What's weird.

The following is a list of all the things i think are strange or different about this country.
It doesn't necessarily mean all of this is true, it's just my observations.

1. People here don't put napkins on their laps.

2. But they have really really good manners.

3. All the cars are manual not automatic.

4. There are barely any stoplights. Mostly roundabouts.

5. Ordering water at a restaurant and little ketchup packets costs money.

6. So does using the public restrooms.

7. You eat absolutely everything with a knife and fork.

8. They hang up their clothes to dry.

9. Beer can be bought in a vending machine.

10. Danes don't make eye contact when they pass each other on the street.

11. Swearing in class is very normal.

12. They drink so much tea and coffee.

13. They think an hour drive is really really far away.

14. Everyone dresses lovely. All the time.

15. Barely any teenagers here actually own their own car.

16. In class they raise their finger not their hand.

17. Every party has a pre party.

18. You don't tip at restaurants.

19. When you buy something at the store, tax is already added into the price. So when you see something that costs 11 kr, it really does cost 11 kr.

20. No one likes peanut butter.

21. Teachers are called by their first name.

22. The call a "double you" a "dobbelt-ve." A lot of people i know write "w" curved, like two u's, here everyone writes them different. Like two very distinct v's. It's kind of hard to explain.

23. Their toilets have two different buttons.

24. Parents come and pick their kids up from parties.

25. When you get sick the don't give you cold medicine.

26. Tetris. Everyone here plays Tetris. It is taken very seriously.

27. I have yet to see a single wooden house. Everything is made of brick.

28. In school you get cake every Friday.

29. They love American TV. Shows i have never seen before. Like King of Queens and How I Met
Your Mother. They also watch a lot of Friends.

30. They love licorice. Denmark is the land of licorice. All kinds. Even the really salty strong disgusting kinds.

31. They rarely test you in school. Usually the only tests given are the finals.

32. The grading system is different, and it's really difficult to get an A.

There is a lot more. But I don't really feel like writing anymore.

I am happy.

I am happy. Really really happy.
Life is so amazing.
I feel like i'm living in a blissful haze.
Never has my life felt so full. So many genuine people, new things, and places. So much love and kindness.
Of course there are hard days. But then i always remember: i am exactly where i want to be. In this moment, there is not a place in the world i would rather go. How is it possible to feel the slightest bit of discontent when I am exactly where i want to be? I am here. I am glad.
At the end of this week i will have been in Denmark for two and a half months.

I went to another shindig. Most of the kids from my class was there. I met many people i had never talked to before. I got ready with some of my good girlfriends from my class. Twas a very lovely time.

In other exciting news...I started Danish language school last week. Today was my third lesson.
Also, a small breakthrough. Guess what i just did? I wrote to two of my friends in Danish. I started writing in English and then i realized i knew how to say it all in Danish. I was really excited. I am learning. Now that i am taking classes two times a week it will start coming even easier! My host family speaks mostly all Danish to me. Hooray for understanding!

Tonight after language school i went to Arvin's house with Elisa. Arvin is from India and Elisa is from Italy. His host dad made us this huge dinner. It was very scrumptious. His host dad's girlfriend was there too. They were SUCH great people. I had a really really really good time.

Some of us exchange students are going to get together and cook. Every country will have a different night. Next time Elisa will cook Italian.

I LOVE EXCHANGE STUDENTS. All of them. I didn't think it was possible to connect with so many people so quickly and easily. It's almost like meeting your soul mate over and over and over. I can't even explain it.

Next week is Autumn holiday. I'm going with my host family to Copenhagen for the first part of the week. The second part of the week i'm staying with a bunch of my exchange friends. I am coming home Friday and going to a birthday party for one of the girls in my school. And...Saturday i'm going to another birthday party for one of the girls in my class.
Yup, that's my itinerary.
How exciting.
I'm actually really excited.
I'll probably blog all about it later.

I feel so selfish, writing so much about myself and how wonderful my life is. I have a compulsive urge to ask you all how your lives are doing.
But then i remember you are reading this blog because you are at least somewhat intrigued as to what i have been up to lately.
Also i'm pretty sure the only ones reading this are my parents and close family.
But i hope all your lives are treating you splendidly wherever and whoever you are. I managed to make that sounds very un-genuine and non-specific. But i really do mean it.

What is tofu?

I had to explain to my host family what tofu was the other day. Wikipedia describes tofu as a food made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into soft white blocks. Doesn't sound like the most appealing thing in the world. They weren't sure how to react when i told them it was something consumed in my household weekly.

I went to my first Danish shindig this weekend. In Homer get-togethers have more of a "come as you are" feel. Two hours before i had to leave my sister turned to me and asked why i was not dressed yet. We picked out my outfit, did my hair, makeup, and decided on a pair of shoes. I'm pretty sure i spent the same amount of time getting ready for prom. It was fun though, i enjoy dressing up. I went to a friends house for a pre-gathering. At around nine we arrived at location of the festivities. There were about 400 people, a DJ, loud music, a smoke machine, and a million different flashing lights everywhere. It ended around two am. My ears were ringing hours afterwards. I spent the majority of Sunday sleeping.

This weekend is IntroFest at my school. I'm looking forward to it.

On a different note:

I spent Sunday picking berries with my host mom. We made berry soup with sugar pears we picked from the pear tree in the yard.
I also run with my host dad. We are quite the team. Our huffing and puffing never ceases to reside throughout the whole 5km.
I've been spending some time journaling, reading, drinking strawberry tea, listening to music, soaking up the last of this Autumn sunlight.

