Monday, January 30, 2012

i weekenden...

First weekend back in Copenhagen was a success!

On Friday night, Sarah was going to the meat-packing district with a few of her friends and invited me and my housemates to join.  We all ventured over to Vesterbro (the "West" neighborhood in CPH out past Tivoli) and explored a few bars and such.  On the way home, my newly addicted roommates and I made a pit-stop at a hot dog stand.. perfect bedtime snack!

Saturday I spent the whole day with my visiting family- it was so good to see them again!  They graciously offered to pick me up in the city so I didn't have to take the train, and we went to Louisiana.  No, not the state- the art museum.  As I've mentioned before, I'm not big on museums, but this one was awesome!!  It'll be hard to explain, but it's right on the coast surrounded by water with a view of Sweden in the distance.  The exhibits wind around glass corridors and you can see outside from most of the museum.  Everything was so varied and really interesting.  In one room, an artist had recreated a "forest" by cutting up trees and then piecing them back together.  There was also a huge displace of floor to ceiling photographs, including lots of aerial shots.  My favorite was the enormous crystal light fixture outside in the courtyard.  It was impressive enough during the day, but once it got dark it was absolutely breathtaking.  After the museum, we went back to my family's house for dinner where I was treated to a delicious meal and wonderful Danish hospitality.  It was great catching up with Christopher, Theresa, Cecilie and Camille.  Camille even let me sign her "best friends book"- I felt so special!

They spelled my name out with the blocks in the children's room :)

An exhibit of an artist who cut all these different trees apart, then pieced them back together

MY FAVORITE; big crystal light display outside the museum!


I got back into the city around 11pm and was immediately greeted by my roommates who were on their way out on the town.  I figured I might as well join them.  We found somewhere to hang out for a little bit, then everyone parted ways- some to go dancing, some to meet up with friends who had already gone dancing, and some (like me) back home to the warmth of the apartment.

This morning, a few of us went to check out the bike sale at Studenterhuset!  At the beginning of each term, a bike shop from Nørrebro sets up a market where you can go and get discounted rentals for the semester so it's a pretty good deal for students.  We set our alarms and woke up bright and early to ensure the best selection of bikes.  Even though I already have a (really decrepit, rusty) bike, I went along to see what it was like.  When we got there, they had 4 bright yellow adorable bikes available for rent, which Meaghan, Molly, Rita, and Sarah were lucky enough to snag.  I'm so excited to go out for rides- we're on our way to becoming real Danes!

Meaghan and the precious periwinkle bike 

The bikes everyone ended up coming home with instead


It was bitterly cold out today, so after the bike sale we went home to warm up a bit.  Later in the afternoon we went back to the glass market near Nørreport and picked up some hummus, smoked salmon, and random produce.  Everything was DELICIOUS and definitely worth the extra money.  I even got supplies to make the portobello mushrooms with garlic, pepper, and white wine that I learned in cooking class way back last semester!  They turned out splendidly, if I do say so myself.

Tonight was dedicated to homework and prepping for the first full week of classes.  The nerd in me is pretty excited, but we'll see how I feel tomorrow at 6:45 when my alarm goes off...

Friday, January 27, 2012

sCHedULeeee!

**Flashback to freshman year of high school when everyone blasted their schedules all over Facebook**

We started classes yesterday, and so far it's shaping up to be a promising semester!  

I started out Thursday morning bright and early with my Core Course- Migration & Conflict:
The 1 hour 10 minute class period flew by because our professor was so energetic and enthusiastic about the subject material.  We started off by discussing the perceptions of immigration in Denmark, and how immigration (or lack thereof) affects the idea of Denmark being "the happiest country in the world."  

After a short break and small lunch back at the apartment, it was off to Sociology of Family:
We spent most of the class discussing the idea of what makes up a "family"- is it something reserved for a mother, father, child, and dog, or can a family also be an older couple without children, a parent/child who don't live together, or close family friends.

