April and May

Just this morning i decided to count how many days I had left and I can't even believe that I only have 36 days left. The weight of that is killing me. I am not ready to come home and I don't feel that I have truly accomplished everything I wanted to do while I was here. I also can't imagine leaving this life behind. The month started out pretty fantastic. I was in Malta for the first week with my host family. My host sister and I had an amazing time and it was so great to lay out by the pool and just do nothing! The place we went to was very interesting because it was a little danish village hotel. Not only was everything in english but also in danish and the appliances and set up of the houses were all modeled after the danish way of life. It was really interesting to see how in the middle of this little island off of Italy there was a piece of Denmark. When I got back things kind of slowed down a little bit. I was just going to school and doing little things here and there. I went to Tivoli again with my friends and my second host mom took me to the royal theater to see the ballet. Oh it was absolutely beautiful and it made me wonder why I ever quit dancing. It was a really great night and I always love spending time with her. The day after was my last school party. It was 90's themed which was not the best chosen theme in the world but it was good enough. I can't believe that that is the last time I will dance with my friends in this school. It was so overwhelming to think that I will never hear the bad dj, see the drunk kids everywhere, and students dressed ridiculously to accommodate the silliest themes. The next weekend was just as great and sad. I had my last get together with all of the exchange students in Denmark. We dressed up as Vikings and fake fought in the woods and had a little disco after. It was such a weird idea but we all went all out because why not? It was so creative and silly of Rotary to choose that and at first we weren't to happy about it but once we got into it we saw how creative and fun it truly was. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye and for most of them it was a final goodbye. There was an amazing slideshow from the whole year and it just brought me back to watching my oldies do that six months ago. It was the last time I will ever see some of those people and that knowledge was the hardest thing of all. It seems these days that a lot of things are becoming my "last." May has turned out to be another fantastic month. Only 8 more days until Euro Tour and even though I am super duper excited for that there is so much here that is also excited. Just the other day William took me to a Medina concert. Medina is a female danish singer that I absolutely love. Her music is where I learned some of my first danish words and she is just so good. It was so sweet of him to take me there because he just knows me so well. he knows everything that I love. He is so good to me. He even took me on the most romantic dinner date I have ever been on and everything about it was so special. This week we are even going to another amusement park. Every moment of my exchange is just such a gift and I am so grateful for everything and person in it. Besides all of the events, life is pretty great. The thing that makes everything fantastic is my friends and my other families. I can't begin to express how much I love the people in my class and the friends I have surrounded myself with. I have never cared about people the way I care about them. My first two host families are no exception to this. I frequently visit them and everytime it makes me yearn for the months i lived with them. I was told that the hardest thing about coming to Denmark was the people but I must say without them I wouldn't be as happy as I am now. I am so blessed for the people that have come into my life.

