I've been back in Denmark for over a week now and it seems almost surreal. Now that I've been away from home for nearly three months, it's a little difficult to imagine coming home in only twenty five days. When I arrived back in Copenhagen to meet my host family, it felt like coming home, but the tricky thing is, it's not home. My mind has finally caught up with my body here in Denmark. And now that my departure is looming, it's a strange feeling. In twenty five days I'll be boarding the aircraft that will take me away from dreamland back to reality. I can already tell that when I step off the plane it will be like waking up-- the dream will be over.
But I look forward to coming home because there is nothing like being home. I'll be surrounded by my family and my things. I'll have more than just a suitcase's amount of clothes to chose from and I'll be able to watch T.V without subtitles hanging at the bottom.
Thanksgiving is approaching in America but not here in Denmark. DIS and the students have organized some festivities, but it is no where near what it's like back home. My host family and a few others gathered together on Saturday to celebrate with a traditional Thanksgiving feast made by the students (and sponsored by DIS). We shared the tradition with the Danes and they seemed to enjoy it. The food was good, yet not like my mom's cooking (especially the pumpkin pie). I liked attempting to explain to my family what Thanksgiving is about in America and what it means. I told them it's about being thankful for the past year, for friends, for family, for health. We each wrote down something we were thankful for on cut out paper in the shape of leaves-- something all the American students at one point in time did in preschool. The Danes caught onto the idea quickly and shared what they were thankful for; their families, health, happiness, their American student. Markus, my eight year old host brother, wrote on his paper that he was thankful for his Playstation 3. I smiled and thought of my nephews back home. It may not have been exactly like Thanksgiving in America, but it was close. We certainly ate a feast complete with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, cranberries, and all the other Thanksgiving staples and of course, pumpkin pie. My host family tried everything willingly-- some of it was too sweet but for the most part the indulged in the rest. I wish that I could have had my mom's pumpkin pie for them to try though because nothing comes close to it.
Other than Thanksgiving, life back in Denmark has been normal. I'm readjusting to waking up in the dark and coming home in the dark. The winter is here and it's bitter cold with harsh winds and rain. The other day as I stepped out of the house around 7:45 it was snowing; the first of the season. Christmas is in Denmark too. Since there's no Thanksgiving, Christmas season begins November 1st. Lights are strewn all around Copenhagen and Tivoli has reopened for the Christmas season. Now with snow on the ground, it really does appear to be the season to be jolly.
On Thursday I depart for my own Thanksgiving celebration. I'll be flying to Amsterdam where Nick will meet me at the airport. I'm excited to see Nick but nervous for the traveling because I am completely on my own. I am responsible for getting myself to the airport, getting on the plane, and everything else in between. Plus, I'll be alone on the plane ride. But it will be well worth it, I'm sure.