Today I got to sleep in a little bit and then had Psychology of Leadership:
After a brief classroom mix-up (happens to the best of us), I was safely settled into class with the most interesting man ever as a teacher.  He was so warm, friendly, and eager to get to know us.  We did an ice-breaker within groups to get to know a bit about each other, and as an example of fun-facts to share, he told us that while living in Russia, he was accused of espionage and featured on the front page of the paper.  None of our facts topped that (although I did surprise everyone with my usual factoid that I hope to work in a prison one day).  Overall, the class seems really interesting and applicable to being involved on the orientation team back at Stonehill.  I'm excited to learn more about my own leadership style as the semester goes on.

Right after psychology, I had Danish Language & Culture II:
The class is all full-year students, so I saw many familiar faces, and the class is taught by the same teacher I had for Danish I.  She jumped right into class by telling us a bit about herself in Danish, and I was pleasantly surprised that I could understand more than I thought I would be able to after such a long break.  Her class is a great opportunity to learn some useful phrases but also to explore the culture and ask any questions we might have.  Next week, we're all getting together and going to a cafe for the evening (thanks DIS!), and I'm excited to experience one of our teacher's favorite places as well as enjoy some free food.

On Monday, I have Applied Psychology, so I'll let you know how that goes.  From the reading that has been assigned so far, it seems like it will be a great class about putting theories of counseling into practice.


Aside from classes, everything is going swimmingly!!  My housemates are wonderful and I can't wait to get to know them better as the semester goes on.  This afternoon, my housemate Rita & I ventured over to the swanky glass market by Nørreport where everything is really expensive but super delicious- it's the same place where my FAV Agnes Cupcake is!!!  So, we of course picked up a cupcake and then explored some more of the shops, sampling hummus and apple cinnamon whiskey.  There's also a froyo stand that I can't wait to try.

Cheesecake Agnes :)


Last night, a few of us went out for celebratory "first day of class" drinks which was really chill.  We also tried the jazz bar down the street called "Charlie Scott's" that I was dying to go to all last semester- lots of fun!  We ended the night with grabbing a few hot dogs on the way home, and I successfully convinced them that the "everything" hot dog is the BEST.  



Lots of activities planned for the weekend, so stay tuned.  :)

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Round 2

Officially back in Copenhagen!

I left Stonehill a little after 4pm on Monday and got to the airport in PLENTY of time to catch my 8:35pm flight.  I of course grabbed some Starbuck's and Sbarro pizza as I waited for my flight- signature airport food.  Being there all by myself this time was pretty weird.  Although I had no one to talk to, I felt like a little independent traveler, so that was cool.

My flight boarded on time, and it was off to Iceland!  On the way there, I had the entire row to myself and got to watch "The Town" which is my favorite movie ever.  Unfortunately, even though I had a ton of room, I couldn't sleep.  Oh well.  Our landing was delayed 20 minutes due to heavy snow at the Reykjavik airport.  As we were circling, all you could see out the window was snow.  Snow everywhere.  It was pretty cool, but I was a little concerned about how successful landing an airplane in this was going to be.  Once the conditions improved we finally landed.  By "improved," they meant that the landing runway was plowed.  The rest was not.  As we made our way over to the gate, the plane was just casually rolling through at least 6 inches of snow.  Those Icelanders are so hearty!

White-out at the airport


Waiting for the next flight is a blur, as it was 7am Iceland time and felt like 3am Boston time.  Boarding was delayed because they had to de-ice the plane and fun things like that, but the second I got on I passed out and woke up as we were descending into Copenhagen!  After grabbing my luggage, me and my two enormous suitcases rolled our way over to the Metro, took out a small child on the elevator, and finally completed the walk from Nørreport back to the apartment.

