Gillian's Scandinavian Adventure
Posted by James Ramsbottom
Gillian Lomax, a long time volunteer with the Club and Justice Studies student at the University of Guelph, gave a presentation on her "Scandinavian Adventure" wherein she attended a semester of University in Demark on an exchange program through the University of Guelph.
Leaving in January of this year and returned in mid July, she spent six months in Demark and specifically in Copenhagen, the "Merchant's City" taking university course in language and culture.
In her first Language course, she met, by happenstance, her flat mates with whom she quickly bonded and they formed their own mini-extended family during her time in Demark.
Gillian noted that University life in Demark is much different compared to her experiences in Canada, specifically noting the amount of class instruction time is much less and that testing consists of only a final paper. Also while in Demark, Gillian was able to travel to Berlin, Vienna, Barcelona, and even completed a road trip of Denmark in a borrowed car that was kindly donate, with a gas credit card by her flat mate's boss.
The Club enabled Gillian to attend the 2009 R.Y.L.A. International Conference in Birmingham, England where she was inspired by the Rotary International Past President D. K. Lee's talk on Day 1. A highlight of the conference for Gillian was the group's talks and exercises revolving around the "Aqua Box" which is an emergency preparedness kit that contains several items which may be required by person's in need during disaster situations. These items in the box may be hygiene products, food, first kits and/or other necessary items.
The Aqua Boxes are prepared and stored until they are needed and dispatched. Once the box has been dispatched and emptied, the box itself forms a water purification system for purifying 10 liters of water! Also, attending the conference where 6 other Canadians and Gillian was quite moved by the life-long bonds that she formed in only four days at R.Y.L.A.
Gillian was thanked by Carole Berry.
Gillian noted that University life in Demark is much different compared to her experiences in Canada, specifically noting the amount of class instruction time is much less and that testing consists of only a final paper. Also while in Demark, Gillian was able to travel to Berlin, Vienna, Barcelona, and even completed a road trip of Denmark in a borrowed car that was kindly donate, with a gas credit card by her flat mate's boss.
The Club enabled Gillian to attend the 2009 R.Y.L.A. International Conference in Birmingham, England where she was inspired by the Rotary International Past President D. K. Lee's talk on Day 1. A highlight of the conference for Gillian was the group's talks and exercises revolving around the "Aqua Box" which is an emergency preparedness kit that contains several items which may be required by person's in need during disaster situations. These items in the box may be hygiene products, food, first kits and/or other necessary items.
The Aqua Boxes are prepared and stored until they are needed and dispatched. Once the box has been dispatched and emptied, the box itself forms a water purification system for purifying 10 liters of water! Also, attending the conference where 6 other Canadians and Gillian was quite moved by the life-long bonds that she formed in only four days at R.Y.L.A.
Gillian was thanked by Carole Berry.