Time. To me, that is the scariest word. Every second that passes brings me closer to the end of my exchange, I don't want to waist it at all. I need to live a whole life in the one year I am here in Denmark, and it is already a third of the way through! I still feel that I have yet to accomplish much. The time has been slipping away, three months sounds like a long time but it really isn't. A year isn't a long time. It will be gone in the blink of an eye. This past weekend I went to an exchange get together in Holbæk. It was nice, I just really feel like I missed out, like I was holding back. I realized that I don't really know many of the other exchange students, and I really want to. The South Americans seem like such fun people, but the whole language barrier makes me worried that I would just feel out of place most of the time. I'm just going to start trying to be more involved with seeing them and going to things.
Other than that though everything has been fantastic! I moved to my second host family a few weeks ago, and ever since then I have always just been so happy! I'm actually even less tired (besides the fact that I am still catching up on sleep from the weekend.) Mark (the other Rotary student in Fredericia) and I are good friends now too, we realized that we are very similar people and it's really nice to have someone to talk to that completely understands! Not to mention we are from the same state haha! And I have been talking to people from back home a lot less, which I guess is a good thing. Oh and I started a ballet class! It is wonderful; very very basic but sometimes it is good to go back to the beginning. And I can work on pointe on my own just to keep my ankles strong. I am really tired of hearing about the election all the time! Thank God it will be over tonight! I just hope that Obama wins, or else I will move to Canada when I go home.
Right now I am really trying to work on money management now. I have been saving about 60 kr. a month for euro tour in May. I am so excited for it! I'm pretty sure that I will get to celebrate my birthday there with the other exchange students somewhere in Europe. Anyways back to the money thing, everything here is so expensive and I've just never been too good with money. It goes by so quickly and I never keep track of how much I've spent haha. And I just want to buy everything! That is something that I want to get better at. I also really really need to stop worrying so much! My friend Emily told me that I worry a lot and I thought about it and I really do! Haha I just think too much about what is going to happen. So yeah, at the moment those are my goals.
I am just really happy to be able to be here. I am so grateful for the opportunity and for my parents. How did I get so lucky?!?
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
It's been 8 weeks...
I've been pretty lazy with writing this, sorry. A year ago I wasn't even thinking about being an exchange student and now I am living 3615 miles away from home! I can't even fathom just how fast time is flying! It is actually pretty scary, I mean two months into my exchange already, and in about 2 weeks I will be moving to my second home. Hopefully the move will help with the homesickness I have been feeling lately. A couple of weeks ago the whole "vacation" feeling wore off and I had to go to all of these family birthday parties where the danish was so overwhelming and I really started to miss the foods I'm used to back home (especially breakfast foods.) This is why I think it all started. But I am always really sad and just want to go home long enough to hug my Mama, Bubba, siblings, Mom, Da, Dede, cuddle with my dog Jake, and sleep in my bed...that's all and I promise I'll come right back!
And I got really upset the other night after dance because I also really miss TTSD! It has seriously been a huge part of my life and I miss Tuesday ballet, all of the teachers, the hardcore cardio class we started last year and just everything about it. Dance also has helped me a lot in my life, it was always a place for me to try an let go and express myself. It is just what I need sometimes to make myself feel better, but its a lot harder with hip-hop (which is what I am doing here.) It's also a different kind of hip-hop than I have ever done...its just harder to let loose. But I guess its just all a part of the experience trying new things, getting different perspectives on things, and at least I am getting to dance. I have decided I am just going to work extremely hard on my own with ballet while I am here because I need it sometimes and I also want to be even better when I return than when I left.
Even when I am with a bunch of people, I feel so alone; I am kind of used to it because that is sort of how I felt back home too. Here though it is definitely the language barrier. And I feel like my danish is bad and I am not improving much. Haha, I'm going to start reading some little kid books to see if that will help some. But even though I have been sad my friends at school always make me feel better and take my mind off of it. I am so very happy that I got put into this class because I know that other exchange students have had problems with their classmates not talking to them much and stuff. I honestly don't know what I would do if that was the case for me. I really like them; they are so nice and I don't think they realize how important they are to me. :) I was really worried about making friends haha.
School is boring. At least because I don't understand I don't have to do most of the work that everyone else has to. I am going to have such a hard time next year when I go from doing almost nothing to doing IB! It is also going to be extremely hard going from the Gymnasium back to MCHS! It is just so relaxed here I still can't get over it. I like it this way sooo much more!! Massena is just going to seem so much worse than it already was!