Woke up briefly on the flight to CPH and caught the sunrise :)


Home sweet home!  I've finally gotten to meet all my new roommates, and they're all wicked nice.  Even though I was exhausted and disorganized and probably being super weird, a few of us went to get hot chocolate at The Living Room.  They all love it, and considering its my favorite coffee shop in the world, I couldn't be happier.  Everyone is also excited about getting started with activities for the Culinary House and we have our first meeting tonight.  I also got to reunite with some other full year students and went to my core course orientation for Migration & Conflict!

Best sleep ever in the most comfortable bed in the world!


Even though it's very different without my roommates and classmates from last semester, I can't wait to get to know everyone and have many many more amazing experiences with them.

ps: Nerd alert- I'm also weirdly excited for classes to start tomorrow!!!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Hej hej, America.. again

Today is the day- I head back to Denmark for another four months in lovely Copenhagen!  While I'm super excited about this, it is also kind of bittersweet.  This weekend, I was lucky enough to be able to visit my friends at Stonehill (and as we speak, I'm sitting alone in the cafeteria while my friends are all in class).  It was so great being able to see everyone and catch up even if it was just for a little bit, and I even got to attend the annual "Snowflake Soiree" which is our semi-formal winter dance.  Also, coming back from being abroad makes you a small campus celebrity which I enjoyed mostly for the fact that I got lots of hugs.. just ask my roommates from last semester how much I LOVE hugs.

Amy & me before the dance

Look!  It's Dave-who-we-visited-in-Florence!

The lovely ladies who adopted me for the weekend and gave me a comfy floor to sleep on :)

Going abroad has really made me appreciate my home at Stonehill and the friends I have here.  It's the place that encouraged me to go abroad, gave me the opportunity to stay another semester, and the place where I met friends who encouraged me to go for it.  I realize that coming here the weekend before leaving again might make this second adjustment a little harder (especially because Amy won't be with me this time around), but I know that going back to Copenhagen is the best thing for me and an opportunity that is once in a lifetime.  This spring, I'll be missing some of my friends' last semester of college, but I'm so happy I got to come and say hi.  They'll have their own semesters and their own memories, and so will I.  

I'm so excited to meet all my new housemates and see what my classes have in store for me.  Everyone moved in yesterday, and I can't say that I'm not jealous that they're already experiencing that amazing city.  Even though I'm familiar with the city, I can't wait to experience it again this semester through new eyes.  This time it really will be for good, and anything that I might have put off first semester will definitely get checked off the bucket list.  Similarly, I can't wait for a familiar (not to mention delicious) cup of coffee from The Living Room, some soup from SoupaNatural, and a pastry from St. Peder's.  

There is so much to look forward to, including traveling to Turkey with the Migration & Conflict program, seeing my friend Mike who already has plans to visit Copenhagen in just 10 days, and all the little surprises along the way.  I didn't think I'd get nervous the second time around, but I think it finally hit me today.  I'm sitting here with some major butterflies in my stomach and saying some last goodbyes. I can't believe I'm leaving for the airport in AN HOUR and that I'll be back in Copenhagen early tomorrow.  

Until May, hej hej America!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Truth

“Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.” 
                                                                           -Ray Bradbury

Monday, January 16, 2012

Some (hopefully) helpful hints!

I leave for Copenhagen in A WEEK!!  Right now I'm sure most of my fellow Spring 2012 students are getting ready to pack their lives into 1-2 large suitcases for four months!  ..I know I should be; however, it hasn't really hit me yet, and the fact that I've been through it before is making me overconfident, so I'm continuing to avoid it in favor of multiple trips to Dunkin Donuts to get my fill of iced coffee before going cold-turkey for another semester.  Anyway, for those of you who aren't procrastinators, I thought I'd try to offer some helpful hints:


