Getting started!

Alright, so I've been here in Kobenhavn for almost 10 days now. I have definitely been adjusting to how things work here...just a little different! So here's what has happened so far.

August 22nd (departure from USA!!!)

We're delayed because of the worsening weather conditions and take off in an alternate flight pattern to try and avoid the weather. Other than that, no major complaints about the plane ride...typical ride. However, I decided to take my ambien after dinner was served and it didn't work! I didn't know this, but I guess if you don't fall asleep while taking it you begin to hallucinate.... well that happened to me for sure! Very weird.

August 23rd (arrival in Copenhagen!!)

So around 7 in the morning, we finally arrived. We went through customs and all that jazz--I hate myself for how I packed, almost impossible to manage! Yet, I see no other option. Thank goodness for that man not officially weighing my bags :) After a little bit of waiting, we loaded buses which took us to the DIS IT university (Which they told us we'll never see again) around 8 AM. We had to unload our bags again and store them in a bike room. Then we went to pick up our arrival packets, cell phones, and money stipend to purchase our train tickets. Then we had to wait until 1:30 or so to LEAVE! So, some of us went to an empty room that had some fold down movie theater style seating and slept (including myself).  Then we were off to our respective housing!

We arrived at Orseunds, which is where I live and were able to unpack. We had the afternoon off until 7, when they were holding a pizza party for us in the restaurant downstairs. I live on the seventh floor of Orseunds. They're are about 20 DIS students living here and there are about 1000 residents...so definitely a minority! My hall seems pretty quiet, haven't really met many people except a really nice Danish girl, Caelia (sp?)  and a guy who I call Lars because I can't remember his name.

Before the pizza party, myself, Ashley (a girl from Richmond), Dom (a boy from Richmond), and Danielle (a girl from Loyola MD, friends with Dom from before) went to visit another guy studying in Copenhagen from Richmond, Mike. We went to his apartment in the city center and hung out on his roof. We definitely had some awesome weather. It was so beautiful and relaxing up there.

Monday through Wednesday we had different orientation stuff, like a scavenger hunt (where my feet and lower back wanted to kill me after the first hour), an opening ceremony with a string quartet, survival danish (hej!=hi!, hej hej!=bye!), and academic program things. All basic.

On Monday night, we all went out to two bars, first called the Happy Pig (but I prefer to call it Bar with an Arrow, since that was it is...pictures to follow!) and the Australian Bar. Both were very American, probably because they were like 10 yards from our school...

The school is set up in an interesting manner. There is a "main building" where there is the front desk where our packages go and the offices are for different departments like housing and study tours as well as the library and lockers. Then across the street there are two buildings (A and B) where almost all the classes are held...at least all of mine are held here except for the one in the main building. A and B are very tall buildings and it is annoying to have to climb 5 flights of stairs into a room with no air conditioning--everyone is literally sweating bullets afterwards because it's just so humid and hot. It seems to me that air conditioning is not popular here. It's either heat or windows open.

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And now my room. It's definitely very spacious, I can't complain about that at all. I also have a great full wall of windows that I can look out of for weather . The view isn't ideal, but not bad. I look at the other section of our building and parking. They supplied me with a desk, 2 chairs, a bed, and like four shelf sets and awesome closets! Of course, when I moved in no lights worked... I think I have been able to make it a bit more homey now, by hanging my 89 photos haha.

As for the bathroom....oh man. It reeks!!!! Our RA type person, Mimi was telling us that Copenhagen passed some law that all buildings built before a certain year can't be repaired or have work done...including ours! Basically, there is a problem with the sewage system and the smell just stays there. I've already tried to buy a fabreeze type project and a toilet scent thing and no luck. I also bought shower shoes because it grosses me out what may have been on that *concrete* floor since we shower on it! I refuse to go in the bathroom barefoot. It's very interesting using this utility bathroom, but fortunately the person before left a shower curtain so I can prevent half the bathroom from getting completely soaked. But I must admit, the shower pressure is nice, the water gets hot, and it is very convenient to brush your teeth in the shower :)

On Thursday we started classes, my schedule is as follows:

Monday, Thursday:
10:05-11:25 (EU)
11:40-1:00 (Danish)
4:25-5:45 (Terrorism)

Tuesday, Friday:
2:50-4:10 (Leadership Across Cultures)

Friday only:
11:40-1:00 (Turkey)

So far the classes aren't too bad, definitely not a joke though! There is a lot of reading, especially for my EU core class.

