Scandinavia - course report
Copenhagen, 27 Aug 2009
Regional Director, Course Instructor: Henrik Overgaard Thygesen
Course Instructor Intern: Aase Holm Jacobsen
Course Organizer: Karina Stolze
Thursday: Very excited, waiting in the course room We began with first-day-interviews, which went well. Afterwards we made a serious effort in order to make the breathing going. We introduced the checklist and practiced. During the checklist we made some challenge for the old grads such as tongue-twister, quotes and other challenges. The old grads had a great time and had a little break from the checklist. In the evening the new students to stand up and fell the fear and say their names, phone numbers, addresses etc. and they seemed very comfortable. By then they already had the look in their eyes: I want to do this! By the end of the day we – as always – had the big surprise, homework for the next day - The reading of chapter three. Before bed the instructors evaluated the day.
Friday: The day started with an accident. At 6 pm. the RD was weakened by a knock on the door. An old grand stood outside the door saying that an accident had happened in room 416. It was one of the new students who had had an epileptic attack in the shower. They had the situation under control. The old grad, who shared room, luckily ran to the next room. In that room an old grad, who had just returned from the war in Afghanistan and therefore was able to do first aid, came to rescue. After the ambulance had been there, the rescuer told us, that when the new student recovered, the first thing he did was to make a costal breathing, saying his name. We found that striking and funny. One of the grads where with the new student in the hospital, until his father came along. At 10 am, they all were back on the course, thank God. Otherwise Friday was going on with practicing the technique. The new students had to make a choice whether they wanted to stay or not. One of the students had some a doubt whether this technique was working for him or not. But the RD gave him a chance to make that decision at Friday night. After he had the experience making contacts with one of the grads, he came back and told the RD that he was a hundred percent ready to carry out “whatever effort this course will take”, he said. The contacts by the old grads accompanied by the new students went well. Afterwards the new students evaluated the efforts of the grads by telling memories and episodes from the day. They had to tell their names, who they went out with, how many contacts and how many disclosures they had. As a new initiative the extra older grads were pared and supposed to take contacts during the afternoon, so that no one was left over to themselves. We had all the other grads telling how many contacts they had made during the afternoon. In the late hours we told the students that they had to make a phone call to the older grads staying at the hotel in the morning.
Saturday: The big day! We started the day warming up with phone calls and Harrison workshop, preparing the new students to the real world with all the parts of practicing speaking up, adding the music to your voice, living with pauses etc. and the new students and the Harrison coaches ,were really enthusiastic during the workshop. Afterwards it was time to push out our comfort zone making contacts accompanied by the old grads. After taking contacts they did their speeches on the box at the stork fountain at the main shopping street in Copenhagen. It was a great success. Ten people conquered their worst fear. When they came home the new students went by themselves in order to practice the checklist. Then we had a session where we called Dave on Skype and all the new students said their names and said hello. Afterwards some of the grads had some questions to Dave. It was a good challenge for the new students. Very late Saturday night, we saw the first day interviews in community. It was very emotional for everyone.
Sunday: After a lot of impressions from previous days there was a lot of preparing going back to the real world. The old grads gave advices to the new students and afterwards the new students gave their goodbye speeches. The new students left the course aware about how to maintain their new technique of speaking. Thanks, to everyone making this course fantastic and thanks for the great discipline during the course.
Aase Holm Jacobsen did a great job as CII and had planned the sessions well. Thanks to the grads, who had sessions during this course. Thanks to everybody.