These wings were made to fly

07.28.13

Today is it exactly one month since I landed in Denmark and was reunited with my family.
Now I'm back in the airport, instead of my family, I have Rikke sitting next to me and we're waiting for the plane to Greece.

I miss America and not a day goes by without I think of friends in my old Kentucky home. But right now I'm just excited to spend two weeks on a little Greek island with one of my favorite people. Now we'll see how long it'll take before Rikke and I want to kill each other. I'm a little worried because she used to do karate. On the other hand she's not so big, so I could probably just sit on her ;-)

Enjoy the last weeks of summer break, I'll enjoy mine!

Turkey

07.25.13

And back I am in rainy Denmark. We came home last afternoon and I already miss Turkey. It was two really good weeks. I find it way easier to relax and do chill stuff, when I’m not home. When I’m home, I can’t just hang out. I feel like it’s a waste of time, if I don’t get out of the house or do something productive. In Turkey I didn’t have any obligations, and the best ways to spent time seemed to be just hanging by the pool, play some sport and eat ice cream while watching Tour de France. I also spent a lot of time reconnecting with my family.  Especially my oldest little sister, Dea, and I spent a lot of time together. We used to fight a lot before I left, but I feel like now that we’ve been apart for a year and both have grown a year smarter, that we get much better along. I had a great time with her.





Rasmus Seebach

Even though I love my family, I would go crazy if I didn’t talk to anyone else for two weeks. The area we were in is full of tourists. The closest town is called Konakli. According to the hair dresser we went to, there are 40,000 people living in the town, while the area’s hotels have capacity for twice as many guests from all around the world. A share of those is Danish, and we met people that tried to sell us stuff in Danish at the market. We even went to a concert with one of the most popular Danish artists at a beach club that all summer long had entertainment from back home.

We stayed at a pure Scandinavian resort and our neighbor was a Russian resort. All I was seeing all day was tan Scandinavians (and then there was the Russian guy that played tennis in a thong - I’d rather not have seen that…). In our tourist bubble the only Turkish people were those who worked at the hotel. If I want to make friends with Scandinavians, I can do it at home. Instead I made friends with the Turkish waiters. They taught me a little Turkish and most of them were very nice people – especially after sunset. Turkey is mainly Muslim and we’re in the middle of Ramadan, so the waiters were happy when they could eat at dusk. I’m so impressed that they could fast in that heat!

The only thing that made it okay going home, is that I won’t be here very long; four days to be exact. I’m already preparing to leave for Greece next Sunday. I can’t wait! In the mean time I’ll try to see some of my friends and today I bought fabric for a summer dress, I’ll sew, so I’m ready to hit the beach. I’m so ready to spend two weeks in the sun with my girl, Rikke!

 

 

Quote of the day:

"Plan your next vacation before you leave your current"

I guess you can say I'm trying to live by that.





Turkish delight

07.21.13

Life in Turkey is very chill. We spent most days by the pool, where I'm sitting right now. In a bit we're going to the restaurant for lunch. Really I feel like it's too warm to eat anything, but you can always eat ice cream! And I thought I was gonna go home and lose the 20 pounds I gained in the US. How's that working now?! It's too tempting to be able to just go get free ice cream all day...

I make up for some of it by doing sports every day. At least that's what I'm telling myself. At the hotel they organize multiple sports everyday. We play beach volleyball pretty much every morning. I just got back from 1.5 hours of fun in the sand. We usually play one or two things in the afternoon as well. Today it's soccer. It's fun playing with all the guys, cause let's face it the girls are totally outnumbered in all the sports, except aerobics, water gymnastics and zumba (so pretty much anything not including a ball...) where all the mothers find there gym shoes and leave there kids under the parasols.

I think I figured out what I want to do after high school. I want to be an activity guide in a place like this! I think that would be the most awesome gap year before college. Be around a lot of people in a sunny place playing sports.

The best day yet was Friday. We went on a boat. I get motion sick, so it wasn't much fun until I made friends with some of the guys on the ship. They let me steer the ship. I felt so cool that half hour behind the steering wheel. I might not be able to drive, but I can handle a ship so who cares? ;-)

At night I went to this club. I was in love as soon as I saw that they had shark aquariums in the bar!

Hope y'all enjoying your break! Love is sent to KY from Turkey!

Counting the waves

07.15.13

I'm sitting by the beach again. Turkish beaches are a very beautiful place to sit and just listen to the sound of the waves. Despite the beauty, I just feel melancholic - empty. The greatness of the scenery makes me feel whole, but there's parts of me I don't really wanna feel. It's hard to explain, and you probably won't understand, because the truth is, that I don't. I'm so confused by my feelings.

