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GRSP Reciprocal Scholarship - Oslo
Columbus GA Student Learns About New Peoples and Cultures

by Joshua Partridge, GRSP Oslo Scholarship Recipient


This past summer I had the pleasure of traveling to Oslo to participate in the University of Oslo’s 74th International Sumer School. Approximately 600 students from 87 countries and countless walks of life descended on the university for 2 ½ months to learn not only curriculum, but also to learn of new peoples and cultures. The student body was diverse ethnically, culturally, and academically. It was the first time in quite a while that I found myself – a musician studying around other musicians – to be in a sea of international affairs, world economics, and business degrees.

Throughout my six-week stay in Norway, not only did I study hard to pass classes and finals, (shameless plug, I did indeed pass) but I also got to see many parts of the wonderful, varied country of Norway.Besides the usual weekends of adventuring and exploring Oslo, there were also a lot of excursions to more locales throughout the country. Hallingdal, Telemark, and Åsgårdstrand were some of the places the University provided us the opportunity to see. My personal favorite was the western city of Bergen, a cultural and musical hub for all of Norway. The drive to Bergen – through the mountains and glaciers of central Norway – was alone its own special trip. The city itself was the home of composer Edvard Grieg, violinist Olé Bull, and playwright Henrik Ibsen; there was no shortage of things for a musician to explore.

Before leaving for Oslo, I was around music almost exclusively during my undergraduate studies. While in Oslo, I met another musician who told me she took a break from music for a while. When I pressed her for a reason she explained, “It’s easy to lose yourself in music. Sometimes I would play or perform or practice or even hang out with friends and end up having to ask myself, ‘Who am I when I am not a musician?’ I wasn’t able to pull myself from the music, so I took a break.”After this summer I can see why. This summer I wasn’t around music nearly as much; I was around people. I was exploring. I was living. And it made making music all the more enjoyable when I actually sat down to play again.

Without the help of the Georgia Rotary Club and the Georgia Rotary Student Program, I would not have ever seen this amazing country or its amazing people. I met friends through this program that I will likely stay in touch with for a very long time. Just a few days ago, we were all planning on finding ways to visit each other! Part of what made this program so fantastic was not only the new country, but also the different peoples hailing from 87 countries across six continents. The interactions I got to have with these people over 4,000 miles away from home have been some of the most amazing memories of my life. I will be forever thankful for the opportunity to represent Columbus, Georgia, and the United States on such an international scale.

Posted by Lynn Clarke
September 9, 2019

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