Life is a miracle

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
- Albert Einstein.

Enjoy. Appreciate. Laugh. Create. Love. Dream.

Is Denmark a city here?

Americans are generally very straightforward, open-minded, friendly and interested, which is what I really like about them. But OMG they can really ask questions where I’m just thinking: “Where have you been your whole life?” A lot of them haven’t even been out of the borders of the country, so actually it doesn’t surprise me. Of course they can travel around USA their whole life and still not see it all, and USA is also different from state to state, so they still see change – but it’s still the same country, the same government, the same people. And that is all they know. A lot of them live in their own little bubble, and don’t know what’s going on outside their country – and it’s a shame. Even though USA is a big country, the still only get to see a fraction of what the world is like. I don’t want to generalize, but after being asked questions like the ones below, I can’t help thinking like this – Jamie Oliver has tried to change the Americans’ eating habits; I would instead kick them in the butt and send them out, no matter where, just out. Travel, explore, taste and meet new people.

Examples from conversations with Americans – from me and others:

American:”So did you speak English before you came here?”

Isn’t English an International language? ;-) I could understand his question if I had been from Zimbabwe or somewhere like that, but Denmark, come one.

American 1: “So do you speak English as a native language in Norway?”

American 2: “No they speak Russian”

Eh, no. I just wonder who told him that?

Drunk American:“Do you know what poor means?”

Me: “Yes”

Drunk American:“It’s like when people don’t have any money and…”

Me: “I know what it means!”

Okay, she was young and very drunk, but this was definitely not the only of her sentences I couldn’t help laughing about. She also began explaining the word “passion” even though I told her at least 5 times I knew what I meant.

American: ”So do you speak any languages besides English and Dutch?”

Danish, not Dutch… Tiiiiny difference.

American: “Is Denmark a city here?”

I have no words…

American: “You have the cutest accent, where are you from?”

Oscar: “Sweden”

American: “Is it nearby?”

Oskar: (sighs) “… yeah it’s just down the street”

Besides that some people think Denmark or Norway is the capital of Sweden, that it always snows in Denmark (no, we are not a part of Antarctica), and that we have polar bears around… But you can't really do anything else than laugh about it - but absolutely not when in the moment they ask, cause they won't understand why you laugh.

Besides that I've had a really good weekend. Friday we shortly went to the beach plus enjoying a frappuccino at starbucks. I later found out that Mel Gibson had been in the same starbuks this friday - unfortunately not when I was there :-) Saturday my hostmom had her birthday party, so the house was full of appetizers and people. Sundag's weather was againg exceptional. Christina and I went to the gym to work out and tan by the pool. We had lunch and the pier whereafter I met Rebecca and Erik to get youghurtland companied by the beach and the sunset. Besides that i watched Denmark play the final in the European Championships this morning (handball) - and denmark WON! I am so proud to be a Dane :-)

I am a Godfather

Amazing cover of an Amazing song

I am now a Peer Ambassador Leader - aka "Godfather" for the school. We are about 10 people who got picked to be these ambassadors; we will be mentors for new students, guiding tours and be in charge of activities. A very exciting opportunity i think - and we will end up with a recommendation letter as well :-) So to every future student: be open, be friendly, attend social activities and do your best in school - you might be rewarded. Here is a little bit from the small essay i had to write for the program:

I believe that meeting people from other countries is important; it gives you a wider point of view and a bigger picture of what the world is like. Meeting new cultures, traditions and norms will create respect, interest and knowledge that you will always have with you. I have travelled a lot my whole life which I truly believe have created who I am today, so I can’t pick one experience that stands out in importance. I think all my experiences are important, small or big, short or long, and they have all somehow mattered to me. They have given me and taught me a lot, so I wish for everyone to travel as much as possible and meet as many different nationalities as possible. Without that I don’t know who I would have been today, and I can’t imagine my life without it. I think travelling is a part of growing up; it is education itself, so I feel sorry for the people who never get the chance to do so.

Besides that, the weather has been wonderful the last couple of days - and it looks like its continuing for a while, so i will probably end up at the beach this weekend.

The beach in January



Rebecca and I

L.A. Lakers game

Good news! I made a mistake in my last blog saying I have 6 weeks left with EF - I then had 7 weeks! Which means 6 weeks from friday.

This Saturday I spend hours shopping with Rebecca, and I ended up with a lot, maybe too much, new stuff. Isn't it always like that?? Saturday we experienced a L.A. Lakers game, when the team played against Indiana Pacers. On the way to Staples Center we passed a movie shooting, only because we drove wrong - then you truly know that you're in L.A! Lakers lost with 2 points though (the last quarter was so exciting I almost had to close my eyes). But on the bright side it was still a cool experience and I got cotton candy!

Next monday Rebecca and I will go to a free Nada Surf concert in Amoebe Music! Besides that, I'm not sure what the next week will bring...

Btw, as you might have notice, I have changed the design a little bit. Do you like it? Vote in the poll to the right -->

6 weeks left with EF

I especially love the chorus of this beautiful song!

4 months have now passed. 4 months with adventures and challenges; with happiness and laughter; with new sorroundings and changes. 4 months with amazing experiences and incredible characters. 4 months have passed way to fast. I now have 6 weeks left with EF and 2 weekds in beautiful Hawaii - and i intend to enjoy it as much as possible, even though I find it unbelievably sad. I don't think I will ever think about the word "time" as much as I do now. I count the days unconsciously - and not of the reasons you normally do, but maybe because that way I remind myself to appreciate every single one. I can currently not imagine coming back to the daily round - coming back to everything I left 4 months ago. I can't even imagine how I'm going to "settle down" again. Here I'm sorrounded by the same people everyday and it ties us together somehow, and leaving with the thought that I might not meet them again hurts. I have on the other side created a network dispersed over the whole world, which I hopefully will be an advantage in the future. I miss a lot of people back home, but I'm still not quiet ready to go home.

Lots of work-outs in the gym, delicious food at the Cheesecake Factory, Karaoke night and school is what my last week has contained. Today I face another work-out and the weekend will include shopping, the cinema and hopefully good food. We also have plans to go to a Lakers game soon!