During the last week the Music Room has been home to an extended Middle Eastern family with roots from all over the world.
Danes, Arabs, an Iranian and even an exotic German have been jamming, doing yoga and talking giraffe language under the guidance of the divine Sheikh Morten al-Melon.
But people from the Middle East are very family orientated and therefore other families or clans might not have had the possibility of getting to know the Pinks…
So here is the chance to meet a few of them:
Mingo, 30 years old, German-Dane.
Leader of this year’s “Next Stop Iran”, crazy in looove….
Which expectations or prejudices did you have before you came to the seminar?
I was afraid that it could be too humanistic, too much ”chairs in a circle”.
What surprised you the most?
That you get so close to people so fast, also people you don’t know. There is a very positive atmosphere at the seminar.
What has been hard or difficult for you during the seminar?
The overload of having to be somewhere all the time, everything is in a schedule. This can be a bit frustrating…
What is the first thing you do in the morning?
I pee and pet my dog (not at the same time…well maybe sometimes I do, ha ha).
What is the last thing you do before you go to sleep?
I talk to Joergen, 39 years old (and very hot! note from editor).
How do you like the food?
I liked the chicken in tomato sauce!!
What do you miss from home?
From Germany: The grey bread…(?)
From Aarhus where I live: My terrace..
Alaa, 33 years old, Jordanian.
Operations Manager, NGO co-founder, fond
of beer.Which expectations or prejudices did you have before you came to the seminar?
I did not expect the Danish people to be so welcoming, because of all the things that happened during he cartoon-crisis.
What surprised you the most?
The Danes are so helpful! On my way from the airport to Kaloe a lot of different people was helping me...I had no idea where I was going!
What has been hard or difficult for you during the seminar?
It has been a bit difficult to fit in because of my age…only structurally.
What is the first thing you do in the morning?
I brush my teeth…
What is the last thing you do before you go to sleep?
I have a quick look through the day; what has happened?
How do you like the food?
The food is amazing! It is tasty, healthy and full of flavors and gourmet. It is the next best thing after the Danish people.
What do you miss from home?
My Chinese dog named Foo (which means: Ancient dog). It has a bulldog face and is amazing; stupid and funny at the same time.
Gitte, age not announced, Danish.
Leader of this year’s “Next Stop Israel/Palestine”, Marathon runner.
Which expectations or prejudices did you have before you came to the seminar?
To meet people from all over the world, have discussions and learn how they work in their NGO´s…and to learn something new.
What surprised you the most?
All the positive and motivated people. Everybody is very nice, curious and a little crazy…(!)
What has been hard or difficult for you during the seminar?
Tough schedule, sometimes I have needed some time to reflect.
What is the first thing you do in the morning?
Get up and run. I train for the Marathon this spring.
What is the last thing you do before you go to sleep?
I set my alarm (so I can get up and run…).
How do you like the food?
I liked the curry stew with chickpeas and raisins…it was totally YUMMI!
What do you miss from home?
My cat – hmm, I should say my boyfriend..?
Amal, 24 years old, Palestinian-Dane.
Former basketball star in Jutland.
Which expectations or prejudices did you have before you came to the seminar?
I was looking very much forward to meet new people - also Middle Eastern people…I was very excited!
What surprised you the most?
Everybody is so full of energy and so easy to work with…
What has been hard or difficult for you during the seminar?
Most difficult is the weather. I did not bring my winter clothes, because it was supposed to be the beginning of spring.
What is the first thing you do in the morning?
I say good morning to my roommate Hasnaa from Morocco.
What is the last thing you do before you go to sleep?
I do my last prayer.
How do you like the food?
I was very surprised that the food is so delicious! It is really good!
What do you miss from home?
My own bed!
Amani, 24 years old, Yemeni.
Programs coordinator in a youth NGO, likes the music Thomas plays...
Which expectations or prejudices did you have before you came to the seminar?
Two of my friends have been here before, and they told that it was a cold but very nice place…They also said that the Danes were nice people. And from the cheese commercials in Yemen, I know that Denmark is a very green and beautiful place. And I love the nature here; the sea, the green trees…
What surprised you the most?
The nature! It really is much more beautiful than I thought it would be…And also the people; everybody has been so nice and co-operative.
What has been hard or difficult for you during the seminar?
Nothing! Really, I have no problems at all. (After this interview Amani became a bit ill because of the fantastic and constantly changing Danish weather).
What is the first thing you do in the morning?
I pray…and then I eat breakfast.
What is the last thing you do before you go to sleep?
I take notes of what I have learned during the day: different games, methods of teaching and so on.
How do you like the food?
The lasagne was delicious. And the Danish cheese…
What do you miss from home?
My family.
Morten Bowie Smith, 28 years old, Danish.
Creative facilitator, hip-hop dancer.
Which expectations or prejudices did you have before you came to the seminar?
I must admit that I had some prejudices towards the Yemenites. I expected them to be little grey people living in earth caves and only coming out once a year to fish in sea.
What surprised you the most?
Again, the Yemenites were the most prejudice-breaking experience I ever had. When looking into the gentle and intelligent eyes of Amani, I was transformed forever. And little Nawal Winfrey reminded me of how convincing an American talk show host can be…
What has been hard or difficult for you during the seminar?
Nothing! Everything has been so easy…No, actually it has been very difficult constantly to break up people’s expectations of how a good leader should be.
What is the first thing you do in the morning?
I tell myself: “This is the first day of the rest of my life”…and then I take on another pair of dirty underwear.
What is the last thing you do before you go to sleep?
I count sheeps…purple sheeps!
How do you like the food?
I liked the Tandoori Chicken – and the cakes…Even the coleslaw, I love coleslaw.
What do you miss from home?
A naked girlfriend in a kimono…
Note: Pictures of the other Pinkies will follow later - insha'allah!
