I love you, Copenhagen

This past Thursday I took a solo trip to Copenhagen. I've wanted to take a little trip by myself and I'm so happy I finally followed through with it. Traveling alone means eating where you want, staying where you want and doing what you want for however long you want. Not only does independent traveling bring freedom, but it also can test a person with some unexpected challenges. Although I was only in Denmark for a short time, I feel more confident in navigating and problem solving. It was a plus that all the danish locals are SO nice and helpful.

Thursday night I went to see Angus and Julia Stone... This was my first time going to a show alone and it was great. Before I went I was nervous about who I would stand by or who I would talk to between songs, but there was nothing to worry about and I'm so happy that fear didn't stop me from seeing them. I took a taxi back to the hostel and was greeted by a little scrawny dog, it looked just like the grandma's dog from the movie Super Star. I ate the other half of my bagel from earlier that day and fed the dog some chicken while talking to a girl from Germany. Turns out she is a freelance graphic designer and before we went to bed we decided to go to a museum the next day together. I enjoyed getting to know her the next day before she headed home. 

Something I have learned while abroad, and on this trip is most people are good and you have to put a little trust into strangers to help you get by. Some may call it naive, but I have faith in humanity and traveling has opened my mind to that.

The last picture is from the first time I stayed at Woodah hostel and I also was there again this time. The morning after I met Michelle she was drinking her coffee out of this exact same cup. I'm not superstitious, but I think it was just a little symbol that we were suppose to meet and be friends!

Before heading home, I went to Tivoli amusement park to check out the Christmas market... the smells, the sights, the music, the glögg mmmm so good! I love Christmas and I am excited to spend it with family back home. :) Copenhagen is probably my most favorite city in Scandinavia. People, design, cafes, museums, sites, shops, everything. I'm so grateful I got to experience this city twice, and in just a few weeks I will fly out of it. Can't think of a better place to start and end my incredible experience abroad. 

hanna

Polska

A few friends and I just got back from a very quick trip to Gdansk, Poland. The city was absolutely stunning, even in the gloomy weather. I can't get enough of the all colors and details put into the buildings. We traveled in the night by boat, and when the crashing waves wouldn't let me sleep, I reflected upon my time abroad and what I want to accomplish in the upcoming weeks before I travel home. I jotted down a few personal goals... but I think it's equally important to write a list of things I'm thankful for right now to keep me present in each moment, since my time here is dwindling down. So here goes a list of ten things I'm thankful for on this fine Sunday...

+ Clean sheets. I don't wash my bedding as often as I probably should, but when I do I swear I get a better nights sleep. Mmm... freshness. 

+ Yesterday I made banana bread and baked it waaaaay too long, it was hard as a rock, but clearly edible since I didn't have any troubles finishing off the whole loaf today. whoops. 

+ Four of my floor mates were gone for ten days and they just got back this weekend. I'm grateful for their company and coming home to their faces. 7th floor family rules :)

+ When I was in Stockholm, Elin introduced me to instant coffee. Is it weird that I've never had it before? I bought some at the Coop this weekend and have been drinking it all day. Not the best tasting, but if you add enough milk and sugar anything is good!

+ Landon just rediscovered the voice message button on viber. We've been exchanging silly, little recordings this afternoon. I'm so thankful for technology and the ease it brings communicating to friends and family. I miss you all.

+ Risifrutti. I didn't think I liked rice pudding until I had this. It comes in a little container with different flavors of jam you mix in. My favorite is blackberry and it is deeeelicious.

+ While I'm on the topic of food... Friday night I went over to my swedish family's house for dinner. We had glögg, julmust and pepparkaka. (typical holiday food/drink) Oh... and the main course was TACOS! Seriously, so good. I love cozy fridays and spending time with my "family," they are the best.

+ I just read an article today that it has been the darkest November in Sweden on record. The sun has shone in Växjö for only one hour this whole month. One hour. I'm grateful for good friends, good music and Marabou chocolate to help me though the darkness.  

+ Last weekend I worked as a bartender at a student pub on campus. It was a really cool experience and I now have a much higher understanding and respect for all the bartenders out there.

+ I love having my own room and bathroom. I can be as clean or as messy as I like. Mostly messy though ;) 

This week I have swedish and music/art class and on Thursday I'm going to see Angus and Julia Stone in Copenhagen!! 

hanna 

A Little Story

 

    With my upcoming test, I've been putting in a lot of hours at the library and various cafes reviewing what I've learned this past month. Yesterday I was sitting at the library with an empty stomach and a lack of motivation. In a desperate attempt to get something done, I pulled out my fake reading glasses, hoping they would give me the boost I needed. I put them on and already felt a little bit smarter... glasses sometimes just have that effect, real or fake! I realized how dirty they were so I took them off and began to rub away the smudges with my scarf, as I tried to clean them I saw the man sitting across from me motioning to hand over the glasses. He had a small bottle of spray and a cloth beside his computer, so I embarrassedly handed over my fake glasses. I watched him spray down the frame and lenses, hoping he wouldn't notice that they don't have a prescription. The man wiped them down and while he handed them back to me he said,

"My mother always told me to enjoy my eyes."

   I smiled and thought about what he meant by that. Not much longer after, he gathered his things and stood up to leave. As he was walking away I took out my ear buds and thanked him once more. He turned around and nodded his head and it wasn't until then that I noticed he was blind in one eye.

It's simply encounters like these that remind me all I have to be thankful for. I believe a lot of people, including myself seek memorable experiences and think that in order to do so, you have to do these big and exciting things, when really a humbling experience can happen in the smallest places when you least expect it.

hanna