Update on my life

Today is Saturday and I am enjoying a bit of rest. This week has been totally consumed by an assignment. The group that I worked in was fantastic though which was awesome! It was great to spend some time working with Danes, and work we did! 

I am a little bit overwhelmed by the Danish culture. The amount of times I have had to say "sorry I don't speak Danish"... It is incredible that Denmark has such a sense of identity even though they are so small and surrounded by other European countries. Denmark is very Danish!

Last night I went to a church event for young adults. It was fantastic. I found out that the church I go to is the largest church in Denmark. Kind of sad as I think GCC is bigger. If I win lotto I will invite their young adults group to a camp with our church's young adults! That would be an incredible experience. 

It feels like I have friends everywhere which is nice. I am hoping to build some of these friendships into something more than just Facebook friends. 

All is well here, almost half way into my trip! 

Two Months

I have been wanting to post an entry for a while  now but it feels like hours have turned into minutes, almost my life is running at twice the speed it should.

University is full on at the moment! I have an exam on Thursday and other things due around the corner. Hopefully in a few weeks everything will slow back down and I will be able to do what I want to do.

Olivia was here the week before last for 10 days. Was an incredible time together. She has done a really good job writing about it so maybe just check her page - oliviasgreatadventure.bolgspot.com

Church is going well. Last Friday I went to a "nakedbathhouse" with one of the guy groups from church at Malmo, Sweden. Was an experience. Had to jump into the icey sea water and then into the sauna and back into the sea. It must be very popular as there were many pasty, skinny naked Swedish men running around.

There is not much to report further, my focus is fully on university at the moment and then will start planning a few traveling trips.

Picture from the "naked bath house"

A month in Copenhagen

A can't believe a month has passed already!

Kickboxing and Crossfit rocks! They usually teach the class in Danish, but when I am there they do it in English. They guy who takes the Kickboxing is called Alfred, an African guy in his mid 20's. I went there on the first Monday when I got bruises on my arms so did not go again that week, but when I went there the following Monday, he comes up to me and says "Hey Helgaard, I wondered where you have been after last Monday, thought you were not coming back". I have literally spoken to him for no more that 2 minutes and he remember my name!! People here don't get my name and I always have to repeat it a few times. This was actually the highlight of my week! The classes are fairly big as well. 15 to 20 people I'd say. Knowing how much it meant to me, I really want to do the same and remember people's names!

I am making an effort to be more social which is working well. I have to give people the benefit of the doubt more. When I do engage with people they are really friendly and nice. 

Olivia is coming to visit next Friday. I am very excited and have started planning her trip in great detail. I am determined to make the most of the 10 days that she is here!

The picture is a card that my cousin Charlene sent me. I really like it!

Many people from home have posted messages and wants to know how things are here. I really really appreciate it!

Week 3

I'm writing this lying in my bed Sunday night, half reading the Shack, half waiting until it is late enough to call home. All in good time.

My time here is slowly normalising out. Routine has yet to fully set in but will have to soon! I have had a week of class and can not remember a thing about anything. I will have to start doing at least some work.

The highlight of my week was Wednesday night. The night was suppose to be a bar crawl where we got shown all the places to go to, but after we checked out three or so places my feet were hurting from the cold and had to make a decision to either loose my toes or call it a night. Quentin had a similar idea. We left and bought some frozen pizza's, red wine and chocolate and went to his residence's common kitchen to enjoy the warmth. It was a particularly cold night. There we talked with two other Americans for a good few hours. Pizza, wine, chocolate and community for the win!

I went to crossfit on Thursday which is workout program that uses minimum equipment. It was really tough. It finished at 7pm which, when it gets dark at 4.30 is kinda late. I then had one of the more challenging experiences of my journey so far. I got lost on my bike. For three and a half hours I spent guessing my way through the frozen suburbs of Copenhagen. Luckily I had my water bottle tied on the back of my bike. When I stopped for some water however, the water in the bottle had frozen solid. I biked past a sign that said that the temperature was -8. I looked up the distance I had traveled, 21km if I took the most direct route, which I most definitely did not do. I was so glad to get home!

