It’s finally hit me, fittingly at the near halfway point; I’m here for four months. The honey moon phase has passed as the assessments rolled in one by one; first a midterm, then a few reflective papers. Given the time of the semester, it’s most undoubtably appropriate. Simultaneously, there’s a realization that my time abroad is already half-way over. Part of this gives way to concern as I realize the limited time I have left, as well as the applications I must complete with law school and next summer looming. Yet there’s excitement as well, compiling stories of my time abroad and the places I’ve visited. There’s still time to make new memories though; making these remaining weeks essential in their own right.
A Month In
As crazy as it sounds, a month has already passed. Everyone speaks of how quickly time passes when you’re in college and studying abroad, yet there’s no preparing for how fast it comes and goes. In this past month, I’ve had the opportunity to visit two new countries (Germany and Sweden), semi-learned how to ride a bike, had my first proper assessments while abroad, and sampled various eateries. Not to mention the number of acquaintances I’ve made through the chancy nature of life.
On a sidenote, I also made family dinner for my floormates for the first time. A tradition in the kollegium setting I call home, my roommate and I chose to make breakfast for dinner. This meant bacon, scrambled eggs, watermelon, pancakes, and a fruit bowl along with the ubiquitous orange juice and maple syrup; for it isn’t truly breakfast for dinner without such critical additions.
What’s next on the docket? A date with the rest of Europe as I turn my eyes both eastward and westward. With luck, I’ll encounter a few more of the stumbling stones shown to my class and I during our short study tour, leaving their marks on cities besides those in the German heartland. Expect pictures in the near future of my upcoming sojourns.
Till next time,
Tyler
A Trek Through The City
As a part of my Danish Language and Culture course, we were given the task of exploring a portion of Copenhagen. For my group and I, this meant a trip to Frederiksstaden. It was an intriguing place, home to both the professional and the touristy. On one hand, there was the epic, expansive guise of the Amalienborg place courtyard, anchored by four palaces situated across from each other.
Situated as such, it made for a powerful message; more importantly, the format allowed for a direct line of sight to the Opera House situated across the canal and another line of sight to the Marble Church behind the Amalienborg courtyard.
Considering that a snack wouldn’t be remiss, we went searching, arriving at a quaint establishment known as Mormors. Meaning Grandma’s in Danish, it exuded a homely vibe, reinforced by the knickknacks on the wall and the expansive dining room table in the center of the establishment. In short, it brought to mind hygge (more on that in the coming months as fall and winter settle in). Add in a delicious smoothie and scrumptious pastries and it quickly became well…grandma’s. When placed together, the result was an experience proved both refreshing and invigorating as I continue to make Copenhagen my new home.
First Impressions
The first week in Copenhagen draws to a close. So far, I’ve sampled Danish cuisine, found a few hole in the walls, and made some new acquaintances. For the first time this summer, I went the beach, seeing the country of Sweden peek above the horizon as I swam through sea’s clear depths. The gleeful chaos of the Copenhagen Pride festival made for a wild introduction to the city on Saturday, yet it showed the lively potential that bubbled beneath the surface of the city. It was odd seeing a McDonalds, KFC, and a Burger King so far away from home; even weirder to be able to order a Big Mac. Perhaps one thing that surprised me was the prevalence of English; it was not only spoken, but spoken well to the point of locals switching between Danish and English seamlessly. There’s so much to say given the fullness of this past week; even more to unpack. However, I’ll leave you with this: Velkommen til København.
Caramel Plato 