13 Mar The first week flies by on the cultural journeys
The first week of this year's cultural travelling programme is now complete, and students from Ranum Efterskole College are currently spread across many parts of the world. In total, the students are travelling to 18 different countries on almost every continent of the world, encountering new cultures, people and ways of life.
The first week has already offered strong experiences, new communities and many impressions. Students have embarked on projects, cultural encounters and adventures - and for many, it's the beginning of an educational journey where the encounter with the world provides both new perspectives and memories for life.
In this newsletter, you can follow some of the first glimpses from our travels around the globe. On several of the trips this year, we've also had journalism students on board to help document the experiences along the way, so we can share even more pictures and stories from the students' travels.
Happy reading
Alaska
The group arrived in Anchorage after a long journey via Frankfurt and Denver and began their Alaska experience with visits to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and the Alaska Native Heritage Centre, where they learned about local communities and indigenous cultures. Along the way, they experienced everyday American life, nature and met local families. The trip continued to Talkeetna overlooking Denali, where they sledded in the snow, saw the Northern Lights and their first wild moose. They also visited musher Joshua Robbins, who works with sled dogs and supports war veterans through the Outreach22 project. Here the students tried dog sledding and spent the night in heated tents in -30°C temperatures. The journey continued through Alaska's dramatic mountain and fjord landscapes to Girdwood, where they completed an intense and adventurous few days.
Brazil
On the cultural trip to Brasilien, the students experienced both the city of Rio de Janeiro and the nature of the Brazilian rainforest. In Rio, they visited Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana and Ipanema Beach, the Botanical Gardens and Christ the Redeemer, and gained insight into the city's culture through meetings with local students and a guided visit to the Rocinha favela. Later, they travelled to Desempenho, a riding school founded by Dane Bjarke Rink, where students learned to ride and work with horses. Along the way, they also visited the REGUA nature reserve, which works to replant the Atlantic rainforest. The journey brought heavy rain, hot temperatures and new challenges, but the students met the experiences with good humour and strong unity.
Coral Restoration
On the Coral Restoration trip, plans had to change at the last minute when the destination was moved from the Maldives to Zanzibar. Despite the change, the students arrived safely and embraced the experience with great curiosity and good humour. Here they work with coral restoration and learn about marine ecosystems, sustainability and the challenges facing coral reefs. At the same time, they get the opportunity to experience Zanzibar's nature, culture and local communities up close. The trip combines hands-on work in and around the ocean with learning about conservation and gives students a unique insight into how they can help protect the world's marine environment.
Costa Rica
On the cultural trip to Costa Rica, the students have arrived after a long journey and are already experiencing the country's nature, culture and local communities. They have volunteered at a local dog rescue centre where they helped look after the many dogs that are rescued from the streets. The trip also included jungle treks, river swimming, night hiking and encounters with local wildlife. The students also visited a Costa Rican high school where they exchanged culture, danced salsa and presented Denmark and life at Ranum Efterskole. The trip also included adventures such as river rafting, where the students experienced the river and nature up close with local guides.
Europe Tour
On the cultural journey to Austria, the students arrived in Vienna after a stopover in Amsterdam. Here they spent their days exploring the city's rich culture, history and architecture. They visited the gardens of Belvedere Palace, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, St Stephen's Cathedral, the Papyrus Museum and the impressive gardens of Schönbrunn Palace. Along the way, they also experienced the city centre, tasted local food and walked many kilometres through the beautiful streets of Vienna. After a few adventurous days in the Austrian capital, the journey now continues to Budapest.
Guadeloupe
On the cultural trip to Guadeloupe, the students embarked on a long journey from Ranum through several European countries to Paris before continuing to the Caribbean. After almost 40 hours of travelling, the group arrived in Guadeloupe tired but in good spirits - although most of the luggage was temporarily left behind along the way. The first few days were spent settling in, shopping and exploring the local town of Saint-François. During their stay, students experience both nature and marine life, including trekking on the volcano La Soufrière and scheduled boat trips between the area's coral islands with a local skipper. The trip gives students the opportunity to experience the Caribbean's nature, culture and community up close.
