Moving and other various things

All of my stuff

Min Dansk Fødselsdag/Holbæk G2G

Hahahaha sorry that this video's so long! I had a lot to say.

Efterårsferie

So last week was Efterårsferie, or Fall Holidays, a wonderful concept that I hope to take home with me. It's a week long break for no apparent reason, but it was a much needed break from school. I don't think I've had one long weekend since I got here, so by the time Fall Break comes, we're all basically dying from so much school. So it is a trade-off to have 3 week long breaks throughout the year to make up for the lack of long weekends, and also I think the shorter summer break.

I started off the week by going to Copenhagen Culture Night on Friday. It's a night where you pay around 90 kr? something around there, although I don't remember the actual price, but yeah somewhere around $15, and then you get free admission to most of the museums and many other exciting cultural things across Copenhagen. I went with some Danish friends, and we met up with the Brazilians, and went to the Planetarium and the Zoo. Our thought process was that these are very expensive normally, so why not save as much money as we can and go to them for free? The entire night was so fun, Copenhagen was FULL of people, and all the stores stayed open so late, which is not normal for Denmark, normally everything is closed by around 6.

Then the next day was my host brother's 18th birthday party. We had a huge classy dinner and then just a normal crazy Danish party afterwards. I love how big of a deal 18th birthdays are here. There's not really a super important age where you get a huge party in the US. I mean there's Sweet 16's, but no one actually celebrates them. It's because you're legal for everything, drinking driving smoking, everything, when you turn 18 in Denmark. And gaining our legal rights is a little more spread out back home. But anyways, it was such a fun party and a comedian came and the dinner was so good I love Danish food.

Then I just spent Sunday and Monday night relaxing first with my oldie, Vitoria, and then one of my friends from the US, Cassidy. Both nights we just watched a ton of movies and relaxed and talked, and it was really nice.

I spent the rest of the week hanging out with my English class and exchange student friends, trying to see everyone and just being insanely busy. I went out to Holbæk, a city in Western Sjælland, and a class party, and spent a lot of time in Copenhagen, like always. It was just such a good week.

And then yesterday my host family got a PUPPY! Oh my god oh my god he's soo cute. He's a little 8 week old golden retriever ball of fur, and yeah I'm just so happy to finally have a dog again so weee!

And then next week I'm switching classes. I need to start participating in school more, and my current class's line is all science and math, which I don't care about in the US, so how am I supposed to force myself to do it when it's in Danish? My new class is the class I have English with, and their line is social studies, so I think it'll be a really good change for me. Stay posted for how I survive attempting to do my Danish homework!

I hope everything is going well back home, and sorry for this very poorly written blog post ;). I promise the next one will be better!

Hej hej!
Alicia

Change

One thing that obviously comes with the package of being an exchange student is that you're going to change so much during your year. It's said that you mature 8-11 years during your exchange, and I believe it. When I landed in Denmark, I pictured myself as this little ball of clay, a completely new person ready to absorb a new culture and adjust to it accordingly. And in many ways I have. I hated meat back home, and love it here. I was scared of being alone back in Oregon, but find myself desperately wanting time to myself as I go through my year. I can feel myself growing up so fast, and it's terrifying. Looking at who I was back in July, and who I am now, I am almost two completely different people.

I just pictured that I would naturally change while I was on exchange. But while I am naturally changing, there's a lot of changes that I have to physically make myself. It's really nice, I have this year off where I can reflect on who I am and who I want to be, and really work on moving myself in that direction. I'm so thankful to have this time to figure out who I am, despite how cheesy that sounds. It's also difficult in a lot of ways, because I have to change to adjust to the culture, and sometimes it's a battle trying to become a Dane while still holding onto who I am. I like who I am, and although I'll change and improve and grow up this year, I still want to hold onto me. And sometimes that's really hard, I'm always thinking "is this something that Alicia would do? Am I still me?" I want to go home an improved person, not a different person. And I can imagine that's a common thing that exchange students have to deal with.

