The inevitable countdown has begun. Nine days. It’s hard to believe that it was three months ago that I came to Denmark, now it’s closing in—and quickly. Classes are finishing and final papers are being turned in. Luckily I don’t have any final exams, just long papers. But there is so much more to the close of the semester than the actual academic portion. I’ll be leaving my “home away from home” as well as the life I’ve created here. Being in Denmark has been something that is unexplainable to anyone else. In a way, it’s been like living a double life. What I’ve experienced here is truly my own. I appreciate that and feel lucky to have had the opportunity to be truly independent. The winter in Denmark came abruptly and I’ve been spending my last few days trudging through the snow. Almost every day there has been some sprinkles of snow falling from the sky. Copenhagen has transformed into a winter wonderland. I can’t remember the last time I stepped outside and didn’t see my warm breath in front of me. Yet, I’ve become accustomed to the cold. I never thought I’d be able to brave it. Of course, every morning I do bundle into many layers. Sometimes I have so many on that I feel like Randy from “A Christmas Story” when he can’t put his arms down because of his snow suit. But even if I look ridiculous, I’m warm. Only my face peaks through all the clothing. Hats and gloves are always a must, as well as leggings and scarves.
The days go by quickly—literally. The sun rises late in the morning and is only bright for about an hour at midday. It never seems to actually reach the top of the sky. It makes mornings difficult and getting out of bed can sometimes be a victory in itself. The sun starts sinking in the sky around two o’clock and is completely dark around four. I’m not really fond of the creeping darkness. I miss the sun and the warmth.
It seems that everything is coming to a close here—final curtain call. DIS is preparing for the departure of the students with announcements about practical issues such as returning textbooks, departures, and everything else in between. Classes are finishing and teachers are bidding goodbye to the students. I can’t say that I’m against this—I think I’m ready to come home. But it feels like this semester went by in a blink—a short flash and it was all over. It feels like yesterday yet at the same time it feels so long ago that I came to Denmark. At times it seems as though I was only here for a day, yet others I feel like it’s been years since I slept in my own bed. It’s a quite confusing feeling—being pulled in different directions. I’m sad to leave, but I’m glad to be going to my real home. I know I’ll miss Denmark and it feels almost premature to be talking about this because I have ten days left. Nine days. I’m going through a roller-coaster of emotions constantly it feels like. Sitting with my host family at dinner, it pulls at my heart strings thinking that it’s uncertain when I’ll see them again. They say they’ll visit America, but it will never be the same as these four months. Nothing ever will. It’s been difficult facing the fact that most the people I have met this semester I will probably never see. It maybe be a negative way of looking at things, but really I’m only thinking about it because it makes me upset. It’s silly but I’m even sad thinking about just not seeing the same faces in classes, even if I never spoke to someone or held a long conversations. The reason for this I believe is because in my mind I know we all shared something similar. We uprooted ourselves from our lives in our comfortable, safe, America. We all transitioned into living in another country completely different from our on. Because of this we share an unbreakable bond—a common experience that not many others can relate to. We are united in this way. It’s going to be even more difficult to say goodbye to the friends I’ve made here. I suppose I could always remember how it has affected me rather than how I’ll miss it.
Time here is fading and my departure lingers around the corner. I am determined to make the best of the last few days.
