How I became an expert on things I know very little about...

Before I launch into a giant discussion about my study tour (see the next entry for that), I have to talk about what I did this past Wednesday before I went away.

My host mom works at one of the local schools as a teacher for students that are 14 or 15. The school itself is K-9 but doesn't have that many students (at least not compared to my past school's standards). Anyway, I'd agreed to go into her school to visit where she works and learn about the Danish school system but also because I was hailed as a lacrosse expert. When I'd first met my host mom, she asked if I played any sports. I said not unless yoga counted though I had played lacrosse for 3 years (8th,9th,10th grade). Apparently this meant I was an expert at lacrosse and would be the ideal person to have come teach 60 gym class students the mechanics of the game. Originally I had been more than willing to visit the school but now was expected to give a guest lecture/instruction to some Danish kids. Luckily, I managed to google some background info and refresh my memory and while I technically could have made all the rules up and they might have been none the wiser, I did my best to explain the basics and set up their field positions. They seemed to follow the general idea which was a success consider I was just some random American explaining to a group of teenage Danes the logistics of lacrosse in English.

Before my performance as lacrosse coach, I was asked to sit in on an English class (which meant I actually was able to follow the class) and give them someone to practice their English with. That day they were learning about the Amish which is slightly random but I went with it. Of course being the only American and probably the only of them to have ever visited an Amish communitiy, I once again was expected to be all knowledgable about something I'm only vaguely acquianted with myself. I suppose it makes sense that my knowledge, albeit meager, is more than most Danish have about them (or about lacrosse) so I seem to be a reliable source. In reality, I think that this actually happens to a lot of people from places different when coming to or visiting a new place. Often the outsider is assumed to be an "expert" on certain things just because they have a some what closer connection to it than the local population. Of course this usually turns out not to be true but is an interesting phenomenon.

After our discussion of the Amish, the students were given a choice of doing their work books or speaking with me for the last 20 minutes of class. Immediatley all the girls (and a few onlooking boys) flocked to me and begin to question me. Most of the questions were general where are you from, what do you study, where are you living, how do you like it here, whats home like etc. But then they started to branch into very random questions. My two favorite were "Do you often see celebrities on the street?" and "Did you go to prom?" Interestingly enough I believe I was asked these same questions by French students when I was visiting French high schools my junior and senior year. Unfortnately, I had to explain that leaving in DC, the closest I come to seeing famous people was the occasion politician but that friends in NYC and LA had seen a few now and again. Regarding prom, it seems that this is something they've see in American movies and TV but not something that they have here in Denmark. I'm not sure what it was that was so fascinating but I think they want to have some sort of dance like this of their own.

Both the gym teacher and the English teacher said they were very grateful that I came in and invited me back to come whenever I had some free time. I'm 100% sure I'll go because going there gave me a great opportunity to actually interact with Danish students even if they are a little younger. Plus it's really interesting to see the different things they are taught and to hear about various topics from a Danish perspective. Also, I still have yet to really encounter the "cold, standoffish Dane who isn't friendly to outsiders." Everyone at the school was happy to talk to me and was genuinly friendly so I can't wait to go back.

Check back later this week for entries about my Ribe Tour and my host mom's birthday party that was on Sunday. Pictures are also forthcoming.....