Wait a second. I'm a real student?
Apparently.
Here's a miniature update...encouraged by the fact that it is almost midnight but I just finished a bag of Swedish candy (remember those little car shaped marshmallows we indulged in while watching a movie and gagging from eating salt licorice, Kate and Jen..well they are no more).
1. I have a ton of work to do. But that makes me...here it comes...happy. I miss the Davidson work hard mentality. Wow. I am a NERD. This week:
-Globalization Economics: Report on Economy of Poland
-Corporate Finance: Case study on Bear Sterns
-Literary Landscapes of the Mind: Sylvia Plath (she was cray-cray)
-Art History: Test on Munch, Evocative Landscape, and the Skagen School
-Danish: Test Tuesday. Det er ikke so god.
-London: Prepare for trip! Write a paper on Mulberry (beautiful leather brand--tough job, I know)
2. In my head I'm already shifting back at Davidson. I've gotten my classes (okay, 4 Econs is NOT what I wanted, but may the fates of Add/Drop smile upon me (and/or my potential professor pity me and raise the ceiling). I've also applied for a DO position on E-Board (crosses fingers and toes) and been in touch with someone about a campus job. I CAN'T WAIT for 1. Summit coffee 2. Union quesadillas 3. Union piano players and the fireplace 4. Sentelle 315 --- the rev and I's humble abode .. for which I have already been interior design planning mentally
3. CAROLYN IS VISITING ME IN 3 WEEKS
4. I GO TO LONDON IN 2 DAYS
5. I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my host family tomorrow. Nicolaj (host dad) says he will dream about it tonight. Hope it doesn't turn out to be a nigggghtmare.
6. Watched a film for Corporate Finance tonight---Barbarians at the Gate and got delicious free sandwiches from 'Eat Me' -- highly recommended. mmm. Maybe I will go in to private equity? Thoughts. potential for an internship. mayhaps.
pretty sure none of this is actually real.
Also, discovered the beauty of pre-loading shows on laptop. Goodbye sucky 30 minute commute. Why am I discovering such magnificent things so late???
Kys kys, and many dreams of turkey, stuffing, and green bean casserole --Elise
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
McD's. Happy.
I sit here at this swanky airport McDonalds, Happy Meal in my tummy and Sprite at hand...and I feel good.
I'm in Vienna, Austria, right now. Things somehow always work out. Sometimes stuff sucks. But it pulls together. I don't know about you, dear reader/friend/random person who clicked next on blogspot, but I've gotta say the credit for that one's God's.
For example.
Arrive in Paris by TGV, which was pretty awesome. Had a great nap, sweet tunes, and scenery that looks a bit like the East Coast. Although I did spot a few windmills (a lil bit o' Danmarkkk!) which you wouldn't see. I was at one point prodded with a small electronic device/waker to check my train ticket, but fear not--this meant hapiness in the form of one pan o chocolat (sp?!) that my dear friend KaSachse sent me off with. Nom nom nom! Yes, the couple across from me on the train my have judged me as I indulged...seperating each layer of buttery delicious flakiness until my mouth met that irresistably bitter dark chocolate...but no, it could not stop me. Manage to make it for the AirFrance bus, which should've left already...(maybs this part was more French lack of punctuality than divine intervention..although I was praying for it to wait for me as I hastily approached. I actually ran over a few toes..but luck for my fellow travelers' appendages...I know for a fact that my carry on is under 13 kg...so probs little to no harm done. Here, get helped by super friendly French drivers that are convinced that I speak their language, or just very stubborn. I will assume the former. Get spoken to in French and smile. (A la Boulongere (I'm sorry for spelling errors, but I am in Vienna, so googling other than in German is NOT an option/I'm too lazY? to check it) the counter woman thought I was just a terribly stupid French institute student.)--I will let this go because her quiche lorraine was one of the most delightful things I have ever let enter my mouth)
[ {: sorry I'm getting so liberal with my use and lack thereof of (()) 's }]
Anyway, in the AirFrance bus I arrived JUST in the knick of time to catch the shuttle to Terminal 3 and then catch my shuttle to my NIKKI air plane (not a bad flight---other than the WAILING baby in front of me...made up for by the fact that they gave us not one...but TWO drinks and a choice of what they termed meatloaf (actually, my Viennese friend-that is a piece of bread and a few slices of roast beef, and 'ricotta'--more dense bread and a generous spread of flavorless cheese. It sounds like I'm complaining but I was expecting nurfin, so I was all too pleased).