Bosnien

March was a month to remember. I mean all the little things were fantastic like friends' birthdays and seeing my second host family again and being with friends but by far the highlight of this month was the trip to Bosnia. Gah!! It was amazing. Every year the students in 2 year take a class trip. All the other classes went all over and we went to Bosnia. At first I was really disappointed that we didn't get Rome or Barcelona or somewhere like that but I thought about it and when would I ever have a chance to visit Bosnia and I really am glad that we got to go there. But maybe it was also because no matter where I went with my class I wouldve been happy. I love these people more than I could ever express. Anyways, the first day we arrived around 5 pm and we had no time to rest we immediately started with a guided tour around the little city, Sarajevo. It was cute and small and so different from Denmark. After that we all went out to dinner together and then out into the city together. It was a good intro day because it wasn't too overwhelming. The best part about the hotel we were staying though is that 6 of us girls got to share a room so we pushed all of our beds together and then we immediately became the hang out room. It was sooo cool!!! The next day, monday, was just as fun. We started off with a historical tour of Sarajevo to learn all about the war and the history of Bosnia. Our tour guide was amazing. You could tell that he really loved what he did and he taught us so much but also added his personal aspect into it and he was so inspiring. It was wonderful to see someone so passionate about something. It was a truly inspiring day. On the tour we visited a mosque and saw how they prayed and that women have to pray in a separate part of the church and we saw so many other big parts of history like the assassination and we learned about how it was actually a mistake but the effect that it had was huge. Tuesday was a little less exciting because we were supposed to go around and interview people about how the war effected their life and my group was assigned to go the American embassy. Since we didn't have clearance we just gave someone my email address and all of our questions and I still havn't heard back but it just seemed like people weren't to open to talk about the war. It had already plagued their life enough, they didn't want to be reminded. After the interviews we just had free time so it was more of a chill day and i was grateful for it because it was an opportunity to spend some quality time with my class. Wednesday was like the first day, we went to OSCE which is an organization that helps to keep everything together and strives for peace. We heard all about them and got to ask them questions and learn a little bit about the hopes for Bosnia's future. After that we traveled to Mostar, another city in Bosnia. I was really grateful for the change just because Sarajevo was cold and bleak where as Mostar was a little more lively and a lot warmer. It didn't lack in history though, thats for sure. Thursday was also fantastic. We traveled over the border into Croatia. It was so beautiful and we just walked around the city and explored. I just loved the down moments with my class because thats when we really got to know each other. Friday was by far the best day. We got to visit a Bosnian high school which was fascinating. Mostar is split in half, muslims and christians so it was so interesting to see the students take on it. How their parents aren't happy with the other side yet they don't see the division as an obstacle. They accept everyone. It was also funny to hear their questions. After the school trip we got some free time and I spent the day with my friend William. We hadn't ever been close before the trip but we spent so much time together that we got really close and he is such an amazing person. I loved the fact that I could get close to every single individual in my class. That night we ended up going out with the students and it was just unforgettable. I honestly can't complain about the trip. It was such an amazing experience and I am so grateful for every person that I have met and come across. I also have more appreciation for every single person in my class because I have an individual relationship with every single person in my class. Although I am happy about everything that happened it is going to be that much harder to leave. I can't believe how little time I have left and to be honest it scares the crap out me because I have never been happier than when im with these people. But there is so much to look forward to like next weekend Malta with my family and Euro tour, its going to be an amazing last few months.

Min anden familie

Now that I have officially moved out I can post about how absolutely wonderful it was to live with my second host family. Oh i loved them so much, they were caring and loving and treated me like just another member of the family. Kim and Pernille, my host dad and host mom, were always so kind and open to me. They made me laugh and let me be my complete self around them. It was really a joy to be able to be their child for three months. I have to say, the person that I will miss the most thought is my host brother, Frederik. I have always wanted an older brother and he was better than anything I couldve hoped for. He made me laugh and we grew very very close. I really adored him and on my last night out he took me out with him and another friend and it was just a blast. So many funny things and memories. It was the perfect way to end my stay with them. I really loved them and they will always be a part of my family.

Just An Interesting Tidbit

Yesterday in gym we played basketball which in my mind was completely normal but not in Denmark. I mean they knew the sport but in American gym class Im used to all the boys being pros but here because they all play soccer, basketball was not their strong suit. It was so interesting to see because you give an American a basketball and they will dribble it but you give a Dane a basketball and they will kick it. I couldn't believe that. It seems so minuscule yet fascinating to see the littlest difference.