And now for the cultural differences I have noticed:

• Danes seem unfriendly, but they really just don't talk to people they don't know, unless they talk to them first--> public transportation is basically silent
• Public transportation is so popular, but not as popular as bikes!!! Bikes are EVERYWHERE! And beware of bikers, they are vicious and hold no mercy to those in their way
• There is public transportation etiquette, i.e silence, you don't really sit next to people you don't know, bikers have desginated bike seats and if you're in the way, be prepared to get stared at evily...
• When going out to dinner, not only is it expensive, it is also a long ordeal. You must ask for your check or be prepared to be sitting their until closing...
• Danes have no word for "Excuse Me" or "Please"--> again, not because they're rude, just it's not their nature. You have to shake your bag to get through--it really works! I tried it in a crowded grocery store, I shook my bag and everyone moved to the side like clockwork
• Alcohol is VERY present. Everytime I have gone to class, no matter the time, I see people drinking wine by the metro station...even at 7:45 AM....
• Last, but not least.....the fashion!! It's so crazy. Basically throw all your neons together and some leggings and you're good to go
• Things to have: leather jacket, HAREM PANTS!, way oversized shirts, leggings, opaque tights, boots, comfortable walking shoes that seem cute, prints, and of course, scarves! OHH and definitely some wacky sunglasses....like thing aviator style with cheetah print or something....they love wayfarers, but even spicier looking ones
• I can't wait to get some Georg Jensen earrings though :) Not too pricy.....

Moved in!

Before I write much of anything, I'm just going to post some photos of my room--I have finally managed to make it look like someone may live here who has a bit of taste?

Here is the look in my room from my mini foyer type hall thing:

And now here are some more....

 my hall/foyer type area, i have a similar closet on the otherside too

And last, but certainly not least.....

(and this is taken from underneath the hole in the wall where i'm supposed to place my showerhead which is next to the sink (not pictured))

Stay tuned!!

THE START OF COPENHAGEN!!!!! :)

Back from Talamplaya in one piece :)

Hola familia!

This past Friday, we left at midnight to arrive in Talamplaya (sort of like the national park area here in Argentina...about a 7-8 hour drive) to start hiking for 2 1/2 hours at 8:30 AM. For breakfast, they gave us each a brown bag of pastries...like dulce de leche filled crossiants. First, a sugar rush is not a good idea when full energy is needed and second, all that sugar is nasty in the morning. Oh well.. but of course, knowing me my problems did not start there!ç

You will never believe what I did....on Friday night, before we left to go to school, I did a bad thing! After Ali and I ate dinner, our family´s favorite show, Justo a tiempo came on. I asked Dora if I could use her microwave (which she has NEVER used and it´s probably 10 or 15 years old) to heat up a heat pack I bought for my back (my back and left knee are wanting to kill me right now :( ). So me and her are attempting to read her Spanish manual and finally I figure out we have to set the clock time, before any heating can be done. So I set a random time (because as it turns out all of the center buttons, i.e. 8 5 2 0, were broken!) and then put my pack in to heat. I set it for 77 seconds, since that´s all I could do really. The next thing I know, the entire kitchen LOSES POWER! I blew their fuse, everything shut off. At first we thought it was the entire house, but fortunately it was the kitchen and their father´s old bedroom that no one goes in. They were scared I fried their refridgerator and TV, but fortunately for me (and my wallet!) nothing was damaged, except the momentary black out for the evening. Tita was really mad at me because she wanted to watch TV, but fortunately Dora was really sweet about it.

I later found out (after I returned and the power was fixed by an electrian) that the entire street lost power as well....ay yi yi!

Anyways, so once we were on our journey, I tried my best to sleep, but I was in the window seat so my knees felt paralyzed and i was next to a heater....basically I got second degree burns on my legs and sweated through all my clothing. Gross!!
Once we started hiking I was definitely nervous. We had a 2 hour hike UPHILL, completely up a mountain. Nothing prepares you for straight hiking. My knees were throbbing, but fortunately I brought my ice and heat pack. The view, partway (with knee brace and all!):

In the photo is my little, Lexie (left), me, and my friend Brittany, who is living with my little. This is us on top of the mountain, and here we are below it (including two other girls from Tri Delta):




The hike was definitely worth it, it was a terrfic view--lots of great photos to come! These were two from my friend Brittany´s camera.

After that hike, we ate lunch and then went on another hike-driving tour thing. We drove, then hiked for a little, drove more, hiked more, etc etc. Not as cool.
Then at night, we ate dinner at a GAS STATION. It was like a "nice" restaurant that shared space with the gas station, I did not enjoy it to say the least.

The next day, we were supposed to have a 5 1/2 hour hike. Fortunately this was mostly straight with some hills mixed in and some literal climbing up rocks. I scratched my sunglasses I bought here :( In all, we walked 8.7 miles and we were so fast it only took 4 hours 45 minutes. We hiked through a canyon or valley called "Valle de la Luna" or Valley of the Moon. It was pretty neat. Then, we ate lunch and did a forty minute hike through another canyon type place full of neat rocks. I was able to make three wishes at at "wishing rock."
And of course, for dinner we ate at the gas station again.

