And the night turned to morning before our eyes.

So this is it. It is my official last full day in Copenhagen.

I have taken my last 14, 1a, and 85n bus rides
I have locked the door and turned in the keys to the room I called home for 4 months
I have packed my bags (in hopes that I will not be over weight restrictions)
I have said my last goodbyes
I have taken my last steps down Strøget, Vestergade, Tasingegade, and Skindergade

And finally, I have watched my first, but definitely not last, Scandinavian sun rise.

We concluded DIS. Yesterday the Conclusion Ceremony was held in the beautiful concert hall of The Royal Danish Academy of Music. There were speeches from students, faculty, and the DIS director. Awards were given and seniors were congratulated. There was a champagne reception and the conversations were lively and sad as many people said goodbyes to the people from their classes who they just may not see again.

It wasn't the ceremony that made me realize how much I will miss this, but it was the gathering of good friends in the beautiful park next to the water just smoking hookah, telling stories, laughing and soaking up the sun. I was a memorable day to say the least.

The night brought many of us students together in the basement/laundry room of Skindergade apartments for one last hurah. We spent the early hours of the night socializing and celebrating the ending of an amazing semester we then proceded to head to our favorite nightclub in the city, Kulør bar, where we danced until the early hours of the monring. On the bus ride home I actually watched the night turn to morning as there was a beautiful sunrise over the water! It was stunning. I thought about all the things I will miss from this city and dispite the first few months of constant clouds the springtime of Denmark is definitly worth the wait.

This morning I packed up my all of my things and cleaned the room. I am spending the last night here at my visitng families house where they have taken me in over the past week. It was a nice break and a more pleasent place to study for exams and not get distracted. They are taking me to the airport tomorrow and I will say my goodbyes to Denmark, but they are not real goodbyes.... I will be back here someday. This is a place I really want to share with my family and/or friends. Copenhagen really means so much to me. I feel like I have a new concept of culture and a new concept of self all due to this city and this time abroad. I wish that I could have shared this city with my family, in time hopefully that will happen. For now they will have to experience through my photos and stories (though really the photos do not do this city justice!)

Denmark, the beautiful Danes, and my new American friends will all be missed.

Hej Hej Københaven. Vi ses!

the last stretch...

Here we are. I can count on two hands how many days I have left in Europe and two weeks ago I couldn't wait for May 17th to come and now I regret ever thinking such things...I am so torn between what I want it this situation. The Copenhagen spring time has caused me to fall deeply in love with this city and the time I have spent here. I am looking at my schedule for next week, which includes 4 days packed with 4 finals..... All I want to do is see the city, lay down in the park, run around the lakes, stroll down Storget, and people watch from behind a large cup of coffee in Nyhavn. All in the same time, I want to be home in the comfort of my family and friends, the food I know, the language I understand, and the currency that doesn't need to be converted.

I am sturggling to study tonight thinking about all the things that I have done this semester and how much I have grown from this experience. It is something I will never forget. To distract me from my studies I searched for a few quotes that descrbe me and my experience of travling this semester. It really has been life changing.

“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things - air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky - all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” - Cesar Pavese

“All the pathos and irony of leaving one’s youth behind is thus implicit in every joyous moment of travel: one knows that the first joy can never be recovered, and the wise traveler learns not to repeat successes but tries new places all the time.” - Paul Fussel

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” - Miriam Beard

“Adventure is a path. Real adventure - self-determined, self-motivated, often risky - forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind - and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.” - Mark Jenkins

1. Maj: My attemt at true cultural imersion

The first of may in Denmark is their labor day all the school kids and workers have off. On my way home from classes I noticed that the bus was unusually packed with people, then as we got closer to my neighborhood people were swarming the sidewalks all walking in one direction. I figured they must all be going to the MayDay celebration that I had heard about called 1. Maj...

Because all my friends were either leaving for the weekend or had afternoon classes I decided to check out what this was all about by myself. I grabbed a snack and a few somersby ciders... I noticed people carrying crates of beer to this festival so I didn't want to look out of place! I walked a few blocks from my house to the park where I always stretch after my runs and read and lay out during the sunny days and it was completely transformed! I have never seen such a celebration for labor day before there were approximately 100,000 people gathered in the park to enjoy different music (about 5 different stages all in different areas of the park), food, and of course a lot of beer. After waking around for a while checking out all the interesting people and music, I realized that this sort of thing was something you come to with a bunch of friends and hang out, not really go by yourself.

So, I went to a quieter less crowded park that is on the way to the main park sat myself down and read my book. While I was reading a few people passed and said something in Danish to me... I looked up and said "what?" (which is one of my responses I use when I need people to know that I don't speak Danish, it always works right away) then they said in English, "Why are you by yourself reading on first of may?" I responded, " I would rather be by myself here than in the festival by myself." They quickly invited me to come along with them. Hesitantly I accepted thinking that, hey I really have not hung out with too many Danish kids my age so why not?

