10th Post

     This post is very late, as can be expected from me at this point. It's mostly just about my weekend because school this week, so far, has been basically the same.
     First, it is with great sadness that I inform my avid readers (assuming there are a few) of the demise of my orange bicycle. The story of it's downfall, however, is actually quite amusing! By amusing, I really mean unenjoyable on so many levels. But, everything's funny with retrospect, right?
     For the sake of time, being that I have so much of it right now, I will use large words in a fruitless attempt to confuse all of you...muahahaha. My class period had finally ended on Friday afternoon and everyone was immensely excited for Sermo (School Party) later that night. I went to the bike racks and began my journey home. Within two minutes, my handlebars began to twist in ways they are not supposed too...take that as you will. After yet another minute, this one filled with confusion and an puzzled look on my face, the handlebars completely separated themselves from the rest of the bike. Naturally, I lost control of the bike, but I managed to slow down enough to plant a foot under myself to keep from wiping out completely. Picture me on a bike with the handlebars separated and a "What the F**K?" expression on my face. Yeah...funny to you. Anyway, long story short (but not too short!), I decided, stupid as I was, to carry the bike home for almost 2 miles... So much for being a fat American...

GOOD NEWS THOUGH, I got a new bike today!!! It is white and needs to be cleaned a bit, but it is functional and that is all that matters. Any suggestions on names for it? It's random and seems stupid, but i think it'd be fun to see people's reactions to it.
     On Friday night, there was a school party called Sermo! It was a lot of fun and there were so many people there. All I can say is that it is very different from what a school party back home would be...not that we have any parties in Smithtown... Friday night was great because I got to talk to/meet a lot of people and really be out of the house without a guide, which AG has been kind enough to be.
     Saturday was also great! My host parents took me to Odense for the day and we (we being my host mother, her father, and I) went into the city and I was given a tour. It was an awesome day, the sun was out and the temperature was nice. We went around the city and saw many of the sights, including Hans Christian Andersen's birthplace, house, and many statues. We also got ice cream, which is always a plus. Pictures on Facebook, as usual. Odense is a beautiful city and I hope to go back soon.
     On Sunday, after my host family informed me that there would be some sort of surprise that day, I found out I would be going flying with Tonny (Host Dad), his mother, and his son. I was even allowed to fly it myself! I managed to keep it in the air so we can consider that day a success for me.

     Now I will skip Monday, as it was a pretty slow day in comparison to the weekend preceding it.
     Good...I can breathe now that this post has caught up to the present.MORE GOOD NEWS!!! My host mother has arranged for me to do volunteer work at a dog kennel! I am so excited for the first day! In a very good place right now. But it is very late and I shouldn't be awake, so, signing off for now.
Godnat
-Mark

P.S.

          P.S. As of yesterday, I have been here for a month. WHERE DID THAT TIME GO!?!?!?!? This is completely and utterly cliche...Time flies when you're having fun. I guess if it weren't so true it wouldn't be cliche.........c'est la vie........LA VIE...again...need to get  life

"I see what you did there..."

VERY Late Post - Intro Camp

As you all most likely know, this is a very late post. I can honestly say the lateness of it is due solely to the fact that I was too lazy to get up and write...my apologies to those who are kind enough to check often. But, here is a new post and there are probably more to come soon.
          As you may have noticed, this post is going to be about Intro Camp that all of the Rotary students in Denmark  had to go to. IT WAS ARGUABLY THE GREATEST WEEK OF MY LIFE!!! (Cartoon reference - I need a life.............haha)

The first day of the week (Sunday, 26 August 2012) was completely chaotic... 180 exchange students all packed into buses and then a small cafe-like room. It was impossible to remember all of the names and countries. I still haven't met some of the students! The week was pretty straight forward after that. It was unbelievable how many people were there. There were about 40 Brazilians, maybe 25 from the US, 10 Canadians, and many more including students from Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan and even one from Lithuania...the only European. From Monday through Thursday, there was a total of 5 and a half hours of Danish lessons each day...but it sounds much worse than it was!!! There were coffee/tea/bun/fruit/cake breaks every 2 hours and  lunch break in the middle. After lessons was dinner, which was delicious most of the time, with the exception of the lasagna which was mushy and tasteless... There was always an evening activity and then free time. There was a pool, an open gym, game rooms, pool (billiards), and lounge rooms for lounging or music (people brought guitars, and it was awesome).
          On Tuesday, the evening activity I chose to partake in was soccer. It was great to see all of the Brazilians demolish everyone else...I think I competed pretty well.
          Wednesday, we had a surprise from the teachers. They had a band come in and play a private concert for everyone!!! The pictures are up on facebook. QUICK QUICK OBEY...a Danish band. They're good but not quite famous, yet. They have a facebook page...just search Quick Quick Obey and they'll show up. They have some music on soundcloud and other sites for download if you like them.
         Thursday, the evening activity was Volleyball. I was playing volleyball often with the other students and I improved a lot, thanks to Alexis and Cigne (Indiana and Alaska).
          Friday was an amazing day because we got to go on an "Excursion to Århus!" There are also picture on facebook of the trip to Aros art museum. After the museum, all of the students were allowed to explore the city and see the sights, for lack of a better word. Hopefully I can return because there really is so much to see in the second largest city in Denmark. After that, we watched a Danish movie about a resistance movement during WWII. It was a very good movie, but  very depressing as those movies have been know to be. Fortunately, Alexis, Cigne and I went to go play pool and snacked our depressing feelings away with chocolate chip buns...they were fresh and DELICIOUS!!!
          Saturday was great because there was a big Banquet and then a party. Just before the party, though, each of the five or six classes had to perform a skit. They were all very....interesting, but entertaining anyway. Then there was the party which was awesome as well. Music and dancing with friends is always a good time.
          Sunday was the day where all the excitement and laughter vanished because it had finally hit us, we were leaving Intro Camp!!! So, we all went our separate ways and the week was over. In October there will be a big get together with everyone, so it will be fun and exciting all over again. It is not the last time we exchange student will be united either.
          Sorry this post is so long...I had a lot to say and I barely had time to write during Intro Camp...If I had been writing I would have missed out on a lot. Next post to come soon...I will try to be more diligent with this blog. Vi ses!
-Mark

NEW FRIENDS - After Concert. 

QUICK QUICK OBEY Concert

BOY at Aros Art Museum

RAINBOW at Aros Art Museum