BENSON-- West Johnston High School Guidance Counselor Linda Ridout and Social Studies instructor Bill Reid have recently returned from Hobro, Denmark with a group of fourteen students from West Johnston High School. They were completing the Danish portion of an exchange with a group of Hobro Gymnasium High School students. Hobro Gymnasium and West Johnston High School had been planning this exchange since August 2003. Initially two Danish teachers, Ellen Erbs and Henrik Rudfeld, visited West Johnston in October 2003 to coordinate the exchange. They met with West Johnston Principal Dr. Patricia Harris, visited classes, talked to teachers, and visited local cultural attractions. West Johnston students then applied to be a part of the exchange. Those accepted were placed in a class to broaden their understanding of Denmark and Danish culture. During this time, WJHS students developed email relationships with their Danish friends. After months of careful planning, the 27 Danish students and the two teachers arrived in March for a visit of approximately two weeks. During this time they were paired with West Johnston student host families, lived with these families and accompanied the West Johnston students to classes and after school activities. Ridout and Reid arrived in Copenhagen on August 18, and spent two days sightseeing and becoming acquainted with the culture. They traveled by train to Hobro where Danish host families were waiting for them. While in Hobro, the American students attended classes with their Danish friends and jointly prepared and presented multimedia presentations on Danish and American cultural differences and similarities. A number of field trips, including those to a Viking village, local museums, and other historical places of interest have also expanded the American students understanding of Danish culture. The group also met with the mayor and other town officials of Hobro. The students participated in a joint activity day program which includes sports, poetry, music, and art. Two additional field trips, including one to Skagen, the far northern tip of Denmark and a cruise down a local fjord, were also taken. They returned on Tuesday, August 31 with a new appreciation of the need for international cooperation. "Linda and I are very impressed with the impact this program has had, not only on our fourteen West Johnston ambassadors, but also on our Johnston county community and the community of Hobro, Denmark," said Reid.
