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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1999-10-20, Page 14Wednesday,er 20, 1999 Exeter Times-wboeaw 13 Elder and Norwegian By Craig Bradford 11M ADVOCATE STAFF HENSALL -- Hensall's. Richelle Elder found out it's a small world after all this past year. Elder, 21, spent the past year as a Canadian cul- tural representative at Orlando, Florida's Walt Disney World. She recent- , ly returned home along with a new friend: Anne Lena Rodahl, 24, who also spent the past year at Disney World as a Norwegian cultural repre- sentative. • Rodahl, called 'Anna' by her friends, spent a week with Elder before heading to New York City for a week before returning to her home near Oslo. Both were recruited by Disney World while in col- lege. Elder was studying recreation and leisure services at Humber College while Rodahl was studying tourism at Oslo's Otto Treader tourism. school. While hosting Rodahl; Elder toured her around southwestern Ontario including stops at Grand Bend, Niagara Falls, Hamilton, Cambridge and back to the Hensall area for a :-down home Canadian family Thanksgiving. Norwegians don't cele- brate many common Canadian holidays like Thanksgiving so the expe- rience was a special treat for Rodahl. Elder and Rodahl also shared their experiences with Elder's sister Amber's Gr. 7 class at Hensall Public wheel. Rodahl marvelled at Lake Huron and its beaches but admitted much of the Canadian landscape resembles her homeland. Elder and Rodabi were among 1,400 internation- al cultural representatives living together at Disney World. "It's like a little Olympic village:" Elder said. Elder and Rodahl roomed with two other cultural representatives, one from Mexico and the other from Italy. Despite their '0 ences, Elder ani grew to consid r counterparts from around the world as family. The roommates used a map of the world and cal - enders featuring scenery from their homelands to acquaint themselves with each other's countries. While at Disney World, Elder worked at the Canadian pavilion in Epcot Centre and sold merchandise and also helped set up a Roots clothing store. Rodahl worked as a restaurant waitress. Though they had down to earth jobs to do, the real purpose of cultural representatives is to share their native culture with the visitors of Disney World. One thing they learned from the visitors was that most Americans don't know much about other cultures. Elder admitted Americans asked the "stupidest" questions such' as: "Do Canadians • cl darned their Mickey ears Earning their ears. Oslo, Norway's Anne Lene Rodahl, left, and Hensall's r`cendy com- pleted a one-year tour of duty at Florida's Disney World where they worked as cultur41 repr la - Lives. 1 - say 'eh' all the timer Rodahl's favourite dumb question about Norway was: "Is it true there are -polar bears walking around the streets in Norway?" In truth, there are no polar bears in Norway. How both Elder and Rodahl were dressed did- n't he dispel any mis- conce ' i about Canada and Norway: Elder was dressed in a lumberjack costume while Rodahl sported asimple black farm dress. Cultural rep- aresteatatives were wear- ing such costumes as part of the 'Turn Of The Century' theme Disney World was promoting the past year. Elder said many visitors didn't believe cultural representatives were in fact from the countries they represented. "Did you have to go to school to learn your accents?" Elder remem- bers some visitors asking her. While most visitors were well behaved, Elder said Americans she encoun- tered were generally rude compared • with Canadians. Rodahl noticed that most Floridians were either retired or simply living in the state to take advantage of the tourism or k her words, To keep the -wheel going." Rodahl said the most knowledgeable people about Norway seemed to be retired Americans. Many told her they were of •Norwegian descent and had visited more places in Norway than she herself had been to. Both admitted they wouldn't want to live full- time in Florida. "It was a good experi- ence but I'm glad to be home," Elder said. "I learned I was very proud to be Canadian. We are friendly and we have a clean country." Having to interact with people as much as they did brought the pair out of their shells. "We've learned to express ourselves and be more open," Rodahl said. Elder said she now finds talking to strangers and large groups much easier now. She also learned about hospitality. "I learned what good service is," she said. " You know what you deserve to get." Elder and Rodahl cher- ish the fun they had with their roommates and other friends they met at Disney World the most. "There was always something to do," Elder said. "It was never boring,' Rodahl chipped in. While Elder only visited home once and stayed in the Orlando area most of the time, Rodahl travelled a lot including stops in Miami. Key West back home and at her family's summer home in Italy. Both enjoyed space shut- tle launches as well. After finishing their year each cultural representa- tive receives a pair of Mickey Mouse ears, a diploma and reference letter that is instrumental in getting another job in the tourism or'recreation- al industry. :We earned our ears," Elder said. While Dahl is certain of her career path (she. ultimately wants to either become an Oslo tour guide or work for a cruise line), Elder is still consid- ering her options includ- ing finding work in the special events field or working at a hotel like Grand Bend's Oakwood Inn. Lots of Halloween