In the weeks before I left for Copenhagen, I experienced a bit of anxiety about spending four months in Denmark. Would I get along with my host family? Would they like me? How would the commute actually be? Would I like the food? Would I still be happy with my choice to stay in a homestay?
But as my host family met me at the airport, a huge wave washed away my anxiety, revealing my excitement. It was hard to sit through a 20 minute arrival presentation knowing my host family was outside waiting. I couldn't wait to start getting to know them. We took the Regional Train from the airport and up the coast to the small town of Snekkersten where my host family lives. It's a cute little town next to Helsingør, which is where Shakespeare's Hamlet takes place (as I was quickly informed my my host mom's father). The house is close to the Øresund, the body of water between Denmark and Sweden, and in fact Helsingør is the closest point between the two countries, just a 20 minute ferry ride away! There are two children in the family, Mathias who is 11, and Laura who is 13. I'm impressed by how well they can all speak English. Before today, Mathias was quite shy around me. Last night my host mom told me that he talks about me in Danish when I'm not around, but that he waits to know people before opening up, and the language barrier was perhaps making this process slower. Things changed today, though. This morning after breakfast the kids and I played in the living room. This was the first time we were all really silly together, and it made a difference both in my relationship with the kids and in Mathias' confidence speaking English. My host dad said that today Mathias was talking to him in English while they were alone! I guess these living room wars will have to become a weekly thing. I am confident that I have made the right decision by choosing the homestay. Not only do I get to fully experience Danish culture, but I get to be an older brother for the next four months.
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I will miss Pittsburgh. It’s nice being so close to home, having my friends nearby, and also just having some incredible restaurants at arm’s reach. I know Copenhagen is the epicenter of New Nordic Cuisine, and is the home to the World’s Best Restaurant, but since spending $300 on a 15-course meal is not the most financially sound decision for me to make, and since I’ve grown so fond of Pittsburgh food, I decided to take one last trip to one of the Burgh’s finest, and most affordable, places to grab a quick lunch. Las Palmas, a cool little taco stand in South Oakland, has amazing meat tacos along with a cart offering tons of toppings. This time, I got steak and chorizo tacos, and topped them both with avocado sauce (a creamier version of guac), hot salsa, cilantro, and lime. Until next time, Las Palmas. |
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