Calvin Jensen was this last year's Rotary Club outbound exchange student, and returned earlier this fall from a year in Norway.
An Olds High School graduate, he first arrived in the Scandinavian country in the summer of 2011.
While he had already finished his secondary schooling when he arrived in Norway, Jensen spent the school year attending a local high school where he took Grade 11 classes.
Not ready to commit to university at the time and having a vested interest in languages, Jensen applied for the exchange program and although he didn't get to pick one of his top three destinations, he said he couldn't be happier with the experience he had.
"I wanted to go overseas,î Jensen says excitedly. "The Rotary Club chose Norway for me and the entire thing was just fantastic. I became part of the culture ñ I went skiing every day during the winter there and made many friends. I became Norwegian.î
Now 19, Jensen is working full-time at his father's business and planning on going back to Norway for university.
During his time there he applied himself to his interest in languages and is now fluent in Norwegian.
"Yeah, I can speak Norwegian now,î he proudly exclaims. "It took a few months for me to start having actual conversations and in about February or March I became fluent.î
Because of this, Jensen feels he can excel at university in Norway and the Olds native hopes that that opportunity is not too far away.
When speaking of his time in Norway, and of the program in general, Jensen had nothing but praise for his experience.
He met many fellow exchange students there and from all over when he went on a two-week trip across Europe and was joined by fellow Rotarians from a wide variety of placements.
"I would say the thing I miss most about Norway is the friends I made there,î says Jensen. "And the Norwegian chocolate, it's pretty good.î
For anyone considering joining the exchange program, Jensen says that it's fantastic and definitely worth it.
"You learn so much about yourself. Exchange isn't a year of your life, it's a life in a year.î
