christmas baking and other christmas traditions

A lot of people have told me that Danes eat a lot at christmas time. I suppose people would say that about us Aussies too, because who doesn't over induldge on fresh prawns by the pool on christmas day. But when this was told to me, I never actually thought it meant eating for the whole december month. But I'm not complaining because it tastes really good, and I will defiantley be bringing some tasty recipies home for you all to try!

So last Friday night, I had a break from the christmas stuff and had a hygge night with some of the girls in my class. After school, we all went christmas shopping in Roskilde which was really nice, and I am now finished with my shopping, for both my Australian family and Danish families!  We then caught the bus together out to where my friend lives, which is about 30 minuets out of town. I suppose it is the equivolent of living in Warragamba and going to Elderslie every day. She lives on a farm with horses which was cool to see. We all made dinner together, sat around painting nails for 2 hours and before we knew it, it was 11pm and we hadn't even put on a movie yet. We ended up watching My best friends girl, which was surprisingly good and then crashing at 1am in the morning. We were all a little tired the next day as we didnt really sleep much, but it was a really nice and fun evening!

I went home quite early for a Saturday morning and got a message that my friend Beth who lives in Horsens was in town, so I quickly got on my bike, and rode in to see her. This was just a quick little catchup, but I am so glad that I got to see her. I met her host family and we drank hot chocolate on the cold morning in Roskilde. After our little catch up, I rode home and began to bake christmas cakes with my host sisters. This was the preparation day, so we just made all the dough that we needed, as it had to set over night.

The next morning, we had a big day in the kitchen and I think in total we made around 7 or 8 different styles of cakes. My favourite are pebber nodder and brun cage which translates to brown cookies. They taste like christmas and I will defiantley be taking the recipies home with me so that I can make them every single christmas! We also made a gingerbread house, which was different for me as I am always used to just buying it in a box and decorating it so that was also really cool. We were all exhausted after baking so much and went to bed pretty early.

Then Monday came round and I began my last well not really official whole week of school here in Denmark. This is pretty scary to think about. After the christmas holidays (which start tomorrow), I have a week left of school but that is my last week in Denmark so I think that I will only go for the first 3 days or so. It is really strange to think that I will never go to Danish gymnasium again, when it has become just like normal for me now!

Anyways, as well as school, I have also been so busy with other things throughout the week.

On Monday, after school, I went into Copenhagen to see my friends from Odense who were there for the day. They were in Tivoli, and since I have a Tivoli card, I decided that I could just meet them in there. That was so much fun although I felt kinda ill after going on the plane 3 times. One of which was backwards and since it was so cold you couldn't really breath. My aussie friends Kate, Kathleen and Tristain were there with their language school, so i also got to meet a French exchange student who they were with. He loved tivoli as much as me, i think he is my new best friend.

On Tuesday, I had my last ever danish language school lesson. Its so crazy and I am slowly coming to a blog post that will detail 'this was my last.....'. This party was so much fun and hyggelit. Everyone bought a dish from their own country to share. I made lamingtons and the other aussie girl in my class made ANZAC cookies which i loved so much. The latin americans also loved her anzac cookies and asked me for the recipie of laming tons- cant beat aussie food!
There was also sushi, and a range of south american dishes that tasted SO amazing. It was really fun to have everyone introduce a special dish from their country and everything tasted amazing!
At this party I also gave a presentation on Australia in Danish. I was quite proud of myself as 11 months ago I never thought that was possible. yes by the way today i have been in denmark for 11 months! whatttt?!?!?! 