  • Pack over the course of three or four days.  Make a list, and on the first day, put everything you think you'll need into your suitcase[s].  A few times a day, for the next few days, stop by and take a few items out that you aren't quite as attached to.  Your suitcases are going to be bulging even after doing this, and in my opinion, it's better to live without a sweater you'd wear maybe once or twice than have to pay a ridiculous fee for your luggage being overweight.
  • That being said, bring rainboots.  Last semester, I almost didn't, thinking I would just buy them once I got to Copenhagen.  Luckily, I brought a pair anyway, because they would be a lot more expensive in Denmark.  It's extra weight/space in your luggage, but it's worth it.  To save space, stuff your rainboots with small things like hats, scarves, or underwear.
    • A note about rainboots: People in good ol' Copenhagen are big on neutral tones and really enjoy wearing a lot of black.  As in bright neon colors aren't quite as popular as they are here.
  • Toiletries are wicked heavy.  Last semester, I started out with just a few travel-sized containers of shampoo/conditioner and then bought more once I got there.  I'm not picky about my shampoo, and it's not too much more expensive if you buy it at the grocery store.  If you have a brand that you absolutely can't live without for whatever reason though.. I'd bring a decent supply of it.
  • Bring lots of your favorite deodorant.  This is a key piece of advice that my boss at work gave me before leaving in the summer (Hi Coral!!) and I'm glad I did.  From what I heard, the selection isn't as great and the antiperspirant isn't as strong as we're used to.
  • Bring some nail polish remover.  I couldn't find it last semester (admittedly I didn't look that hard) but just to be on the safe side I'd take a small bottle.
  • Credit cards in Scandinavia are equipped with a chip/PIN number.  Our American cards aren't.  I learned this the hard way.  Before you leave, check to see if your card at least has a PIN number.  If so, it might work over there; however, if you're like me, it STILL might not work.  If it gets declined, ask the store if you can sign for your purchase instead.  If they say no, prepare to cry.  Just kidding, it just means you need to have a little extra cash on hand.  :)
  • Similarly, it's a good idea to make copies of important things like your credit/debit cards, Passport, and driver's license incase they're lost.
  • If you can't live without flavored coffee/creamer, you might want to squeeze a pack or two in your luggage.  Last semester, I learned to drink black coffee (because the store didn't sell small containers of milk and it kept going bad because all I used it for was coffee.)  Although as a coffee lover this made me sad, it had a few benefits that I kept reminding myself of:
    • Black coffee has less calories!!!  
    • I didn't have to spend money on milk!
    • It made coming home to my medium French Vanilla iced coffee even more fantastic
  • Bring peanut butter if you must; however, sometimes Netto sells Skippy.
  • DO NOT FORGET YOUR COMPUTER CHARGER.  :)
This whole last week before abroad is one of the most exciting and stressful weeks ever- but just think, in a few short days we'll be in EUROPE!!  Don't go too crazy, even if you forget something, there's a way to fix it eventually.  You have everyone at DIS to help you, and home is just a quick email, Skype, or Piccell phone call away!  

Most importantly, remember to be open-minded!  Studying abroad isn't about recreating American university life in Denmark, it's about opening your eyes to a new culture and allowing yourself to be immersed in it.  We have the rest of our lives to live in the culture that we're used to, so why not go crazy for a few months and try something new?!  For example, they don't use flavored coffee creamer.  Instead of despairing and whining, try some new alternatives.  It'll be different, but experiencing those differences is part of the fun.  Soak it all in, especially in the first few days.  Who knows what the next few months will hold!

Friday, January 13, 2012

Pre-departure musings

Hi there!  For the past month I've been hanging out back in Pennsylvania keeping myself occupied with friends, family, sleep, Netflix, and food.  Some highlights include:

  • More trips into Center City, Philadelphia than I've ever taken in my life during which I've mastered SEPTA, the Philadelphia area's lovely public transportation system.  AND I SAW THE LIBERTY BELL FOR THE FIRST TIME!
  • My friends Dave, Grace, and Lauren coming to visit from Massachusetts and battling with the (usually) lovely bus company they were using after their bus failed to show up at 11pm in Boston. 
  • Visiting my high school and officially feeling old.
  • Going to breakfast with my aunt and uncle to a place that makes Creme Brulee French Toast.  Speaks for itself.
  • Having lots of coffee/lunch/dinner dates and catching up with old friends!
  • Buying an infinity scarf.  They're all the rage in Copenhagen, and much less expensive at Old Navy HAHA.
Friends (since elementary school) in Philly :)

