April

So it's been an entire month since my last substantial update… woops!

I will relay the events of the past few weeks in the shortest yet most interesting form possible - if you have any problems with my writing skills; give Ms Dennis (my previous english teacher) a call… Kidding! It's a lost cause, so I will apologise in advance for what you are about to read...

So I would like to begin with how the chicken pox (skoldkopper) ruined me for longer than the week it was supposed to. There are still blemishes on my face that just won't go away dammit! Nevertheless, I finally found the courage to take my first steps out of the house and into the sunshine of beautiful Denmark.

On Friday (16th April), my Gymnasium had a Friday's Cafe. For all the Aussies that don't know about this splendid idea - it's basically a "let's get drunk at school" party. From about 3 to 6pm the students all chill out in the kantine or outside on benches while having a beer or two (or three, four, etc etc). It was such a nice day, believe it or not the sun was shinning here in DK, and we just had a whole lot of hugelilig with our classmates. The song "Hey Shorty" by Kato was constantly playing in the background, and my classmates thought it was incredibly funny to literally force me to sing along to the Danish lyrics. Oh Rowling, the humiliation was painful (yet fun all the same). Later that night I went to a party with a few of my classmates however came home at about 1.30am - upon arriving home my host parents were quite alarmed and asked "what's wrong, why aren't you still at the party"?. Uggghhhh, let's just say I was confused and also amused. If I came home at 1.30am in Australia, my dearest mum would be asleep in bed and expecting me to do the same! Not suggesting to me to keep on partying to the break of dawn! (I didn't take any photos sorry!)

The next day (the 17th April), I caught a five hour train ride to the south of Denmark to a town called Vojens to see Anya for her 18th birthday. Bridget and a few other exchange students were there too and it was so nice to catch up and share stories about all our crazy experiences! We went out to town that night and I learnt something new… I was under the impression that Denmark was quite literally the most peaceful country in the world… Apparently that's just Frederikshavn. I kid you not when I say I am currently living in a little bubble - the birds really are always singing, everyone is always smiling - you get the idea. I was surprised to see a fight when going out to town in the south of Denmark. I am very accustomed to violence in Australia, I just didn't expect it here in Denmark. Then again, with that said, I think it is still a little worse in Australia than here in Denmark. It was ssuuuccchhh a good night with my favourite Aussie/Danish friends. On another note of my Vojens weekend - because the planes were not flying here in Europe (due to the volcanic ash from Iceland) the trains were full with people traveling through Denmark (from Norway or Sweden) to Germany and the rest of Europe. On Saturday I made good friends with (a cute!) French guy, and on the way home on Sunday I made another Norwegian friend. I just found it so incredibly cool that you can meet so many different nationalities so easily. I mean, what are the chances of meeting a French or Norwegian guy on the Cleveland line in Australia?!

(Anya, Bridget, me, Laura, Lidice and Gabi at a bar in Vojens)

The next weekend (23rd to 25th) I went with my host family to Læsø Island to check out the said very popular tourist destination. Because it's not quite summer yet - we basically had the island to ourselves. It was really peaceful and happily pleasant. Læsø is "famous" for it's salt - which is apparently stronger. However I am not the salt conisieur so I have to admit I couldn't taste the difference. It was surprisingly interesting to see how the salt is made too… We also spent our time there walking around the beaches and I found my first pieces of Amber!!! (Amber is made over thousands of years from the sap of trees rolling around in the ocean mixing with the sand - it's often used in jewellery like opals and what not).

(My host sister Amalie and I in front of a house with a sea weed roof!)

On Thursday 29th, we had an examination which I actually had to do! It was a presentation on the Holocaust and just mumbo jumbo talking for 10 minutes. Because we had Friday off, and we had all just completed an assessment - we had a class party at Amalie's that night. It was meget hugelilig! (really nice). I really love my class… The difference between high school in Australia and the Gymnasium is that I have one class for all my subjects. So I am with the same people everyday in class. It is quite literally a family… I don't know how to explain it in any other way. If someone has a party it will be for the class… We all sit together at lunch as opposed to with other friends in the school. There's a bit of conflict between a few people, but deep down everyone loves each other because, like I said, your class is your family. It's sweet.

That weekend (1st and 2nd) I went to Nibe/Ålborg to see my Australian friends again (I know i'm bad catching up with other exchange students!) and it was also really nice. There's not much to say except that I had so much fun with Rachael and Katie and am so happy that I have become friends with them!

(Rach and Katie)

That finally brings us up to date with this weekend… Fright night was the Galla fest. Which is like formal where you wear nice gowns except no where near as important… Ginne, Jannika and Kristine came over to my place in the afternoon to get ready together which was just sooooooo nice. I loved it. We then went to Christians for our class's pre party. We stayed there for about two hours before heading to the Galla at about 8.30. The time spent with my class before the actual Galla was definitely my favourite part of the night. I can't express how amazingly fun they are - just really kind people. Then on Saturday night I chilled at Jacobs place before heading into Ålborg with Jacob, Amalie and Nitzsch to see Rene's band play in the final of a battle of the bands. His band didn't win which was rubbish! But I won't say anymore on that injustice. After we saw Farklip play, we then went to the party street and had a really great night. I saw basically all of the Ålborg exchange students - it was crazy to know so many people in the clubs!

(My class 2z before Galla fest)

Annnddd at last we have reached today! I was supposed to talk with my dearest mother on Skype, it being Mothers day and all. But that plan failed! In stead, I went with Matt and his first host mum to basically the top of Denmark (on the west coast) to the mountain sand dunes. It was incredible and just really nice/interesting to see.

(me taking a photo of all the amazing dunes!)

I feel as though I have used all energy left in me to write this. I hope it wasn't too boring - a catch up of the events doesn't really portray my emotions, but I guess it will do!

Love to all my friends and family in both Australia and Denmark. I wish I could forever have the best of both countries, but I can't. So while I am here in Denmark - i'm living it to the fullest yet still missing all those I care about in Australia.

Stay safe, well, happy and healthy!

Knus!