– I’m starting to feel ashamed

Russian time is finally underway. For the Russian Nordahl Grieg, the starting shot went in Skjoldabukta.

The sun is low over Skjoldabukta this Thursday evening.

Around 300 students from Nordahl Grieg upper secondary school have gathered to celebrate the official start of the Russian season.

The red and blue-clad gang are ready for a three-week celebration of the end of schooling.

– Fun to think about something else

Nordahl Grieg’s Russian president Martine Revheim Eliassen and vice president Oscar Stuhr are happy to finally be up and running.

– It’s incredibly fun. We’ve seen that they’ve already started in both Stavanger and Oslo, so it’s really nice to be up and running ourselves, says Eliassen.

– There is a bit of freedom in this as well. Now pretty much all the focus has been on school since the autumn, so it’s great fun to be able to think about something else for a few weeks, says Stuhr.

This spring, several people have advocated changes in the Russian era. One of the suggestions has been, among other things, to move the party to after the exam.

– If it is changed to next year, then at least I am very happy that we get to experience it as it is now, says Eliassen.

– The voice is almost gone

The Russians gather in class around the “popes” Ina Onsrud and Miles Isaksen. They are responsible for baptizing the approximately 300 attendees.

In turn, they are clapped up to the popes. Everyone gets their Russian name written on their hats.

– I’m starting to feel ashamed, says “pope” Onsrud to BT between the beats.

– The voice is almost gone already!

The Russians gather in a ring around the popes. Everyone gets ten seconds to “chug” a device of their choice.

Some can do it, others can’t.

Amalie Kramer fails, and has the rest of her device emptied over her head.

– It is fine! It’s just fun, she assures.

Picked up by ambulance

For some, however, it was a little too much of a good thing. Police operations manager Frode Kolltveit says that an ambulance was sent to Skjoldabukta, following reports of a heavily intoxicated person.

– At 17.18 we received a report about a person who looked very intoxicated, and who went in and out of consciousness. An ambulance was then sent away, says Kolltveit.

He states that the police have not taken any extra measures in connection with the Russian celebrations.

– We assess the assignments as they come in.