Vis ses Kobenhavn! : [

For a better part of my blogs I was writing as a form of documentation and most often as a form of procrastination. Today I sit eating the last of my peanut butter and drinking coffee thinking about packing. I can't believe it's almost over. Though I'm about to be heart broken I can't complain...I've had the time of my life here. I've seen many things, met many people, learned so much about myself and the world around me and found a place in the little country of Denmark.

Despite the temperatures there's nothing here I haven't found enjoyable, with the exception of leaving and living with Mira Brandes. [Terrible, terrible, terrible roommate.] When I got here I thought my challenge would be learning Danish...little did I know my biggest challenge would be leaving. Don't get my wrong, home offers many pleasures and I've missed it but now I feel like I have two homes. Just when I've gotten comfortable in a strange city of vikings my visa runs up and I'm expected to up and leave. So where in the world is Dani Sandiago?

Good question...more easily answered where has she been? All over Denmark. From Arhus to the port of Holbaek where I learned how to sail the Hjalm. I've been through Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Greece and Spain. I've been to an electronica concert in one of Copenhagen's parks. I've been to Amsterdam...twice. I've been the land of Nimmis completely constructed of driftwood. I've seen the queen and ate the crown prince's food. I've experience the Pink Palace as well as Copenhagen's many royal gardens. I've visited two zoos and today I will venture to the Danish Aquarium.  I've had hyggelig dinners with Danish families, birthday parties and all. I've spent countless times in the free-town Christiana and at least 437104831 hours on the 6A bus commuting home. I've seen more architecture, art and design then in my past 20 years alive. I broke through many language barriers with the help of Disney movie references. I was once asked if all American's were like the Jersey Shore cast...scary. I celebrated my 21st birthday on St. Pattie's in Amsterdam. I've sketched in negative degrees and in enough amounts that my fingers blistered, not kidding. I got in a fight with an Asian man in Florance that lead to a razor scooter concussion. I know where the secret bakery is. I was puked on at a discotheque. I canoed through a snow storm down rivers that led me to Swedish suburbia. I found not one, but two boys who will watch Sex in the City with me. (Priceless). I ruined two pairs of winter boots and at least 3 pairs of shoes walking around frozen cobbled stone streets. I found friends in over sized stuffed horses that live in Ulrik's courtyard. (No joke, I will miss my  horse friends). I've kept a plant alive for 3 months!!!! I've cried because I miss home. I'm crying because I don't want to go home. I've found love, happiness, jazz bar, floss, a vegan friendly store in the land of pig and beef. So is it really over?

I've decided no. I hope I can take my adventurous spirit and continue finding, searching, discovering and challenging myself to learn new people at home. I hope that my time, while obviously not wasted, is not taken for granted. May the next chapter in my life, my last year of college, be full of many, many memories. I hope while I'll be very far from all this love I will keep it close to my heart. I plan to work hard enough so that I can come back here...turns out it's very hard to stay in Denmark in less you are quite educated or especially good at a random talent. Unfortunately I am neither educated to especially good at anything at all.

I head to the States in dare I say 4 days. I'm not ready but time will not wait so I will not stay. For now I am excited to meet Miss Willow, the newest addition to the Hill family. I will wait patiently for my Denmark to come visit me in August. I will pack up my belongings, spend around $100.00 on luggage and hope the Luck of the Irish stirs up a very dark, think "Ass" cloud. 

some things never change

it's the last week of class and I'm beginning to realize, or having a re-realization, that it would be best if I took all my academic endeavors seriously throughout the semester rather then trying to catch up the last week. I'm actually slept, which is the problem. I haven't been doing shit..Thursday has crept up on my and I am still quite behind.

catching up just isn't what it used to be. completion is overrated anyways?

Happy Birthday Dad!!

Happy Birthday Dad! Sorry I didn't get to skype last night...once I was home my internet wasn't working well and I had to go to sleep. But I love you and hope you all had a lovely birthday dinner!

Today is a short week so we only had class on Monday and Tuesday. Yesterday we went to the Lousisiana Museum about 40 minute away. It was a really great museum we had a lot of fun and got to get out of class early. We didn't return to Copenhagen until around 7:30...Leanne and I got some Istanbul and then had a beer at Floss before we went and hung out with Jeff for awhile at his place. And then I headed home early...or so I thought...the bus ride from hell told me different.

It took me 40 minutes almost to get home last night. There were these little Danish shit boys on the bus that kept throwing sunflower seeds or the equivalent at everyone in the bus. I was actually appreciating their immature sense of humor before the bus driver pulled over (Mind you were are only 2 stops of the way home..which is like 1,000 stops) and goes to talk to the kids. He yells at them...tells them to get off the bus. The kids were refusing and laughing and I think it took about 15 minutes to get them off the damn bus. Meanwhile everyone just sat there annoyed. Once the kids were finally gone we kept doing but the bus doors kept opening on their own and every time they did the bus driver had to restart the bus...Thank god for the bus lane.

I got home and was ready to do a birthday skype session but the internet wasn't working. So I made some tea and fell asleep to Tila Tequila. Lovely right?

Today I'll be hitting the gym & then in studio alllll day long. I have no other plans except maybe getting my hair cut. I have to do some serious catch up on my studio work. I am so sick of this project I want to just do the damn thing and be done with it. My goal today is to finalize my plan and start working on my finished model. I'm so over school and next week is our last week of class and I'd really really just like to be finished now so I can enjoy the rest of my time here without stress or homework.

Can't summer come without me being kicked out of the country? : /

down $240.00

I'm such a huge bummer. I booked my airline ticket for June 29....which is totally illegal since my visa runs out on the June 1st. As a result I am down $230.00 dollars. You would think after all my traveling and or 21 years of life I would know by now that 6.29.2010 means June...not May. On the upside...my new ticket was cheaper then the last which would be great if I didn't have to pay the ticket change fee. Oh well.

On the upside the sun is shinning today in Copenhagen and I only have two days of class this week. My plans for my days off include shopping, getting a hair cut, visiting the Carlsberg brewery and spending time outside in Kings Garden as well as Nyhavn. While I may not be here for the summer I will surely take advantage of springtime weather.

Again I sit figuring out airline tickets, facebooking and blogging while trying to write a paper that is due later this afternoon. My head is certainly not well suited for the classroom this month. Only 2 weeks left of class...Yikes. 

the beatles/ in my life

The sunshines in CPH

I'm starting to grow very nostalgic about going home. After a beautiful weekend in Copenhagen I am more apprehensive about leaving this place. I know I'm surely not ready to say good bye.  However after this weekends events I feel far far away from home and wish I could pop in and give some love to my family. I think I forget that while my time goes by here, life is carrying on at home whether I'm ready for it to or not. I'm not home sick but I wish I could be with my family in times of sadness. Life has a funny way of surprising and reminding. At the end of the day I suppose we can be thankful for all the memories we are blessed with. And for those we should celebrate. And to best describe my feelings four British boys...

There are places I remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

 RIP R.Hill

One year

Last year on this day I was recovering from a weekend of Ani & Dead shows, clouds of smoke and pure mayhem. I was certainly on my way to Magnolia to kick of festivities and was certainly seeing in gray. Today I am happy to say that any such shenanigans will be celebrated legally. Happy Birthday Mary Jane! May more people have the opportunity to celebrate legally next year!

Is this growing up?

I'd like to make a public message: ATTENTION! ATTENTION!!

I, Dani Hill, am planning on staying IN on a FRIDAY night a) because I'm waking up tomorrow to hop the boarder to Svveeden and go canoeing and hiking for the weekend and more impressively b) to catch up on homework and work intensely on my senior internship search.

If you aren't impressed I'd like to note that I have yet to stay IN on a FRIDAY since making it to Denmark and cannot recall a FRIDAY at Endicott that I haven't gone to a party and woken up Saturday morning confused. I think this may be growing up. And or I can't afford to procrastinate any long and am entering professional panic mode. Regardless...I'm proud of me. Are you proud too? I hope so.

Tonight it will be just me, the world wide web and a bottle of wine.

I said nothing about drinking...I just said I wasn't going OUT. Cheers!

We went boating on a pond the other day in Madrid's central park-ish. Yesterday we did some shopping around the city and went to a club Joy last night. We've been relaxing a lot and taking our time which is a lovely change of pace from the first part of our trip. Today I think we'll venture to the zoo! I love Madrid :]

Beer Wine Wiskey Tequilllllaaaahhh Italy Greece- Dani Hill Of Corfu did.

