Dr. Louis A Picard

WORKING IN THE FIELD: FROM TANZANIA TO BOTSWANA AND BACK

CONSULTING IN AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

FROM DENMARK TO TANZANIA, 1969-1972

                                                     

December 1968-January 1969: An Escape to Europe
Per Lene and I traveled to Europe via Ethiopia (Addis Ababa and Asmara) and Beirut Lebanon. I traveled alone to Istanbul, Turkey).

The winter of 1968 was cold. I arrived in Denmark on December 26, 1968. Stayed with Lene Larsons family (Hans Jenson) in Oostervang, a small town in outside of Copenhagen. Eric Due, Lene Larson’s brother ran me around the town to pick up odds and ends. Scandinavia in Winter is dark and cold.

Overnight trip to Oslo, Norway to visit Per and Lene Larsen. Per worked for Norwegian Peace Corps.


January, 1969

On January 1, 1969, I arrived at Elsinore, Denmark. I have a job. Teaching English as a Second Language for the Danish Volunteer Service, at the International Peoples College. The program was run by Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke (People to People) a contractor to Danida.


Colleagues included Jorgen Drostrop Anderson, A Danish School Teacher and Roger Anderson, British academic. Also Kirsten Abramson, Danish instructor. The Director was Jo0rgen Schoovsbro (Wife Lisa).


Taught Six hours a day. Two in the lab. Two in the class room and two hours of technical language and area studies.


A Vivid memory. After the first period, a thirty minute break. Coffee and Toast. Always hungry.

The school had a large number of international students, and many from American semester abroad programs. One of the American girls kept me supplied with Canadian manufactured peanut butter.


The Danish films were very frank.