Hej!
Today I came home from school to find that my guarntee forms from Denmark were there to greet me. It was great to know that everything from Denmark is finalized, and now its up to me to finish up all the things that need to be done. In the Package i found my guarntee forms, map of Denmark, information abut arriving, traveling, and insurance in Denmark, and my very important Visa Application Form.
Like I've said in previous posts my school is Tørring Gymnasium, which is an one hour bus ride from my first host families house to school. I will be making that trip with my host brother David who is 18 yrs. old. In the package I was told that Rotary expects me to be in Denmark either August 2nd or 3rd. Many people think I will be landing in Denmark's capitol Copenhagen, which I'm not. The town where I am staying, Brædstrup is about three hours from the capitol, and is only one hour from Denmark's second largest city, Århus. Århus is the city where my plane will be landing. I'm so happy, today I'm getting in touch with my travel agent and hopefully get a seat booked on a plane to Denmark as soon as possible.
Even though Rotary expects me in Denmark by at least August 3rd, I thought it was early because I would be going to language school. It turns out my language bootcamp isn't untill August 24th! So I will be able to spend some time with my host family before arriving at language camp. "IntroCamp" will be taking place in Bjerringbro, which looks like on the map an hour and a half away from Brædstrup. Camp will last for a week August 24-31. The neat thing about language camp is that the Danish Rotary Program has every single inbound exchange student come for a week and stay at a boarding school in Bjerringbro. It looks like a great way to meet many of the inbounds, trade pins, hand out cards, and make friends which is super important. In the package this is what information they gave to me, word for word, "This inbound orientation course is necessary and mandatory for all students coming to Denmark. You will be taught by a team of teachers who will prepare you to all of the challanges youa re going to face the coming year. Yo will be given useful information on how to live in Denmark. This will be helpful to you later when you attend a Danish school and participate in Danish family life"
I'm so stoked! It's slowly starting to sink in, that I am actually leaving my home for a year, and making a new home in Europe. It's crazy! Very few people know what I am actually going through right now, and I talk to them and lean on them for support. I've noticed that I need those "exchange" people more then ever right now, just to talk to and discuss about different stuff. Even my parents can only wonder what I'm gong through, even though they are going through their own different type of nervousness.
Denmark is one of the many countries now adding a 5th "D" to their list of do nots! The regular 4 "D"s are ; No Drinking, No Driving, No Dating, No Drugs. They new one is no disfiguration. This means no piercings or tattoos while you are in Denmark, which is understandable. Even though one of the Ds is no drinking Denmark is very loose on that D. They are loose on that rule because the legal age for drinking in Denmark is 16. Even though I will be legal in Denmark, I have to watch myself because they have had people sent home from places like Belgium, Germany, and Denmark, where the drinking age is 16, for drinking! They say if you come home smashed everynight and you abuse the new drinking age they aren't afraid to send you home. It is a huge disappointment not only for you, but for your family, rotary club in Denmark and Canada, and Canada it's self. Your rotary club will always remember that guy from Canada who got sent home early fr drinking, and I certainly wouldn't want to be "that guy".
Anyways thats the big news! Not that big actually but at least its something new, and I can start the different processes for Visa and plane tickets and junk. All the other information is important, yet really boring to read so I will spare you all. It's all insurance crap. Anyways the countdown starts now. 64 days unytill Denmark. I am so scared. But trust me its a good scared.
Cheers,
Dillon
dillonrahkola@hotmail.com
P.S. If you have any questions, or want to chat about anything, exchange related or not, don't be afraid to email me. Or add me on facebook.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Ottawa Long Weekend
Hej!
This past weekend was the "Ottawa Weekend" with all inbound and outbound Rotary Students in D7010. We spent from Saturday to Tuesday with everyone and we all had an amazing time. We drove up to Ottawa, stopping in Orillia, Bracebridge, Huntsville, and North Bay picking up everyone. Saturday night was the first major event that happened this weekend, and a very important one too. That night all of the outbound students recieved their Rotary Blazers for the year. For people who don't know what the blazers are, they are what the exchange students wear when they are out representing Rotary. For example I would have to wear the blazer if I was going to a Rotary meeting, or a formal event with Rotary. The even better thing about the blazer is that Exchange students you meet will want to trade pins with you, or hand out their pins from their home country. When I get back expect to see loads of pins on that blazer!