My adventures thus far this spring break have far lived up to my expectations. I have had a blast so far. Where to start where to start... Italy!

We got to Italy and within minutes were drinking bottles of wine with familiar faces in by the Arno. It was a beautiful day and we became apart of a painting. So Italy. It was a cute very old man painting the river and we were in his painting. It was his 90th birthday. It was a beautiful experience. Our first night it was Lindsey's birthday and we went out to dinner, a bar, a club and got quite drunk. Drunk enough that on the way home I took my shoe off and threw it at a moped driver. I thought it would be funny. The asian man who was victim of my humor did not. We got in a scary fight and after calling him Baby like 100 times he decided I was too drunk to deal with and gave up. This incident was followed by my concussion. Alex's hallway has a mean slant in it so everyone was trying to ride down it on the Razor scooter. I was too drunker after a mixture of alcohols (Title of blog included) and flipped over the handle bars in my skirt and heels and hit Alex's sliding bedroom door with my head hard enough to shut it. I woke up in the morning entirely concussed. My bad. The rest of our days in Florence included eating ice cream by Dome, climbing up to the Michael Angelo and getting drunk while overlooking the city. That was followed by a very drunken run-inn with a North Conway boy Pat whom Jacqui and I work with at Delaney's. We then preceded to have a caricature drawn of Alex Jacqui and I. I was drunk enough to request large breasts. I think the artist was quite entertained by our shenanigans.

Alex lives with 5 other Endicott boys and we had a wonderful time with them. 4 of them were coming with us to Greece. Mikey inspired us to buy team costumes. We had planned on buying fanny packs and straw hats as costumes for the Palace. We were told clothing was optional and nudies drink for free...so that was our attempt...however we failed miserably and only Mikey had a costume.

We went to a hole in the wall Jazz club and listened to incredible music. We made family dinners and had silly silly times. We met a lot of their new friends who are also studying in Florence and saw quite a lot of the city in our three days there. We were quite sad to leave but very ready to see adventure to the Pink Palace in Corfu, Greece.

It was not a quick easy journey. We took a 6 hour bus ride, a 130 minute ferry and a 15 hour cruise ship. Can I just say wow. Greece is a beautiful country. The ocean was beautiful. The cruise ship we were on was wild. There were about 300 kids also headed to the Pink Palace and Easter weekend break was in full swing within minutes of being on the boat. Alex Jacqui and I sprang for a 3 bottles of lovely table wine from the duty free shop, followed by man trips to the various bars and bottles of booze. We were staying in a cabin that had about 100 airline-ish seats. It quickly turned into a dance club- card session- all out booze cruise. Little did we know the real one would be at the Pink Palace.

People drive crazy crazy in Greece. I cannot explain to you the wild driving maneuvers of our Greek bus driver. He cruised up and down mountains and tiny twisty turns like it was the indie 500. For those who are at home, the Fryeburg 500. Corfu is a cute island. We stayed on the back side of the island a 100 feet from the beautiful Mediterranean. The entire Palace was painted Pepto Pink. It was lovely. We had a club, bars, beaches, hot tubs and the ocean. Jacqui and I were paired up with Hana Dinko as a roommate. She turned out to be an awesome girl with a funny last name. Our first day at the Palace was beers and the beach followed by a traditional Greek meal of I don't remember and a Pink Toga Party. I've never seen so much dancing pink. Basically we were give pink silky sheets and had to figure out how to made togas look semi attractive. The toga party was an absolute shit shot and was followed by 60 people in a gigantic hot tub still partying. There were naked chicken fights and lots of friend making. I think the Pink Palace embodies the MTV versions of spring break. It was crazy.

On day two we woke up early to sign up for the booze cruise. The line was too long so we ate breakfast and went back to bed. When we woke up we were disappointing we weren't going so we bought at 1 Euro pen and drew on the stamps. Everyone else payed 25 Euro for the trip. We were crafty stowaways. The booze cruise started with cliff jumping. Due to my earlier in the week concussion I opted out, thankfully. Most jumper ended their 60 ft plunge with bruises, blood and very very cold bodies. It was really fun to watch though and I was glad we were there to experience it. Our next stop was to a private beach where we spotted real live billy goats. So cute! We also played several beach games, drank more beers, contributed to the urination level of the Mediterranean and were off to the bat caves. Unfortunately time did not allow and we had to continue back to the Palace. The ride home consisted of very drunken dancing and many body shots. (I did not participate in body shots by the by.) Our captains nephews worked on the boat. One a bartender and one a 9 year old who drove the boat most of the way. The boat was only 50ft long and had about 60 passengers. It was quite a wild experience and a lot of fun. While some people may have lost a little dignity we just lost some Euro and some pale skin.

Our last day on the island consisted of laying on the beach and trying to nurse our very very sun burnt bodies. We had such a fun time and I'm so glad we made it to the Pink Palace. It is on the list of top 10 hostels in the world...I would like to find number one some day because this place was heaven. It surely wasn't a family destination but was exactly what college students look for on spring break. I can't imagine anyone else having comparable spring breaks. Our trip back to Florence took over 24 hours and was quite miserable. Everyone, tour guides included jumped off the bus in Florence and took a scream of happiness. It was just way to long. Our last night in Florence concluded quite like the last. We had a few bottles of wine and shared stories with some new friends and roommates who went on other trips. I hope someday I look back on my foolish spring break and laugh. The things you do on spring break. No worries mom and dad :] No jaded experiences for me I had a boy waiting for me a home and a good concussed head on my shoulders. Just a lot of booze in my sun burnt belly.

I apologize to grandparents, friends and family if this had tainted your image of little angle Dani. Hehe. No way right? Just doing my spring break thing!!

Today we made it to Andreas in Madrid. I am amazed at the size of this city and the architecture already. We did some grocery shopping and relaxed this afternoon. We most have just caught up on our semesters and and stories of our travels. We bought a few bottles of wine and will soon made some dinner. We've had such an excellent time in Florence and Greece and I can't wait to explore Madrid. Andrea has class tomorrow so Jacqui and I will be figuring out the Metro and roaming around. A friend who graduated from Fryeburg goes to school with Andrea so we will hopefully see him while we are here. We might visit a zoo, explore some gardens and do some shopping. I have gifts to buy for people and would like a few souvenirs for myself. The only thing I left Florence with was bruises, a slightly concussed head and gray teeth. Oh and lots of laughs, memories and fun times! I love spring break. I love traveling...Of Corfu do. Duh

I miss Copenhagen. I decided after being away for a week that I'm staying for the summer. I will do everything in my power to make it happen. I missed home so much while being away this week and am not ready to return to the states. I think I will stay in Copenhagen until the middle of August and then bring my Danish boy home for everyone to meet. I think I can take the classes I need while in Copenhagen this summer and can find a job. I need to do a lot internship searching and pull a lot of strings before it will be officially set in stone. But yall know Dani Girl. I want something. I go and get it. Sooo my next expedition will be staying in Copenhagen. YAY! I'm excited. Bri's staying officially for the summer so we're going to do a lot of job searching, visa renuing and what not together!

Over and out until I sit down long enough to scribe Madrid.
Cheers!

Spring?

This week I finally switched apartments and left my god awful roommate behind. I now have a guy roommate named Troels. He is 30 and is working on this thesis. I know nothing else about him because I just moved in last night. Except that he expects me to keep his flowers alive. Apparently two boys before me were able to keep flowers alive for a whole year so I'll be surely embarassed if they die on my watch. I told him I wasn't very good at keeping things alive...when I pulled out my fake sunflowers all was explained.

So far so good. I feel more welcome then I ever did at Ahlefeltsgade 29 and don't have to shower in the kitchen anymore. I am now a bus commuter rather then a pedestrian. I have a 20 yard walk to the bus from my new flat and take the entire route of the 6A. First one on-Last one off. It's only a 20 minute ride and will actually give me a little quiet time to read or listen to music. I think I won't mind it at all. I am so happy this week is over and all mid-terms and projects are basically through. It's fantastic. 

Well I can't believe it's been another year since Maya turned one. I also can't believe that my spring break starts tomorrow. I am so excited to travel and also quite heartbroken that my time here is now actually half over. I want to cry and crawl under a rock.

