15 Mar 2021
Last year, while the rest of the world was in lockdown with their families, one adventurous QHS student was 16,000 kilometres from hers.
Josie Green, has experienced more than most in the last 12 months.
A world-wide pandemic was the furthest thing from everyone’s mind when, in January 2020, Josie farewelled her family and set of on adventure, Denmark bound.
“Three months into my 12-month ‘Rotary Youth Exchange’, the world stopped…I went into home schooling with my host family, which meant my bedroom at the time also became my school room,” the level-headed youngster commented.
Josie, felt she had only just started her adventure, so, after considered consultation with her family and Rotary representatives, Josie made the choice to remain in Denmark.
“At the time, Denmark and Australia were very similar in their low counts of infection, because they were proactive with lockdown, which made the decision for me to stay easier.”
Josie moved to another host family at the end of April, still undertaking her online study.
“I had enough contact with my parents and family to know that they were okay. There was also a lot of information on the news and my host family checked in on how I was feeling very often, so I felt confident with my decision.”
Staying in the city of ‘Billund’ - where Lego originated – meant Josie attended Legoland when the summer commenced.
“At the end of the summer holidays our group – of 20 fellow Exchange Students – also went mountain biking around the North of Denmark. Everything was so green, and the majestic forests were breathtaking.”
All up, Josie stayed with four host families and found the experience inspiring to see the way other families, cultures and communities live and interact.
“It was an unusual and stressful time in the world, but I can definitely recommend the exchange experience to others. When the pandemic threat is lessened and international travel is an option, I recommend other students try an exchange.
“Teenagers are very similar between Denmark and Australia, across the ages we have fairly compatible cultures. I was fortunate (even with the pandemic) to travel to Aarhus, Aalborg, Copenhagen, and one of my host families holiday houses in small fishing town Thyboeron, during my time overseas.”
Josie said one of the main changes she sees in herself now, is her level of maturity.
“I’m more mature and independent, because I had to step-up, being that far away from my family and seeing a worldwide pandemic unfold, I had to make sensible decisions.”
One of the main differences between Denmark and Australia, Josie said was transport.
“Transport options in Denmark are significantly better as they are a much smaller country. Over there, I would cycle to town and then catch the train to school and even younger student rode their bikes to school, they didn’t rely on their parents for transportation.”
Josie arrived back in Sydney on January 11 of this year, to be met at the airport by Army personnel as she waited to be allocated her hotel to quarantine in.
“We were all given Covid tests, while in the airport in Sydney, then we were split into three groups and taken to different hotels. Myself and the other Exchange Students went to a specific medical motel for minors.
Josie, spent the first night alone, before being joined in quarantined by her mother Kylie for the reminder of her stay.
“I’m back at QHS which is great. It’s certainly a lot easier to understand everything and the bond between my friends here is so strong it’s just been amazing to be back, but really not much has changed in Quirindi, which is part of the charm – it’s like putting on a familiar jumper.”
Josie said the experience has opened her up to learning more languages including perfecting her Danish, so she can take her family over one day.
“I feel fortunate to have been able to have this Exchange opportunity and it is open to students up to the age of 18, so, hopefully the world will have opened up a bit for other students to be able to take up the opportunity into the future,” said Josie who thanked her parents, her host families, friends, QHS and of course Quirindi Rotary for the experience.
During her time overseas, Josie’s Australian friends stayed in constant touch with her.
“One friend gave me a series of envelopes before I left for Denmark. They were marked: Birthday, April Fools, Happy New Year, Merry Christmas, so I opened the envelopes as the dates ticked around and they always made me feel happy and put a smile on my face- if I didn’t already have one,” said the delightful Josie.
As well as her Aussie friends, Josie now has mates across the globe.
“I made many good friends – its 20 degrees for my friends over in Denmark at the moment – and I will catch up with my fellow exchange friends in the future. I now have friends in Denmark, New Zealand, Argentina, Uruguay as well as friends from Perth, Port Augusta, QLD, VIC and some from wider parts of NSW.”
What a adventure you have had Josie and facing some tough decisions shows your resilience and persistence.