Back in the U S of A

After dealing with airport craziness as me and all the other DIS students tried to leave the same day, I had to part with my host family at the security gate. Malou (Morten's girlfriend - as a reminder) said in the car "girls don't cry because if you cry I'll cry." I then made a promise I couldn't keep, because of course the tears rolled when the time came for good byes. So with blurred vision I squeezed Kirsten, Morten and Malou one last time and headed through security.

After a random check at my gate, an 8 hour flight, customs, and waiting forever for my bags I strolled through Newark airport to see my family. 

Now in a previous text message I joked about requesting a ridiculous homecoming complete with lemurs doing parkour, the Savannah animal pyramid from the Lion King, and a cupcake cake in the likeness of Theresa Caputo among other absurd requests. To which my dad answered "Would you settle for me playing the kazoo?"

And so as I rolled up covered in luggage I was greeted by Tim, Mom, and Dad all playing little kazoos -  absolutely perfect.

When I finally got home I had a slobbery reunion with my pups as I was tackled with dog kisses and then said hey to my indifferent cat. I immediately wanted to bring Hygge to my home so my brother joined me in lighting every candle we own. I think Hygge will influence me forever and I will always be striving to make a space cozy sand hyggeligt.

I am certainly happy to be back with my family, I missed then tons. But I am also coming down from a high, I was living the life and now I'm in travel withdrawal. instead of hopping over to Sweden this weekend, I'm sitting on my couch? I guess it's not half bad relaxing with my family either, but it definitely is a life style adjustment,

Another thing I've been struggling with is JET LAG. Oh Lord is it a pain in my butt. For a week I was asleep my 7pm and up at 5am. It's been getting better now but I my body still is dealing with all the extra time if gained and didn't know what to do with. Moving East was definitely easier, I just had to pull and all-nighter and I was done, coming home as been a bit more a challenge.

It seems like I can't stop mentioning Denmark in conversation. I am always saying "well you know in Denmark..." I must be getting real annoying. But yet when some one asks me "How was Denmark?" it is just a loaded question that I freeze up and all I can say is great. I don't know how to simplify my experience into an answer to one question. And even if the question is more specific "what was your favorite part?" I can't choose. There were awesome trips and specific events, but I wouldn't pick any one as my favorite moment, And I can't explain well the feeling of being there either, I can't say exactly what I loved soo much about Denmark. It's just... Everything! I don't think I will ever be able to sum up or really truly describe my experience, it will just be integrated into my life, influencing the person I am now and will be in the future. 

Maybe you can see it a little in my photos of withing my blog posts or just from the way I talk to fondly of it in casual conversations, but I don't think anyone will be able to see my experience entirely but that's okay. I don't have to share it with everyone, I was a personal journey - it's changed me, helped me define myself a little bit more, and it has brought me so much joy that I will keep with me for the rest of my life.

Home is Where the Hygge is

"Home is Where the Heart is."

