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.
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