Another Danish Family Adventure!

Hello everyone-

     This past weekend, my Danish family took me on another Adventure. As you can recall, they first took me to the Experimentarium, then I got to go to a Danish Baptism..and now I've been to Kronborg Castle- also Known as Hamlet's Castle. 

~Kronborg Castle~

It was a lovely little day. The town  it is located in is literally a Hop-skip and a jump away from Sweden ( A 20 minute ferry ride)...so I was able to look right across the ocean to my beautiful home land. :-) ( you can see Sweden in the distant background of the pic below) Also, my Host-Dad tool the scenic route to Kronborg, all along the coast, which was such a pretty drive. Such gigantic European Mansions, like homes you see in movies. I wonder how people can afford such things in this country with all the damn taxes...??

You can now also see me and my new dark hair...courtesy of my host-dad and his salon. Don't Freddie and I look like we could actually be sisters now?? We may look more alike than me and my actual sister!! Ha ( Love you Mandy )

~Frederikke and I~

Anyways....my time here is coming to an end. I started counting down the days because I actually am anxious to come home.  It has been a wonderful time here and I am still enjoying every minute of it... But, for those of you who know me well..I get bored a little too easily...so I am now in the mode of being 'bored' with Denmark...if that is even possible. Pretty much, I just feel very comfortable here, same city- same people..and I'm ready to come home and start the next phase of my life= SUMMER... with friends I haven't seen in far too long..and also looking forward to Italia and Grad School. I am sooo anxious to just start teaching! Also, the past few months have been extremely enjoyable here because I've had near to no school work, its been a breeze...i shouldn't be complaining now,but i am...So, all of a sudden I have sooo much freakin work to do. Instead of being outside in the sun, running through fields and making myself crowns out of flowers, I am sitting in front of my computer doing research and writing papers, Needless to say- not my favorite thing to do. So, I am currently finishing up my last big paper. Then this weekend I have a 15 Page Portfolio to write and construct ( I'm attempting to be creative with my project and making my portfolio into a 'Memory Box' ) and I also have some research to do for an Oral Exam I have next week...then, the rest of my time will be spent reading and studying for three BIG written finals. ICK- just thinking about all of this makes my stomach turn and my face scrunch up into a unfortunate-looking-disgusted-sort-of-face. :-/

Anywho- I'll stop complaining and blogging and actually try to fix some of this stress by going and getting something done....

As for my count down: 22 days till I am back Stateside!! See you all soon. :-)

Ready to be home,

        Vicki

P.S. Forget to mention the exciting part of my life because I was too busy complaining...but, for some distraction- I am going to Sweden for the next two days!! My friend Kevin invited me to go with him and his host-family. It will be nice...I could use some time out of Copenhagen and away from my piles of work. Update you later. PEACE.

More Pics...

Sorry Folks- 

    Good old Blogger is still misbehaving, so it took a couple tries and a couple posts in order to get the pictures uploaded that i wanted you to see. The wonders of the internet can sometimes be a big pain in the butt!!

First, More pretty flowers- my favorite thing to snap photos of. :-)

Then, on my Bike Trip I, of course, had to decorate my bike!...oh, look how pretty!!

Hej-Hej!

Pictures for you:

~The Lake Near My House~

~Pretty Flowers~

Alive and Well

Hello Americans-

        I can't refer to you as lucky anymore- because I am now completely healthy and in Denmark- which does make me luckier than you, sorry...But, its true! I guess you are still lucky because I hear its been summer weather back in the states- in the 70-80's lately?? That does make me a bit jealous. But, I can't be too upset because it has been absolutely beautiful in Copenhagen all week as well. The temperature has been high 50's, near 60 degrees...but when you sit in the sunshine- it feels like summer. The Gelato shops are open, the flowers are in bloom, the fountains are running and everyone is outside... It is LOVERLY! So, naturally I have been taking advantage of the nice weather...

       My bike wasn't working properly- not to mention the bike seat was rusted in the highest position and my short little legs couldn't reach the pedals. So...I sadly had to sell my bike. BUT, my host sister- being the wonderful girl that she is- lets me borrow hers! So, I have been going on many bike rides, mainly to the Lake in Vanlose (the town I live in). There is a nice little walking/biking path all around the lake, and it is just beautiful to ride around there. On my way there is also a cute little park, which i enjoy sitting in- and where I took the lovely photo pictured above. I left my bike locked by this tree and went for a lovely little walk and stumbled across the cutest little neighborhood. No cars are allowed down its street- for its street is just a little dirt walking path. The houses are so small and cute- each very eccentric, with a personality of its own- not to mention each has its own beautiful little garden. It is quite a hidden treasure! One little house even had a Tee Pee built in its yard, amazing!

