Jens Olsen, chief executive of the Faroese Fish Market, was in Arkansas, USA, as an exchange student in 1988. This was while Bill Clinton was governor, and one day he had the opportunity to meet the man who was later to become President of the United States.
- My American mom said she was sure that Bill Clinton would become president one day, and she wanted me to go to the Governor’s Office and have a picture taken, so that later in life I could say that I had met the American President, says Jens Olsen.
And one hot summer day, accompanied by two Faroese girls, who had come to visit him, Jens Olsen went down to the Governor’s Office. The Governor was, of course, busy, and they sat wating in the hall for a while. Suddenly a door opens, and Bill Clinton steps out followed by two men.
- We went to greet him, and he was really friendly and took his time to talk to us. He immediately knew where the Faroe Islands were and said that he had been flying over the islands when he was in the Air Force. Naturally, we were both impressed and happy that an American governor knew about our small country, says Jens Olsen.
Hillary impressed the girls
One of the Faroese girls, Naina Jacobsen, says that while they were waiting to see Bill Clinton they went into an adjoining courtroom, and it so happened that Hillary Clinton was the prosecutor in a case of a quarrel between two neighbours.
- She gave the impression of a very professional and tough attorney, says Naina Jacobsen. Little did they know, however, that they were in the presence of yet another possible future American president.
The year in Arkansas was very important for Jens Olsen, he says, and it has influenced the choices he was made later in life.
- Spending a year in the US taught me to respect people of different cultures and backgrounds. And even though I was only there for a year, the country is still dear to my heart.
When Jens Olsen thinks of the US, he thinks of his American family. And that is indeed one of the main goals of the student-exchange organisation AFS.
- The organisation was established by some ambulance drivers from World War II, who said that the only way to achieve peace in the world was to get young people to know and understand other cultures and establish personal connections between nations, Jens Olsen explains.
Clinton in the Faroes
Apparantly, Bill Clinton has been in Faroese airspace before, and in May this year he was close to visiting the islands. But, weather allowing, today, October 1st, will be the first time the 42nd President of the United States – or any American President for that sake – puts his feet on Faroese ground. And Jens Olsen is hoping to get a glimpse of his former Governor.
- Of course, I would love to meet the President. I was impressed by his presidency, and I am just as impressed with how he has been handling his post-presidency, says the chief executive of the Faroese Fish Market.
