Amber Abroad

Has anyone tried couchsurfing.org?? 
If you have, can you please tell me about your experience??    

Thank you! 

Family who live in Copenhagen were in the area staying with another of their family members and they dropped by to surprise me today!!
Without me knowing.

I was in such shock!

It was great :) 

Pictures coming soon :)

So as of yesterday, I have been in Denmark for one month!
In some ways it feels sooooo much longer and in other ways it feels like its gone by so fast.
And it’s funny because I’ve read that on so many other blogs and it’s so true!
I have spent so much of my time in Germany as well so maybe that has something to do with it.
But I think it’s so cool that I get to experience 2 countries at once!

I am in much more of a schedule here now, thank gooooood!
That’s something I was really needing.
This weekend is going to be my first real weekend by myself.
I had one before but I think my friends son was here so it wasn’t really alone.
You dont ever have a child around and ignore it for a few days ;)
So this weekend its just me and my friend’s parents. But they’re even gone for part of it.
Maybe I should purchase some celebratory candy ;)

I will do a 1 month recap now :) (all info written in my daily planner to look back on while in canada) 

October 2nd: Leaving Canada
October 3rd: Grandpa’s birthday. Arrive in Denmark.
October 4th: Germany for the first time. Bogerservice. Tour of woods.
October 5th: Visit friend’s horse. Tour Flensburg. Unpack. Pack for Hamburg
October 6th: Hamburg First time. Tour of Hamburg By Car.
October 7th: Inner City tour of Hamburg. 20 Up Bar. Copperhaus. Walk in Reeperbahn.
October 8th. Brunch with Lil og Marc. Dress Shopping. Night out at the Reeperbahn.
October 9th: Back to Denmark.
October 12th: BFFs birthday. Friend’s son arrives.
October 13th: Babysit. Tanning. Visit castle in Grasaten. 
October 14th: Baltic Horse Show in Kiel Germany.
October 15th: Friend away.
October 16th: Friend away.
October 17th: Friend away.
October 18th: Received CPR #. Friend’s cousin arrives for the day.
October 20th: A birthday to a dear friend of mine.. Rest in Peace <3
October 21st: Swimming. Friend’s Aunt arrives.
October 22nd: Friend’s Aunt still here. Friend’s son back to dad’s. Family Coffee.
October 23rd: Friend’s Aunt is still here. Friend’s boyfriend arrives. Horseback riding for  the first time in years! Watch Iron Man <3
October 24th: Friend’s Aunt leaves. Gym. Send Letters Finally!
October 25th: Friend’s boyfriend leaves. Meeting at language school. Social gathering.
October 26th: Friend’s son arrives. My cousin’s 11th birthday <3
October 27th: Babysit. Friend’s son’s dance class.
October 29th: In Hamburg. Hamburg Zoo.
October 30th: Back to Denmark.
October 31st. Halloween in Canada.. They dont have it here! Friend’s son goes to dad’s. Shopping in Flensburg.
 
It’s actually so funny.
I didn’t realize how much I actually did during the day by day routine until I just wrote it all down.
That’s so neat. Here’s to November!

My mum comes to Denmark for a week and a half for Christmas.
YAAAAY <3 <3 <3 <3 

But have no one to go with… :(

i have the worst time updating!
I have an actual paid website that i update even less than my tumblr!
between my journal, and letters and all my skyping and when I have time - photo editing I just suck at updating!

I will now make an update about something that happened like almost a month ago!

Reeperbahn Hamburg Trip!

ok.

So I was actually really nervous about going to Hamburg, Germany because I was going for 4 days and it was only 3 days after I arrived to Denmark. I hadn’t even finished unpacking and I had to pack up again!
But once we got there it was really neat. We met up with my friend’s boyfriend and did a driving tour through more outter Hamburg.
The next day we went into the center of Hamburg and walked around while my friend Astrid and I played tourist and took pictures of everything!
She is in Hamburg all of the time but wanted to get some nice pictures too!
And the weather was perfect in the time we were out for!
Then that evening we went out with my friend’s God mum and went on a walk by the Harbor, then to a bar called 20 Up.
It has the most amazing views!!!
But apparently the best view is from the men’s washroom…. haha.
Then after drinks we went to dinner at Copperhaus which is an Asian Buffet and it is so neat on the inside. Very modern!
Then we went on a short tour of a section of the Reeperbahn and went home.

The next morning we went out to brunch with my friend’s boyfriend’s best friend and sister. Confusing yet?

