Kære Danmark

Dear Denmark,

You have thoroughly impressed me thus far - there are so many things I love about you, and so many things you have taught me to love; most of all, you've learnt me to grow.

However, like all things, what we have must come to an end. We have four months left - I don't intend to let them go to waste. Hold on to your knickers!

Sincerely yours (with undying love)

Riley Louise.

ALP

The government which is currently in power in Australia is awful - just awful!

I simply cannot understand why anyone with a well educated mind is in agreeance with their policies! Every news article I read about their insane ideas makes me furious. Let alone the fact that the reason they are in power is due to self absorbed, big headed independents. These independents who in fact admitted that they sided with the Labor party because Gillard's possy of 'wanna be' socialists were unlikely to hold government as long as the Liberal party. In simple terms - the Labor party had more to lose, thus more need of the independents. So instead of having the more competent party in favour, who obviously has better policies - or I should rather say: are smart enough to oppose Labor's un-realistic ones - the Liberal party is in opposition. Then again, I do not fear; the count down is on and soon we will re-establish a government that can truly give us what we need.

Rage over.

Day to Day Life: Attempting School

To say that I try my hardest to keep my blog totally updated would be a lie. I somehow got in it my head that I should only write about the most interesting of things, but when I look back at this a few years from now (even a few months!), I know I will still remember the amazing trip to London or Paris or Prague...;but will I remember my day to day life?

So here it is for you!

I have school five days a week. And I have to say, after going to school just four out of seven days in Australia, it is really hard to have just a two day weekend! I'll be honest, my attendance is not of a high standard (to say the least). But in my defence, I believe a lot of exchangers struggle to motivate themselves to wake at 6am for hours of a language they don't understand, and quite frankly - subjects that don't matter in the least. To make this a little more clear - I go to school to make friends, and then see those friends. I have graduated high school in Australia and will be returning to university as soon as I arrive back. Gymnasium by no means can contribute to any certificate of education I hold in Australia. I digress. Like any normal student, school and I have a love hate relationship. I struggle being inside all day when I feel I can be doing much more productive things outside e.g., sleeping. No no, jokes aside - when my Oldie Matt was here in Frederikshavn, we often used to go to the botanical gardens and see the deer (YES, DEER!) roaming around. I'd take photos almost everything! We'd go to town and watch people go buy, while really doing nothing ourselves. That is precisely the beauty of the relationship between exchangers. We are happy to do absolutely nothing at any given place, because we are thrilled to merely be there! It's not the same in asking one of your Danish friends to just 'go for a bike ride' around town. I'm not saying that you can't do that... it's just different.

I'm going to leave it at that for now, it's 2200 (yes I use 24 hour time now - crazy!) and I have been promising myself an early night all day. I WILL go to the first class tomorrow. I will, I will, I will! (If you haven't noticed i'm trying to convince myself to go to the first class tomorrow, though all my heart, mind and soul are telling me that it would be much more pleasurable to sleep and extra hour or two).

Skagen Get Together

With this past weekend, there was a Rotary Get Together in Skagen for district 1440 inbound exchange students. It was absolutely fantastic! I can't name one thing that didn't surpass satisfaction.

I am proud to say that it was in fact my counsellor's idea that made this awesome weekend happen, and it may be for that reason that I favoured this camp above all others. Though with bias put aside, us exchange students could not have asked for more. The weather, atmosphere, food, people (students and Rotarians alike) - absolutely everything was perfect!

We were given a tour of Skagen and the most popular sites that often bring many tourists every year. The 'wondering sand dunes', the 'sandy church', the art museum, the light house, the town and the toppen of Skagen where the Baltic and North Sea meet! We were presented with so much history, culture and truly fascinating facts - it wasn't like any usual boring school excursion.

We made new friends with the newbies (oh my gosh i'm an oldie!) and had a really chill weekend. I could describe everything in detail here, but I would much rather tell you in person! But just know that I loved it, and we all had a great time.

Jacqui & I

(This is for Matt, my oldie, who has inspired me more than any other to love life, and never waste what we have. I love you Matt!)

Katie and I at the Museum

(For once enjoying the view from above)

District 1440 on the Wondering Sand Dunes!

The Sandy Church

Søren and Bente (and Donna!) - min mor og far. Jeg elkser jer!

At the top of the Lighthouse with the toppen in the distance

Saggy Boobs

I went to the local swimming pool today... my purity is ruined.

Denmark (or Europe in general) is very open with the whole change room situation, so it is extremely hard not to notice others around you butt naked. And I mean naked as in.. naked.

I was the only person there over the age of 5 and still under the age of 40... And now I don't know if I want to go back there again... I've seen what nature has intended for me and I don't like it. I actually cried a little, and laughed. That in itself is kind of awkward considering I was chilling by myself.

Seriously, can your boobs hang any lower?! It was awful... And it wasn't just one lady - they all looked like that! I don't want to be a hater, but I remember seeing older people at pools or the beach in Australia and they didn't wobble so much... Maybe my Australian genes will help me pull through...

I can't seem to rid of the images!!!!

Enjoying the Single Life

Stupid things I hear include:

- the saying "Enjoying the single life!"

The only time I would believe someone when they say this, is if they're a whore. I imagine that having a boyfriend whilst attempting to still be with numerous guys would be quite frustrating.

I probably offended a few people in this blog... Sorry.

Idrætsdag med 3.z

Yesterday we had 'idrætsdag' at the Gymnasium... It is what we would call sports day, but not in the sense that we Aussies are used to; there was no long jump, sprints, javelin etc... Just dressing up with biscuits and lollies.

In Australia, I believe it is fair to say, sport is a huge part of both the culture and curriculum in schools. It's not like this in Denmark... The competitions were done as a class, and they included potato bag races, jump rope (how many jumps with 10 people), trivia etc... It was rea

lly fun! But I wouldn't call it a sports day. And it only went for two hours!

There are three years in the Gymnasium, and the third years are considered 'gods'... As a third year, I own the school, along with my level. So we spent the day singing about how much we hate the first years (like any regular day really), and bribing the teachers with lollies and ANZAC BISCUITS(!!!) for more points. Might I add, I have never made such a fantastic batch of anzac biscuits, they were amazing.

Kristine, Julia and Ginne (pulling a really strange face!) and the bribery methods...

Min Klasse! 3.z