around the block or to the store. A Norwegian walk is different. It is usually in the forest not too far from your house, around lunch or dinner time, includes a fire (with grilling hot dogs, marshmallows, etc), and they are done all throughout the year. After all, “there’s no bad weather, only bad clothing” right? This isn’t just an activity that your parents drag you too for some family time on the weekends, and you just complain the whole time. This is something that every Norwegian has grown up doing their whole life, so naturally everyone young and old are able to make a fire and cook food over it. This is something that I have had to learn in the time that I’ve been here so far, and something that I will bring back home with me. Of course there are other activities that people do here like cross country skiing, ice skating, and swimming (all year long!).

Norwegians don’t center activities around money. Of course they like to go out to eat or go on vacation, but the country offers so many free activities. This has to do with the fact that Norway is an expensive country to live in. To compensate for that, they have so many free outdoor spaces for anyone to use. Norway has a concept called the “freedom to roam” or “everyman’s right”. This means that you are able to walk, camp, picnic, etc on undeveloped land throughout the country. Of course there are some basic rules for camping that need to be followed such as:
- People are allowed to camp at least 150 meters away from the nearest inhabited house or cottage.
- Campfires are not allowed in the forest areas between 15 April to 15 September, unless it obviously can not lead to a fire.
- Tourists are allowed to stay in one spot for only one day. After that, it is necessary to specifically ask for permission from the landowner. This rule excludes the mountains and the national parks.
Nordmen are very environmentally conscious as well, so it is no problem picking up trash and cleaning up after yourself when you leave your spot.

Daphne enjoying the outdoors.

The Norwegian social life differs from mine in New Jersey. I do live at the Jersey shore though, so it is common in the summer and when it is warm in the spring or fall to be outside at the beach or in someone’s backyard. We do not have the “everyman’s right” concept though, so my friends and I do not do a lot of hiking or camping. This also has to do with New Jersey being very flat and populated, so there is not a lot of free land to hike. Of course we could drive to New York or Pennsylvania, but being 16, we don’t have our drivers license to take us there.

We also center our activities around money a lot more. It is not typical in Norway to go to the mall or shops around and go shopping on the weekends, or go to a restaurant and eat out. Norwegians are happy with cooking their own food, and teenagers can cook nice meals too.

On one Friday, I went over to my friends with another girl and we were going to eat dinner there. Typically if I were home, my friends and I would order pizza, sushi, Chinese food, or go out, but here it is common to go to the grocery store and cook for yourselves. I do know how to cook, but I can make the basic things, and I have never cooked with meat before. We went to the store with no plan whatsoever on what to eat. After walking around for a little, we decided to make chicken and some typical Norwegian potato dishes. When we picked out chicken to eat, I thought that it was crazy. I had never cooked with raw chicken before in my life. Partly because I am scared to death of it being raw. We went back to her house, and prepped and cooked chicken and potatoes for us to eat. After doing this, I was thinking about how different it was to me to just cook dinner with friends instead of going out or ordering take out. Thinking back on it, it is a good idea to cook more at home with friends because you make more funny memories, and save a lot more money!

Of course there are many similarities though. In the winter when it is just too cold and snowy to do anything, it is very common to watch a movie and chill on the couch with your friends. Also to have game nights, which is a good way to learn the language because many games are translated from the English version to a Norwegian one. For instance, the game, Cards Against Humanity, has a Norwegian version where it not only teaches you just some of the language, but also some Norwegian pop culture!

In short, I think that the main difference on social life in Norway vs social life in the United States is that Norway does not center their activities around money. They center it more around good company and nature.
March 5, 2021
5 Reasons Studying Abroad in High School Will Change Your Life

You are googling high school abroad. You are scrolling through Instagram to see all the inspiring travel photos. You are preparing a powerpoint to easily present this crazy idea to your parents – they may even have said “Yes!!”. You’ve watched all the Youtubers you can and you are ready to go!! What is stopping you? In case you need even more inspiration to take that leap – here is a helpful list of the ways you will be forever changed if you do decide to go on a high school abroad program.

Be part of a select group.