Made it to the Vienna airport, where the double arches, for the first time not only in Europe, but in about the past 2 years, were too much for me to handle. I stopped in for a Happy Meal...they gave me the boy's Tin Tin toy (which I am vur excited to see, mind you--sorry Kate's host mom Annie---I know you hardly gave raving reviews but the Danes love this cartoon and I love me some Danes so---) and the counter man made the hamburger maker man (technical terms here) come out to see me...an American. He posed the question, "You are United" which I asked him to repeat...and then took to understand as You are from the United States? "Yes, sheepish smile, sorry for fulfilling EVERY stereotype you had in mind...but at least I knew my Euro denominations well enough at this point not to fumble through paying.
So here I sit...in one verrrry luxurious lime green chair, stalling for the 20 minutes until I meet my DIS friends at a bust stop in downtown Vienna. Another random fact ... Nikki lets you check a bag for free! Just trying to offer you valuable advice on otherwise unknown airlines. I'm a fan. The stewardesses also wear these ridiculous hot pink hats somewhere between a beret and a Fedora. I literally had to stifle my laughter as they welcomed me. Pretty sure they know they look kinda stupid, because as soon as the captain was out of sight they ditched those little caps.
Other highlights? You still want more? Okay, only because I charged my laptop battery (reformed lady) and still have 20 minutes to kill. This is what I typed up on my iPod while in transit...something I'm getting pretty into here lately (three notes created JUST today...one of them entitled CHRISTMAS!!!---so let me know if you're looking for something special to appear in your stocking this year---apparently the Danish zeal for 'Jule' has bitten me.)
-The French say 'voila' ALOT
-I got to ride in the 'bulkhead' on the airfrance bus. Love me some leg room.
-I can recognize the Danes outside of Denmark. Successfully identified one by appearance, then accent, which was confirmed by his request to fly to CPH. Typical Danish response to man speaking French, in the typical straightforward/ironic/sarcastic tone of a Dane--'I don't understand what you're saying' (unacommpanied by smile/giggle)..combine that with what I'm pretty sure was a coat from SAND (danish brand my host mom rockz...and it was a dead giveaway)
-I think my bus driver was listening to Sean Paul in French. I have to look that up cause it was awesome. Although there was also a loop of classical/jazz/and something like cowboy christmas music playing. Surprisingly, this did not make for a bad combination.
-I've left France. here is my list of remarks. take it..or leave it.
+Men: they cat call & tell you you are beautiful. I'm no feminist. This is amusing and fun. Thank you for being more reasonable and reminding me to be intelligent, Kate.
+The white buildings, iron gates, balconies, and cool topiaries and flowers.
+The laid back atmosphere of Tours. Its Friday morning. I'm French. I own a creperie. Should I open it...? Probably not.
+Quiche. Baguette (they really do carry it all the time. Thank you Annie for giving me two pieces every night. Sorry for experiencing this inexplicable growth spurt under your roof!)
+Diary and milk...so rich here!
+Alot more diversity than Denmark.
+/- last but not least...Fritz...the taxodermied elephant that once stomped through the streets of Tours.. And, while it was for some reason, really captivating, that's also pretty freakin weird. Sorry Barnum and Baileys, opinions still out on this one.
-Ich liebe es (inspired by my McDonalds cup...but also how I'm feeling)--
I'm lovin' it,
Elise
I'm in Vienna, Austria, right now. Things somehow always work out. Sometimes stuff sucks. But it pulls together. I don't know about you, dear reader/friend/random person who clicked next on blogspot, but I've gotta say the credit for that one's God's.
For example.
