Better and better...

So I am really excited about living here, because I have made a couple of really good friends and I feel like I am going to have the time of my life in my program at school.  The program I decided on is Child Diversity and Development, Children in a Multicultural Context.  I chose this program because it is essentially the makings of my major that I am designing at Whittier.  Yesterday we had our orientation for the seminars, and I was pretty excited, but then I heard more about the practicum which is even more exciting, but I will get back to that in a minute.

After that orientation, we, my friends Amanda, Julia and I, walked to Julia's dorm which is located on part of the København Universitet campus, and it is also very near some gorgeous lakes and buildings.  We helped Julia go grocery shopping and we dropped off our GIANT Ikea bags full of textbooks at her place so we could go walk around and do some shopping.  Because I still haven't figured out this whole weather thing, nor do I believe I will ever, I wore my high-ish heeled waterproofed leather boots, which are not so good for feet that already have blisters and an ever-present stress fracture, but are especially not good on cobblestones.  And the streets of the city of Copenhagen are almost entirely composed of cobblestones, so I was suffering.  Luckily, I was able to find some cute flats for 100 kroner or a little less than $20.  Then we were able to continue our adventure relatively pain free.

We walked along the pedestrian street, Strøget, where there are tons of shops and restaurants.  We found the Danish equivalent of the 99c store, Tiger, where we all grabbed some necessities, then we walked and walked until we found a bench.  We probably made it on Danish TV, because there was a group of about 20 guys in black and white soccer gear, singing and yelling for the Rosenborg football club, a Norwegian team.  This was quite entertaining and pretty much made our afternoon. 


But back to academics.  Today we all found out more about working in a Danish school and where we would be placed.  The Danish system is all child-centered learning, so when the child is ready to learn the alphabet, they are taught the alphabet, but before they approach the teachers, they work on social interaction and daily habits.  So my experience will most likely be A LOT of playing.  Though I'm nervous about the language barrier, we will learn how to communicate with the children without saying a word, which is very cool and exciting to me.

I found out I will be working in a Danish Vuggestue/Børnehave or Nursery/Preschool, with children aged 0-6.  The school is apparently ethnically and socio-economically diverse, so I am very excited to see how the system works there.

So, a very busy past couple of days, but I'm finally excited and feeling like I'm supposed to be here. 
Next time, I'll tell you all about my host family some more, and about my first real classes in Copenhagen once I have had them all.

Hej hej!

The beginning

So I arrived a couple of days ago in Copenhagen.  It was kind of cold, but nice, and I love my host family!  The first couple of days were a little rough, though I heard I'm not the only one who started crying and freaking out when they were alone.  I'm still recovering from jet lag...it's taking much longer than I thought it would. 

The weather here cannot make up its mind.  I wake up each morning to sun and I think, oh good, it won't rain while I'm trying to navigate the city for the first time.  Then, without fail, each day many times a day it changes from sunny to rain and back again in a vicious and confusing cycle.

Day 1 of orientation was spent figuring out the school layout on a scavenger hunt and eating pancakes at the town hall.  The pancakes, I found out are only offered to VIPs.  DIS didn't pay for us to go there, we were all invited.  Also, each plate that we ate off of was about 500 dkk or 100 dollars, and the silverware was real silver. So, very cool. :) 

Day 2 of orientation began by learning some Danish phrases that would be useful, and going on another scavenger hunt this time around all of Copenhagen.  We visited the parliament building, Nyhavn, Magasin du Nord, the Royal Library (The Black Diamond), and saw the changing of the guard at the Danish Royal Palace, which included a band which is not seen often. 

All in all, it's been a great couple of days to start my semester here,  and I hope the rest are even better!

About 3 Days Left!

Shortly after my last post I received an e-mail from my host family in Denmark!  They are a kindergarten teacher, a law student my age, and his younger sister, who is my little brother's age.  They live in a town North of Copenhagen, called Helsingør.  I will be living very near the ocean, Sweden, and Hamlet's castle.  From what I've heard and seen, I will have about an hour commute each day to and from school.  At first, I groaned because some of my fellow students are a mere 2-5 miles from school, but then I thought some more.  I will have time to see the country (at least the east coast of the island of Zealand), do homework or other things.  It's also an adventure. :)

I have all but finished packing and I am at about 47lbs.  Actually, I am at a bit less, but if I round up that gives me some wiggle room.  I still have no clue where I am putting this computer, but I'll figure it out.  I'm just hoping that I don't go over on the way back when I have filled my suitcase with an overabundance of gifts and whatever clothes still fit me.

I exchanged some of my American money for Danish Kroner today, which got me thinking about how they price things there compared with here.  I figured out that there's about a $20 difference in the pricing when the DKK are converted back to $.  I REALLY hope I'll have enough to do all the things I want to do.

Wish me luck! :D

Just about 12 days to go...

So, the last post I made I was looking for a job.  I ended up finding a position at JC Penney, because I had worked there before.  Now, with only 12 days to go, I'm finished working there, and I'm now trying to do odd jobs for my grandmother and some work at my aunt's preschool to ensure that I have enough money.

I'm feeling a bit strange about it all.  Before, I was feeling like I really didn't want to leave everyone, but now it's as though my trip can't begin soon enough.  But with that excitement also comes fear.  I still don't know who I will be staying with.  Will they like me?  Will I be fed?  Will I have enough money to do all the things I want to do?  Will I get lost on my way into the city for the first day of school?

I've begun packing, and when I started getting things together about a week ago it didn't seem like it would be a problem, but now, the 50lb weight limit for the airline is like a death sentence.  I want to bring all the things I just bought and then some... 

Also, being from Southern California, I have few winter clothes, and it rains a lot in Copenhagen so I'm worried that the shoes I have purchased will not keep me dry.  Sadly, it is quite difficult to buy rain boots in Southern California.  I have a clunky pair of snow boots I could bring, but that brings us back to the weight limit issue.

So much to think about/worry about.  But it will be worth it.