Instead I supposed I will go to Florence. Jacqui and I have a fun weekend planned in Kobenhavn... We'll are having sushi dinner and then Ulrik and I will be taking Jacqui to the famous Heidi's beer bar. Tomorrow we'll be accompanying him to a graduation party. I'm happy Jacqui will be able to go to a nice Danish party and hopefully meet a lot of Danes : ]

So we leave Sunday night for Florence and have an over night layover in Germany. We will arrive there on Monday afternoon and will be there until Thursday. Thursday we're taking a cruise to Corfu and will be staying in Corfu at the Pink Palace. The pink palace is a college destination which includes a pink toga party, boating, 4 wheeling, booze cruises etc hopefully all in the warm warm sun. After the pink palace we cruise back to Florance for an additional night and fly to Madrid where Jacqui and I will be staying with Miss Andrea Palumbo!!!!!! yaaaaaaaay!! We'll be staying there until Sunday April 11th when we return to Kobenhavn. Jacqui will finish out her month abroad with two days in Kobenhavn before she returns to the states on the 14th.

I can't believe I have plans through the middle of April. Time if flying by here way too fast. I registered for thesis today and was told I have to register for summer class. Yuck. I don't ever want to think about returning to the real world and doing thesis and school. Yuck.

Again I suppose I'll just go to Florence. Forget about all of that junk having the time of life. I wish I could bring everyone I love with me on this trip and to Kobenhavn. I think that everyone would love it here a lot. I wish my family could experience this city and the people. With the exception of the wicked x roommate of coarse.

Anyways Happy Spring to everyone. I hope warm weather is finding New England and that the sun shines for you as well. I miss and love everyone!

Curve Ball

Life throws you many curve balls.

This week I've had many and am dealing with them quite well. I'll be moving sometime this week before my spring break travels and will also have to go crazy on my homework/midterms/projects so I don't fail. Thankful miss Jacqui is a doll and is making the best of my situation and entertaining herself while enjoying a little life in Copenhagen.

I'm hoping to take a hit on the hip or a walk to first base. Maybe I should go for the double to left field. Hell I'd like to strike out and maybe skip this week right into the 7th inning stretch: Florence, Greece & Madrid. Here I come!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!! :]  I hope you have a beautiful day and that things are as good in Maine as Kobenhavn! XoXo consider yourself hugged hugged hugged and kissed kissed kissed by Jacqui & Myself. LOVE YOU!!

no complaints!

Today was uncharacteristically sunny today in Kobenhavn for Kelsey's arrival. Jacqui was greeted by typical cold wet weather yesterday when she arrived. We took advantage of the sunshine and walked about Kobenhavn today and had some lunch. We retreated when the rain came and have been napping since. We're having dinner tonight at home. Corrine is joining us. We'll be meeting up with some Danish friends later at a nearby bar and make it an easy night. Kelsey had a long day today and Jacqui yesterday. We have just enough time for me to show Kelsey around the city before we hit up Amsterdam for four days.

I am so happy to have friends here to visit me. It feels great to have familiar company and have someone enjoy the city I've grown to love. I wish everyone could come here and do the same thing. It's a super blast and I love having them around. We're quite crowded in my tiny room but we'll make do and at least try and see the humor in our "Hygge" situation.

I have no complaints today. I feck. I lost another mitten...and what are the chances another right hand. I can't even configure a miss-match pair. bummmer.

Friendly Faces

Jacqui Bell will be in Kobenhavn tomorrow morning :] Nufff said yo I'm the happiest lady alive. Tonight I am making a meat eating Dane enjoy some vegetarian food. Wish me luck. Fiesta pasta?

Do something Dutch

It's been a day since I got home from our long study tour. Germany and Netherlands were everything and nothing like I assumed they would be. It was an incredibly adventurous trip and while having the time of our lives in funny cities we managed to learn quite a bit about German and Dutch architecture.

We visited countless sites and spent time in many cities. In Germany we went to Cologne and Hamburg and a few other places along our route to Netherlands. In Netherlands we visited Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrech. It was a blast. We visited many many many architectural sites and museums. I can't really even begin to synthesize or summarize the trip. Things I learned while traveling...


The original Cologne can be found in Cologne, Germany. Don't find it. It smells like shit. I still haven't figured out if they city was named after the product, or the product the city. Either way it is not a beautiful scent...the city is Beautiful for sure.

I learned that no matter what the weather is like German tour guides will keep you in the elements until you can't feel a bit of your body. Also very German...when being taken on a tour you absolutely get an ear piece and battery pack thing so that you have to listen to the tour guide.

It is very possible & plausible that you will draw blood and almost get run over by a tram whilst in Amsterdam...the phrase we coined "Slammed by a tram in the Dam." I'll have everyone know that while I had a very close encounter at 1am with a tram slam I did survive and made it out without any serious injury. No worries :]

The Dutch are awesome. Every dutch person I met and city I went to was fabulous. Whether it was the coffee shops, the accents, the brownies, the wet Sunday morning vagina's (Art Exhibit we visited), the architecture or a solid combination of all these factors I'm not sure.

Never under estimate cities who are built on canals. There is a lot of water in the Netherlands and Germany & they use it in the planning of their cities and it really creates a beautiful relaxing atmosphere.

After spending on the Danish Kroner for 2 months it felt fabulous to spend in the single digits. The Kr is about 6-1 do the American dollar. So 1 Dollar is 6 Kroner...so it's hard to not feel like you're spending a ton of money because the numbers on everything is so high. It felt great to spend in Euro.

The Shroder house isn't all that fabulous. While it is considered and architectural feat and also an icon of the Germany De Stijl movement it is quite small and boring. So much for the excitement leading up to it.

Amnesia haze is not for ninnies.

Rather then drinking 8 gallon Dunkin Donut coffees the Europeans drink tiny tiny tiny coffees but put like 50% sugar in them. Nothing like a sugar high from 1 sip of coffee.

Do something Dutch? What does that mean right? We found out it means do whatever the hell you want to do just do it very big. To try and act dutch is not an easy thing...Dutch, Danish vhhat evaaa. 

If you want to see pictures of my trip please check them out on facebook. If you are not an FB member I can email you the album :] Just let me know.

After leaving Kobenhavn for a week it felt nice to come home. It is also nice to finally really feel at home in Kobenhavn. Again I don't think that I ever want to leave. I am having such a great time here and am super upset that my time is almost half over. I don't really want to think about it but it's true. Jacqui and Kelsey are coming in less then a week & will be here for quite sometime. Once spring break is over and Jacqui goes home I really only have a month left here in Kobenhavn. I haven't bought my ticket home yet and am currently looking into summer options. I might try and stay here for a few more extra weeks. I don't know if I can stay past June 1st but I am trying to find out. I think I might fly somewhere else for about a week & then come back to Kobenhavn for a few more weeks to enjoy the city before I head back to the states. I truly miss everyone from home, and even miss being at school a little bit but nothing will ever compare to my experiences here. Family...You might have to drag me home :]

I'm finally starting to learn a little Danish and hangout with some Danes on a regular basis. I am continuously butchering this language and am afraid I will come home will just enough phrases to fill a note card. Embarrassing for sure. So here I am again writing a blog entry and really I'm supposed to be applying for internships, catching up on two weeks of reading, cleaning my apartment and doing Danish Design journal entries. I think I have mid-terms coming up this week and next week. I need to get my life together. As I assumed the study tour kicked off my half-way through the semester slump where I really don't want to do work ever. As my time flies by here I feel that homework is getting less and less important. Call me crazy but I'd rather be indulging in the Danish culture then my English-translated danish study books.

My 21st birthday is coming up in just over a week. I will be celebrating it on St. Patrick's day in Amsterdam with Miss Jacqui & Kelsey. Several other Endicott kids will be meeting us there for the weekend. I'm going to have to skip a few days of class but that's okay. I've already forewarned my professors and will be taking several mid-terms early so that I can go.

I wish I could recall more important stories from my study tour. I have so many pictures, notes, drawings & thoughts from the trip that it seems a catastrophic even to write them down. Everything is quite jumbled. So enjoy my picture and feel free do use your imagination. Dani.Germany.Netherlands.So much fun!

Germany Netherlands

Dear Everyone,

For the past 2 days I've been traveling in Germany. We've seen a great deal of architecture and I'm happy to be in Rotterdam for the next two nights. We're going to Amsterdam today & traveling around Rotterdam tomorrow. Last night we explored Rotterdam and had a lovely time. :]

I'll write more after my trip!

Flossy Tuesday gone Thursday

Tuesdays have somehow turned into Flossy Tuesday. Jeff & I are usually accompanied by several others and we hit up Floss (Our favorite bar) after we get out of class around 6:00. This Tuesday however everyone was neck deep in studio work and hadn't sleep since at least Saturday, at best. So we didn't make it.

