A special welcome

It is always exciting to get to move to a new place. There are a lot of expectations, fears and anxiety, especially when you are moving for the first time.

As a new student in Bergen city you may feel the same. As you may be aware, the higher institutions of learning here in Bergen are undergoing several changes to enhance quality reform in the education that they provide. The academic demands are getting higher and this calls for hard work and determination. By virtue of being in Bergen its evidence enough that you measure up to the challenge. The facilities and academic environment offered by institutions here could not be better. If they are not the best in Europe then they are the best in the world. Need I say more?

This beautiful city of 250,000 inhabitants by the western fjords of Norway provides an exquisite environment with its serenity and gentle people. There is no reason you should not feel at home away from home. Make sure you make the best use of every opportunity that you find. There are a number of organisations that are available to make your life worthwhile and friendly people are in abundance.

We at the international students union believe that man is gregarious by nature and therefore must interact with others. Together with other institutions we try to make your other aspects of life catered for by providing an avenue for socialising and taking leadership in an international context. Our mission is to advance the interest of students in all spheres of life be they academic, social political and integrate people from Jamaica to Johannesburg and from Italy to India. Well, as Thomas Traherne reminds us, "No one in this world has been loved too much; many have been loved in the wrong way and in too short a measure". This fact has consequences for you and me an that is why we think that we can make a contribution to the measure of love you have got in the world.

I take this opportunity to welcome you to Bergen, and assure you that you will enjoy both the nature, the books, a night out, the mountains and of course the weather. This is the international raining city. Did u know that? Have a great time in Bergen. You surely will.

Written by Gerald Kagambirwe Karyeija, former president of the
International Students Union in Bergen.