August 2nd

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.