Dillon Rahkola: July 2009

Hey everyone,

I am back home in Canada after 11.5 short months in the wonderful country of Denmark. I flew from Aarhus to Copenhagen, then to Iceland, and finally arriving in Toronto. My family was there to meet me and I couldn't be happier.

I have been home for over two weeks now and things are going smoothly. I have cought up with the people I needed to catch up with and I have already started my job at the Ontario Land Registry in Bracebridge.

I have finally getting used to regular life again. It is a rather weird and wonderful feeling to be home. I think it will really kick in when I go back to attend school and all my classmates from the years prior are at their respected Universities, but that is something I will just have to deal with in my own way.

I just want to take the chance to thank everyone that has helped me in any way shape or form before, during, and after my year exchange. Your kind words and friendly smiles will always be with me. Thank you to Rotary International and my clubs in both Canada and Denmark.

Rotary exchange is the best thing I have done in my life and I encourage you, your kids, your grandkids, your neighbours, anyone to go on exchange. You won't regret it.

I will keep this blog going until our final "rebound" get together that will be held in a few months by District 7010 so check back in with me soon.

Love,
Dillon
dillonrahkola@hotmail.com

Hey everyone,

After a few showers and countless hours of sleep I think I am ready to tell you all about my Roskilde experience.

Roskilde Festival is an eight day festival with four days of music consisting of around 180 artists on seven stages (the biggest one being Orange Stage). The festival scheduled to open its gates to the public on Sunday June 28th, but as it turned out, the public ripped down the fence early Saturday morning due to the excitement. My friend in I turned up early morning on the Tuesday to set up camp and explore the site. We had "volunteer" wrist bands to the festival so we got to explore the music scene before it was opened to the public on the Thursday.

The music started on Thursday and the already worn out crowd was ready to go! The big act of the day on the Orange Stage was Kanye West. I decided to miss the first half of his set to see this great upcoming band called St. Vincent, and I made my way over to catch the rest of his set. It was a terrible set to say the least and I was rather disappointed. Other bands that I saw on the Thursday was Toronto's "F--ked Up" who put on an amazing set on the smallest stage.

Fridays big names on the Orange Stage were; Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Faith No More, Oasis, and Nine Inch Nails. I was working for most of the day but I got off work early to see Oasis. The Gallagher brothers were amazing with their sour look on their face and all. Liam Gallagher dedicated a song for the kids who died a few years back during the Pearl Jam show and it was rather beautiful. Earlier in the day I walked by a stage, not knowing what band was playing but decided to stick around. It turned out to be a French heavy metal band called "Gojira". It was heavy fast music and it was the perfect way to wake me up (they played at noon). It was also the biggest mosh pit I have ever been a part of so that was eventful. Also that day, Liam Cormier (Lead singer of Toronto band "Cancer Bats") came to my place of work for some Thai food with his girlfriend. We got to talking and I mentioned that I met him back in November at his show in Copenhagen. He surprisingly remembered and asked how Caitlin (my girlfriend at the time) was doing. It was nice to know that a guy I look up to so much really cares about his fans.

That same day I also say Fleet Foxes who put on a great set, and I actually ran into the band after the show, walking around the festival grounds. So I got pretty lucky.

Saturday was a stressful day because Cancer Bats was playing during my work shift and I had to work some magic to switch/get someone to cover my shift. It ended up working out and I was front row at the show and it was one of the highlights from my festival. I got the set list from the guitarist and I have it up in my room! The big act on Orange stage was Slipknot. I am not a fan of Slipknot at all. I have never got into their music and always thought the whole mask idea is a silly gimmick. It turned out that they put on an amazing life show and I was quite surprised! They had everything going on, including pyrotechnics and many other things. Lily Allen also played on the second stage and she put on a lovely show.

Sunday was the final day of music and you could feel a certain buzz of excitement around the festival. Maybe it was because Coldplay was closing the festival with their show starting at 10pm that night. I made my way over the the site at around noon to get a bite to eat and see Pete Doherty play the second stage at 14.00. I arrived at the Orange stage and already people were lining up to get up close in the first "pit" to see Coldplay. Keep in mind that it was noon and there were three bands scheduled to play before Coldplay. It was absolutely crazy. I was working when Coldplay started but I got off one hour early and only missed the first 30 minutes of their set. It was an amazing show and one I will never forget. I was very excited that I got to see them play my favourite song (Politik) live and it was better then i could have ever imagined.

That night my place of work needed to get rid of all the kegs that they didn't serve to the public, so we helped out with that and got up early the next morning to beat the rush of people making their way over to the train station. Overall it was the best shows I have ever seen, and any festivals in North America will ever top what Roskilde has to offer! I can't wait to come back in a few years time.

Coldplay