Right now, I still have two months worth of allowance from Rotary! Since everything here is so damn expensive, I am always too afraid to buy anything because I don't want to be poor. I also heard most people gain weight on exchange...so far I've actually lost a little weight. I'm so lucky! I unfortunately though still haven't taken many pictures. I am really going to hate myself for that in the end. It is just so awkward taking pictures of everything!
Even though I am not feeling the best right now I know it is going to get much much better! Once my language improves I think things will be great! I have kind of been slaking by being lazy so I need to start keeping myself busy, I mean I only have 9 months left here so I really don't want to waist a single second of it!
And I got really upset the other night after dance because I also really miss TTSD! It has seriously been a huge part of my life and I miss Tuesday ballet, all of the teachers, the hardcore cardio class we started last year and just everything about it. Dance also has helped me a lot in my life, it was always a place for me to try an let go and express myself. It is just what I need sometimes to make myself feel better, but its a lot harder with hip-hop (which is what I am doing here.) It's also a different kind of hip-hop than I have ever done...its just harder to let loose. But I guess its just all a part of the experience trying new things, getting different perspectives on things, and at least I am getting to dance. I have decided I am just going to work extremely hard on my own with ballet while I am here because I need it sometimes and I also want to be even better when I return than when I left.
Even when I am with a bunch of people, I feel so alone; I am kind of used to it because that is sort of how I felt back home too. Here though it is definitely the language barrier. And I feel like my danish is bad and I am not improving much. Haha, I'm going to start reading some little kid books to see if that will help some. But even though I have been sad my friends at school always make me feel better and take my mind off of it. I am so very happy that I got put into this class because I know that other exchange students have had problems with their classmates not talking to them much and stuff. I honestly don't know what I would do if that was the case for me. I really like them; they are so nice and I don't think they realize how important they are to me. :) I was really worried about making friends haha.
School is boring. At least because I don't understand I don't have to do most of the work that everyone else has to. I am going to have such a hard time next year when I go from doing almost nothing to doing IB! It is also going to be extremely hard going from the Gymnasium back to MCHS! It is just so relaxed here I still can't get over it. I like it this way sooo much more!! Massena is just going to seem so much worse than it already was!
Right now, I still have two months worth of allowance from Rotary! Since everything here is so damn expensive, I am always too afraid to buy anything because I don't want to be poor. I also heard most people gain weight on exchange...so far I've actually lost a little weight. I'm so lucky! I unfortunately though still haven't taken many pictures. I am really going to hate myself for that in the end. It is just so awkward taking pictures of everything!
Even though I am not feeling the best right now I know it is going to get much much better! Once my language improves I think things will be great! I have kind of been slaking by being lazy so I need to start keeping myself busy, I mean I only have 9 months left here so I really don't want to waist a single second of it!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
I'm Actually Here
So right now I'm sitting in Danish class and I don't understand a single word the teacher is saying! It's only my 4th school day so it's understandable. I've been here a little over 2 weeks now and I'm slowly starting to get used to it. I'm definitely still not used to my bike though. I think the majority of embarrassing things that have happened to me so far have been while I was on my bike. When I first got it I didn't realize I was supposed to ride it on the road, I didn't know what the gears were for, I didn't know how to break correctly and I don't really know the traffic laws. And I still am always scared when I am riding it that I am going to get lost. I have been so lucky with the weather though! Ever since I got here the weather has been unusually perfect, so I'm not complaining! I went to the beach on Sunday with some people from my class and the girls told me it hadn't been that hot in Denmark for about 2 years!
I really like my class. I think they are nice, and they talk to me and translate for me. I think because they can speak English so well and I always talk to them in English that I am going to have a harder time learning Danish. I am starting Danish lessons so that should help a bit. Well back to my class, there are only three boys in it. I honestly don't think they mind it though. Being with this one class all the time is very different for me but I think it's nice that I will be able to get close with them. Maybe not quite as close as in gym class though, everyone showers naked and just walks around naked, it surprised me. I felt awkward at first but it isn't as bad because they aren't weird about it at all. They are all used to it, I just needed to get over myself. Even though I never really have anything to do in class I still like at the moment. It gives me something to do and I get to be with people my own age and stuff.
I like my host family. I am sort of still getting used to the environment of the house though, but I am slow with that kind of stuff. The food here is good. They use a lot of onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers. So lots of vegetables. I was surprised about how a lot of Danes make dressings and breads and things by themselves. I like that. I know it's healthy and all, but I don't really like the rugbrød. It has a very, interesting taste. And I do not like liquorice! It is so bitter.