Februar

Wow another month gone by, just like that. Alright, where to start. Well first off, my family and friends. This saturday I move and as much as I am looking forward to my new family I absolutely adore my family now and I feel really at home with them so it will definitely be difficult to say goodbye. What will be even more difficult is the fact that this is my last family. Time has just gone too fast. Along with my family, I love my friends. Recently my friend, Frederik, bought me gold fish. Just for the hell of it, to have a good laugh and look back on it. I am so fortunate to have these people in my life. I had an amazing time with my class on the first friday of the month because we had a school party. Each class had a theme and we got to decorate the classroom and dress up and eat dinner all together and then have a dance afterwards. My class chose Rock N' Roll and we went all out!!! We had fake tattoos and fake piercings, ripped clothes, teased hair, the blackest makeup we could put on, and the blackest nail polish on our nails. We all had a good laugh about because it was the complete opposite of how we all would normally look. One thing about the school party was the beer. Now let me remind you, just because the alcohol is there doesn't mean im drinking- rotary rules, of course. I can't get used to the idea though that at school parties the school pays to give each student two free beers as if they are passing out water. It is just such a huge part of Danish culture and normality, it still freaks me out to this day. But besides the alcoholism the weekend fun didn't stop there. That sunday was superbowl sunday but due to the time change it ran from 12 at night to about 4 in the morning. I was ready to curl up and stay awake to enjoy some good ol' American culture but a few of the boys in my class actually invited me to join them. Danish boys are very closed off so I was really surprised but it was a great opportunity to get to know them. I made my dad's guacamole and headed over there. It was a long night but it was so much fun. It was great to get to know them outside of school and I felt like I was really building a relationship with them. To show my class how much I love and appreciate them I made them cupcakes on tenth with my friend Felix. I made them cake for Valentine's Day because we had vacation the next week and I wanted to share a classic American tradition with them. It was funny to explain to them how much we do for Valentines Day in America because most of the class didn't even know what day it was. It was shocking to learn that.
The next week was amazing because we had a full week of vacation. The thing I absolutely love about Danish gymnasium (high school) is that we have a full week of vacation every six weeks, its absolutely glorious. For my vacation, one of my friends visited me. She is another exchange student from America but she lives on the other side of Denmark. It was so great to see her again because it had been about 2 months. One thing that I love about exchange students is that we relate so much to each other that we are practically family within the first minutes of meeting each other. On the last day of vacation it was the Danish version of halloween, its called festelavn. The kids dress up and get together but they dont really trick or treat but they do get candy. They have a wood basket filled with candy and they take turns hitting it like a pinata. It was so cute to see them all in their costumes and it was cool to be able to participate. I got to do it with my host family and their whole family, the same people I spent Christmas with. Unfortunately, another month is coming to an end and I can't tell if im excited for all the trips im taking or dreading them because it means that my time here is almost up.

Bowling aften.

Aww a bowling night was just what we needed. A chance to all get together with a little healthy competition. It was amazing to have everyone there together again. All of the exchange students from my district met in Copenhagen and we also me the new exchange students from Australia that just arrived. I mostly spent the night with three new girls and they were so sweet and wonderful. They made me realize how fast the time is going though. I am officially an oldie.

Godt Nytår og Januar :]

Boy has it been a while since I have written, sorry about that. Well I will begin with the first of the Month/Year. New Years Eve is not so different here. The main difference that I saw was the legality of fireworks. Unlike in the US, fireworks are legal here from December 22nd to the 1st of January which means fireworks all night for that week. Everyone sets them off everywhere so it can be quite dangerous on New Years, especially in Copenhagen. They tell you not to go to Copenhagen at all because of how dangerous it is, there are always reports of people getting injured. Luckily, I went to a party with my exchange student friend Madi and a girl from my class named Ditte. We had a low key, fun night and it was great to jump into the new year with them. It is also a tradition in Denmark to jump off of something to "jump" into the new year where as in America we kiss into the new year:] But besides New Years, not too much is going on with me this month. Just hanging out with friends and loving the place I am at. February is also going to be low key but March, April, and May are going to be crazy!! March I go to Bosnia with my class for a week, April I go to Malta with my third host family for a week, and in May-June, EUROO TOURR! A three week bus tour with all the exchange students, an opportunity of a lifetime, that is if I can find the money:/
More to come soon!!!

