"My life is a lovely story, happy and full of incident”

New Year, New.... ?

2012-01-09T19:21:00.000-08:00

I've never been one to set new year's resolutions... and this year is no different... some look at a new year as a new beginning when really, each day can be a new beginning- why do we need the turn of new year to make a big change? Why not challenge ourselves to change and be the best we can each and every day?

I am always going to watch cheesy tv, laugh at random things, make it to the gym when I can (and not beat myself up when I cannot), travel whenever/wherever I can, try new recipes, have goals for my personal and professional life, strive to be the best me I can be...no matter the time of year.

Happy New Year y'all :)

Hibernation.

2011-12-05T15:49:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was a crystal clear indicator that this winter is going to be one of hibernation. It was a reminder that some things never change and some never face issues at hand- simply sweeping them under the rug and hoping the pile of dirt isn't too obvious. With that said, this will not be a winter of hibernation of hiding but one of personal growth... focusing on reflection, self-improvement and health. A winter of travel, exploration and trying new things. A winter focused on family, friends and strengthening relationships.

Sometimes you need a reminder to focus on the positive and after all the surprises I got yesterday- I thankfully ended my day reading the most perfect passage from "The Great House of God" by Max Lucado:

"God's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are they even like ours. We aren't even in the same neighborhood.... We avoid pain and seek peace. God uses pain to bring use peace.... We love what rusts. He loves what endures. We rejoice at our successes. He rejoices at our confessions...."

Power of 3.

2011-11-14T16:39:00.000-08:00

The number 3 has been very prominent in my life these days...

Third trip to Italy...

Third trip to Atlanta...

(ump-teenth time seeing Sugarland...)

And the final 3rd? Well, let's just say it's a good one. :)

I guess the third time really is a charm.

The Quarter Life Crisis

2011-01-19T15:54:00.000-08:00

The Quarter-Life Crisis
by unknown

It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn't know and may or may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job. It is not even close to what you thought you would be doing or maybe you are looking for one and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and are scared.

You miss the comforts of college, of groups, of socializing with the same people on a constant basis. But then you realize that maybe they weren't so great after all.

You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and add things to your list of what is acceptable and what is not. You are insecure and then secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you or you lay in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you are not a bad person.

One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision.

You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

I came across this on the Internet and while I haven't hit all the stages of my very own quarter-life crisis, I can see the beginning stages and am definitely thankful to whoever wrote such an accurate description of what early to mid twenty somethings go through. This is just the beginning of a whole new chapter....

The South.

2010-12-22T06:36:00.000-08:00

The south is the place where:

Tea is sweet and accents are sweeter.
Summer starts in April.
Mac & Cheese is a vegetable.
Front porches are wide and words are drawn out when spoken.
Pecan pie is a staple.
Y'all is the only proper noun.
Chicken is fried and biscuits come with gravy.
Everything is Darlin'
Someone's heart is always being blessed.
Cowboy boots or Jack Rogers are the perfect accessory to any sundress

They just know...

2010-12-20T15:37:00.000-08:00

In dating... Have you ever felt like when it rains, it pours? Or the opposite- you are stuck in a Midwestern state-like drought? I've had several conversations with different friends about if men actually pick up on the availability of a woman...

I find that it can go either way- when you are available and do not care either way, there can be a plethora of guys starting to pop into your life (or back into your life... but you should never trust those individuals...) and sometimes guys come around when they sense that you may not be so available anymore... and they start to test you...

The only way for these types of interactions to turn into something else, something more, or nothing at all, is for a woman to have her own life and not compromise any of her standards for any man's "availability sense." Either way... Sometimes, the guys just know... They just know.

The move/ A lesson in trusting your gut

2010-12-20T15:24:00.000-08:00

I recently made the first big (literal) move of my life. Sure, I spent 4 months living in Denmark and not knowing a soul or what I was getting myself into before I went... But, this move was different. This move put me into my first one bedroom apartment- a space all to myself- all paid for by me, myself and I.

I began my apartment search in mid-September- having lived with my Dad and stepmom since I returned from Denmark in May. I went to several apartment complexes and even looked at a few units being leased out by their owners... it was legit 7 or so places and nothing really felt right at all and I was getting super frustrated... until I came to my current address. I saw 5-10 units and once again, was beginning to think I'd never find the perfect spot- until I walked into my current apartment. I could see myself cooking in this unit's kitchen while my friends drank wine and chatted with me at my bar, doing laundry in my stackable washer/dryer, watching the beautiful sunset over the western NC mountains from my balcony, placing my Dad's amazing artwork on my new walls, hanging photos of friends and family in my bedroom- everything. just. felt. right. I knew this was absolutely it. This is where I would begin my independent adult life. Free of everything negative in the past and starting fresh.

