So four months are over just like that.... (Sorry to all my readers for being MIA lately, the city and my friends have been filling my last 96 hours with non-stop quality time.) I've been sitting and staring at this blank post for a while, not knowing how or what I am going to say to close out this semseter. I have so much I want to say, yet can't find the words. People say study abroad is a time to "find yourself." People say study abroad will change your life. People say your study abroad experiences will always hold a special place in your heart. All of this is true. But one thing that's failed to be mentioned about study abroad is it's the hardest semester you'll ever have. I'm not talking about the work load or the daily commutes. I'm talking about having to say goodbye. You fall in love with your home abroad city. You fall in love with other European cities that you travel to. You even fall in love with European cities you've never been to. You make strong relationships with your host family. You get in a routine, either biking or taking public transportation to school. You meet some really cool people from all over the world. You find a passionate church community. You begin to feel like a local. You begin to feel like your home. This all makes saying goodbye so hard. But, the single hardest thing about abroad is saying goodbye to the forever friends you make. Some tears, some laughs and one yummmmmmmmmy brunch as we all said see you later. We've already planned that we're invited to our future weddings, and we may even start a business together putting together the use of our God given gifts. Will miss these best friends of mine! Sitting on the plane on my way home, I was sad but I was also internally jumping off the walls of excitment ready to be home. This semester was incredible, and God's intentionality throughout this whole process was indescribable. I've seen Proverbs 3: 5-6 reign true more than ever in my life this semester as I have trusted the Lord wholeheartedly and saw His perfect and flawless plan workout right before my eyes. I'm ready to conquer the next season as I'm a second semester senior walking towards a new job in a new city. Thank you Lord. Thank you Mom and Dad. Thank you DIS. & Thank you Copenagen!
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Traveling has been taking over my brain and my life for the past couple of weeks. While I absolutely love it, it allows some anxiety to creep in when it comes to the unknown safety of my own home, in my case, my college apartment. Especially during this time of the year with Christmas festivites, holiday parties and traveling to Grandma's house, protecting your home is crucial! Here are some of my favorite ways to keep the holdiay cheer and home protection at an all time high during travl:
My heart has been so full as I have gone from country to country on the weekends, and knowing my apartment is safe has been able to let me fully enjoy these new experiences. If you want more to make sure your home is super safe during travels, check out SimpiSafe's security tips and trades on their website here! Have any other favorite home safety tips? Comment below!
Chocolate. Mountains. Cheese Fondue. Snow. More Chocolate. What more could you want? Do's
Don'ts
When family comes to visit, sometimes it's difficult to prepare an itinerary. So I did for you! Introduce Them to your Life in CopenhagenWhoever is coming to visit you loves you very much, why else would they be coming all the way to Copenhagen?? Show them your life - your daily walk to class, your friends you've met during this semester, and your favorite parts of the city. If you live in a Homestay, also be sure to introduce them to your family away from home! Eat (of course.)I don't eat out much in the city, so finding travel worthy places to eat was a struggle for me. But try out these casual places:
Stay in the heart of the cityIf your parents are able to include you in their stay in the center of the city, take them up on it. I live about 40 minutes from the center city, so I miss the weekend morning feels of the city. I stayed with my mom in a hotel near Norreport Station, and it made all the difference giving me a new view on Copenhagen during the weekends. TivoliIf your guests are lucky enough to visit when Tivoli is open, it's the perfect mid-afternoon trip. You can spend about an hour or two just walking around the park, drooling over the festive decorations during Halloween or Thanksgiving/Christmas time and having some sweets. Other Ideas:
The best week, with the best lady, in the best cities in Europe. I felt like a giddy little girl waiting for her mom at the airport arrival oval. Welcoming my mom off the plane, my face started to hurt a little. My mom was in Copenhagen!! We had the most amazing time together spending two days in my study abroad hometown - Copenhagen - and five days in the city of lights - Paris. Copenhagen has so much to offer and it was so hard planning this weekend stay because there was so much I wanted to show her (blog post coming soon about what to do when friends/family come to Copenhagen). My mom booked the weekend stay at Kong Arthur Hotel, right near Norreport station, and then the rest of the weekend was filled with showing her my "life" in the city, eating, my favorite hidden local places, and a dinner with my host family. It was really special being able to share this season of life with her. Monday morning we jet-set off to Paris and spent five wonderful days there. We did most of the touristy must-do things like boating up and down the canal, gasp at the Notre Dame and other beautiful churches, 'touch' the point of the Louvre, take a day trip to Versailles, and stand in awe of the Eiffel Tower. My mom earns the best trip planner award though. She planned a few other festivities that made the trip extra special. Tuesday mid-afternoon we met up with our tour guide ready to bike, electric bike that is, for four hours all over Paris in the Paris Charms & Secrets Tour. Our guide was a hoot, and he guided us through the city to places we would never see on our own like a secret church that was hidden behind big doors and was completely untouched during the French Revolution and now closed to the public. Wednesday night we met up with a local Professional Chef who hosted us and four others for a cooking class through Le Foodist. We followed him to a local food market, picked up our fresh ingredients, and then made our way back to the kitchen for a four course meal - snails, mussels, chicken, and poached pears for dessert. The chef was also a hoot, and taught us a thing or two on how to make some really tasty food. I can't even put into words how thankful I am for this week with my mom. It was so special to have a little piece of home come to visit me in Denmark and have those mom hugs that I desperately needed. It was so hard to say goodbye, but a little easier knowing that I will see her in a months time and that this month is packed with amazing adventures to finish out my blonde eventyr.
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Hi, I'm Paige. Welcome to my 'Blonde Eventyr'!
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