It has been a week of celebrations. For starters, I’m officially 21 years old as of last Wednesday. I planned myself a beautiful birthday, if I do say so myself. Since I take half my classes at the Royal Academy of Music, I have fewer Wednesday field studies than most of my friends here…which meant that I had my birthday off while they were stuck in (field trip) class. I was a little nervous about spending my birthday alone in a foreign country, but it turned out to be such a blessing. A day in Copenhagen, sun shining, to do whatever it was that I wanted? Talk about a 21st birthday gift.
I decided to be a tourist for a day, to really experience this beautiful city. I took one of those canal boat rides for sight seeing- I’ve been wanting to do that for months, even back in Boston. It was just such a pleasant experience: drifting down canals in the sunshine, ducking under low pass bridges and emerging into the light. I saw a cormorant basking on the porch of a houseboat, and set a goal for my 21st year to follow its lead a little more. We saw all the sights I’d already visited on foot in my time living here, but somehow they looked even more beautiful rising from the water’s edge.
Goals for my 21st year: live life more like this cormorant on a houseboat
I decided to wander towards Christiansborg castle, stopping to admire a large statue of Athena near the side entrance. I noticed that right in front of me was the Thorvaldsen museum, also free, and completely unexpected. I was drawn in to the sculptures, in particular the equilateral triangle of Ganymede offering a drink of acceptance to the eagle who abducted him up to Olympus. I stayed until closing, around two hours or so, struck by the setting sun slanting through the windows the main gallery and onto towering stone statues so they seemed struck with some hint of inspiration.
When the sunshine and the art are equally beautiful
The other celebration this week was the Danish holiday of Fastelavn (fest-ay-laut-en). The best way I can describe it is that it’s like Halloween but with a barrel pinata. I got to paint the barrel, which was a lot of fun, even though my artwork got smashed with a bat the next day. My host family’s nephews/cousins came over for breakfast, we dressed up in ridiculous costumes (mine was a fur shawl with feet still on it- gross but Denmark) and went outside and destroyed that poor barrel. The dog was running around with pieces of wood in her mouth. It was great.
Before it was smashed into bits
On another note, Wellesley has found its way here in a completely unexpected light. Last week I received an email from an alumna, Joan, inviting all the abroad Wellesley students to meet up for coffee. We did, and it was wonderful. Even though none of us had ever met before in person, we had this instant connection and respect for each other through Wellesley. We could talk about serious issues (the feeling of hopelessness in the current political climate, rising anti-Semitism, 70’s radical protest, social welfare and the difference between American and Danish perspectives) instantly, with a kind of intensity and passion I haven’t necessarily experienced in my classroom abroad. We left with hugs and Joan told us that we gave her hope for the future, which gave me a sense of hope too. Anyways, here’s a photo of Wellesley in Copenhagen.
Ever lovely yours,
Eleanor