      I have more pictures to show you....but, Blogger is being LAME at the moment and won't upload them...I will try in a separate blog.

I have become a Photo-holic, if thats such a thing?

Yours truly, 

    Vicki

4AM- Can't sleep.

~Le Louvre~

Hello Lucky Americans-

     First of all, I wanted to post a picture from Paris because I saw that I failed to do so in my mini-blog about my travel break. So, for proof that I really did make it, TA DA- a picture for you!

Currently, I am sick-I'd like to curl up in a ball and die right now, yes- sorry for being so depressing. But, I have been stuffy for about 8 weeks now, and the past week has been awful. I have been in bed for the past three days and have not been able to sleep. I have such a bad cough that it keeps me up all night long. This is the reason for which I am writing and posting this blog past 4AM. The Danish people don't believe in sleeping aids, among other types of valuable drugs. I could really go for some Nyquil. I would also like a popsicle and some chicken noodle soup. They don't even eat chicken noodle soup here, can you believe it?! So, when I addressed this blog by referring to you all as 'lucky'- please realize how lucky you actually are! Drugs are so accessible for you....go buy them, stock up! Take them even if you don't need to...because YOU CAN!! Also, I thought the welfare system worked wonderfully here...but I was proven very wrong. It took be three times at the doctor before they actually prescribed me medicine. The first two times I was told to get sleep and drink tea. One time, my host mom called the doctor to bring me in and they wouldn't even take me!...said I wasn't sick enough. My goodness, i'd like to share some of this pain with them...Errrghhh. Then another time I called myself to make an appointment...

"Hello, does anyone speak english?"

"Nej..Nej"....'hangs up phone'

I must share with you my feeling at that very moment.."what a bunch of BULL!!"- everyone is this damn country speaks freakin english. The guy at the fruit stand can speak english...but NO ONE in the doctors office speaks english??!! COME ON NOW!!

So, needless to say- it took several tries, but I now have some drugs. But...I'm on my third day of medication and I have only gotten worse. Cough, sore throat and fever all arrived after starting the medication. I'm fed up I tell you!

Oh, and to get this medication I had to wait in the pharmacy for over an hour and it cost my 50 bucks. WTF.

On a brighter note, I do have a couple of lovely stories for you all. The first is in regards to my youngest host-sister Nicoline, pictured below.

One lovely evening, Nicoline was playing outside while I was busy writing a paper in my room. I heard her running around and laughing and giggling and soon enough I hear her bump into my window. Bored with my paper, I went over to my window- unlocked it and opened it up...and then the fun just didn't stop. Nicoline was super enthralled by the fact that she could now come by and open my window and crawl in to say hello. I also have taken a video of her saying 'hello' through my window. I was able to teach her to say Hellooo this very afternoon. She is just too freakin cute. Over and Over and Over and Overrrr again, all evening- until we were called for dinner- Nicoline kept opening my window, crawling in, asking for a gummy bear and slamming the window- only to re-open it about 32 second later. It was a wonderful little game that kept us both entertained and since then it seems that she likes me even more! She even referred to me as 'my vicki' the other day. She is a great little kid.

Next....I of course must not leave out my other amazing host-sister, Frederikke.
I recently was taken to The Experimentarium, by request of Frederikke. The Experimentarium reminded me of the Science Museum in Boston...hands on fun for everyone! My favorite parts were this wonderful hall mirrors and the soap bubble station. I was able to make a whole bubble around my body!...impressive, i know. My host dad also forced me to eat some Nachos this same afternoon. I hadn't had any sort of Mexican/Spicy food since my arrival in Denmark...so, lets just say it didn't settle quite well in my tummy. This all makes me very nervous to start eating American food again...I may have to take it slow, and continue eating bland and boring.

Well, those are my stories for now. I have to get up in about 5 hours. I can't miss any more class, especially due to the fact that I have to turn in a 10 page paper tomorrow.....which I am very nervous for. You must remember I haven't slept in three days and feel like death- this paper was written in this state of mind, god help me!