The rest of the week has been quite relaxed. Church today was good today. When I was getting lost on my bike the thought again came.. how do people live without God? What do they think about when they are mentally and physically under pressure?  

#5

I started classes yesterday, it was really good! It is a Finance Management paper and the guy teaching it is really onto it. I have some more classes today and the rest of the week. I am taking it one day at a time.

I went to kick-boxing last night. It was a really good workout and the place has a really good atmosphere. I have bruises on my arms which I think are quite impressive. We don't do any actual fighting, just drills.

Church on Sunday was different. On the last Sunday of every month they have what they call 'SuperSunday' where all the different ministries get together in one big celebration service. I prefer the usual international service.

I read a passage yesterday that really challenged me. Philippians 2v3 "Don't be selfish, don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves". That is so contradictory to everything the world wants us to be. I don't know how people live without God in their lives. Maybe I should start asking people?

On a way less interesting note, Studylink seems to finally be sorted, although not exactly as how I would have liked it. I don't understand the system but how much further am I suppose to go into it. Basically what has happened is that they said I can get weekly payments only until 1 June, but I would have liked to get them until 20 June as I am still studying until then. Guess it could be a whole lot worse.

My timetable and paper cross credits back to my home university seems to be sorted as well. It was a bit of a mission.

It is another beautiful day here. I am cycling everywhere and am loving living by myself!

Thanks for being interested in my life...

Second week so far...

I have now finished a week of introductions to CBS. A lot of information. I think I'm on top of it though.

Things are slowly starting to become normal. I have a few admin things to sort out regarding paper enrollments and studylink. Man studylink has made it difficult for me!

I'll try stay positive in this post, which is not hard considering things are going very well. This week was me and Olivia's 3 year anniversary! We had a skype date and she made a big sign saying happy 3 anniversary. It was really nice.

I keep meeting people. I like meeting new people but struggle a bit with names. I think its a good skill to be able to meet people.

This week we have done many things including a meet and mingle with other exchange students, Danish folk dancing, going to a museum and touring the university campus.

One thing that gets me is how well their students dress. Now I know I am from AUT and the standard is rather high but these guys take it to the next level. Maybe its because they go to uni for free and get paid the equivalent to a minimum wage job's wages every month to study. many have their Beats ear and headphones and macbooks.

People are really friendly and everything is going well. Classes start on Monday and hopefully by then all the admin stuff will be sorted.

Ive also found people who are keen to come to church with me on Sunday. This makes me glad. I wish everyone knew God. I don't know how people do life without Him.

Thanks for following and reading my blog. Makes me feel like people care, which is an awesome feeling to have.

P.S. There is a group on facebook I made where I put all my photos. If you dont know about it and would like to, just let me know and I will add you. 

First Week

What an incredible week. I have met so many people!

I have been going to a Danish crash course this week which is very difficult. The danish language is interesting. I thought that being able to speak Afrikaans may help but not really. This video is going around and is worth a watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-mOy8VUEBk

 There is also a social program worked out for us that I have been attending this week. Monday night was a get together Danish celebration night, Tuesday we went on a canal tour through the city center followed by a bar night. Wednesday we had an international buffet where everyone brought a plate from their own cuisine. I just made some finger food meat and cheese. It was nice. Last night we went to a famous cemetery where actors played out the characters who are buried there. Tonight is a big bowl party, ten pin bowling. I am looking forward to it.

It was raining ice yesterday. I have never seen that before.

I have made friends and formed a little group with some German girls, a French guy and a Colombian girl. We enjoy each others company! Me and Quentin had great fun the other night when the girls were in charge of directions to the canal tour... we got lost. Its incredible how international some stereotypes are.

That is all for now. Today looks like a beautiful day (first time I have seen blue skies) so will take a few photos.