Farvel (1)

(the cord to upload pictures is packed, so I will add some later.

My room is empty- nothing in the closet, the walls are bare. It's all packed into suitcases, which are, of course, too big and too heavy and too numerous. Under the weight limit, but still. Once I move my bags out tomorrow morning, the room will look as it did before I got there, over 4 months ago. So much has happened in those four months; that will be another post. Not tonight.

This morning it was rainy, grey, and windy- a fitting last day in Copenhagen- I think Denmark was crying because it was sad we are all leaving. But it did get sunnier later in the day, so I guess Danish weather was trying to get us to change our minds and stay? I mean, it was pretty convincing, but the flight is booked, my seat (window seat, in the wayyyy back...you win some, you lose some) is reserved, and plans have been made to go to the airport. I'm really going home tomorrow.

Last night consisted of staying up late "studying" in bed for my psychology exam (meaning, writing down things I already knew and talking to people on Facebook), while Kelly slept on a mattress on the floor of my room. Bella was sleeping too, on my bed by my feet. However, after taking the exam this morning, I realize that I probably would have done just as well had I not spent any time fake studying. I'll think of it as getting a jump start on beating jet lag (since when I get back, 10pm will feel like 4am, so it will feel like I'm staying up really late).

After the exam, since I finished early, I returned my books, reserved a seat for my flight, and headed home to get a couple hours of packing in before going back to the city for the closing ceremony for DIS. It was pretty good, a speech from Anders Uhrskov (DIS director), a little orchestra music, some choir songs, and a couple student speeches (@boy from Vanderbilt- you are hilarious). Then, after a quick last walk around the streets of downtown Copenhagen, I headed home.

Søs, Henrik, Mads, Pernille, and I (Kristina unfortunately couldn't come- I'll miss you!) had a big farewell dinner, complete with a delcious and always colorful salad, frikadeller (going out the way I came in), potatoes, and red wine- it was all delicious :) After dinner, Pernille and I took Milo and Bella for one last walk around the neighborhood- those two dogs are slightly crazy, but it was a wonderful time just talking about life and reminiscing about the semester together.

It's crazy to think that after so, so many dinners together with the Grejsens, that was the last one. Aside from the wonderful gifts they gave me over dinner (so unnecessary, but so kind and thoughtful..I loved them all, and they will always remind me of my wonderful host family and make me smile) and the sweet card, handwritten in English that made me tear up a little, they have also given me so much that they don't even realize. I was able to really learn about Danish culture, the Danish language, and what it looks like to just be a Danish family, normal and crazy all at the same time. It meant so much to become a little part of their big family, and I appreciated everything they did for me, big or small. I could not have asked for a better host family, and I will miss that most of all.

So, Henrik, Søs, Mads, Pernille, Kristina, Milo, and lille Bella, thank you for everything. Thank you for welcoming me into your home, your family, and your lives, and for sharing a little piece of it with me. I have truly loved and appreciated getting to know each one of you. I'll miss the dinner conversations, the laughter when things get lost in translation, and all of the other funny and wonderful moments from the semester. See you soon, hopefully- vi ses, og tusand tak.