I know I've been here too long when...

.... I know more about the Rugby Finals than I do about American football.
                 France is in the finals & today is the deciding match between Australia & New Zealand. Quite the nail biter if you happen to want to be at a bar at 6 am.

.... I'm annoyed when I can't download Danish music because I am still using American I Tunes.
                 If you get a chance, look up Fallulah on YouTube. I would say she's as good as Adele or Florence & the Machine!

....I know all the artists nominated for Danish Act of the Year @ MTV's European Music Awards...And I have a favorite! (I think it'll be Medina)

....I don't even blink when paying 35 DKK for a juice at Joe & The Juice (until yesterday when, for fun, I did the math & realized I had just paid close to 7 USD for a strawberry/banana juice!)

....I now own more scarves than I do flip flops.


               

The Morning After

So now you know that I decided to stay a little longer. Just after the decision was made official, I had a wonderful morning after. I was riding in to work (I still laugh at that) & it was an absolutely beautiful morning. The weather was very crisp & quite cool (I'm already using gloves & swapped a sweater for a jacket in the morning in addition to a scarf - which is basically now a staple to my wardrobe). But despite the chill, the sun was rising & the morning was serene & picturesque. Sunrise is now just before 8 am & sunsets, which are equally amazing here, are now around 5:45pm so it coincides with my working hours on most days.

So for some reason, this morning was calling my attention & since I had just received an SMS that my morning meeting was cancelled, I wasn't in a particular hurry to get into the office. That gave me an opportunity to stop at certain points along my ride & take some pictures. At one point, a woman stopped her Christiania Bike (will explain later) alongside mine & said exactly what I was thinking "Isn't it a beautiful morning? I take this route every morning & I've never seen it as pretty as it is today." It must've been something really special because if there is anything that I've learned, it's that Danes do not randomly stop to chat w/ strangers.

So here are some pics of this 'beautiful morning'. I am sure I didn't do it any justice.

The Little Mermaid

Windmills Across the Harbor

(My Bunjee Jumping Experience was just to the left of that)

Sunrise

The Kastellet

Hans Christian Andersen was from Denmark so you have to wonder if it was looking at Swans like these that gave him his inspiration for "The Ugly Duckling"

A Christiania Bike -

This is a bicycle w/ a cart in the front to carry your children in. It is usually big enough that you will even see 5 year olds in it but it more likely that a 5 year old is already riding a 2 wheeler. This is more commonly used for transporting babies & smaller children. These bikes can run into the 3-4000 USD range.

And.....

After months of anxiety, stress, consideration, reconsideration, self evaluation, and so much more in between....I decided to accept the extension that was offered to me.

It came down to an objective (trying like a crazy lady to keep my feelings out of this one) overview of what I wanted the end game to be. And in the end, my objectives would (hopefully) be better met by staying & continuing to tackle the challenges that I am faced with here.

I still struggle w/ the decision because I desperately miss my dog, my family, my friends, etc in addition to not really 'loving' the work I am doing but I am very blessed to at least have good friends, a roof over my head, & an opportunity to continue to explore Europe to keep me going.

So here's to the next 8 months....I hope that it will continue to bring me good material to share w/ you & that you will continue to join me on this ever changing ride.

Cheers from Sunny (but chilly) Denmark!

6 Months & Only Indecisiveness Prevails

As time goes on, the days start to melt together. It was only late last night that I even remembered that yesterday was the 1st of the month, & I had reached my 6 month mark here. Unfortunately, I'm not any closer to a decision on how much longer I want to stay & fortunately, I was given an extension on giving the decision.

My thought process is a little like this:

Wake up, realize that I have to bike to work & it's pretty cold outside - "That's it, I'm leaving"
Just before leaving for work, I look in the mirror, realize that the biking is helping me to look a little slimmer - "Oh hells to the no - I gots to stay!"
Get to work & read my emails. Find out that everything that was promised to me the day before, is never gonna happen - "I can just ride a stationary bike back home. I'm blowin' this joint!"
Go to breakfast, realize I don't pay for it (except for a small stipen out of my salary) - "Hmm....maybe I should...."

And basically, this goes on throughout the day. There's falls from the bike (yes, again & again) that make me realize this place isn't for me. Then there's phone calls from nice friends who want to go out sometime in the week that always remind me I am not alone & I should stay. And the vicious cycle continues. 

I won't go on. Let's not bore you with all the details. My promise to you this month is that I will go back to finding the good so that I have something interesting to blog about. 

Stay tuned for more....And just don't give up on me yet. ;-)