If I've learned anything in the past year, it has by far been to trust my gut. I haven't always followed my gut feeling but I've certainly known the feeling this year... To trust why I've made certain decisions, to trust myself enough to spend time with the right people and not the bad, to trust that uneasy feeling that a friendship is no longer mutually beneficial, to trust myself enough to know that a long-term relationship was over the second he got on that plane, to trust myself enough to make the hard decisions that I don't want to face, to trust that I'll be okay no matter what is thrown at me. Trusting that deep down gut instinct has been something that I've had trouble with in the past but these past few months have made me realize how important it is to do so.

A huge challenge for me is giving up on people- I give people that do not have my best interest at heart entirely too many chances to be (what I'd consider to be) a good friend and I hate coming to terms with ending relationships for my own well-being. However, after everything that has happened in the past few months, I've realized how important this is and how those people aren't worth it and I don't need them. I know who my real friends are and don't need the rest.

I'm working very hard to slow my life down- deal with issues at hand, take the time to grieve such a huge, sudden, and unexpected loss, to not force friendships, trust my gut feeling about others, not feel rushed to hang out with people or make new friends in a certain time frame... Just slow things down, let them happen naturally and focus on work, my family, and real friends.

This move has made me trust my gut much more and I finally feel free to trust myself and be more cautious in choosing who I want to spend my time with. To me, this move symbolizing the significance of trusting gut instincts and I am forever thankful for that.

Today.

2010-05-22T11:55:00.000-07:00

Today is exactly how I want to remember Denmark: 65F, sunny, minimal clouds, and happy Danes drinking Carlsberg and Tuborg on the canal of Nyhavn, Kongens Nytorv, and Strøget in Copenhagen and now "barbecuing" and eating outside on the deck overlooking the rolling hills of bright green crops and yellow flowers in Farum with my host family.

Absolutely perfect way to end this adventure.

Tomorrow is the day that, as the Avett Brother's sing in a song, "Carolina one day, someday, I'll come home"

PS- This past month has been a blur. More updates on travels to come... as I can get around to it!

Volcano... What!?

2010-04-20T01:28:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard... A volcano erupted in Iceland and basically, all flights in and out of Europe were canceled over the weekend (since last Thursday) but on Sunday, some airlines made test runs and a few more flights were completed without harm (from the volcano ash) on Monday. I just read that now, a new cloud of ash that has spewed from the volcano, heading towards the UK, and possibly posing a renewed threat to air travel... but some countries are still moving forward with plans to fly a little more in the coming week. This is crazy! The situation is changing so often which makes it very difficult to keep track of what's going to happen next!
Tons and tons of people have been displaced and even stuck in Europe and I am really hoping that it will be safe to fly by Friday because I am supposed to be going to Germany to visit a friend and attend the Stuttgarter Fruehlingsfest (which is a spring bier festival that includes 2 liters of beer and half a chicken, haha.) and then to Paris next Thursday. Obviously I don't want to fly if it isn't safe but it is just so frustrating because I have been looking forward to these trips all semester!

Volcanic ash from the eruption that is being blown over Europe and keeping planes out of the sky.

A Royal Affair

2010-04-19T13:52:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you know or maybe you don't, but Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, which (in a nutshell) means Denmark has a royal family.

Friday April 16th, marked Queen Margrethe II's 70th birthday. Every year on her birthday, the Queen steps out onto her balcony of Amalienborg at noon and waves to the people in the courtyard. Since this was an even year birthday, she rode in a horse-drawn carriage from the Amalienborg Palace to City Hall on Strøget (the walking street in Copenhagen).

Crowds trying to get into the Palace courtyard to see the Queen... it was packed! I couldn't get through!

Danish flag :)

Danes like to use the Danish flag to celebrate!

Holding a Danish flag under the Queen's birthday sign!

Getting ready for the Queen to pass in her carriage...

Police! The Queen must be close!

The Queen is next!

Queen of Denmark and her husband, Henrik, the Prince Consort of Denmark!!!

She went by so fast!

Fountain near my school that had golden apples in it for the Queen's birthday!

It might be hard to see, but on the left hand side of the statue at the top of fountain, there is one of the golden apples being pushed up by the force of the fountain water! This was the craziest tradition! No one ever takes the golden apples... I guess out of respect to the royal family? I'm not sure but there is no way those apples would stay there all day if this were in a tradition in another country.... especially the US!

Regardless, it was so cool to see the Queen so close and experience such a unique Danish tradition!

Copenhagen and London with Heath!

2010-04-17T04:36:00.000-07:00

For the second week of my spring break, Heath came to visit me and we split our time between Copenhagen and London. We had such a wonderful time and saw so many great places! I was soooo happy to see him and get to spend the whole week together! I am glad that he came later in semester because now it isn't that long until I come home... Don't get me wrong, I am having a blast abroad, and I still have a handful of fun trips planned... but North Carolina is home and I finally feel ready to start this next phase of my life in Charlotte, no regrets and no "I wish I got to.... while I was still in college." Having Heath see what my life has been like here meant so much to me and I am so happy that I have such a great boyfriend that will travel across an ocean to visit me! :)

Velkommen til Danmark!