-Pliny the Elder

I never used to really understand this quote: what do you mean home is where my heart is? Home is home! Long Island, New York- that's home! But it's not actually that clear cut. Home is not the wood and nails of my house or the block I live on, it is a place where you feel comfortable, loved, confident, and happy. Studying abroad has given me the opportunity to learn how to listen to my heart and find home in other places than, well, home.
Studying abroad has surely given me confidence; throwing myself into a strange environment was not easy. My home town is small, my college campus is small, but "Copenhagen as my home, Europe as my classroom" that doesn’t sound so small. I have been given the opportunity to travel to many different countries and have gotten to see so many new places. I've always dreamed of being a world traveler, but to be honest I didn’t even know my way around an airport. Learning to travel and all the responsibility that comes along with it demands confidence, and once you feel confident in traveling internationally it opens so many new doors. One day I was in Paris the next I was in London; there is such a wide world to see and so much to learn from it. Feeling confident and being comfortable within cultures different from your own is a valuable skill. It’s about acknowledging the differences, making connections and appreciating both. Living amongst the Danes and visiting various other European cultures has offered me the chance to see the world in a plethora of different lenses. Seeing a situation from different perspectives and approaching arguments knowing that people have their own way of seeing things, prepares me for living confidently and successfully in a global world.
If we bring things back to practical skills my experience has given me, living in Denmark has forced me to tackle the giant that is public transportation. I take a bus, a train and the metro in one trip to school alone. I quickly had to learn my daily route and be flexible in my commute plans, because sometimes rejseplanen tells you take the 147 bus but it'll throw you for a loop and say the 152 is best this time.  I had to learn to no let change upset me and make me anxious. So a change in the bus doesn't seem like much to get nervous over , I know, but public transportation in general was a change for me. I walk  five minutes to class everyday at home and here I had to adjust to an hour commute with multiple line switches. Even through something as tedious as taking public transportation, I have seem a change in my self confidence. I'm not afraid to take different routes and find my own way around. I've learned to think of different places to get somewhere and that can be said for more than just what bus to take, but also more figuratively about life choices in general.
Through this experience, I've become confident that I can take my life in any direction I choose and that no matter where I end up, I will be able to find my way around; I can thrive in any surroundings. But this experience has not just been about gaining confidence and opening professional pathways for me . Finding somewhere you can be intellectually and financially secure is part of creating a home but what is more important to me in defining my home is the comfort, love and happiness I feel.
For a time I viewed the idea of home as a sterile, concrete definition. This is where I grew up, it is where my blood relations are, this is home. I now know that home is a fluid entity, it is an abstract definition. Yes, where I grew up is home, but not for the logical reasons I had attributed to it before. It is home because I am happy there, I am comfortable, people I love and that love me are there. However, these emotions are not exclusive. I can create a safe warm environment anywhere and my parents and my siblings are not the only people I can love as family, my host family has shown me this.
Signing up for DIS I knew I wanted to live in a home-stay, because I felt it had so much to offer and it was the best route for true cultural immersion; it didn't hurt that my home university required me to do home-stay. Either way, it was the choice for me, though I was a bit nervous about how it would work. I just wanted it to not be awkward and I didn't want to get in my family's way. I was going into it with the wrong mind set, I was counting my host family as a separate unit from myself. I am part of the family here; they welcomed me with open arms, and for the past months they have cared for me and as well I have cared for them. My host family has taught me how to find support and love in others, to let new people become a big part of my life and to not be scared to rely on others: ask for help. I cannot express in words how much I appreciate my host family, never did I expect to feel so loved and really consider these people, who once were strangers, to be my family. This experience has open my heart to let others in, I have learned to approach others with compassion and to accept them into my life and heart. I had underestimated the dimensions of my heart, there is endless space for new people to love and each addition will have its own spot, it's own breed of love.
Part of feeling comfortable in Denmark, came from learning some Danish. I think making an effort to learn the native language not only put me in an open disposition for understanding cultural aspects but also helped me to feel a part of that culture. To me, Danish is one of the nicest languages I've ever heard. I don’t really know why but I find those pesky extra vowels and the awkward soft d sound to be just fantastic. I quite enjoy learning the language - I find it fun to tackle it’s hard pronunciations- and I am also delighted by the fact that is has helped me bond with Danes. Many times at social gatherings with my host family or neighbors I have been asked to show off what I know- "Can you say rødgrød med fløde?"-  but it actually is a way to engage me in conversation with them. As well when they slip naturally into their native tongue I can still keep up with the conversation to some extent, which makes me feel included. Learning a new language in general has lasting effects on the way we think, other languages may take different approaches to why they assign a certain word and it forces you to see that word and what it represents in a new light. As well speaking with someone who is learning the language can also be an eye opening experience. When I speak with my host-mormor she sometimes uses a totally unpredictable word yet it makes logical sense to use it when you think about it. It really makes you analyze your own language and do some self-reflection on your own culture.
Living in Denmark has given me a whole new outlook on life. In fact I have dedicated myself to living the hyggeligt life. The idea of hygge has to be one of the best gifts Denmark has given me. Hygge and happiness are intertwined, and living with the aim of hygge will surely promise me a life of happiness. Achieving hygge doesn’t require extravagance or opulence. Hygge encourages me to not be materialistic, to cherish the company I am in, to appreciate the little things in life and to slow down and enjoy each moment. It is good to remember that happiness cannot be bought, and as well it can come in many different shapes and sizes. Hygge cannot be directly translated, and I think this is important to note. It is not strictly defined, it can be whatever you feel is hyggeligt. A life is not defined by the things a person had, the things you owned aren’t tallied up and every last bill counted.  Life is a compilation of memories and emotions, the good times along with the bad, spent with people who matter. Hygge helps me to focus on the good times, so they are there in my memory for the bad, and to appreciate the people around me who make me feel happy, warm and safe.

My soul has surely been molded by this experience. I can now be a confident person no matter where I go, and even if I'm not at first, I know to trust myself and embrace my apprehension. I can appreciate cultural differences and take different perspectives to a challenge. My heart has been opened to accepting love in all different forms and I have learned to live for the little things, for the hyggeligt moments. I have learned to accept other people and places as my home. Home truly is where the heart is and my heart is big enough to be shared among many homes.  I can find love, comfort , and happiness wherever I choose and it delights my heart to know it has a whole big world to call home. And as I move on from my time in Denmark, I will leave a little part of my heart here, to pick up later when I come back home again.

