Leaving Denmark was one of the hardest things to do. It was like leaving an old friend, not knowing the next time I will see them again. That is hard to come to terms with, being that Denmark has been my "very best friend" for a year. But I KNOW I will be making a trip to Denmark sometime again!
2 days before I was heading home, I had a (little) breakdown. It was actually a large breakdown...I cried for 20 minutes to the point of it hurting. It was great to just get it out and I felt like those 20 minutes spread over the next few days, because I had dry eyes saying goodbye to my family and AFS friends, still not easy but no tears. On Friday night I had to say goodbye to Hjalte and Aske, my host brothers. The next morning they had a swimming competition and had to leave early in the morning. It was weird to saying goodbye to them, not hard, just strange. It didn't feel real. Like saying goodbye to a friend for the weekend, knowing you will see them the following Monday. But there won't be a Monday. I will miss having siblings around all the time, but I have to say being the "only child" at home has its benefits.
The following day I slept in, woke up, ate my typical Danish breakfast of yougurt and oatmeal and made sure all my suitcases were in order. The day seemed to drag on forever. Kjeld drove me alone to Copenhagen, so I had to say gooddbye to Gerda in the driveway. Again, it felt like a "See you later" goodbye. It doesn't really seem real until you are not seeing them daily or missing them. Kjeld dropped me off at the school we would be staying at and then came in for cake and coffee. It was strange to see all the other exchange students with the host families. Kjeld said goodbye and then I was on my own. It was really real at that moment. I knew that I was going home and that I wasn't going back to my house later that day or tomorrow. Then they put all the exchange students into a courtyard where we just talked and caught up. Most of the students who came by train arrived and it was fun to see them again, as I hadn't seen most of them since the first camp. We were 4 Americans (including myself) from Alaska, Michigan and Connecticut and were the only ones who would be leaving on Sunday, the 27th. Because of that we had to go to a 4 hours of sessions alone where they talked to us about how it could be going home and the potential of it being very difficult, something we all already knew quite well. That night we not given a curfew, so I stayed up til 1 a.m. just catching up with all the students I hadn't seen since awhile. It was really great, but I knew that it was probably better for me to get some sleep, as we were leaving for the airport at 8:30 a.m. the next morning. I didn't get much sleep (Thanks Italians) and showertime came much too soon. After breakfast we got all our gear together and walked to the airport. It was fun to be in the airport again after having just been there to get my parents. I really love airports. Some many people traveling all over the world, each with a different destination. I just love them. Anyway, we went through security and then had a longer walk to the gate, where we just sat, shared stories and looked at pictures. I was really happy to be traveling back with such great people. We laughed a lot and I am sure some of the others waiting were a little fed up with us, but we figured no harm, no foul. I have no idea if that made sense. The plane ride back was 8 hours of movies, eating, bathroom trips and a limited amount of sleeping.
Flying into Newark was a little bit of a surreal experience. It was a "Holy Crap! We are in the US again!" We observed how larger the roads were, how many more cars there were ON the roads, football/baseball fields and swimming pools. Getting off the plane was a punch in the face because the temperature was 91 degrees! NINETY-ONE! I don't even know if it has ever been that warm in Denmark, EVER! Just kidding! And so humid, that is something I did not miss one bit. We walked through Customs, collected our bags and then randomly met an AFS volunteer, just in time too. She told us we had to put some speed on it otherwise we may not catch our planes, which was maybe a little more of an exaggeration than need-be, but it got us moving. We said our quick goodbyes and then off we went. Really all alone. It felt great to be on my own, being in charge of myself, but then again it was a little upsetting knowing that I wouldn't be together with the other AFS students ever again. But I wasn't exactly thinking about that.