First Danish meal? Danish hotdogs!

We tried to make it to the Carlsberg Brewery for a tour but were too late! But that's okay, because their slogan is only "Probably the best beer in town" haha

Nyhavn!

First pub in London!

Yummy Sticky toffee pudding!

Classic English telephone pose

Heath wanted one too :)

London Eye!

(with Big Ben in between our heads!)

Tea Time at the National Gallery

Outside of Buckingham Palace before the changing of the guards ceremony

Royal Guard band that played "Sweet Caroline!"

Heath and I were amused since James Taylor is a NC native!

BEAUTIFUL Daffodils in a park beside Buckingham palace.

So happy that it is finally Spring!

Heath on the Tower of London Bridge

Heath at Heathrow, ready to get back to CPH!

Can you spot Heath?

Oh, you know... just biking around the royal palace in CPH!

ICEBAR! Brrrr

Heath & I in the Icebar!

My Roman Holiday

2010-04-17T03:24:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of spending the first week of my Spring Break in Rome, Italy. In preparation of my very own Roman holiday, I watched William Wyler's Roman Holiday, starring Audrey Hepburn. I love Audrey Hepburn movies so watching this one before my trip just seemed like the perfect idea! I got to see many of the sites where the movie was filmed and absolutely loved Rome!

I could outline every detail of my trip but that would take forever and I think pictures are more fun... so here they are!

PS- If you get my blog by e-mail, the pictures probably won't show up in the email so you will have to click on the link in the e-mail, which will send you directly to my blog website.

Outside the Vatican wall, entrance to the Vatican Museum

St. Peter's Basilica

This looks like a sculpture in uptown Charlotte called "Disco Grande"

View of St. Peter's Square from the top of St. Peter's Basilica

Me in St. Peter's Basilica

Colosseum!

Me inside the Colosseum

Inside Forum Romanum

Pantheon

Ruins of Ostia

Angel of Grief in Campo Cestio

Baths of Caracalla

Mouth of Truth

Gelato on the Spanish Steps

Castle of Angels

And don't worry... I threw my coin into the Trevi Fountain so one day, I'll definitely be going back to Rome!

To travel is to live

2010-03-28T05:05:00.000-07:00

So, I am a little over half way done with my semester abroad but I wanted to recap where I've been and where I'm going...

~~January 17: Arrive in Copenhagen, Denmark~~
~~Feb 4-6: Vejle & Sønderborg, Western Denmark~~
~~Feb 28-March 5: Brussels & Brugge, Belgium~~
~~March 5-7: Amsterdam, The Netherlands~~
March 29-April 3: Rome, Italy
April 6-9: London, England
April 17: Malmö, Sweden
April 23-26: Böblingen & Munich, Germany
April 29-May 2: Paris & Giverny, France
May 8: Billund, Denmark (LegoLand!)
May 16-May 23: TBD, somewhere in Europe

Most of these dates are set in stone but there is always room for some change in the itinerary ! My hope is to have visited at least 10 countries while I am here... so during my last week in Europe, I am going to have to go to at least 2 new countries... but I doubt that will be very hard :)

Dansk Musik

2010-03-27T16:29:00.000-07:00

Last night I went out with my host brother in Copenhagen and it was a night full of hygge, laughs and long waits for public transportation! The night began unexpectedly (as I had no plans of going out) at a truly Danish band party hosted by a Danish college and ended with a not-so-happy-non-English-speaking-taxi driver and a lovely Danish couple that I shared a cab with since it was raining too hard to ride home (at 5AM, mind you). It's even a longer story than that, so I won't type it all out... but to my friends and family- feel free to ask me about it, it was pretty humorous :)

So tonight both my host sibs came over for dinner (they no longer live at home) which was great because I hadn't even met my host sister yet because she has such a crazy schedule of school and work this semester. She asked me tonight if I think it is weird or if it gets annoying that all the music over here is in English instead of native languages and honestly, after hearing Danish 24-7, it's kind of a relief to hear something familiar! My host family has introduced me to some great new Danish and European bands...

The Baseballs: A German-rock coverband that takes top-40 pop hits and turns them into rock-n-rock 1950's-esque songs. I love it! They are even coming to Copenhagen at the end of April but (un)fortunately, that's the weekend I'm going to Paris. It's a hard life, I know! (wink, wink!)

The Baseballs: Umbrella (Originally by Rihanna)

Alphabeat: A great Danish pop band with 6 members, both male and female and they take influence from retro 80's melodic pop with British influences as well.

Dúné: A Danish rockband that is inspired by 70s punk, 80s pop and 90s indie rock, and mixed all together, they call their style indielectrock.

For the first time ever, iTunes has completely disappointed me in my quest for Danish music. I usually don't go too far past mainstream stuff so that's probably why but I would have thought that they would still have some albums since these guys are so popular in other parts of the world! I guess that means I will just have to take it back to like, 2002 and actually go to a music store to purchase an Alphabeat album!