We walked back to the festival and went to the hip hop stage where they had a blanket set up and a few friends, they were a little bit younger than me and asked so many questions about American kids, things like; "What is prom like?" "Is high school like the movies? do they have cliques?" "Did you have a sweet sixteen?" It was hilarious for me to listen to these questions because the media puts such an emphasis on these events that's all they thought American kids did. It was a fun experience and I think they enjoyed talking to their "American friend" It was definitely interesting to compare the two cultures and it was so strange for me to see this many people, all drinking, with not a lot of police officers around. Since the drinking age is 16 in Denmark literally EVERYONE was drinking, and they just were not strict on the drinking age like they are in the US.

My 1.Maj was a fun, sun filled afternoon and ended up being more a cultural experience than I though! Well, only two more weeks to enjoy the beautiful weather and atmosphere that spring has brought...

Bike Culture

The sun came out and so did thousands of bikes! Though the majority of Danish bike riders ride all through the winter, the sun brings out many, many more. Including free bikes to ride all over the city and just drop off at any bike rack with the specific lock. The bike culture is intense in Copenhagen as there are many more bike riders than people who drive. The lack of parking spots, expensive parking spots, and the nicest bike lanes I have ever seen probably contribute to the high percentage of bike riders in the city. You are more likely to get run over by a bike than a car in this city.... and it is actually quite frightening. My intent was to rent a bike for the last month that I was here but my illness and loosing my wallet prevented me from doing so and now its a little late.

Some notes about my lost wallet. I was out Friday night and misplaced my wallet at the club I was at... okay i straight up lost it. Inside that wallet was 600kr, my creditcard, my ID, my keys, my bus pass, and a few articles of makeup. I went to the club at their designated pick up time for missing items and it was actually there with everything in it except the cash. This explaines a little bit about the Danish honesty. I don' t think there is any other city in the world where I would get all of that back to me... I am very lucky but I woun't want to have lost my things in any other city than Copenhagen. The Danes are such a great group of people!

Now for something to visualize....

This is what I have seen the Danes accomplish on a Bike ( they are incredibly talented):

• Hold hands with a significant other
• Hold on to their 5 or 6 year olds shoulder to make sure they keep up in rush hour
• Apply lipstick
• Talk on the phone
• Text
• Wear a skirt/dress and heals….while biking
• Wear a full suit… while biking
• Bike with a 3 foot tree in their front basket!
• The 3 and 4 year olds can ride a bike without training wheels. I think they learn how to ride as soon as they learn how to s peak.
• Beat the bus to school or work!
• Drink a beer. It wouldn’t be Danish if you couldn’t drink beer.

Amsterdam!

My last travel experience of the semester was to the ever so famous Netherlands city of Amsterdam. I met up with Abbey and her roommate again for a very interesting weekend. I first arrived at our choice of hospitality to find out that our hotel was not in fact a hotel, but quite a dump of a hostel. After climbing 5 sets of the steepest stairs I have ever climbed with a 10kg backpack on my back was exhausted. The first night I arrived I was not feeling 100%, I was still getting over the nasty sickness I had after travel break, so I decided to take it easy and go grab something to eat, do some work and get to bed. I soon found out that our fancy hostel did not have wireless, so getting any work done was not happening, so I just went to bed.

I woke up refreshed and ready to get out and see what Amsterdam had to offer. We stopped at the bagel place where Abbey and Josie had already made friends and hit the town. We walked around their main shopping district and explored the red light district. Their red light district was nothing like anything I have ever seen before "coffeeshops" were not only coffee was sold but marijuana. I was knew this was how it was going to be but actually seeing it was so bizarre to me. We soon ran into the actual red light district where another culture shock awaited me. I am sure everyone understands what goes on in a red light district, and I knew too but this was a little over the edge and kind of sad for me to see. But I am learning about different cultures over here correct? right. Well after we learned, we knew enough and we stayed away from that area for the rest of our weekend.

We spent the rest of our weekend exploring the parks, laying out in the beautiful weather, touring the Anne Frank house, and going on a canal cruise. it was actually quite a relaxing weekend but I am all traveled out. I am done seeing churches and tourists sites. I am done taking photos. and I am done packing and flying cheap air lines (which end up being not that cheap after all... believe me I know after paying 60 euro for my luggage being over weight on my last trip... ughhh)

The next time I travel I will be coming back home the the US and be back with my family which I am ALL too excited for! Don't get me wrong, I love it here and now that the weather has gotten beautiful I am enjoying every second that I have left, but I am ready to be back home, drive my car, have my cell phone, actually get IDed at the bars, understand the conversations around me, and spend some time with my family and friends back home!

As always my photos from the weekend!

Amsterdam album

Blog, I have not forgotten about you. Just neglected for a little bit while I got back into the swing of things in Copenhagen.

Caution to Readers: This may be quite the lengthy post since so much as happened since the last time I updated.

