Change is Good

The month of August has been one of great excitement, busyness and change. It being my seventh month in Denmark means it included a lot of thought- both about coming home so soon (yet not soon enough!), as well as not having enough time left. The thought of having only four months left had me even dreaming about when I am finally home again, lying on the grass in my garden, crying and I'm screaming at my mom, "I JUST MISSED THIS PLACE SO MUCH!". Crazy dreams. It also had me thinking of all the possibilities about one day moving to Denmark. Once I get home and I have seen everyone again and started normal everyday-living, it might occur to me that I belong in Denmark. Although, that is far away and it is a possibility, which is a sweet thought in itself.

I don't want to go home just yet. Time flies, and that makes one realize that one should savour every day they have left on their exchange. It really does go too fast and before you know it, you are back in the comfort of your 'home' land. Yet, I think after you have experienced another part of the world and made families and friends (whom come from all over the globe) that will last forever, you never really are 'home'. You belong to the world now. You are a traveler, and now the earth is your playground and the unknown seems like your comfort zone.

At the end of July I got to visit, Klara, whom was an exchange student in South Africa and had just come back to Denmark. It was really good to see her, felt like a part of me was home. It was so much fun being with another half Danish, half South African person. 

Anyway, back to August. I visited my first host family at the beginning of the month, it was really good to go back there and reminisce about the time I had living there. Also getting to catch up with them (especially my host mother, whom after talking and talking for hours- I had to get a drink of water). We had a nice dinner and it felt like old times. (Hyggeligt!) I missed them a lot, so it was really a blessing to return, spend the night in my old bed and feel at home there as I used to.

I was lucky enough to get a visit from one of the exchange students living in Copenhagen from Australia, Danica. She's one of my really close friends here and it was so nice that she could come spend a few days with me; we had a lot of fun together.

It was my host dad's birthday this month too, and the family drove up from Fyn and we celebrated together. After that, I got to go to the 'Sommerbio', which is like a cinema outside, where people come and picnic on the plane along the river and watch a film. Kind of like the Drive-in we have in South Africa. I went with my host mom and host sister, as well as some of her friends. We watched a Danish film called 'Alle for To'. It was really funny.

One Sunday, my host sister, her boyfriend, my host brother and I went to Djurs Sommerland, a theme park about an hour from my city. It was so much fun. I love Roller-coasters and such, so it was really good time for me. I was so grateful for that experience.

I also spent a day with my next host sister, and then joined by my next host mother, we took a trip to Aarhus, and shopped a little and got some coffee at Starbucks. It was really nice, and made me look very forward to moving in with them. (4th September!)

I started school again on the 15th of August and it was nice to see all my classmates again and get back into the whole routine of going to school everyday. It was an amazing summer vacation in Denmark, with great weather.

On the 18th of August, was the Welcome Meeting in Nibe for all the 'newbies' in Denmark. The new exchange students that is. Also, there were some 'oldies', like me, who were there and it was good to see them again, considering they were the exchange students on my Euro Tour with me, and we are all very close because of that.

I also got to visit my best-Brazilian-exchange-student-friend, Mariana, who lives in Aars. So I took the train and visited her for the weekend. It's always a good time when we're together, so I was very happy to visit her.

So, it's my last weekend living with family and I've had a really lovely time here, and felt very blessed. It's good timing to move now, considering when I visited Mari, she cut my hair- very short- and it was a really nice change, and change is always good.
It's the start of the final chapter of living here, and that is scary but also exciting. I've experienced so much, yet there is still so much to experience. A lot of room to grow and have fun at the same time. I love Denmark, and want to enjoy every minute I have left here.

Bring on September! :'D

Oldies at the Welcome Meeting - District 1440

Hair cut

I'm an Oldie now, look at all my pins- also, R.I.P long hair

Summer in Paradise

One of the perks of being an exchange student in Europe is the lovely, long summer vacation, three weeks of which I got to spend in south France. 

Week 1 and 2 

The first two weeks I spent with my host family in an apartment with a beautiful view of the ocean and the pool. We spent days at the poolside, reading, swimming and tanning. I even (I know, due to me being a redhead, it's a little hard to believe) got a bit if a tan. 

We took some little road trips to other locations, such at St Tropez, Monaco, Theoule, Antibes and Gorges du Verdon. They were all beautiful- that is just France. Gorges du Verdon was a drive in the mountains to a big lake, with crystal clear, blue water.  We hired a little boat and floated along the river between two huge mountains until we found a waterfall. It was beautiful. Overall it was a relaxing two weeks. 