On Wednesday, which was yesterday, my Rotary club had their julefrokost (christmas lunch) You may have to become farmiliar with that word if you are an active reader as I am going to be attending a lot of these in the coming week! Before the lunch, my councilor and his wife picked me and my host sister up. She was also invited as she will be going on exchange next year, and be sponsored by my club. Anyways, before the lunch we attended a church service, which is something that I have ALWAYS wanted to do in Denmark. This was really cool, and the church was so beautiful. We sang traditional songs that apparently i have to learn by christmas eve, and then we went to Hotel Prinsden (where our meetings are usually held) for our christmas lunch. This lunch was HUGE and I ate so much. There were 4 courses and it was a very traditional lunch.
The first course was herring and rye bread (not too keen on the herring but ate it anyways)
The second was a crumbed fish on rye bread that tastes SO good
The third was a pork sasuage and potato dish thing with apple that is very traditional
and the fourth was rice-ala-mand (cant spell it, but thats what it sounds like)
This dessert is one of the BEST things about Danish christmas and I love it so much. It is basically this goey sweet rice stuff with a cherry sauce on top and throughout it you find chopped up almonds. In this dish, there is one whole almond, and the winner of that gets a prize. But if you get the almond, you have to keep it quiet and not tell anyone before everyone has eaten the whole bowl. It is a fun tradition and I can not imagine christmas without rice-ala-mand! So family, be prepared to taste it when I get home.
It was really nice to meet some more Rotarians at the christmas lunch also. It was very hyggelit and I had a fun time.
This was the final rotary meeting for 2013, and the first for 2014 is me making my presentation on my year in Denmark. This will go for around 30 minuets and will be in total danish. A little nervous, but it is a good thing that I have almost finished it!

And today is the last official day of school for 2013. Then 2 weeks holiday and then one more week in Denmark and exchange. WHAT!

As my year comes to an end, I find that my social calendar is very full and hard to squeeze last minuet things into.

Tonight, I have a jule frokost with my class which should be fun. I have heard SO much about last years, so I am really looking forward to it.
On Friday, I have to go to school to have a little meeting with all the exchange students at my school as a little farewell thing.
On Saturday, I have a julefrokost with my host famalies friends
Sunday is a little up in the air as I dont know what I am doing at this stage
Monday is the day before christmas, so who knows what will be happening
and Tuesday is christmas eve. WHATTTTTTT!
Wednesday is christmas in Australia and i imagine that your preperations are fully under way. I just wanted to thank everyone who has sent me a package or a card. I have appreciated it so much and am looking forward to opening them all on the 25th!

Time is flying! But I am continuing to enjoy my stay.

Can't believe it has been 11 months since I have been home, and only another 24 until I am back there again! Two people from my winter team have already departed Denmark, and my time will come soon. I am looking forward to seeing everyone home, but am not really looking forward to saying goodbye to all the friends and families here.

Hygge

Hygge; the danish word that I can no longer just translate to 'cozy'
It means SO much more to me than that.... here is a little video explaining its true definition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLFUgEiEzs8&sns=fb

It is one of the things that I will miss about Denmark.

another weekend another adventure

Today is the 11th of December 2013... An insignificant day to most, but to me the 11th will always be of some importance. For the past nine months, it has been a date that is approaching too quickly... Australia is getting closer and closer everyday. 

When people ask me how I feel about going home, and I reply that I am not really sure, they seem confused and don't really understand my point of view. "Don't you want to see your family?" some say and when I reply "of course", they seem even more confused. I think that my feelings towards my home date are something that only exchange students can understand, and relate too. Of course you want to go home, but at the same time you will never have this life again. I won't just be able to go into Copenhagen whenever I want, or be with my class throughout those 8am-4pm school days. Life is going to be completely different, because I am no longer the 17 year old girl who left Australia. I always wonder if people will remember me, and if the friendships I shared with many before I left will remain the same.  Only time will tell... and the waiting game is down to a month.

But before I bore you with my sentimental and pointless thought stream, I promise you that this blog has a purpose. Like always, my weekend was jam packed with christmas related activities. I was even lucky enough to enjoy a little snow.

