Monday, January 26, 2009

Week 1

Hey Everyone!

I know its been a while, so let me try to re-cap on the highlights of the last couple days-

Last week was our Danish crash course. Where I am sorry to say I did not learn much...
Hej- Hi
Jeg hedder Alyssa- My name is Alyssa
Jeg kommer fra USA- I am from the USA
Je taler engelsk- I speak english
Jeg laser okonomi- I study economics
Je bor Porceleashaven- I live in Porceleashaven
Hvorden gar det?- How are you?
Det gar fint- I am good
Ol- beer
Je er fuld/stenet- I am drunk/stoned
Jeg har tommermond- I am hungover

And that is basically the extent of my Danish. I tried!

Recap Of The Week:
Monday- We had an introduction meeting and afterwards we all went to the student bar called, Cafe Nexus and then went to hang out in one of the dorms

Tuesday- We went bowling (which is apparently big in Denmark, who knew!) I scored an embarrassing 17 points.

Wednesday- We had an international dinner, where everyone brought a dish from their own country.  I cooked some gourmet grilled cheese with two other Americans.  

Thursday- We went ice skating (I basically shuffled my way across the ice) at Kongens Nytorv. We also tried some danish drink that was essentially hot wine with nuts and raisons (gross)

Friday- I visited an area of Denmark called, Christiania, which is basically a self-governing hippie town separate from Denmark.  I also met up with my "buddy" group for pizza and we all went out to a club called Karel, where I discovered a new alcohol called "Fisk," which essentially tastes like licorice. It's delicious!

Saturday- I went with my buddy group to the Erotica Museum- very educational.  My buddy, Unni (who is very cool!) took me to a concert at a bar called, Rust, where this band I just discovered (Caspian and the Good Times) where played.  Unni also showed me some cool vintage stores that I definitely need to check out.

Sunday- I met up with a girl from GW, who is studying at the University of Copenhagen for the semester and then I made danish pancakes with my buddy group- so good!

Monday- Today I FINALLY got my CPR Number (aka my danish social security number), so now I can get FREE health care- break a leg! Afterwards, I went grocery shopping. Going out to eat is very expensive in Denmark, so I basically need to learn how to cook and go grocery shopping for myself. Luckily, there are people on my floor who can cook, so I won't go hungry. After grocery shopping, I went around town with some girls.  We discovered an TOPSHOP, which makes me EXTREMELY EXCITED! Tonight, we are going to a bar called, Cafe Park.

Important Things I Have Learned This Week
1. If American girls are curious as to why there are no cute boys in the USA. FYI- They are in Denmark.  

2. The coffee here is AMAZING

3. Fisk, a danish alcohol, is awesome. 

4. Do not plug your speakers into the wall- You WILL blow all electricity. 

5. Caspian and The Good Times is a pretty good band. Check them out at the link above.

Anyway, I better nap before I go out tonight!

I miss you all!

Peace/Love,
Lyss

PS. I will try to post some pictures soon!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Hello Copenhagen

I have arrived!

I had a fairly uneventful flight. I drank wine and watched "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," which I have to say is a GREAT movie.  I ended up sitting next to a girl from GW on the flight who was studying at another school in Copenhagen (crazy coincidence) and when I went to baggage claim I ended up running into 2 other girls who go to GW as well, but they were also studying at another school.

Anyway, each of us are assigned a Danish buddy who picks us up at the airport and shows us around for the first week, my buddy's name is Unni- a first year student.  She brought me to my apartment, which is AWESOME.  I live really close to campus and right down the street from a subway and a bus stop.  I basically have own apartment, which is a room with a bed, desk, kitchen and a bathroom that I share with one other girl.  My suite mate hasn't arrived yet, so I'm basically living on my own right now.  After I unpacked Unni showed me around the University, but it was pretty gross out today and we were both pretty tired, so we ended up just hanging out at my apartment for while.  All the students in my building are exchange students, so everyone is really friendly.  I have met students from Singapore, Australia, Holland, Finland, Ireland, England, and Canada.  Since it is Sunday, a lot of stores are closed, so a bunch of us on my floor made dinner and hung out in our building.  Tomorrow we have our first day of class at 9 am- We are spending a week taking Danish.  Hopefully, I will learn something because I can't read or understand anything here.  

I am extremely jet lagged, but I'll keep everyone updated!

Miss you all!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Peace Out America!

ATTENTION: I AM LEAVING TOMORROW

As expected, I am currently Freaking Out!

Luckily, I am already packed (well, over packed- Both of my bags are extremely overweight!) and ready to go.
For those of you who I did not get to say good bye to, well, GOOD BYE! I will definitely miss DC this semester and everyone at GW (well lets be real, maybe not everyone, but you know who you are.)

For those of you in DC: I hope that you all have an awesome time during inauguration  I am so jealous that I am missing out! 

Be sure to keep in touch- As always I can be reached via smoke signal, telegraph, passenger pigeon
Email: Lyss826@gmail.com
alfr08ab@students.cbs.dk
AIM:  Lyss826
Skype: alyssafriedlander

I will try to update my blog as much as possible and not to hold back on any of the juicy details.

I leave tomorrow at 5 pm so I will try to call you to say an official goodbye, otherwise see you in July!

Saturday, January 3, 2009

13 Days til Takeoff

Although according to Lindsay it would be 14 (but she can't count.) 

Anyway, I am following Nicole's lead and have decided to create a blog to keep all of you at home updated on the crazy shenanigans I will most likely get myself into across Europe.

For those of you who don't know, I am going abroad to Copenhagen next semester from January 17 to June 20.  I don't know a single person in Denmark or single word in Danish for that matter.

But here is what I do know about Denmark:
1. Hans Christian Anderson is from Odense, Denmark
2. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark
3. Copenhagen is home to 2 of the world's oldest amusement parks 
4. The 90's pop band "Aqua", responsible for the great classic, "Barbie Girl," come from Denmark
5. In 1969, Denmark was the first country to legalize pornography

Wish me luck!