Did you know only about 1,200 students go on a high school abroad program every year? That is for the entire United States! You will be one of the select few students who actually becomes an exchange student in high school.

Develop practical language skills.

There is NO better way to gain fluency in another language. I get asked all the time if it would be better to study abroad in college and don’t get me wrong that is wonderful BUT the problem is you don’t usually get the same level of language and cultural immersion. How you can settle in and learn about the daily life of your host country and how can you have any hope of gaining fluency in the language if you are with international students and speaking English all day.

Have roots on the other side of the world

The host family you stay with will be your family for your whole life! How beautiful is that? You essentially become their son/daughter, you do life with them and that is a bond that lasts. Ask anyone who was an exchange student in high school and they will tell you that even into adulthood, they stay in touch with and visit their Host family. Don’t miss out on this opportunity for a sincere connection with a family abroad. Not to mention your local friends.

Experience being independent

If you study abroad in High school, there is nothing that will intimidate you. If you can leave your comfort zone and spend three months, a semester, or (eek!) a year of high school abroad. You will become SO much more confident, independent, and mature. It’s amazing and you are learning a million things that you could never learn if you stay home.

Prepare for the future

You’ll get much more out of your college years if you study abroad in high school. So many students go to college and have no idea what they want to do. I sure didn’t! Living in another country and seeing another part of the world really helps you understand yourself better and move into your college years with more confidence and clarity.

I hope this list was helpful. If you are still unsure, I’d be happy to talk discuss the options with you or your parents or you can reach out to past and current participants in our Facebook group. Here is my calendar, find a time that works for you and we’ll talk soon!

August 12, 2019

Next Step After Teen Summer Language Camp: High School Abroad

So you just finished your Teen Summer Language Camp. You’ve embraced life with a host family, sampled your new favorite foods, accelerated your language skills and met other teens from all over the world. But the summer is coming to a close, and you wish you could do it all over again, or at least stay abroad a little longer.

And you can! By being an exchange student on a High School Abroad program!

Now, let’s not get confused. Teen Summer Language Camp is NOT just a short version of High School Abroad. The two programs are totally different but go hand in hand.

Here are some of the similarities and differences broken down:

	High School Abroad	Teen Summer Language Camp
School	Local high school	Language school
Accommodation	Host family	Host family or residence hall
Length	Summer (1-2 months), trimester, semester, or academic year	2-6 weeks
When	Summer, Fall, Spring	Summer

Both Teen Summer Language Camp and High School abroad offer full language and cultural immersion, but the lengths and experiences are vastly different.

After successfully completing a Teen Summer Language Camp, you’re ready for the new experiences, joys and challenges that come with studying abroad in a local high school for a longer period.

Greenheart Traveler Alexander Obenchain always knew he wanted to study abroad in high school in Japan. In Summer 2018, a Teen Summer Language Camp in Tokyo was the first step to help him prepare for his academic year high school study abroad in 2019. Easing into the language and culture of Japan in Summer 2018 allowed Alexander to hit the ground running when he landed in Japan for his high school program.

“Coming for a smaller amount of time helped me prepare for the difference in atmosphere between here and the states,” he explains. “It was certainly a good thing to have studied the language a little bit more in-depth beforehand. I can also compare my skills from now to then.”

And navigating the Japanese train system? He figured that out a long time ago!

But you don’t have to return to the same country you went to for your Language Camp. Maybe you went to Salamanca, Spain in the summer, and now that you know you can handle being far from home, want to explore Sweden!

So is studying abroad in a local high school right for you? With improved language skills, you’ll be ready to learn subjects like math, science, and drama in another language. After living with a host family for a few weeks, you can anticipate how much you can learn about a country and its culture through observing (and living) day-to-day life abroad. You’ve proven to your parents that you’re independent, capable and problem-solving.

You’ve gotten a taste, now it’s time to thrive.

August 9, 2019

8 Ways to Support Your Child While Abroad

When you’re a parent sending your child abroad, you know there’s a lot they must prepare for: culture shock, homesickness, and language barriers. But your children aren’t the only ones experiencing a life change.

“This was definitely a learning experience for the parents as well!” says Lisa Hall, mother of high school in Sweden alum Matilda. “It was very hard to not be there to help when things were tough.”

