My conscience, which sounds a little bit more like Molly Weasley every day, shrieks inside my brain when I access this blog.
I know, I said I'd update like 3 weeks ago.
Unskyld, jeg kommer for sent.
See that? That was some legit Danish! Boom! That's the answer, Molly Weasley!
Ladies, Gents, and Ruffy, I introduce the more-improved-at-Danish-now-but-still-really-nervous-about-using-it-because-people-laugh-at-my-accent-Georgia. She is the result of a week of intense Danish training myself and about 45 other exchange students went through in the beginning of February.
Ladies, Gents, and Ruffy, I introduce the more-improved-at-Danish-now-but-still-really-nervous-about-using-it-because-people-laugh-at-my-accent-Georgia. She is the result of a week of intense Danish training myself and about 45 other exchange students went through in the beginning of February.
A few Sundays ago, I woke up at a time that isn't acknowledged by my body clock, and drove an hour to the nearest city to jump on a train. Two trains, 7 hours and pretty much the entire landmass of Denmark later, I finally arrived Randers, to catch bus to the place in which I would undertake willing brain torture.
We were greeted by this... monstrous thing...
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| What is it? |
Anyway, after gawking at that, and being introduced to our teachers, it was full steam ahead with the Danish lessons. Our teachers were all young, fun, and generally made it really easy to learn the language (Shout out to my teacher Vibe). I really enjoyed being in a room with people who understood exactly what we were all going through and the ability to share stories was thoroughly enjoyed. Helping us learn were two Norwegian guys... who were very, VERY enthusiastic about the Danish/Norwegian vowels.
Their brainchild eventually became the theme song of IntroCamp 2013: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f488uJAQgmw
Seriously. Hit that link.
During our stay we were given the privilege of being entertained by two awesome bands, (one of which I bought their album, and they took a photo with me!)
Seriously. Hit that link.
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| Our Danish class! |
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| Squeeeeeeee! Fair Enough, Martian! |
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| The Gang! (Size Matters) |
We worked hard all week and had a fantastic time bonding. Thursday saw us in Aarhus being treated to a day of roaming around the city and indulging in some much-needed retail therapy.
Which, would be fine, if my card decided to be normal and accept the pin that it had been assigned.
But sometimes, life decides to give the Dane behind the counter at H&M even more reason to judge you more than she already was.
I HAVE MONEY! IT'S JUST INVISIBLE!
My beautiful friends consoled me by taking me out for a very fattening crepe, and our favourite drink, FAXE KONDI! :D
Anyway, Sunday saw us depart from our dear new friends. It was merely a goodbye for now - we all pinky promised to come visit. This weekend, we're all meeting up- this time on my side of Denmark for a Get-2-Gether with all the other exchange students in Denmark. Exciting stuff!
Sunday also saw me on a train, bound for Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen.
The capital of Denmark was a great experience. I was whirled around the city by my family, getting a look at about six or seven tour-worthy sites and of course, lunch. Amongst our sites were: Danish Secret Service, the changing of the guard at Amalienborg, Christiansborg, Langelinie, the Little Mermaid (Den Lille Havfrue) and many, many statues. Copenhagen is full of 'em. They're all this turquoisey colour. Gotta love it. But it was a kinda 'seen that! Seen that! Seen that! Ok let's go!' type of tour. I enjoyed seeing so much of the history, but I'm looking forward to the day where I can just stroll around and take it all in.
Speaking of lunch; I can't fit a whole lot in my stomach. It's a fact of my life. But Danish custom dictates that I must eat everything on my plate.
How the eff am I supposed to be able to do that when every plate I get is the diameter of a freakin' pizza box!? HOW!?
And yet, the Danes strut around in their tall, chiselled glory after their colossal meals as I lie on my stomach and whimper. This is the absolute height of unfairness.
And so, my ass grows at a steady rate. I can feel the extra distance between my bones and the outside world and I am terrified. I hope I can talk my club into paying for my gym membership.
They'll pay it.
They love me.
So!
After a day's reprieve back home to recharge batteries, we were off again! This time, by car. We covered almost all of Denmark in one day. 3 cities. 3 islands and 3 hours on the mainland.
This country is really freakin' tiny. Fun fact of the day: Denmark can fit 207 times into Australia.
Anyway, so after a ferry and a couple of road hours, we found ourselves in...
Odense: "O-en-se".