Week 3 

The third week I spent with y counsellor. The first two nights, there was another couple staying with us, once they left, my counsellor's daughter flew down and stayed with us. That evening we were joined by two girls traveling around Europe, they spent two days. After that it was just my counsellor, Peter, his wife, Lone, daughter, Anne Sophie and myself. We spent days on the beach, dinners either home or at restaurants- both included really good food (3 dishes nearly every night). Definitely indulged myself as one does on holiday. More so, being an exchange student and all. 

The second last night we spent in a hotel up in the mountains, and on the way there that day, we stopped to see this waterfall that was so pretty and saw a few cute little towns as well. 

The last day we spent melting in Nice. It was so hot, and we walked up to the top of this hill which had such a beautiful view of the beach. Then I flew back to Denmark with Anne Sophie. 

I was so spoilt by both my host family and counsellor this summer- it was truly wonderful. 

Week 4 

Spent a week with my host family at their summer house. Spent some time on the beach too. We were visited by an exchange student my host family hosted last year, as well as her parents. It was a lovely evening. It was quite funny that she and I were speaking Danish to each other and she's German and I'm South African. My host family was quite pleased. We were also visited by friends of my host parents the next evening, that was also lovely. 

So after 4 weeks on holiday, now I am back home and catching up all the Skype dates and preparing myself to go back to school. 

X

Hello June

Euro Tour 

Our bus left on the 17th of May, and we were on the tour for 18 days. I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of people to be on a bus with. It was so nice getting to know everybody and getting extremely close with some people too. We really just had the best time together and now everything feels silent without the sound of Portuguese. 

The places we visited were incredible. I never thought I'd be able to see 8 countries in three weeks and still get to realllyyyy seeeee each of them. It went by really slowly in the beginning, which we were glad about- then things picked up and before we knew it we were shedding tears and waving goodbye. 

Berlin

The first two days we were in Berlin and it was such a lovely city. There is so much green ecerywhere and you wouldn't expect such from a city that big. We got to see the Berlin Wall which was really interesting and fun. We also got some free time to wander around and take a LOT of pictures. Also we saw some other sights on the bus and walked in the rain- yay! 

Prague

The city was so interesting and gothic looking. We walked on a tour up this huge hill and got to see a lot. Lost half of the group most of the way but that was totally normal half the time. Prague was really beautiful. 

Vienna

On the first day we went to a palace where I wore a horse head and scared away some children while dancing around. No excuse. We also rolled down a hill on the grass in the sunshine. 

Lido Di Jesolo 

Beach. Our hotel was right on the beach and we were overjoyed. The first day and night we spent at the beach. The second day we travelled to Venice. It really looked like it was sinking. There was a lot of water and it rained a little, but it was soooo beautiful. We witnessed a hobo covered in pigeons kissing our tour guide, Mama, on the cheek. 

Verona

We spent the day eating Italian food and paying extra for breadsticks and service (at least they were good looking italian guys that photo bombed our pictures) without knowing, until we had to split the bill. We also got to see Juliet's balcony. Verona was a dream. 

San Remo 

For the afternoon and night. Our hotel was up on a hill and we had a really nice view. We went and sat out on the pier in the evening and saw the stars and threw a piece of our belongings into the ocean (whoopsie for littering). It was rather special. 

Nice 

We got to spend three hours in Nice on our way to Avignon and stopped for five minutes in Monaco. Monaco was beautiful and we just wanted to stay. In those three hours in Nice, we all "stripped and dipped". We ran into the turquoise ocean and I never wanted to leave. It felt like heaven. 

Avignon

We saw the sights within Avignon and stayed in the middle of nowhere after that. But knowing us, we still made it super interesting and therefore there were people thrown into pools and crazy group photos with a really beautiful view  somewhere behind the masses of us. 

Paris

It was amazing of course! First day we saw the Eiffel Tower and saw some sights in the typical Parisian traffic. 

The second day we spent in Disneyland which was so much fun, (my second time visiting it while in Denmark) was so cool going there again. 

The third day I spent shopping on le Champs-Élisées with my favourite Brazilian, then I met up with my friend from South Africa whom lives in Paris and spent some time with her. That was truly amazing and I will remember her as part of my euro tour. 

Brussels 

We held our own prom considering some of the Americans would be or would have missed their Senior Prom while being on exchange in DK. And because there was only 8 boys and about 40 girls, each guy had like 3 dates. Anyway, it was a fun night getting dressed up and being fancy for once.

   

Amsterdam

We went on a boat ride/sight-seeing tour around the city which was very interesting and beautiful. It was really good weather too. Our hotel was also in the middle of nowhere so we watched the guys have a little wrestling competition. Haha.

