The first thing I noticed about this little corner of Sjælland was how good and clean the
air smells. Having come from the smoggy greyness of London, it was a refreshing and
much needed change. The school itself is peaceful, set in lovely verdant grounds
where wild rabbits, squirrels and the occasional deer can be spotted. A grassy path
around the fjord leads to the beach, a pleasant way to get away for an hour or
so. Bring your bicycle, Denmark is ideal for cycling. But we are not
here to admire the scenery. We are here to train for Africa.
If I can offer you one piece of useful advice, it is this - be sure of your reasons for coming here. You should come here not only with the intention of going to Africa but also with the determination to work hard to achieve that goal. It is hard work. You will get pissed off and you will have days when Africa will seem as far away as the moon but stick with it!
When you come to the school you will meet solidarity workers, who are just returning from their 6 months in Zambia or Mozambique or Angola. Talk with them, tell them your worries and your perceptions. They have the benefit of hindsight, they can put things in perspective. If there is one thing they will tell you it will be this- It is all worth it. You are needed in Africa and it is worth it to put in the effort required to get there.
Remember to have fun. There is so much you can do at the school, try
everything, organise something new, the school is what each new group of students makes
it. Take every opportunity which comes up, be it horseriding, sailing, teaching a
course about your own country. I am glad I made the decision to come here. I
know it will turn out to be one of the best years of my life.
Nina Robertson, 25, Australia