Arrive in Paris by TGV, which was pretty awesome. Had a great nap, sweet tunes, and scenery that looks a bit like the East Coast. Although I did spot a few windmills (a lil bit o' Danmarkkk!) which you wouldn't see. I was at one point prodded with a small electronic device/waker to check my train ticket, but fear not--this meant hapiness in the form of one pan o chocolat (sp?!) that my dear friend KaSachse sent me off with. Nom nom nom! Yes, the couple across from me on the train my have judged me as I indulged...seperating each layer of buttery delicious flakiness until my mouth met that irresistably bitter dark chocolate...but no, it could not stop me. Manage to make it for the AirFrance bus, which should've left already...(maybs this part was more French lack of punctuality than divine intervention..although I was praying for it to wait for me as I hastily approached. I actually ran over a few toes..but luck for my fellow travelers' appendages...I know for a fact that my carry on is under 13 kg...so probs little to no harm done. Here, get helped by super friendly French drivers that are convinced that I speak their language, or just very stubborn. I will assume the former. Get spoken to in French and smile. (A la Boulongere (I'm sorry for spelling errors, but I am in Vienna, so googling other than in German is NOT an option/I'm too lazY? to check it) the counter woman thought I was just a terribly stupid French institute student.)--I will let this go because her quiche lorraine was one of the most delightful things I have ever let enter my mouth)
[ {: sorry I'm getting so liberal with my use and lack thereof of (()) 's }]
Anyway, in the AirFrance bus I arrived JUST in the knick of time to catch the shuttle to Terminal 3 and then catch my shuttle to my NIKKI air plane (not a bad flight---other than the WAILING baby in front of me...made up for by the fact that they gave us not one...but TWO drinks and a choice of what they termed meatloaf (actually, my Viennese friend-that is a piece of bread and a few slices of roast beef, and 'ricotta'--more dense bread and a generous spread of flavorless cheese. It sounds like I'm complaining but I was expecting nurfin, so I was all too pleased).
Made it to the Vienna airport, where the double arches, for the first time not only in Europe, but in about the past 2 years, were too much for me to handle. I stopped in for a Happy Meal...they gave me the boy's Tin Tin toy (which I am vur excited to see, mind you--sorry Kate's host mom Annie---I know you hardly gave raving reviews but the Danes love this cartoon and I love me some Danes so---) and the counter man made the hamburger maker man (technical terms here) come out to see me...an American. He posed the question, "You are United" which I asked him to repeat...and then took to understand as You are from the United States? "Yes, sheepish smile, sorry for fulfilling EVERY stereotype you had in mind...but at least I knew my Euro denominations well enough at this point not to fumble through paying.
So here I sit...in one verrrry luxurious lime green chair, stalling for the 20 minutes until I meet my DIS friends at a bust stop in downtown Vienna. Another random fact ... Nikki lets you check a bag for free! Just trying to offer you valuable advice on otherwise unknown airlines. I'm a fan. The stewardesses also wear these ridiculous hot pink hats somewhere between a beret and a Fedora. I literally had to stifle my laughter as they welcomed me. Pretty sure they know they look kinda stupid, because as soon as the captain was out of sight they ditched those little caps.
Other highlights? You still want more? Okay, only because I charged my laptop battery (reformed lady) and still have 20 minutes to kill. This is what I typed up on my iPod while in transit...something I'm getting pretty into here lately (three notes created JUST today...one of them entitled CHRISTMAS!!!---so let me know if you're looking for something special to appear in your stocking this year---apparently the Danish zeal for 'Jule' has bitten me.)
-The French say 'voila' ALOT
-I got to ride in the 'bulkhead' on the airfrance bus. Love me some leg room.
-I can recognize the Danes outside of Denmark. Successfully identified one by appearance, then accent, which was confirmed by his request to fly to CPH. Typical Danish response to man speaking French, in the typical straightforward/ironic/sarcastic tone of a Dane--'I don't understand what you're saying' (unacommpanied by smile/giggle)..combine that with what I'm pretty sure was a coat from SAND (danish brand my host mom rockz...and it was a dead giveaway)
-I think my bus driver was listening to Sean Paul in French. I have to look that up cause it was awesome. Although there was also a loop of classical/jazz/and something like cowboy christmas music playing. Surprisingly, this did not make for a bad combination.
-I've left France. here is my list of remarks. take it..or leave it.
+Men: they cat call & tell you you are beautiful. I'm no feminist. This is amusing and fun. Thank you for being more reasonable and reminding me to be intelligent, Kate.
