Velkommen til New York!!!
Now in its ninth year, the 2014 Riis Academy Denmark Cultural Exchange Program offered a wonderful opportunity for Riis Academy and Danish teens ranging in age from 14-18 years old to experience different cultures, broaden their horizons, and make new friends. This summer, six Riis Academy youth hosted young people from Ribe, Denmark, the birthplace of our namesake Jacob A. Riis. Next summer, our Riis Academy teens will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stay with their new friends at their homes in Denmark. This ground-breaking program allows for plenty of social and cultural exploration as the participants take part in a wide range of fun-filled activities. This year was no exception!
This summer’s activities started on Saturday, June 28 when six Danish youth arrived at the airport and were picked up by Riis Settlement staff. They were brought to Riis Settlement for a brief welcome and then parted ways to settle in with their host families at their homes in the New York City Housing Authority Queensbridge Houses development. After a meet and greet breakfast and outing at the movies on Sunday, June 29, the first full day of activities consisted of kayaking at Brooklyn Bridge park and swimming in the pop-up pool. On Monday, the teens walked the entire Brooklyn Bridge. The rest of the week included a tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with the immigrant services program staff, lunch with Riis Settlement seniors, a little shopping at a street festival and Fourth of July fireworks!
According to Ashley Crawford, a Riis Academy participant who hosted a Danish teen this summer, the exchange program was a truly positive experience:
“It was a pleasure hosting the Denmark teens this summer. At first we thought it would be a little weird because they wouldn’t talk with us and (would) speak in their native language, but they were cool. We went sightseeing with Riis Academy Staff to New York’s main attractions but we had the most fun just hanging out with each other. We went to the pier to see fireworks; we hung out in the parks, went to restaurants, and even ate dinner as a big group in our apartments. This experience makes me excited to go to Denmark this summer and enjoy all of the adventures they have to offer.”
Next summer, the Riis Academy teens will stay in Ribe, Denmark with their new friends, who are all currently students at Ribe Cathedral School. Ribe Cathedral School is Denmark’s oldest school, originally under the auspices of Ribe Cathedral, Denmark’s first Christian church which served converted Vikings in the 10th century. The school is competitive and very highly regarded throughout the country. Students are mainly drawn from south-west Jutland and most graduates go on to Copenhagen or Aarhus Universities. The exchange program is seen as a very valuable cultural experience that gives the youth a treasured life-time experience. Participants are chosen via a competition. All of this year’s participants cited a deep love of traveling and a huge desire to visit NYC as the biggest incentives for entering the competition. We are thrilled that our program is able to offer such fulfillment, and we look forward to hearing all about the adventures of Riis Academy youth as they embark on their travels abroad next summer!