Human Health and Disease

This semester I have had the pleasure to be enrolled in one of the bets classes I've ever taken- Human Health and Disease.
I this course has given me so many amazing opportunities and my teachers Ditte and Anita (Danish Doctors) and our course assistance Karen (Danish Med-student) have taught me so much.

This class takes an applied approach to learning anatomy and physiology. It has taught me to think diagnostically and given me ample practice in doing that, through theoretical case studies as well as interactions with real patients from Hvidovre Hospital. I have gotten to learn practical skills with hands on training. I got to conduct lung, heart and abdominal exams, I've done suturing and placing IVs, orthopedic inspection, CPR and defibrillation in a mock cardiac arrest scenario, and recording patient histories. Not to mention the things I witnessed on our study tours, like I've described before (C sections and such).

This class has really given me experience that no class at home would offer me. It has given me a look into the world of a health professional and has helped me to solidify my decision in career path, and really excited me for my future. I am so grateful for this course and the knowledge and stories my teachers shared with me.

London Calling

"Bong. Bong. Bong. Bong. Bong. Bong. Bong. Bong. Bong. Bong. Bong. Bong." - Big Ben

Roll up in London and first thing me and mom do is grab a pint. We sat in a cute pub, that seemed so British, with a name like The Jack Horner - Ales and Pies, what else can you really expect. We got some beer and some food and had a hyggeligt time.

With only about 2 days to see all we wanted in London, it was a busy packed visit, and we still left so much unseen. We saw big Ben, went into Westminster Abbey, and saw the London eye from a distance because that was on the opposite of moms to do list. We saw the crown jewels, visited the outside of Buckingham palace (since tours are only in a short window of time in the summer). We ate fish and chips, saw a show in the west-end, spent a lot of time getting familiar with the tube. we walked across the tower bridge and the millennium bridge, much to mom's dismay- though I enjoyed making fun of the anxiety that bridge caused her. And we visited 2 of my favorite attractions the tower of London and Shakespeare's Globe.

The Tower of London was so much fun because we took this free little tour. I HIGHLY recommend taking the short tour if you happen to be visiting the tower of London. The beef-eater tour guide was an absolute delight. He not only knew his stuff but made it interesting with hilarious comedic commentary. It was also amazing seeing all the crown jewels. It was too bad we only got a quick glimpse at the crowns and orbs and such as you had to be on a conveyor belt to pass by it. Because without that conveyor belt I would DEFINITELY be able to break into the plate glass surrounding the crown and steal it under the eyes of 2 near by guards and the probable alarm that would sound. Just seemed like over kill to me, we get it they are expensive and important!

The Globe was probably one of my favorite things to see in London. We spent a good amount of time getting lost on our walk there and ended up getting there too late and we weren't able to take a tour before our show in the west end.  So I moped for a minute or too and then we walked away. I am so grateful that we went back the next day, and I think we ended up getting a better view of the Globe in the daylight than we would have in the evening. The theater was gorgeous and hearing about how difficult it was for actors at that time and the dangerous conditions they worked under sometimes was really interesting. I really really enjoyed the Globe and I just hope I can go back to London in season to be able to see a show there.

Though we ended our stay in London rushing to the airport in a panic of the possibility of missing our flight, it was overall a really great stay. And I really enjoyed sharing that experience with my mom as we both really appreciate British culture and definitely British TV programs.

As we returned back to Copenhagen, we hit some trouble at the airport... mom's luggage was MIA. That put a damper on things but we still saw Tivoli all dressed up for Christmas and spent a lovely brunch with Kirsten and Morten on Sunday.

Then I sent mom back home a little light on luggage but still in one piece!
I really enjoyed my holiday with Mama, I couldn't think of any better way I would have liked to spend my travel break! And it is really comforting to me to know someone at home will know a little of what I am talking about when I get home and never shut up about Denmark.

Pondering Paris

Imagine strolling down the side walk, passing by Parisian cafes packed with people sipping on lattes and soft accordion music pouring out  over looking the Seine with it's small meandering boats going by , and the smell of warm fresh croissant greeting your nose.
aaaahhh our preconceived notions of Paris.

Now Imagine a bumpy, loud, dirty metro taking you to an hour long wait for the Eiffel Tower as Parisian teenage dirt bags refuse to leave you alone.
That's the Paris I experienced.