Japan
On the cultural trip to Japan, the students from Ranum travelled via Beijing to Osaka, where their experiences in Japan began. In Motoyama, they participated in exchange activities with Japanese students from Reihoku High School and Okawa School, where they met through sports, presentations and joint activities. Students also experienced Japanese nature with trips to waterfalls, mountains and local attractions. During their stay, some students stayed with local host families where they gained a unique insight into everyday Japanese life through activities such as gardening, hiking in the mountains and communal meals. The trip also included cultural experiences such as kendo, karate and traditional yosakoi dancing. After the days in the Kochi region, the journey continues towards Hiroshima.
China
On the cultural trip to China, students first arrived in Beijing where they experienced some of the country's most iconic sights. They visited the Beijing Zoo to see pandas, walked the Great Wall and explored both the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City. Along the way, they also experienced everyday life in the city, met local Chinese people in the parks and tried traditional dishes like dumplings, hotpot and the classic Peking duck. The journey then continued to Shanghai, where students experienced the modern city skyline of The Bund, bustling shopping streets and vibrant city life. The trip gave students an insight into China's history, culture and contemporary city life.
Malaysia
On the cultural trip to Malaysia, the students arrived in Kuala Lumpur after a long journey and began their stay by staying with local host families. This gave them an insight into the daily lives of some of the refugee families living in the area. The students also attended classes at the Hilla Community Centre where they helped with activities and education for the children. In addition, they experienced the culture and sights of Kuala Lumpur, including temples, Central Market, Chinatown and the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. They also visited the Royal Selangor and Batu Caves before travelling on to Borneo, where new experiences in nature awaited.
Namibia
On the cultural journey to Namibia, the students arrived in N/a'an ku sê, where they began their stay surrounded by the country's unique nature and wildlife. From here they travelled to Neuras, where they visited a local winery and learned about the history of the area. During their stay, the students also had a special experience feeding cheetahs together with local employees. The trip also included a trip to Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert, where the students climbed the huge sand dune Big Daddy and experienced the spectacular landscape around Deadvlei with its centuries-old trees. The days ended with fellowship, food and experiences under the African sky.
Nepal
On the cultural trip to Nepal, the students arrived in Kathmandu after a long journey via Frankfurt and India. From here, the journey continued into the mountains to the small village of Meche, where the students stayed with local host families and experienced everyday life up close. They also visited a small friendship school with just 20 students, where they organised activities, games and lessons with the children. The trip included hiking in the beautiful landscapes of the Himalayas, meeting local families and gaining insight into life in small mountain communities. Along the way, the group continued through the mountains of Nepal with trekking, school visits and new cultural encounters before heading to Chitwan National Park.
New Zealand
On the cultural trip to New Zealand, the students arrived at Narrows Camping after more than 30 hours of travelling to get some much-needed rest after the long journey. During their stay, they experienced the country's nature and activities up close, including surfing in the coastal town of Raglan and a trip to the famous Waitomo Caves, sailing in the dark under the impressive rock formations. The students also had time to explore the cosy coastal town and cook dinner together. The trip also included a sailing trip on the famous Steinlager 2 sailboat, where they experienced New Zealand's maritime traditions from the sea.
Panama
On the cultural trip to Panama, after a long journey via Hamburg, Istanbul and Panama City, the students arrived in the small mountain town of Santa Fe. Here they experienced nature up close with hikes to waterfalls, swimming in rivers and a challenging mountain climb in the tropical heat. Along the way, they met local families and visited a school where students exchanged culture through song, dance and interviews for the “Meet the Locals” project. Later, the trip continued to Panama City, where the students experienced the Panama Canal, the historic district of Casco Viejo and the city's contrasts between modern high-rises and poorer neighbourhoods. The journey then continues to more remote areas where the students will meet local tribal people and experience life without electricity and internet.
South Africa
On the cultural journey to South Africa, the students have arrived in Cape Town, where they have begun their experiences in the city and its surrounding areas. During their stay, they visited Hector Peterson High School, where they met with local students and exchanged experiences about culture and everyday life in Denmark and South Africa. They also visited the township of Langa, where they got an insight into life in the area and experienced the strong sense of community among the residents. They played with local children and played a football match against a local team. The trip gives students the opportunity to experience Cape Town's city life and meet people and cultures up close.
“Yesterday we went to Hector Peterson High School. Here we got to meet a lot of nice students from the school, and we exchanged knowledge about cultures from both South Africa and from Denmark. It was a really nice meeting, and you can learn more about it, if you watch the video below.