Yesterday we decided, hell we're done with studio let's make it Flossy Thursday. Jeff and I had already decided we would make Thursday our Hygge night and we'd come to my flat and make dinner, share a few drinks and relax. So yesterday we said Hell we'll make it a Flossy Hygge night...dinner followed by Floss.

So I make Jeffrey dinner and we eat, have a beer and relax. Mid conversation the poor overtired kid passes out at the end of my bed. I mean out. Like a snoring drooling sassing mess. I kept trying to wake him up and be like "Jeff you should go home and get some rest..." his response "How do you know." For over an hour I tried to get Jeffrey to wake up and when I finally did he asked me where all my friends went...

I share this story to let everyone know that clearly I do not having sleeping problems as bad as some of the other architecture students. Maybe I hadn't had a good nights rest since the weekend and couldn't stay awake in class but I would never fall asleep when the opportunity to go to Floss presents itself. Needless to say I got a good nights rest last night and was pleasantly surprised when I awoke at 730 and it was light out. The past 3 days I've stumbled back to my room for "Sleep" around 5am. I think it will be a good Friday : ]

I have class this morning & then Karaline and I are finally making a pilgrimage to a famous danish/pastry shop located down the road. We figured after this week we deserve a gooey treat. This afternoon Karaline, Bri and I all present our projects. Seeing as my project is a complete bust I don't necessarily expect wonderful results. On a happy happy tonight I am being taken to Heidi's Beer Bar tonight. I haven't been yet in fear that I may never want to leave. I've heard great things and am ready for a cold one. Or two...whatever. TGIF right?

Somethings are global

All-nighters. Woof right? So I've made some decisions since I've been here. I decided I wouldn't compromise my fun for my homework...I also decided that doing my projects well and studying and doing homework are also a priority. And the same as while in the States...there just isn't enough time in the waking day to schedule all those things...As a result I have been awake for about 4 days. No worries though..I'm fed & showered and have actually just had my first good sleep since Wednesday night...oh that's a week. No wonder I feel like a crazy.

The good news is my project is done! While it certainly does not reflect 3 weeks of up to par work I think its sufficiently convincing. I'm going to try  harder on the next project.

I have the next two days to present my project and watch some other presentations. We few days this weekend to relax & then Sunday we depart for a week long study tour. I can't believe how fast time has flown over here. It's a bit heart breaking. While I miss many things about the States I am going to be a mess when I have to leave this country. I really really like living here. I'm starting to feel a panic setting in..like I haven't seen enough things...or done enough things here yet. I realize I probably won't come back here for a long time. I decided today that I will continue to have fun and do my work until the wee hours of the night. I will also try harder to do more and see more while I am here. I think Germany and Netherlands will be a progressive step next week.

I have many a post card to send to people. they have very interesting funny post cards all over the city here and I've been collecting quite a handful of them...f you would like a little mail from the CPH please give me your address and I will send you one. First I have to make it to the post office...It should be a very cultural experience seeing as I am I can't figure out the US postal system. International mail is crap.

Until I sit down long enough again to write a post...
Vi ses!

PS. Here are copies of my presentation boards. No matter how hard I try to make my boards appear "architectural" like most of everyone's here I still have a colorful mess. They should be titled "4am Self-Portrait."

Dancing Queen

Psych.

Okay so for those who know my excellent luck and series of unfortunate happenings you won't be surprised when I tell you I got puked on this weekend at a club. Unbelievable right? So I'm waiting in line for the bathroom chatting with Karaline, minding my own business and this girl behind me used my back as puke target practice. I couldn't believe it actually happened. I looked at Karaline "Did that really just happen?" turned around looked at the girl and could only manage to mutter "Get it together." I mean commmmmoonnnnn....That shit doesn't happen to people in real life. Like use the floor, or a toilet OR HOLD IT IN? I don't know but I can't imagine ever thinking "Hey good idea...that girl looks like she'd enjoy being puked on!"

While she continued to spew into the sink I was mopped up by like 10 very helpful Danish girls. I have never in my life been more shocked...Okay maybe when I got him by a car one time...Unlimited beer included with cover charges is only a good idea if you can handle drinking beer without puking on strangers. Note to self: NEVER get that drunk in public. Or ever.I hope everyone's already learned this lesson or can avoid learning it the hard way. No body likes a puker.

HAPPY BIRTHDAYYY ALEXX!!

When in Rome? Happy 21st Alex Bourett! Wishing you all the booze in the world! We will celebrate according once I am of age and we're cheers'n in AMSTERDAM!!!! Can't wait! Missss the shit outta you! && Everyone else but today is about Alex!

TGIF

I am currently in studio class...Obviously not working on studio. Super bad news....It is safe to say that any motivation I started this semester with is quickly dwindling. I've already made more travel plans for March 8-9 to go on a one night cruise to Norway : ] Class? Whatever.

Currently Kirsten is here visiting from Florence. Last night we took her to my favorite week night bar, Floss. We played some pool against some Danes, got entirely covered in the smell of smoke, drank several beers and concluded our night snacking on Nutella...Obviously. Needless to say Danish Design class this morning was a wash...

Tonight we're planning on hitting up Kohler Bar. It's a lovely dance club. We love to dance so it's a great inexpensive option and tons and tons of fun. I can't believe I've been here for over a month. It's quite overwhelming. It sort of breaks my heart. I never want to leave.

I can't wait to dance dance dance tonight : ] I uploaded some found photos of Christiana on FB. Check it. A marvelous hole in the wall for sure. I think I'm gonna skip out on studio and head to the gym. May everyone have a blissful weekend!

Time flies here

It's already Thursday this week and I'm not quite sure where all the time went. Ohhhh I remember, I've been trying to get work done in studio all week. The truth is...I've really been in my studio classroom since Monday but I haven't managed but to get a few hours of work done it feels like. My mind is not in the right place to do work. Instead of work all week I've been busy buying plane tickets & planning spring break & trying to learn hte metric system.

Only in Europe must you try and learn the metric system while listening to sexy bitch because your studio classroom is located over a Discotheque. Last night while I was working on my project and the place downstairs was bumpin over my itunes. Unbelievable.

This week has been a crazy jumble of group projects, class field trips and neglecting studio whenever possible. Yesterday I went back to Malmo & we went to the Boa 1 Project...It's a self sustainable housing development in the outskirts of Malmo, Sweden best known for its towering Twisting Torso. It was really interesting to be there and see all the different homes. When they were developing the project they opened up the plots of land to architects from all around the world. Essentially there are small villages within that are designed by a country such as Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and so on. I was really happy to be there but it was very cold. Once I got back I met up with classmates for a group project with my professor. After which time I met up with other classmates to go visit a Museum for a Danish Design assignment. Followed by that I went to the gym, had dinner and was back at studio by 7pm. Looks like today will be studio all day followed by class this afternoon followed by Welcoming Kirsten to Copenhagen. She is coming to stay with Karaline from Florence. I wish she was bringing all the other Endicott kids will her, however I'm very glad she'll be here for the weekend!

A week from Sunday we have our week long study tour. We will be visiting Germany & Netherlands. We will be staying in many different cities and seeing A LOT of architecture. On our short trip we had about 9 site visits. They're going to drag our asses all over those countries. I'm so excited!! I will return and within 5 day Jacqui & Kelsey will be here!

My spring break plans have finally come to a final plan and I am beyond excited. I feel like I have a month of break basically because Jacqui and Kelsey will be here for a week and half before my spring break. Jacqui and Kelsey arrive on March 11-12th & we will explore Copenhagen until March 16 when we fly to Amsterdam for my birthday! I will return on the 20th and my spring break starts on the 27th! On the 29th I arrive in Florence where Miss Jacqui Bell will meet back up with me and we will be staying with Alex Bourret & some other Endicott guys. From Florence we will be going on a trip for Easter weekend with my fellow Endicott students from April 1-5. We're taking a cruise down to Corfu where we will stay at the Pink Palace resort for 4 days, and then return to Florence for a night. Followed by that Jacqui & I will be flying to Madrid to stay with my roommate Andrea until the 11th. See! A month of FUN FUN FUN!!

The following weekend from Spring break I will be going on a hiking/biking/canoeing trip in Sweden. Two weeks after that around May 6 I will be learning how to work a tall ship. This semester is going to fly by in the next few months. From the sound of things I will barely be in Kobenhavn. Crazy Crazy Crazy....

I misss everyone!! A lot! Hope everyone is doing just as well as I am. As it seems to be the current topic of debate in New England...I LOVE that it's snowing there! I actually miss the snow. Feel free to quote me on that next winter when I'm bitching.