Every day new words. The beginning is always the hardest. I will learn this language.

Yes, Thank you.

I believe i have stated once before. But Danish is very very very hard. In two weeks i will have been in Denmark for two months. They say that by three months i should be fairly capable of communicating in this foreign language. I am understanding more as the days go on! My vocabulary has expanded substantially, even compared to last week. It continually amazes me when something is said and i actually know what is going on. While i am improving, fluency seems like an achievement that will occur in the far off future. The two words i find are the most important are Ya tak. Yes, Thank you. They have gotten me far.

I SAW KEELEY! This week my dear friend from Homer who just so happened to be traveling Europe with her Farmor came to Denmark. They arrived Wednesday afternoon and left Friday morning. It was a quick but successful trip. We spent Thursday is Odense. Activities included: visiting Hans Christian Andersen's House, wandering the streets of Odense, rummaging through overpriced second hand stores, nibbling on chocolate scones, and sipping some of the best chai tea i have had i a long time. We also went to a modern art museum. I love art museums. This one was particularly wonderful. I had a lovely time. It was really really nice to spend the day with a familiar face.
Images of our various adventures shall be included below.

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It was wonderful.

Also! I am now in possession of a bike. Which officially makes me a true Dane.

It was my host mother Merete's 50th birthday celebration/brunch today. So much delicious food. It was a day of consumption. I don't think i stopped eating all day. Lots of Danish people, speaking Danish, very quickly. Which led to lots of confusion on my part. But i didn't mind so much because it allowed me to stuff my face to my heart's content. It was a good time.


I have a new tactic when it comes to eating red meat. I invented this process during supper this evening. On the menu was beef mince meat patties, salad, and potatoes. It goes something like this:
1. Take a bite of beef patty.
2. Start shoving a variety of other foods such as potatoes and salad into mouth as well. (Execute this step with the utmost subtlety)
3. Chew it all together creating a hodgepodge of flavors in mouth thus distinguishing red meat taste.
4. Take one large gulp of water.
5. Swallow.
6. Repeat

Not only do i get my daily nutrients but i do not give the impression that i am rude or picky.
Cheers to trying new things!

Anyway,
My host family continues to be as sweet and wonderful as ever! I love them all. I am about to kick off a new week of learning and other various shenanagins. I will continue to keep all those concerned updated!

Also if any of you were feeling particularly philanthropic i've been craving peanut butter and top ramen like none other.
Lily Westphal
c/o Per Jensen
Assensvej 39
5560 Aarup

hahahahah. I'm kidding. Really I'm just getting greedy. My mom sent two jars of peanut butter last week. I'm set.

Also! As of last week i am learning to ballroom dance. I take classes two days a week. I'm very excited about it.

I'm running out of interesting things to say. So i believe we have reached the end of my second blog post.

Life in the Land of Rain.

Hi! After thirty eight days of procrastination I am finally getting my blog up and running.
It's been thirty eight days of craziness.
I don't even quite know how to begin. I will try my best to be brief.
I arrived in Denmark on August 5th, suffering from extreme jet lag and hypoglycemia. But it was wonderful nonetheless. I met my host mother Merete, my host father Per, my host sister Ann Kirstine, and my host brother Kristian. They are really lovely people. I feel very at home with their family.

I LOVE MY HOST SISTER. We bonded almost instantly. We do nails and face masks. Jersey Shore marathons while devouring tubs of chocolate ice cream. Shopping. Girl Chats. and other sister-ish activities. She's great.

I have decided that the most efficient way to organize this is a list.
During my time in Denmark so far I have done the following:

Spent the day shopping in Odense. Everything is so expensive! You pay money for water at restaurants!

I ATE A BURGER. and liver paste. and a variety of other red meat delicacies.

School. I am enrolled in class ten. I am participating in an art line which includes: Painting, Sculpting, Sewing, Baking, Dancing, Music, Drama, Film making etc. I am also taking Danish, English and Math. School is very confusing. But I have met some very friendly people and it's getting easier the more Danish i am able to pick up!

Swimming in the Danish Ocean.

Visited a castle. I am desperately trying to remember the name of the castle. But i can't. We were able to take a tour through the uninhabited part of the castle. We also walked through the gardens , which were gorgeous. Picture above.

Intro Camp! A picture above shows me and some of the people I met during that week. About 200 exchange students from all over Denmark gathered for a week to be introduced to the Danish language and culture. We had Danish six hours a day. In addition to that we had many activities such as games, movie nights, a concert performed by the Striving Vines, shopping in Arhus, going to a modern art museum, attending the end of week "Party" and much more. We also had a lot of free time to get to know some of the other exchange students. It was a week of little sleep, lot's of off key singing, dancing, laughter, new friends, bread, coffee, tea, and struggling with the pronunciation of the Danish language. I met so many wonderful people.

Soccer. I am playing soccer Mondays and Wednesdays with a team from Aarup. I am glad to be physically exerting myself in some way. I am doing my best to avoid the dreaded exchange weight. haha.

Vintage Market shopping + rides that spun around until I puked.

Went to the Middle Eastern Market in Odense and purchased fun fruit (pomegranate, star fruit, passion fruit, mango, and pineapple) and nuts with my lovely sister. Then had a picnic in the park. It was a good Saturday.

I have done much much more than this. But I feel as though I have properly depicted my time here thus far without going to heavily into detail.
My Danish is coming along well. I have learned mostly nouns and phrases. It's a very difficult language. But I am enjoying it!

In conclusion...... i love it here. and i am having a very nice time.