In other news, yesterday marked ten days until departure for DIS, meaning that housing assignments came out!  I've been looking forward to see who all my new housemates are and I was thrilled to wake up to an email first thing in the morning!  This semester, St. Kannikestraede is going to be a culinary-themed house, which I am so excited about!  We're going to work with the Green House and volunteer out in the community to harvest organic vegetables, et cetera.  Best of all, we're going to have cooking instructions and hopefully learn to make lots of delicious meals together.  Some of my best memories from last semester are from the times my roommates and I cooked together, so this should be a great experience for all of us.  

This time of year also gives me flashbacks to freshmen year of college after housing assignments came out.. everyone is all over the DIS Facebook page posting their housing and seeing who they'll be living with.  It's great to see how excited everyone is!  As a returning study abroader- I can promise that everyone is about to have the most awesome four months of their lives!  Be excited, be nervous, be whatever you want- it's all part of the experience.. just remember to be open-minded too.  :)

Also, I was thinking the other day about things that I had to get used to upon arriving in Copenhagen, so quick tip- in Denmark, you'll call your teachers by their first names.  You probably won't ever say "Professor So-and-So," which at first is super weird and took a lot to get used to.  It'll become natural though- I promise.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Hygge is everywhere

#1: Hygge is everywhere

Incase you were wondering, I made it back from Denmark!  ...like two weeks ago.  I had the best intentions of updating on the day I left, then on the day I got home, then right after Christmas.  But I guess there was just too much excitement, and so here we are- in the new year!!  Since I last updated, lots has happened, including airport fun with Amy's oversized suitcases/my practically empty suitcases and subsequent repacking of bags in the check-in line, arrival in Boston- first stop: Dunkin Donuts, visiting Stonehill and hugging EVERYONE, my mom greeting me with gløgg as soon as I walked in the door, driving my car again, Christmas with my family, Philadelphia to see the CSI exhibit, New Years with my friends, et cetera.  Aside from that, my daily routine includes experimenting with smoothies, watching some Netflix, sitting in front of the fire, and doing some reading.  It's a good life, but I miss my little Danish home.  20 days until I'm back!  And look what I found in Philadelphia!!

Spotted- Danish flag!!!!


Anyway, the long-awaited #1 of my first semester studying abroad.. hygge is everywhere.  My Danish teacher said this on our last day of class, and it really holds true.  Back in the US, we might not go as crazy with the tea-light candles or call it by the same funny name, but its still here- especially if you're willing to look for it.  I felt it every time I reunited with my friends, spent the holidays with my family, and insisted on lighting candles around the house.

Hygge is a huge part of the feeling of home, and it's helped me to understand that "home" doesn't have to be just one place.  Giving campus tours at Stonehill, I always tell people that the campus has become my "second home," as it's a place I've come to know and love and where I feel comfortable and am surrounded by people who support me.  As the years have gone by, I've ended up spending more time at my "second home" than my home in Pennsylvania where I grew up and that offers the luxuries of my family, longtime friends, and Wawa.  I didn't expect to find a real home in Denmark, but I did thanks to 5 of the greatest roommates, my awesome SRA Anna, my visiting family, and the many opportunities I had to learn and grow as a person.  Deciding between a first, second, third, whatever number home doesn't do justice for how special all of these places are.  At the Guinness factory (of all places, I know) they had a quote on the wall that said "Home is not where you live, but where they understand you."  I believe that wherever you get this feeling, you experience hygge, and it's not limited to just one place.  I'll always carry the people and places I love with me wherever I go.  Hygge touches all the pieces of your heart that are left all over the world.