Then we journeyed back to Denmark, all a bit depressed and overtired. Saying goodbye to the "oldies" that would be leaving soon to return to their home countries was really hard after having bonded so much. 

YLX Boat Trip 

A week after the Euro Tour was the sailing tour up to the too of Denmark and down again to my city, Randers. This time it was just my district and not the other district that was with us on Euro Tour, so it was really good seeing everyone again but sad the others weren't there too. 

The sailing tour was a lot of fun and gave us some good sailing experience. We got to climb up the sails to untie them and set sail (about 26m high) and that was an adrenaline rush and a half. 

The first day, more than half of us felt seasick and basically half were throwing up. That was good fun... 

But the next few days were great, everybody felt fine and the sun was out so we jumped overboard and swam in the ocean. 

The last day was really hard once again, having to say goodbye; but we will all stay in contact somehow. 

I left a little early so that I could get back sooner so I could attend Northside Festival. I was really looking forward to that and seeing most of my favourite bands perform. 

It was three days long but I went home each night and then met up with my friends the next day. I got to see some exchange students too, which was awesome. 

Overall it was a perfect weekend. 

So the past month or so has been extremely exciting and I am so grateful for all the events that have occurred. 

Now it's summer holiday and I'm going to France with my host family for two weeks and then another week with my counselor and his family. Cannes for three weeks! I'm so excited and feel so blessed. Can't wait for the beach! 

Pictures soon. X 

Soooo... Now That It's May.

So now that's it's May and I missed an entire month of blogging, you've got to understand how insanely fast time can go by. It's rather cheeky, gets you all distracted and then does a little 'fast-forward' maneuver. Not cool, Time, not cool.

Anyways, to get to the point. April was a fun month, and being my third month in Denmark, it taught me a lot of things. Third month, as expected, gets you feeling slightly homesick from time to time, but it's easy to forget about when you have such an awesome country to get to know. April was filled with busy weekends and (somewhat) boring weekdays- but every day included something new and a step closer to May.

May is a good month because we (all the exchange students) are going on EuroTour and we have been counting down the days. It's going to be amazing. 18 days around Europe, starting from the 17th. I'm so excited. Also this month I am moving to my next host family, actually this week. This weekend is my last weekend with my first host family. I have mixed emotions because I am going to miss them so much. They have been such a good host family, and I am so glad I can return and visit them through the year. Also they have put up with me eating all the Nutella in the house, as well as drinking all the tea. Also, my craziness- which seems to match theirs actually. Overall, it has been a lovely experience living with them, and I am so grateful for a super cool host family.

I am so excited to move to a new family too, as it's something new and a change of scenery. I will have to cycle to school every day which should be interesting, considering I have done little to no exercise in the whole three months of being here. Haha. I am excited though.

It's officially Spring in Denmark, and it is so beautiful. The sun stays up until about 21h30 every night and comes up really early too. So much sunshine makes everyone so happy. It's a great atmosphere, especially with all the flowers blooming and the green leaves returning.

Yesterday, we had a 'Fredagscafe' at my school and those are always fun. This time was better because every was outside and it was such a good day, with the sun out and all that good vibe stuff. So it was a really nice day, which ended off with me cooking for my host family. 'Vetkoek', something nice and South African (as well as easy enough for me not to destroy). They liked it, thank God.

Moving this Thursday, don't know how I am going to pack all my stuff up, there is already so much that I have accumulated after three months.

Still loving Denmark and still discovering things about it.

Until I remember to write again. Xx

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

It has been a really long time since my last update. I have been so busy, and the days have rolled on by. It's been over two months in Denmark and it really doesn't feel that long at all. Two months down and ten to go.

The past two months have been nothing less than wonderful, crazily exciting, and yet relaxing at the same time. I have managed to spend a serious amount of money, and feel a bit hopeless as a poor exchange student already after only two months. Don't ask where the money went because I wouldn't know how to answer.

I do know, however, that it has been spent on good experiences. I also know that every experience has been better than before, and there is still so much coming my way. I have a year in this playground and I can't get over how fast it is going by.

I am really looking forward to the Euro Tour coming up in about a month, it is going to be so much fun; three weeks around Europe, that is.
Another thing I am really looking forward to is going to Northside Festival, a three day music festival in June. I bought my ticket and cannot wait to see so many of my favourite bands in one place over the three days.