This post is kind of all over the place and I attribute that to my lack of sleep today, excitement for study break, and having too much to blog about!

Summer Nights

2010-03-21T06:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am in Denmark.

Yes, I realize that it is barely spring here and that it is only beginning to get warm and I have many more wonderful things left to do in Europe.

However, I can't help but be excited for summer since I just bought my summer MegaTicket!

What is this, you ask? A series of 7 country music concerts throughout the summer.

This is the first year I have done it and I couldn't be more excited! Here is the line-up:

May 27th: Country Throwdown Tour
June 4th: Brooks & Dunn with Jason Aldean
June 26th: Rascal Flatts with Kellie Pickler & Chris Young
July 11th: Toby Keith
July 23rd: Tim McGraw with Love & Theft
August 27th: Brad Paisley with Darius Rucker
October 1st: SUGARLAND!!! (My personal fave!)

So, here's to future summer nights in the beautiful Carolinas!

Maryah & I at Sugarland in Charleston, SC

Meg, Cat & I in Morehead City, NC before an epic summer night

Fave sorority sisters at Sesh's going away party, Raleigh NC

Heath & I, Labor Day weekend in Charlotte, NC

Giverny Dream

2010-03-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

Monet memories... My mom would always get me pictures and posters of Monet's work that took over my walls of my childhood room. Naturally, I had the book "Linnea in Monet's Garden," a book that helped children learn about the impressionism art movement.

I have the most vivid memory of watching my dad look at art in museums. My memory is of him, with reading glasses on and hands clasped behind his back, getting as close as possible to the paintings to observe the brushstrokes and movement of the paint on the canvas. I didn't really understand it until I saw my first Monet painting.

When other middle-schoolers had posters of boy bands on their walls, I had Monet's water lilies, trees, boats, poppies, weeping willows, and haystacks covering my room.

The brushstrokes that looked so blurry up-close create a masterpiece when you take a few steps back. Something about Monet's work has always given me a feeling that I've never had before- the way the paintings capture nature's beauty by blending colors and light has always made me feel like everything will always be okay. It gives me chills just thinking about it.

Okay, so you get it now. I love Monet. What's the point of this post?

The point is that I am taking a class called Impressionism in Paris. I will be spending a long weekend in Paris at the end of April. The Saturday while we are there is a French holiday. Everything, literally, everything in Paris will be closed. The only thing open? Monet's house and garden in Giverny. We will be spending the day at Monet's house and gardens. I am so excited I can't even stand it! This is amazing!!! How did I get so lucky!?

Countdown.

2010-03-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

Countdown until Spring Break begins: 9 Days
Countdown until the boyfriend arrives in CPH: 18 Days.

During the first week of SB, I am going to Rome with my Classical and Renaissance Rome class where I will be visiting the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, Forum Romanum, Colossum... the list goes on and on but those are just some of the highlights! I fell in love with Italy last fall when my family went to Tuscany and I can't wait to go again!

My bro & I in Cortona, Italy

The whole gang in front of the leaning tower of Pisa

Legend has it that if you throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, you are sure to visit Rome again so of course I will be doing this!

Trevi Fountain at Night!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fontana_di_Trevi_by_night.JPG

I will return from Rome on Saturday and will pick the bf up from the CPH airport on Sunday! I want him to experience where I've been living for the past few months so we will be spending part of the time he is here in Copenhagen and the other part in London.

I haven't decided exactly where I will take him, but a couple of things that I can't wait to show him are Nyhavn, CPH Zoo, National Museum, the Royal palace, and introduce him to the Danish culture that I've been talking about so much!

In London, I hope to do all of the classically English things like take a double-decker bus tour, eat fish and chips, ride the London Eye, go to afternoon tea, visit the British Museum and Tate Modern!

No matter what we do, I will just be happy to have him here with me... like having a piece of home with me for a week!

Heath & I showing our Wolfpack pride before a football game, Fall 2009

School Daze Soccer Break

2010-03-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

This week and next week are absolutely filled to the rim with group projects, papers, and tests. This is because on March 26th, the two week spring break begins! I couldn't be more excited for the day to arrive... but that's another post all together!

Luckily, my Danish language and culture class provided me with a fun experience before all the madness began! A Sunday evening soccer match between F.C. København and Brøndby IF. DIS students tend to be fans of FCK and they won 2-0!

FCK Fans showing support before the start of the game

FC København fans spell out KBH in the stands

Brøndby IF fans setting off flares in the FCK stadium..

Glad I wasn't sitting over there! It looked intense!

Det lyder hyggeligt!

2010-03-11T12:13:00.000-08:00

From what I understand, there is no true translation from Danish to English for "hygge" and everyone can experience it differently. Danes sometimes describe the term as "cozy." I truly experienced my version of hygge a few weeks ago...

