Greetings from Copenhagen! Wow, I can’t believe I’m already here…across the Atlantic Ocean from family and friends but in a beautiful new place. This isn’t going to be a long post, mostly because I’m still getting my bearings here and fighting off jet lag. My body is telling me to nap right now, but my mind is telling me no…you’d better write that blog post.
We had our big program wide orientation this morning. Interestingly, it took place at the former circus building. Unfortunately for you, my dear readers, I did not have a working phone at that point in the day…so I don’t have any pictures of the building or the impressive singer CHINAH who performed. Afterwards, though I went to get my new SIM card installed with another student who living in a different homestay down the street from mine. We ended up spontaneously gathering a group of six from a combination of not being able to get out of a building and people knowing other people from their home schools. After waiting in a charming courtyard until my toes felt like blocks of ice, we set off to explore Copenhagen by foot. We walked to the Black Diamond library, and then to the Parliament building, followed by the famous harbor street Nyhavn and finally the Queen’s Castle. I only have pictures of the last two sites, because it took Nyhavn to inspire me into full photographer mode. Still, you can check them out below.
If you didn’t take a picture at Nyhavn, did you even go to Copenhagen?
At the Queen’s Palace
An actual Bach manuscript that his HANDS TOUCHED!!!
My host family has been both wonderful. They (my host father, mother, brother and sister) have a beautiful home in the Copenhagen suburbs, and have welcomed me with open arms. They have a very sarcastic (Danish?) sense of humor, speak English beautifully, are patient with my sad Danish pronunciations and lack of enthusiasm about handball, and love dogs as much as I do. So we are getting along very well, I think. I’m really enjoying getting to know them.
Anyways, I’m going to sign off now. Tomorrow morning, I have my orientation at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, and then classes start on Thursday. As much as I just want to explore Copenhagen all the time, I think getting back into classes will give some much needed structure to my days. Even though I’ve only been in Denmark three days, I’m already so excited about what this semester has in store.
Tonight’s sunset, and the view from my bedroom window
Ever lovely yours,
Eleanor