Thursday, March 24, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Yesterday
I have finally realised that troubles tend to follow you, even if they have to travel half way across the world and don't have a visa into the country you're headed. They are pretty clever really. They hide away in your suitcase and let you enjoy every piece of your new life... until it's not so new anymore. Then they creep out in familiar forms, such as a messy bedroom with uneaten apples lying in every corner, a lengthy to-do list, and 'day tiredness' lurking round like a fair-weathered friend.
However, this is a good realisation. It proves to you that there's nothing 'wrong' with home or with your life. It simply says, 'maybe it's up to you'.
Being away has made me realise how much I rely on other things to 'make me' happy. If the weathers bad, so am I. If something seems unreachable, I don't reach. If I am not complimented, it mustn't be worth the words.
Although it takes a lot of effort, being generally content and comfortable with yourself, is a very valuable skill... and I'm sure it takes practise. Putting on a show of confidence and actually being confident are completely different things, and I intend to master the more important.
When I realised all this, in my dreary Nature and Geography class, I felt sort of condensed and consumed by something, almost claustrophobic.
I walked outside towards 'Centurion' (my bike) after class, and the cold wind and warm sun hit me in a strange contrast... I realised I didn’t want to go back to my newly familiar room and do my newly familiar everyday things. And then I rode away in a complete unknown direction.
I rode to a pebbly beach at sat there for awhile, enjoying the fresh salty breeze. I kept riding, following the seashore as closely as possible, along streets with old people’s homes and potentially green forests. As I hit the main rode I passed yellow fields (I love how it's the opposite here, green in summer and brown in winter), and a small village with a lively primary school and an old windmill. After a couple of signs where I'd paused and thought 'Hmmm 5 Kms isn't that far away', I realised I was a long way from home. Ironic? Maybe. I kept riding.
It was warm and fresh, and at each new sight I felt absorbed with existence. I was flying down the small countryside roads getting strange looks from local Farmers driving their tractors in the opposite direction. A grillion birds flew over me following the wavy winds and I lifted my gaze. I passed through a woodland area and found that that was as far as I was going. I got off my bike and walked down some wooden steps to a stony beach where I stood and cried a bit.
Looking out, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I had ridden as far north as I possibly could on the west coast of Sjaelland. I saw a line of windmills on the horizon, looking as if they were coming out of the water. I couldn’t see Kalundborg, which was hiding far around the corner. Then I thought it was probably time to go home.
In reality, the reason I had had such an easy ride to the point, was most likely because it was ever so slightly downhill and Mr Wind was on my side. Unfortunately, this meant that it wasn’t quite the same on my way back.
I learnt that impulsively riding a total of around 50 Kms (half of which is a battle with an opposing gust) with your school bag containing a heavy laptop isn’t very good for your backbone, but it is for your core.
However, this is a good realisation. It proves to you that there's nothing 'wrong' with home or with your life. It simply says, 'maybe it's up to you'.
Being away has made me realise how much I rely on other things to 'make me' happy. If the weathers bad, so am I. If something seems unreachable, I don't reach. If I am not complimented, it mustn't be worth the words.
Although it takes a lot of effort, being generally content and comfortable with yourself, is a very valuable skill... and I'm sure it takes practise. Putting on a show of confidence and actually being confident are completely different things, and I intend to master the more important.
When I realised all this, in my dreary Nature and Geography class, I felt sort of condensed and consumed by something, almost claustrophobic.
I walked outside towards 'Centurion' (my bike) after class, and the cold wind and warm sun hit me in a strange contrast... I realised I didn’t want to go back to my newly familiar room and do my newly familiar everyday things. And then I rode away in a complete unknown direction.
I rode to a pebbly beach at sat there for awhile, enjoying the fresh salty breeze. I kept riding, following the seashore as closely as possible, along streets with old people’s homes and potentially green forests. As I hit the main rode I passed yellow fields (I love how it's the opposite here, green in summer and brown in winter), and a small village with a lively primary school and an old windmill. After a couple of signs where I'd paused and thought 'Hmmm 5 Kms isn't that far away', I realised I was a long way from home. Ironic? Maybe. I kept riding.
It was warm and fresh, and at each new sight I felt absorbed with existence. I was flying down the small countryside roads getting strange looks from local Farmers driving their tractors in the opposite direction. A grillion birds flew over me following the wavy winds and I lifted my gaze. I passed through a woodland area and found that that was as far as I was going. I got off my bike and walked down some wooden steps to a stony beach where I stood and cried a bit.