I went in to this trip with every dream, hope and beautiful picture of Paris painted in my mind. I mean ITS PARIS! and of course it had it's charm - tasty croissants, wines and cheeses and beautiful towering churches- however overall I felt an overwhelming feeling of disappointment as the city felt short of my high expectations.

Before I go on about how Danish Culture is way better than Parisian culture, let me first talk about the highlt enjoyable parts of my trip.

The Churches. 

Notre Dame was not just a beautiful face, it was an ephemeral but emotional experience. Mama and I happened to be there on Veteran's Day (or Armistice Day) and so a choir was rehearsing inside. Beautiful choir music rang through the towering ceilings, making for an overwhelming experience; giving me a sense of faith, love, fear, joy... wrapping me in the presence of God. A feeling which brought me to tears as my soul was brought to its knees. Sitting in that church absorbing the light and music into myself like a sponge, I realized how disconnected I had become with my faith. It was like I had so much to tell Him, I needed to ask for the Lord's forgiveness for neglecting Him in my life for a while and at the same time proclaim my love for Him and thank Him. But no words were needed, no prayers to be said, no sermons to be listened to, I just entered that church and the tears welled in my eyes like I couldn't keep what was in my heart within me at that moment. Faith is flexible, it can eb and wave, as long as the ocean doesn't dry up there will always be a high tide to follow the low.
With a faithful heart and a sinners body I lifted myself of my seat and continued to be in awe of this mighty cathedral. We waited in line for over an hour to climb to the top of that amazing building. And after endless steps we reached the top and were faced with a gorgeous view alongside majestic gargoyles.

Along with Notre Dame we also took in the excellency of Sainte Chappelle. We stood in the warm and beauty of the floor to ceiling stained glass windows displaying different biblical stories. Never has a photo required a filter less, these windows were a stunning aura of light and color, intricate and blended with one another at the same time.

The Tower.

Of course we went to the the Eiffel Tower, I mean is that even a question? no... if you didn't go to the Eiffel Tower were you really in Paris at all?? 

I think the Eiffel Tower lived up to its hype. It is of course gorgeous, especially at night all a-glow. And it is quite tall! we took multiple elevators all the way to the top with mom gripping my arm and fearing for her life the whole way up. 

The Food.

Food is very important to me, so of course I had pre-booked a eating excursion.

 Mor and me went on a tasting tour of the St Germain area with "Paris by Mouth" tours. It was an intimate group of 8 including our tour guide, a Californian defected to Paris for the love of food. We stopped at many renowned shops: a boulangerie, an MOF chocalatier, a charcuterie, a fromagerie, and concluded our night with the sommalier. We leisurely paired our cheese, meats and wines. Some were quite good though one cheese could only be described as the equivalent of licking a farm animal.The chocolate was amazing; extraordinary combinations of flavors in the finest of cocoa: Espresso, Jasmine tea, and Lemon and Basil. We had one other stop for sweets after the wine and cheese. We were scheduled for a creme puff one can only dream of, and we ended up literally only dreaming of them because we didn't get there in time and the shop closed. It turned out to be not so bad a turn of bad luck as we ended up going to the shop of a man who brought salted caramel into being... yum.

The Art.

We took a trip to the lovely Louvre and saw some amazing art. Of course the 8 year old in me begged mom to taking pictures of me imitating statues. Hey, we all have our own ways of appreciating art. We also took the obligatory selfie with my gurl Mona Lisa. We also visited the Musee d'Orsay which was so great, I loved all the Van Gogh, Monet, and Degas.

The People and Culture.
Here's were I start to turn on our French friends. Mom put it so aptly that you felt as if Parisians were laughing at you the second you turned around, like our waiter at the fancy restaurant, the lady at the baguette shop, and the lady at the Louvre ticket booth.
It is proper Parisian etiquette to always say "Bonjour" when you enter a store and "Au Revoir" as you exit. Ain't that adorable.... I see it as really fake. They put on a facade of friendliness, when really they don't care for or about you. And this is where I become an advertisement for Denmark. In Danish culture, these niceties are nonexistent, this may make them seem harsh but NO it is refreshing because they don't put on a fake act, they are extremely sweet and friendly once approached but they don't require stupid empty politeness.

And as our time with Paris came to an end, we felt a sense of content in experiencing such a city but looked happily forward to our date with London

This is my Temporary Home

6am I jump out of bed
615 dress and brushing my teeth
630 shoveling down some toast
640 frantically looking up the bus time
645 running to the bus stop
648 realizing I'm at the wrong bus stop because I'm too excited
649 realizing I dont have time to make it to the right bus stop
715 the alternative route bus finally arrives
800 worrying I will be late
820 make it to the airport
830 still waiting... guess I wasn't late
845 Mama strolls out of those arrival doors!