Odense was a city that was definitely clinging to the past. Their past, it seems, was its best asset. It came in the form of the lanky, awkward, world-famous author Hans Christian Andersen. In his museum (which was our only stop) you could be all personal and touchy-feely. The museum is built next to his childhood home. I for one, jumped in his bed, pretended to eat at his dinner table, and made conversation with his statue. It was quite thrilling. As you can probably tell, I like to live dangerously. All stupidity aside, it was actually a wonderful museum. His diaries, clothes, letters and possessions are on dispay there, along with what seemed like a copy of every translation of every book he's written. FYI- he's been translated into 150 languages. That makes him the most translated author of all time. I'm talking Siberian and Cherokee and Swahili here.
But of course, my favourite part was imitating him as a statue.
Over another bridge and onto the mainland, we were very quickly in Aarhus.
Aarhus: "Aar-hus"
Back in Aarhus for the second time in a week. I get places, lemme tell ya.
We arrived in the second largest city in Denmark just as the sun was saying "Yo, I'm gonna go say hi to your family, G."
Again, we stopped only once. This time it was the internationally-famous ARoS Art Gallery. I'm slipping into an alter-ego here, but this place is freaking dope!
I got to see Andy Warhol's original Mazza Munroe, the giant scary-as-all-hell Boy statue, and a couple of other things that freaked me out. I made my mother very jealous.
Checkmate, sucka.
(She dragged us around Manhattan when I was 12 and made us go to about 45 different museums in two weeks. We wanted to play in the snow. I didn't appreciate it. Now, I gloat.)
However I think the most awesome of all of ARos was its rainbow panorama on top of the building. Now, I have a height phobia, so this wasn't easy for me, but the views we got made it so worth it.
So, as night was truly upon us, we left the big city and began our final leg onto Frederickshavn.
Frederickshavn: "Fle-ller-icks-haun" (bloody impossible to say.)
We got to Frederickshavn and I was absolutely starving. Well, I'm an exchange student. I'm always hungry. It's part of the parcel.
But here's evil Denmark, saying, "Oh, have another potato. Lashings of brunsovs. Oooh look, a Fledeboller! Now try these chips, they're called Kim's and they're better than anything ever! Mmm, meat. Now cheese. Oooh let's fry it in butter!"
Needless to say, I feel extreme anger with myself whenever I look in the mirror.
But to my happiness, we went to an Asian restaurant. God, I love Asian food. It's delicious and relatively guilt-free. But, once again, we were given the gigantic portions. My host father ate his and then finished the rest of mine (three quarters remained and I was guiltily full)
Then it was off to bed. Finally.
Now, I need to describe this hotel they brought me to. It's called The Reef. It is 100% attempting to recreate a tropical environment, complete with indoor tropical beach/pool. It's minus degrees outside, and they've used coconut décor. I was in a constant giggle fit. They can't do this! It's silly! I'm from the reef! This is Scandinavia for Christ's sake!
We took a small trip up to the top of Denmark and I stood where the North Sea and the Baltic Sea meet. The most interesting thing about that, though, was seeing snow on the beach. Not something I've ever seen. I'd also never been that cold at the beach before. In hindsight that was pretty disconcerting.
Anyway, we made our way home and now I've procrastinated this for three weeks. Oh well, I've done it now. Tomorrow I'm going crazy with a tonne of other students and shall report back soon. Hopefully, It'll be on time!
(that was my Molly Weasely conscience, swatting me with a rolled-up newspaper.)
Until Next time,
Vi Ses,
Georgia
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| The shopping street in Aarhus. |
Which, would be fine, if my card decided to be normal and accept the pin that it had been assigned.
But sometimes, life decides to give the Dane behind the counter at H&M even more reason to judge you more than she already was.
I HAVE MONEY! IT'S JUST INVISIBLE!
My beautiful friends consoled me by taking me out for a very fattening crepe, and our favourite drink, FAXE KONDI! :D
 |
| We are the official unofficial Faxe Kondi reps. |
 |
| The size of my ass is steadily growing but god, it's worth it. |
Anyway, Sunday saw us depart from our dear new friends. It was merely a goodbye for now - we all pinky promised to come visit. This weekend, we're all meeting up- this time on my side of Denmark for a Get-2-Gether with all the other exchange students in Denmark. Exciting stuff!
Sunday also saw me on a train, bound for Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen.
The capital of Denmark was a great experience. I was whirled around the city by my family, getting a look at about six or seven tour-worthy sites and of course, lunch. Amongst our sites were: Danish Secret Service, the changing of the guard at Amalienborg, Christiansborg, Langelinie, the Little Mermaid (Den Lille Havfrue) and many, many statues. Copenhagen is full of 'em. They're all this turquoisey colour. Gotta love it. But it was a kinda 'seen that! Seen that! Seen that! Ok let's go!' type of tour. I enjoyed seeing so much of the history, but I'm looking forward to the day where I can just stroll around and take it all in.
 |
| This is what happens when a cold Aussie is in a schmancy Copenhagen restaurant. |
Speaking of lunch; I can't fit a whole lot in my stomach. It's a fact of my life. But Danish custom dictates that I must eat everything on my plate.