About homesickness and culture shock, not here yet. I only miss my dog. I am sad none of my host families has one. At least my third family has a cat. Isa. I still always dream of home, but I am now to the point I know I am going to wake up in Fredericia. I am even used to not being able to understand what is going on. I tend to drown it out a lot, which isn't so good. I have to focus, but its so hard and it gives me a headache. I can't wait until I can at least understand Danish!! Then I will have a little feeling of accomplishment for a while, then the next challenge will be to speak. Haha this will be fun!
I really like my class. I think they are nice, and they talk to me and translate for me. I think because they can speak English so well and I always talk to them in English that I am going to have a harder time learning Danish. I am starting Danish lessons so that should help a bit. Well back to my class, there are only three boys in it. I honestly don't think they mind it though. Being with this one class all the time is very different for me but I think it's nice that I will be able to get close with them. Maybe not quite as close as in gym class though, everyone showers naked and just walks around naked, it surprised me. I felt awkward at first but it isn't as bad because they aren't weird about it at all. They are all used to it, I just needed to get over myself. Even though I never really have anything to do in class I still like at the moment. It gives me something to do and I get to be with people my own age and stuff.
I like my host family. I am sort of still getting used to the environment of the house though, but I am slow with that kind of stuff. The food here is good. They use a lot of onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers. So lots of vegetables. I was surprised about how a lot of Danes make dressings and breads and things by themselves. I like that. I know it's healthy and all, but I don't really like the rugbrød. It has a very, interesting taste. And I do not like liquorice! It is so bitter.
About homesickness and culture shock, not here yet. I only miss my dog. I am sad none of my host families has one. At least my third family has a cat. Isa. I still always dream of home, but I am now to the point I know I am going to wake up in Fredericia. I am even used to not being able to understand what is going on. I tend to drown it out a lot, which isn't so good. I have to focus, but its so hard and it gives me a headache. I can't wait until I can at least understand Danish!! Then I will have a little feeling of accomplishment for a while, then the next challenge will be to speak. Haha this will be fun!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Getting closer...
So, only about 27 days left now! I'm a bit nervous because I have kind of been slacking with learning danish...I am a horrible procrastinator! Thats definitely something I need to work on. I'm also a bit stressed with all the preparations I have yet to do. I need to buy insurance and pins, pack up my room for the student living in my house, decide what I want to give to my families for gifts and then order them. Plus I'm kind of mad at myself for not making the time I have left here worth wild. I feel like I'm waisting time!
My sister, Mik, will be home from California tomorrow. She was an exchange student in Finland a long time ago, so I'm hoping she'll be able to help me with all the packing and stuff! Then my mom is having a graduation/going away party for Mikayla and I. That will be fun. What I am really looking forward to before I leave though is my last Outbound weekend. Well its not really the weekend, but I don't really know what else to call it. I get to see all my friends one last time before we all take off around the world!! It's going to be awesome! And I'm also carpooling with Tyson and Nate, which should be fun, I just can't wait! We sort of planned one before and it didn't work out, so hopefully this one is fine. :) I'm pretty sure I'm going to cry when its time to say good-bye because I have gotten pretty close to these guys, and I cry really easily. We're going to have the time of our lives though!
My sister, Mik, will be home from California tomorrow. She was an exchange student in Finland a long time ago, so I'm hoping she'll be able to help me with all the packing and stuff! Then my mom is having a graduation/going away party for Mikayla and I. That will be fun. What I am really looking forward to before I leave though is my last Outbound weekend. Well its not really the weekend, but I don't really know what else to call it. I get to see all my friends one last time before we all take off around the world!! It's going to be awesome! And I'm also carpooling with Tyson and Nate, which should be fun, I just can't wait! We sort of planned one before and it didn't work out, so hopefully this one is fine. :) I'm pretty sure I'm going to cry when its time to say good-bye because I have gotten pretty close to these guys, and I cry really easily. We're going to have the time of our lives though!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Waiting Impatiently
Denmark was my first choice for countries, so when I found out I was getting the change to live there for 10 months, I was beyond excited! There are only 45 days until I leave my home, everything I know and love behind, shouldn't I be a bit nervous? I'm sure it will hit me soon enough, that feeling in my stomach and I'll be asking myself 'What did I get myself into...' Right now though I feel so lucky to be able to do this, to have parents who love me enough to let me leave, to be a part of the Rotary program, and to be brave enough to take this opportunity. I am absolutely in love with the Danish language, I cant wait till I am able to speak it! Its going to be extremely hard to leave all my friends and family behind, I'm going to miss so much, but Denmark is where I really want to be. :)
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