+The white buildings, iron gates, balconies, and cool topiaries and flowers.
+The laid back atmosphere of Tours. Its Friday morning. I'm French. I own a creperie. Should I open it...? Probably not.
+Quiche. Baguette (they really do carry it all the time. Thank you Annie for giving me two pieces every night. Sorry for experiencing this inexplicable growth spurt under your roof!)
+Diary and milk...so rich here!
+Alot more diversity than Denmark.
+/- last but not least...Fritz...the taxodermied elephant that once stomped through the streets of Tours.. And, while it was for some reason, really captivating, that's also pretty freakin weird. Sorry Barnum and Baileys, opinions still out on this one.
-Ich liebe es (inspired by my McDonalds cup...but also how I'm feeling)--
I'm lovin' it,
Elise
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Vive la France!
This one's coming at you from Tours, France, my lovely readers. Here's the life lessons I have to offer (that's right...I'm trying to make this blog meaningful. But also, sorry the title is misleading ((Hej! from Denmark)--nope, I'm not in Denmark). This is working list...things I'm learning and tryinnng to do.
>Home is where the heart is. God bless the USA because I'm still an American. And it's about time I became and acted proud of that. People you come across are going to judge/dislike/etc. you. They'll get over it. This is actually suppper hard for me. Because who doesn't want to be liked?
>Don't try to learn the entire city. And the night life. And the school. And the language. Learn a little bit, and be proud of yourself for the little things you accomplish. The FIAP taught me that one (that's a SWANKY (not) hotel in Paris, France, situated conveniently between a prison and an asylum. Yes, mom, I stayed there. No, you don't need to worry, it was safe.
>Don't expect your host family to be your real family. Draw on the people you rely on. Don't expect to create a new identity. Stay true to yourself. Gawsh, I should be an inspirational speaker. Delight in the little things and the differences((holla at ya girl who does that so well---KATE))
>Profitez beacoup de votre temps = In French: Profit much from your time. For me that means...enjoying a latte in a little cafe. Having meaningful converstaion. Stopping to take a picture of the leaves changing colors. Travel as I may...it's still the little things. Food for thought, friends. How to benefit from your time...and make you the best you. Soooo sappyyy.
Enough depth. Here's the ((shallow)) update of what my life has been recently.
Friday night Kate and Jen and Martha Macon arrived at the Copenhagen airport. I was late (typical. Sorrry, I'm not a Dane) But I do feel that I made up for that by having small Danish flags with me for each of them. If Danes love one thing...it is their FLAG. (That and silent trains. HA!) It is the oldest flag in the world still in use. Which is cool. But also...another fun fact: All the countries in Scandinavia have the same flag layout, just with different colors. Interesting, fun fact #2 (maybe that's overly zealous, calling this bite of info both fun and interesting, but HECK, I'm in France, and from Diva Kate is teaching me, the French know how to exxxxagggerate) the traffic signs that mark the road with a sort of sideways V are colored the same color as the flag ... DK is red and white, Sweden was blue and yellow. Kewl.
Anyways, gosh I am lonnnngwinded (sorry I'm not sorry...I'm an ocean away, just trying to help you remember meee!) from there we went to Norreport St. and did a Marfa hand off to her friend. We took a little walkin tour of downtown Copenhagen, and then headed home to Nicolaj and Mette at my humble abode. That night we went to Halloween Party, dressed as butterflies. Accosted by about 20 14 year old boys on the train, who offered us beer from a plastic bag and compared Kate to J-Lo. Apparently my likening her rear end to that celebrity was 'not gentle.' Interesting adjective, young Dane pretending to be Finish/French/Swedish.
The next day, we went to the Louisiana Art Museum. A swanky lunch including pumkin soup with chili kernels (delishhh) and then on to Fredericksborg Slot and Krongborg (the Hamlet castle). The weather sucked, but the company was good (so awerrrrsome to have my best friends in Copenhagen!) Then we had another typical Danish dinner (Nicolaj enjoys acting oober Danish/Viking for the guests. One night was steak wrapped in bacon, with Danish beer ((they love it. me, not so much. as said by Kate, its not that terrible. a little better than urine. another non-Danish facet of Elise)) another was basically fried crunchy pork. Watched a part of 'My Best Friend's Wedding.' A solid day.
