Tak For Mad

Tak for mad (pronounced tak for "mel") is a key Danish phrase. Probably the one I've used most often since I arrived. It means, thank you for the meal, and it's considered very rude if you don't say it after every meal. Seeing as how consumption of food has become my new sport here, "tak for mad" is vital. On Friday, I had my usual cereal, bread, sausage, cheese, jam, peanut butter, butter, tea- breakfast. Then a snack of bread with butter, cheese, and sausage around 11. For a lunch I split a tomato, mozzarella, basil, sandwich and chicken pasta salad with a friend. We then ventured to our new favorite cafe, The Living Room, where I had a hot chocolate. Two hours later, after class, I found myself back at The Living Room, drinking a mocha espresso milkshake and eating chocolate cake. I don't even remember what was for dinner, but I bet there were potatoes and meat involved (Danish staples, at least in my family). Needless to say, I got enough motivation on Friday to go on my first run since I've been here and offset at least a quarter of the calories seeping into my body. I got a little lost on my way back though, plus it started to snow really hard and there was insane wind. I came back with ice in my hair. Don't know if that will be happening again anytime soon. I did recently join a gym called Fitness World, so hopefully that will allow me to continue my chocolate, cheese, and butter consumption.

Moving on from food...what happened this week?? It snowed a lot and I'm so over it. I've realized several things about snow:
1. It shouldn't last long. Maybe a day
2. It's only exciting if it doesn't happen often
3. Snow excitement is heightened if there's a prospect that its happening means staying home from school, baking cookies, and not being able to drive anywhere. Here, life just keeps on going, which pretty much just means you're freezing all the time.

So like I said, despite the two snow storms we had this week, life went on. I went to class, visited Odense-the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen (he's a big deal around here), discovered more cafes (including one called Cafe G, which Leah and I were very amused by given its proximity in name to Club G, which people jokingly use to refer to Gelman Library at GW), went out a couple times, etc, etc. Last night, we went to a club/bar called Den Glade Gris, which translates to The Happy Pig, and it was so much fun! Great music, two levels-one with a DJ and one with live music, mix of Danes, Americans, we even met two Spaniards on "holiday" as they said. We will definitely be returning there.

Also this week, I was chosen to be one of four students working on a student-produced newsletter called DIScoverCPH (DIS is my study abroad program). I'm excited to get to continue writing for a publication while I'm here, and that it's tied with an excuse to explore Copenhagen and find fun places to hang out. Oh, I realize that I haven't even given a run-down of my classes here! For the most part, they definitely aren't like classes at GW. A little easier and not as stimulating. But we do get to go on some really cool study tours, our first of which is this coming weekend. We will visit two places in Western Denmark. And then a couple weeks later, we get to spend a week in London studying media. I'm very excited. Here's what I'm taking:

Current Trends in News Media- my core course. It's interesting, though some of the concepts/theories I've already learned. Focusing on media in Europe is new though, plus this is the class I travel to London with, so I'm looking forward to it.

Photojournalism- I really like this class. My professor is an awesomely European guy who wears tight jeans and sweaters and black combat boots. This is my most stimulating and thought-provoking class so far. For our main project, we have to pick someone to photograph (someone we don't know and it can't be a student, faculty member, hostfamily member, anyone) for the entire semester. I'm still brainstorming ideas of what I could do, but I think this is a great opportunity to meet Danes and become involved with native life.

From Homer to Harry Potter: European Storytelling- so we don't actually get to read Homer or Harry Potter in this class, but we do get to talk about fairytales and storytelling all the time, which is pretty fun.

Political Rhetoric- really boring so far. Not looking forward to this. My professor is new, has never taught before, and you can tell he's a little nervous and unsure of himself. This bothers me because I like teachers who are confident and take control of the classroom...don't let kids bullshit them.

Hans Christian Andersen and the Danish Golden Age- this class is really similar to my storytelling one. We pretty much read fairytales and talk about them. My teacher is great- an American who has a pretty interesting story of coming to study in Copenhagen in high school, then returning during college, and now teaches at DIS. She's been here more than 20 years and speaks fluent Danish, which I think is really impressive

That's the low down. I wish I could say that everything is amazing, amazing, amazing and I'm having the time of my life, but it's not like that... At least not yet. I think that before you've studied abroad, you keep hearing about it as this total package: "STUDY ABROAD"- like signing up means instant new best friends who you gallivant around Europe with, drinking wine, taking epic photos, and having this transcendent life-changing experience. Hate to burst the bubble, but it's not really like that...at least not so glorified and idealized. Today, I woke up to a beautiful sunrise on the white snow, drank a cup of tea, made homemade bread with my hostmom, then met a friend for coffee after lunch. We proceeded to wander around the city, gaze at beautiful architecture, and chat with passing young Danish guys who were really eager to talk to us. Tonight, we're getting a drink with them and will probably stay out all night to watch the sun rise. Uhhhhh NO. Ok I guess that could have happened, but today, I woke up at 12:30 because I didn't get back til 4 last night. I then ate a bowl of Rice Krispies and watched online TV after checking email and Facebook. My hostparents were gone all day helping my hostmom's sister and family move into their new place. I decided it might be a good idea to take a shower, did that, and then watched American Idol until dinner. There is two feet of snow outside and it's uber cold. All in all, pretty normal. No one really associates the word normal with study abroad. Ok I don't mean to sound like a total downer, I really don't. I've only been here for two weeks and I'm still figuring things out. I'm sure once I've been here longer, I'll have gained a perspective that will better be able to shine some (positive) light on the study abroad experience.

I'm winding down this post, but just for your enjoyment, I'm including a picture of a baby outside a store, just like I talked about! I promise I'll get around to taking pictures of my room and house. That will be the goal for next time.