Danish visitor
Rune was a seventeen year-old high school exchange student from Denmark. His visit to our home provided a check-mark on my life’s bucket list where no action item had existed. For ten days, in 2003, he welcomed our family as warmly as we welcomed him.
Speaking six languages, his brilliance was matched by his charisma. Among a group of twenty Danish exchange students who visited my eldest son’s high school, Rune was the best. To be sure, no contest existed. But, his laughter and joy was infectious, attracting everybody with whom he came in contact.
Rune food
My son’s mother is an incredible cook — truly outstanding. In addition to a remarkable talent for cooking healthy gourmet meals, her talent for baking is astounding — cakes, cookies, pies and more. Equally talented with an ability to transform both tofu and brown sugar into delightful meals and treats, her efforts are designed to please the American pallet.
During Rune’s visit, he struggled with American food. In particular, sugary treats drew facial contortions. What we considered mildly sweet seemed to burn his tongue. Perhaps prepared for his experience, he brought confections from Copenhagen. Salty confections, the likes of which brought facial contortions to my family.
Culture is a funny thing.
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