Me: Amber
Friend: Astrid
Friend’s Boyfriend: Milan
Friend’s Boyfriend’s Twin Sister: Lil
Friend’s Boyfriend’s Best Friend: Marc.

Important stuff.

So we first went to brunch with them but we were all tired so after everyone went home for the day to rest and at Milan’s apartment, Milan, Astrid and I made dinner and invited Lil and Marc over.
So the dinner was great and we got along just fine! :)
After dinner and a few drinks Lil went home and we went to Marc’s apartment for another beer then got a taxi into the Reeperbahn!

The Reeperbahn is called the “Red Light District”
So when we were there we went into like a pole dancing bar where girls were dancing on tables with poles. Then just before we left here an old woman dressed in traditional German clothes got on the table and started to dance! It was so great!!!

Then we went to a sex store and looked around.
Literally.
The entire area is just sex things and prostitutes.
And there’s even one place where there is live sex!
I was warned not to go in haha.

Anyways, then we went to a few other bars and one of them was sooo old and I don’t think the decor has been changed but it was actually so cool.
Then an old song about the Reeperbahn came on and Marc literally translated the whole thing for me! I thought that was sweet.
They’re all so sweet. They even all speak English for me so I can understand them!
Also at this bar, Astrid and I sang on the top of our lungs, IM WALKING ON SUNSHINE!
And some ABBA song ;)

Then we went to another bar where we danced around a lot and it was so crowded but so fun! 
Afterwards, just to have something in our stomachs Marc bought us pizza then we took a taxi back to Milan’s where we were staying and Marc took a taxi to his home.

And the next day we went back to Denmark.

THAT my friends, is the story of the best party night of my life (super short version) ;)

 

My followers better all reblog this.

There should be more notes

REBLOG FOLLOWERS.

Ok - so it’s 11pm and I want to watch a new episode of 2 and a half men online, but I neeeed to update before things get toooo far and I start forgetting.

I spend a lot of time on skype but I should be writing on here… obviouslyyyyyyy!

I shall point form this for you, and if anyone wants to hear something more “in depth” message me and tell me and I can write to the moon about the experience :D

And since I don’t know what I’ve written before, I’m updating everything for you all!

- Leave Canada
- Arrive in Denmark
- Drop friend’s child at his dads then proceed to my new home.

- Germany for the first time (Flensburg)
- Grocery shopping and visit the beach
- Bogerservice in Denmark to register myself
- Tour of woods near my home

- Visit friend’s horse
- Tour Flensburg
- Unpack suitcases
- Pack bag for weekend in Hamburg Germany

- Hamburg for first time
- Tour Hamburg by car

- Inner city tour of Hamburg
- Go to a bar
- Go to delicious Asian buffet restaurant 
- Walk around Hamburg’s Harbor

- Brunch with new friends
- Dress shopping for my friend
- Night out in the Reepabahn (I THINK I WILL WRITE A POST ABOUT THIS NEXT!!!!)

- Back to Denmark

- Clean Clean Clean

- Friend’s son arrives for a few days

- Visit a castle in Graasten

- Baltic Horse Show in Kiel Germany

- Friend’s cousin comes for a visit

And that’s it so far folks!

I will post some pictures of Hamburg/Flensburg next just so my page isn’t all boring text things ;) 

Sorry I havent updated on here for so long… so much has been happening.
Went to Hamburg, Germany for 4 days then just trying to get into the rhythm here.
Went to a castle in Gastean (sp) today which was really nice. 
And when I was in Hamburg I was given a night tour of the Reepabahn (red light district)

It was a must see ;) 

Got to go help with dinner now, I’ll post more ASAP!!! 

As promised here is my post about homesickness…. so far!

I left Canada a week ago to come to Denmark and I’ve actually only been in Denmark a few days because I spent 4 days also in Hamburg Germany with some friends.

Anyways.

The day I was leaving I just hung out with my mum for the day on the couch and prepared her ipod and things like that until I see her again in December.
Now I know with homesickness I am very lucky that I will be getting the opportunity to visit with my mum, so that’s really great!

When I got to the airport I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her yet so we talked and looked at a few shops until she said I had better get going before a security line began.
I was very teary but I didn’t cry the way I thought I would. My body hates crying in public.
But if you do cry, it is okay! I saw other people saying a very tearful goodbye so the workers must be used to it by now - and if not, who cares!?
That was something I was afraid of.
So I was the second person in line for security by the time I came in so it took no time at all, so I decided I was going to spend some time in the shops. I didn’t even really feel the need to text. I just wanted to be in Denmark so I could begin to feel settled.
So I wandered through stores aimlessly and actually, I felt very independent! :)

After I had gone through the stores and got some food and drink, my best friends mum called to wish me a great trip which was so nice, then I called my best friend Mike and we spoke for a while, but then I felt ok to let him off the phone. I also called my mum and spoke for a bit with her then said goodbye to her.
Through this entire time, I didn’t feel scared, anxious or sad. It was sort of independent but also like it didn’t feel real.