On Friday night, I headed into Copenhagen with two of my best australian girlfriends, Laura and Georgia. This may of been the last time that we were in Copenhagen together. We met two other exchange students in Copenhagen, from America and one from Canada. We had a really nice night together, buying our last souviners, and admiring the damage that storm Bodil caused in Nyhavn (check out my pictures!) crazyyyyyy. It felt like christmas as we strolled through the christmas market, and drank hot chocolate and ate danish gingerbread. It was magical, especially when it began snowing. Unfortunately, this wasn't really snow, but rather hail but to us Aussies, it didn't matter at all. It was a wonderful night in Copenhagen :) That night, Georgia slept over and we watched Mean Girls. It was really nice to catch up with her one last time before we head home!

The next morning, after eating breakfast Georgia headed home, and I got ready to go into Copenhagen again with my councillor and his wife. We went into Copenhagen to see the Danish Royal Ballet present the Nutcracker. I was so excited, as I love the nutcracker so much! It was held in the old theatre in Copenhagen, where I saw Romeo and Juliette earlier in the year. It was such a magical ballet. The costumes were amazing, the dancers phenomenal and the overall concept that the director and art designer had taken on were truly magnificent. The overall props were amazing. In the centre there was a huge christmas tree, and then when the room went into growing mode, it appeared as if it had grown 100 feet. It was a wonderful production and I wish i could see it again and again!

After seeing the nutcracker, we walked through the shopping street to Tivoli, where we ate dinner. It was so hyggelit to be in Tivoli again, and we walked around the park for a little bit looking at the lights and christmas decorations. There was still a little bit of snow left over from the night before, which adde to the magic of the setting! At one point, it was announced that there would be a show and it was on the nutcracker, and the water fountains came to life with lights and music from the Nutcracker. It was really cool to see.
We ate a feast for dinner at a restaurant that overlooked the Moscow tower in the middle of Tivoli. We ate entrée, main course and dessert, so I was very full by the time we caught the train home! It was a wonderful night, and I would like to thank Esben and Anita once more. I had a wonderful time. 

The next morning, I helped get ready for some of my host famalies friends to come over for the day. Every year they have a tradition where they are together for christmas to eat some danish christmas treats. It wasn't a lunch nor a dinner... more like an afternoon tea or in Danish 'hygge'. It was nice, and it was the first time that i tasted many of the traditional christmas sweets. The first one was Æbleskiver.. can't really describe it so here is a picture. Æbleskiver translates to Apple skewer in English.. Not really sure why since they don't resemble a skewer at all.

They taste AMAZING especially when they are freshly made. Æbleskiver's are traditionally served with a special danish christmas drink called Glogg kinda pronounced like 'Gluk'. I have heard a lot about this drink as there are some people who do not like it at all. Traditionally, it is made with hot red wine, and a whole range of mixed fruits but time time, my host parents used a different recipie and i LOVED it! I am even taking it home with me to Australia! Glogg looks like this: 

                   

So it was a really good weekend! This week, I have been watching Tvilinger og Julemand every night

Don't actually know what i will do with myself when the program comes to an end. I really like the idea of the christmas calendar, and think that it is something that we could defiantly introduce in Australia! I have also been watching Denmark play in the handball tournament that is in Serbia at the moment. I was also pretty proud to say that Australia had a team... until I saw them play. If Australia and Denmark ever verse each other, I come from Denmark! Sorry Australia! 

And now today is Thursday, and I am in the last two peroids of the day. Pretty strange to think that I only have a week of school left forever in Denmark. Its strange to think that I wont be in my class every day.... I really can not understand that at all! 

Anyways, this weekend I am quite busy. Tomorrow night I am having a movie night with some girls in my class which should be fun, then Saturday and Sunday is totally dedicated to christmas, and the making of christmas cakes! I am looking forward to that and will hopefully pick up some recipies so that I can create a danish christmas next year. 