How the eff am I supposed to be able to do that when every plate I get is the diameter of a freakin' pizza box!? HOW!?
And yet, the Danes strut around in their tall, chiselled glory after their colossal meals as I lie on my stomach and whimper. This is the absolute height of unfairness.
And so, my ass grows at a steady rate. I can feel the extra distance between my bones and the outside world and I am terrified. I hope I can talk my club into paying for my gym membership.
They'll pay it.
They love me.
So!
After a day's reprieve back home to recharge batteries, we were off again! This time, by car. We covered almost all of Denmark in one day. 3 cities. 3 islands and 3 hours on the mainland.
This country is really freakin' tiny. Fun fact of the day: Denmark can fit 207 times into Australia.
 |
| Excuse my paint skills. For your convenience. |
Anyway, so after a ferry and a couple of road hours, we found ourselves in...
Odense: "O-en-se".
Odense was a city that was definitely clinging to the past. Their past, it seems, was its best asset. It came in the form of the lanky, awkward, world-famous author Hans Christian Andersen. In his museum (which was our only stop) you could be all personal and touchy-feely. The museum is built next to his childhood home. I for one, jumped in his bed, pretended to eat at his dinner table, and made conversation with his statue. It was quite thrilling. As you can probably tell, I like to live dangerously. All stupidity aside, it was actually a wonderful museum. His diaries, clothes, letters and possessions are on dispay there, along with what seemed like a copy of every translation of every book he's written. FYI- he's been translated into 150 languages. That makes him the most translated author of all time. I'm talking Siberian and Cherokee and Swahili here.
But of course, my favourite part was imitating him as a statue.
 |
| Spot the difference |
Over another bridge and onto the mainland, we were very quickly in Aarhus.
Aarhus: "Aar-hus"
Back in Aarhus for the second time in a week. I get places, lemme tell ya.
We arrived in the second largest city in Denmark just as the sun was saying "Yo, I'm gonna go say hi to your family, G."
Again, we stopped only once. This time it was the internationally-famous ARoS Art Gallery. I'm slipping into an alter-ego here, but this place is freaking dope!
I got to see Andy Warhol's original Mazza Munroe, the giant scary-as-all-hell Boy statue, and a couple of other things that freaked me out. I made my mother very jealous.
Checkmate, sucka.
(She dragged us around Manhattan when I was 12 and made us go to about 45 different museums in two weeks. We wanted to play in the snow. I didn't appreciate it. Now, I gloat.)
However I think the most awesome of all of ARos was its rainbow panorama on top of the building. Now, I have a height phobia, so this wasn't easy for me, but the views we got made it so worth it.
 |
| Le view of le church through le panorama. |
 |
| It was très cools. |
So, as night was truly upon us, we left the big city and began our final leg onto Frederickshavn.
Frederickshavn: "Fle-ller-icks-haun" (bloody impossible to say.)
We got to Frederickshavn and I was absolutely starving. Well, I'm an exchange student. I'm always hungry. It's part of the parcel.
But here's evil Denmark, saying, "Oh, have another potato. Lashings of brunsovs. Oooh look, a Fledeboller! Now try these chips, they're called Kim's and they're better than anything ever! Mmm, meat. Now cheese. Oooh let's fry it in butter!"
Needless to say, I feel extreme anger with myself whenever I look in the mirror.
But to my happiness, we went to an Asian restaurant. God, I love Asian food. It's delicious and relatively guilt-free. But, once again, we were given the gigantic portions. My host father ate his and then finished the rest of mine (three quarters remained and I was guiltily full)
Then it was off to bed. Finally.
Now, I need to describe this hotel they brought me to. It's called The Reef. It is 100% attempting to recreate a tropical environment, complete with indoor tropical beach/pool. It's minus degrees outside, and they've used coconut décor. I was in a constant giggle fit. They can't do this! It's silly! I'm from the reef! This is Scandinavia for Christ's sake!
We took a small trip up to the top of Denmark and I stood where the North Sea and the Baltic Sea meet. The most interesting thing about that, though, was seeing snow on the beach. Not something I've ever seen. I'd also never been that cold at the beach before. In hindsight that was pretty disconcerting.
Anyway, we made our way home and now I've procrastinated this for three weeks. Oh well, I've done it now. Tomorrow I'm going crazy with a tonne of other students and shall report back soon. Hopefully, It'll be on time!
(that was my Molly Weasely conscience, swatting me with a rolled-up newspaper.)
Until Next time,
Vi Ses,
Georgia
