3 DAYS IN SKANDERBORG
After an early morning start from Trelleborg in Sweden and a
ferry transfer from Limhamn to Dragör and then further from
Halskov to Knudshoved, I was approaching Sanderborg and Morten
Börup Skole full of expectation.
Around 10 a.m. I met for the first time the headmaster of the school Hans Christian Stensgaard. We exchanged some ideas concerning the school and then I met with Merete Blirup, Lone Buch and four Finnish teachers. It was an exciting and hilarious group of people that lined up in front of the school for having the compulsory photo taken.
After having pleased the photographer we entered into the school and were presented to the rest of the teachers. Keijo started by introducing himself in his native language, Finnish, which was quite impossible to understand for the rest of the audience. After the first surprise we all understood that he was only joking and we all laughed and the ice was broken. I myself being of Danish stock, told the audience in Danish that my mother was born just in the neighbourhood in a little village called Alken.
It was nice meeting the personnel at the school and you got an immediate feeling of the good companionship that existed among them and the way they stand by each other.
After lunch we visited Skanderborg Grammar School. It was fascinating to see the way the school has been built up with a fantastic external environment created by the personnel and the students in co-operation with an artist. The blue/white ceramic sculpture in the park appealed to the Finnish participants probably due to the choice of the colours.
In the afternoon we went on a sightseeing tour in the older part of Skanderborg. The charming houses were worth while visiting. Skanderborgh is really an idyllic spot.
The evening was winded up with a pizza dinner at Morten Börup Skole and at the same time we made plans for the continuing work with our EU-project.
Tuesday morning we visited a high-tech factory , that produced seats to toilets. The factory has a very well developed environment policy. The next visit was the Old Clog Museum, where a very engaged gentleman showed us the museum and a mill. The sun was shining and everyone felt quite comfortable and admired the magnificent view from the mill.
Then we had lunch together with the mayor, Mr Alexander Aagaard, in Skanderborg. Mr Aagaard was a man with high interests in the school and he was also very interested in creating contacts with people all over the world. Personally I was very fascinated over his knowledge of different places and persons. The mayor told us about a blind harbourmaster in Gislöv Hamn just outside Trelleborg where I live.
In the evening we went on a sail trip with "Dagmar" on the Skanderborg lake. A quite relaxing tour with a guide who told us about the islands and their history and how they were taking care of, but not the least the tour was an incredible nature adventure. Around 7 p.m. we entered the harbour again not far from Hans Christian Stensgaards house where we finished the evening with a delicious dinner. Mrs Stensgaard, who is a teacher too at Morton Börup Skole, got a busy evening making dinner for all the people of the international group. We had some fruitful discussions and exchanged experiences and enjoined the good food.
The last day we paid a visit to School of Production. We met a lot of very devoted people who did their utmost to give those, who were not always so devoted to studies a place where they could find meaningful occupation, which could help the students to get them interested in future studies. In order to succeed here it really requires devoted personnel and that was just the kind of people we met.
After a good lunch my Finnish friends and I went back to Sweden and Finland respectively.
It was really three marvellous days we had in Skanderborg. The hospitality was fantastic and we were able to see a lot of interesting things within the school world and Skanderborg Community. The beautiful surroundings and the nature just outside Skanderborg were enjoyable.
We found, among the people we met, a lot of warmness, devotedness, power of initiative, consideration and a real passion for the work. A warm thanks to all of you in Denmark, and also to my new-appointed Finnish friends and a special thanks to you, Merete Blirup, who made an incredible effort in making the visit for all of us unforgettable.
Trelleborg , October 7th 1996
Lennart Larsson
Headmaster