Today was the day

July 31st- Aug. 1st was one of the most difficult and exciting day I've ever endured.
Here's a recap play by play...

At 1:00 Megan, Kaitlin, and Kathleen came over to say "Vi ses", and we planned for it to be a fun party, minus th sad stuff. However, it was devestating to say goodbye to my friends for a year. Especially because they're my main support system, my influential friends.
Being the amazing friends they are, they made the most amazing gifts I could ask for, with the help of everyone involved (THANKS EVERYONE, IT WAS AMAZING!). It truly, TRULY will help me get through the tough stuff here in Denmark.

Nearing about 5:00 I knew it was time to say goodbye to them for good, thus came the tears. It was one of the hardest things I've had to do, but we managed to get it all done withing 15 mins.

Then came the hard part... the airport. Luckily IcelandAir was being ever so gracious on everything ranging from bypassing overweights bags to allowing my whole family to come to my gate, it helped a TON!

After we spent some quality time together, laughing, and doing everthing but facing the reality of me leaving for a year. Until they called my row, then the tears flew out. It was so hard not to just throw down my bags and say "I DON'T WANNA DO THIS ANYMORE!!". But I didn't, I sobbed all the way to my seat and even more before the plane took off... until.

#1 Lesson taught in being an exchange student BE FLEXIBLE!

The flight attendent tapped me and said, please can you move so this boy can sleep? Of couse I listened and had no issue with it. However, Icelandic accents are SUPER HEAVY and you cant totally understand their english... so when she was saying 25A it sounded like 28. I was already in tears, I sure thought this would do it! But luckily I found my spot, and I sat next to a teen boy about my age headed to Norway to go see his older brother. After that convo. I put on my iPod so I could clear my mind. And I read the inspirational letters Kathleen, Megan, and Kaitlin came up with, it gave me so much strength, I encourage it for future exchanges.
And from then on I didn't talk or think of anything... but getting off the plane to get to Iceland FINALLY!

As the flight was dissmissing its passengers, the boy's father said to me "I'm also apart of Rotary International! May I ask where your going for a year?". Well thank the Lord he was there, he helped me through security and I got my troll from the gift shop in time to be waiting at my gate.

However, when I got to my gate, it was not open, it was completly closed off! So like usual I freak out wondering if I'm going to miss my flight. So I thought I would ask a lady, I noticed she was speaking danish so I said... "Unskyld mig, do you know if this is the right gate to Copenhagen?" and I show her my ticket. She IMMEDEATLY backs off like I have the plauge or something, grabs her kid, and says I don't understand!!!

After that occurance, I went over to the desk and asked, and low and behold it was right. So I go sit back down and I start talking to an elderly couple, who happen to be from Minnesota and the were headed on the same flight. So we began talking, which greatly calmed my nerves. And then together we borded the plane and I managed to be one of the firsts on board. However rule #1 came up again...ANOTHER kid wanted to sleep in my spot, so I was moved to a middle seat between a man who smelt like vodka/cigarettes and a lady who always had her back turned to me, let alone a woman in front of me who would recline her chair back into my lap! It was a miserable 3 hr. flight.

But it was like heaven when I saw those windmills swaying in the wind upon my landing, I couldn't help but to tear up. I was FINALLY in Denmark, after 9 months of preparing. I was there.

It was all smiles until I got off the plane and had NOOO idea where to go, so I walked around aimlessly until a lady came up to me and said... I WAS AN EXCHANGE STUDENT BACK IN 2000! I live her now with my danish husband, so we exchanged emails and she showed me where to be. And right by the baggage claim waited a rotary member, and I was instantly at ease.

So we got our baggage, and went through a mosh pit of people to fin my counselor and of course my beautiful family! I saw Henrik screaming for me, and I ran to him and gave him a hug... I couldn't have been more happier then to see a familiar face! It was great, and following I say Kirsten, Mads Emil, and Anne Catherine. After lots of hugs and pictures (tak henrik), we made it out to the car, and drove through Copenhagen.

The night followed like this:
-Traditional danish open sandwiches
-?'S on what the expect of me
-A walk with Sophus, the dog,
-A tour of their local church built in 1500's
-Long convos with Anne Catherine
-Unpacking
-Lasagna dinner
-Gift giving
-BEDDD!

Its been a journey so far, I miss home very very very much. I wish I could see Sam, Mom, Dad, and Little in person again, but I know it will only make things worse.

I LOVE Denmark, I love the food, I love the straw roofed houses, and I love my host family.
However, being an exchange student isn't easy by any means, BUT the reward will come in the end. I learned today to focus on the positives, and bypass the negatives.

I'm so tired, I've been up for like a day, so I will finish it later. Haha VI SES, To all at home I love you!