Gratitude

There are so many things to be thankful for on a daily basis but most times we get so caught up in the here and now of our daily lives that we forget this tiny little moment of reflection. There's no better time to say it out loud, or write it down, than the day I am preparing to go back to the States to celebrate the nations annual holiday set aside for this very reason, Thanksgiving.

I am thankful to be married to an amazing man who is by my side through the good and bad, and who always has my best interest at heart. There are moments where I can't believe my luck. Like last Friday. He stood an hour in the cold just so I could be the first in line to get the necessary stamp in my passport in order to be let back in the country upon our return. We won't talk about why this was necessary, only that my Viking goes out of his way to make up for some frustrations experienced while living in his country, and I am grateful.

Even though at times it is pushing me to my limits on what I think I can accomplish, I am thankful for the opportunity to get my Masters degree in Denmark. There are so many challenges that come with this degree, but I believe it is making me a better person, each time I push through the next task.

Finally, I am grateful to have such amazing family and friends that love me unconditionally...on both sides of the Atlantic. It's an incredible feeling to be welcomed with open arms and homes no matter where in the world we live. 

Apron Strings

My little sister had her second baby today and I can't stop hearing the song 'Apron Strings' from Everything but the Girl in my head. It's one of those songs that is very appropriate for this day, especially since the movie 'She's Having a Baby' was one of our favorites in the 80's. That movie was also the first time we heard the song.

My sister and I have been inseparable since birth and moving to Denmark is by far the furthest we have ever been from each other, which has forced us to wait the longest to spend time together. She was pregnant when I decided to get married and move to Denmark, and we knew the life we always thought we would have after we were both married and had kids (which included living in the same city of Madison, WI) was probably not going to happen any time soon. That was confirmed after she and her husband decided to move back to the town we grew up in to raise their little boy just over a year ago. It was the right decision for their now growing family, but both of us being so far apart from each other and the life we enjoyed before the distance began has been hard.

However, some sacrifices are worth making. Being close to both parents has been a blessing in disguise for my sister and her husband, and their little boys are going to be raised in a safe and small community, surrounded by the beautiful countryside. The same way their Dad enjoyed growing up. And I am experiencing something I have always wanted to. Life in another country and the chance to study abroad, all with the love and support of an amazing husband and family. Life is good and we are both grateful, but boy would I give anything to be there today. "I was happy, I knew that. While experiencing happiness, we have difficulty in being conscious of it. Only when the happiness is past and we look back on it do we suddenly realize - sometimes with astonishment - how happy we had been." Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek

Semester from Hell

It's been a long time since I have written. Much longer than I would have liked, but as it turns out the 3rd semester of the Masters program happens to be the most challenging. I clearly underestimated this as I was way too focused on the fact that I get to pick classes I am interested in and didn't factor in the amount of reading and project management skills that would come into play. Four different classes in the first three days of every week means my weekends are spent reading and any free time before or after class during the week goes to project meetings. Not to mention 15-20 hours of work on top of that. All I can say is working in one group on 3-4 different projects, as was the case last year, is much easier than 4 different groups and 4 totally different project topics.

Since the classes are not related to each other whatsoever, there is no method to the madness which means deadlines can be closely related which forces you to plan ahead and get creative. The reason I am able to write now is because I have one project (of 4) done so far and this week we get a break from classes. It's called "efterårsferie" or Fall break. The one thing that keeps me going, or makes me feel better anyway, is the fact that I am not alone. Everyone I talk to is just as overwhelmed and has either dropped a class to better manage their schedule, or are powering through and accepting their life will be insane for the foreseeable future.

Crazy or not, I have chosen the latter. And intend to take a week off to go back to the States for the Thanksgiving holiday in the midst of it all as well. The good news, or silver lining in all of this is I should be done by Christmas. The bad news, is I won't have much of a balanced life until December 15th. A small price to pay for the end goal which is a Masters degree from Copenhagen Business School which will give me the chance to do some cool new things with my career.

Gucci Helle

Last week Denmark voted in a new government. The leader of the winning party will be the first female Prime Minister for the country. Helle Thorning Schmidt is the face of the Social Democratic party which is likened to the Labour Party in England. In fact, Helle is married to the son of a former head of Britain's Labour Party.

The Social Democrats support Denmark's working class, or what would be called 'blue collar' in the US. This is most likely one reason why Helle received the nickname "Gucci Helle" from the media. To highlight the contrast of her taste in upscale bags, given the people she supports.

Regardless of what she carries on her arm, it comes down to whether or not she is able to follow through on what the country needs. Which, like many countries today, is a jump start to the economy, and the creation of jobs. A continued focus on education is relevant as well given Denmark's reputation as a knowledge economy.

Danish Music & Fashion

Our final two guests just left Denmark to wrap up one pretty incredible summer of fun. Five guests, four countries, and two trips were experienced over the past three months. That's a lot of fun all packed into one season! But that's the way summer usually goes. 