Glædlig Jul

Aww Christmas time. A time to be with family. Although, I was not with my real family I still felt surrounded by love. It started out with a visit to my first host family and they gave me my christmas present. I didnt open it until Christmas, of course, but it was a backpack that i have wanted since I arrived. There is a kind of swedish backpack that is a super popular trend here and will just always remind of Denmark when I look at it. I couldnt believe that my host family had remembered how badly I wanted it. After getting that wonderful surprise, I went out to my grandmothers house with my host family on christmas eve. Christmas here is similar but not the same at all. The presents are opened on christmas eve and you dance and sing around the christmas tree and santa literally visits, not while you are asleep to deliver presents, he hands them to you. When we were running around the christmas tree singing and dancing there were candles lit on the christmas tree. A HUGE FIRE HAZARD but that didnt stop anything. On the last song we even ran around outside and through the whole house while holding hands. It was so funny and so much fun, my host brother and i couldnt stop laughing. For christmas I got my brother a morphsuit which is a kind of costume that covers your whole body and it was quite the site to see. It was soo funny to see him running around the house in it so pleased with it. I feel really close to my brother. Along with the fun customs, the food was delicious. To start i had caviar with quail eggs on white bread, duck, pork, potatoes, and red cabbage. Then for dessert a rice dish with a little twist. It is rice pudding with chunks of almonds but there is one whole almond in there and we all take scoops of the rice with a little berry dressing. When you eat the pudding you have to find the one whole almond which means sifting through the food in your mouth before eating it and if you find the almond you have to keep it in your mouth but finish your rice dish, quite odd. But whoever has the whole almond gets a little extra present. It involves a lot of joking and odd facial expressions while trying to find the almond. It doesnt help either that you cant eat a lot because the pudding hits your stomach like a rock. I love danish food because it is all so delicious and traditional. The dinner conversation didnt lack either. I had to explain what a muffin top was to my family (fat rolls) which was so funny because they just didnt understand and really were trying to grasp the meaning. Another part of the night that was really different for me was the opening of the presents. In my family my brother and I are the youngest so we always get the most presents and open ours first and are always at the kids table and pass out the gifts to everyone else but for the first time i had three younger cousins. It was Christmas from a whole different perspective. For once, i stayed at the adult table and laughed and talked with them then watched the younger cousins open gifts and oh so patiently waited for them to give me my couple presents. It was so cute to see their joy and i enjoyed this perspective. Speaking of cute things, they had this forty year old turtle that was not shy at all and i was feeding and it fell asleep on my neck and it just was so sweet, i loved it. Even after all that I received the best christmas present of all, a phone call to my mom. Skype is a gift from God but theres something about a scheduled time to talk that takes away the sentimental value of talking so far away. But this time, it was a total surprise. The second she realized it was me she started crying and I started crying but it was so good to hear her voice, I cant even express the joy i felt after hearing her voice over the phone after so long. As if Christmas evening wasnt enough the fun just kept coming. That night Frederik and I watched a movie and talked for a couple hours and I really felt like he was a big brother to me. I feel like I can talk to him and I really enjoy his company. He is the older brother Ive always wanted.
The next morning, Christmas morning, we woke up exhausted but the festivities werent over. It was a little odd for me to wake up and not have christmas presents but my packages from my mom and friend had arrived so it was a little like christmas morning but not exactly the same. Talk about perfect timing though. Later that day we went to my host dad's side of the family. It was much more low key and there were no younger cousins so it was just relaxing to have lunch together and i even got a couple more christmas presents which i wasnt expecting because I really didnt expect to get anything.
Unlike in America christmas here lasts three days. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after Christmas so even on Monday I had something to do. I went with my friend Christina to her family's julefrokost (christmas lunch). I met her whole family and we talked and played cards and also played bingo but it was so different from in America. The cards werent the same and we played for prizes. In the center of the table were a bunch of gifts lined up and the person that won each round got to pick a gift. It was a really neat idea because we teased each other and laughed and it brought us together. I might just have to bring that tradition back home with me.

Just Another Goodbye.

To recap the past couple weeks:
1. Christmas Fun:
The Rotex (past exchange students) put together a little christmas gift exchange for us with the danes that are going out on exchange next year. It was fun to meet them because they all had questions of course and we also got to play a Danish traditional game, it is similar to the swap that is common in America but not everyone ends up with a gift at the end. It was also the last little get together for the oldies in our district but we still make ways to see each other which brings me to number 2.

2. Goodbye oldies:
This goes in to two parts. The first time was an official, little, hyggeligt get together. We just talked and danced a little bit and laughed. The second time was when one of the exchange students from Brazil, Gustavo, asked us all to join in Copenhagen for his last thursday. I couldn't believe that it was his last thursday, on exchange you just feel like it will never end. At the end of the night when I officially had to say goodbye to him i couldn't stop crying. This could be a forever goodbye and I cant stand to think about it. That is the hardest part of exchange, no doubt, to say goodbye. You grow to love every single person.

3. But back to the happy, my first family. I went to visit them again and O it was wonderful. I just feel like they are truly my siblings and parents. I love every second I spend with them. Dinner at their house is non stop laughs and being with Kirsten just is indescribable. She calls me her party girl and always jokes with me and hugs me like i havn't seen her for a year. I love that family so much and I know that I say that every time I talk about them on this blog but every time I see them my love grows, no joke.

4. On top of the joy that my first family gives me, this host family makes me just as happy. My host brother and I made chocolate chip cookies together today and it was so fantastic. The simplest of things makes our bond stronger. We laughed and joked the whole time, shared music, and talked about movies. I really enjoy his company and he's the older brother that I have always wanted.

