Cabin Fever

Right about now I would be booking and/or taking my Mexican vacation if I were gainfully employed and still living in the US. When you are from a part of the country like the Midwest that begins winter in October or November and ends in March or April you need to get that dose of Vitamin D in January or February to keep you going until Spring. So what does one do when the situation has changed from fully to partially employed (on the other side of the world) and I have my nose in the books the other half of the time? Book summer vacation!!

Alas, the picture of Nice, France where we will be spending my first few days of freedom once the Spring semester breaks for Summer vacation in June. Not to mention, our second wedding anniversary which is the icing on the cake, but the ice cream on the side, is the fact that I get to see a good friend I met in Danish class from the South of France, whom I adore.

Next trip for the summer will be with my parents to the Netherlands to trace the family heritage which will be monumental. Particularly since we will be driving through Germany and taking in the countryside along the way. I can hardly wait for July!

Last, but not least, my dear, dear friend Lori Ann will be visiting me in Copenhagen to end the summer on a sweet note. August simply can't get here soon enough!

En Rigtig Fest

This past weekend my Svigerfar (or Father-in law) turned 60 and him and 40 of his closest friends got together for dinner, singing, and dancing.

This was my first 'rigtig' or real Danish birthday party where songs are written especially for the occasion and man of honor. There were three songs written in total and several speeches and laughs along with food and drinks galore.

My favorite part of the night however was when the lights turned low and all the couples got out on the dance floor. I felt like I was watching my parents back in the days when they first met and I realized that soon I would not be able to witness parties such as these as this is not the stuff of my generation.

Couple dancing, like I saw on Saturday must have died somewhere with the later generations. My parents are in their 70's and my husbands parents and friends are in their 50's and 60's but my oldest brothers and sisters who are in their 40's don't dance like this, and never have to my knowledge. That tells me that those born in 1960 and above dance to a different tune.

That's cool that the later generations march to the beat of their own drum and all, but sometimes you just want someone you can dance with.

Home Team in a Foreign Land

This year I watched the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl with a movie theater filled with Danes. I knew American football had a following in Denmark, but I had never anticipated how large that following actually was.

Since the game started at midnight on this side of the pond, the evening began with a movie at 9pm. We watched the Oscar nominated film The Fighter about an American boxer from Massachusetts and then it was game time. With popcorn and Budweiser in hand, we settled in for 3-4 hours of my home land's national winter past-time.

The theater was 60% Packer fans, 40% Steeler fans by the sounds of the cheers and an exciting game from the start. Even though it was nearly 3am at half-time I was amazed at how awake I was, but coffee was still a nice and necessary treat. Soon it was over and at 5am I found myself riding the Metro home with other Super Bowl fans, ready to get some rest and get back on local time.