Soren Pedersen, 17, got a hot and hazy introduction to Canada when arrived in Burns Lake last August in the middle of the wildfire season.
“When I drove in from Prince George I was told that on some days you couldn’t see anything because of the heavy smoke,” the Danish exchange student, who is staying in Rose Lake, told Lakes District News on Nov. 8.
Soren’s mother back in Silkeborg, Denmark was worried, but the disaster barely affected him, save for a school trek outing to Tweedsmuir Provincial Park that was canceled because of the fires.
He has found the community here to be welcoming and has made several friends at Lakes District Secondary School, where he is in Grade 11.
“People know I’m an exchange student and people want to talk to me, and ask questions about Denmark and [my] language,” he said.
The Rotary Club of Burns Lake organized the exchange program.
When not studying, he has kept himself busy by playing soccer, and going kayaking, canoeing and mountain biking.
He’s looking forward to the season of snowboarding and skiing, the experience of which is mediocre in Denmark because of the flatness of the country.
Few things about Canada challenge or bother him, but there have been a few surprises.
“The most shocking thing is the distance between cities,” he said, and mentioned the 17-hour drive he endured when he attended provincial soccer playoffs in Duncan, on Vancouver Island.
His amazement is understandable, considering that tiny Denmark could fit into Canada more than 200 times!
The abundance of wildlife has been a pleasant eye-opener for him: “Here I can see bears in the front yard!”
He’s excited to experience a Canadian winter, as that season in Denmark brings only a little cold and snow, he said.
“I quite like snow but maybe I’ll get tired of it eventually.”