Filmed and edited by: Signe Rosenberg Randlev”
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/182PBm5Bae
South Korea
On the cultural trip to South Korea, the students arrived in Seoul after a long journey via Frankfurt. They began by exploring the city, including a walk along the Han River and a visit to South Korea's National Assembly, where they learnt about the country's political system and presented Ranum Efterskole and Danish school culture. The students also visited the Danish embassy and met with students from the alternative school G-School, where they exchanged experiences about school life in Denmark and South Korea through activities and games. The trip also included cultural experiences in Seoul and a temple stay in the mountains outside the city, where the students gained insight into Buddhist tradition, participated in ceremonies and experienced life in a temple.
Texas Homestay
On the cultural trip to Texas, the students arrived safely and stayed with local host families. During their stay, they visited Lovejoy High School, where they were given a tour of the school and experienced American school life. The trip also offered insight into American culture and history through visits to the site where John F. Kennedy was shot, the George Bush Presidential Library and Southern Methodist University. In addition, students have experienced everyday life in Texas through activities such as shopping in major American stores, visits to historic neighbourhoods and community activities such as bowling and arcade games. The trip gives students an insight into American culture, history and youth life.
Thailand
On the cultural trip to Thailand, the students arrived in Bangkok after a long journey and began their stay by experiencing the culture and atmosphere of the city. They visited Amnuay Silpa School, an international school where students met with Thai students and exchanged experiences about school life and education. The visit gave rise to reflections on both differences and similarities between the two countries. The trip also included cultural experiences such as Muay Thai at the historic Rajadamnern Stadium and insights into Thai culture, traditions and history. The trip gives students the opportunity to experience everyday life, education and culture in Thailand up close.
US Road Trip West
On the US Road Trip West cultural tour, students began their stay in San Francisco, where they visited Alcatraz, experienced the Golden Gate Bridge and explored the city streets. The trip continued to Yosemite National Park, where students experienced the magnificent nature and impressive landscapes. Later, students stayed with host families and attended school with students from Summerville Union High School, where they got an insight into American high school life and spent time with their new American friends. The trip gives students the opportunity to experience American nature, culture and school life up close.
Headmaster's column
Dear reader,
This week, all our students are in the best classroom in the world - the real world. They are travelling across the globe, meeting young people, organisations and cultures from more than 20 different countries. From Alaska in the north to Namibia in the south, from New Zealand in the east to Brasilien in the west.
Due to the conflict in the Middle East, the last travel team originally travelling to Bali had to change their destination just two days before departure. Instead, they are now travelling to Guadeloupe. I'm following their journey closely (because I'm there myself) and I'm impressed by the highly motivated students and skilled teachers who manage to handle the pressure of change and pave the way along the way.
“We can do it.”
Follow us on our many Facebook pages, where we regularly share impressions and stories from our travels.
Have a great weekend at home in Denmark - we'll continue teaching out here in the world every day.
Yours sincerely
Olav Storm
Principal
Links to the different travellers' Facebook pages.
Malaysia
Alaska
Brazil Group 1 & 2
Panama
US Road Trip
Coral Rest.(Tanzania)
New Zealand
South Korea
Europe
Costa Rica
Japan
South Africa
Nepal
China
Texas Homestay
Namibia Group 1 & 2
Thailand
Bali (Guadeloupe)
It happens:
Calendar
Cultural travelling 07.03.26 - 22.03.26
Easter holidays 02.04.26 - 06.04.26
Friends weekend 11.04.26 - 12.04.26
Songkran (Thailand) 13.04.26
Culture family day 19.04.26
Music weekend 02.05.26
Summer camps for all ages
If you are between 14-17 years old, this is a unique opportunity for you to socialise, develop new skills and try a lot of fun and challenging activities. It's all about community, experiences and memories for life.
New this year, we're also launching a Grandparents Camp. Here, grandparents and grandchildren can enjoy a week's stay together with good catering throughout the week, exciting excursions and fun activities for all ages.
We will visit the Limfjord Museum in Løgstør and take a historical trip to Livø. In addition, the week offers plenty of activities to enjoy together across generations.
We're looking forward to a summer filled with community and great experiences.
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