I last left of in Rome. Rome was everything I expected and more! I was so amazed at all this history that comes from the early Roman Empires. Susanne and I began our stay in Italy, of course, with some Italian pizza. We then walked from our quite hostel (which was more like a bed and breakfast) to the Coliseum. Immediately, we were approached by an American with information about a package tour. It sounded like a good deal so we took her up on it. We soon found ourselves consumed in all the Roman history that we were taking in. The tour guide was awesome and despite a little more rain we were thoroughly amazed. The Coliseum itself was spectacular but without a tour guide it would have not been the same. After the tour we decided to do a little exploring of our own but ended up getting poured on so we quickly found ourselves in the nearest pasta place and hopped on the bus to call it an early night. All the crazy nights in Barcelona and traveling left us exhausted, but we didn’t head home without our first taste of real Italian gelato J

The next day consisted of a visit to St Peters Basilica and a tour of Palatine Hill. The Basilica was absolutely beautiful and it was a beautiful day to add on to that. It was crowded due to the fact that it was the anniversary of the Pope. Though it was a week away they were already setting up for Easter Mass with chairs everywhere and speakers and sound systems being worked on. You could tell that Easter mass would be huge. We then began to walk back towards the ancient roman city but before we made it back we had been scammed by a rose seller near a fountain. Of course in Denmark we don’t have scammers really, just one who hangs out by the ATM but everyone knows about him. So when we were offered roses by this guy we, of course, took it not knowing that after his story about good luck he would harass us for money. We gave him a few cents and took off… annoying. The tour of Palatine hill and the ancient Roman city was astounding; the history really got me interested. After it was over, I was determined to change my major to ancient Roman history! Realizing that is impractical, I just enjoyed the tour and got all that I could out of the readings and ruins. After enjoying another meal of wine and pasta we headed in for another early night.

The next morning we got up early and checked out one last site in Rome, the Pantheon. Everything in Rome is really incredible, but this building definitely stood out. It is the best preserved of all Roman buildings, and perhaps the best preserved building of its age in the world. The architecture of it was really interested and the inside was beautiful. After our last stop in Rome we hopped on a train to Florence! The hour long train ride though the Italian country side was itself well worth the 47 euros spent to travel from Rome to Florence. And taking the train was much less stressful than flying budget airlines. Susanne and I arrived in Florence and met Ali (best friend of mine from college) at her apartment. Not knowing a lot about Florence I did not have very high expectations. My expectations were far exceeded. Florence was a beautiful small city with a lively, real Italian feel to it. We had amazing food and spend some quality time with friends. My friend Abbey (who is studying in Barcelona) met us there as well. So it was a small “Moose” reunion!

After Florence we all split up, Susanne went to France, Abbey went to London, and I went to meet up with an old friend of my dad’s and his family in Bournemouth, a town on the southern coast of the UK . Though I had only met this family once before in my life when I was about 14 or 15, they took me in and were so welcoming to me. The first day we went to Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral. Stonehenge was something I have wanted to see forever and it’s such a great wonder to see and learn about. Though they are unsure about a lot of the history of it, it is still so fascinating! Salisbury Cathedral wasn’t just another church, but it was unique and beautiful. It was so nice so have some down time and spend some time with a family, a few dogs, and a cat! The next day Dan and I, the oldest of three sons, showed me around the city and took me to see Corfe Castle. We took a short ferry ride to the quite town of Swanage. The Castle situated high on a hill, has beautiful views of the coast. The oldest remaining parts of the castle date as far back as the 11^th century. What is left of it is only ruins but you are able to see the major structure which makes it interesting. Dan and I had a beautiful sunny day to do our visiting and site seeing and it was such a fun day! Bournemouth soon came to an end and it was time to say goodbye because I was on my way to Prague!

I met up with Abbey and her roommate in Prague and the last city of my travel break was about to begin. Because we were at our ends with site seeing and touristy things, we took our time in Prague wondered around a lot and didn’t do the whole “tourist thing” every day. It was a nice change of pace during the day, but the night life in Prague was a very happening scene! We ended up sleeping some of our beautiful days away in Prague but we all needed some extra rest. Though it sounds like I didn’t do much in Prague, we did see all the sites and attended their Easter markets! We saw the astronomical clock chime on the hour, we walked up to the Prague Castle, checked out the John Lennon wall, explored some churches, Stroled the Jewish quarters, peeked into the old Jewish cemetery( which is quoted to be “which is the most remarkable of its kind in Europe.”) and walked up and down the Charles Bridge. Prague had a lot to offer and was unexpectedly, very touristy. It may have been the time of year we were visiting but there were SOOO many tourists throughout the streets of Praha.

The last day of our trip to Prague and the last day of my Three week study tour ended with me becoming extremely ill. I returned to Copenhagen miserable, I missed classes and visited two doctors. In the end we never found out what was wrong but this contributed to my lack of blogs about my trip. Along with a trip to Amsterdam and quite a few papers and projects.

I am not going to add photos to this post, but below are all the links to my albums from each city I visited.

London. Oxford. Barcelona. Rome. Florence. Bournemouth. Prague