Reflections

On Monday night, I attended the Christmas party for my Rotary Club. It started off with a church service led by my second host mom, Maria. Socializing and a glass of Rotary-approved gløgg (mulled wine with almonds and raisins) followed shortly after. Luckily Signe had came along so I had someone to talk to. In between dinner and dessert, I gave a presentation about Christmas in Minnesota, in Danish! Even though I was just reading something I had wrote earlier, I am incredibly proud of myself for doing so. After we ate dessert, and the almond had been found in the ris a la mande, we played a typical Danish Christmas game.

Juanita, my AFS oldie and neighbor, headed back for Colombia this week. Sunday night, Juani, Isobella, and I had a sleepover to celebrate our last night together. To keep the night positive, we refused to talk about leaving or saying goodbye until later. We took a trip to the grocery store, did a little driving around, made smores and watched movies. Waking up late, we didn't have too much time to say goodbye so after the Christmas party, I headed over to her house for some coffee, chocolate, and tear filled hugs. In three weeks, my Rotary oldies leave and I am not sure how I am going to react to that. We have a goodbye get together and I think that I am going to absolutely lose it in those final hugs. I refuse to let any of these goodbyes to be final. Rather, they are a vi ses or a see you later.

Juleferie also started this week so until January 6th, I have very few obligations and responsibilities. I started the break traveling to Ryomgård to visit Claire and we had a very hyggeligt weekend watching movies and eating American candy. We also cooked her host family that American favorite: Breakfast for Dinner! We had pancakes, bacon, sausage, and a fruit salad. I added a little too much salt to the pancakes (stupid scale) so they weren't my best creation. I don't think her host family was too pleased by the fatty food though. As for the rest of break, I will be celebrating Christmas here in Viborg and I have a few plans to visit a few exchange students around Denmark but nothing too serious. I have a feeling I will be spending a lot of time curled up in my bed watching netflix and I am perfectly content with his.

Changing gears; just over a year ago, I made a quick scroll through Facebook and I saw other people had received their acceptance letters for exchange. Seconds later, I was out the door, sprinting down the snow covered driveway to my mailbox. Somehow, I managed to get back inside before ripping open the letter and seeing "Congratulations!" For the next hour, I was running around my house, crying tears of joy and calling people to tell them my big news. Thinking back on this day brings up so many emotions; mostly all good. I can remember the excitement and joy that I had for weeks afterwards. I can remember telling my grandparents over Christmas dinner. I can remember the terror that came with thinking about how to say goodbye. I can remember my brother asking "so how many people did you call before me?"

All of these emotionally charged memories feel like they happened yesterday or the week prior, when they actually happened just over a year ago. I ultimately don't feel different than the girl clutching her acceptance letter in her kitchen but I can see how much I've accomplished and changed. I have never felt so alive and I have never felt so lonely in my eighteen years prior. I have laughed more and cried more. I have never been so overwhelmed but I have never been so happy. The one hundred and thirty six days that I have been here have taught me so much. They've taught me the value of a friendship, the complex, inter-workings of time, that public transportation can be a blessing or a curse, and that chocolate can truly fix anything. I know that no matter where I ended up this year, I would be changing as a person, but I love who I am here in Denmark. I feel incredibly strong and independent, interesting, brave and determined. I would not trade this experience for the world.

Congratulations to the 15-16 Outbounds! You've just been handed the greatest year of your life (so far). Vi ses!

Calling my Mom just after being accepted.

 Even the bus companies are festive. "Merry Christmas"

"My friends" taken just before the Christmas Program at school

Den Gamle By.

Tak Far for the Christmas package featuring powdered peanut butter.

Hygge

As an exchange student to Denmark, I am constantly bombarded by people trying to explain the word "hygge" to me. After the first few explanations, I had a pretty good idea of what it meant. But not wanting to be rude, I listen over and over again to Danes explaining it without interrupting. While I have started to get annoyed with these explanations, I find myself dropping "hygge" into conversations with not Danish people, with the chance that I will be asked to explain it. As a warning, the majority of this blogpost is going to be dedicated to hygge.

Hygge (pronounced hooga) has no direct translation into English, but I don't think it was meant to be translated. It was meant to be felt. However, if you did want to translate it, the closest words are probably cozy and snug, but it is far more than that. It is a combination of so many things; happiness, warmth, candles, friends and family, comfort, glow, and love. Hygge is getting coffee with friends in a cute little cafe. Hygge is being curled up on the couch, with a cup of tea, watching juleklejner (Danish Christmas program that airs every night). Hygge is walking through the streets that are illuminated by the soft glow of the Christmas lights dangling overhead. All of my examples are related to Christmas, but that is because that is what is on my mind and is most relevant to me right now. However, hygge can be felt any time of year.

As for an update of my last few weekends, I have spent them in Viborg and that is perfectly okay. Two weekends ago, I went to an art museum in Silkeborg and spent the rest of the weekend curled up in my bed watching Netflix. This past weekend, Claire and Sophie came to visit on Friday and we went to my school party. Saturday morning, we met up with Danny and walked around Viborg. After they left, I went home and did some Christmas baking with my host family. Around eight, I was picked up by my Danish friend (who came to MN on exchange) and my third host sister and we had a very hygge night watching Venner (Friends) and eating æbleskiver. Sunday I went Christmas shopping with Signe, then spent the rest of the day at home. It has been a very relaxing few weeks, and for that I am thankful.

Another major announcement, I am committing to the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The process of actually deciding this has been very difficult, and chalked full of mental breakdowns. It just reminds me that I have to leave this beautiful country that I now call home, and that I have to actually study for something again.

Farvel for nu!

Tusind tak Mor for this amazing care package!

Christmas Baking: Pebernødder

"Merry Christmas"

Lights in Viborg.