I stayed in the dorms of Carleton University with Collin (outbound to Thailand), Top (inbound from Thailand) and Cornelius (inbound from Germany). The four of us had such a great time. We did tons of things during free time, hacky sack, jammed with my guitar, and waved at girls on the other side of the building that we could see out our window. These guys, and all of the inbounds were great and we really bonded. All of the inbounds are now closer then we have ever been, and of course this was our last weekend together untill we return as rebounds :(
The first day was a full day of tons of tours. We visited the Mesuem of Civilization and the Canadian War Mesuem. Both were very interesting, and I was impressed by both! It was important to do all the tours possible for not only the inbounds to learn about our capital city, but for the outbounds to brush up about the knowledge about Canada. I really enjoyed the Mesuem of Civilization, with the life size models of buildings, it really was going through a huge time machine, to see what Canada was like. It was quite amazing.
The next day we visited Parliament Hill and the Supreme Court of Canada. These were tours that I have already been on but it was still fun to experience it again. When all the tours were over and done for the day, we had dinner, and went back and played some of the best games known to man. Mafia, was the hit of the weekend, having played it many times, over and over again in the common room, on the bus, and even at the dinner table! Black Magic was also a great one, because it tricked tons of people (including me). The games were great becasue we got to spend time with everyone and get to know them better. I don't know if anyone actually reads this, but I just want to take the time to thank the Rotex for not only introducing us to the amazing games, but also for the talks and the guidance you have given us inbounds when getting ready for our exchange. We all really appriciate it so much you don't even know. Ottawa wouldn't be the same with out you, so Brittany, Jamie, Mat, and Emma thank you so much!
Before we knew it, it was Tuesday and the bus was ready to take us home. On the way home we stopped at the Deifenbunker which was unlike anything I have ever seen before. It is an underground bunker used during the Cold War to protect important people in Canada from the threat of Nucular War. Now it is used for tours. If you are passing through you should go i for a tour, its unlike anything you have ever seen. Really neat.
It was an amazing weekend with amazing friends I will never forget. I have made friend through this exchange that I will keep in contact with forever, and I will never forget. Its amazing that we have these bonds and we haven't even left for our country yet. All of us outbounds, are so amazing and strong. Everyone of us will do the most amazing things when we are away and I am proud of everyone! Thanks to all the Rotarians that made this weekend possible for all of us. We really appriciate you busting your humps for us to make this weekend happen.
If anyone who doesn't have me on facebook, (first off, add me) and if you would like to look at some of the photo albums of the weekend, here are the links.
Day One: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37349&l=12682&id=506871289
Day Two: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37352&l=90a2d&id=506871289
Day Three: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37413&l=a4abb&id=506871289
Day Four: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37415&l=30f44&id=506871289
My guarntee form has still yet to come in, and I will update when I get more information about everything.
Cheers,
Dillon
dillonrahkola@hotmail.com
This past weekend was the "Ottawa Weekend" with all inbound and outbound Rotary Students in D7010. We spent from Saturday to Tuesday with everyone and we all had an amazing time. We drove up to Ottawa, stopping in Orillia, Bracebridge, Huntsville, and North Bay picking up everyone. Saturday night was the first major event that happened this weekend, and a very important one too. That night all of the outbound students recieved their Rotary Blazers for the year. For people who don't know what the blazers are, they are what the exchange students wear when they are out representing Rotary. For example I would have to wear the blazer if I was going to a Rotary meeting, or a formal event with Rotary. The even better thing about the blazer is that Exchange students you meet will want to trade pins with you, or hand out their pins from their home country. When I get back expect to see loads of pins on that blazer!
I stayed in the dorms of Carleton University with Collin (outbound to Thailand), Top (inbound from Thailand) and Cornelius (inbound from Germany). The four of us had such a great time. We did tons of things during free time, hacky sack, jammed with my guitar, and waved at girls on the other side of the building that we could see out our window. These guys, and all of the inbounds were great and we really bonded. All of the inbounds are now closer then we have ever been, and of course this was our last weekend together untill we return as rebounds :(
The first day was a full day of tons of tours. We visited the Mesuem of Civilization and the Canadian War Mesuem. Both were very interesting, and I was impressed by both! It was important to do all the tours possible for not only the inbounds to learn about our capital city, but for the outbounds to brush up about the knowledge about Canada. I really enjoyed the Mesuem of Civilization, with the life size models of buildings, it really was going through a huge time machine, to see what Canada was like. It was quite amazing.
The next day we visited Parliament Hill and the Supreme Court of Canada. These were tours that I have already been on but it was still fun to experience it again. When all the tours were over and done for the day, we had dinner, and went back and played some of the best games known to man. Mafia, was the hit of the weekend, having played it many times, over and over again in the common room, on the bus, and even at the dinner table! Black Magic was also a great one, because it tricked tons of people (including me). The games were great becasue we got to spend time with everyone and get to know them better. I don't know if anyone actually reads this, but I just want to take the time to thank the Rotex for not only introducing us to the amazing games, but also for the talks and the guidance you have given us inbounds when getting ready for our exchange. We all really appriciate it so much you don't even know. Ottawa wouldn't be the same with out you, so Brittany, Jamie, Mat, and Emma thank you so much!