Okay before studio I must do laundry & get to the grocery store. Better get going! LOVE to all!

Fastelavn Fun

Happy Valentines Day! More importantly Happy Festelavn!

Last night I went to a party at a Koligium. (Dansk version of a dorm/apartment style living shared between like 600 kids from many different Universities all over Copenhagen). It was to celebrate the Danish adored holiday of Festelavn. The Dane's do not mess around with the seriousness of their costumes. I wish I had my camera to fully capture what I saw last night. Picture 1,000 College students in costume raging in a school facilitated building rocking out to a band, and two different DJ's with basically free beer all night! I was there with probably 10 other DIS students. All of them are second semester students and I was the only newby. It was a lot of fun. I didn't get home this morning until 6am. I was so tired it was incredible.

At the beginning of the night I had just returned from Malmo and wasn't planning on going out. I started my weekend cleaning duties and then the next thing I new I was getting ready to go to club Vega. Club Vega is one of the top dance clubs in all of Europe. I was really excited to see it...and then I went to my first real Festelavn party. Once in a lifetime experience I think. The best I can do to describe it is mayhem.

Sweden was really fun. While we didn't do much other then walk around it was nice to visit another country. We were a little confused by the money situation...Turns out there's Danish Kroner and Swedish Kroner...the difference who knows but now I'm stuck with 90 Swedish Kroner & I can't spend it here. While on our visit to Malmo we visited a candy store, a shopping mall and a small cafe for dinner. I bought a few pairs of warm socks and also a new pair of mittens and Swedish chocolate of coarse. Next time we go to Malmo we're going to plan on visiting the chocolate factory! Yum!

For now I must finish my cleaning duties...make a trip to the gym & then do homework alllllll night. I am forever behind in my studio class and really have no idea how to attack my project. I don't even have a metric scale yet, and I have no glue, so my  model making is being put on a hold until tomorrow. As I've mentioned nothing is open on Sunday. I need to start doing my must-have for homework shopping on Friday's or Saturday's so that I can manage to actually get some homework done on Sundays. Maybe next weekend...A Bourret might becoming next weekend to Denmark to celebrate his 21st birthday with me!!! Alex if you are reading this YOU HAVE TO COME! : ]

Next stop Shhheeeweden!

It makes me feel amazingly far north when I can hop on the computer rail 4 minutes from my house and end up in Sweeden 45 minutes later. Where in the world IS Dani Sandieg? So we're off to Malmo today. It's an area that connects Kobenhavn to all of Sweden. I've learned in my livability class that a lot of people commute and work in Kobenhavn from Malmo. Apparently everything is much cheaper there in general, so people can come to Kobenhaven, get all the benefits available under the Danish government, and then go live more comfortably an hour away. I think the Swedes have it figured out?

Last night I experiences Pat's Bar, known for Kobenhavn's finest karaoke. Let me tell you...finest. We decided to make it a tequila night, obviously. && Got very drunk with a lot of Dane's singing lord knows what at what decibels. I did feel great though to finally here Dane's butcher some English. While I didn't participate in the singing I did video tape Jeff & Karaline tearing it up to Cher. I must see this video asap. Also to make matters funnier there is a Danish holiday that coincides with Valentines day in which people dress up, much like Halloween and get all crazy. This holiday is described as such " Fastelavn or Shrovetide, which is a celebration with children dressing up in costumes and beating up a barrel with a stick. Fastelavn is celebrated on the Sunday before Lent." What it should say is the few days previous to this people get very drunk, go to karaoke and butcher a lot of American classics. Love it.

Most days I walk through Isreal Plads, which is alongside the park. I like to walk this way because I generally walk through recess of Danish elementary aged children. They are the cutest thing ever. Thus far I have gotten in a snowball fight on multiple occasions with the same group of seven year old boys. What's not to love on your way to class? Yesterday I wad delighted to find my snowball competition in costume. Maybe it's the language barrier, but I swear, Danish children are a 1000 times cuter then little Americans. I would like to bring one home. Thankfully they keep that at a young age in carriages outside the market. It's probably easier for me to steel a child then it is to get arrested for drinking too much here. There is virtually  no limit, as a result you find yourself on one tequila two tequila three tequila four, whilst your new found middle aged danish friends are buying you more rounds. I love Kobenhavn.

OH btw...Might be changing my place of residence. I'm really quite lonely in my apartment because my roommate is virtually MIA. A room opened up in DIS shared housing right by our classrooms and campus. I know quite a few kids on the floor and need to live around people asap. If I make this move I won't have to change any of my daily stuff...I'll just be closer to the gym, Netto & school. AND PEOPLE! The wheels have just been put in motion on this notion so I'm not sure what will happen. When in Kobenhavn...

Week 3

So this week has been terrific. I've have some very interesting field studies around the city. Two museums, one furniture show gallery, a world famous danish shop and the lakes around my house. Also I went to Floss which thus far is my favorite bar. It's a great week night hang out space. I went with Jeff & Leanne and met some new faces there. It's a very relaxed place, a nice basement full of couches and pool tables and foosball. Is that how you spell it? Anyways... My foosball skills are lacking. I have lost many a kroner to crazy Danish kids. While I'm a great shit talker I have a bad habit of scoring against myself rather than the opponent. In short: This week has been really great. I know it's only Thursday but I feel like I've packed a lot into the first part of my week. By the way, the Sun is shining in Kobenhavn today!! Maybe not so exciting for those who haven't been living gray scale for 3 weeks, but the blue sky is a beautiful beautiful thing! : ]

830

So when I first started class here I thought that 830ams would be a sneeze in comparison to an 8am. I learned today not the case. I stayed up until 3 reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo & naturally turned my alarm of instead of on. This morning however I definitely made it to class in under 8 minutes. I woke up at a 843 (for my 830) and got to class by 858.

On a up-note, it's Tuesday! That means NO class tomorrow. I have a field trip this afternoon to the Danish Museum of Fine Art (Or something of that gist) to present a group project about Architect and Designer Cecelie Manz. Tomorrow I have a field trip for my Danish Design class. I'm really starting to see how class is going to be interesting, challenging and different here. Our professors are really encouraging us to engage in our studies and also the cultural experience here in Copenhagen. Since being here in 3 weeks I've perhaps seen as much art and design as ever in my past collegiate experience. The Danes are innovative designers and I hope by the time I leave here, not only will I be able to speak a little more Danish, but that I will innately be influenced by Danish Design.

Word on the street it a few Endicott students are making their way from Florance to Copenhagen in a few weeks! I'm so excited! Also I think a few Endicott students, myself included, are going to make an hour train ride and hop the border to Switzerland this weekend for some exploring and shopping. I think we might try and head over Friday night, stay at a hostel and come back here Saturday night! : ] I love the simplicities of traveling in Europe. I think I'll have an easier time getting to Switzerland then if I wanted to drive to Jackson NH in February. I'm really starting to LOVE love it here. Not only can I walk to class in 8 minutes with some hustle but I can find freedom in 8 minutes. I never want to leave this city.

: ] On another note I do miss everyone from home. The whole communication thing is hard. I know you are all hearing about my life through the blog, but I don't hear from anyone or much about home. So don't be afraid to share with me! I hate email and the telephone is not an internationally friendly option...So please fill me in on your life and what's going on in the states. You can do better...I didn't know who won the Superbowl until late Monday night...that is not acceptable!

Go west my friend

Yesterday I got back from a 3 day study tour of Western Denmark. On our tour we went to Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark and Kolding along with Faborg. In each city we stayed at the Danhostel and visited many many places. It was overwhelming but certainly fun. While traveling we were allowed free time for roaming about the cities and getting into trouble and what not. On both nights we found some bars with real hygge. Hygge is the danish work for Cozy...or the idea that their spaces are designed around this intimate coziness. Anywhoozel while in Western Denmark I made new friends. Road a bus with a bloody handed bum. Got lost in foreign cities. Found my way home. Drank beer with professors. Learned a lot of about Danish Design. Found someone else who knows the Turkey Handshake. You can't plan things like getting Turkied and I Turkied a Turkier. Saw a Giant. Played like a kid in the coolest children center ever. Drank a beer the size of my leg. Climbed atop a tower to look over Aarhus. Slept on the bus. Danced with strangers. Walked a lot. Sketched a lot. Took a lot of pictures. Had a blast so on and so forth.

