Quick Update!

So now I've officially been in Denmark for 3 weeks, and WOW has the time flew by!
Its been such a great journey already. I've meet amazing people, gotten closer to my host family, and have just about mastered the art of biking. I'm learning how to appreciate the little things in life that I have just otherwised ignored. I'm learning that its not the big things in life that determine our happiness, but its the little things.

Being here in Denmark makes me realize how much I appreciate my life back home as well. And obviously some things I wish I had back home. I miss things being simple back home. I miss not being in the spotlight. Funny, we all want attention right? Thats the thing I've learned, is that there is nothing thats normal. As an exchange student, I dont think anything can be that normal.
The only thing that will stay constant for me this whole year it school. Everything else is a constant change, and readjustment.

And I guess you can say I have had my great culture shock. I had gone to a party with my host sis. to meet some more people from my school, and there was SO MUCH alcohol! I expected there would be a lot, but maybe I just wasn't prepared for it. To me its a shock mainly because in the U.S you don't drink until your 21, and if you do before that its obviously not in the open.
I just realized that its not right, its not wrong, its just different. I'm not in agreement with the things that happen, but I'm not in disagreement with it either.
I just understand now what to expect, and how to respond to it. Luckily, when people are drinking they tend to be a bit more friendly, and they then suddenly want to speak english. So I really have nothing to complain about ;)

But the big picture of everything that went down is this: I'm becoming a stronger person by going through the happy times and dealing with the difficult times. I'm learning what its like to be open minded, and to give everything a chance to prove itself right, wrong, or just simply different.

I love Denmark with my whole being, and I'm so in-love with the danes. I refuse to be like those authors that generalize a whole nation, because as I'm living here I realized that its IMPOSSIBLE to stereotype a whole nation, because if I did, it wouldn't be accurate.

Heres somethings I got from a book awhile back that concerned me about DK
-Danes hate it when people cry, they dont appreciate weakness
-Danes are very competative, and they HATE loosing
-Danes are usually very happy because of the amount of alcohol they consume
ETC

Ummm... I don't know what kind of danes this author met, but I haven't come across any that believe in those such thing.

And it goes both ways. People probably are expecting me to be like 250 lbs, loud mouthed, rude, and arrogant because I'm from the U.S.
So therefore, put down these dumb books that stereotype EVERY COUNTRY, because in all honesty, their not being fair. Let it be up to you how you view the world, and don't let anyones judgment affect your views.

Ok so Im kinda rambling today.... lets keep it going this style =)

Anyways, tommrow morning I leave for the Intro. Camp in Bjerringbro! I'm SUPER excited. I can't wait to meet the other exchange students, to learn more danish, and to visit Århus!
Its going to be an amazing adventure.
Especially when we play soccer, haha, Im not sure I'm capable of doing so... thus making it a GREAT adventure ;))))

Here's my schedule for the week


Sunday
-8:10AM take train from CPH Central Station to Jutland
-Arrive around 1 PM
-1:30 have a welcom speech, tour the school, and settle in
-6:oo dinner
-7:30 Evening assembly

Monday
- Breakfast
-Morning assembly
-Danish lessons
-Lunch
-Danish lessons
-Evening activites (Soccer, Drama, Chior)

Tuesday
-Breakfast
-Morning assembly
-Danish lessons
-Lunch
-Danish Lessons
-"Teenagers in DK"-workshop
-Dinner
-Evening activites (Soccer, Drama, Chior)

Wednesday
-Breakfast
-Morning assembly
-Danish Lessons
-Lunch
-Excursion to Viborg
-Dinner
-Surprise/Entertainment =)

Thursday
-Breakfast
-Morning assembly
-Danish cultural history
-Danish lessons
-Lunch
-Danish lessons
-Dinner
-Danish film

Friday
-Breakfast
-Morning assembly
-Excursion to Århus (Aros)
-SHOPPING!!!
-Dinner
-Evening activities (Soccer, Drama, Chior)

Saturday
-Breakfast
-Morning assmembly
-Danish lessons
-Lunch
-Eval. of course, meet with district counselor
-Banquet/ Party/ Diskotek

Sunday
-Breakfast
-Morning assembly
-Farvel, Goobye =)


So it should be a GREAT week. Im really looking forward to all the great activites planned.
Anyways, I will update you all by next Sunday how things went.
I won't have my comp. with so this is how you will know what I'm up to ;)


Peace & Love,

Megan =)