5. The good news just keeps rolling. I GOT MY PACKAGES!! For two weeks now I have been waiting for packages from my mom and my friend. They couldn't have come at a better time. Christmas is a little more difficult than I could imagine because it doesn't feel like christmas. America has commercialized christmas so much while Denmark has kept christmas as a small, family holiday and I think I am so used to the American version that it doesn't seem right any other way. The package contained a stocking and food and presents and it just reminds me of being home because my friend and family's personality reflected in everything they gave me. It makes me miss home but at the same time, I love Denmark so much. I am excited for Christmas but at the same time a little apprehensive because I don't know how I will feel but we will see. I am excited to see how my family likes their gifts.

An update to all after christmas. GOD JUL OG GODT NYTÅR. merry christmas and happy new year <3

Odense

This past weekend I took a little trip to Odense to visit my friend Isabel and say goodbye to the oldies (exchange students that came in January/ February and are leaving in the next month or so). It was awesome to see everyone but saying goodbye was really hard. I have only known the oldies for four months and already it was heart breaking to realize that it was the last time i would ever see them, i cant imagine how its going to be when i have to say goodbye to the group that i came with. I cant bear to even think about it.

On the happier side my second host family is amazing. I am adjusting quite quickly and I cant believe how lucky I am to be with such wonderful families. Little stuff may get in the way like getting my keys stolen, having a bike stolen, breaking a cellphone but besides the little crap that looks like it should stand in your way i feel untouchable. My exchange is just too full of wonder, adventure, and amazing components that I cant stand to dwell on the little.

New Family

As you read I just moved in with my second host family. They are absolutely fantastic people. My brother, Frederik, is smart and funny and just really wonderful and my parents are so willing to help and just seek to make me comfortable and assure that I have the best year of my life. Their names are Pernille and Kim. The weekend started off a little chaotic. On saturday I had to pack everything (it was a lot) and move and I had a cold so it was all a little overwhelming. I settled in and got more comfortable and got to spend some time with them, it was meget hyggeligt:] On sunday Pernille's side of the family came over and we made christmas decorations. As fantastic as it was to be with her family it made me miss my family that much more. My cousins, and my aunts and uncles, and grandparents. I just wanted to be with them so bad but no complaints im the luckiest girl in the world right now. Just being with them was great and my host family now speaks mostly danish which hopefully means I will get really good really quickly. My understanding has gotten really good but theres always room for improvement and i just want to be fluent already. Hopefully it will all come together after christmas!

The First of December

O these silly danes. It is the first of december and they are acting as if it is the 24th. If they are this excited for the first day of the month I cant wait to see what the next 24 days holds for me.

Well it has been a while since ive posted but there are only a few things to catch up on. First off I went to Tivoli again the other day but this time with a bunch of exchange students from Odense (a different part of Denmark, about an hour and a half away). I really liked seeing them because I havnt seen them since Holbæk. Of course it was crazy running around the park with them because you put a bunch of exchange students together and its never boring. On top of all the excitement of Tivoli I move on Saturday. My mind is blown, already one third through exchange!! I am so excited to be with this new family but at the same time im being taken out of my comfort zone again. I love my host family as much as I love my real family. They are such amazing people and I couldnt thank them enough for everything theyve done. Ida is so funny and carefree and wonderful to be around. She makes me laugh and the way she enjoys life makes me aspire to be like her. Anne is so charismatic and ready to sing and dance. She is so smart and I could see her helping many many people when she gets out of law school. She has a big heart and she is so caring. Now Mads, that boy will change the world. He is a genius and he is funny and willing to help with anything but at the same time he will not hesitate to challenge you. He sticks up for what he thinks and stands by it no matter what. He is going to have a huge impact on this world, i know it. Christian is the best older host brother i couldve asked for. He is hilarious!!! Although he wasnt around much because of school he always seeked to tell me something interesting when he was here and seemed to always have a question in mind to get the answer to. I get the impression he wants to know everything. For Kirsten and Thyge, O my. On top of raising four amazing childrem, they themselves are just as amazing. They have never hesitated to help me with anything and they are always so willing to show me everything Denmark has to offer. Kirsten is my party girl. She makes me laugh and could cheer up the darkest days. She has a beautiful appreciation and on top of her amazing personality she is the best cook. Thyge is among one of the most resourceful men ive ever met. He knows things that I wouldnt even think of. Thyge always goes to the positive and has the cheekiest laugh ive ever seen. All in all this family was more than I couldve ever hoped for in a first host family. I love them with all my heart and I will never forget them.

Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and so is homesickness. I cant believe that it is already that time. At home thanksgiving is always my family's holiday. My dad would cook for days and we would have all the family over. It was so extravagant that my dad sent out leather menus with the invitations, no joke. It is hard not to be around family during the times of year that you normally feel closest to them. Although thursday will be extremely difficult for me tonight we had a faux thanksgiving with rotary. The food was delicious and we even performed. All of us exchange students from my district got together a 45 minute talent show. It was a lot of fun and a good way to show the rotarians that silly, creative side of us. Of course, us north americans could not resist doing high school musical. We got up there and danced just like in the movie. It was hilarious and we couldnt stop laughing. I really appreciate this night and all that rotary set up with us, I just wish my family couldve been there to see it.

Jeg har det godt.

I have it good:]

This week has just been another wonderful, exciting week as an exchange student. Tuesday was the day that the week really started. I spent the evening bowling with my class. It was so much fun! Every moment I spend with them is unforgettable. I am horrible at bowling which made for a funny game because I couldnt hit a pin to save my life! Three fourths of the time I didnt even hit one but I had fun nonetheless. My class is full of amazing kids. I am so fortunate to have them and I cant even imagine my year any other way without them. We laughed and had an amazing time. On Wednesday there was OD day. It is a day where high school kids work and the money that they get for that day goes to a charity that the school participates. Good idea, right? Well i decided to participate in this wonderful part of danish high school so I raked leaves for my host dad. It was back breaking work and it was awful but worth it because I felt like an average student. After all that thursday was definitely the high light of my week. My best friend Christina got free tickets to christmas themed tivoli and this year it was themed Russian christmas. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. Everything was lit up and decorated and it was a gorgeous sight. I went with her and Ditte and a couple other girls. We rode a few rides and hung out and just enjoyed eachother's company. I tried something called æbleskiver and they were so delicious. The perfect definition of fair food. All in all it has been an amazing week and I cant wait for the weeks to come.

Holbæk

O those Rotary get togethers, how splendid they truly are. This weekend we had a halloween get together with the oldies (australians, new zealanders, and brazilians that arrived in january) and the newbies (everyone else that arrived in August). It all started on Friday night when we all rolled up to a gymnasium and couldnt contain our excitement to see each other. My friend Anne Julie asked me to shave her head and the excitement didnt stop after that. You put 200 exchange students in a school and stuff is bound to happen. There was a dj until about 4 in the morning but I didnt stay up for that. I wanted to get my rest and conserve it for saturday for an unforgettable day. Many exchange students shared my viewpoint so we got in our sleeping bags and settled in but 40 exchange students in one room doesnt make for good sleeping arrangements. It was probably an hour before we went to bed because we were all giggling and sharing and basking in the joy of being with each other again. Saturday morning we were awoken by a Rotex with a blowhorn. Not a delightful thing to wake up to but all in good fun. Saturday afternoon we all walked into town, looked around and did a little shopping. When we got back a few of us exchange students did zumba with a teacher that offered to come to the school. It was so high energy and fun to be jumping around with all of us. When zumba was done we all got in our costumes. It was so funny to see what people had decided to come as. I was really pleased with how almost all of us gave 100 percent effort in to dressing up. Madeline and I decided to be cowboys, not cowgirls. We had fake mustaches and guns, it was a sight to see. That night we put on a little show for some people from Rotary and it was a lot of fun to see their reactions to what we wanted to show them. After dinner and the rotarians had left a dj came and the party really started. We all danced all night and in to the morning. When a lot of the exchange students started losing their energy some of us kept going. There was quite a few of us that didnt sleep at all. The dj was going until about 6 in the morning. After the dj left one of the australian girls and i just packed because there was no point in sleeping after that. Unfortunately, we had to leave early sunday morning and it was really hard to say goodbye to everyone because the oldies are leaving in two months and we wont see the newbies again until april and by that time we will be two months away from leaving. I cant believe how fast this is going bye. I got home and just thought about how much I truly love the people im surrounded by and spending my time with. My life will never be the same.

