October, Norway, etc.

Hej!

Sorry it's been so long, but I have a lot to tell!

I am done with language school classes three days a week, now I just have classes on Wednesday evenings until Christmas, then I am completely done. So now I am happy to say that I will be attending Gymnasium every day. Joy! I have been attending dance classes every Tuesday evening, which is fun, but I'm still looking for more activities to join as I still have plenty of free time. I have been horseback riding with my host parents and some family friends when the weather is nice. It's my favorite time of the year, especially since the horses are growing their winter coats and they're like big teddy bears! During my free time, I like to walk to the beach of the Limfjorden with the family dog, Sally. It is so peaceful there and I can just relax and think and be away from everything. Then we, Sally and I, walk over to visit the horses. Well, I visit the horses. Sally just sits there staring at me as if to say, 'can we go now?' I don't think she really enjoys being near the horses. hahaha! But I love hanging out with them, petting their thick fur coats and maybe, if they let me, I hop on one and ride bareback. After, Sally and I walk back to the house and warm up again. Sally might still be wet from jumping into the fjorden, so she has to stay on her blanket! I love these walks and it is so good to clear my mind and get away from the crazy family life!
A few weeks ago, the girls in my class and I had another 'pige hygge' at Olivia, a classmates house. We hung out, watched a movie. After, we wrote down things about us and eachother and what we hoped for in the future. It was very fun hearing them talk about the class and to learn more about them. They also got a chance to learn about me, which was great! After, we spent the night. It was such a fun night and I love spending time with the girls! They are so sweet and are just fun to be around!
Not much else has happened until fall break. Fall break was this past week, October 18-22. On Monday, I took the train to Århus, Denmarks 2nd biggest city, to spend the day with some exchange student friends. Deanna from Texas USA, Meagan from Canada, Alida from Colorado USA, and Catarina from Brazil. Deanna, Meagan and I first went to a coffee shop and talked while drinking our coffee. Then we met up with Alida and went shopping until the stores closed. We helped Deanna shop, for her first time, for winter clothes! After that, we went to an Irish pub where they only speak English and chatted some more. Then we walked around some more and went to Subway, one out of only two in Denmark, before heading to the train station. I missed my train because we didn't think it was the right one! haha, but luckily there was another one in an hour and I would still be able to make the bus I had to take from Skive to my road. So it was all good in the end. It was such a fun day and I love my exchange student friends!!

So, the next day the host family and I headed to Norway! We left at 9:30am and drove up to take the ferry from Denmark to Norway. The ferry took 3 1/2 hours, but it was a huge ferry with an all you can eat buffet. It was AWESOME! I love food. :D Also, there was a gift shop and a grocery store-awesome! I bought a couple gifts for the family back in NY. ;) So, we arrived in Norway and drove another 4 hrs, with me cramped between my two host siblings. We arrived in Sola, where my host siblings' aunt lives. There, we hung out, stretched our legs, and waited for dinner to be ready. We ate Norsk lamb, with potatoes and salad for dinner, and figs and ice cream for dessert. We spent the night there and went shopping the next day. We went shopping at Norways biggest shopping mall! It wasn't really thaaaat big haha! But it was still cool, and we ate Mexican food for lunch. :P After, we drove back to the house, packed our things, and drove another 4 hrs to a little island called Hidra. We lived in an unfinished lake house. It was nice though, and the fjorden was BEAUTIFUL! We didn't do anything the rest of the day, except for relax, eat dinner, and watch T.V. The next day, my host dad took me out in the boat and he showed me around the little town of Hidra. The people that live there use boats as transportation more than cars! It was very interesting and such a pretty little place. After we came back, we relaxed some more, read, and just enjoyed the peace and quiet. Later, my host parents, brother, and I went to the store. My host dad decided that instead of taking the car, we would take the boat! Well, that would have been lovely if it wasn't frigidly cold and raining outside. We sailed for about 15-20 minutes in the icey, raining, coldness. The whole way there, my host mom was singing and telling my host dad, sarcastically, how full he is of great ideas! In response, my host dad and brother kept telling her to shut up! haha it was all in good humor though, and it was actually kind of fun! We got to the store, docked the boat and walked the rest of the way. The store was a very tiny, but very cute little grocery store. We bought our items, and for some reason my host brother bought ice cream. haha! Then we sailed back, took off our soaked clothes, and laid them out to dry. The rest of the day we relaxed some more, read, watched the weather. By the way, we had 4 seasons in the span of about half an hour. First it hailed, then snowed, then it was bright and sunny, then cold and rainy again. It was amazing! At home, in NY, I can't wait for the first snowfall every year. When it does come, I am filled with happiness! Well, this year I saw the first snowfall in Norway! What an experience! The next day, we packed up and left to take the ferry back to Denmark. It was the same ferry we took to Norway. After we arrived back in Denmark, we drove 4 hrs back home. It was so nice to be in my own bed and to be WARM! So, that was our trip to Norway! My favorite part was the beauty of the nature there. It was so mountainous and very much unlike Denmark. As a side note, unfortunately, I did not see any Norwegian curling team pants. :/ Oh well. If you want to see pictures, check them out on Facebook on my profile.

So, the next day I went to my host sisters handball game. Not doing much else this weekend, just dreading starting school again. This coming week will be interesting though. Monday I'm going to a museum with the rotary club. Tuesday I only have one class until 9:30am, going home, then coming back to Skive at 5pm for dance class. Wednesday I have my first evening language class. Friday I leave early from school to go to Holbæk for the exchange student get together all weekend. Holbæk is right outside of Copenhagen, so I'm taking the train almost 5 hrs! :/ But I'm so excited because I will see people that I haven't seen since August and they are some of my best friends!! :D We're also having a Halloween party, so I'm going to dress up as a Hobbit! ;D

So that's about all I have to share for now. I will post again within a couple weeks!

Vi ses!

Med venlig hilsen,
Sarah :)