Before we knew it, it was Tuesday and the bus was ready to take us home. On the way home we stopped at the Deifenbunker which was unlike anything I have ever seen before. It is an underground bunker used during the Cold War to protect important people in Canada from the threat of Nucular War. Now it is used for tours. If you are passing through you should go i for a tour, its unlike anything you have ever seen. Really neat.
It was an amazing weekend with amazing friends I will never forget. I have made friend through this exchange that I will keep in contact with forever, and I will never forget. Its amazing that we have these bonds and we haven't even left for our country yet. All of us outbounds, are so amazing and strong. Everyone of us will do the most amazing things when we are away and I am proud of everyone! Thanks to all the Rotarians that made this weekend possible for all of us. We really appriciate you busting your humps for us to make this weekend happen.
If anyone who doesn't have me on facebook, (first off, add me) and if you would like to look at some of the photo albums of the weekend, here are the links.
Day One: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37349&l=12682&id=506871289
Day Two: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37352&l=90a2d&id=506871289
Day Three: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37413&l=a4abb&id=506871289
Day Four: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37415&l=30f44&id=506871289
My guarntee form has still yet to come in, and I will update when I get more information about everything.
Cheers,
Dillon
dillonrahkola@hotmail.com
Sunday, May 4, 2008
The Bækgaard's
Today, I just recieved two very important, and exciting e-mails about my upcoming exchange. I got e-mails from my Rotary counsellor from the Brædstrup Rotary Club, Hugo Eriksen, and my first host family, the Bækgaard's!
I will be living with my first host family for the first 3-4 months. I will be living with them in a small village called "Sdr. Vissing" which is population 400. The nearest town is Brædstrup, which is where my host club is located. My host mother (Karin), is a Kindergarden teacher at the local school. My host father (Kim), is a teacher in math and physics. I have 2 host brothers, David (18) and Simon (16). David was on Rotary Exchange last year to Canada and stayed in Hamilton. Simon is leaving for his Rotary Exchange early August, and is leaving for Brazil. Having been on an exchange to Canada last year, I think David and I will have alot to talk about. The bus ride to the school that both of us attend is about 1 hour, so having a conversation starter will really help!
The May long weekend Ottawa Trip is coming up, and I'm getting really stoked. I'm really looking forward to it because I will get to see all the Inbound Exchangers in the district. The first time I met them all, I was only there for a few hours, and didn't get to know very many people, other then Nanna from Denmark. The weekend, will get me to know everyone alot better, and it is also our last big get together as outbounds before we go away and start our exchange. I think I'm going to pack my guitar for the little trip up to Ottawa. We are staying at Carelton University residence, which is great for me because, I am interested in going to Carelton for Journalism after highschool. It will be cool to go around Ottawa, with students from all over the world, taking pictures and what not. It will be tons of fun.
There is a picture of the Bækgaard's below. I was told that it was taken on a northern beach in Denmark 2 years ago before David went to Canada on his exchange. I'll update this later, probably after the Ottawa trip. I'll have loads of pictures too.
Cheers,
Dillon
dillonrahkola@hotmail.com
I will be living with my first host family for the first 3-4 months. I will be living with them in a small village called "Sdr. Vissing" which is population 400. The nearest town is Brædstrup, which is where my host club is located. My host mother (Karin), is a Kindergarden teacher at the local school. My host father (Kim), is a teacher in math and physics. I have 2 host brothers, David (18) and Simon (16). David was on Rotary Exchange last year to Canada and stayed in Hamilton. Simon is leaving for his Rotary Exchange early August, and is leaving for Brazil. Having been on an exchange to Canada last year, I think David and I will have alot to talk about. The bus ride to the school that both of us attend is about 1 hour, so having a conversation starter will really help!
The May long weekend Ottawa Trip is coming up, and I'm getting really stoked. I'm really looking forward to it because I will get to see all the Inbound Exchangers in the district. The first time I met them all, I was only there for a few hours, and didn't get to know very many people, other then Nanna from Denmark. The weekend, will get me to know everyone alot better, and it is also our last big get together as outbounds before we go away and start our exchange. I think I'm going to pack my guitar for the little trip up to Ottawa. We are staying at Carelton University residence, which is great for me because, I am interested in going to Carelton for Journalism after highschool. It will be cool to go around Ottawa, with students from all over the world, taking pictures and what not. It will be tons of fun.
There is a picture of the Bækgaard's below. I was told that it was taken on a northern beach in Denmark 2 years ago before David went to Canada on his exchange. I'll update this later, probably after the Ottawa trip. I'll have loads of pictures too.
Cheers,
Dillon
dillonrahkola@hotmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
