Hej Alle!

So I went to the celebration for the Danish Handball team - very fun, but packed. I got a few good pictures of the team. But I decided to leave early (well ... I didn't think it was early, because I saw the team go inside the building, so I thought it was over. Little did I know that they were going to the second floor of the building to go out onto the terrace facing the audience.... so I missed some good shots), thinking that the earlier I left, the sooner I could get to the house and eat! J I, also, decided to try a different route to the train station - just to see some of the sites. Well, not only did I get TERRIBLY lost, but I got lost in the SAME place I got lost in earlier that day!! You would think I would have learned from that mistake, no wouldn't you? ;) So I got home the same time I would have gotten home had I stayed for the terrace shots as well as fireworks (which they only do once a year - for New Years Eve - unlike the US where we try to have fireworks every chance we get.)

On Wednesday, I did more of a scavenger-hunt type of project I had for my Copenhagen: History and Contemporary Urban Issues class. It is really called "Find your way around Medieval Copenhagen" ... but I like scavenger hunt better. So we would be told the place to go, and then, in the packet of paper, my professor wrote a page worth of information about the history of the place, and what it was used for, etc. For instance, we have to figure out what year a gate was built, as well as the king who was reigning then, for the gate surrounding a church. And, what is different from the US is that, unlike home, the buildings don't have dates along the bottom (or where you would think the dates are posted) on the buildings. But either at the top of the building (like for a few stores) or in a brochure you can get when you enter (like for churches). So I am on my 9th (out of 13) places, when it starts to rain. And I'm not wearing rain gear (I mean, it's 30 degrees, so I'm wearing a winter jacket .... But no protection else wise) and I have found that it is ALWAYS raining here! Like, it can be sunny and it is raining. So I decided to go home .... Because, although it has only been 2 weeks (going on week 3) I can see that I am becoming a Dane because I have started to complain about the weather! ;) The joke here, at least from what our Survival Danish professor told us, is that the Danes are really nice in the fall, because the weather is still good. But once winter comes (so spring semester) they are sick and tired of the weather and they are mean and grumpy and not nice. So I'm hoping that with warmer weather comes nicer Danes as well as weather to gloat about- not complain about.

ALSO - cute boy #3!!! His name is Aiden (yes - I got the anme this time). He was here alst semester, and loved DIS and Copenhagen so much that he stayed for this semester as well. He is in the business program ... I believe. He's blonde and cute ... but made fun of me (sotrta) for being´from NY. But whatever ... his own problem because East Coasters kick butt!!! So he spotted my while I was doing teh scavenger hunt - i was holding a map and I am the one, out of a hundred people on the street, not wearing a black coat. So I am easily pointed out as the "tourist." So he showed me a good coffee shop and pointed me in the right direction of where I should go next for my scavenger hunt (because I was going down the wrong street - whoops!!) and ... yeah. So, cute boy #3 - CHECK!

Friday I tasted the Ritter's Dark Chocolate with whole Hazelnuts ... and I feel in love with this chocolate bar ... not as much in love as I am with the mint flavor ... but it is a VERY hard call ..... J

Saturday I did laundry. .... Sigh. So it was finally sunny out .. although there was a bit of a harsh wind. So it was the perfect day to do laundry. And you may be thinking, "Well, Hilary, wouldn't the best day be a rainy day when you have nothing else to do?" Normally, I would concur. BUT they do not have dryers here - only washers! So I have to a line dry my stuff .... And it feels kind of hard-ish now .... But whatever. I'll still wear them. Sadly, thinking about clothing, sale month is over ... sigh. So everything will be back to it's overpriced self L

Sunday I went to Frederiksberg castle, in Hillerød (The town that is one train stop above me). It was GORGEOUS. Very baroque in some sections, but classical in others. It was really pretty. And I had a funny tour guide who told us these strange facts. One for instance was this:

"In the Renaissance, there were, approximately32 courses in a meal. Since no one is capable of eating 32 courses (because it was rude to not eat everything), a guest would use a feather to force him/herself to throw up. Then they would continue eating. Gross or what ... And they didn't shower because water was seen as poison (so they were also drunk most of the day, because they had wine instead of water) , so it was STIIIIIIIIIIIIINKY!! Also, because it was rude to leave the table before the king, if you needed to pee you would just go to a corner and pee in a bush ... or something.

So yeah ... that's some new information for ya! J

Today - eugh. Today. The STUPID train I took wasn't going to my stop. So after 15 minutes on it, I had to switch. Well, I didn't know I had to switch until the train I was supposed to go on already left. So I had to wait for the next train. Well, THIS train kept stopping and going. So I got in at 10am instead of 9:35am. And this would not have been had, had I not needed to be at class by 10:05 (it takes around 7 minutes to get to the building). So ... yeah ... I was late for class - but 4 people were a lot alter than me, so I'm not worried. I heard it might have had something to do with people committing suicide and jumping in front of the train to kill themselves ... but I'm not sure. Sigh - I totally should have listened to my gut who told me to get on the 8:24 bus, instead of the 8:44 bus. But nnnoooo - I ignored the gut. And what happened - I was late. Sigh ..... c'est la vie.

Enjoy life until the next email J

Hil<3

PS - sigh ... I can not believe the Patriots lost. Sigh .... No wonder today is a bad day L

PPS - (monotone voice) congratulations to all of the Giants fans out there. Great game.