Almost every summer I live a week at one of the Danish folk high schools, also called peoples colleges. Ten years ago I even took off from my work in the middle of the fall and went to a 14-day writing course at Vallekilde Folk High school. I just needed to do something else than my every … Continue reading Learning for life at Danish folk high schools (folkehøjskolerne) 

“I plan to ask my husband to attend couple therapy, what do you think?”, asked a friend of mine. “That’s a good idea”, I answered instantly although I know that it can be a risky business in light of my own experiences.  I never suggested going to a couple therapy to my first husband some … Continue reading Therapy can lead to healing and acceptance

The third day back home in Melby, Denmark, I heard the ringing of the ice cream truck bell, took my wallet and rushed to the gravel road even though it was raining. Not that I was desperate to get some ice cream. But it was the first sound of human life on an otherwise silent … Continue reading Air and noise in Bogota

Burglaries seem to be common in Colombia too. Last Sunday afternoon I was hanging out with a Colombian woman, Merche. She is a single woman in my age range who works in a government agency in Bogota. Her friend, Rosa, from Cartagena joined us later in the afternoon. “What kind of security system did you install … Continue reading Safe behind the locks at home?

… could we have our next winter holiday on a cruise ship in the Pacific”, asked my husband when he saw me packing for my month-long trip to Colombia. “Yes, of course", adding jokingly, “maybe you better take a cancellation insurance to get the money back in case I don’t survive Colombia.” Now after two … Continue reading “If you survive Colombia, could we…

During my earlier stays in the Southwest of the US I have mainly met two kinds of Native Americans: reckless drunken men and women, and children who have fled to a homeless shelter. This is of course because I have volunteered in a shelter for women and children and because drunken Natives stand out in … Continue reading Native North Americans recover slowly from past injustices

Most of my clothes, furniture, and almost all the consumer products I buy are secondhand, mainly from thrift stores. Thereby I have probably saved about 150 000 dollars in my life. In addition, I have developed a style that looks uniquely mine, for which I have received a lot of positive feedback. Sometimes those admiring … Continue reading Goodwill is good for employment and the environment

That’s at least what my husband claims. I came back from a month of traveling yesterday afternoon and my husband picked me up at the airport. Once at home I took my suitcase to the laundry, went to the bedroom and started undressing. My husband followed me and laughed: “So you are going to bed. … Continue reading Bed is my favorite place

As a teenager in the 1970s I never understood how privileged we were in Finland with our excellent school system and access to many kinds of counseling services. Now I am updating my knowledge of this field and completing an “employability course” at the University of Queensland in Australia. This knowledge will enable me to better … Continue reading Career counseling – a most important step?

It happened over a year before Donald Trump became the president of the United States. I arrived at a huge American airport on a Sunday evening around 7 pm after an 11-hour flight from Europe. According to my biological clock it was 3 am. At that time of the night my brain does not work very well, my body temperature is … Continue reading Detained at an American airport