So what can you do? Miles away from your children, how can you still support them? We asked parents of Greenheart Travel alumni share their insight on how you can best support your child while they’re abroad. Here are their tips.

Before they go abroad, talk about life when they return

“Prior to him leaving for the 6 months, we did discuss what he wanted to do at his school in the US during his junior year. He decided he would try to run for student council office while he was overseas. And unbeknownst to his dad and I – he did run, campaigned via Instagram and won the vice president spot for the upcoming junior class here in the US. The lesson to learn…. make goals with your child and then let your child be the captain of that ship while he is away.” -Bonnie Green, mother of high school in New Zealand alum Graham.

Agree on a weekly time to talk – and stick with it

Schedule a time and way to communicate in advance, that way you are both on the same page. For example, decide that they need to check-in on Sundays around 7:00 pm their time via WhatsApp. This way, you don’t need to send them texts throughout the day because you’ll already have a set time to catch up.

Mary Scott, mother of language camp in Spain alum Emmy, explains why it’s so important to give space. “While she was abroad, we made sure we weren’t constantly bombarding her with texts and skype calls which at first was difficult. However, we knew she would have a more enriching experience if she wasn’t having to think about us back in Michigan the whole time. We wanted her to be able to completely devote herself to speaking Spanish and learning about her new environment.”

For Hall, being far from her daughter was “hard in a different way when she was having so much fun, there was hardly any contact! But that was the best kind of growth for us all.”

Olivia McCollum at her high school while studying abroad in Japan

Recognize that YOUR life is going to change

Your life at home is undoubtedly going to change. For Bonnie Green, she and her husband experienced being empty nesters for the first time.

Her advice? Take this opportunity and focus on you.

“Make a list of things YOU want to do while your child is away. My husband and I took dance lessons, had adult only (no children) dinner parties, accomplished house updates, traveled to visit our children who were away at college, visited aging parents, put in extra time at work and started hiking more.”

And that leads us to our next point…

Don’t say how much you miss them or how much you want them home

Your child will most likely be homesick at some point, and it can be really hard to go through that while hearing pleads to come home. Being asked to come back and hearing about what they are missing at home can make a hard day so much worse.

Instead, tell them that you are so excited to hear about their adventures when they are back.

Jacob Dane Chilton with host family in Spain

Encourage them to reach out to local staff and take initiative

Part of why going abroad builds confidence and leadership skills is because travelers are expected to speak up and handle themselves. Instead of telling your teen what to do, or doing things on their behalf, allow them the opportunity to be independent. This is especially important when handling the pre-departure logistics so that they don’t feel totally lost when stepping foot in the airport. “When a problem comes up, discuss the different ways it can be solved instead of jumping in and telling them what to do.” says Scott.

The best thing you can do for your teen is to let them practice communicating with adults and learning how to manage themselves. It can be hard to trust your child to do everything right but giving them that space to grow will make them better prepared for their program (and life).

“I think it is vital that while your child is aboard that he/she become a part of their new community,” says Green. “While he did stay in touch with friends in the states, he made friends in NZ. The small town even had a send-off for him and took him to the airport.”

Read about their country and take interest when they share new knowledge

A great way to get involved in their experience is by learning more about the culture in the country in which they’re going. As you learn about your child’s new home, take note of what your child is excited about. “I was sure to listen to all the positive details, no matter how small!” says Hall.

You could practice making a tortilla española or start listening to the music of traditional Austrian brass band and surprise them with your newfound knowledge.

Greenheart staff member Allison Yates’s mom started learning Spanish when she studied abroad in Argentina. “She knew that Spanish was a huge part of my life, so it meant so much that she wanted to learn it too! It helped her feel like she understood my experience more,” says Yates.

Students attending high school abroad in the Netherlands

Educate yourself on what they might be feeling – and how you can help from afar

A great way to get a sense of the mental and emotional experience of studying abroad is by completing the Greenheart Travel Atlas along with your child. This is tool for before, during, and after the cultural exchange experience that includes personal and professional development, cultural understanding and environmental awareness.