America left a whole in my heart. A part of it stayed in Kentucky. I missed things about Denmark, about my family and about the liberties in Scandinavian society. It's just not as great as I remembered, because you need somebody to share it with. I miss my friends in Bowling Green. I miss being there.

Coming home, it seems like last year could just as well could have been a daydream. Like we skipped it. Things haven't really changed that much. But I have. I'm not the same person that left, and now I'm coming home to fill a space as a person I once was.

When I left I feared that my little brother would forget about me, and I'm really surprised how fast he got used to having me around again. He teases me so I'll come catch him and wants to play on the playground with him. The thing is that I'm not really used to being here yet. I know it'll get there. I just need some time.

Until then I can look at the stars and think back of the days, when I looked at the same stars sitting by the Water tower in good old Kentucky.

Roskilde Festival

07.09.13 

And I'm back! I came home from the Roskilde festival Sunday night. I was so tired, but it was just because I’d had so much fun! My camp was just great. The girls that were there, were very nice, and even though I only knew one of the girls (my best friend), we made friends quickly. On the festival it’s kind of like everyone is just friends you haven’t met yet. It’s a party with 130,000 people attending.

Me and two of the girls from my camp







Kendrick Lamaaaar!

The music is a part of it too of course. It was a little weird, because I didn’t really know the new Danish music, but at least I got more of the American down. I was really excited that Rihanna was going to be there, but disappointed when she did her concert playback. It caused a lot of debate, and all the other bands where pointing out how they weren’t doing that. Rihanna was even 30 minutes late, apparently because she was having problems with the technique delivering the playback. When that’s said, it was still a dance party when she came on, and everyone was singing along to “Take a bow” and “Diamonds”.

My favorite concert was Kendrick Lamar. I like his music and the atmosphere was just awesome. He was performing in one of these big tents and the whole audience was moving to the beat.

I’ll have to go to bed now. I’m leaving early tomorrow morning, so again it’ll be a while before I post on the blog. Hope you’re enjoying the summer! The sun finally made it to Denmark.

I'm just happy I don't have to clean after all that mess

Roskilde train station

07.03.13

I was on five trains and one bus today – without getting lost! I’m very proud of myself! I’m so out of practice with taking public transportation, and even when I am, I’m a specialist in getting lost, missing my connection or just take the bus the exact opposite direction of what I’m supposed to…

I forgot how much it smells like pee in the underground paths beneath train stations. It was worth it though. I went and saw Rikke, who’s one of my good friends, that was on exchange in Tennessee. I got to meet her parents, before I’m going on vacation with them for two weeks. I’m happy to learn that they’re nice people before I’m gonna be trapped on a Greek island with them.

Can't help but love Rikke

We also went to the mall. Rikke managed to buy one shoe. I have no idea how it happened? Everything is so expensive in Denmark, so I would understand if you couldn’t afford a pair, but only one shoe. Danish prices are really ridiculous! I was reminded when we went out to eat last night. We have no refills in Denmark, but a big soda was still $10! America got me spoiled.

Right now my whole city is invaded by people in rubber boots drinking beer. The Roskilde festival is hosted in my home city and is the biggest music festival in Denmark. I’m going out there tomorrow with my best friend. I can’t wait to spend time with her! She only came and said hi, when I came home, before she had to leave. I’ve missed her so much. The festival is gonna be awesome with her! I can’t wait to see Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna either! I’ll be out there for the weekend, so it’ll be quiet on the blog. On the other hand I’ll probably be spamming instagram.

Oh, and happy 4th of July! I wish I could be in the states to experience it! 

Tour de Family

07.02.13

 

Sitting in the couch watching the team time trial in Tour de France, while I'm sorting out my jewelry. It is a good picture of what I’ve been doing the last couple of days. I just need my dad to join me in yelling of the TV.  

I’ve had to spend some time packing out. It looked even worse than when I was packing – which is not just bad, but more like an atomic disaster. It took hours to convince my dresser that all my clothes could fit…

I also needed to make my room representable, so my cousins could sleep in there. Our house has been the head quarter of the Svarre Family. I love my family, no doubt. Usually I just need to go to see my friends to not get too restless, but I’ve really enjoyed just staying home the last couple of days, seeing all my extended family that came by. I guess I over the last year have developed a need to play games with my uncle and aunt, talk to my mom and play with all the kids. It was not before today I went out with one of my friends on a lunch date.

Caroline and I

I’ve also missed watching Tour de France with my dad. I’ll save you from all the nerdy sports details, because I realize skinny sweaty guys on bicycles are not very exciting if you are not into it. Personally I really enjoy competing in the manager game, watching the stages and discuss the tactics – all done with my dad. Sometimes I think I talk more to him the month it’s going on, than the rest of the year altogether. Oh well...

Qoute of the day:
"Family - Like branches we all grow in different directions yet our root remains the same." 

The cutest little brother... Ever.