Brenda Campbell: Back in Canada

I've enjoyed Brenda Campbell's reports from Denmark over the past six months. Here is her final installment, written from back home in Alberta. Thanks Brenda and welcome home!

She writes:

May 13 marked the end of my working visit to Denmark when I flew home to family and friends waiting in Calgary. As I unpack my bags and excitedly share memories and souvenirs with people, I reflect on all the great moments I had in Denmark and other countries I visited in my six months away.

I have countless stories to share and am thankful for all the pictures I have to help supplement them. I took approximately 3,000 pictures in my short six months, and was able to visit Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and all around Denmark.

It was through the International Agriculture Exchange Association (IAEA) that all of this was possible.  Ever since I chose the country I wanted to visit through a long list offered through the association, every detail was looked after for me.  The service provided by IAEA enabled me to enjoy my time in Denmark stress free. Another great quality of IAEA is how focused they are on connecting all the youth using their program. This is how I was able to meet over 50 Danish alumni trainees at weekend retreats in Denmark, but IAEA also introduced me to a great new friend, another Canadian trainee in Denmark staying with our family, Amy Storbakken.

Amy and I had a fantastic time working and touring together during our month of overlap at our Danish farm. We also had a chance to visit Legoland. (I'm on the left in the photo.) It was so great to share experiences and meet new people with another Canadian, and I have no doubt that we will continue to be friends upon her return to Canada. We will also keep in touch with our wonderful host family, and all the special Danes we met.

I couldn’t have asked for a better trip as I reflect on all of the fun times, travel adventures, cultural experiences, and agriculture learning I managed to pack into a fantastic six months. I am extremely happy I chose to live out my dream of travel and highly recommend it to everyone wanting to experience agriculture in a new country.

Next year's correspondent: Allana Minchau

Allana Minchau lives in Calgary for now, and her parents have a ranch near Spring Coulee, Alta. She has accepted an IAEA travel scholarship for 2009-10 and has agreed to report for Grainews. She doesn't know where she's going or when exactly, but it will probably be New Zealand or Australia sometime this fall.