One word: Sunshine!

I just wanted to do a quick post about what I am thankful for today: SUNSHINE. Yes, in Denmark. The sun has been shining all day, and it has been absolutely wonderful. I went for a run just now, but it turned into more of a just-enjoy-the-sunshine excursion. I spent a good amount of time sitting on a bench in the park soaking up some vitamin D. That, combined with endorphins, has put me in an incredibly good mood. Unfortunately, I am under the false impression that spring is now just around the corner. Not quite. Although, I am going to Portugal and Spain next week so hopefully that will help a little bit. I love Copenhagen, but I'm yearning for some warm weather and sun.

A Mini Copenhagen Tour (and more!)

Here's a list of a few things I've been up to...

1. Last Wednesday I had a field study for my Danish Language and Culture class. In the morning we watched Flammen & Citronen (Flame & Citron) which is a Danish movie about World War II, specifically two Danish men made famous by their roles in the resistance movement. [Side note: Our professor brought us freshly baked kanelsnegler (cinnamon buns). And when I say freshly baked, I mean she had to wait to go pick them up because they weren't out of the oven yet when we started the movie. They were still warm when we got them. YUM.] After the movie, we went to the Museum of Danish Resistance and had a tour. It was extremely interesting to learn about the role of Denmark and the Danes during the war. 

After the tour, I wandered around the area and took some pictures. There are so many beautiful churches around here!

St Alban's Church

Gefion Fountain

The Marble Church (or Frederik's Church)

Really cool artwork made up of small reflective pieces that moved in the wind
(See picture and video below)

2. On Saturday, Denise and I went to Ikea. She had never been before and when I heard that, we made immediate plans. I think it was a rather successful trip, and now I have a small collection of plants in my room. Hopefully I can keep them alive. Wish me luck, I might need it.

3. On Saturday evening, I attended the ballet at the Royal Danish Theatre. It was a very good show and had a range from alternative to classical ballet. The dancing was fantastic and the actual theatre was beautiful! We saw the balcony where the queen sits when she comes. Unfortunately, she wasn't there that night. 

4. On Sunday, Tim and I went to my visiting family's house for a big birthday party. Three of the family members' birthdays are close together so they did a joined party with family and friends. It was so much fun to see my visiting family again and meet their friends and extended family. I felt incredibly lucky to be included in the event. I also have to mention that there were three black labs running around the whole time so, needless to say, I was very content. We were there for about six hours and I can't think of a better way I could've spent my Sunday. 

Packages, blue skies, and rainbows

I've decided to do this post slightly differently. I will organize it as a list of my "three good things," which I've explained previously, and each one will even have a picture! 

Exciting stuff. 

1. As the title informs you, the first thing on my list is packages. Yesterday I received not one but two packages from friends back home at Saint Mike's. One was a Valentine's Day-themed parcel including handwritten letters, drawings, pens, a SMC keychain, and VT stickers. The other package included a Vermont postcard and two issues of the Saint Mike's newspaper, The Defender, featuring articles written by one of my best friends. I'm so proud of her. Receiving these packets in the mail and then reading all the letters and articles as I drank tea back in my room made my day. I feel so lucky to have such good friends that think of me even when I'm living in a different country on a different continent. So, I need to say thank you to Emma, Mikala, Alyssa, Cait, and Sarah!

2. Today, I saw blue skies! Let me repeat, blue skies in Copenhagen! And sunshine! It was wonderful to get a little dose of vitamin D. It really is true that when there's less of something you value it more when you do have it. And whenever the sun is out here, it's a time to celebrate.

3. Rainbows! Although, not quite the kind you're thinking of. Yes, this rainbow was created with help from the sun, but no rain was involved. The walls of my hallway are painted very vibrant colors, and when the sun is strong enough, the light coming through the windows causes the colors to reflect onto the white walls across from them. When I returned to my building after class today, I was greeted by this. I thought it was pretty beautiful.

A Day of Wandering

Yesterday, Rachel and I took a walk around where we live. There is a park nearby that I usually run in, and I've been meaning to take pictures there. There are always a lot of dogs running around, which makes me happy. One of the times I was running through the park, I was watching two dogs playing in the field to my left. All of a sudden, I heard rustling in the bushes ahead of me to the right. Out jumps this huge, tan-colored animal that I initially thought was a deer. Nope, just a dog who sprinted across my path and into the field to join the other two that I had been watching. After the initial adrenaline rush subsided, I smiled at them frolicking in the snow and continued my jog. 

The comfiest seat/rocking chair thing in the park.

Relaxing. We felt a little guilty when the runners went by...

Graffiti art in the park

On our walk Rachel and I discovered the most wonderful street. All the houses were painted beautiful colors, and the trees had lights in them. I would be incredibly happy if I could live here or somewhere similar. You can't walk down this road without smiling.