The trip was certainly a success. I really enjoyed the whole process of keeping a sketch book for the trip. It helped analyze the buildings and remember the details I would otherwise of forgotten. I'm going to try and keep up with my sketchbook on a normal basis.

Last night I went out with new friends and made some danish connections. Today I made a morning trip with friends to Christiana & got some breakfast. I then came home and cleaned the apartment and started in on my homework. I am starting to accept the lifestyle here a bit. I'm giving in to the late nights and late mornings. I'm usually a night owl but I prefer waking up early and getting my day started. It doesn't work out well when the Danes do not go until 11-12 and stay out until 6am. Today I slept in until 1 and it was fabulous. People stay up very late here and nothing opens until at least 10 so its time I embrace it! I am very slowly becoming danish.

Tomorrow I need to make a long pit stop to the market. I haven't done much shopping in the past week & have zero groceries except for the snacks that Mum sent. The grocery store (Other then 711) are closed on Sundays. Today I went exploring around my area of the city alone. It was really  nice to walk and see whats around. It seems like a lot of people enjoy the city on the weekends. It's relaxing to walk around and watch people. I found myself on the lake today watching people ice skate. We want to see if we can find a place to rent Ice Skates & go out on the lake while she's still frozen.

Things to do things to do...Here a few of the pictures from my trip. If you want to see more check out my facebook album where they are all located.

It's always sunny in Kobenhavn

Speaking of which...I'm actually sipping on my first cup of Jo waiting for the sun to greet those of us who are so far north. Since we got here the sun started rising earlier which is a great sign. Most days its been cloud and snowy, so we haven't seen that much of it. Yesterday when we were exploring the city we came across many glimpses of sunshine at which point Bri Corrine and myself would stop where we were standing & soak it up.

I think I'm severely VitD deprived. Gimme some sun!

Today we're heading farther North. For some reason they call it Western Denmark. I think that's just a more appealing way to look at it rather then thinking "It's about to get a lot colder." I'm very excited for this weekend trip. Though I have no idea where we are headed to first, or at all really. They like to leave us in the dark. I like the element of suprise.

I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be disapointed if we missed the LEGO trip...I just want to go to the factor and see all the LEGOs! T-30 I should probably get dressed and on with my morning. To those on the East Coast...May you see the sun shine this morning!

Spincity HELL

Okay so I finally got the balls to go to a Spin class at my gym. Before you think I'm being a ninny I would like to remind you that the Danish are known for the massive amounts of people who ride bikes on a daily basis. 48% of Dane's ride their bike to work. Another 20ish% walk. These people are fit and they do not mess around when it comes to bikes. Recently I have seen people biking in blizzard conditions with like two children on the same bike and a basket built for four. I'm not kidding these people are basically morphing into the missing link between man and machine.

Okay so let's face it. I just don't fit the physical profile of the average Dane. Not only do I not fit the physical profile I do not have the athleticism or stamina that they do. We can blame this on my asthma, beer or trips to Christiana. Regardless I am no Dane.

Okay so I go to spin class. This is what this is about. Self improvement. I will forever never compare myself to a Dane again. After this story. So I walk in and feel a bit better because there's several middle aged women (Who am I kidding, they could probably drive their granny bikes over me and or drag me on a weighted down sled behind their super-cross highly efficient bikes). My first problem was that I couldn't clip in the shoes I rented. While everyone else is warming up I'm struggling to stay atop and in control of my "Body Bike" and simultaneously clip in my shoes. Turns out the slide in from the inside...not the outside. It's not magic it's super efficiently highly impressive Danish Design. Right down to the foot petals on your "Body Bike."

So I'm clipped in and the musics pumping. Our instructor is a mix of Lance Armstrong and Teddy Brewski. He starts encouraging everyone in class. I will at this point give him credit for easing in on us. I will remind the reader the only words I know in Danish are beer and cheers... I have no idea what this man is say. Naturally I follow the lead of all the other "Body Bikers" and keep turning the resistance on my bike. My legs are burning off. I have forgotten about the blizzard-like conditions outside and in south of the border. We have sat up and down on or "Body Bikes" at least a 1,000 times. The lights have now been dimmed, the techno turned up and our instructor is mad. The only words I understand are PUMP PUMP PUMP and I am PUMPING as hard as I can. I am sweating like a Ban-chi. I look the man in the left of me and he is out to lunch. His fruity flowered sweatband is as dry as a whistle and he has a strange grimace on his face. His legs are the size of my rib cage. I am totally out of my league. We're, and I joke not about such matters, 10 minutes in the 60 minute class. If I was more confident in my ability to un-clip my "Body Bike Shoes" I would abort this spinning class from hell.

By the end of the class our instructor was off his bike and walking around to "Pump people up." Or so I assume. For all I know he could have been singing Marvin Gaye tunes or telling knock knock jokes. I the case of either examples I have totally miss-judged Danish body language...which would explain why I have, after a week at the gym, not found my long lost Danish hubby-to-be. So Instructor get's to my "Body Bike" and is yelling at me "Extremely encouraging phrases." I had all I could do no to bunny hop my entire "Body Bike" out of Palmfitness and back to my apartment. Instead I petaled like a road runner closed my eyes and appreciated the familiar sound of the Du Hast Super Mix.

The class ends and I feel like a champion. I still haven't out smarted the "Body Bike" or the "Body Bike Shoes" and am yet again behind as the class files out. Just me and Instructor. He asks something in Danish and I laugh. He laughs back. I mutter "I'm stuck." He says "You don't speak Danish?" I reply "No, No I don't. I hope I didn't miss anything important." He says "I hope I didn't frighten you" chuckles at himself tells me to slide my feet in and walks out while I am still attached to my "Body Bike"...I do so and like magic I am out of my "Body Bike" and happily retreating to the water fountain.

I think if I can walk tomorrow I will go again. This time I might either A. Ask for English translation, but only when directly being spoken to or B. Hope to god it's a different Instructor and out smart my shoes while trying to blend in with a group of psycho-semi professional-road stars. 
 

A fantastic start the week

I awoke and went to Pilates class...which was surprisingly similar to in America, except in Danish. However I'm getting really good at counting down from eight. Also when I got home I was told I had received a package from HOME! I have never been so happy to see peanut butter for real.

Once I picked my hefty package I realized I had a field trip on the other side of Copenhagen. My man Jeff was friendly enough to store it in his room near school so I could pick it up after our field trip. We decided it best if I went shopping with him at Netto and helped him pick out like liver spread of some sort. Disgusting. Anyways he took me to his favorite bar and we brought along Miss Karaline, who is also from Endicott. We had a really great time and discovered after having many a class together, and several group projects, one trip to Christina & A night at the bar that we are each others other half. I'm glad to finally have a solid friend here. You would all love him.

Today in my field trip I learned that the people of Copenhagen once hated bike riding and walking the streets. This gives me hope that maybe one day we can adopt this life style in America...

If you haven't laughed yet today. Youtube Maury Pickle Phobia.

: ] I am in particularly wonderful sorts tonight and I hope all my readers are having lovely Monday's as well!!
Thanks for the mail Mum! & Deb & Jerry!! xoxo

Once upon a time...

Title: I died and went to Christiana last night.

Story told as by Dani Hill
Narrated by Dani Hill
This is a story taking place 30.1.2010.
Time doesn't exist here.

There is a land where this exists legally. 8-Mile meets Matsiyahu gone Dansk bad-ass underground open mike. Location: Deserted Army Barrack outside of Copenhagen, Denmark. Language Danish: The people chanted "Can I get an amen for the green" as it was passed in rotation between 200 people of all ages. Quite possibly the best vibe ever. You're standing practically on stage jamming with new friends in a nice place with a new language. You wouldn't trade this experience for anything. You've found a hole in the wall and you want all your friends to know about it. The only rule here "No pictures." At this point you realized you're going to have to make them see it for themselves. The concert ends and in disbelief you leave the barracks and walk 5 minuets to a metro and realize what you just did was legal. and Quite possibly the most fun you've ever had. & as a group you decide...Hell that's a 15 minute metro ride, Let's come back tomorrow!

World on the street is...

It's blizzard conditions here in Kobenhavn. Tonight I will attempt the feat of going to friends and forging the storm. It's almost like The Oregon Trail game played in elementary schools across America. Do you stay inside and waiting for conditions to become less hazard or freeze to death & find pubs. I'm gonna go balls to the walls on this one & like my friends Duck Sauce once sang "I've not nothin to lose."