activities planned around Zurich By Carmel Sweeney ZURICH CORRESPONDENT ZURICH - On October 24 the Zurich Emmanuel United Church will be cele- brating their 125th anniversary at 10:30 a.m. Barbara Laing will be guest speaker and refreshments will be served following the service. The Fall Tea and Bake sale will be held at the Blue Water Rest Home on November 6 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium. There will be draws on a decorated cake and grocery basket and a penny sale table. The event is sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary. The' St. Boniface Parish annual bazaar will be held on October 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the hall downstairs in the church. There will be a penny sale table, draws, crafts, hotdogs and refreshments for sale. The Village of Zurich will be having children trick or treating on Sunday evening, October 31. A reminder to turn your . clocks back one hour before going to bed on October 30. A Halloween dance planned in Zurich will be held October 30 at the arena at 9 p.m. The cost is $5 per person and prizes will be awarded for costumes. There will be a Halloween Teen Dance at the Zurich Public School on October 29 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The dance is for chil- dren hitdren in the village from grades six to eight. The cost is $3, sponsored by the Optimist Club. There will also be a Halloween bowling party for children in grades three to five at the Town and Country Lanes on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. The cost is $4 which includes pizza and rental of shoes. Participants are to wear a cos- tume. The Optimist Club is sponsoring the party. Helpers are needed. Call Michelle De Paepe at 236-7566 for more informa- tion. Personals Happy 38th anniversary to Gord and Cecilia Smiph on October 14. Happy birthday wishes go to Anne Flaxbard on October 20. Annette Elizabeth Hartman, daughter of Francis and Doreen, was baptized on October 17 at St. Boniface Church by Fr. Wronski. Curtis and Mary Gingerich recently went on a trip for several days; visiting some relatives and friends in and around the area of Ottawa and Quebec. Jerome and Carmel Sweeney, Mozart and Marie Gelinas Sr. and Gord and Cecilia Smith went on a pilgrimage with members. of St. Joseph Church in Stratford from October 12 to 17 Elizabeth Dobbin of Stratford was the tour guide. Fr. Mooney of St. Columbar, was the spiritual director and said Mass each day. Their first stop was in Marmora to say. the outdoor Stations of the Cross. The} spent their first night in Cornwall. They travelled on to Montreal for a guided tow of St. Joseph's Oratory and the shrine of Cap -de -la Madeleine. Days three and foul were spent in Quebec City near St. Anne de Beaupre Bascilla. They attended a special French Mass. They attended a "Sound and Sight Show" and saw a cyclo- rama of Jerusalem, at Ste. Anne DeBeaupre. They went to St. Patrick': Basilica and Notre -Dame de Montrea' Basilica. They spent one night it Gatineau, Quebec. On Sunday morning they attended e Mass at St. Theresa's Church in Ottawa. Trips and dancers - examples of entertainment at Blue Water ZURICH - The male residents of Blue Water Rest Home enjoyed a day trip to the Marine Museum, Goderich on October 5. Art Cann, Kurt Gebel, Carman Lovie, Stewart Thiel, Eben Weigand, Cliff Jardine, Nei[ Mustard and Bill Burr with the assistance of volunteer Betty Kirk, driver Jim Purvis and Ann Bride viewed the many displays. Tuesday evening the Auxiliary arranged an evening of entertainment for the residents. Les Greenwood and his wife Shirley from Parkhill, Lois and Ed Wise, Lois and Ray Scoins, Lois and Murray MCGills and Mel and Dorothy Bogies of Goderich square danced for the res- idents. Ted Vogle entertained with his dance act and Auxiliary members Marlene Gingerich and Mary (Calvin) Gingerich read Thanksgiving poems. The October and September Auxiliary committee members served lunch. Wednesday, the Home was abuzz with the viewing of clothing on display provided by J.B.S. Clothing Cheltenham. The convenience of shopping with the Home twice each year is a great benefit to the resi- dents and their families, especially with prices and clothing geared to seniors' needs. Gladys VanEgmond and the Merry .kers enter- tained the residents on Friday afternoon with Keith Tyndal on drums, Leona McBride on the trumpet and piano, VanEgmonb on the piano and accordion and Mozart Gelinas Si.yon guitar. The musical group dressed in Octoberfest liederhosen attire and played Octoberfest music for their audience. On Saturday afternoon the residents gathered in the auditorium to watch "Alligators" a film produced by National Geographic. On Monday, the residents watched "The Amazing Adventures of Mr. Bean." On Thanksgiving day, the residents gathered in the auditorium to sing hymns with the assistance of resi- dent Philippa Steckle as pianist. In the afternoon the residents watched the Octoberfest Parade and the Columbus Day Parade. The residents enjoyed their turkey Thanksgiving Day meal on Sunday and visited with the many visitors, both family and friends. In the morning they watched church service on T.V. The residents look forward to the Granton Rhythmaires on October 13 and the Lambton Craft Show October 16. October 19 the Christian Reformed Church Choir will visit and October 20 the residents are holding a volunteer tea for all volunteers and staff members in the auditorium, starting at 2:30 p.m. Bingo will be held at 2:30 on October 15 and 22.