A Relaxing week :)

Greetings everyone! Thught it was about time for an update, as I know you all are on the edges of your seats as to what I have been up to.

This week has been really pleasant, the weather not permitting for the most part, however. The weather actually predicted 100% chance of rain last night--being a weather forecaster here can't be too hard...just predict a chance of rain, overcast, wiht strong winds and you're gauranteed a raise.

Monday started week number 4 here:
It's crazy unbelievable how fast the time is going. In copenhagen's defense and after my horrible weather rant, I have to say the weather Monday was quite lovely. Thanks to my roommates class at the crack of dawn (literally, thanks!!), I unwillingly rose to the roaring of a blowdryer at 7 am, two hours before my alarm clock was scheduled to ring. (Lucky us, we have no plugs in the bathroom because it floods everytime we shower, so when one of us is getting ready in the morning, the other one should give up trying to sleep). I must have woke up on the right side of the bed, because it ended up being a really great day :)

I had 3 hours to kill before class, so I decided to make a cup of coffee and peruse the NYtimes online, something I have been trying to keep up with. My first few weeks here I felt really cut off from the world news, as we have no tv and no english print newspapers. My laziness at checking the online versions was indeed a factor as well. So I had a cup of coffee (instant, mmmmm) brushed up on the Obama/Clinton fight, and even felt ambitious enough to write a nice long email! The sun was shining (oh my gosh!), and I still had plenty of time before class at 10, so I thought I would go run off the pounds of chocolate and cookies I have been devouring since I arrived in Denmark. (Honestly, I have no idea where these eating habits came from, by I have had these constant, insatiable urges for sweets ever since I got here!) The run was amazing, we have this chain of small lakes right near my house that are just beautiful to run around when the sun is shining and the swans are swimming around. It made me happy :).

While I was running, I was reminded again of the unbelivable fact that I am actually living in Denmark right now. When I really stop and think about this opportunity I have, it amazes me. I was just running around Copenhagen--around the beautiful lakes with the sun shining and the danes pushing their little carriages around and all these people just speaking danish--I'm living in another country. The fact that I'm across the world from my life I've known for 21 years hits me at random times and its mind-boggling to really digest the idea of what I'm actually doing! This city is so charming, and I'm thankful I'm in a place I can call home for 4 months. The journalist in me is struggling for words right now to express the epiphany I had, but I'll just say it took my breath away.

I had class from only 10-12, so the beautiful afternoon was waiting and at my disposal. After a quick lunch, Clair, Megan and I decided to stroll Stroget--the large, famous touristy shopping street downtown--and see if we could hunt down any deals or find any new chocolate shoppes (we did both!! successful afternoon!!). I even attempted blending in with the locals with the jeans tucked into my boots fashion statement. Literally, every danish woman owns a wardrobe comprised of skinny jeans, ridiculously gorgeous boots, and fabulous coats. I just can't quite seem to keep up with these Europeans (it doesn't help that things are deliriously expensive in copenhagen--shopping is a luxury to me while i'm here), but I'm trying!

Monday night we had a pasta dinner with some friends, I can honestly say I have never consumed that much pasta in one sitting--it was impressive, I have to admit haha.

Tuesday:
Raining (Monday apparently was the sunshine for the week). I mostly just camped out in my room cleaning and doing homework among other things. It was a typical lazy, rainy afternoon. On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons our campus bar, A-vej, supplies free coffee, tea and cookies and a fun place to socialize in the afternoon/evening for students (YAY! FREE COFFEE!!!!) I of course take full advantage of the bottomless, free coffee and drink myself into a caffiene oblivion.

Wednesday:
Don't remember if it rained, but I would put money on yes. I had class from 8-4 (yes, I do actually go to class once in awhile), so I didn't pay attention much to the weather. I was having a grumpy hump day and couldn't wait to get home and nap. Wednesday night, however, was a blast!!! We had pizza and cheap wine (mixed with coke..its called "calimocho". That's how the spaniards drink their cheap wine in spain, and I have to say they are on to something!) at a friends house for dinner before heading to studenterhuset (student house/bar) for international night. I have had more group dinners in the last month than in my entire college career thus far--I love it! Dinner time is an activity here, people are always getting together to cook and eat and its a big social activity rather than something we just do quick by ourselves before going out. At home, we always associate social or group dinners with going out to restaurants, but cooking group dinners really eleviates the need to go out and spend money, but still makes it feel like a celebration :)

Thursday:
Class from 1-3, A-vej for coffee and BINGO (the danes call it BANKO), then a delicious stuffed pepper dinner cooked by Megan!! In my apartment building we have absolutely no ovens which really puts a damper on my cooking, so Megan offered to cook Clair and I a lovely dinner for 3. We were all exhausted, so we called it an early night and got some much needed catch up sleep!!!

Friday:
Trip to MALMO, SWEDEN!!! (see next blog post). Friday night was the birthday party for A-vej (yes, it was a birthday party for my campus bar hehe)!! The people on my campus realllllly love their student bar, it was so fun!! It was a packed house, and I actually met a lot of Danes instead of just surrounding myself with only other international students--I know, I'm so brave! It was a festive event, complete with the release of the danish seasonal "easter beer", dice rolling for cheap beer prices, music and dancing!!

GREAT WEEK!!! SORRY FOR THE NOVEL!!!
SKAL!