Then next week will be a total blur with all the plans I have

Tuesday- christmas afternoon with language class (last class ever)

Wednesday- Rotary club christmas lunch

Thursday- christmas dinner with my class

Friday- official last school day

Saturday- christmas lunch

Sunday- prehaps another christmas lunch

And this resembles my social calendar for the rest of my time left here. So many people to see, so many things to do, NOT ENOUGH TIME

Seriously Denmark I just want time to slow down. and a little bit of snow. Is that too much to ask for?! 

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas

Having a European christmas is something that I have always wanted to experience. I have only ever seen what it would be like in movies as the snowy covered christmas trees, the magical lights and the concept of a cold christmas is very very far away from the Australian christmas that I enjoy every year around a swimming pool. Whilst I am yet to see a real snow covered christmas tree, European christmas is everything I thought it would be, and so so much more. 

In Denmark, I think December would have to be one of the biggest months of the year. Christmas is in full swing, and they do not hold back to show their love of the festive season. Around almost every town, there are special lights that light up at night, well rather afternoon because it is dark now at 4 30pm. There are also other decorations that add to the feel and get everyone in the festival season. At 7 30 every night, a show called 'julekalendar' (christmas calendar) comes on and famalies all around Denmark tune in to see it. I am actually enjoying it. Here is a short add, sorry its in danish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CiO8SUUb7E

In my town now, there is are two REAL christmas trees that are yet to be decorated with decorations.  There are people wearing santa hats, and I have an excuse to wear cute christmas socks and sweaters. Quite a change from the Aussie attire of thongs and a singlet!! There are christmas lunches in nearly every weekend, and time is now dedicated to making decorations, christmas cakes, staying warm and counting down the days til the 24th, not the 25th! 

Some traditions mirror those in Australia. For example, most kids have an advent calendar which for those who have been deprived throughout their childhood, is a calendar where every day in December, you get a chocolate, like a countdown. This year, I received one as a gift from my host family on the first day of advent which is something that we do not have in Australia. In Denmark, it is actually a tradition to get a christmas present every Sunday in December. Why, I have no idea, but it is a tradition that I think Australia would like a lot! It is called 'advents gaver' which translates to an advent present. Pretty cool tradition! 

I have also enjoyed seeing Copenhagen at christmas. Last Tuesday, I had an early day from school so I met my friend Lauren in there. We had some souvenirs to buy, and we admired Copenhagen in the festive season. Along the shopping street, there were decorations that were really magical, and made the dark day seem okay. We strolled along strøget (shopping street) and came across a christmas market that had stalls made out of wooden houses. It was something quite special and I really hope it snows before I go home so that I can see it in the snow!

Shopping street in Copenhagen 

Lauren at the christmas markets we found 

WITH A SNOW MAN! 

One of the fanciest hotels in Copenhagen. The stage is set up to look like the nutcracker. really beautiful! 

After collecting what we needed, and feeling more like tourists than we ever have before, we headed for Tivoli. How do I even begin to explain Tivoli's beautifulness or magicalness. It truly was soooo wonderful and I thought that it couldn't get any better! The theme was Russian, so in the middle of the park, there is a tower that resembles Moscow. The colours are so wonderful. Lauren and I arrived there in the late afternoon, to see the lights being turned on at night. Amazing doesn't quite cut it. Hopefully these pictures will do it justice.

TIVOLI! Hard to believe that just 2 weeks before, it was decked out in so many pumpkins! 

The main entrance 

MOSCOW tower! 

During the day 

and during the night 

TIVOLI! so magical 

Tivoli om aften

How can you not love this?! 

Lauren and I enjoyed some christmas food from the little market stalls that are set up around Tivoli, we also visited Santa Clause and admired the reindeers that were nearby where he was sitting (ACTUAL REINDEERS!) It was a really wonderful day that totally got me into the Christmas spirit and ready for the days that would follow. 