Just wanted to share some deep and cheesy thoughts with you!

Alicia

Idek

The past few weeks I have been so incredibly busy. I always have so much to do, making it so that time just flies by. This Thursday will mark my 2nd month of being here, which absolutely terrifies me. Where is the time going? I feel like this year will just zoom by, and then I'll be back home wondering if it all actually happened. It still doesn't feel real that I'm in Denmark right now.

Last week was probably my best week since I arrived here, I was so busy I didn't even go to school! On Monday, my language school went to this Medieval themed town where they teach you about how people lived in Denmark in the 1300's. Despite it being absolutely freezing, it was such a fun day.

All of us minus Cassidy before we were properly garbed

Bahahahah

All of us minus Cassidy AFTER we were properly garbed

It was a weird day

We did archery and made necklaces and other interactive activities that were much better than sitting to school

After that I went home to attempt to get warm, which didn't really happen, and then I was off to Tivoli for a concert! It's called the Voice, and it happens every year. I think it's put on by a radio station, the kduk of Copenhagen. It was nice because all the rides at Tivoli were free, and the Voice had some pretty famous artists at it. Most of them are Danish, like Outlandish, L.O.C. and of course Medina, but Flo Rida was also there. Oh and it was POURING RAIN for the entire 6 hour concert! Here's some pictures:

L.O.C. performing

Troopers

Despite the awful soggyness of the evening, it was still a great night and I got to see a lot of my friends that don't live that close, so det var en godt aften.

Then on Wednesday my class took a biology field trip to go snorkeling and sailing. Snorkeling in Denmark? Yes in Denmark it was insanity. It was such a cool experience, slightly terrifying because the water was full of jellyfish, and seeing as I don't speak Danish I didn't get the memo that they wouldn't sting me, so there was some rather impressive water gymnastics as I tried to swim around while avoiding the jellyfish. I wish I had pictures of us all dressed up and ready to go, but I didn't want to get my camera wet sooo no there's no pictures :(.

Then on Thursday I had to get up bright and early to go to the immigration office in Copenhagen to do some stuff for my residence permit. We got there 5 minutes after it opened, and we were number 28 in line. THANKFULLY though there was a special booth to go and get my biometrics done, so I didn't actually have to wait in line. And then I just went home because I only had 3 classes that day and missed them all making myself a legal immigrant in this grand old country. Oh and because I finally have my residence permit, I can finally get my hypercard!!!!!!!!! It allows me to travel wherever I want within Copenhagen for only 300 kr a month, and I will never have to use a klipkort again. I would explain the whole public transportation system so that what I just said made sense, but it's complicated and confuses me so yeah I can't but getting my hypercard is gonna be really really good! 

Friday was my school's birthday, so instead of having classes we just did these really cool workshops. I was in pressphoto, so basically we just walked around and took pictures of all the other activities  There were several different dance classes, tree climbing, gourmet foods, as well as many others. It was just a really laid back day. 

After school, I went over to my classmate's house to have dinner and get ready for the school party we were headed to that night. Like I said in a previous post, I love my class. They're so nice and friendly, and I'm so happy that I'm actually making Danish friends so cheers! The entire weekend I was just crazy busy trying to hang out with my class and my English class and the kids in my town and my exchange student friends so it was crazy, but such an amazing weekend, I'm having the best time here. 

Well yeah sorry for this slightly frazzled post, in case you couldn't guess I'm a little sleep deprived.

Tak for reading my blog! (Læser min blog på dansk? Hmm I don't know)

Alicia

Just My Crazy Danish Life

Okay prepare yourselves for a very long and confusing post about what I've been up to the past month, both before and after Introcamp. Try not to get lost!

Several Fridays ago I had one of my busiest days since I came here. It started with us missing school to go to a sports day the next town over. All the classes competed in various activities such as handicapped soccer, beach volleyball, water polo, and many other activities that I didn't quite understand seeing as I have yet to learn this country's funny little language.