Maybe Just a few toes and feeling in my legs. Off I go. If I freeze the sidewalk permanently and become one of Kobenhavn's tourist destinations the plaque at the base of the statue (Me) will state "College student who dared to test our wild weather conditions. A lesson to all newcomers and Dane's alike. She lived a happy life and in her last moments recalled the time she got stuck in marshy mud on Fosters Point, Beverly MA. And thought 'This is an a lot like that...how long before high tide?'"

If design fails me I might be a saute chef....

I think I'm a natural sauteer.... One might ask what is that? That is someone who doesn't know how to cook anything else..because everything else has directions in a foreign language. Maybe I'm inspired by Julia and Julia or something.

Today I made a lovely fiesta pasta dish. Jonathan and Natalie feel free to laugh here.

For mood music I suggest Bob Marley Stir it up (Because that's what I'll be doing throughout the coarse of this process..) 

Saute Onions and Garlic of coarse (The most important ingredient). Add sun dried tomatoes, a cucumber variation of a sort...maybe Zucchini. I'm not sure yet. With some olive oil and pepper. Once your pasta is almost boiled (That's where I usually am at this point) Add some pesto & just a pinch of tomato sauce & or chopped tomatoes. Or both, the more the merrier. Let sit under light heat until pasta is finished. Throughout saute time feel free to add pepper. I have nothing else to throw on there at this point so I just go for it! (Go for it!) Feel free to squirt a lot of lime on this concoction. Zesty zesty zesty!

Also you will have a ghetto version of garlic bread going at the same time. If you're trying to conserve dishes feel free to use your saute pan while washing all other dirty dishes. By the time you're done...Your food has cooled to an eatable temperature and your bread will be just crispy enough. & will be a delightful saucy flavored piece of goodness.

& then you eat and serve with a Corona and lime. Am I a genius or a novice I'm not sure but it is damn good.  If you have guests for dinner apologize for the chaotic style of chef-ery. Everything tastes better once touched the floor, ceiling & walls.

Also do not be intimidated by lighting the stove. While you are deathly afraid of blowing up your apartment it probably won't happen...And If you're concerned about insurance remember you are Europe and know nothing about the insurance claims here. Also your kitchen is conveniently located near a back exit that leads to the back yard courtyard area. & remind yourself you've lived through a tornado, a broken tail bone and a very close encounter with a moving vehicle. (Another story, another blog...) You really have nothing to lose. Maybe your eyebrows but they haven't been plucked in over a month and could use some fire aided maintenance. Don't you already feel better about lighting your stove?

By now you should be halfway through your beer, well on your way to enjoying your Fiesta Pasta & you still have no idea if you're supposed to saute, boil or crack the avocado with a garlic mincer or an atomic bomb.

I'm not sure what Martha Stuwart would say about all of this but I'm almost certain I am good enough to be on the Bonnie Hunt show... Yes! She has expanded since Beethoven I, II & III. You can view her show after Ellen at 10am. I didn't think so...

At the point you've realized that this whole blog thing is not my scene. I should stop wasting my time and publish a cook book titled "Sauteing for Dummies & Student Abroad." Subtitle "Can't read the ingredients at your market...No problem. Veggies. Garlic. Pasta. Delight."

Who's making the call to Oprah?

Calm before the storm.

So yesterday was like the most beautiful day ever! It was sunny & blue skies all day. Perhaps Kobenhavn is more like New England then I thought. Today it was snowing and blizzard conditions all day. I don't think they plow very much here. The side walks were atrocious. I did make it two and from model making and also learned a little bit about a study tour I will be going on next week...

Get this! We leave on Thursday morning and get back Saturday afternoon. So no only do we miss class Thursday & Friday (That makes it a two day week) we also come back with time to go out on Saturday night. I know the Dane's love drinking but I'm glad their priorities are in check as well. (Kidding, Mom) Sort of.

Anyways. So the snow is beautiful today. I'm not afraid of 4" of bliss.

Did you know there were many Danish Vikings? I've always thought the life of a pirate would be great but fuck that! (Excuse my language...I'm in Viking mode here) Vikings are way more bad ass. They used to drag their viking ships to burial grounds so that when they died they could rest eternally in the hull of their ship. Isn't that great. I'm told not to get confused by all the "Hills" we'll be seeing on our tour of Western Denmark...apparently the hills are rich in Viking graves. Cool right?

I've realized my blog posting time usually coordinates with the time I'm supposed to be reading for school. The problem with all these lecture classes is that I'm not forced to actually do work in them. I'm used to having studio classes where I have no choice but to build, sculpt, draft, draw, animate and all that fun stuff. Reading Shmeading. Although I am really enjoying The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo...or something like that.

On that note...Dad I haven't gotten a dragon tattoo yet, however there is a lovely tattoo and piercing parlor right around the corner. If I get an urge tonight I won't have to press too far into this storm for ink. Cabin fever does weird things...Maybe it will be a snake tattoo? Nah, I'm happy with my sunshine & sunflower.

All the stores close fairly early  here. If you have any shopping to do you have to get it done before like 6:00. I guess this is good news for the employer...bad news for the procrastinating student who still has yet to buy tape or a metric ruler. C'mon USA get up on the times...Apparently everyone else is fond of the metric system. I've asked for directions & like how the hell am I supposed to know a 1 Kilometer walk is going to take like 45 minutes. I guess I'll add this to my "To Learn" list.

I'm joining a gym tomorrow. I have mixed feelings about this but maybe my Danish husband is waiting for me on a the treadmill...Or maybe he's not a runner but a weight lifter. Or maybe he's into Yoga. The DIS statistic is that out of every class (Or semester of students) at least 8 will end up marrying a Dane. There's 640 students this semester, and anyone who knows me, which is hopefully everyone reading this blog...if you don't know me bugger off that's creepy! but anyways 8 out of 640...like I said, I haven't done the math but maybe someone would like to volunteer?

Oh! My class teaching assignment went very well. Most students hated my co-group member as much as myself. No-it-all pushy bitch who kept interrupting poor Jeff & I while we tried to help instruct the class. No good. My contribution though was highly appreciated. I showed this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDo_vs3Aip4(  ) & made a lovely slide show presentation for our class.

I have an entire week of reading assignments ahead of me tonight. No class tomorrow until 2:50 however aspirations to wake up early and become a member of the local gym. This is not about athleticism or fitness...Just trying to become a lucky part of the "DIS-Dane Marrying Statistic." Do you think Danish is required to meet a Dane whist on the tread mill? I think my gym to be has a sauna...Maybe I'll start there?

Oh! I learned today that my walk to school is exactly the same length as Bob Dylan's Live Blowin' in the Wind. Today I certainly was blowing in the blustery snowflake dense wind.

Form & Distinction

Today I required to teach an entire class on form & distinction? You ask yourself...What is that? I ask myself teh same thing. I think I might be in trouble here. I'm a little concerned that we're going to fall flat on our faces. Our professor seems very intense. Also the article we were assigned is her weed out article...to get people to drop the class. So hopefully we do well enough that she does not request we drop the class. It is only the second time we meet as a whole for Danish Design so we're really clueless...On a happy  note I found a funny video on youtube to play for the class. Search Creature Comforts USA- Art. :]

Arctic Circle for sure.

Today I visted the Frederiksberg Castle which at one point was the royal palace. Today it is the Danish History & Art Museum. Apparently one of the King Christians (There were like at least 10 Christians) finally got sick of how cold the palace was & decided to move, which is now the current palace located inside of Copenhagen.

The original castle burned down... we are told it was because Tobacco finally made it to Denmark & the Dane's build everything out of wood & as a result of too much beer..They drink a lot of beer here...The place burnt down.

Off topic, but I think the super bowl is on right now no? I don't even know who's playing it. I'm embarrassed... Here I thought I'd be searching for an American bar to watch the Pats kick some butt & no...Here I am, a defeated New England fan typing up notes for a group project on Design theory in society. Woof!

Okay so the castle...
It was very beautiful but (as I mentioned Arctic Circle) IT'S FREEZING TODAY! I have been so cold all day. The castle was in fact freezing, and though gorgeous just terribly too cold. So DAD while our house may be frigid is is warmer then the Frederiksberg Castle. Of Coarse Fryeburg, Maine is a little further south then Copenhagen.

Did you know, back in the day beds were made really short because people were afraid if they were laying down under covers the devil would assume they were dead & take their souls. So if any of you readers have a guilty conscience you might wanna think about propping yourself up. Or if you have bronchitis, sinus infection and pneumonia you might wanna prop yourself up so you can breathe, just some advice from personal experience.

