200

200 dage i Danmark. 200 days in Denmark.
128 dage indtil jeg skal til hjem. 128 days until I go home.

Today as I was walking into school, there was something different. Not only were the tops of the trees that surround my school cut off, making it look like something out of a horror film, but it was light out. For the first time in probably three months, I walked into school with a blue sky overhead. This terrified me more than seeing my halfway mark pass or watching my counter hit two hundred. It was like there was a noticeable difference between this week and last week. While having light out means the onset of spring, sunshine, and warm weather (all of which I am looking forward to), it is also a physical sign of days slipping by. After spring comes summer, and what happens in the summer? I leave and I am not ready to do that yet. I also know that my last few months are going to go faster than the first. I have had all of March planned out since late January and April is quickly filling. It feels like I am going to blink and it will be gone.

I am shocked by the normally of my life here. No longer do I see "fart kontrol" (speed control) and let out a chuckle. I opt for rugbrød instead of fluffy white bread. I have made friends with various bus drivers and have come to know which ones will play music while they drive and who will have the lights inside the bus on. Mixing two or three languages in a sentence is a very common thing. I thought I had gotten used to all these little things earlier in this year, but I have never felt more at home than I do now.

Danish is still a struggle, and that is okay. Instead of giving up and relying completely on English, I am trying. I do wish that my progression was farther and my vocabulary, more immense but those will come with effort.

In the last few weeks, not a lot has happened. Scratch that - nothing big or overly blog worthy has happened. I went shopping in Aalborg and spent far too much money. AFS had a food night and being a Rotary student, I was obliged to crash it. I made rice krispie bars and didn't have any left to take home. There was also a spicy Thai soup, Dulce de Leche from Chile, Italian pasta (naturally), German and Serbian something. My school also threw a Karnabal party, so we all dressed up in costumes; I went as batwoman. My host parents had some friends over and we celebrated the extra four months Greece has to resolve their problems and not losing the euro. I went to my host cousins birthday party and had the coolest looking cake!

On Sunday, I fly to London with my class for a week long science field trip! It will be my second time in London and I am unbelievably excited to be going with these people. I am also hoping that I can find one of the four Taco Bell's hidden within London's streets.
Farvel for nu!

Aalborg Domkirke

Burger Cake!!!!!!!

My view from the bus stop/

Snapchat from the party!

Vinterferie

As I mentioned in my last post, this past week I had an entire week off of school for Vinterferie, or winter holiday. While I didn't go on any crazy adventures, or do something extraordinarily blog worthy, I had a very good break. Among the things I did was:

• Celebrated with my class for their completion of SRO, a huge math/chemistry/physics assignment that I luckily did not have to do.
• Helped make and devour burgers with my host family.
• Followed by making real American pancakes the next morning.
• Enjoyed the 45 degree Fahrenheit (stupid Americans) weather by taking a walk along the Limfjord that runs through my back yard.
• Had my first dream in Danish.
• Had dinner with my counselor then went and saw the Imitation Game. Sidebar: I've gotten really interested in WWII and its effects on Denmark lately.
• Helped (mostly watched) Claire make sloppy joes and other American foods for a dinner with her host families.
• Visited the house of Hans Christian Andersen and got a nice tour of Odense.
• Was taken on a tour of the Aarhus Domkirke (cathedral) by my host mom. Because she is a priest, she was able to give me some really interesting information about it. I have been to quite a few churches here but this one is by far my favorite.
• Had a sleepover with the girls in my class and found out that when they say "mexican pancakes" they actually mean tacos. I laughed pretty hard at this one.
• Wore my Australian flag onesie to a fastelavn party. I was the only person over ten wearing a costume. Exchange student probs.

Not listed: the countless naps I took and the almost full season of Dexter I watched. Break well spent.

I am not sure on the coverage being shown in the US but Saturday there was a shooting in Copenhagen targeting activists working with Freedom of Speech and other minority groups. Living on the Jutland and being from a country where seeing shootings on the news is completely normal, I didn't feel threatened or shocked about what happened. On the other end, the Danes that I talked to were shocked, grieving, and scared. Being in one of the happiest and safest countries on the planet, having something so serious hit close to home, took a toll on them. My thoughts go out to all those affected and I can only hope nothing of the sort will happen again.

Vi er Danmark.

We are Denmark.

From my stroll on the Limfjord.

Aarhus Domkirke.

Forever wishing I was Australian.

Fastelavn! Magnus the polar bear.

Northern Adventure

Last weekend, my host family took me on a trip to see the northern part of Denmark. We left about three in the afternoon on Saturday and arrived in Histals about five o clock. Instead of staying in a hotel, my host parents rented a house. While it did smell a little like stale cigarette smoke, it was so hyggeligt and cute. We settled in and then went to a local restaurant. We were probably there for two and a half hours but it was one of the best dinners I have had since getting to Denmark. We were overlooking the ocean where ferries going to Norway were arriving and departing. At one point, I was so confused why there was a building moving. It took me about thirty seconds to realize that the "building" was in fact a boat. I had salmon and flatfish for dinner and creme brulee for dessert. Very, very delicious.

The next morning we went to Nordsøen Oceanarium. Because it was the off season, we weren't able to see the main attractions. While I didn't get to see a fish that could be easily mistaken for a rock, it was still a lot of fun. I touched a stingray and the back of a flatfish before it swam off. There were also blue lobsters and some fish that make me a little scared to swim in the North Sea. After seeing the seals get fed, we headed for Skagen, the northernmost point of Denmark. It was mine, Emilie's and Magnus's first time there and I can tell you no one was disappointed. We went on a stormier day so the waves were fairly large and the sand was laced with snow. It was about a twenty minute walk to the tip but well before we got there, we could see the waves from where the two seas meet. Laying right at the tip was a baby seal (hopefully not hurt but just waiting for its mother). I'm not sure if I was more excited about the seal or seeing the amazing views. It is a Danish tradition that you have to stand with a leg in each sea. I was wearing my rainboots so I did try but unfortunately, the waves were making it impossible to tell where the dividing line was. After taking a few pictures, we were in dire need to escape the cold ocean winds. We stopped for hot chocolate and apple pie on the way home to try and warm up but I don't think my toes actually unthawed until the next morning. Overall, one of the most memorable weekends of my exchange.

The newbies went to introcamp this week so that meant we got to show them around Aarhus. I spent the night at Tori's with a few other girls. Basically we just ate pizza, gossiped, and watched movies until we fell asleep. The next morning as we were walking to ARoS to pick up the newbies, it actually hit me that I am an oldie. It was like deja vu to when I was there during intro camp but this time I was the person waiting outside. We took the newbies to get cheap chinese food and then onto the shopping street. I really want to be a newbie again and never go home.

Next week is Vinterferie so I have an entire week off of school again. I don't have any set plans yet but I have a feeling I will be fairly busy.

Alt for nu! Hej hej.

Blue Lobster

My friend Mr.Seal and I.

Abandoned German bunker from WWII. 

"Free Rooms" graffitied on the side in German.

Approximately the tip