Jul!

So Christmas is kind of a big deal here. I'm sure you noticed with the fact that it began in early November with the release of the Jul Ol. Apparently what goes on all December is Julfrokost, which means Christmas lunch, but is actually any time of the day. Everything you do has a julfrokost, such as work, friends, family, school and dancing clubs.

Last weekend, I went with my host family to DIS's julfrokost. It was really nice, and we sat with Kristina and her visiting family. Afterwards, my host family drove me around Copenhagen in search of Christmas lights. The most lit up house was average by US standards, and a joke to Clark Griswald. But it was very cute and nice of them to show me around.

Tonight we went to another julfrokost with Stig and Jane's dancing club. Jane has been dancing since she was a little girl, and Stig gave in two years ago. We had a lovely dinner with the team, and I impressed the Danes with my B-level Danish (had my final today and got a B!).

And on the Christmas note, I have a bag of presents that is packed and ready to be handed out to my loves!

Sunshine!

Yesterday, it was sunny while I was outside, and it was glorious!

On my second to last Friday in Copenhagen, I'm going to hang out with friends at a nearby kollegium and play Iron Chef. We're all trying to make the most of these last few weeks together.

I've had some interesting cultural experiences these past few days. It's funny how I've been here for almost four months and in one week my views and opinions can change very quickly. Between seeing the interactions of Danish teachers and a Muslim student and watching a debate about the Muhammad Cartoon Crisis, I'm beginning to see how intolerant people are towards each other here. I'm glad to have been abroad during the election and particularly during such a historical one. I'm thankful that we've been safe despite the violence around the world. It's hard to sum up, but it's been interesting.

The Amazing Thing That is Happening Right Now

Behold dear readers, for I have found the promised land and it is Sweden. In a feat of small proportions, a courageous group of five students from all over the U S of A adventured on a thirty minute train ride to Malmo, Sweden across a very long bridge, a feat of modern architecture and bridge-building. They weathered the evil wet weather, dodged raindrops as they fell from the sky and fought off the bitter cold nipping at their noses.

But, salvation was near. The first sign was a lovely little Italian joint called Ciao, where everything was just a little better than anywhere else. Maybe it was getting out of the cold or finally filled our empty stomaches, but all agreed the food was a little better, the tea a little better, and man, that bathroom was like a mini-palace.

And then they found the Scandinavian dollar store, where with an 8 to 1 exchange rate, somethings really were almost a dollar.

Then real trek began, as they searched for the marvelous Turning Torso they had heard so much about. The whole way, trudging through the rain they willed to become snow, they debated: Does it turn? Or is it just twisted? It was just twisted.

Then they saw it. HUGE red letters lit up in the dark night (4:00 pm) sky, as if they were somehow transported back to New Jersey. But this is the land of IKEA, and things are allowed to be a little big here unlike modest Denmark. Maxi? What could it be? Can we equate it to a Target? Is it Walmart? Is it a grocery store? Will we need a membership? What does Maxi behold for us??

It started out like a Bed Bath and Beyond, quickly changed over to the paper goods at Target, then became a grocery store of epic selections. And with the purest white light radiating from the ethnic food isle, they were drawn as if my human magnets...to the USA section.

Oh! Mountain Dew! Oh! Pepridge Farm! Oh! Peanut Butter! And Fluff! Oh! How we love you Barbecue Sauce and Beef Jerky! Oh! JELL-O Pudding! And Cookie Mix! Betty Crocker and your Frosting and Brownies!! Macaroni and Cheese...In A Box!

But...what is this, I spy? Could it really be? That is not just imports from the good old US of A, but from NEW JERSEY?? A Shoprite logo before my very eyes!!!

Then I cried a little and bought poptarts and brownies. Ohh, they are delicious.

Three Weeks

Tomorrow marks the three week countdown until I come home! Don't worry though, besides the one paper I have to write and multiple finals I have to take, I have activities planned for all of my free time.

In fact, last night we had a Danish dinner and watched a Danish movie with my Danish class. The movie was highly disturbing and I do not recommend it to anyone. It's part of the Dogma 95 movement and is called Festen. Then we ate duck, red cabbage and potatoes. And by we ate, I mean I ate potatoes because duck is potentially the grossest thing ever. I've decided that I just really don't like birds in any form at all.

Tonight we made mac and cheese (don't worry, it's on the Christmas menu) for Kristina's visiting host family. Det er hyggligt. They have a one-year-old who was very cute, but really made me excited to see my niece!

Tomorrow I am going to a museum with Kristina, Thursday I'm not exactly sure where, but some sort of Thanksgiving-ish dinner, and Friday I'm hosting a dinner at the kollegium down the road from me. Then Saturday we're going to Malmo in Sweden (finally!) And Sunday we have a craft fair in Valby and a Danish movie at school (that will hopefully be a little nicer to watch).

