21st, 22nd, 23rd weeks

A lovely Christmas present from this year was getting to skype my beautiful family on Christmas  <3

Yesterday marked 5 months in Denmark- and in a little over a week I'll be half way through my exchange; it's crazy how much time flies. When I first got here my first two months seemed to last forever, but my last month or so seems like only a few days. I wish I were able to describe to you guys the weird emotions and sensations you go through while on an exchange. I think most exchange students can tell you that there are times when they want time to move more slowly and times when they want it to speed up. They can probably also tell you that while they may always have an empty spot in their hearts from missing home, they fear the hole that will come from leaving their new friends, family, and home.  It's such a strange thing with so many mood swings, high and low periods, learning, growth, and challenges that I honestly am not able to find words sufficient to explain it.  It's truly an incredible experience that I'm grateful I've had the chance to participate in.
Anyways, enough sentimental talk- I still have half a year in this beautiful country :)
So I've experienced my first Danish Christmas, and I'm sure that from now on all my Christmases will have a little bit of Denmark in them. It was a really nice Christmas. Something they do here that's a bit different is to have what is called a "Jule frokost."  It translates directly to Christmas Lunch. I think I went to four. People have them with friends, family, colleagues, club members, classmates, anyone really. I only need one word to describe a Jule Frokost- food. FOOD. We eat a little, then they bring out more. Then we eat that. Then comes more. Then we have seconds, then the hot meal part comes which is big enough to make you full without the other foods, then some more, then seconds again, and then dessert. THEN after dessert we play pakkeleg (a present exchange game) and/or have an Amerikansk Loteri (it translates to American lottery.. not really sure why- it's just a raffle). Then after that comes tea/coffee with cookies and little confections and candy. And that's all. I'm getting full just thinking about all the food we ate haha.

Jule Frokost with my host family and host grandparents

Now for Christmas, they celebrate on the 24th. They go to church, come home and have a big feast, sing and dance around the Christmas tree, and then open presents. It was a really really nice day.
I got presents every Sunday leading up to Christmas from the nisse which translates to pixie. They're kinda like our elves. sorta.

Nisse presents

Christmas baking!

setting up the Christmas tree

Before Church with my family

During church

the first priest here is from the 1500s!

they have real candles on their trees..

Christmas Feast with my family

Yum!

Decorating the tree

Christmas Stars!

Making Christmas stars

Making confections

My host siblings!

yummmmm!

I also had my first Danish New Years! They launch lots and lots of fireworks in the sky. Everyone has their own and at midnight the sky is just lit up with fire works, it's actually really exciting! I spent it with some other exchange students. We had a traditional New Years Eve dinner and watched the Queen's speech and had a nice time.

me and my host brother, Casper

exchange students!

rachael and me

Rachael, Stefanie, and me

New Years Dinner

Last week I went on a tour guided walk with my host dad to an old Viking area. They're currently reconstructing a huge bridge that the vikings used. each big piece of wood they used to construct the bridge weighs 900 kilograms- nearly 2,000 pounds. I have no idea how they were able to do that so long ago. We walked through the woods they had to carry them through to get to the bridge and it was a pretty far way they had to go. We also saw something that I would say is one of the coolest things I've seen so far- a Viking Tribal Ring from 200 AD. It was soooooooo cool. It was just a big elevated circle with grass an everything on it, but it was awesome. Like just so cool.

our tour guide lady standing on the bridge

the tribal ring. you can't really tell what it is from the picture.  there were stairs leading up to it and it's just this man-made, elevated piece of land that is circular. but it was still awesome.

cute house from the woods. 

Anyways, life is good and I can't wait for the adventures that lie ahead. Thanks to everyone for all your support. To those of you back home, miss and love you! And to those of you who have welcomed me here, thank you so much!
Until next time
Mady~