DANISH ESSAY CONTEST

Congratulations to DeShawn Poindexter, 12, from Westerville, Ohio!
Thank you to the Red River Danes for sponsoring this contest. 

Here's why DeShawn would like to come to Skovsøen:

This summer I would like to attend the The Concordia Language Villages.  The reason I would like to attend this camp is to improve my Danish.
 
I was born in Copenhagen, Denmark.  I went to early childhood center and pre-school, then we went to Columbus, Ohio, where I went to kindergarten.  After that year, my mother and I went back to Copenhagen, Denmark where she had my sister Latoya and I entered the second grade at Duevejen Skole in Frederiksberg Copenhagen, Denmark. 
Ever since I return back to Columbus, Ohio from Copenhagen, Denmark I have lost a lot of my Danish, which used to be my first language!

This camp will benefit me a lot in so many ways, and one of the ways is that I can meet new friends that also are interesting in learning about the Danish history, culture, and language, and some maybe have did the same thing I have done going back and forth between the US and Denmark?

When I was younger I remember the lifestyle we had in Denmark going shopping by bus, train and bicycle and how fun that was, and how close everything is.  Being here in Columbus, Ohio is so different because almost everyone drives cars here. 

I miss the food in Denmark and the walking street and atmosphere there.  At this camp it may bring me back to the Danish lifestyle again!  I enjoy being outdoors.

My goal is to refresh my Danish again and when I am in high school to take a year in Denmark as an exchange student, surprise my family and friends back in Denmark.  I really could learn a lot going to this camp and come back every year to improve my Danish, and meet even more friends.