Consecutive Grey
9:08 PM
So, not much has happened since the start of November. And though we're nearly halfway through, I feel positive about this month. I've marked my calendar with all of the events that are happening in Odense, which are mostly sporting and Christmas events, and I'm determined to get out and explore everything this city has to offer before it gets unbearably cold. Right now, the temperature is hovering just above 40 degrees fahrenheit. Though this this is tolerable, I am constantly reminded how lovely the weather has been in Ohio. Every day I wake up to a grey sky, a drizzle of rain, and a strong burst of wind. I've been keeping a tally of consecutive days of grey skies and my current tally stands at 21. Today Leah mentioned the irony of her bringing sunscreen to Denmark, and she couldn't be closer to the truth. Haha. Oh well, grey skies don't do anyone any real harm anyway. Last week, the city of Odense sent a welcome package to my mailbox. At first I thought it was a bill for the electronic taxes, but I was pleasantly surprised to open it and find an array of free tickets to events and museums throughout the city. I was touched, to be honest. So now I have no excuse not to go show some spirit at the hockey and soccer games. Maybe I'll put my old cheerleading skills to use.
Thanksgiving is coming up soon enough and I always have to remind myself that they don't celebrate the holiday here. Despite this, we American girls and our Canadian friend are going to throw a makeshift Thanksgiving celebration. Leah's sister sent some stuffing and cranberry sauce, so that's one hurdle avoided. I might buy some potatoes (or instant mashed potatoes) and we'll all invest in a good ole turkey. I also plan on making cheesy decorations and a paper chain countdown until Christmas. I think it will be a solid day. I'll just have to find some website that streams that Macy's parade. It's tradition, you know.
Today, we had a class field trip, which was just what I needed. I've always wanted to explore other places in Denmark, but the opportunities have always seemed so rare. I'm a travel snob, I'll admit, so if the city doesn't have any significant landmarks, I usually find somewhere else to go. I'm trying to curb this habit and find the charm and appeal in the smaller cities. Anyway, as per usual, it took every ounce of motivation I had to get myself on that bicycle and bike to the university. It was a battle of wills between me and the wind. No matter how hard I pedaled, I hardly made progress. The rain was blowing sideways, so I had to tilt my head to get a solid aerodynamic flow.
I don't think I could have pedaled any further than I did. I climbed off my bike and drudged into the university like a zombie. I felt so sick and I couldn't get any relief. By some graceful act of God, people were passing out free water bottles and bread outside the cafeteria. It was for the upcoming elections, and I regret that I cannot vote for the people who sponsored that handout. I can't even exaggerate how hot, wheezy, dizzy, and sick I felt. I'm going to admit... I passed out leaning against a bathroom sink and woke up with an indentation on my forehead. Then I realized the time, pulled myself together and rushed outside to find the bus for the field trip. I had never been more thankful for bread and butter in my life. Yeah, I can't believe I admitted all that, but I think everyone needs to understand how treacherous biking in this weather can be.
Our culture professor hired a charter bus that took us off the island of Fyn and onto the Jutland peninsula. Riding on a highway was so nostalgic. Oh, the little things you take for granted. Our first stop was the city of Jelling. Jelling is home to the first hill I have ever seen in Denmark, and I was quite pleased to see it. It is also the site of the "birth certificate" of the nation. King Gorm, the first king of Denmark, erected a massive stone to honor his late wife, Thyra. There is also a second stone erected by King Gorm's son, Harald Bluetooth. Was his tooth really blue? I can't say. But the second stone honors the memory of his parents and celebrates the transition of Denmark from paganism to Christianity. The stones are located smack dab in the middle of a quaint and beautifully landscaped church cemetery. The church, a true Danish church in all regards, now contains the remains of the first King.
A short bus ride later and we were in the city of Kolding, the seventh largest city in Denmark and a beautiful seaport. I enjoyed the expansive fjord and variety of boats and ships in the harbor. Our destination was the
Koldinghus castle. While it's not your typical Cinderella castle by any means, it is just as impressive and rich with history, and even has one or two of its own fairytales. Koldinghus was constructed in the 11th century, destroyed by a chimney fire during the Napoleonic wars, and restored to its grandeur only recently. It houses a great collection of art and Danish culture. The highlight of the excursion was climbing up the spiral staircases to the watchtower. We also tried our hardest to find the elusive dungeon that was listed on the map, but after searching and searching, a worker finally told us that the dungeon was closed. Go figure. About five minutes after leaving the castle, one of our classmates realized that we had left a student behind. Anne, a Danish student, had been up in the watchtower with the three of us, but was mostly wandering around on her own. We turned the bus around and headed back to find her. She was nowhere to be found. Much to the dismay of our professor, we had to go on without her. I think he was reconciled by the fact that she could at least speak Danish. I just hope that wasn't the reason why the dungeon was closed. I pray she'll be in class on Monday.Our final stop was the Museum of Modern Art, Trapholt. The main
exhibition in the museum is the collection of chairs. Every possible design for a chair was gathered here. You usually go about your daily business not thinking much about the chairs you sit in, but I learned from this museum
that chairs communicate function and power roles. I could write a 10-page paper on what I now know about chairs, which I am considering doing for my final culture exam. Other than that, the museum was your traditional modern art museum with the typically overpriced gift shop.
It was a delightful trip. Leah and I decided to forgo the bike ride home and elected to take the bus instead, since it was raining and dark. We stopped and had some dinner at our favorite place, the Take Away shop. I was suddenly reminded of how much I am going to miss certain parts of Denmark. I only have 38 days left here and I'm starting to get sentimental already. I'm off to make the best of it now. Good night.
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