A few Fridays ago, I met my host brother on the crowded train and we made our way to my host family's house. When we got there, my host brother started making dinner and we were all just drinking yummy red wine and chatting before dinner. We sat down to a delicious dinner of chicken and veggie stir-fry, and of course, more wine. After dinner, my host parents pulled out a new game they had just bought. The game was a music trivia card game and (naturally) it was all in Danish and the categories were 60's music, 70's music, 80's music, 90's music, Pop hits, Danish hits, and European hits. My host brother and I teamed up against my host parents and needless to say, I was the handicap of our team since my knowledge of most of the categories is extremely limited. My team didn't win but it was a fabulous night of great food, wine, and company. Everything about it was so happy and cozy and fun! Denmark is really cold and somewhat dreary at times so I think Danes use hygge to stay happy and content during the long, cold, and dark winter months.

My greatest and happiest moments in life have been with my family and friends- cooking, and laughing and just hanging out. I wasn't sure what I'd miss the most about the US but after being here a few months, I have definitely realized that I miss my loved ones more than anything else in the US! Being able to have a night of hygge with my host family helped me feel more comfortable here and understand the Danish culture better and I can't wait to experience more hygge while I am here!

Oh yeah, and "det lyder hyggeligt" roughly translates to "that sounds cozy" in English :)

Beautiful Danish Snowflakes

2010-02-18T12:53:00.000-08:00

While walking home from the train station in the snow earlier this week, I realized something-- Danish snowflakes must be prettier than American ones. Okay, so maybe that's not entirely true... maybe it's just that I walk around in the snow a lot more here than I do in the US... but regardless, I have seen some of the most beautiful snowflakes lately. When they land on my black peacoat, they look so surreal in their perfection. Each flawlessly formed flake reminds me of how amazing and beautiful nature is!!!

I wasn't sure if I could capture nature's perfection in the snowflakes I've seen, so I have borrowed a selection of snowflakes from Wilson Bentley, one of the first photographers to capture the image of a snowflake. Enjoy!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SnowflakesWilsonBentley.jpg

Leg Godt!

2010-02-11T13:41:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I went to Western Demark and Northern Germany (more specifically, Vejle, Jelling, Billund, Sønderborg in Denmark and Flensburg in Germany) with my European Business Strategy class. We went to several towns for cultural visits and two companies, GumLink and Lego.

GumLink is a B2B company, developing and manufacturing gum products for branders and retail chain companies. Lego was amazing. I remember my mom always getting Legos for my brother when we were little and I sometimes played with them too, but the company visit really just won me over. The name, Lego, was created by a combining the two Danish words, Leg and Godt (which means "Play Well" in English) to create the name, Lego. Lego has had some rough times the past few years and almost went bankrupt, but they were able to recreate their strategy and focus on what they are good at, which is the classic Lego block. Now they are focusing on their core products and beginning to do well again.

The office had legos everywhere. From huge legos outside, to lighting and pictures made out of Legos and heck, reception area of the building was a Lego! The employees business cards were even little Lego men! The man that showed us around the grounds gave me his little lego man business card because I asked him to look at it and he just let me have it! We toured the packaging facilities and it was so efficient! Having a little bit of a background in Six Sigma, I was thrilled to see it in action... away from the banking world. I asked our "tourguide" what system they used and he said they hired an external consultant to make their processes more lean and were able to drastically reduce their processing times. The whole time at lego was so exciting! I felt like a kid again, even though I was learning about a company and its strategies! All in all, Lego is great... and everyone should go out and buy a set to remind themselves of their childhood! :)

Here are some pictures of Lego:

Notice the lego ceiling!

This picture was completely made out of Lego men. Legit.

Lego Lights. I wish they sold these and I could get them for my apartment!

Lego Light Up-Close

Lego Fun.

Giant Legos outside of the Lego headquarters in Billund, Denmark.

And here are some pictures of the rest of the trip... before my camera died! The cold really zaps camera batteries!

Me in Lejle, with an EliSabeth cup! They never have these in America... it's always spelled Elizabeth! So Wrong! Finally, it's spelled right! ;)

Typical (and beautiful!) Danish architecture in Lejle

The art in Lejle was... creative and interesting?

IDK what to think about this. Please just note the starving-looking ones and the big lady on top of a starving one. I'm sure it has some great history and significance behind it though?

Denmark's birth certificate, one of the two Jelling Stones.

Dybbøl Windmill.

"To be or not to be," Fighting Knights, Arrows, and Sheep?

2010-02-03T12:01:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I went on several adventures through my Studay abroad program. Saturday included a trip into Elsinore and a tour of Kronborg Castle aka Hamlet's Castle. Elsinore was cute and quaint and a perfect location for such a beautiful castle! There is simply too much to tell about Elsinore... my facebook pictures have a more accurate portrayal of this great place. On Sunday, I went to Esrum Abbey, for some good ol' fashion middle aged fighting games and beer tasting.

