Anemone Kirk - A Danish Exchange Student's Own Story

Yarra Cluster's visiting Danish Exchange student Anja Anemone Adsbol KIRK, accompanied by her nominated counsellor and Australian guardian Ann Brown from a fellow cluster club attended the Hawthorn lunch meeting and told us a little about herself.     She introduces herself with her second name "Anemone".  She told the meeting that  she was named after a lovely flower (see above) and not the predatory little sea creature.   Noting the fine way in which she carried herself and told her delightful story was clear confirmation of the former.

Anemone who turned 16 in June this year comes from the city of Glostrup near Copenhagen in Denmark and goes to and resides at a school at the distant village of Brejning, near Vejle.  She shares a room with two other girls.  It is  an outdoor school and aside from the usual academic pursuits the she tells of  a 7am rising , a pre breakfast run of 1.2Km and post school sailing and kayaking.   This sporting and outdoor emphassis fits in well with two other notable outdoor passions which she has pursued from an early age, namely scouting and skiing.   Hunting was also mentioned.

She is presently a student at Canterbury Girls High School.

The skiing enthusiasts in the audience were shamed and envious  when we heard that she learnt to ski at the age of 2 and spends  most winters doing that with her family.   Summers see her sailing, not on always on some small runabout but serious stuff visiting other European countries with her father and family.  She owned up to sailing on Loch Ness but  would not confirm sighting of anyway monster!   Summer holidays in Monaco offered some alternative.

Anemone gave a wonderful,  uninhibited  and open from the heart, presentation of her views of first Denmark ("counting Greenland, it is one of the biggest countries in the world"), Danish Heirachy ("You know Princess Mary"),  politicians  ("we are having trouble with that politician")  and sporting personalities.   We had a short slide show of her countless friends and a reminder of some of the key Danish players (Maersk, Novo and Leggo are all Danish entities).    All in all a most enjoyable and refreshing address which kept the audience laughing and under her control.

Queried about Australia, we learnt of the merits of Tim Tam biscuits, the more subdued school environment, the revelation to a Northern hemisphere person of the severity of the Australian sun and summer,  and even a perceived reluctance of schools to provide showers!

Beneath her openness and sense of fun, Anemone displayed a wonderful sense of occasion, sensitivity  and maturity so often charcteristic of overseas Exchange students.

Thank you Anemone, your address and presence  was a great advertisement for the value of the Exchange program.