On Monday, we were able to sleep in until 9 and then went to a vineyard. It was an organic vineyard that only sold red wine. We tried a cabernet and a Malbec. I did not enjoy either, so sorry familia, no wine from there! We are going to one more vineyard, however, in Buenos Aires. After the vineyard, we went to a cemetary to see something really creepy. We went to the tomb of Miguel "Angelito" something... He died 60 years ago at age 5, and was dug up 15 years after his death when people noticed the toys left on his tomb were moving. When they dug him up, they saw that he was perfectly preserved and in tact. So they reburied him. Again, 15 years later, they noticed the same thing--toys moving. So they unearthed him again. And he was still preserved. So now his tomb is a shine and seen as a miracle. People come from all over the world to visit this shrine and pray to him for miracles. It was so creepy though because he was in a glass coffin, and he looked like a dirty doll. I still am unsure if it was real....

Anywho, after the cemetary we ate at....the gas station! for the third time.... :(

Then we finally started our journey back to Córdoba. On the ride, we watched the movie Australia, and then these things called "Classic Project 4" or whatever number it was whcih was snippets of music videos from a time period, like the 90s 80s 2000s, etc. Pretty entertaining. Then we watched 7 Pounds.

And now we are here!

As for yesterday, it was our first day back to classes. I also had my last riding lesson, we went on a trail ride! It was great and I was able to jump as well. :)

Today, after my class I went with Dora to a "cheap" mall to buy a suitcase for the US. I found the best duffle-esk bag, I can´t wait to show you! And I also found a great leather purse :) And it was all so cheap for us! Ahh It´s crazy the exchange rate :)

I now only have 2 more days left! We leave for Buenos Aires Sunday morning; i have to be at the airport at 7 AM.

Ciao, I have my culture class now, talk to you soon :)

Finally went to the mall!

Oh and I thought y´all may enjoy this. After classes yesterday, Ali and I went to the mall (called Dinosaurio, yes like Dinosaur) and bought some things for our upcoming trip to Talamplaya from Friday to Monday. I got some spandex capris...everyone is SO skinny here I was worried their biggest size wouldn´t fit, but fortunately it did! And then some sunglasses as well as a hairdryer and straightner that I can then use in Denmark because they have the same voltage and plugs.

Okay, off to lunch! Finished my second paper today and then I have tango tonight! And riding tomorrow! I will be cantaring, which I thought was good except that she has been even allowing first time riders to cantar and jump. So much for years of experience...oh rules abroad :)

A recap of the Northwest

Hola a todos! We just came back from an awesome trip to the "Northwest." On Wednesday, we met at the school at 11 PM at night to be greeted by our double decker bus! Imagine this image, but with Spanish writing. It was awesome! The first floor was half filled with I think 10-12 lazy boy style chairs. On the right side, there was 2 lazy boys (with GREAT RECLING abilities and a board you pull down from the seat in front of you for a bottom bed piece) and on the left there was a solo lazy boy. I choose that seat in the backrow. It was great, way comfortable. I attempted to sleep in a curled ball position, why I don´t know. I am not very good at sleeping on transportation things, no matter the comfort level. The upper level had probably 50 seats, very comfortable, but smaller. They also reclined well, had the board for your feet, and hugged your body nicely, I could have slept well there too. The coolest part was the front of the bus-- a panaromic view from the top (look to image to see). It was almost like being a part of a video game.

The reason we had this bus is because we had 8 hours to drive until we arrived in Tafi de Valle in the Tucuman province. We went to rock garden view and a myths and legends musuem and then arrived at the hotel and walked around the area at all their different shops. Before dinner, we all went to the only bar (it was a veryyy small puebla), and had a little too much fun before our dinner. But the dinner was great with our friend Michael, or Miguel here, making the different animal noises we told him. After dinner we all hung out for awhile and then went to bed. We had an early departure the next day for Amiacha del Valle and Quilmes/Tolombon.

In the morning, we left for a church and jesuit musuem (and I realized I left my North Face vest there! Que triste!...I´ve ordered a new one already (ON SALE), not wanting to part....). After lunch, we went to the Quilmes ruins, which was kind of like seeing a Mayan temple, but it was like rock walls, with grass floors...very cool! Again, great view! That night we went to an observatory . We watched an "Origin of the Universe" movie in SPanish...so a little complicated...and got to look at the moon and Saturn (saw the rings and all!) through a large telescope.