I caught my flight to Chicago in good time and boarded with no problems. The entire flight I was feeling a little uneasy and looking out a window thinking about the life, the people you just left behind in your home for the past year is bound to bring out some emotions. It was only a few tears, which than lead to a few more. Then the flight attendent stated in her very Midwestern accent, "Well folks, We'll be in Chicago in just a little bit." I let out a little giggle and then I kept it under control as the woman next to me gave me an awkward glance. It was just what I needed. Landing in Chicago was a strange feeling. All I was thinking about was how it would be to see my whole family again. Then, through thr doors we saw each other and it wasn't the exact feeling I thought I would have. It really wasn't a feeling at all. I hugged everyone and forced smiles, but on the inside I was really blank. It is a strange feeling, almost like boredom, which sounds terrible after seeing my family after a years time. I guess it was not what I was expecting. Anyway, we made a our way to a Culver's for my first (and delicious) American meal in a year. Then we spent the night in Chicago and the following day made our way to Rio, WI, my parents hometown. It was funny to see that nothing had changed. We had a little party that evening which was nice to see my family again. It really was a neat. The following day we headed home in the afternoon and I was greeted by the exact same Black River Falls I left. Nothing had really changed at all. It was that moment and previous moments like it that made my year in Denmark seem like a couple days. I unpacked and just walked around the house looking at all the things I had been missing the entire year. It was weird for me to be confused over which light switches turned on the bathroom light and which drawer holds the silverware and how to turn on the TV. The things that should come easy, but don't. Those will be the frustrating times that will are ahead. Feeling like a guest in my own home. Learning previously common knowledge over again. Saying weird, messed up phrases. That will be tough. It will take time. Lots of time. Although it feels great to be home, I really miss Denmark, my friends and my freedom there. The memories and experience I have had in Denmark will forever be in my heart and I will never forget the amazing people I have encountered.
I guess this is my final blog entry, as my AFS year has now ended and will not be as exciting as the latter. I would just like to thank everyone who has been involved in my AFS exchange year: my readers, those that financially supported me, my family and friends and anyone else who had an influence on my year. Thank you so much for making it what it was. My year was absoulutely incredible and for that I have all those behind me to thank. Thanks so much! Tak, skal I have.
Andy E
Monday, June 28, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Final Week
I had been planning for a while that my final week would be busy and productive; I would say that it has turned out to be more busy than productive.
Monday: A great day with my good friend Frederik. He is a nice person and really helped me adjust to life in Denmark when I first came. We spent the day out at his house in the country. We played Backgammon, saw some of the World Cup, watched a funny Swedish film (which with the help of subtitles and a sharp ear I was able to understand.), played a little "football" and just relaxed. It was a great relaxing day, something I can always use.
Tuesday: One final day in Copenhagen. I went together with a girl from New Zealand who had to buy souvenirs for her family. We met up with some other exchange students and then all got lost in the world's largest H&M (it is not really the largest, but it is HUGE!). I bought some final things and even found shoes, which is something I desperately needed. Copenhagen is a beautiful city and feel lucky that I was able to experience it as much as I did. It will for sure be something I miss.
Wednesday: Sankt Hans Dag, the longest day of the year. I had made plans with some of my classmates to get together and have a picnic in the park. It was great weather and fantastic food together with loving friends. It was very nice. Later in the day we took to one of the girls in my class' house. She offered to have people over for a little dinner before the Skt. Hans Dag festivites. We had, once again, great food particularily Danish Strawberry Cake, which I took the pleasure of having thirds on. SO delicious. After dinner we made our way down to the park for the "burning of the witch". In olden days (a LONG time ago) on June 23rd they would burn witches and have a big fire and celebration. No longer are witches burned, but the tradtional fire is still a big affair. I felt a little strange taking pictures of, basically, a bonfire, but I thought the tradition was very interesting. From the park we made our way to a friends house, where...