For example, if your normally independent child calls you multiple times a day when they first arrive in the country, you’ll remember it’s likely initial culture shock. You can remind them to follow the Greenheart Travel Atlas tools to overcome this stage and focus on meeting new people and spending time with their host family.

Halls says she supported Matilda by “making sure she knew I was there to talk about things, whether they were positive or negative. I tried to give her as much time as I could, but not to have it be open-ended or all the time.”

While your first instinct might be to check in more frequently, increased contact with friends and family back home only exacerbates culture shock.

Rest easy – they’re in good hands

“We had to give up our control and trust in the goodness and professionalism of others. We did our research, chose a great partner in Greenheart, and raised a strong daughter,” s ays Laura Foster, mother of high school abroad Costa Rica alum, Eleanor.

As parents and former exchange students, Greenheart and our in-country partners know what it’s like to be far from your family, and we work to equip students with the tools they need to succeed.

July 25, 2019
The Student Visa Process Broken Down Step-By-Step

If you’ve ever gone abroad before you have most likely had to fill out some sort of international documents and paperwork. It’s a drag. Who wants to fill out what seems like form after form when you could be creating a travel itinerary of all of the places you are dreaming of going! However, this paperwork plays an important part in keeping you safe and accounted for while traveling abroad. More often than not, your duration and reason for travel determine how much paperwork and planning you have to do.

This blog will serve as a guide to my experience with obtaining a Student Visa at the Spanish Consulate in Chicago. Currently, I am nearing the end of the process of applying for a Spanish Student Visa. I will be studying at the Universidad de Sevilla in Seville, Spain next year for nine months and couldn’t be more thrilled!

Don’t know what a visa is? Click here.

To be honest, I’ve never really minded filling out paperwork, especially when it came to cultural exchange; I knew it meant that I was one step closer to getting off that plane and interacting with locals. However, I’m going to be frank and say that this application was no walk in the park. Because I will be studying in Spain for over 90 days, I needed to apply for a student visa, and because I would be staying over 6 months, there were additional documents I needed to obtain.

Before I could even start on all of this paperwork, I needed to figure out where my closest Spanish Consulate was and make an appointment no sooner than three months before the start of my university classes. Since I live in Michigan, the closest consulate was in Chicago, a place where I luckily know quite a few people (Greenheart Travel 💚). With my appointment date set, I got to work on the long list of things I needed to acquire.

National Visa Application

I got this from off of the consulate’s website and filled it out with some help from my program coordinator. This form needs to be completed in capital letters and with DD/MM/YYYY format. Once it was filled out, I glued one of my passport photos to it and made a copy.

Money Order

For the Chicago Spanish Consulate, the current fee for a student visa was $160. They do not accept cash or check so I went to my post office to get a money order. I paperclipped this to my application form.

Prepaid/ Pre-addressed USPS Priority Express Envelope and Disclaimer Form

This envelope is a bit pricey ($30 ish) but guarantees that your documents will be delivered quickly and safely. I put the consulate’s address on the “From” and my home address on “To.” The disclaimer form is found on the instructions form from the consulate and states that you are allowing the consulate to mail your passport with the visa back to you.

Original Passport and ID

A passport was something I luckily had already so there was no extra paperwork there. Keep in mind that generally, a valid passport is one that will not expire for at least six months after the date you leave the foreign country. I photocopied my passport as well as my university student ID, and my driver’s license. Be sure to bring your actual passport and cards to the appointment as well.

Two Passport Photos

I got these taken at the study abroad office on my university’s campus for $3, but you can get these taken at a lot of places like the post office or Walgreens.

Original Hardcopy Acceptance Letter, Evidence of Funds, and Proof of Health Insurance

Since I am going through a study abroad provider, this was all taken care of and sent to me.

All three of these needed to be in Spanish or have a translation. The acceptance letter was to prove I was enrolled as a full-time student, the evidence of funds was to assure that I would be able to pay for my program, and the proof of health insurance was to cover any medical fees I might obtain during my stay. I made a copy of each of these forms.

