one month!

I didn't know these phones actually worked hahah :)

Daina with her Millennium Bridge

One month ago to the hour, I was getting to Newark Airport, not knowing what was to come.  But now, I've had a few pastries, gotten lost on my bike, experienced hygge (Danish tradition, roughly translates to "cozziness"), come to love tea, taken the MCAT, and gone on my first study tour with the MPP program to Jutland (western Denmark).

cool sand art along the Thames River in London

I have been exceptionally bad about blogging (haven't written an update in approximately 3.5 weeks...whoops!)  But I will *hopefully* be much better about it here on out!

in front of Versailles gates

Eiffel Tower at night

Before returning to Denmark after Budapest, Michelle and I went to Paris, France.  It was beautiful and I would love to go back in warmer weather some day.  We legitimately walked for 11.5 hours, and had a 15 hour day...but it was definitely worth it to see the Eiffel Tower in daylight and at night, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, many parks, and Versailles.  We had a delicious dinner in a completely French restaurant...no English spoken by waiters, so conversing was quite an event.  Delicious pastas, bread, and wine. yum :)

Okay, so DENMARK.  DANMARK.  Oh, it is already holding a big place in my heart.  I arrived in Copenhagen on Saturday January 15, a little nervous about meeting my host family for the first time.  They, however, are awesome.  I have 3 host siblings, Christian, 14, Joachim, 11, and Amalie, 8.  Christian and Joachim play a lot of football (soccer), and Amalie reminds me of Kelly, always dancing around and putting on shows.  Bo and Christina both love to run, and its been fun to talk about running and training for half and full marathons (Bo runs 2-3 marathons a year!!).

Danish flag

Here are some things I've about life in Denmark so far (since bullet points are way easier=]):

1. This time of year, Denmark is cold, windy, and dark.  For the brief periods of sunshine, whether a couple of hours one day or more, EVERYONE is outside enjoying it :)

view from my bedroom window!

2. I live in Smørum, and its a lovely town, with a lot of bike paths (easy to get lost for sure!!!)
3. I have become a tea lover, completely infatuated!  I had my first cup ever my first night in Smørum with my host family and fell in love.
4. They put a very thin slice of chocolate on their bread in the morning, delicious way to start any day :)
5. chicken (kylling) and kitten (killing) are two very different things, that can be mispronounced easily and lead to confusion in restaurants or supermarkets.
6. kylling kebabs and hot dogs in a bun are Danish staples...as are PASTRIES...and LEGOS
7. I ride a bike to Måløv where I take the S-tog (toget=train in Danish) for 35 min into Nørreport station, where I then walk 10 minutes to DIS...its quite a commute, but I don't mind it really- the train is good to read on, and the bike ride in the cold air definitely wakes me up in the mornings!

my bed and desk :)

8. the first day, I got wildly lost coming home from the train station, which ended in slight tears and Bo coming out to find me.  Unfortunately, 4 days ago, my bike was stolen from the train station and has resulted in a 30 min walk there each morning...extending the commute (ugh).
9. My room is very cozy :)
10. the bakery on Strøget, Lagkagehusetis the best, EVER.
11. Christianity is a big thing...HISTORICALLY.  Not really important to people today.  Found a cool church though in Nørreboro, and a super legit Bible study with Copenhagen University students, young adults, and DIS students. 
12. I'm taking Human Health and Disease, Biomedical Ethics, Health Beyond Borders, Developmental Neuropsychology, and Danish. and, I LOVE my classes :)

one of the lakes!

13. I ran around 3 of the 4 lakes in Copenhagen while the sun was setting one day- it was breathtaking!
14. People bike EVERYWHERE! Bo  bikes almost 20 km EACH WAY to work every day!
15. Danes love lighting candles, they brighten the dark and contribute to the hygge-"cozy"- lifestyle
16. Christina cooks DELICIOUS food!  Each Saturday she makes one sweet treat-we've had homemade crepes and ice cream, homemade cinnamon buns, and smoething that resembles a marshmellow covered in chocolate...mhmm!
17. Danish children wear one piece snowsuits everywhere...covering them from head to toe!
18. Public transport is free in the city, and its awesome- fast and easy!
19. Danes are very reserved...though supposedly (I've been told!) that once you get a beer in them they don't stop talking, and once you are friends with a Dane, you never lose them!
20. I'm starting to feel at home :)
21. Handball is a HUGE sport here!  Unfortunately, Denmark lost in overtime in the world championship to France, 35-37 :(

"BOY" one of the HUGE fiberglass sculptures in Aarhus museum of modern art

a few of the MPP girls at Koldinghus

Hopefully, that was a good quick overview of my first 3 weeks in Copenhagen :) So, the last 3 days I was on a short study tour with  MPP- the Medical Practice and Policy program that I am a part of at DIS.  There were 30 of us students, a DIS intern, Nico, and a Danish medical student, Naia.  We went to western Denmark, which is called Jutland.  There we visited in Aarhus, Horsens, and Kolding.  The trip, though completely exhausting, was awesome because we went to Aarhus University Hospital, had a lecture about the Danish health care system (which is very cool/super successful for a country of just 5 million (HALF OF NYC...so crazy!)), went to a GP (General Practitioner) office, and visited Skejby Hospital.  The research that we got to hear about was awesome- repairing and replacing  heart valves, and various experiments done with MRIs, fMRIs, PET scans, and CTs.  It was really interesting!  We went to a bunch of cultural sites too, Koldinghus, which is a castle that houses the first Protestant Chapel in Denmark, and it has beautiful views.  We went bowling which was random but also really fun.  Overall, the group bonded and had some sweet memories.  I am definitely over typing at this point, but I'll update soon, definitely before another 3 weeks pass :)

until later :)