The morning I had been waiting for for weeks, my mama coming to visit me! So, bright and earlier I picked up a sleep deprived but cheerful mama and we went straight away to get a pastry!
I dragged her jet lagged self around Copenhagen, from Nyhavn to the round tower and by my school. I don't think I ever stopped talking, typical. I was so happy to be with one of my best friends telling her and showing her my life for the past months. At 5pm we retired to my host families house for a lovely dinner. I'm so glad my mom got to meet Kirsten and Morten because they have become an important part of my life and they are very special to me. Mom was hitting the wall and so we ventured home so mom could finally get some sleep after being awake for over 24 hours. So we went to bed with sweet dreams of Paris in our heads.

{ the saga of mom's visit continues with the next couple of blogs}

Velkommen til København

....Folks, we have begun our descent to Copenhagen, Denmark, where the current weather is a lovely 8 degrees outside and raining. we will be at the gate in about twenty minutes, We'd like the flight attendants to prepare the cabin for arrival.and we want to thank you for flying with us today....

SO YOU'RE GOING TO DENMARK…
maybe you're thinking how can I fit in? what Danish customs should I comply to?

well here's some hints:

What do Danes wear? - Black on black on black… there is very little color in the Dane's wardrobe and the more hipster a Dane is the more black they will wear as well as the tighter the pants will be and the bigger the scarf. Also feel free to wear sneakers with jeans, with a skirt, with a  dress, with just about anything -totally acceptable to even show up to the bar in your running shoes.

What about dining? - prepare for potatoes, that’s a staple. and mind your table manners, keep both your fork and knife in your hands at the same time. Also Danish people eat slow… don't wolf down your whole plate in 3 minutes. You should also thank your host for the food in Danish that's "tak for mad". Saying thanks is super important to Danish culture!

Are Danes nice? they seem stand off-ish. - the Danes are a sweet peoples but very quiet. they will not make small talk on the bus and if they need to get by to get off that bus they won't say excuse me they will just clear their throat or stand up and just wait for you to get the hint. Actually Danes don't even use the words "excuse me" you could say sorry - "unskyld" but more often Danes will just say nothing and this doesn't mean they are being rude, though it does seem like they are just making it more difficult for themselves. Basically communication is not their strong suit but if you initiate a conversation, say asking for directions most Danes will be happy to help and very friendly!

Okay now here’s an important question will people understand me? - YES most Danes speak English, well . Because Denmark is so small and the only country that speaks Danish they know they must pick up another language to function globally and English is a key choice. Signs/menus may not be in English often but you can order in English no problem . If you want to say I don't speak Danish in Danish you say "jeg taler ikke dansk" but people will probably understand you better if you just say it in English

What do I call the delicious treat that I know as a Danish?? - we will just call those pastries, the Danish word is  "weinerbrød", no matter what you call them, pastries will be consumed and it will be enjoyable.

How will I get around? - Danes don't use cars too often, it's all about public transportation and BIKES. we will ride the metro (metroen), bus (bussen) and the train (toget). If you choose not to use a bike (cykle) try to just take note of the really interesting bike culture. They are everywhere and the bike lanes function like regular street traffic. Watch out to not get into the bike lane because they will take you out, cyclists are fierce.

I'm thinking of checking out the bar scene what will that be like? - Copenhagen has a variety of bars from small intimate hyggelig bars to bumping discoteks where you can dance all night. You will find that if you show up much before 10 the bars will be empty. Danes find midnight to be a reasonable hour to start the party and will probably keep going until 4 or 5 in the AM. Also if you appreciate healthy pulmonary function you may not be able to stay in certain bars for too long because many bars still allowe smoking indoors. On a more technical note keep in mind that buses stop running on the weekends at midnight so you may end up walking  half hour with your roommate or calling your host brother to pick you up at the train station at 3am (sorry Morty). One more fun fact about nightlife: you will most definitely see a man peeing on a building at some point during your night,

What's the money situation, will I have fat stacks of cash when I convert my American money?? - NO. Scandinavia is one of the most expensive places to like in the world. The Danish Kroner is worth 5.5 USD but don't think you're getting 5 times your money this is reflected in the prices. You'll probably suffer mild sticker shock when you have to pay 30kr for a coffee (30 dollars for a coffee?! stay calm it's only 6 dollars which is still highway robbery for en lille kaffe latte)


Now you should be a little more prepared for your upcoming visit, we hope you enjoy your staying in lovely Copenhagen.