Thursday: ...we pulled an all-nighter (almost). The reason for this absurd lack of sleep was because at 5 a.m. we had to get up to decorate a truck. Interesting? This is also an old tradition (not as old as the witch burning though) for 2.g and 3.g students on the day before 3.g "graduation". What happens is that each 3.g class gets a large farm/moving type truck, which is then decorated by the class below them (2.g) in outrageous attire. Then the truck drives to each 3.g students' house and has some sort of course, something like a progressive dinner. The courses can be anything from smoothies to sandwiches to fruit to candy. It is a day affair, hence the 5 a.m. starting time. It is appropriate as well because from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. it is completely light out, making it easier to do something than sleep. After the trucks left was it time to say goodbye to my class. It was easy than I imagined, but harder than I wanted it to be. The fact that we will see each other again (hopefully soon!) comforted the departure. I went home to catch up on my sleep and then went off again to the beach, this time with my exchange student friends. We grilled on the beach and caught some rays, even did some swimming. It was the last time I would see some of them which is hard to think about. The next time I will see the most of them will be at the final camp.
Friday: Tomorrow I am going to start to get all my things in order and make sure my suitcases are the proper weight. I am planning on staying as busy as I can. The busier the better. Maybe a nice head-clearing run is in order.
Saturday: The day I have been thinking about for quite some time. I am not exactly sure what I will be doing in the morning, but in the afternoon my host family and I will drive to Copenhagen and say our goodbyes. It will be neat to see all the exchange students I haven't seen since the start, but it will also be the last time for a lot of things and that is hard to think about. I am hoping it will be a positive, relieving experience, but I am expecting the worst. I know it will be for the best.
Sunday: I fly home at 12:20 p.m. and arrive in New York at 2:45 p.m. EST. Then it ends. I leave the other American students and am on my own. I take a plane from New York to Chicago. If it isn't obvious enough, I am really not sure how to feel about this. It will be nice to be back on American ground, but the thought of that freaks me out a little to. Only time will tell.
Andy E
Monday: A great day with my good friend Frederik. He is a nice person and really helped me adjust to life in Denmark when I first came. We spent the day out at his house in the country. We played Backgammon, saw some of the World Cup, watched a funny Swedish film (which with the help of subtitles and a sharp ear I was able to understand.), played a little "football" and just relaxed. It was a great relaxing day, something I can always use.
Tuesday: One final day in Copenhagen. I went together with a girl from New Zealand who had to buy souvenirs for her family. We met up with some other exchange students and then all got lost in the world's largest H&M (it is not really the largest, but it is HUGE!). I bought some final things and even found shoes, which is something I desperately needed. Copenhagen is a beautiful city and feel lucky that I was able to experience it as much as I did. It will for sure be something I miss.
Wednesday: Sankt Hans Dag, the longest day of the year. I had made plans with some of my classmates to get together and have a picnic in the park. It was great weather and fantastic food together with loving friends. It was very nice. Later in the day we took to one of the girls in my class' house. She offered to have people over for a little dinner before the Skt. Hans Dag festivites. We had, once again, great food particularily Danish Strawberry Cake, which I took the pleasure of having thirds on. SO delicious. After dinner we made our way down to the park for the "burning of the witch". In olden days (a LONG time ago) on June 23rd they would burn witches and have a big fire and celebration. No longer are witches burned, but the tradtional fire is still a big affair. I felt a little strange taking pictures of, basically, a bonfire, but I thought the tradition was very interesting. From the park we made our way to a friends house, where...
Thursday: ...we pulled an all-nighter (almost). The reason for this absurd lack of sleep was because at 5 a.m. we had to get up to decorate a truck. Interesting? This is also an old tradition (not as old as the witch burning though) for 2.g and 3.g students on the day before 3.g "graduation". What happens is that each 3.g class gets a large farm/moving type truck, which is then decorated by the class below them (2.g) in outrageous attire. Then the truck drives to each 3.g students' house and has some sort of course, something like a progressive dinner. The courses can be anything from smoothies to sandwiches to fruit to candy. It is a day affair, hence the 5 a.m. starting time. It is appropriate as well because from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. it is completely light out, making it easier to do something than sleep. After the trucks left was it time to say goodbye to my class. It was easy than I imagined, but harder than I wanted it to be. The fact that we will see each other again (hopefully soon!) comforted the departure. I went home to catch up on my sleep and then went off again to the beach, this time with my exchange student friends. We grilled on the beach and caught some rays, even did some swimming. It was the last time I would see some of them which is hard to think about. The next time I will see the most of them will be at the final camp.