Sunday and Monday: condensed: We attempted to get city bikes (FAIL. after paying 20 kroner after a long behind walk for crappy bikes...they were nabbed from outside the Glyptotech (art museum) then I attempted to give a walking tour. The girlz saw Amelieborg Slot (current monarchy abode) Rosenborg Slog (old country house of the King) Rundetarn (Round Tower) and the new 'Toaster' Opera house, as well as Christiania. Kate and Jen were extremely brave, trying salted licorice (repulsive), pickled herring, and the 'full house' -- a red boiled hot dog with fried onions, ketchup, and mustard with 1/2 L of chocolate milk (oopsss---7/11 didn't have anything smaller to offer) that'll get to your digestive quickly. Monday night was the flight to Paris--I failed to get the girls to Stroget for serious shopping (major foul. oops! turns out I've yet to realize how much time it takes to commute/get around the city...but we got some quality ((rushed)) shopping in the airport...which is BOSS in CPH..probs the best I've ever been in. Kate got sweet Scandinavian gloves..and I got flodeboller for Kate's host mom Annie (which confused her...'are these little cakes?' ) So anyways, that was Copenhagen!
On to Paris where we saw Monmartre (beautiful, which church on a hill) on All Saint's Day--schweet, near a cool artsy square, Garnier's Opera, and the infffffamous FIAP that Kate and Jen stayed at. Highlights included a man roasting corn from a pot in a shopping cart and the much cheaper prices of France. Look out, Denmark, we might have a convert on our hands. 1. Lower prices. 2. Warmer weather. 3. All my best friendzzz from D-Son. 4. Loud people (how I've missed thee!) 5. Kate's mom told me she would adopt me! ... And I've already learned to say hello, please and thank you... although that's about it.
Today, my first full day in Tours, I attended "quote quote" the Institute with Kate. That meant about 5 hours chillin in the cafeteria watching international students file by, enjoying little cakes and a water, and reading a great book. Surprisingly, as lame as that sounded, it was awesome. Then I went to Kate and Jen's lit class..fabulous presentations ladies. Oh, and I understood one word---guillotine. In Tours there's a beauuutfiul park, a lovely church and fountain, and the architecture and all the iron gates on apartments are just wonderful. We're about to head out to Place Plumes (spelling questionable) with Hannah and maybs Jen (you better come out. If you're reading this get off your iPad ((I'm jealous. Also, judged you for your purple camo background...hope Maggie set that. not you. and come out.))
All in all...I love it here. Feels like home !
xoxo from Tours, France --- Elise
>Home is where the heart is. God bless the USA because I'm still an American. And it's about time I became and acted proud of that. People you come across are going to judge/dislike/etc. you. They'll get over it. This is actually suppper hard for me. Because who doesn't want to be liked?
>Don't try to learn the entire city. And the night life. And the school. And the language. Learn a little bit, and be proud of yourself for the little things you accomplish. The FIAP taught me that one (that's a SWANKY (not) hotel in Paris, France, situated conveniently between a prison and an asylum. Yes, mom, I stayed there. No, you don't need to worry, it was safe.
>Don't expect your host family to be your real family. Draw on the people you rely on. Don't expect to create a new identity. Stay true to yourself. Gawsh, I should be an inspirational speaker. Delight in the little things and the differences((holla at ya girl who does that so well---KATE))
>Profitez beacoup de votre temps = In French: Profit much from your time. For me that means...enjoying a latte in a little cafe. Having meaningful converstaion. Stopping to take a picture of the leaves changing colors. Travel as I may...it's still the little things. Food for thought, friends. How to benefit from your time...and make you the best you. Soooo sappyyy.
Enough depth. Here's the ((shallow)) update of what my life has been recently.