Medical Certificate (For stays over 180 days)

On the consulate’s website, this is one of two additional forms to print out for stays over 180 days. I just made a normal appointment for a physical and brought in the paper. This form states that you are in good physical and mental health and do not have pre-existing conditions. There was a little confusion at my appointment as the form had a Spanish translation of what it said in English that needed to be stamped and signed as well. Because there wasn’t a translator in my doctor’s office that day they wouldn’t stamp it (surprising for a town that has a significant Hispanic population), so I had to come back the next week when the translator was in. I made a copy of this form.

FBI Background Check with an Apostille (For stays over 180 days)

This document was definitely the most frustrating and tiring of them all. It began by going through a service called Accurate Biometrics (there are a few to choose from) to get my fingerprints scanned and sent to the FBI to run the background check. This was relatively easy as I made an appointment online then went into a FedEx office for the scan. It cost about $40 and took just about ten minutes. My results were sent to me the next day through my email.

This is when it became difficult. I needed to get an Apostille of the Hague Convention (this is a kind of “stamp” that makes the document internationally recognized) issued by the US Department of State in Washington DC. I hadn’t received any direction on what this was or how to get it so I emailed my program coordinator and went on the government website. Since I had a little over a month until my appointment at the consulate, I decided not to go through an expensive apostille service and just send it to the Office of Authentications myself. In my envelope, I needed to include my FBI background check, an apostille request form (called a DS-4194), a check for $8 (that was the fee for my document), and a pre-paid addressed USPS envelope for them to send me my document back.

I had read that this would take about 10 or 12 days. When it got to be around that point, I called the office to check my document status. After waiting about 20 minutes on hold, they told me that I was not in the system and that it must be in their mail room still being sorted. I knew I should’ve gotten tracking for this envelope… I called back multiple times over the next couple days and got the same response every time. I started to panic a little as my visa appointment quickly approached. With an urge from my study abroad coordinator, I swallowed my pride and contacted an apostille service. Because I didn’t have much time left before my appointment I was forced to get the “rush” service which was about $300 altogether.

With $300 drained from my bank account, but a bit more peace of mind, I waited for my last document to arrive. It came by mail with 3 days before my appointment. Because this also had to be translated into Spanish, I went through the company One Hour Translation. With my FBI background check and the Apostille, it was around $45 and was sent back to me within 50 minutes. After I received these last forms, I compiled everything into an envelope and waited for my appointment.

But you’ll never guess what showed up in the mail the day before my appointment…

My ORIGINAL FBI background check with Apostille. Yes, the one I DIDN’T have to pay $300 for… My only advice is – buy tracking for your envelopes.

The Appointment

On the day of my appointment, I woke up pretty early to catch a train from Michigan City, IN to Chicago. I got to the consulate a bit early; because there wasn’t a sign in sheet, I sat down and waited to be called. Once called up to the window, I handed over all of my documents and passport. The official checked them all and handed back the originals (to be used while in Spain) and kept the copies. All that was left to do was give him my envelope and disclaimer form. This appointment took no more than 5 minutes. He even thanked me for being so organized and following the instructions!

To be honest, this process was probably one of the hardest and most mentally taxing things I’ve ever had to do. However, I know I truly am one step closer to experiencing new changes; changes that will introduce new people, insights, and ideas to my life.

This post is an example of a student’s perspective of applying for a student visa. This is not a step-by-step guide for applying for student visas. Each country (and each consulate) has different requirements. While Greenheart cannot apply for your visa for you, we provide detailed application instructions and support during the application process.

June 27, 2019
VIDEO: High School Exchange Students Interview Each Other

When deciding whether or not to study abroad as a high school student your mind is likely full of questions like “Will I make friends!?” or “What if I’m lonely?” While we are here to can support you as much as possible through things like the Greenheart Travel Atlas, nothing can beat hearing first-hand from two Greenheart high school study abroad students about their experience.

Ian is an American who studied abroad in France with Greenheart Travel. Paula is a Spaniard who studied abroad in the USA with Greenheart Exchange. How are their stories the same/similar? Watch to find out!

May 28, 2019
4 Ways Studying Abroad in High School Can Impact Getting Into College

At Greenheart Travel, we’re huge fans of studying abroad as a teen. Studying abroad in high school has enormous benefits for your confidence, language skills and personal growth.

