Feeling of Accomplishment

This topic was initially a little bit difficult, until my mind wandered back to when I was 21.

My first serious boyfriend was a viking. I met him in a Perth hotel and was intrigued when he told me he was from Denmark. I guess I shared my mother's love for people from exotic places. She always claimed that was why she married my father, who was an immigrant from the Seychelles Islands.

Our romance was a difficult one. Peter had a one year working visa, and it was miserable when it expired and he was forced to return to his home town of Aalborg.

It was the early 90's and Paul Keating was in power. Australia was enduring 'the recession we had to have'. There was an economic down turn all over the world, including Scandanavia.

Peter was struggling to find work back in Denmark. The internet did not exist, and our love survived over a series of regular traditional written letters and the very expensive rare phone call. Peter and I both loved writing, so our exchanges were often more than 10 pages long. He dreamed about returning to see me in Australia, but the odds were against it.

I hadn't taken any vacation time for years. I really enjoyed my job in tourism promotions, so holidays weren't really dominating my mind. I was missing my viking, and burying myself in my work was a good way to keep me sane.

In 1991 I decided to take the plunge and visit Peter in Denmark. I had accumulated several months worth of holiday leave, had saved fruitfully, and had an understanding boss that agreed to let me spend 6 months in Denmark.

I hadn't physically seen Peter for about 18 months. It was initially weird, and I was thrown in to a family that spoke no English. It is amazing how you can quickly adapt and make yourself understood, when you have to! I have great admiration for Princess Mary and her new adopted country.

Peter's family were warm and generous. His mother spent hours teaching me how to speak Danish, taking me to the local supermarket and encouraging me to learn the Danish words from kartofflers to bof med loi. I became quite apt at reading and understanding the spoken language, but was seldom courageous to mould my tongue in my mouth to speak to anybody, for fear of being mocked.

In the period I was there, I was fed and well looked after. I was taken on trips all over Denmark, and have memories of a Hans Christian Andersen countryside, dotted with thatched cottages and fields of yellow - pictures I will never forget.

I felt indebted to Peter and his family. They wouldn't accept any money from me, despite their modest incomes. Peter's dad was a local bus driver and his mum had previously been a small goods maker. She was an outstanding cook, and laid tables of food you would see at a Miss Mauds smorgasbord!

When I returned to Perth, heartbroken, I had to leave this wonderful family behind, I felt like I wanted to do something special for them.

I had received an English written tour book from the Danish Tourism Commission, when I was furst researching on things to see and do in Denmark. I was browsing through it one day, reminiscing about my recent holiday, when I saw a competition advertised on the back page.

The competition required entrants to write about their holiday experience in Denmark, and to nominate an individual for their contribution to Danish tourism.

I took up the challenge and wrote about my adventures with the Danish family from Aalborg. I then nominated them as passionate ambassadors for Denmark. I sent off my essay and gave it little thought...

Then one day I received a very excited phone call. Peter and his family won the competion and received a cheque for over $1,000!! My essay was published in the Danish tourism guide and Peter had won the competition as Denmark's ambassador for tourism.

I was proud and felt a great sense of satisfaction. I felt like I had somehow paid back a small amount to this family who had done so much for me.

The Danish community in Perth treated me like royalty. They invited me to one of their functions to announce the win, and published my award winning essay in their newsletter.

The feeling of accomplishment came from knowing that I had used my passion to bring joy to somebody else.