Friday night Kate and Jen and Martha Macon arrived at the Copenhagen airport. I was late (typical. Sorrry, I'm not a Dane) But I do feel that I made up for that by having small Danish flags with me for each of them. If Danes love one thing...it is their FLAG. (That and silent trains. HA!) It is the oldest flag in the world still in use. Which is cool. But also...another fun fact: All the countries in Scandinavia have the same flag layout, just with different colors. Interesting, fun fact #2 (maybe that's overly zealous, calling this bite of info both fun and interesting, but HECK, I'm in France, and from Diva Kate is teaching me, the French know how to exxxxagggerate) the traffic signs that mark the road with a sort of sideways V are colored the same color as the flag ... DK is red and white, Sweden was blue and yellow. Kewl.
Anyways, gosh I am lonnnngwinded (sorry I'm not sorry...I'm an ocean away, just trying to help you remember meee!) from there we went to Norreport St. and did a Marfa hand off to her friend. We took a little walkin tour of downtown Copenhagen, and then headed home to Nicolaj and Mette at my humble abode. That night we went to Halloween Party, dressed as butterflies. Accosted by about 20 14 year old boys on the train, who offered us beer from a plastic bag and compared Kate to J-Lo. Apparently my likening her rear end to that celebrity was 'not gentle.' Interesting adjective, young Dane pretending to be Finish/French/Swedish.
The next day, we went to the Louisiana Art Museum. A swanky lunch including pumkin soup with chili kernels (delishhh) and then on to Fredericksborg Slot and Krongborg (the Hamlet castle). The weather sucked, but the company was good (so awerrrrsome to have my best friends in Copenhagen!) Then we had another typical Danish dinner (Nicolaj enjoys acting oober Danish/Viking for the guests. One night was steak wrapped in bacon, with Danish beer ((they love it. me, not so much. as said by Kate, its not that terrible. a little better than urine. another non-Danish facet of Elise)) another was basically fried crunchy pork. Watched a part of 'My Best Friend's Wedding.' A solid day.
Sunday and Monday: condensed: We attempted to get city bikes (FAIL. after paying 20 kroner after a long behind walk for crappy bikes...they were nabbed from outside the Glyptotech (art museum) then I attempted to give a walking tour. The girlz saw Amelieborg Slot (current monarchy abode) Rosenborg Slog (old country house of the King) Rundetarn (Round Tower) and the new 'Toaster' Opera house, as well as Christiania. Kate and Jen were extremely brave, trying salted licorice (repulsive), pickled herring, and the 'full house' -- a red boiled hot dog with fried onions, ketchup, and mustard with 1/2 L of chocolate milk (oopsss---7/11 didn't have anything smaller to offer) that'll get to your digestive quickly. Monday night was the flight to Paris--I failed to get the girls to Stroget for serious shopping (major foul. oops! turns out I've yet to realize how much time it takes to commute/get around the city...but we got some quality ((rushed)) shopping in the airport...which is BOSS in CPH..probs the best I've ever been in. Kate got sweet Scandinavian gloves..and I got flodeboller for Kate's host mom Annie (which confused her...'are these little cakes?' ) So anyways, that was Copenhagen!
On to Paris where we saw Monmartre (beautiful, which church on a hill) on All Saint's Day--schweet, near a cool artsy square, Garnier's Opera, and the infffffamous FIAP that Kate and Jen stayed at. Highlights included a man roasting corn from a pot in a shopping cart and the much cheaper prices of France. Look out, Denmark, we might have a convert on our hands. 1. Lower prices. 2. Warmer weather. 3. All my best friendzzz from D-Son. 4. Loud people (how I've missed thee!) 5. Kate's mom told me she would adopt me! ... And I've already learned to say hello, please and thank you... although that's about it.
Today, my first full day in Tours, I attended "quote quote" the Institute with Kate. That meant about 5 hours chillin in the cafeteria watching international students file by, enjoying little cakes and a water, and reading a great book. Surprisingly, as lame as that sounded, it was awesome. Then I went to Kate and Jen's lit class..fabulous presentations ladies. Oh, and I understood one word---guillotine. In Tours there's a beauuutfiul park, a lovely church and fountain, and the architecture and all the iron gates on apartments are just wonderful. We're about to head out to Place Plumes (spelling questionable) with Hannah and maybs Jen (you better come out. If you're reading this get off your iPad ((I'm jealous. Also, judged you for your purple camo background...hope Maggie set that. not you. and come out.))
All in all...I love it here. Feels like home !
xoxo from Tours, France --- Elise
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