But the truth is, high school study abroad isn’t only about emotional and personal growth. It also positively impacts your college applications, including how you explain why you’re choosing your major, applying for specialized scholarships, and proving you’re the right candidate for the school.

Snorkeling in Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia.

I know what you’re thinking: but what about the gaps on my transcript, or if I don’t get credit for the classes I take abroad?! (pro-tip: read this blog post if you’re worried about transferring credits!) Well I’ve got news for you! It’s okay. And those gaps are easily explained in essays and open-ended questions on the application.

Here are the top 4 ways studying abroad in high school positively impacts your college application.

1. You’ll Make Your College Application Stand Out

When I spoke to Kyle, an admissions officer at the University of Chicago, he said, “Anything that makes your application stand out is a good thing.”

Student surfing the Australian coast.

Study abroad in high school takes guts – and that’s a good thing. We’re not afraid to tell you it’s going to be hard sometimes, especially when it comes to facing language barriers, making new friends, and navigating a whole new culture and host family. But what do struggles mean? Growth.

When life gets hard and we learn to solve problems and overcome challenges, we reap the benefits across the board, but we also have a great story to tell – a story that is sure to help you write a heartfelt, powerful admissions essay.

Student on a bridge in Malmo, Sweden.

Plus, your high school study abroad shows you have the maturity, independence and adaptability to hit the ground running when you get to college, and there’s nothing that pleases an admissions officer more than feeling confident you’ll make their school shine.

“A lot of schools are looking for a diverse perspective, and international experiences lend themselves to that,” Kyle said.

2. Scholarship Applications and Interviews Will be A Breeze

After studying abroad, you’ll have some specialized and specific knowledge – and probably language skills – that will allow you to find specific scholarships for what you’re looking to study.

Two students in Salzburg, Austria.

For example, Sierra Winters, a current full-ride Robertson Scholar at Duke University, found her passion for food systems and refugees while studying abroad with Greenheart Travel in Austria, and came back to the U.S. to fundraise for the Syrian Refugee Crisis efforts. “It was a challenging experience, and it was one that I was passionate about, and it lent me the genuineness for which colleges and scholarship programs are looking,” she says.

Plus, after you’ve spent a semester studying abroad in a high school where you don’t know the language and have had to make presentations in front of tons of students…. Speaking about your experience to an interviewer will be a breeze!

Student with homestay parents in Spain.

3. You’ll Know What You Want to Study

Studying abroad in high school opens you to a world of possibilities that you’ve probably never thought of. Seeing what’s out there will help you hone in your skills and passions before you start college. The average college student changes their major several times before graduation and, while we love exploration, it’s better for your pocket and time to already have a clear sense of what you want to study.

Students in the mountains in Argentina.

Greenheart Travel High School Abroad in Argentina alum Erin Clark went to Argentina in 2013 thinking she wanted to study business. Once she got to Argentina, she realized she was far more interested in the travel industry. She decided she wanted to study hospitality and tourism, and “that changed what universities I was looking at, and that’s how I found Niagara University,” she explains.

Imagine how different her life would be now if she hadn’t studied abroad!

4. You’ll Have the Confidence to Say Yes to New Opportunities

You might have already heard the phrase “travel bug.” It means that once you get a taste, you want to eat the whole cake! All of us at Greenheart Travel have the travel bug, and we see that as a good thing.

Latern festival on a street in Japan.

Once you see the life-changing experience of studying abroad in high school, you’ll be inspired to seek out more new and different experiences, like volunteer trips, internships, discovering new places and meeting new people.

Climbing the waterfalls in New Zealand.

“[Study Abroad] put my foot in the door for any job I want – I’m always the first to apply for jobs and I’m very driven, and I go out and get things done,” says Clark.

That’s an attitude that will positively affect every aspect of your life!

March 6, 2019
Going Back to Your Roots: My Trip to Norway

From the moment I saw a picture of the scenic landscape, I have always wanted to visit Norway. Little did I know, this dream was going to become possible after learning I would be going abroad in Europe for the fall semester of my junior year of college. After my departure, my mom posted a picture on her Instagram of me in Prague during my first week. After my Norwegian relatives saw it, they reached out to my mom. These relatives stayed with my mom and her family when they were growing up as an exchange program during high school and I have always heard stories of the time they spent together when they were younger.

