My name is ‘Pernille’, but most often I am ‘Penila’. Vanilla with a ‘P’. Or just ‘P’. ‘Pernille’ is the old Danish, female version of ‘Peter’, which means ‘rock’ (as in a hard place).

I’m 38 years old, Danish by nationality. My base is Copenhagen, but I grew up in rural Denmark on the island of Lolland. My great great grandfather, great grandfather, my grandfather were – and my father, brother and my sister are – farmers. My parents and my brother now work on the farm, which also belonged to my great grandfather, and my sister lives on a farm in northern Iceland….

For the past 10 years I have worked in the international NGO sector. At the end of the 90ties I engaged in voluntarism, peace building activism, campaigning and inter-cultural exchange in the Balkans (1997-2002)….

I’ve blogged for 4+ years throughout my stay in East Africa. First from 26 months along and across the border to Southern Sudan, now from the Swahili Coast in Tanzania.

In 2006 my blog was chosen as Ugandan Blog of the Year, and in March 2008 I was criticized for not displaying the ‘right picture’ of Tanzania. Hence, I’ve learnt that people have a million different opinions on Africa, and that the image of Africa in European media often doesn’t correspond with the one of the Africans.

Certainly, too often it doesn’t correspond with mine.

I try to stick to my original intention; I started blogging because I found the information about being a Danish development worker in Africa too political correct. Lacking passion, presence and precision. I wanted to use the opportunity of living in Africa to add nuance and perspective to this, to add a personal dimension and to illustrate what it actually feels like.

But I also blog to keep track of my experience, for learning, staying in touch and for exchanging ideas. I used blog posts to document the 26 months in Uganda in order to make my final report a little less hard to read.

Another interesting impact of blogging is the friends I have made online, later met off line. Ugandan Bloggers’ Happy Hour and the BarCamp Nairobi are good experiences in this regard.

When people tell me that my blog has inspired them to blog, helped them prepare for Africa, made them aware or curious on Africa, I’m happy. Obviously, I’m not perfect as a person, development worker or in my 2nd language.

I blog entirely from my personal perspective, knowing very well that my tribe is Scandinavian and my accent Northern. This blog reflects me, my impressions and viewpoints only…Louder Than Swahili – Blogger/Photographer/Activist – Pernille Baerendtsen