Hej kaere venner,

So, as you may have noticed, my dedication to blogging lately has been...for lack of a better word...nonexistent. Let me take the time to clarify that this is not due to lack of material. No, no, quite the opposite. Everyday is full of adventure, culture, education (is that what I'm here for?) and often a sense of awe. Denmark is incredible. It defies nearly every economic model we study, the people are humble and modest, and the history and culture are rich and exciting. I'm so blessed to have a host family that welcomed me into their home, lives, and culture. 

For those of you who have no idea what I'm doing, where I am, or perhaps, where Denmark is ... I'm going to do a brief introduction / attempted summary with a ton of photos in case you have a short attention span.

Who: Elise + 950 other students studying with the Danish Institute for Study Abroad in downtown Copenhagen. 

What: A non-profit study abroad program for American students taught in English, predominately by Danish professors

When: Fall Semester. August to December (only the 19th, hang in there Mom and Dad, I'll be home for Christmas)

Where: Copenhagen, Denmark. Denmark is a small country composed of over 400 islands (only about 80 inhabited) that shares a border with Germany. It's part of Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, kind of Finland and Iceland)

Why: Studying Global Economics, cultural immersion, traveling in Europe, whhhhy not?!

Birthday cake (lagcake) my host sister made on my day of arrival!

Me with my 3 host sisters and host dad: Nicoaj, Emilie, Trine, yours truly.

Fredericksborg Slot: Stunning castle/garden/museum.

Nyhavn. The place that's on the Copenhagen postcards. Quaint, charming, and colorful.

Just a casual orchestra performance for our opening ceremony.

A shot of Elsinore ... Shakespeare staged 'Hamlet' here.

The fam bam's dinner table. Danish design is super simple. Eco/retro/Ikea-tacular. Also...that pizza is homemade..as is almost everything we eat here. Vi skal spise (we shall eat!) are now my favorite 3 words to hear.

My host dog, and running buddy, Fee.

The back yard. Trampoline and green house. I'm in heaven.

The kitchen. Obvi.

My room! 

Pickled herring on rye bread...a Danish staple.

Can du lige herring. Nej, jeg kan ikke lige herring. But I did try it!

Sushi made by my host mom. Watch out Ikebana, Mette's moving in! Mmm den er daelig!

At Kronborg!

Still Kronborg. You can see Sweden from here.

Still Kronborg.

Danish legend says that if Denmark is ever in battle/peril this guy 'Holger Danske' will wake up and defend the homeland. Denmark used to be a Nordic Viking country.

In the eerie tunnels below Kronborg, which used to serve as a prison.

Nicolaj, Matilde, and I. And a castle.

Swanky art exhibit in Aros Art Musuem, where we went for our short study tour. 

'The Boy'

Exhibit in Aros.

Oink oink. Danes eat ALOT of pork. The future is grim for these guys.

Lunch (frokost) at the cafe in the Glass Blowing Museum.

Preparing the 'Viking Stew' and the Legends of Lejre--a Viking/Stone Age/Iron Age open air re-enactment. New skills acquired: baking bread, churning butter, archery, silversmith, generally intimidating Viking character.

Farvel for nu!