After some planning and booking flights, I found myself on a plane to Stavanger, Norway to meet my Norwegian relatives for the first time. I was so excited to see where my grandpa’s side of the family came from. My eyes remained glued to the airplane window, waiting for those beautiful scenic landscapes to appear, and sure enough, they did. I was already blown away by Norway’s beauty and I learned quickly that Norway is compiled of many different islands. I was eager to get off the plane and finally meet these relatives who were such a big part of my mom’s life growing up.After finally getting off the plane I was greeted by my relative, Olav, with open arms and eagerness to show me around the beautiful Stavanger.

He began to tell me how I came at the perfect time of year, before the winter where it starts to get dark around 4p.m. He explained how many people in Norway struggle with seasonal depression because it gets dark so early. The first stop we made was at the “Sverd I Fjell” statue, a symbol of unity for Norway. Once we arrived at their home, they made me a snack after a long day of traveling. They explained how the shrimp and salmon are customs of Norway because they are fished right here. I then met their two sons, who were around the same age as me. At first we didn’t really know what to talk about but once I started asking about their interests, they began opening up and asking me questions about my life home in America.

The next day we would be traveling to Stord where my mom’s side of the family originated from. We took the fjord about an hour from Stavanger to Stord where Olav’s parents greeted us. They were quiet and spoke less English than Olav did, but they tried their best to communicate with me. On the way to Olav’s parents’ house we stopped alongside the road. I was confused at first but Olav explained this is where my grandpa’s mom used to live. After taking a picture we continued on to the house where his parents were quick to show me pictures of what the house used to look like followed by a diagram of the family tree. I found this really helpful since we’re distant relatives. The diagram definitely help put things in perspective and made me understand the family dynamic a little better. Olav’s parents also showed me pictures of my grandma and grandpa in the places I had just visited, this immediately brought a smile to my face, knowing that my trip here means a lot to not only me, but family too.

After traveling back to Prague for the rest of my semester, I showed my mom pictures of my time in Norway, and having not been to Norway before, my mom said my trip to Norway inspired her to make Norway the next trip on her list. Visiting Norway was an experience that I’ll never forget. Being able to travel to a place where your family came from and that’s so near and dear to my family’s heart is a once and a lifetime opportunity. If you’re planning on traveling abroad, don’t be afraid to ask your parents they know any family near where you’re traveling to!

June 21, 2016
A Visit to the Living Park Zoo in Norway

These pictures are from “Dyreparken” in Kristiansand, Norway. This park is the largest zoo in Norway. What’s unique about this place from many of America’s zoos is the massive size. This park is about 150 acres, which is huge for a zoo compared with American zoos. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, this park is nicknamed “The living park.” I think it has been nicknamed well, this park has its own TV show and puts all of its resources into teaching children and adults alike about the animals and conservation in a fun and interactive way. When you are at this zoo, it’s just amazing to see exactly how big this place is. However, they don’t have as many animals as you would think it should have.

In Norway, there are laws that protect these beautiful animals. Each animal has to have a certain amount of space to live in; which allows each animal to be happy. Dyreparken is the most famous amusement/zoo in Norway. In the summertime, this place is hoppin’. This park has a small pond with “Black Lady” ship that is captained by Captain Sabertooth, who might be the most popular fictional character in Norway. In the summer, there is almost always a show, in which the pirates battle it out as they attempt to take their plunder.

In another part of the park there is a town that the Norwegians called “Kardemomme by,” which is a tribute to Captain Sabertooth’s main rival in the fictional world. This book “Kardemomme by” is a book written by Thorbjфrn Egner. You should definitely pick this book up if you are near a library.

This park also contains a great water park that is extremely popular in the summertime. I would definitely love to go back to this great park in the summertime, when this great park is the main attraction of Norway. If you are ever in the area, I hope you will take the time to see this great place.

In conclusion, I had a great time at Dyreparken and I really hope I get to come back to this great place.

March 7, 2012