Jeppe Stensbæk-Jensen

2008-09 Inbound from Denmark

Hometown: Haderslev, Denmark

Sponsor: Haderslev Rotary Club, District 1460, Denmark

Host: Weston Rotary Club, District 6990, Florida, USA

School: West Broward High School, Pembroke Pines, FL

Bio

Jeppe's Bio

Hey! My name is Jeppe Stensbaek, I’m 16 years old and from Haderslev, Denmark. Haderslev is a small city compared to other cities around the world. The city is located roughly 1 hour away from the German border. I’ve lived in the city my whole life with my dad, Hans Joergen, my mom, Annette, and my older brother, Rasmus.

The way I got introduced to Rotary all started with my brother going to Texas for a year, and when he finally came home, he only had positive things to say about his exchange in Texas and could only recommend it to me. It had been his best year of his life.

After that I speculated for around a year thinking about becoming an exchange student, it ended with me sending my application and getting selected. And of course I were so lucky to end up in South Florida!

I’ve always been interested in meeting new people and traveling the world which also tempted me to be a part of the Rotary program.

My favorite hobbies have always been skiing, friends, music and of course the lovely PC. I guess I won’t see much snow here in Florida, but instead I got sun, beaches and a lovely host family, what more could I ask for?

I want to thank all the generous people of Rotary who gave me this opportunity and made a dream come true.

Thanks!

September 21 Journal

So… Here I am 5 weeks into the exchange program, things have been… amazing. I found the time is just flying away… I can’t really understand I’ve only been here 5 weeks with so much happening!!!

My first few days started out with being together with a guy called Mike – Mike is an outbound in Japan right now. We had a lot of fun with random stuff such as taking a ride in his dad's SLK 350 J!

After 10 days in Florida I went to Orlando for the introduction which was a blast! I got to meet all the other exchange students, we had a tight program that weekend packed with presentations to events, one event was a rope course, and we all had a ball with that event!

So far I’ve had 3-4 weeks of school, which is different, but I LOVE the lunch breaks with my friends, I can’t imagine a funner clique than them! The subjects are exciting, but some of them are kind of boring, but as long as I find a way to stay entertained, I’ll survive!

The school I attend has no seniors so I am so lucky that the juniors, my class, will be getting the class ring in 2009! So I just ordered mine a few days ago!

I love Florida; I’ve had so much fun with friends and especially my host-family. Last night they took me to see the Florida Marlins play baseball and after that the lead singer from Foreigner played!

My Rotary club over here is so nice; people are so talkative and friendly! I love the weekly meetings in the morning, you feel welcomed as if you were home J This gives me a wonderful start of the day!

I am so happy to be here in Florida and I enjoy every moment, I already now wish I could stay here! I want to thank Rotary again for giving me this wonderful life changing experience! I am the luckiest boy in Florida!

Florida Love ! ! ! ! !

March 26 Journal

9th of March the day of my birthday, and the day before my change of family. Me and my host family headed to Ft. Lauderdale for dinner to dine with my new host family, we went to a really nice steakhouse. Tuesday I packed my bag which was a little tough, since I had a super family. I moved in and it turns up I got another super family! Me and my host brother goes fishing a lot in the Everglades and just boating around. With my host dad, we get in his plane and fly to the Keys, this was amazing, you could see all of the Everglades and the Keys from the air  When we arrive in the Keys we go fishing, which I like!

I have come to enjoy life a lot down here in Florida, we have everything down here, the weather is great and there is not much to complain about. My new family is just great, I have done so much in 5 days it is just amazing. Today I started out in an airplane and topped it off with some fishing in the Everglades. Next week I am probably going to the Keys again and do some more fishing which is going to be great.