On exchange from Denmark

The Rotary Club of Umina is currently hosting an exchange student from Denmark.

Per (pronounced Pier) Mortensen is attending Umina High School and is currently living with Ian and Ann Radford at Daleys Point.

During his 12-month-stay on the Central Coast, he will stay with four host families and spend a lot of time with many other members of the Rotary Club.

"He is a very polite, well-mannered, educated young lad with a good command of the English language and a great sense of humour," said Rotary spokesman Mr Geoff Melville.

Per is here for a further nine months before returning home.

"Per is the fourth exchange student we've had," said Ann Radford.

"It's been eight years since our last one."

"We decided to host him because our youngest child was only four at the time we had our last student and he missed out on the experience.

"Our older children, who are in their 20s, found the experience positive.

"Per stays with us for three months and all-up he stays with four host families.

"There is a benefit of having someone from another place stay with you who speaks a different language and does things differently and also exposing them to our culture."

On the subject of Vegemite, Ann said: "All of our exchange students have tried it, but none have ever taken to it."

"I think Per has already had Vegemite, but I don't think he likes it."

Per said: "I got to choose where I wanted to go and Australia was my first choice.

"I heard that Australia was a wonderful country with friendly people."

Per said he was pleased he came when the Olympics were here.

"When the Olympics were on I almost lived in Sydney.

"I went to the athletics, hockey, women's basketball and handball."

Per said he had played some tennis and has tried surfing.

Per said he did not quite get to master surfing.

"But, I will try again definitely."

Per comes from Aarhus, which is the second-largest city in Denmark.

"In Denmark, a good summer's day is about 25 degrees and in winter it can get down to around minus 10 degrees.

"Once we had school cancelled because of the amount of snow that fell.

"Denmark is about half the size of Tasmania and has a population of about five million.

"You can travel across Denmark in three and a half hours," he said.

November 15