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.