On Wednesday after school, my host family and I drove the 6 hours to Berlin! If someone asks me if i have ever been there, I can say that I have been there 3 times, in the space of one year. Pretty crazy! The three times i have been there though, I have traveled there a different way. In April when I met chris and sal, i flew, for Euro tour back in May, we drove through Jutland (an island of denmark) andddd for this tour, we drove to the border, caught the ferry and drove the rest of the way. It was my first time on a ferry of that kind... where you drive your car on and sit on the top deck. It was around a 45 minuet tour, and the sea was pretty rocky! There was a border shop on board, where you can buy things like makeup and perfume cheap. Then we finally reached land- in the space of just under two hours I was in a different country. Europe's geography continues to amaze me. We arrived, and drove straight to the border shop which is something that I have always wanted to see. This is basically a four leveled store, where you can buy cheap food, fizzy drink and alcohol. It was HUGE! 

After this, we continued to drive the rest of the way which was about 3-4 hours. We arrived quite late at night and went to bed, ready for our first day in Berlin!

We woke up the next morning and after eating breakfast, we walked down the shopping street in Berlin which was close to where we were staying. Along the way we came across what would be the first of many christmas markets. It was so beautiful with all the lights that lined the streets and the little wooden houses. It was like from a scene out from a movie. The first day consisted of christmas markets and a lot of walking. We saw some of Berlins sights along the way.

The next three days that followed continued in a similar pattern.

We managed to tick off some of Berlin's major attractions- Brandenburg gate, the Reichstag, berlin tower, berlin wall (but a part that I have never been to before), berlin dome and Charlottenburg Palace (which I had also never been in before). Another attraction was of the restaurant kind. Being on euro tour, I only ever ate fried chicken served by our hostels.... and never managed to try one of Berlin's famous curry wursts- which i found out actually taste okay! On one of the nights in Berlin, my host family and I ate out at a blind restaurant. This was really cool, as it is a restaurant where blind people are the waiters. It is completely black inside so you literally can not see anything at all! It is quite difficult to eat, and you actually have no idea what you are eating, you just pick a type of meat you want to eat before you go in. We were guided to our table by our waitress, through the pitch black. We had no idea what the restaurant looked like on the inside, and it was so strange and quite funny to sit in the dark eating your dinner. It was a really cool experience. Another place we visited was called 'Das klo' which translates to the loo'. This place had so much character, there was a toilet at the end of our table and when you opened the lid, there was a little surprise that looked real. The dj of the night found out I was from Australia, and played 'down under' as we sat down. He then proceeded to ask me if i had tried german tomato sauce, and then squirted a bottle in my face that looked like ketchup but was actually just red string. It was a really fun night, and I recommend the place to anyone in Berlin. You are guaranteed to have a fun night that you won't forget in a hurry!

I really love snowmen 

Everything is dedicated to christmas in berlin- even buildings... 

Display in a shop similiar to Myer or DJs

At night! 

Check point Charlie 

Brandenburg Gate- for the third time ;) 

Beautiful Christmas tree at a christmas market 

Palace exploring 

Berlin Tower 

Beautiful Christmas market in Berlin! 

The main reason we were in Berlin though was for the christmas markets and they were really something special. The whole of Berlin seemed to be dedicated to christmas. We went to a shopping centre and the whole place was lined with christmas trees and christmas lights. It was quite a sight!

It was a really nice tour to Berlin and I had a wonderful time exploring the city for the third time! 

And now December is in full swing- where has this year gone?! Before I know it it will be new years! Just 38 days to go, and I plan on making the most of them. This week, I don't have too many plans,  except for Rotary, then maybe just a trip to Copenhagen to buy some last minuet things and then on Saturday a trip to the Ballet with my councilor and his wife which I am very much looking forward to and on Sunday, I have a christmas thing with my host family. The rest of my time here is just going to pass by before i know it! But I did manage to achieve one of my biggest aims for the school year;  a 12 in English! (which is the equivalent to over 90 )

For anyone having a bad day, check out this link.... another reason why I love Denmark so much 

http://www.upworthy.com/see-how-a-bunch-of-awesome-danish-people-made-an-immigrant-bus-drivers-day?g=2