Friday: Tomorrow I am going to start to get all my things in order and make sure my suitcases are the proper weight. I am planning on staying as busy as I can. The busier the better. Maybe a nice head-clearing run is in order.
Saturday: The day I have been thinking about for quite some time. I am not exactly sure what I will be doing in the morning, but in the afternoon my host family and I will drive to Copenhagen and say our goodbyes. It will be neat to see all the exchange students I haven't seen since the start, but it will also be the last time for a lot of things and that is hard to think about. I am hoping it will be a positive, relieving experience, but I am expecting the worst. I know it will be for the best.
Sunday: I fly home at 12:20 p.m. and arrive in New York at 2:45 p.m. EST. Then it ends. I leave the other American students and am on my own. I take a plane from New York to Chicago. If it isn't obvious enough, I am really not sure how to feel about this. It will be nice to be back on American ground, but the thought of that freaks me out a little to. Only time will tell.
Andy E
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The End Seemed So Far Away..
School is over, which is still strange to think about. The last 2 months of school were filled with all these random holidays (Kristian Himmelfartsdag, 2.Pinsedag, etc.) and cancelled lessons, that I got out of the routine of school. So when school finished up, it felt really unofficial. I guess I shouldn't really say that school is over because my class still has to go to all their exams, but I will not be partaking in the exams process because my class has exams in all the hardest classes; classes which I literally slept through (only a few times!). The last day of school was kind of hard because I realized that I wouldn't be seeing the now familiar faces I see everyday: dreadlocks girl, sweatpants guy, furry leg warmers girl and smiling grandma lunchlady. I will miss them all so much!
Instead of going to the exams I did a little "internship" for a week at my host mom's school. The first 4 days I helped with something called "Miniby". It was a neat little activity for all the kids from 0-2 classes (K-2nd grade). The kids had to work in different places (bookshop, pizzaria, bike-wash, etc.) and then they got money for the time they worked from the bank, where I worked. Then they could buy pizza, bookmarks, even clothes from the lost and found! The idea behind it was to help the kids see that money has to be earned and is not just given. It was neat to see the kids so intent on making money. Probably the funniest part of the entire week was when they found out I was American. The asked, "Do you speak English?!" "Ja." "Aww! Cool!" I am pretty sure that will be the first and last time anyone will be impressed that an American speaks English! The last day I helped out in a special education room, just helping them with reading and playing with them. School is so different than in the US. The kids have more of a friendship with their teachers. They eat lunch together at their desks and just talk. It is so nice and hyggelig. I think it makes it easy for the teacher to teach because there is mutal respect, something lacking in American schools. At the end of the week the class asked me to be in their "friend-book". It was a really nice week.
On Sunday then we had my AFS region's last meeting. It was a canoe trip. I guess I do not have so much to say about it, but just imagine being in a canoe with a Thai girl and French boy who had NEVER canoed before. It was pretty intense. Half of the trip was us bumping into trees, the shore, fences, other canoes, poles and anything else that was in our way. Part of the trip we were also going backwards, so that might explain that a little. It was a great day full of sun, singing and great friends!
I kind of freaked out over the fact that my parents and best friend were then coming in 4 days! Crazy! I got the house ready for them and had our plans all set. On Thursday morning I met them in the airport at 9:00 and then took them home. It was so weird to see them. They didn't belong in the picture, but it was a nice change. During the week we went to Copenhagen, my school, my city and ended the week with a very nice party from my class. The week went by really fast. It was nice to see them again, but I am not going to lie I did enjoy having my bedroom all to myself again! It was an easy goodbye because I would be seeing them in 10 days, which is nothing compared this year apart!