This was a great little chocolate shop that had made a miniature Kronborg completely out of chocolate! Yum!

Walking to Kronborg.

Outside of the castle... why yes, that is Sweden in the background!

View of Kronborg from the inside, I don't know if that makes sense or not

This is where they Baptise children in the Kronborg church. Interestingly enough, this also used to be a bird bath of the famous Italian Medici family.

The following pictures capture me jumping out of my comfort zone. Seriously y'all. Fighting!? Sheep!? Shooting Arrows!? It was a great day and although I was a little hesitant at first, I am so glad I had these experiences.

Here I am, fighting the "knight." He was intense, to say the least.

When all the other sheep ran away, this little guy stuck around to say hello, even in the snow!

Here I am, after my great shot!

I don't know if you can see it from this picture, but yes, that is my arrow on the left side of the target!!!

Group øl: 2nd place in the middle ages fighting competition!

Great Abbey Ale! Terrific to end an awesome weekend!

Danes, Kroner, and MOMS

2010-02-01T14:10:00.000-08:00

I feel like everyday I am learning something new about Denmark. Today, for example, I had a few hours to kill in between classes and I decided to experience some danish shopping on one the longest pedestrian shopping street in Europe, Strøget.

The salesperson in one store started speaking really fast in Danish and I was lost- I had to ask "English, Please?" To which I got a friendly "Ohhh, Ok!" and we continued the conversation in English. After she saw my huge not-so-Danish backpack, she asked me if I was American and if I wanted a receipt with the tax information on it because VAT or MOMS, as the Danes call it, is not added at the register (and therefore on the receipt) like in the states- a whopping 25% sales tax is already added in to the price that you see on the tag.

She asked me this because apparently, if you live outside of the EU, you can get a tax-free refund on items purchased in Denmark! Sure, there are a lot of rules and regulations to this policy (that I won't take the time to list here but the website is http://www.eurorefund.com/) but this is certainly something to look into for my future purchases!

So now I know, and now you know, this Dane was extremely kind and taught me about MOMS and a way to save some Kroner!

Weekend of Birthdays

2010-01-31T00:38:00.000-08:00

Yesterday (Jan 30) and today (Jan 31) are two very special birthdays! Happy Birthday Dad and Cameron! Love and miss yall!
1. Cameron walking to Laura's bday dinner
2. Dad, Cameron and Laura at bday dinner

3. Justin, Dad and me

Snow and Snow and More Snow!

2010-01-27T07:23:00.000-08:00

I checked the 10 day forecast for Copenhagen this morning and it is supposed to snow for the next ten days! Here are some pictures of my host family's house and street, covered in snow...

1. Shed/garage view from side door of the house.
2. View of the street to the left, Bregnerød Kro & Hotel is the red building at the end of the street.
3. The oh-so-attractive socks on the outside of the jeans to keep them dry, accompanied by my classically American New Balance shoes. I had no idea I would actually need real snow boots!
4. Welcome to the Melgaard Residence!
5. Me in front of my host family's house!

Mail Time!

2010-01-26T14:21:00.000-08:00

Just in case anyone needs/wants it, here is my address!

Jacquelyn Elisabeth Chapman
c/o DIS, Danish Institute for Study Abroad
Vestergade 7
DK- 1456 Copenhagen K
Denmark

This is what DIS had to say about sending mail:
"For most items, list the contents of packages as “used personal belongings” (e.g.; clothing, textbooks, etc.) so that it can be cleared through customs. The sender should declare a $0 dollar value for the package to avoid customs duty charges; however, if they open the package and estimate a higher value, your son or daughter will be charged customs!

If you need to insure a package that is more valuable, you’ll be required to declare a higher dollar value. This will affect the customs duty charges in Denmark, which can vary greatly but may be as high as 30-40% of the value of the package. It is the receiver’s responsibility to pay this before the package can be released, so your student may receive a hefty bill from the Danish authorities along with the laptop or iPod you sent for a birthday. For the most up-to-date information, contact the International Trade Commission at 1-800-872-8723. Always explore different options for mailing packages (e.g., through the post office, UPS, FEDEX, etc.) but please be aware that FedEx and UPS will only ship new goods. If you plan to ship used clothes, etc., you must use the US postal service. In most cases, it is actually easier and cheaper to use the US postal service."

Week One in Review

2010-01-26T13:23:00.000-08:00

It absolutely amazes me that I've already been here a little over a week. I am finally adjusted to the time change although I am still adjusting to the cold weather!

Classes started last Thursday and each of my classes has amazing experiences and information to offer. Tonight, for example, I went to a cafe with my Danish language and culture class for (complimentary) dinner and drink. On Thursday, my Creative Industries class is canceled in the afternoon and we will instead go to a night club/concert venue called Vega (vega.dk - check out all the different types of music that go there!) to get a private tour of the club(s) and (if we want to, which, who wouldn't!)we get to stay at Vega and see the US band, OK Go! This is pretty much the coolest study abroad program ever.