So right now, I am definitely a mixture of being really excited about all that's going on here and how Christmas-y it is, yet very excited to be almost home with my friends and family.

Oh, and it really doesn't snow in Copenhagen: it mini-hails. The weirdest thing I've ever seen fall from the sky! Like tiny little snowballs.

Twenty-two and two weeks party

My host family threw me a party with my friends tonight. A few of the best were able to come, so it was a really fun evening. Very hygge with lots of candles, conversation and yummy food and cake.

Unfortunately, my host family had to deal with some family problems, so they weren't able to sit down and converse with my friends as much as they would have liked. Their daughter uses helpers, a lot like what Christina and Kyle's business does. And it seems that the helper was at Sensation last night. Sensation is a huge (in the soccer stadium, 40,000 people) dance party for hours and hours. Everyone must wear all white. So you can imagine how annoyed they were. But, it just goes to show how lovely and wonderful my host family is, because despite that they still made an amazing dinner and cake for me and my friends.

My host niece (the daughter of the daughter who's helper was MIA) was with us. She really took a liking to one of my friends and sat on her lap during cake, entertaining us all. Below is a video. It's kind of hard to grasp that we can barely communicate with a three-year-old, but she's so cute and funny.

J-day and other adventures

This past weekend was J-Day or Jule day, which is when Carlsberg releases their Christmas (jule) beer to the bars. A truck with Christmas faeries goes around from bar to bar giving out about three beers a stop. It was fun, and even more so because I wore a leather jacket.












(Danes LOVE 7-11. Just imagine if they knew what Wawa was...)





On Saturday, instead of going to Sweden (long confusing thing about bus/train times and tickets), we ate at Wagamama and I shared a special piece of cake with Alex as a birthday treat. Wagamama was awesome, and I highly recommend it to anyone who comes across one.

This week begins the end of semester madness that Dad thinks will keep me out of trouble. But, I wanted to share two anecdotes of Danish life to make you smile.

Fat Bellies and Minihorses

Once upon a time, a young girl name Kate ate her way across Europe for three weeks. During that time, she didn't not wash her pants and they expanded as she did. When she returned to Denmark and cleaned her clothes, she discovered they were very tight. Fortunately, it was her birthday and so she decided that new years had come early and it was time to make a resolution. So, the day after walking 50 miles in one week, she went for a run. And then another and another. Seems all that walking had somehow kept her in running form despite all those gelatos. But, running up and down roads with names she cannot pronounce let alone try to spell with a common US keyboard got boring. One day, she ventured down a path and stumbled upon three minihorses.

The End

The Snuggie Blanket

Once upon a time, a young girl named Kate (a different one) sat in class. They were discussing a Danish story translated into US English. The story described the thing that keeps you warm at night. When the Danish professor came to the word, he stumbled and turned to the class for help, "COMFORTER," they yelled out! "A comforter?" the teacher asked, a little confused. "Yeah! It's big and fluffy and keeps you warm." The teacher did not understand, could it be possible that Americans use more than blankets? Is it even feasible that people all the way over there get cold enough to use a heavier bed coverings such as what we Danes need every night of the year?? Impossible! But, alas, comforter is the word for a big fluffy blanket, just like the Danes have.

The End.

PS This is my new friend, until I smushed him:

Picture...officially...uploaded!

After many painstaking hours, my pictures are finally completely uploaded. Enjoy looking through them and expect full commentary when I get back and show you the other thousand I didn't upload.

Right now, I don't feel so far from home because Denmark is a flurry of election madness. Seriously, you'd think the next King of the World were being elected in a matter of hours. There are events at every bar in Copenhagen and Danes aren't talking about much else. My host dad seems to think that if Obama wins its not a matter of if but when he get assassinated and the next civil war starts. Maybe I'm out of touch, but I think that's a little drastic. I am completely election-ed out and feel like right before you take a test and you know that studying for a minute more won't do any good. I just can't listen or watch anymore until the results are in.

Back to other important events in November. My host family woke me up on Sunday singing and waving Danish flags. We had a little breakfast of soft boiled eggs, Danish breads and tea. They gave me two pens as a gift and hung a string of 25 presents in my room for me to open starting on December 1. I relaxed in my room and unpacked for a while and then went for a run. I found a cute park area that will be nice to run through when I can run during the few hours of sunlight. When I got back and showered, we had a late lunch. I got to talk to Dave for a long time on skype, which was nice and sort of a special treat for my birthday. At about 7:30 my host brothers and mormor came over.

My host brothers bought me a sampler pack of beer and said it was either that or a party pack featuring condoms, pregnancy tests and porn, but they couldn't decide between gay or straight. Oh, that Danish sense of humor.




Mormor gave me beautiful salt and pepper shakers from Royal Copenhagen, a really nice store that makes dishes etc. We had chocolade kage and a real birthday cake with candles. Then I went into a food coma and fell asleep. Now I am on a diet.