The past few days have been filled with last-minute plans and goodbye parties. It is so sad to say goodbye. I am bad at it. My goodbye consists of about 3 hugs followed by a short conversation and then some more hugs. I am just really enjoying my last times with my friends. These memories will be the ones I retain forever, so I better make them good!
The thought of packing and all the final details are pushing me into limbo. One week left and I am not sure how to feel about going home. I had a little taste when my parents came, but it will be hard to know until I am faced head-on with it. I am going to miss my Danish friends so much and equally, if not more, my AFS friends. They have been the ones who have helped me through the year and taught me so much about myself. It will be hard to get used not being able to call up my French, Thai, German, Kiwi, Argentinian, Japanese friends and get hang out. I will never have a time like this ever again and that is hard to come to terms with. These people are my family and from now on, I will always be missing someone, some place. I realize that life has to move on but I want all these people to continue with me, right by my side. Oh, how I wish that could be.
Andy E
Instead of going to the exams I did a little "internship" for a week at my host mom's school. The first 4 days I helped with something called "Miniby". It was a neat little activity for all the kids from 0-2 classes (K-2nd grade). The kids had to work in different places (bookshop, pizzaria, bike-wash, etc.) and then they got money for the time they worked from the bank, where I worked. Then they could buy pizza, bookmarks, even clothes from the lost and found! The idea behind it was to help the kids see that money has to be earned and is not just given. It was neat to see the kids so intent on making money. Probably the funniest part of the entire week was when they found out I was American. The asked, "Do you speak English?!" "Ja." "Aww! Cool!" I am pretty sure that will be the first and last time anyone will be impressed that an American speaks English! The last day I helped out in a special education room, just helping them with reading and playing with them. School is so different than in the US. The kids have more of a friendship with their teachers. They eat lunch together at their desks and just talk. It is so nice and hyggelig. I think it makes it easy for the teacher to teach because there is mutal respect, something lacking in American schools. At the end of the week the class asked me to be in their "friend-book". It was a really nice week.
On Sunday then we had my AFS region's last meeting. It was a canoe trip. I guess I do not have so much to say about it, but just imagine being in a canoe with a Thai girl and French boy who had NEVER canoed before. It was pretty intense. Half of the trip was us bumping into trees, the shore, fences, other canoes, poles and anything else that was in our way. Part of the trip we were also going backwards, so that might explain that a little. It was a great day full of sun, singing and great friends!
I kind of freaked out over the fact that my parents and best friend were then coming in 4 days! Crazy! I got the house ready for them and had our plans all set. On Thursday morning I met them in the airport at 9:00 and then took them home. It was so weird to see them. They didn't belong in the picture, but it was a nice change. During the week we went to Copenhagen, my school, my city and ended the week with a very nice party from my class. The week went by really fast. It was nice to see them again, but I am not going to lie I did enjoy having my bedroom all to myself again! It was an easy goodbye because I would be seeing them in 10 days, which is nothing compared this year apart!
The past few days have been filled with last-minute plans and goodbye parties. It is so sad to say goodbye. I am bad at it. My goodbye consists of about 3 hugs followed by a short conversation and then some more hugs. I am just really enjoying my last times with my friends. These memories will be the ones I retain forever, so I better make them good!
The thought of packing and all the final details are pushing me into limbo. One week left and I am not sure how to feel about going home. I had a little taste when my parents came, but it will be hard to know until I am faced head-on with it. I am going to miss my Danish friends so much and equally, if not more, my AFS friends. They have been the ones who have helped me through the year and taught me so much about myself. It will be hard to get used not being able to call up my French, Thai, German, Kiwi, Argentinian, Japanese friends and get hang out. I will never have a time like this ever again and that is hard to come to terms with. These people are my family and from now on, I will always be missing someone, some place. I realize that life has to move on but I want all these people to continue with me, right by my side. Oh, how I wish that could be.
Andy E
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