Last Saturday, I went to Roskilde Cathedral & Roskilde Viking ship Museum learn about the lineage of the Kings and Queens of Denmark (38 are buried at the Cathedral) and the Viking ship museum had 5 original Viking ships that had been found out in the fjord. The trip was really interesting and I even got to walk out on a frozen fjord! We could hear it cracking under our feet- it was pretty intense- but luckily, I didn't fall in! :)

On Sunday, I went to the beautiful Frederiksborg Castle- it houses a museum of the History of Denmark through paintings (like the Andy Warhol original of Queen Margrethe II in his "Reigning Queens" series) and antique furnishings. There are gardens outside of the castle that one can usually explore- but it was so cold on Sunday that I couldn't even bare it- I guess that means I will just have to go back when it is warmer!

This weekend I will be going to the middle age Esrum Abbey (not sure what this will entail... more details after I've gone!) and to Kronborg Castle in Elsinore- which is where Shakespeare's Hamlet took place!

I have been having technical difficulties with my camera, so I don't have much documentation of what I've done thus far but my camera seems to be working just fine now so hopefully I'll have more pictures next update!

For now, here is a stolen picture of me standing on the frozen fjord... you can't really tell that it is supposed to be water under all that snow but I swear it is!

Letter to Jet Lag.

2010-01-19T12:35:00.000-08:00

Dear Jet Lag,

I have been here 3 days now with 2 nights of restless sleep. Please go away now and let me sleep through the night so I can explore Copenhagen better tomorrow. I do not understand why you are hanging around because you left me much more quickly when I arrived in Italy in October. Also, I would like to write a better blog post (not addressing Jet Lag) when I am more alert- another great reason for you to hit the road!

XOXO,
Elisabeth

Airport. Waiting.

2010-01-16T12:52:00.000-08:00

This is probably the scariest trip to the airport I've ever made. My dad and boyfriend just dropped me off at Charlotte-Douglas and now I am here for the next two hours waiting to board the plane and take off. A big part of why I wanted to study abroad is because I felt like I've never done anything alone- and this experience is definitely me doing something alone and that is sinking in as I sit here in the airport.

So, to pass the time, I am going to share my ever growing knowledge of Denmark to the blogging world. I really didn't know much about Denmark before I decided to study there- I honestly chose the Danish Institute of Study Abroad based on the academic program- it had nothing to do with location. But, the more I learn about Copenhagen and Denmark, the more excited I am for this trip.

Here are some random tidbits I've learned from my DIS Student Handbook:

Denmark is a Constitutional Monarchy.
Denmark has one of the world's most extensive networks of alternative energy sources.
The government operates by the "Social Welfare Model" which allows all citizens to have access to social benefits (such as healthcare, home care, unemployment). This is possible because of the combination of high economic growth and relatively equal income distribution.
Danes love bikes- it is estimated that each Dane rides about 3KM each day by bicycle. (And I will be a part of this statistic- I will be riding 1.5 miles each day between the train station take the train into Copenhagen) and my host family's house each day.
It will be really cold in January and February- think: cold blast the east coast has had for the past month.
Danish Hygge: roughly translated, it means "cozy and snug" This is a concept that my handbook says implies shutting out the turmoil and troubles of the outside world and striving instead for a warm and intimate mood. I'm excited to experience this way of life!
Denmark is 6 hours ahead of EST.

Okay, the random facts about Denmark have helped ease my nerves. Now I just need to get on the plane and get going!

Packing.

2010-01-15T08:55:00.000-08:00

That is the daunting task of the day. Where to begin? What to do with everything? How do I compress everything I might need into two suitcases and a carry-on without knowing what to expect for the next four months in a new place?

I found a packing list online(http://www.bus.wisc.edu/international/studyabroad/predeparture/packinglist.asp) and here is what they suggest:

General Packing Tips

-Clearly identify your luggage inside and out with your name and US & overseas address. Colored tape can make it easy to identify among similar baggage.

-Place a strap or piece of rope around your suitcase to secure it in case the lock breaks.

-Check airline regulations for weight, size and number of bags

-In your carry-on, keep a change of clothes, toiletries, valuables, important documents (passports, visas, arrival instructions) and medications in their original containers

Miscellaneous Items

-$100 in local currency for when you first arrive

-Map of your host city

-Guidebook of your region and of the places where you will travel

-Photocopy of your passport information pages. Also leave a copy at home.

-International calling card and access numbers for the countries where you will travel.

