As your probably getting used to by now I'm not very consistent with updating my blog. This is do to many things such as hanging out with friends or eating really good food however it is mostly my laziness which I'm starting to beat out as the days here begin to get longer. When it was at its worst the sun was down around 3 to 4 PM now it's like 7:30 or 8 PM. I'm very glad as this allows me to do more outside and my family now has a boat which means I will be out on the water quite a bit.
I have moved in with my third family and am really loving their lifestyle and becoming a real part of their family. I have a host sister and she is living at home she is 18 years old and another host sister and host brother they are both older and living in Aarhus. I hade my birthday in March and all three families came over for a really traditional Danish meal. I loved it we sang and hade a really warm and friendly time or as the danes say "Hyggelig aften." School is begining to speed up as I can understand the teacher I'm now getting more school work which is kinda sad for me as my evenings aren't completely free. Apart of being an exchange student is having exchange student friends which I have plenty of and we are all excited for the Euro Tour which is a two and a half week tour where we are together touring through Europe.
I love food as many people know but I've never really had a major weight issue. I'm begining to find out that all exchange students absolutely love food. Here in Denmark my stomach is a bottomless pit and I could eat all day if I wanted. I have gained a few kilos and at first I was quite scared and worried I was becoming obese and now I'm starting to run three to four times a week. However I know I will have to work out when I come home to the USA. As all exchange students inevitably gain weight here are the 7 stages of exchange student weight gain.
1. You have just arrived in your host country and are more stressed than you ever have been, let's eat.
2. You have gained some weight but deny it and say it's just because it's a little cold outside or I'm just breathing deeply.
3. You begin to notice how out of shape you are but are finally alerted when your host mom beats you in a bike race. You decide to work out but it's to hard and decide it's best if you stick to nutella and a hearty dinner.
4. Your told by classmates why don't you work out. And you answer dumbly thats not what exchange students do. While this is true for most exchange students there are the few who work out quite consistently.
5. Your family starts to get you excited to run and when you say your going for a run you really go to your friends house to play Xbox. After your finished you sprint for a little bit to get your heart rate up so it looks like you ran.
6. You start running and don't like it but you need to do it, because you are so unhealthy.
7. You continue to run but your missing all the great foods that won't be with you next year so you say what the hell what will a choclate bar hurt and are prepared for a long year of working out next year. This is the final stage where you finally accept that you are a little overweight but it tends to not bother you now. However I'm still continuing to run and when I'm home I plan on getting in the best shape possible.
As some of you are aware of I had the increadible opportunity of going to London with my class last week! We saw so much history and some increadible museums. However what I thought was the most amazing thing was when the class divided into small groups and we separated throughout London and toured seperately into a neighborhood in London. I went to Brixton with three others. There was an awesome thrift shop with great music and amazing books. I was also amazed by the cutural diversity of Brixton they had a market street and it was mostly people from Jamaica and the whole street had really loud reggae music and you could hear it everywhere. We also ate lunch here and it was a mix of Indian and Carribean food it was amazing. What we found really interesting was how on one street it was super loud but if you go one block over it was completely silent and very tranquil. It was also fun to hear about all the other neighborhoods that everyone else went to. We all had an amazing day seeing some of the best London has to offer.
I also was stunned at the pure beauty of Westminster Abbey and St. James Cathedral. Since we were the music class we went to see concerts and many of the churches offer a one hour concert where you can sit near the choir and see the magnificent church while hearing beautiful music. The tour was fantastic and I learned a lot about the history of World War II.
At times New York feels a little cluttered so busy so noisy and at times the buildings are so tall you can't see the sky. In London it is the opposite there are parks everywhere and many parts are very quiet and calm. I love how the buildings are beautiful but not to tall. People are friendly and the public transportation is wonderful with every tube station being in wonderful shape. I really have fallen in love with London and had a great time with my class!
I can't believe time has gone by so fast and I really am amazed at how much I've changed as a person this year. I have found an amazing passion for travelling and have continued to love food. I hope that these next two and a half months can go by slow as I want to cherish the best year of my life.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Half way through!
I can't believe it I'm already half way through this amazing year! When I look back at the beginning of the year I laugh at all the stupid things I did or said and especially all my worries. I worried if the bus would come, or even if my family would like me and treat me as there own kid. I have found that I have four amazing families in my life now! I'm switching families in a few weeks and I will start all over with my life in a new family. I have met them and they are wonderful people I'm quite excited to live with them. I've grown in so many ways that I couldn't have imagined before learned the importance of responsibility and how to party like a Dane! I've also learned from the Danes that sometimes you need to slow down and really get to know people turn off the computer and have a good time.