As in my last post, my favorite part of the visits from my American family and friends is the perspectives they leave behind and there are two that jump out at me from this most recent visit. One observation was that the music on the radio is different. One station played old hits they hadn't heard in a long time, European hits that never made it to the US, and some new music they had never heard before, but all the music had one common theme. It was all upbeat, or 'happy Danish music' as one of my friends put it. I never really thought of it that way, but I wonder if that has something to do with why people are generally pretty happy here. My guess is it is just one piece of the puzzle.

The second observation that made me smile was that people seem to wear whatever they want here and appear to be less influenced by what 'the majority' are wearing. This comment comes straight from one of my good friends who was visiting Europe for the first time. This could be a general observation for the entire EU as far as I am concerned, but I think she is absolutely right. In the US, everything is new and polished, including the women and the clothes they wear. They are both perfectly coiffed and matched. Whereas in Europe, it's more of a thrown together look with different colors and designs that somehow works. I remember years ago admiring this style from abroad, never having quite the touch to pull it off myself, but after living here for two years I think I am finally getting the hang of it. Or at least letting myself be more daring and less matchy. 

A final observation I have noticed in the way women dress in Europe is there doesn't seem to be as strict of an 'age appropriate dress code' as there is in the US. I enjoy seeing Danish women dress a bit more sexy than their age equivalents across the Atlantic with flowy shirts and patterned tights. One can only hope that enough time spent in Europe rubs off so that confidence in style can be carried back to America. 

Romantisk København

My good friend Lori just left after 8 days spent together in Copenhagen. Not only was it amazing to have a girlfriend near to chat about makeup, decorating, and the latest gossip, but it was also great to have intellectually stimulating conversations with someone experiencing the current mood of the US, both financially and politically. The latter conversations my husband particularly enjoyed. (For those reading this post that known him, I am sure you are not surprised).

My only wish is that we were on the same time zone or living in the same city so we could meet for those amazing chats once a week like we did in the old days. Having to talk about anything and everything in a short period of time is a lot to ask of anyone. Not that I am complaining. I just now realize how important it is to have close friends nearby so you can share your daily thoughts and happenings. Crazy ideas, and frustrations. Such is life as an Expat. People are constantly coming in and out of your life which means you make a lot of friends, they just don't stay in one place for very long.

My favorite part about having my good friend visit is being able to see the city I live in through her eyes. Everywhere we went, she kept saying how romantic the city was. Granted, she is only visiting and we all know traveling for a short period of time and living somewhere are two totally different experiences, but I couldn't help but open my eyes (and mind) to what she must have been seeing. Winding cobblestone streets and centuries old buildings are architecturally appeasing to the eye, and then there are the candlelit cafes and decadent desserts that appeal to the senses. Not to mention having the love and support of a life partner, makes this one romantic haven after all.

Sensational Summer

I know I shouldn't be saying goodbye to summer already when it is only mid August, but the summer weather started to fade here in Denmark a month or so ago already. However! I just got back from a week of enjoying the glorious 90+ degree heat (approx 35 Celsius) in the Midwest which gave me the summer boost I needed to prepare for the Fall weather ahead.

So before I bid adieu, I would like to pay a proper tribute to the fantastic summer I have had thus far. This happens to be the last summer I will enjoy as a student and part-time worker before life as a Masters graduate and full-time employee begins again. And I have enjoyed the hell out of it. I have taken trips to 4 different countries and have hosted 1 out of 3 visits by friends and family so far.

We started with a trip to the South of France in June to visit my good friend Marie from Danish class. I can say with full honesty that it was probably one of the best vacations I have ever had. The scenery, the people, the weather were all amazing. When we were flying in and looking at the Riviera landscape I turned to my husband and said "If you lived here, why would you ever leave?" and that initial feeling pretty much sums up the trip.

A few days after we got back Mom and Dad arrived in Denmark for a two week visit in July to be spent in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands and that was pretty incredible as well. To be able to show my parents Europe, and guide them back to the origin of the Timmerman name was an honor I will never forget. Two weeks later I was off to the US to see family and friends and soak up the heatwave of a summer they are having in August and I enjoyed every single second of it.

Now I am preparing for one of my best friends from Chicago to visit and I cannot wait to show her my life in Copenhagen! We plan to walk the city, have picnics in the park, and laugh and talk our way through the past two years. Each time I have visited the US since I moved to DK my time has been shared between friends, my husband, and other obligations, so one-on-one time is a precious commodity that we both look forward to taking advantage of this trip.

Next up is a visit by two additional really good friends who have found a travel companion in each other which makes me very happy and excited for the many ladies nights we will share. I have an entire list of bars and restaurants I have been dying to experience with friends who appreciate good food and wine just as much as me. So, summer is certainly not over yet, but I will be sure to enjoy each and every second that it is still here.