3 months

To think that this time three months ago I was finishing packing, getting ready to embark on the greatest adventure of my life. I feel like it was just a week ago that I got home from intro camp. This experience is 1/3 of the way over and I dont ever want it to stop. I cant believe that time has passed so much. I love Denmark and I cant imagine ever leaving. This short time has made me realize how much I need to cherish the people in my life and how I need to take every opportunity and appreciate everything that everyone has done for me. This experience would not be the same without my class, especially Christina, Ditte, Julie, Ida, Larisa, Amalie, and Frederik. I love these people so much and would do anything for them. I cant wait to get to know the other people better and to have more crazy times. I cant begin to thank Rotary enough for this opportunity.

Halloween

October 31, the wonderful, overrated American holiday! Unfortunately I didnt even realize that it was Halloween until four o clock that afternoon but instead of dwelling on my lost time to celebrate I went trick or treating with Glen's kids. Glen is a man from my rotary and he has the best kids in the world! They are sweet hearts and I had so much fun with them. I learn more danish from them then I do in my danish lessons. When we went out it was nothing like Halloween in America. Trick or treating is very new in Denmark. We only saw one or two other kids out and the costumes were very last minute. The unimportance of the custom reflected when we went to the houses. When we rung the doorbells people only came to the door every 1/3 of the time and even then it was a scramble. They ran around their house looking for something that they could possibly give these kids. Oranges, money, crackers, cake, you name it they got it. It was very funny and unpredictable but nothing like the pillow cases of candy we got. They had about half a lunch bag full of candy and they were done and sure they had hit the jack pot. I was so shocked. When we trick or treat in America we do it for hours and only go back and dump our bags to go out again when we cant cary it because of how heavy it is. It made me very homesick and I was surprised how something we grew up with our whole life could be sooo different somewhere else.
Along with trick or treating my wonderful grandmother sent me candy corn in the mail. A little piece of home that theyve never seen here. I gave the kids in my class some and most of them didnt know how to even eat them and the majority of them hated it. They compared the taste to caramel but a disgusting caramel. It surprised me beyond belief that they have never seen it let alone tasted it and most of them didnt like it! Nothing like home at all.

VACATION!

While many of you were in school waiting for the day to end I spent last week on vacation! Yes in Denmark we have a week off for fall vacation. I began mine on friday with a girls night. I went in to the city with a few of the girls from my class. After a crazy night with my girls and spent the rest of the weekend relaxing to get ready for the rest of the week. It all began with Sweden on monday. My host mom, sister, brother, and I took a train to Sweden. It amazes me that you can go to a whole different country in only 45 minutes. Of course from vermont we could go to Canada in little time but it didnt even feel like crossing borders. I didnt have to take out my passport or anything!In sweden we found this little store called the American store. I felt like I was at home. They had everything and it was so great to walk around and tell my family about everything and even buy a few things to bring home and try. Unfortunately, the store made me very homesick but I looked at my host family and thought about how truly lucky I was to have these people in my life. When we got back I was exhausted. The next day I went into town and met up with another exchange student, Anthony, from Canada. He really is a sweet kid. We went and got tea at a little cafe and just caught up on what was going on in our lives. Its nice to know you arent alone on exchange. That night my host sister Anne and I had a little bonding night. We went and saw footloose; it was awesome! We spent the whole ride home laughing and talking and having a good time. I spent wednesday decompressing so nothing really crazy or exciting happened that day but thursday the excitement resumed. I spent the whole day with my younger host brother, Mads. He wanted to try KFC for the first time and we looked one up in København. After he realized how gross greasy, fast-food chicken is we walked around and ended up finding a store that sold root beer. Later that night he and I made root-beer floats and we watched a movie. We became overwhelmed with a sugar rush so we took a late night run. It was a refreshing way to end a fantastic day. But the fun didnt stop there. At the end of the month Holbæk is happening, its a halloween party for all the exchange students and we dress up in costumes. One of the exchange students, Madeline, and I went costume shopping and ended up buying cowboy hats, mustaches, and water guns. Its going to be a good night. I then went to my friend Christina's house and I love having her around. She really is wonderful. I feel comfortable around her and we always have a good time no matter what we are doing. On saturday morning I woke up early and headed home. My family and I went out to brunch and then went to a little kite show in Dyrehavn, a HUGE park on Sjaelland. I was reading "The Kite Runner" at that time so it was interesting to have the image of this blissful event along with what was happening in the book. After the kite event my host sister, Ida, and I went back home and carved a pumpkin! It was so nice to have one of those little traditions from back home. We carved a classic pumpkin face with vampire fangs. We had so much fun doing it. I couldnt just let the seeds go to waste so Mads and I roasted them. I have never roasted pumpkin seeds before but they actually turned out pretty fantastic. Unfortunately came sunday. The last day of vacation, I was not ready for it to be over. Sunday I spent relaxing and getting ready for school. All in all it was an amazing vacation. I got closer to my family and i truly cherish their company. It will be very difficult to leave them.

the hard times.

