just got back from skiing! haha. it was ..... interesting. lol. i didn't ski so much. it was more of snowball fights and 'sleigh rides'. the snowball fights were super funnnn (: there were a lot of kids there as well. and they were so little but so awesome! they have absolutely no fear and they're really pro on their lil skis and just zooming down them hills!
anyway, this festival has really been quite an experience thus far. i've met so many new people, heard so many different thoughts and opinions on important issues that i honestly, never bothered to think much about. the plenary sessions that we have almost every evening is also an eye opener.
we had the danish journalist flemming rose to speak to us on the freedom of speech last evening and i thought he was really quite awesome. it was a controversial topic and with a relatively large group of islamics in the house, the atmosphere was a fairly emotional one with random shouts of outburst. many did not agree with him and felt that he lacked the tact and sensitivity that should have been shown. but i thought he defended his stand well and made it very clear how things were seen from his side and the intentions that went behind the publication of the cartoons.
i believe the whole idea of freedom of speech is a double edged sword. if you agree that everyone should have the right to speak their minds, then you should also be prepared to hear things that you don't like. every action has its consequences and i agreed with flemming when he said that while everyone also has the right to feel offended, that does not mean you have the right to express your disagreement through violence. people feel offended everyday but this does not mean they go around destroying things/people/places all the time. that's where the issue of tolerance comes in. but to be honest, i do find myself sitting on the fence a lot. haha. while i do strongly believe in sensitivity and being tactful, it's a bit of a paradox to encourage freedom of speech and yet insist on self-censorship by not saying things that others might deem to be offensive.
oh anyway i'm currently living with 4 norwegian girls and they are super awesome and just so nice to me (: we made pizza the first night i arrived and i'm gonna attempt to cook a chinese meal for them tomorrow night (: we live in the most charming part of Trondheim, the Bakklandet. It is the part of town where wooden houses and cafes line the streets (: I have come to realize that i've been really lazy with my camera.. lol. it's just kinda troublesome to lug my bulky camera around places and snap snap snap. soo.. i haven't really taken a lot of pictures which i know is a real pity but i will be better with it!! haha. i'm also really starting to get used to the snow and i can walk pretty fast now without slipping. lol. i can also find my way around town relatively well! hahah (:
alright, i skipped plenary session tonight so i could complete my online quiz for biz policy. sighs. SO, i better get to it.
ha det bra!
No comments:
Post a Comment