ABOUT US

I grew up in Næstved, a small Danish provincial town in South Seeland. My parents were working class and their main ambition was to become middle-class. Both had spent only seven years at school before embarking on a lifetime of manual labour, which at the time was the only way they could acquire the material prosperity they wanted. Politically conservative with right wings leanings, they valued qualities such as independency, trustworthiness and industriousness. Violations to these values met with harsh discipline, but as long as I toed the line I had the freedom to find my own way in life.

Early on it was instilled in me that I had to defend myself; "hit first" was one of the mottos, which naturally led to plenty of fights with the other boys at school. Around the age of 10 I realized I had to change my approach if I wanted friends. My family environment was stable and secure, but I remember feeling scared, isolated and an outsider, feelings I hid behind a tough and cool façade in order to protect my sensitivity and vulnerability

I finally found a direction in my life when at the age of 17 I joined the army. I was now part of a group who shared my values and with which I could identify. I also met my first real friend here. The discipline in the army did me good and I enjoyed learning about weapons. I stayed five years in the battle troops, including one year as a UN soldier in Cyprus.