My mind wanders because it has the time.

Im sitting here in class doing absolutely nothing and feeling stupid. I have never felt to insufficient and dumb in my entire life. They tell you "you are so courageous for leaving your family and going to a whole other country." That is not even the difficult part, we all leave the nest at some point. The hardest part is having to feel so inferior. Its not knowing, anything. After feeling like you are finally somewhat intelligent you get thrown into baby years all over again. The social norms are different, the language is different, the classes are different, NOTHING IS THE SAME! I would never trade this experience for anything because it is absolutely amazing and I am learning and experiencing so much but damn....this shit is hard!

I am starting to feel like more of a burden, i feel as if i am not contributing everything. Even at "home" I still feel like a guest. One of my host sisters gets really mad at me and yells at me and tells me to stop feeling like such a burden and frankly it doesnt make it better. She used to be an exchange student and I feel as if she would understand but she just gets mad. I have always been independent and i dont enjoy the feeling of codependence and here, i cant do anything by myself. It is a belittling feeling.

50 Differences

1. no one says bless you after you sneeze.
2. they serve alcohol at school parties.
3. every party has a pre party (a warm up as they call it).
4. you take off your shoes at the front entrance.
5. real strong black, salty licorice is VERY popular here.
6. carrots everywhere, its the main snack and in every food.
7. every single bakery is delicious, even the gas stations.
8. you call your teachers by their first names.
9. "fuck" and other very bad cuss words are natural emphasis words here, appropriate to use in school and in front of adults, no repercussions.
10. kids are trusted and have a lot of responsibility so when you do something wrong you suffer the consequences and just deal with it, theres no guilt tripping and dwelling. whats done is done.
11. hygge.
12. everything costs money including ketchup at mcdonalds and water everywhere else.
13. theres no saying excuse me here.
14. medical care is free and so is dental care under the age of 18.
15. public transportation is god's best gift.
16. riding bikes is completely normal and for all ages, starting at about 3.
17. training wheels before 3/5. we have training wheels from 5 to 8.
18. stoplights: red for stop, red then yellow then green for go not red yellow green.
19. you eat all food with a fork and knife, everything.
20. they dont raise their hand in class they raise one finger.
21. everyone participates in class and is eager to learn because it is not the law to go to high school.
22. you stay with the same class, all day every day.
23. no tipping at restaurants unless you are feeling generous.
24. everything is very expensive but they also learn double what our minimum wage is.
25. no one likes peanut butter.
26. brown bread is very very popular.
27. a lot more liberal here.
28. people are very closed-off and soft spoken at first.
29. they love obama.
30. you can smoke in some cafes.
31. they have a smoking section at school and EVERYONE smokes in between every class.
32. school schedules are very different, they are all online and constantly changing.
33. teachers just leave you alone in a classroom and expect you to do your work.
34. everyone brings their laptop to school.
35. school is based on personal choice to learn and responsibility. you dont turn in assignments besides projects and specific homework or tests.
36. they speak danish, not dutch but EVERYONE knows english.
37. h&m's are everywhere.
38. everything is closed on sundays except for the first sunday of every month.
39. everything closes early (6/7)
40. everyone dresses up to school and no matter what everyone looks very presentable. it looks like everyone (boys and girls) just walked out of vogue.
41. you wear heels and nice dresses to parties.
42. drinking age is 16.
43. its 100% legal to drink in public.
44. people either have the most high tech phones (iphones) or the crappiest, low tech phones. there is no in between.
45. detention is a myth here.
46. there is no gummy worms or sour patch kids or chocolate pudding or peanut butter and jelly or grilled cheese or s'mores or graham crackers or macaroni and cheese.
47. will ferrel is not a hilarious genius here. (most people havnt seen step brothers or anchorman)
48. no censorship.
49. no thanksgiving.
50. all cars are manual, its rare to find automatic.
51. Christina loves tara