The next day was the day I was loooking forward too--the winery! We went to the Bodega Etchart in Cafayate (in the province of Salta). Unfortunately, this was the morning I felt really sick and nauseas. We did some wine tasting and I bought 5 bottles of wine, one for everyone in the family. After our lunch there, we had a four hour drive where I thought i was going to vomit the entire way...oh stomachs, how great they work! When we arrived in Salta (the capital of Salta), we visited a church and then more artisan markets. For dinner, we went to una peña, or show, at "La Vieja Estación." We got to watch "guachos" do traditional dances and chants and then women came and danced as well. It was really neat. I wish I could have enjoyed it more since this is when my sickness was full blown with fever and all. After the gaucho performance, the winner of Argentinean Idol came out to perform. He was cutee! and a good singer. Again, I wish I could have enjoyed it more. Salta was the biggest city we went to, so everyone was drinking and enjoying their wine and champagne that came with dinner and went to a beluche afterwards while I went home to take a bath and sleep. At around 4 AM when my room mates returned I realized my clothing was soaked through...sweated out my fever so that´s good! Unfortunately, my stomach was still doing flips.

On Sunday, we left Salta for Purmamarca-Tilcara. We saw the mountain of 7 colors and got to hike through its pathway for about an hour (great for my stomach!). Then we drove on and stopped at an all natural acoustic mountain crevice thing. It was a former waterfall and had formed the most perfect cave-esque place, I believe it´s called Pucara. There was a 3 man band who was playing and got everyone dancing. It was great to watch, I´m sad I wasn´t up to moving around too much :( Before dinner we went to an anthropological museum that had a cave we could enter. It had staircases about one foot thick and no railing and it was pitch dark. We followed each other in a line up and down these scary stair cases, I was sure I was going to fall off and crack my head on all the stones. After the museum, and shortly before dinner, some of us went to a little caféteria I found and drank "submarinos solos" as a merienda. The submarinos are like hot chocolate, but you recieve hot milk with chocolate powder on top and then you add a dark chocolate bar to melt in it. So good!

On Monday, we stayed in Tilcara but we visited Humahuaca as well. We visited a textile factory where they produce goods from llama wool. I bought a great gift there that y´all will have to wait and see! We also went to a mini musuem on indigenous cultures. It was pretty neat but freaky at the same time because there was a thing there that I had dreamed about a year ago! I dreamt about people making objects out of bread and there it was there--exactly how it looked in my dream! crazy!! My favorite part of the museum was there medicine room though, it was full of voodoo and a painting that depicted how you could go to a "doctor" and tell them to kill you if you were sick and didn´t want to continue on. Creepy! Although with my stomach still hurting it may not be that bad....just kiddiing! I would never give up, and I know it´s not serious :)

When we returned to the hotel, we had our final dinner full of a lot of wine (again, I didn´t drink any knowing my stomach). More animal noises from Mike and then lots of toasts, some drunk some not. We all went to bed and then woke up early (5:45 for me!) for our 20 hour ride back. Fortunately, some how it only lasted 14 hours, including an hour stop for lunch. We passed the time with sleep and charades. Definitely enjoyable :)

And now we are back to the daily grind and school work. Ciao for now! Pray for my stomach :)

Oh Collectivo

Today I turned in my first paper! It was great to be able to write a paper that "made sense" in full Spanish without my Mac Translator by my side. I had been worried about writing this, but I am glad I got it done.

As for the rest of my day Monday and yesterday and today...it´s been interesting! On Monday, we had to stay after our culture class to watch the movie, La Misción, with Robert de Niro as a young man--can you believe he used to have a six pack? Still had the mole though...

After class though, I ran to catch a bus (or collectivo) that I thought was what I needed...but boy was I wrong! I decided to get off when we went through a tunnel I recognized, but do not need to go through and hoped for the best. After looking around to get my bearings, I realized I had no idea about which direction to go towards. It was about 8:30 at night on a street that would be similar to Rockville Pike. I found a brightly lite baby store that looked safe and decided to attempt the lost puppy, somebody help me look. I went in (after repeated attempts at pulling the door open, when you had to push) and told the owner I was lost. There was a young, cute couple who were looking at stuffed animals who recognized my distress. It was clear the owners did not know where my street was, my fortunately the couple did (and they knew English as well!). They told me the would show me home so I just waited for them to pay. I thought they were going to walk me there, but instead they drove me! In the US I would have NEVER have gone in the car with strangers, but they were young, 5 months pregnant and I could tell they were great people. They drove me home and all was well.

Buen Suerte! Wow, I still shudder at the idea that I willingly entered the car of a stranger, but I´m glad I did. I love Argentina :)


As for Tuesday, we started horseback riding! It was great to get back on a horse after everything with my knees and back. Although I wish I could get an ice pack for them. I rode a beautiful black mare named Osa and she was great, needed extra leg, but a total sweet heart-ç.The instructors were impressed and said I could go straight to canter next week (while the rest are learning basics) so that should be good. It would have been embarrassing to be stuck at beginner considering I´ve been riding since about age 7. At the end of the lesson, they gave us mate and we went home.

Just to be brief, i then experienced Argentinean Wal-mart. I have to run to class now and then leave for the NORTHWEST! Ciao!