To Uger (Two Weeks)

In Minnesota, I was never challenged during school. Every thing came easily and when it didn't, I didn't seem to mind. I would find a way to make it easy, whether that was through Google or simply dropping the class. Here in Denmark, there is a completely different story as science was never my strong suit; I preferred subjects without numbers. But as I am currently in the science line, and too stubborn to change classes, things are not coming easily for me. Even if the classes were in English, I'm not sure I would understand. I explained it to a friend as reading the first few chapters of a book, then skipping ahead to chapter fifteen and trying to figure out what happened and what is going on. Looking at it through an optimistic lens, I know that as my Danish improves, so will my understanding and following of classes. Right now, waiting is making my level of frustration rise and my impatience grow.

Something better and less frustrating:I had my first football (soccer) practice this week! I am playing on an "old womens" team; meaning that everyone is over eighteen. Although most weren't over twenty, there were a few women playing that had grey hairs. One of the older women, was the player equivalent of Cohrs. She had a tall and hefty build, and played like Cohrs did, which is basically getting in your way and then yelling at you. After practice, we had cake because it was one of my teammates birthday. Playing with them made me realize how much I missed playing and how happy I am to be here. The only bummer is that for two months, I don't get to go to the practices, only the games, because my language school conflicts with the practice schedule.

My first host family is amazing! I have been living with the for a week now and I can already tell it's a good match. They are intelligent, funny, and very keen on me learning Danish. We eat almost all of our meals together and all help in the cooking process. I love this! My family has always been so busy with sports and work that sharing a meal together was a biweekly ordeal. I also love that my stuff is no longer folded up in my suitcase, but thrown in drawers. Thus far, I have been very good at keeping my room clean and making my bed everyday, which is much easier when you only have a pillow and a comforter.

Getting dressed every day is one of my biggest battles. Not only do I need to wake up everyday at 6:15ish to get ready, but Danish people come to school looking like they stepped off the runway. Their typical outfit includes the following colors: black, navy blue, black, white, and black. I look like a rainbow compared to their dark silhouettes. I also have a vibrant pink jacket, so whenever I go anywhere, you can tell that I'm not Danish. I like to joke around with this and say "Do you want to play 'Can you spot the American?'" Hopefully, and even though it means I'll be a conformist, I will come back with their superb style and bleak color palette.

On Sunday, I met all the exchange students in D1440. I love them all. There are about 30 total, a third from Brazil, a third from the USA, and a third from various South American countries and a boy from Japan. I also got to meet the 'Oldies' who have been in Denmark since January. Most of them are from Australia, but there are a few from Brazil and Argentina. They were really helpful answering questions and giving tips about learning Danish. I can't wait to spend the rest of my year with all these amazing, crazy, exchange students. This coming week, I will meet all the exchange students in Denmark, and spend a week with them at intro camp. My only problem is that I didn't bring enough pins.

Two very annoying things happened this week. First, my debit card had been compromised in the US and my bank neglected to tell me until after I left for Denmark.  Second, my laptop has blown up and now needs to be replaced under warranty. This process wouldn't be to hard if I was in the US and not working with Microsoft, but now I have to use their international replacement. This is going to take forever so my blog will probably be left unkempt until I can getting the replacement!

Hope all is well. Vi ses!

Almost One Week

Hej!

I have been in Denmark for a total of six days; seven if you count time aboard an aircraft. My time here has been full of gorgeous, red-brick buildings, random rain showers, and beautiful Danish people. The first three days after arriving weren’t packed full of things to do. Instead, they were rather leisurely. There were some obligatory things I needed to do, like register with the Danish municipality and set up a bank account, but I mostly hung out with my counselor and her family. We made a plum cake, walked around the shopping area in Viborg, and went to the Rotary meeting. Although it was not what I was expecting, it was a great way to start my year here.

