This article was published at hojskolerne.dk in March. It has now been translated.
By Mette Skov Hansen
During Signe Emilie Baun’s childhood Danish culture was discussed a lot. Although the family moved to Canada when she was seven years old both parents wanted to make sure that their children never forgot the country where they were born.
Therefore, Danish was spoken in the home, Danish children’s TV was watched, Danish food was served, and every year the children visited Denmark for a couple of weeks.
I wanted to experience Denmark by myself, and I thought that attending a folk high school was an ideal way to do it.
Signe Emilie Baun, Uldum Højskole
Gradually, Signe Emilie Baun became curious to learn more about her Danish roots on her own.
That is why, she ended up at Uldum Højskole in August 2021.
“I wanted to experience Denmark by myself, and I thought that attending a folk high school was an ideal way to do it. Because when you arrive at a folk high school, you are part of a community with other young people. I saw it as a chance to get an experience and a memory for life,” the 21-year-old folk high school student says.
A longer stay than planned
Today Signe Emilie Baun is on her second term at Uldum Højskole.
It is wonderful being here. The teachers are great, and you can feel that they are looking forward to teach to you.
Signe Emilie Baun, Uldum Højskole
Actually, she was only going to stay until Christmas, but already in September she knew she wanted to stay for a longer period.
“It is wonderful being here. The teachers are great, and you can feel that they are looking forward to teach to you. And I like having so many classes to choose between and through the classes I meet many different people and create new relations. It is fun trying new things - like beer production for instance”, she says
Curious about Danish youth culture
Signe Emilie Baun describes her first meeting with the folk high school as a bit of a cultural shock.
I had already watched documentaries at DR about the youth in Denmark, and it is very different from Canada. There is more freedom to grow up in Denmark.
Signe Emilie Baun, Uldum Højskole
“It is the first time I am away from my family for such a long time and on my own. And then you have to get used to the Danish way of talking to each other, having parties and doing activities. It has been a different experience but in a good way,” she says.
In general, she has been curious to experience the culture of the youth in Denmark:
“I had already watched documentaries at DR about the youth in Denmark, and it is very different from Canada. There is more freedom to grow up in Denmark, and as a young person you get more time to figure out what you want to do after high school. You don’t have to go directly to university and such. It is fun and inspiring,” she says.
Feels at home in Uldum
For Signe Emilie Baun the best thing was being allowed to talk to a lot of people.
Now I feel like a part of the community. It is awesome to be able to contribute and being part of the Danish culture.
Signe Emilie Baun, Uldum Højskole
“My Danish was really bad when I began at the folk high school, so it was difficult talking to people who often talked about internal Danish things. Now I feel like a part of the community. It is awesome to be able to contribute and being part of the Danish culture. I think I feel at home in Uldum,” she says.
Visit from the family
Soon Signe Emilie Baun gets the opportunity to introduce her folk high school life to her family. In April her mother and older brother come to visit and in the summer her father comes to pick her up when the stay ends.
I would like to move to Aarhus this summer, stay there, get a job, and maybe also study.
Signe Emilie Baun, Uldum Højskole
However, Signe Emilie Baun is hoping that her time in Denmark will not end there.
“I would like to move to Aarhus this summer, stay there, get a job, and maybe also study. I plan to take another gap year and find out what I would like to do,” she says.