Looking out, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I had ridden as far north as I possibly could on the west coast of Sjaelland. I saw a line of windmills on the horizon, looking as if they were coming out of the water. I couldn’t see Kalundborg, which was hiding far around the corner. Then I thought it was probably time to go home.
In reality, the reason I had had such an easy ride to the point, was most likely because it was ever so slightly downhill and Mr Wind was on my side. Unfortunately, this meant that it wasn’t quite the same on my way back.
I learnt that impulsively riding a total of around 50 Kms (half of which is a battle with an opposing gust) with your school bag containing a heavy laptop isn’t very good for your backbone, but it is for your core.
Art Journal.
I should be doing more... but I'm enjoy the art of life, if it's not to corny to say so. Actually it is, fuck it, I'm having to much fun to be doing copious amounts of journal work.
My favourite words in Dansk.
Spindelvæv.
Papir.
Lilla.
Ansigter.
Halvmåne
Elsker.
Næse.
Paraply.
Butik.
Postbud.
Lidt.
Kiks (Mariekiks).
Orange (pronunciation).
Farver.
Trillebør.
Æbler.
Dansker.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
This is Odin.
Odin (pronounced /ˈoʊdɨn/ from Old Norse Óðinn) is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. His name is related to ōðr, meaning "fury, excitation," besides "mind," or "poetry." His role, like that of many of the Norse gods, is complex. Odin is a principal member of the Æsir (Norse Pantheon) and is associated with wisdom, war, battle and death, and also magic, poetry, prophecy, victory, and the hunt.
Thanks Wiki
A couple of nights ago, my host dad predicted rain when he saw this. Today it rained.
These are not impressive photoshop jobs... it was really that amazing.
The Danes have a nice obsession with 'blomster'
Last Saturday my Host Grandma gave me some Daffodils when she came round for dinner. When I put them in a vase of water and sat them on the windowsill, they looked like this:
The next morning when I woke late, I opened my curtains I almost jumped with shock and suprise, as they had turned into this:
Sun malnutrition.
Today was cold, dreary, rainy and windy.
Not so productive.
But still nice, all the same.
Not so productive.
But still nice, all the same.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Vitamin D
Today was a beautiful day.
The sun was shining and it was nice to feel a non artificial warmth on my skin. Even the cold wind didn't bother me. There are small buds appearing on trees, and although I've hardly noticed, the snow decreases day by day... infact now that I think about it, it's gone almost completely.
It is too early to get overly excited, but the prospect of spring seems to lighten anyones mood around here.
I went to the op-shop and bought a colourful jumper and some suprises to send my brother and then rode a different way home.
I got back from school earlier than usual... and instead of checking emails or getting out my Danish books to hit my head against a brick wall, I got out my host Mum's sewing machine. Back home sewing was school work or a needed hemline job. However, today it was blissful.
I have never enjoyed slip stiching a whole dress before... I sat in the sunlight watching the birds outside and smiling at the pot plants on the windowsill, sipping my tea and eating the ANZAC biscuits I had made earlier. Like a Nanna.
It was most enjoyable.
I have done other productive things as well, like updating my jounals and taking some photos. I helped with the washing and even cleaned my desk.
In conclusion, sunny days are good for you.
The sun was shining and it was nice to feel a non artificial warmth on my skin. Even the cold wind didn't bother me. There are small buds appearing on trees, and although I've hardly noticed, the snow decreases day by day... infact now that I think about it, it's gone almost completely.
It is too early to get overly excited, but the prospect of spring seems to lighten anyones mood around here.
I went to the op-shop and bought a colourful jumper and some suprises to send my brother and then rode a different way home.
I got back from school earlier than usual... and instead of checking emails or getting out my Danish books to hit my head against a brick wall, I got out my host Mum's sewing machine. Back home sewing was school work or a needed hemline job. However, today it was blissful.
I have never enjoyed slip stiching a whole dress before... I sat in the sunlight watching the birds outside and smiling at the pot plants on the windowsill, sipping my tea and eating the ANZAC biscuits I had made earlier. Like a Nanna.
It was most enjoyable.
I have done other productive things as well, like updating my jounals and taking some photos. I helped with the washing and even cleaned my desk.
In conclusion, sunny days are good for you.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
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