This year your Rotary contributions helped fund a Paducah native's Group Study Exchange to Norway. From March 1 - March 30, 26-year-old Rotaract member Jayme Brockman experienced life from the Norwegian perspective.

Norway is a small country with a population just exceeding the population of Kentucky. Oslo, the capitol city, is roughly the size of Louisville. As part of her trip, Jayme visited four cities: Kongsvinger, Oslo, Gjovik, and Lillehammer.

Kongsvinger has a population of 17,380. The city is best known for its fortress that sits on the Glamma River which is the longest waterway in Norway. While in Kongsvinger, Jayme visited Bergene Holme As which is one of Norway's biggest producing timber companies. Over 70% of industry in Norway is related to timber.

Also while in Kongsvinger, Jayme visited Ronning which is a small family business that produces hand-made wooden skis. Ronning is the only remaining wooden ski producer worldwide. The family makes approximately 250 sets of skis each year for consumers world-wide and sells them for $600 per set.

One day was spent sightseeing is Oslo, home of the Norwegian Parliament. There are 169 seats in the grand assembly of the Norwegian Parliament. Each county of Norway is represented by one of these seats. There are seven political parties and a King with the power to elect his own cabinet, oversees the country.

There was some fun sightseeing in Oslo including the Norway Opera House that was completed just last year and the Viking Ship Museum which houses one of only two remaining preserved Viking ships from the 9th century.

Gjovik is a town with 27,500 people. They are best known for their unique cobalt blue blown glasswork. Also in Gjovik is Olympic Mountain Hall which is a hockey arena built inside a mountain specifically for the 1994 Olympics which were held in Lillehammer.

Lillehammer was Jayme's last stop on her tour of Norway. The city has a population of approximately 25,000 people. While there Jayme visited Hunderfossen Family park which is a theme park based on fairy tales. Norwegians are known for their love of folk lore and fairy tales. This theme park is a tribute to those stories. Also in Lillehammer was the Ice Hotel and Chapel sculpted out of ice each year. Occupants who choose to stay in the hotel experience a unique stay complete with furniture carved from ice and covered in reindeer skins.

In addition to sightseeing, Jayme had the opportunity to participate in a number of Norwegian activities. Despite the cold climate, Norwegians are quite active outdoors. Jayme took part in dog sledding, snow-shoeing, bobsledding on the Olympic track and cross-country skiing.

In closing, Jayme thanked Rotarians for "Making Dreams Real" and supporting her in her trip to Norway where it is certain that she represented the club well.