On my walk to the bus stop yesterday morning, I was reminded again of how wonderful my homestay is. As I passed my “front yard,” I couldn’t help stopping and just gazing out for a minute before I started my day.
Transportation to school: success!
I started the morning off by touring the DIS facilities. Thank goodness for this, because the different entrances, stairwells, and floors (that start with 0…not 1) would have definitely gotten me lost on my first day of class.
Next was The Amazing Race- Copenhagen edition. I was put into a group with 5 awesome girls, and we set out to tour Copenhagen while we captured our stops in photos. At each stop, a DIS faculty member greeted us and told us the history of the location.
First, we went to the Church of Our Lade. I’ve always loved touring churches, and this one particular stands out. We learned about Christian Frederik Hansen’s, the architect’s, neoclassical style.
I started the morning off by touring the DIS facilities. Thank goodness for this, because the different entrances, stairwells, and floors (that start with 0…not 1) would have definitely gotten me lost on my first day of class.
Next was The Amazing Race- Copenhagen edition. I was put into a group with 5 awesome girls, and we set out to tour Copenhagen while we captured our stops in photos. At each stop, a DIS faculty member greeted us and told us the history of the location.
First, we went to the Church of Our Lade. I’ve always loved touring churches, and this one particular stands out. We learned about Christian Frederik Hansen’s, the architect’s, neoclassical style.
We made a sweets pit stop on our way to our next destination at Studenterhuset, the coffee shop and meeting area for schools in the Copenhagen area. We were given free coffee and flødeboller, a Danish specialty treat that’s typically served for birthdays. It was delicious!
After being fueled with some sugar, we walked across the street to the Round Tower. Inside the church was absolutely beautiful. The gold adornments and brightly lit sanctuary amazed me. Our group plans to visit the Round Tower again soon and actually walk to the top of the tower, which has no stairs. It has a spiraled ramp that leads to the top of the tower, which was originally built as an observatory.
Next, we went to the Christiansborg Palace, which is where the parliament is located. The building was amazing. All of a sudden our tour guide interrupted us and informed us that the previous prime minister of Denmark was headed our way. Casual. This would be like George Bush casually walking past you with no crowd, bodyguards, or other attention-drawing aspects. Oh hey, Prime Minister!
As an addition to this stop, we rode the elevators to the top for the amazing view of Copenhagen. And then it was POURING. By the time we entered the building to the time we reached the top, the sky went from bright and sunny to dark and stormy. Thank you, Copenhagen weather, for showing us your bipolar self so early in our time.
As an addition to this stop, we rode the elevators to the top for the amazing view of Copenhagen. And then it was POURING. By the time we entered the building to the time we reached the top, the sky went from bright and sunny to dark and stormy. Thank you, Copenhagen weather, for showing us your bipolar self so early in our time.
With our umbrellas turning inside out like foolish tourists, we walked to Nyhavn on the way to our last stop. Yes, THIS is the “headshot” of Copenhagen you all have seen! I’m not going to try to pretend we weren’t the ecstatic tourists snapping photos like crazy of the shining water and colorful buildings…we just had to.
Transportation home: fail.
Got on the wrong bus. Woo hoo. I could have SWORN that I saw bus 385 pull up to the stop…
We started towards my house and then, we took a left. And it was all downhill from there.
Panicked, I quickly befriended the Dane next to me and asked her where in the world this bus was going. She was beyond kind, and I told her the bus and stop I intended to go to. She had me get off at her stop with her, pulled up directions on her phone, and pointed me to the bus stop across the street where I needed to go. What a blessing!
So as I’m about to cross the street to the stop on the side of the road that I needed to be on, the traffic picked up and I couldn’t cross. Wonderful! Here comes the bus and I’m stuck on the other side. It stopped. Let someone off. And continued on its merry way.
Panic again. My new map-bearing Danish friend was gone and it looked like my bus would be too.
JUST in time, the traffic light turned red and the bus stopped at the intersection. I crossed the street and waved frantically at the driver. He chuckled and opened the door for me. Whew. It was a close one. This bus took me back to the train station, and I triple checked that I got on bus 385 this time.
Dinner was amazing. Again. I don’t think I’ll ever get a break from saying that! We had fish that Per caught in the sea called mackerel. It was some of the best fish that I’ve ever had. We then had roasted potatoes seasoned with paprika, garlic green beans, seasoned beets, and a colorful salad with tomatoes, basil, cucumber, blueberries and cheese. Every vegetable on the table came from the garden in the backyard. Oh. My. Goodness. You hungry yet?
The countdown to classes is almost to an end! I can't believe it hasn't even been a week since I've been here- it feels like it's been much longer. I get the feeling that Copenhagen and I are off to a good start and have paved the way for an incredible semester.
Got on the wrong bus. Woo hoo. I could have SWORN that I saw bus 385 pull up to the stop…
We started towards my house and then, we took a left. And it was all downhill from there.
Panicked, I quickly befriended the Dane next to me and asked her where in the world this bus was going. She was beyond kind, and I told her the bus and stop I intended to go to. She had me get off at her stop with her, pulled up directions on her phone, and pointed me to the bus stop across the street where I needed to go. What a blessing!
So as I’m about to cross the street to the stop on the side of the road that I needed to be on, the traffic picked up and I couldn’t cross. Wonderful! Here comes the bus and I’m stuck on the other side. It stopped. Let someone off. And continued on its merry way.
Panic again. My new map-bearing Danish friend was gone and it looked like my bus would be too.
JUST in time, the traffic light turned red and the bus stopped at the intersection. I crossed the street and waved frantically at the driver. He chuckled and opened the door for me. Whew. It was a close one. This bus took me back to the train station, and I triple checked that I got on bus 385 this time.
Dinner was amazing. Again. I don’t think I’ll ever get a break from saying that! We had fish that Per caught in the sea called mackerel. It was some of the best fish that I’ve ever had. We then had roasted potatoes seasoned with paprika, garlic green beans, seasoned beets, and a colorful salad with tomatoes, basil, cucumber, blueberries and cheese. Every vegetable on the table came from the garden in the backyard. Oh. My. Goodness. You hungry yet?
The countdown to classes is almost to an end! I can't believe it hasn't even been a week since I've been here- it feels like it's been much longer. I get the feeling that Copenhagen and I are off to a good start and have paved the way for an incredible semester.