In my first two months, I have learned how to get around on a bus and seen what Friday nights should look like. I am really enjoying the time with my host family and they really make my time here a good one. I feel so at home.
I got to see the Danish beach yesterday on a little adventure with my host mom and host brother to Løkken.  The beaches here are really flat, with hardly any waves; different to SA. It was really peaceful, beautiful and freezing.

I have the next week off of school, and everybody loves a holiday!
Last Friday I went to watch the X Factor final live, and it was such a cool atmosphere and some really big artists were performing. It was a lot of fun.

The Friday before, was a party at my school. Two bands performed there and it was a really good time.

So, I hope it doesnt take an entire month for me to update my blog again. Until then-
xx

Overdue Update

So I missed posting an update last week due to a series of time-consuming events.

About the week before last: I started weekly Danish lessons on Wednesday, and so far they are going well.
Thursday was my birthday. I honestly don't think I could have felt more blessed.
I woke up to breakfast with my host family, and opened some presents from them. They got me a ticket to the X Factor Finale, which is really cool and I am looking so forward to that. Also, they got me a Danish flag on a flagpole with my name and birthday engraved on its base.
Then it was school, which turned out to be a lot of fun. I had a few free lessons and just got to mess around and chill. Everyone was also really nice, and I got quite a lot of Danish happy birthdays.
After school, I had to go straight to the Rotary House to help set up for the meeting that night, and was with two other girls who are going on exchange in the summer.
That night at the Rotary meeting, I had to give my presentation about myself, my country, etc. They all sang 'Happy Birthday' in Danish and there was a lot of cake! Then I said my presentation, starting in Danish, yeahhhh I tried. Then we auctioned all the prizes I had won from the Handball, and I ended up 4700kr (approx R7500) richer. And on top of that, all my host families for the year, got me a combined gift which was an acoustic guitar and that was really just the cherry on the top of my birthday. I was ecstatic.

Friday was my first school party, it was a Friday's cafe. It was a lot of fun, and quite hilarious considering everyone was dressed up.

On Saturday, my host family's entire family came over for lunch, and it was very 'hyggeligt'. The members of their family really spoilt me and I did really not expect to be so blessed. I got a number of gifts that I am so grateful for.

It was a really good weekend.

This past weekend was the Rotary Get2Gether with all of the exchange students in DK. Everyone arrived from different areas in DK and were very excited. It was so much fun to see the people you knew already and also to meet new people.
On Sunday, when I got back home, I learned that I had three days off of school.
I am super happy!

Oblivion

ob-liv-i-on:
the state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening.

Definitely my condition, right there. Everything is as overwhelming as ever and the weeks have flown by without me even slightly comprehending each one, and how remarkable they have been.
Today marks my four weeks here and it makes me question the trust I have in time and how much time I have left. One month down and eleven to go. That's one twelfth. It's scary because I have felt the speed of time and tasted just how quickly the next year will go by. It has not been time wasted, however. Every moment has been just as spectacular as any and I am loving this experience.

So in the past two weeks, since I last posted, so much has happened. Like, maybe, a week in Paris? Meeting a million people (that's an exaggeration) at Intro Camp who happen to come from all over the world? Well yes, pretty much.

So the week before last was the week of Intro Camp which basically means, six hours of Danish lessons daily! And a whole lot of drinking coffee and eating cake. The latter part makes up for the first, at least. The camp was so helpful and yes, educational. After the first three or four days, everyone had bonded and no one really wanted to leave. Now all of us exchange students are dying for the 'Get2Gether' so we can all see each other again. Rotary and their creative names...

It was fun.

Then was the trip to Paris with my host family. I felt so blessed to get to go somewhere so cool, so soon on my exchange. It was amazing.
But before that, was the twelve hour drive. I slept through every new country we entered and that was fine. The scenery was wonderful when I happened to be awake, but other than that my eyelids were rather entertaining too.
I also happened to sleep through Valentine's Day on the return home. That was also fine.

We spent four days in Disneyland and it was awesome. I concluded that no one is ever too old for that place. I loved it. I relived a frightening part of my childhood when going on the Hollywood Tower Hotel ride for the second time in my life. The first was when I went on it with my three sisters back in 2007 in Disneyland USA. Whoa, I think I screamed even louder than my eleven-year-old self. It was every bit as wild as I remember, and in a twisted kind of way, I loved the feeling of almost falling to my death. I think it's called an adrenaline rush? But that didn't give me a drive to go a third time. Sorry, kids.

I loved spending time with my host family and especially be it in a theme park. It was so much fun.

So after a month, I definitely think I like this place, and wouldn't mind staying for a little while longer. I think eleven more months sounds good to me.