-Phone numbers to cancel credit cards in case of theft (800 numbers don't work outside US)

-Board games or cards, as you will not likely have a TV

-Music player, walkman or shock absorbent CD player, portable speakers, power supply

-Camera

-Journal

-Addresses and photos of family and friends

-Favorite recipes (note metric & Celsius conversions)

-Small items to use as gifts (e.g., UW decals, key chains, magnets)

-Travel alarm clock

-Umbrella

-Sunglasses

-Small sewing kit

-Money belt

-Day pack (for short trips; this could double as your carry-on)

-If you plan to travel, Swiss army knife with bottle opener, corkscrew, & can opener, absorbent fast-drying and small-to-pack towel (available at outdoors stores like Erehwon, Fontana and REI)

-If you bring a laptop, inquire about international voltage converters at an electronics store

-Power strip so you only have to purchase one converter (if you plan to bring several items that require plug-in to an electrical outlet)

-Purchase bedding, linens and kitchenware abroad, if your finances permit. They take up a lot of space and are easy to find overseas.

-Your advisor's email address

Clothing

-Consider both the physical & social climate; dress accordingly. Persons in other countries tend to dress a bit more formally than we do in the US.

-Dark colors do not show dirt as readily

-Take durable, drip-dry, no-iron clothes

-Take items that have multiple uses and (for colder climates) can be layered.

-Comfort and practicality are the keys for both clothing and shoes

-Bring one professional outfit in case of a site visit to a company or job/internship interview (or in my case, for study tours with my International Business class)

-Bring comfortable walking shoes.

Toiletries

-Don't overstock on toiletries; most things are available in major cities abroad. Women may want to bring a preferred brand of tampons or pads, as they may not be as readily available abroad.

-Transfer liquids from breakable containers into plastic containers; use tape to seal the lids when traveling or pack them in ziplock bags to separate them from clothing

-Prescription drugs for the duration of your time abroad (in your carry-on)

-Extra eyeglasses

-Pocket pack of Kleenex

Voltage

Most appliances you have purchased in the U.S. are designed to work on 110 voltage, while most of the world outside the U.S. and Canada operates on 220 voltage. To convert the 220 voltage energy to 110 voltage (for your appliance to function), you will need to purchase a travel voltage converter (or, if the appliance is relatively inexpensive, purchase a new one in the host country). Countries that operate on 220 voltage include Austria, Chile, China, Denmark, Hong Kong, Norway and the United Kingdom. Countries that use both 110 and 220 voltage within their borders include France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Singapore, Spain and Sweden.

Voltage isn't the only thing that varies from country to country. Electrical wall outlets also differ in shape, assortment and arrangement of holes. To be prepared, make sure you get an adapter set to go with the converter.

Now of course I won't be following this list exactly... but it is a nice starting off point- especially since packing for this trip makes it extremely real to me (as in... I leave tomorrow! AHH!) and my nerves have definitely kicked in and are in full force now!

A New Year, A New Blog, and A New Adventure!

2010-01-12T13:27:00.001-08:00

Hello friends, family and fellow bloggers!

As most of you know, I'm heading to Denmark on Saturday to embark on a whole new adventure. That's right- I'm going to be studying international business through the Danish Institute of Study Abroad (dis.dk - if you are interested in learning more about my program!) in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The first thing people usually say to me when I tell them about this, is- "O M G! That is so exciting! Are you nervous? Who are you going with? No one? Ohhh, so you are doing it all by yourself!? That's scary but exciting! So you are nervous? We aren't even going to talk anymore- I guess I'll just see you in May!" Now clearly this is a little bit of an exaggeration of how the conversation goes but I kid you not- the conversation always includes a comment about my nervousness (as if I need the constant reminder!), the excitement of it all and on occasion, a question of how I will be able to keep in contact with everyone.

So let me address this once and for all, to all my loved ones...

Denmark has internet access.

I know, I know! It's incredibly hard to believe that this is even possible (I hope you are sensing the extreme amount of sarcasm right now) but I will have access to the internet and I will be able keep in touch. I'm not sure if my host family has internet at their home (currently trying to figure out a way to ask them to ease the minds of my loved ones before I leave) but even if they don't, my school has a computer lab that I will be able to use. I do not intend on spending all of my time on the internet by any means- I feel like that is a sure fire way for me to get homesick- but I do intend to stay in touch with loved ones back home as best as I can. (and hopefully convince some of them to come visit!!!)

As of right now, I am incredibly nervous and trying not to think about it in a "big picture" kind of way. Instead, I am focusing on all the little things that I need to take care of before I leave, like letting my bank know I'll be abroad, buying tons of longjohns and warm socks, setting up my new blog and skype, etc. I find that these small tasks remind me enough about what I'm doing and right now, that's all I can handle.

Of course I am excited and can't wait for this adventure to begin- but I've had about two weeks of nothing to do but over-think everything and not knowing what to expect can be nerve-racking.

As a good friend said to me, If I don't like it... I can just get on a plane and come home. But as a new friend said to me... I've never heard of anymore who didn't have the time of their life while studying abroad and to enjoy this experience as much as possible! I think I'll focus on the second friend's advice for now!

So finally, here's to a new year, a new blog, and a new adventure! I can't wait to get it started and share my life and travel experiences with you all!

Skål! That's "cheers" in Danish for those of you not familiar with the language yet! ;)