Anyways- I would appreciate if everyone thinks positive thoughts for me to get better. Positive thoughts are about all i have over here in Denmark, since they lack proper medication and chicken noodle soup. There's no hope for me, is there?

Sick of being sick ( but thinking positively)

    Vicki

Finger-painting Fun!

~Fun With Paint!~

Hej-

So....as you all know....I LOVE BEING A KID; Here is my story:

I woke up this morning to find that my host-sister Frederikke had her friend Natasha over. They played around outside for awhile and then I could tell they were getting a little antsy and my Host-Dad, Andre, informed me that they were bored. I immediately took this as a golden opportunity for me to join in their play! So, I asked Freddie if they would like to draw...and lucky for me ( being put with the most amazing host-family ever) we have a GIANT Arts and Crafts room in the basement. Down we went and before we knew it, drawing turned into painting- which meant we had to cover all surfaces with newspaper and cover our bodies in garbage bags. Since we were so well protected from accidental paint mishaps, painting soon turned into finger painting, which soon turned into face painting. After a couple hours we were covered in paint and had completed some impressive masterpieces:

~My Own: Hail to Sweden!~

~Frederikke's...My Favorite.~

Busy pretending to be an 11-yr old Dane,

   Vicki

Long time No talk!

Hellooooo All-

   

You should all be happy to know that I have survived my three-week long travel break!!! Unfortunately I am currently sick- which could be due to the exhaustion from the busyness of my travel break combined with getting back into the school schedule. I have been back to school for one full week now- which means I only have 4 weeks of class left, then finals, then its all over!

To view all pictures from my three week travel break- please visit me website!

I have so much to tell you all and I don't know where to begin...so, I think i will give you a brief summary:

My travel break started with a week long study tour through my PCD program to The Netherlands- The Land of Tulips...Here we visited a few awesome schools, including an International School which I now want to work at. We also were lucky enough- thanks to how amazing DIS is-to see a Cirque Du Soleil show, which was FanFreakinTastic!

~Ta Da! Amsterdam and one of its MANY Canals.~

From The Netherlands, I took a bus home-unpacked and repacked and left the following day for Turkey. I went to Turkey also through a DIS sponsored trip that corresponds to a course I am taking. I have to make a blog as an assignment for my class on Turkey- so, to read about it please visit my webiste (web.mac.com/victoriaej).

~The Blue Mosque in Istanbul~

 After Turkey, I flew home- unpacked and repacked- to leave the following day for Paris. Paris is where it all got a little confusing. While in Paris I was staying with one of my form housemates/one of my bestest friends/one of the greatest people i know= Miss Katherine Vollono. Here I also met up with my friend Kevin from DIS. Kevin and I were supposed to leave Paris together, via EURail train on Tuesday morning, having arrived in Paris on Sunday. Unfortunately, there were no trains out of Paris to our hopefuly destinations: Florence and Rome. We had booked a flight from Rome back to Copenhagen on Friday, but it looked like we were no longer going to make it. After spending 180Euro on a EURail pass that I NEVER got to use, I had to spend another 80Euro on a train ticket to Milan...Yes, you heard me- Milan...not one of our original destinations...but it was the only place we could get...and lucky enough...our flight had a layover in Milan. We were finally able to leave Paris on thursday, spend a good 24 hours in Milan and catch the second half of our flight home to Copenhagen.

Oh- EURAIL is SHIT....never buy one! ( excuse my language daddiooo)

MY GOODNESS AM I GLAD TO BE HOME IN COPENHAGEN!!!

Well, my apologies for the lack of details about the past month, but I'm tired and there's just not enough time for me to fill you in. If you happen to see me in The States when I return, bring me a beer, sit me down in the sun and maybe I'll tell you about it then. :-)

Upcoming news:

I get my hair cut at my Host-Dad's salon this Tuesday...short and dark is the plan. I will post a picture of my new danish look as soon as I can.

My host-family has given me several dates of "Danish Family Trip Days", which I am super excited for. They are planning on taking me to the beach, to Kronborg Castle, to the Lousiana Museum, To the Experimentarium and much more!!- and you will all be filled in when such event occur.

My REAL family=My two Amazing parents have booked their flight to visit me. May 15th is their arrival date....I'm busy counting down the days!!! See you soon!! and for that matter....see you all soon!! May 23rd is my official arrival date back to good old America. As much as I don't want to leave Denmark, I am super excited to get back home and see all of your lovely faces.

Busy recovering from sicknesses and exhaustion,

   Vicki