Me and the other exchange student at my school, an oldie from Brazil named Vitoria, had to leave a little early, though, as we were headed to a Danish wedding! Unfortunately, the facility we were at was completely across the town from the train station, so we took an hour long and slightly traumatizing nature walk through the city of Alberstlund, getting lost and having to ask for directions more than one time. I would also like to point out that we were only about 15 km outside of Copenhagen, and yet it was as if we were in the middle of the forest. Much nicer than the urban sprawl you'd  find outside of big cities in the US I must say.

Oh yeah and my class happened to win the sports day, so woohoo for 2w! They won last year, too, and apparently the prize was a free drink from the bar at Introfest. My school literally has class competitions for alcohol, let's just take a moment to acknowledge this. This year we won an ipod speaker I think, so that's a little more family friendly.

So back to the wedding. Although I've never been to a wedding in the US before, it was very similar to what I'd imagine an American wedding would be like. Ceremony in a church (although can you find 1000 year old churches in the US? Just thinking about what those walls have seen is so cool), with a reception at the married couple's house afterwards. Because umm, they were actually already married for several years, they had just never had a ceremony. Isn't that cute?

After the wedding I rushed home to beautify myself, and then went over to my classmate's house because we were going to have our Introfest that night. Introfest is the first of many school dances that we will have throughout the year. Me and several other girls had a very delicious dinner, and then headed over to the school. One major difference from dances back home and dances in Denmark is the alcohol, with the school selling (rather overpriced) beer to the students. At my school we also all got to draw on the first years, and the drawing sort of spread to us all, so I went home covered in Danish phrases that I have no idea what they mean, so I'm just going to hope for the best as to what had been written on me.

Rune, Maya, Trine and me

The next day I went to help my friend, Zoe, from the US make her host family mac and cheese. Making food is so hard here, what with the measurment conversions and different foods. Denmark has delicious cheese, but their cheddar could be improved, and as a result our mac and cheese turned out, well, completely flavorless. It was still so fun to just make American food though. Afterwards, Zoe came back to my house with me and spent the night, and then we headed to Introcamp the day afterwards.

Okay so now we're caught up to Introcamp, so I can just talk about what I've been up to the past 2 weeks. Which is not really that much, just trying to settle into my new life here. On Mondays and Wednesdays I go to language school with 4 other exchange students, two girls from Taiwan, a girl from New York, and a guy from Brazil. It's been really helpful and I've learned quite a lot of Danish! On Monday nights I also have Rotary, so Monday's a busy day for me! Then on Tuesdays and Thursdays I have soccer practice. Yes, I am playing soccer and I'm oh so good at it too. Really I just joined the team to meet more people and try to avoid coming home morbidly obese. It's actually really fun, the practices are pretty laid back and all the girls on my team are so nice.

Our first day of language school.

From left to right, Cassidy (from New York), me, Kirsten (our teacher, she is so sweet and sincere and I love her), Carol from Taiwan and Ed from Brazil. Blanche, the other girl from Taiwan, hadn't arrived yet because of visa problems I think, but she's here now so it's all good in the hood.

Then last last Thursday, me and my oldie went into Copenhagen to go to Tivoli! It's so beautiful, but I didn't get a chance to go on any of the rides seeing as I'm dirt poor, but maybe some other day when I win the lottery.

Me at the entrance

Looks so fun!

So so beautiful

We came back later to see it at night

Omg just omg

We also ventured to the Little Mermaid. Heads up to anyone coming to Copenhagen she's pretty small and slightly anticlimactic, but if you're like me and don't expect anything that special then she's just great!

Then that Saturday I went to an Innerwheel, which is like Rotary for women, function at the Opera house and Royal Library in Copenhagen. We took a tour of the Opera house which is actually so cool. I didn't really understand that much because of my lack of knowledge towards the Danish language, but apparently the hall itself is made out of maple just like violins and guitars and such, and so it's an instrument in itself! How snazzy. And then off to the Royal Library, which my momma should be happy about seeing as she's a librarian. I don't really know what to say about it, it was kinda just a library with people studying and books and stuff, but cool and modern nonetheless. 