The one question though I have asked myself routinely is: Should I have been born in Europe? In Denmark people work on average around 1,500 hours a year in the USA people work on average 2,000 hours a year and yet Denmark barely trails the USA in GDP per capita. In Denmark you don't have to worry about losing pay for vacations as most people get 6-7 weeks payed vacation. Denmark's poverty rate is around 10% and the US can boast a poverty rate of 15%. In Denmark people care for one another and I have only seen 4 homeless people in my whole time here if you don't have a job you get one from the Government or they give you money. Denmark doesn't have high unemployment either it is around 5-6 percent compared to the 7.7 percent in USA. Denmark has strict gun laws and Denmark's murder rate is 0.9 compared to the USA's 4.8. The other thing that Denmark has done that might surprise people in USA is that in Denmark University is free. Actually you get payed to go around 5,000 DKK a month. That is a staggering difference from the US where tuition continues to rise and many poor or middle class families can't afford to go to University. The final thing that Denmark has done is establish a National health care system, many people in the US believe that this means long waits or poor treatment. I have seen a more efficient hospital in my life than that of the ones here in Denmark. If you have any health issue you can contact your doctor free of charge and they will see what they can do. The doctors don't make as much money but the few I've talked to say that for them they could never say no to anyone as that would tear them apart. Denmark has plenty of challenges but I would argue that maybe the Danes care more for there own people. Denmark has a socialist party in power now but Socialism isn't as scary as it sounds or is made to be in the USA Denmark is still a capitalist country that decided that having an Educated people is important and that every one including me and other exchange students can take part in the best health care system I have ever seen. I know the taxes are high but the Danish standard of living is almost double that of the USA and Denmark is the worlds 4th richest nation per capita leaving the US in 15th. I don't mean to come across as I hate my country I love the US but I think it's time that we catch up with the rest of the developed world.
On a brighter note Christmas here was amazing! We ate great food and lit candles on the Christmas tree we then sang around the Christmas tree and had a great time opening gifts together and talking with one another. On New Year's everyone lit huge fireworks and the sky was lit for hours imagine the Fourth of July time 10! During Christmas break I went to Skagen which is the very top of Denmark and had a wonderful time seeing where the North and Baltic seas meet.
Right now Denmark is going crazy because there handball team is in the World Championship. They have many games to go but during every match everything stops and everyone watches the match. Denmark just keeps on getting better and better!
Denmark is
The one question though I have asked myself routinely is: Should I have been born in Europe? In Denmark people work on average around 1,500 hours a year in the USA people work on average 2,000 hours a year and yet Denmark barely trails the USA in GDP per capita. In Denmark you don't have to worry about losing pay for vacations as most people get 6-7 weeks payed vacation. Denmark's poverty rate is around 10% and the US can boast a poverty rate of 15%. In Denmark people care for one another and I have only seen 4 homeless people in my whole time here if you don't have a job you get one from the Government or they give you money. Denmark doesn't have high unemployment either it is around 5-6 percent compared to the 7.7 percent in USA. Denmark has strict gun laws and Denmark's murder rate is 0.9 compared to the USA's 4.8. The other thing that Denmark has done that might surprise people in USA is that in Denmark University is free. Actually you get payed to go around 5,000 DKK a month. That is a staggering difference from the US where tuition continues to rise and many poor or middle class families can't afford to go to University. The final thing that Denmark has done is establish a National health care system, many people in the US believe that this means long waits or poor treatment. I have seen a more efficient hospital in my life than that of the ones here in Denmark. If you have any health issue you can contact your doctor free of charge and they will see what they can do. The doctors don't make as much money but the few I've talked to say that for them they could never say no to anyone as that would tear them apart. Denmark has plenty of challenges but I would argue that maybe the Danes care more for there own people. Denmark has a socialist party in power now but Socialism isn't as scary as it sounds or is made to be in the USA Denmark is still a capitalist country that decided that having an Educated people is important and that every one including me and other exchange students can take part in the best health care system I have ever seen. I know the taxes are high but the Danish standard of living is almost double that of the USA and Denmark is the worlds 4th richest nation per capita leaving the US in 15th. I don't mean to come across as I hate my country I love the US but I think it's time that we catch up with the rest of the developed world.
On a brighter note Christmas here was amazing! We ate great food and lit candles on the Christmas tree we then sang around the Christmas tree and had a great time opening gifts together and talking with one another. On New Year's everyone lit huge fireworks and the sky was lit for hours imagine the Fourth of July time 10! During Christmas break I went to Skagen which is the very top of Denmark and had a wonderful time seeing where the North and Baltic seas meet.
Right now Denmark is going crazy because there handball team is in the World Championship. They have many games to go but during every match everything stops and everyone watches the match. Denmark just keeps on getting better and better!
Denmark is
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