Last night I was proud of myself for adventuring to and from a bar by myself. If you are worried about my safety you can read previous blogs search baby carriage. So while I went by myself I was meeting friends there. It was a wild basement bar (That's the name) and there were a bunch of young Dane's smashing glasses and dancing to 90's American hip hop...Like I'm blue i ba de ba di.

As I previously mentioned rather then watching the supear bowl (said like a french man) I am working a group project. It is evident I've become distracted and must return to my work. Or maybe I'll make a bowl of rice?

Skål! (Cheers!)

why the danes are the happiest in the world...Part 2?

Yes there's more. It's not just because they are proud to be Danish...They are the happiest people in the world because they don't sit in traffic like ever. They also can drink beer anywhere in public besides on the bus ( & we are told also in our studio classrooms) coarse the later is not a law so I think we'll still manage to get away with it.

They don't let designers sleep here either. I already have to 2 group projects both due on Tuesday. In one we are working on making a model of the Shrouder? House which was designed 90 years ago and is located in the Netherlands, that we will be visiting on our study tour in about month. They project is really actually quite fun and my group members are great. I'm meeting them in a little while to do some beer drinking.

I think the Dane's are happy because they are not confined. This society is so liberal. There is a town in Copenhagen by the name of Christiana. Speaking of liberal... Just go ahead and look it up. Legalized.

Well friends and family you might have completely lost me. Copenhagen rocks. I think i'll eventually start to miss home? But for now I am truly thrilled to be here. I keep meeting very friendly people and learning so much about this city. It is continually becoming a happier place for me to be. You should all come and visit!

Hej! Hej!

why the danes are the happiest in the world...

I think I've got it! Not only do they have incredible senses of humor...
BUT I found out today... Even men get Paternity leave. They get an entire 3 weeks of when their wives have children. That's beautiful. Another thing, their stores close around 5-6 & don't open until like 10. Everyone get's to relax. & the minimal wage is around 100 kroner...equivalent to around $20USD. Wild no? So like while you are making $5.25 for doing the Cinderella escapade at Story Land NH at the age of 15 some Danish bitch (excuse me...I'm just a bit bitter) was making $20 dollars to sell t-shirts at h&m where she wasn't expected to greet people or be friendly at all...

I can see why people stay here. If you are currently at 15 year old working at Settlers Green & or even worse Story Land NH please do yourself a favor RIGHT now. 1. Quit & 2. Move to Denmark.

My first day of class, as you can see was entirely informational. I met an Irish man at the bar (Affftterrr class) & he said that they suck at St. Pattie's day here. Looks like I'll be on me way to the homeland (No no not the USA. IRELAND!) For my Birthday :]

Tomorrow I have class & then I'll be heading to a DIS sponsored party @ a club down the street from school. Free drink & food until the locals get there! Saturday will be my long awaited trip to the IKEA of all IKEAS! :] It's like bigger then 10 super wal-marts. yahooo!!!

If you are currently reading this blog...and have been too lazy to actually follow me or comment at this point please direct your mouse to the top right corner of the page and click on the red X because you are a terrible follower & I'll never even know if you are reading this. While I am writing this as a documentation of my time here I would surely love some feedback! :]

Did you know in Denmark they let their babies sleep in carriages outside during naps. Even in the winter in snow. Until the children are about three. They will also leave them on the street because they are afraid someone will steal their carriages while they are in the market...but the dane's won't take them if there are babies in them. I guess it really is safe here.

Babies take nap in gardens... I guess I'll be able to survive the streets of Copenhagen. :]

First day of class tomorrow!! :]

Day 3 = Love

Let's catch up! Day 1: Arrived in Copenhagen where we had a little bit of an orientation & waited for our scheduled pick ups. Mira & I walked a very very long walk to our super sweet little tiny 3rd floor (Not to be confused, there are 5 flights of stairs)conveniently located apartment! I love our little place. It's a typical European space...I was looking for the pantry in our 5x10 kitchen & stumbled upon my 2x2 shower. Lovely right? Mira & I went to the market to buy stuff for dinner, I ate showered & slept and was in bed by 8:45. I've finally just unpacked 2 days later.

Day 2: A lot of orientation...running around campus (our buildings are scattered about Copenhagen & we use other university buildings) & meeting people who are in the same living arrangements as myself, groups and or major. I conveniently made friends with Karoline's roommate (My fellow EC Gal) and have been hanging out with their roommates since. I've met kids from all over the US, but wouldn't ya know my favorite is a northern-er like myself. Last Night Bri, Corinne & Myself made an adventurous trek to & from all our apartments. It ended up being like a 4 hour expedition in which we made dinner, drank cheap dollar beers & Nuttella sandwiches and also made a lovely pasta dish for Bri's roommate Jonas. We then came back in to Copenhagen central to some of the shared DIS housing (Conveniently located within 100 feet from all classes) to socialize and meet some kids. We went to the Land Down Under bar where I met a lot of other students and Dane's alike. As a result I showed up to my first Danish lesson half intoxicated and not well rested at all. Needless to say My Danish is improving. Jij?

Tomorrow we have a second Danish lesson & then we meet by major with our professors & heads of the department. Tomorrow night I am helping a friend find her new koligeium or something spelt like that. It's shared housing between other universities & she hasn't been able to move in yet. So we are skyping it out tomorrow... Also I'm vising the land where the crop is plenty and legal.

Today after we butchered the Danish language as a collectively hung over class we split into groups and ventured around the city all day trying to complete a scavenger hunt. I for sure got lost, we for sure got "corned" by a crazy corn on the cob-stix vender, took the metro the wrong way & also saw some sights along the way. I picked up books & grocery's today. I'm unpacked & ready to show you my adventures through pictures! :] IMAGE 1 is the beer we drank on the plane. We found it fitting the brand was Gull as in the Endicott Gulls...so we bought some and drank them!

IMAGE 2 is the street view from my bedroom window :] I opologize for the impossibly tiny pictures... My wireless is being slow & the larger file refuse to upload. So deal. Baha




I have many more pictures to show but my wireless is giving me a headache...
Soon to be posted a photographic adventure of my journey around Copenhagen :]

Hej! Hej!

Resolution

So yesterday while perusing Borders with Mr. Bourett for a Danish Language phrase book I decided on my New Years Resolution:
I'm going to fully commit myself to learning Danish...
For anyone who's ever heard my sing song lyrics, try to learn polish, try to repeat phrases or mock accents knows very well this is going to be a challenge.
I Dani Hill am inept. I struggle to learn new languages and or speak them.
As a sign (though small I realize) of my dedication to learning the language my blogspot page is now in Danish. Wish me luck...
This very well could be my last coherent post. After all I know NO Danish.
Here are a few key phrases Alex & I stumbled upon:

wat? ik begrijp het niet, spreekt tu Engles?
(I know what your thinking, Which way to the bar?) But No, this actually means What, I don't understand; do you speak English?
This phrase will become very useful.

ik spreek slecht Netherlands
I speak Dutch very badly.

nee, sorry
No, sorry

wat is dit?
what is this?

I very much like the pronunciation of W's as V's...as in Vat is dit? I might get used to this...hopefully overnight. T-2 DAYS!! :] Uitsketend! Heerlijk! [Excellent! Very Nice!]

T-6!!!

Holy Poohzi!
I leave so soon!
I have a 33 year old roommate who is a film theater student!
She learned english in London when she went to school for Internation Relations.
Her name is Mira. I think I can live with a Mira!

T-9 Days!

It is Nine. 9! or in Danish Ni!! Until I leave for Copenhagen!
I'm getting so excited && ready to bust a move! As in jet set out of here.
I am starting to feel a little bit overwhelmed with this undertaking.
I know next to nothing about Denmark. Except that the people are happy.
&& That's all I need to know I guess.
I know nothing about my arrival. I know nothing about my roommate.
Where I'm living. When I have class. Where I'll have class.
Regardless of all these details I'm beyond excited and ready to conquer foreign lands.
Here is my to-do list:

1. Shower & Coffee (Very short term but important) Straight up Otis Redding style Cigarettes & Coffee for sure.
2. Send out internship resumes & cover letters for this summer/fall internship.
3. Figure out printing of my portfolio.
4. Buy a camera.
5. Find Krone (Danish currency).
7. Talk to financial aid...will I be getting my loan or am I broke?
8. Find a Danish-English dictionary for my sad broken almost danish ass.
9. Buy a gift for my mystery roommate.
10. PACK!

Yikes! It seems an appropriate time to quote my friend Penny Lane:

"It's all happening!"