Some snazzy artwork inside the Opera House.

Last Sunday I had my first violin lesson. My teacher is an American that my teacher back home knew and found for me, and so she's very good and I'm happy. I think I'm gonna start playing more violin again, and she also found a orchestra group thing that I can be in on Sundays and meet other musicians my age and stuff. So that's good!

Okay well I think I've overwhelmed you enough with my confusing and frazzled life for now, so vi ses snart!

Alicia

Introcamp

Sorry for my lack of posting the last couple weeks, I've just been so busy! Last week I went up to Bjerringbro in Jutland to go to an Introcamp with 150 other exchange students. Crazy experience, to say the least.

I started off the week with a 4 1/2 hour bus ride with all the other students in my district, district 1470. In these 4 1/2 hours, we proceeded to drive nearly across the country. Across the country! Denmark is so small! It was also nice to finally meet everyone else in my district, because now I have other exchange students to hang out with.

When we got there we found our rooms and then went to the Lecture Hall to go over the schedule for the week. My room had 4 other American girls in it, all of us having to share a bathroom and me having to sleep on the floor. Crowded room but I didn't mind. Going over the schedule, they told us that we'd have 6 hours of Danish lessons a day. Since I had already studied a ton of Danish, the classes were a little boring, but my teacher was attractive enough to make up for what I wasn't learning. Picture Ed Westwick and Chace Crawford combined guys.

There were several different evening experiences throughout the week, including pin trading (there were so many of us, so my blazer is now basically covered!) rock climbing, a concert by a Danish band who was quite good (and very attractive), going into town to spend all our money on candy, and a very depressing movie night highlighting a historical drama about a Danish Nazi resistance group that was executed during WWII.

Cassidy, Hailey, Mick and me wearing our blazers.

My blazer

Why yes I did organize my pins into a map of the world.

Why hello there.

One of the more awkward pictures from my year so far.

Everyone in Nick's room aka the party room.

The 5110 kids stocking up on candy!

We all hung our flags in the windows to show our somewhat overbearing national pride.

At the end of the week we took a day trip to Aarhus, the 2nd biggest city in Denmark. We started off the day with a tour of Aros, a very snazzy modern art museum. At the top there's this giant rainbow walkway with fantastic views of the city. Seeing as there were so many of us, the tours all ended at different times, so it was difficult to find each other to go frolic through the city afterwards. Or so I thought, seeing as everyone went straight to H&M aka the exchange student store, and we all just found each other there.

The rainbow walkway lets you take such amazing pictures of Aarhus.

Me and Hailey at the top of the museum.

My lunch.

The rainbow walkway from the outside.

On our last day, Saturday, all the classes had to do a skit. Our class decided to represent the different cultures in our class, so the Indian girl sang twinkle twinkle little star in a sassy Hindi accent, while the South Americans did one of their many dances, the Americans dressed up like rednecks and sang Big Green Tractor, and the Canadian (joined by 3 Americans including me) said some very interesting Canadian pick up lines (The cleanest of the jokes being, "If you were a maple tree I'd tap that"). The entire talent show was just a crazy experience, with many of the guys wearing bras and dancing to assorted pop songs such as Gangnam style, the new exchange student song.

After the talent show, we had a disco of sorts, which the South Americans completely took over. It was just Latin music and crazy dances, it seems like every single Latin song has a dance that goes along with it, so I spent the night attempting to copy the girls next to me. But honestly I cannot move my hips like a Latina, it's complicated alright. I literally felt like I had been transported to South America, a cultural experience to say the least.

Well this post has gotten pretty long, so I think I'll make another post soon about everything else I've been up to the past couple of weeks.

Thanks for reading!