The other three of my days here have been spent at my new school, Viborg Katedralskole. I am in class 2Y, which is part of the science line. I’m not quite sure how I got put into the science line but being able to recognize some of the concepts will be helpful considering all the classes, with the exceptions of English and Spanish, are taught in Danish. This has made my participation in some classes very hard. A few of my new classmates try to translate for me, but they need to learn the material as well so this is a little spotty. There are 29 students in my class; two being exchange students, myself and Lorenzo from Italy. My classmates are amazing and very welcoming. I can already consider many of them my friends, even though I can’t pronounce most of their names.

Coming to Denmark, I was aware that my Danish was bad but I had overestimated how much I would be able to speak with the little I knew. For some reason, I thought knowing how to introduce myself, count to twenty, and some random fruits and vegetables would get me through a conversation; it can’t. This would be more of a problem if everyone didn’t speak English. My classmates teach my random words and phrases. I would estimate that the amount of Danish I know has doubled in the short time I’ve been here. I hope to be able to speak sentences soon.

The food I have been eating is delicious and most of it is very healthy. Almost everything is homemade and freshly grown, meaning they don’t typically eat things that come in boxes or cans. This is a refreshing change but I am already starting to crave hyper-processed foods. One thing I am having a hard time adjusting to is the actual process of eating. Danes are ambidextrous eaters; they eat with a fork in their left hand and a knife in the right. When I try to eat like this, most of the food ends up on or around my plate and I end up laughing at myself, then eating how I normally would.

Another thing I am having a little trouble getting used to is not driving. Rotary rules state that I am not allowed to drive, mostly because the insurance they supply won’t cover expenses in a crash if you are the driver that caused it. Even if I was allowed to drive, I’m not sure I would be able to. Driving automatic in Denmark is almost unheard of and stick shifts are too confusing for me in miles per hour, making kilometers per hour virtually impossible. Traffic regulations are also very tricky. There are many times when roads are only wide enough for one car so determining who has to yield and who gets to go is very confusing. When I was on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, I could bring myself everywhere and essentially do whatever I wanted. It is humbling to have to ask for rides and have people drive you around.

Tomorrow, I move in with my first host family. I have met them and love them already. I will be staying with them until just after Christmas, when I will move to my second family. I am very excited to finally settle down and unpack both suitcases.

Farvel for nu!

Candy Shop in Viborg

 

Town Center

Leaving

     I’m not a nervous flyer and luckily I’m not flying Malaysian Airlines, but when three fully dressed police officers start coming down the aisle on your plane, thoughts of explosives and mass destruction come to mind. Thankfully this was not the case; instead someone had dropped their suitcase on their head while trying to put it in the overhead compartment and required medical attention. The next eight hours went by rather uneventfully. 

     When I stepped off the plane, my first mistake was believing that the airport would be set up as neatly as MSP. I cannot even begin to tell you how wrong I was. The signs are all bright yellow, the food stands hide the gates ad there are gates on different floors. My second mistake was thinking it would be a good idea to change in the restroom. Dutch bathroom stalls are half the size of American ones. I got fully changed but it was not without many difficulties.With three hours left on my layover I had time to walk around and find some interesting Dutch food. After settling down in a comfy little chair, a young Swedish woman asks me if I was travelling alone. I ended up talking to her for about an hour. She had just graduated from Gymnasium and was going to France. I said goodbye and headed to my gate. Waiting there were five Brazilian exchange students going to the same area in Denmark as I am. I can already tell that these guys are going to be my friends in this coming year.

     From Amsterdam to Aalborg my seatmate was an older gentleman returning home from a business trip. He started speaking to me in Danish and I confidently responded in Danish only to say that my Danish is not up to par. Regardless we spent a good chunk of the flight in conversation about Minnesota and Denmark. The rest I spent peering out the window trying to catch a glimpse of my new home.

     My counselor, Alice, and her husband, Peter, picked me up at the airport. I will be living at their house until Saturday the 16th, when I will move in with my first host family.

     I have been here for less than 24 hours and I am in love with this country..

Vi Ses Minnesota!

Jordbær Kage