We then continued to Sortedams Sø where we said hello to the ducks and swans. 

Three Good Things

So apparently Swedbank thinks my name is a little more Swedish than it really is... (In their defense, our last name did use to have the "ö" but it was dropped when my family left Sweden.)

In other news, Rachel and I went to the bakery across the road yesterday because it was Sunday, and we were not in the mood to do homework. We were open to all and every distraction so we decided that pastries would be a good idea. This is what I got, and it was delicious! Time well spent.

And now for the "Three Good Things" that I alluded to in this post's title. While studying positive psychology, both here and at Saint Mike's, I've heard about the "Three Good Things" exercise. Every day you're supposed to write down at least three good, positive things that happened to you that day. Studies have shown that it can increase hope, optimism, and gratitude. It is a simple exercise and I've tried doing it before, but for some reason I struggle to stick with it for any extended period of time. I'm going to try to start again, and I might share my list on here every now and again. The point is not to think of amazing things that might have happened (even though you can definitely jot that down), but to recognize the little things that made more of an impact than you might have realized at the time. I really think it does help to appreciate the little things in life, and I think it's healthy to take the time to stop and think about what has been good, what went well. People focus too much on the negative. Although in making my list today I exceeded the suggested three things (and that in itself I am grateful for), I will just share three with you today.

Three Good Things:

1. I got to catch up with two of my very good friends back at school today. I miss them dearly and it was nice to have a lengthy conversation with both of them.

2. I have a visiting family here in Denmark. Essentially, this means that a wonderful Danish family has chosen to include me in their lives for the four months I am here. I have met them once, and they are all fantastic (parents, three daughters, and two black labs- and yes, I am very excited about that last part...I may have even requested dogs specifically during the matching process). Anyway, the specific "good thing" that I am focusing on here is that the eldest daughter invited me to her birthday dinner this week so I will get to see all of them again. I feel incredibly lucky to be included in their family plans, and I am excited to get to know them better.

3. An old friend from high school that I have fallen out of contact with in the past few years sent me a message this morning. It put a smile on my face, and I'm looking forward to catching up with her.

A Game of Catch-Up

Alright, it has been much too long since I posted anything, and I apologize for that. And because I haven't, I have many different things to share. Here we go!

1. I have now booked tickets to go to Spain and Portugal in March. I am so excited! I am going with two girls who I have met in one of my classes here. My friend Julia is currently studying abroad in Barcelona so I hope to meet up with her while I am there. I'm sure we will have an amazing time! The only thing that we're a little worried about is the fact that we have to pay a lot to check bags we have decided to each bring one carry-on bag. This bag has to be quite small, and the airline is very strict about that. So I have to pack for one week in Portugal and Spain in one tiny little suitcase. Challenge accepted!

2. One of my favorite pastimes here in Denmark has to be finding bakeries and eating pastries. Yes, I would consider it a pastime. And because I am an absolute tourist, I take pictures of these delectable foods to share with you.

Cinnamon bun. Or kanelsnegl. Direct translation: cinnamon snail

3. I went on a short study tour with my positive psychology class to Odense and Århus in Western Denmark from Thursday to Saturday. It was an amazing trip. Although having to be in town to catch the bus at 7:15am on Thursday morning and then having two lectures/activities a day for the next three days was ridiculously exhausting, I had a great time. Everything I say is bound to sound corny, but I am truly being genuine about it. Our class really bonded, and I made some really good friends. I learned a lot about them individually, about myself, and about all of us as a group. We all had a lot of fun together, and I can't wait for our class trip to London in March. 

We did one exercise where we had to determine what our strengths or talents were. I found out that one of mine is optimism and positivity. On the bus ride home I ended up writing four pages in my journal (without getting carsick! I win), and here is a little excerpt: I've definitely been noticing this positive attitude in myself. Yeah, getting up early in the morning kind of sucks. But it's fine, there's a lot to look forward to today. The hostel room is tiny. But hey, it's only for one night, and it's a good way to get to know people and practice compromise. Do you know how hard it is for six girls to get ready in the morning in a room that barely fits three bunk beds? It's a challenge. But I thought it was fun, and to be honest, I'm really proud of this positivity trait that I've realized in myself. 

Too much to read? I understand. Time for some pictures!

An adorable street in Odense

In Odense

Hans Christian Andersen's house

Christie and I outside Hans Christian Andersen's house

Sankt Hans Kirke in Odense. Absolutely beautiful.

Women's handball game

Women's handball game

Hostel in Skanderborg we stayed at the first night

Sitting next to the lake by our hostel 

Hostel in Århus we stayed at the second night

Traditional Danish lunch: open faced sandwiches

Traditional Danish birthday cake. We were so spoiled on this trip.

ARoS Museum: Boy 

ARoS Museum: Edvard Munch exhibit

ARoS Museum: Your Rainbow Panorama

The whole class at ARoS Museum