Then as the plane took off, I also didn’t have any fear or sadness. Which is SO weird because when I went to Denmark for 2 weeks in June I cried as I left Toronto on the plane because I was going to miss Mike. WEIRD!
Anyways, the entire plane ride was fine and when I met with my friend and her family it was very warming to be welcomed with big smiles and waving danish flags!


THIS IS WHERE IT STARTS…..

It took so many hours to get to their home but the entire ride I was fine.
It hit me when I saw my bedroom for the first time.
It was sooo cozy, but I felt my heart drop out of me.
I wanted to cry, but held it in as I got the house tour.
Then I said I had to skype my mum to tell her I made it here safe.
On the skype call, I cried. And cried. And criiieeeddd!
It was so hard. And I said I wanted to come home.
I was very jealous of the other blogs I’ve ready where they’re too excited to be homesick for the first few weeks.
I think my friend and her mum knew I had been crying because when I came out I received very sympathetic looks. So I was actually very embarrassed.
That night after another long skype chat with mum and then one with Mike I went to sleep. I thought I had slept the whole night through, but it had only been one hour, and I felt so empty because this time of moving away, I’m not just a drive or cheap train ride away from my normal life.
I think I actually had to skype my mum again that night because I was so upset.. maybe I even skyped Mike again? It’s a bit of a blur at this point.
The next morning however, I woke up and after a few seconds of remembering what was happening I felt so empty again.
It is the worst feeling… It feels like a death of someone close to you in my opinion.
I had this feeling the first few mornings of waking up… And I still have it 6 days later, but its not so powerful anymore at least.
I had been taking something for the feeling as well, and today is the first day I’ve gone without it which is good… SO FAR.
I say this because I almost made it yesterday but had to take something in the evening.
But I guess it’s getting better.

It takes time to get used to things and create a routine.
I do not have any kind of routine yet. This family is always so busy and its hard to keep up with everyone.
Skype and texting/whatsapp helps so so so much. I can’t stress it enough.

I’m sorry this post was SOOOOO long, but I was looking for someone’s raw homesick impression before I came so I wanted to help anyone else looking for this.

And don’t get me wrong, the feeling doesn’t last every second of the day.
It gets a little less every day. Keep busy and it will distract you.
And also, do things that remind you of home, such as watch your favorite tv show, or play your fav game and so on.

If you ever want someone to talk to, I’m here.
I’ve been where you are!
:) 

So I really need to unpack but I figured I would update a little on here first before more things happen.

So I was pretty nervous leaving home on Sunday Evening, but while at the airport I was relatively calm.
Also on the planes not a single tear was shed.
I think it’s because it didn’t feel real. 

My plane left Canada at 910pm and after that all of the timing was just a blur.
We did a stop over in Iceland and the girl I sat next to had been to the same school and same program as me but 10 years earlier so she knew most of my teachers which was so cool.

Yesterday I was picked up in Copenhagen by my friend her mum and her child.
We went out for lunch at Rosenbourg (sp?) castle on the grounds and then dropped off her son at her dad’s and made a few stops on our way home.

Home sickness hit me about as soon as we came to their house.
It’s a nice house but as soon as I saw it, it became final and inside I kept thinking I WANT TO GO HOME NOW!!!!

I always wanted to know other peoples feelings of homesickness for when I came here, so I will write a separate post about my experience. It will have to wait for now though because it is late.
I still havent unpacked anything because we’ve been so busy.

Last night we got home late and this morning I was woken up at 1030am and just had some breakfast and stuff.
Then I was talking with my friend Astrid for hours and then realized that we only had one hour to get to Bogerservice to have me registered in Denmark.

Then we decided to go grocery shopping…. In Germany.
It’s so close so why not?
Then stopped at the beach for a few minutes and headed home.
Then after that took the dogs for a walk, and I made my first Danish dinner, which I have eaten my whole life but never made, fregadela (sp)? My spelling is useless with these things. 

Anyways, now after a skype call with Mike and Mum I now have to go to sleep and up again early in the morning.

Ill post pictures and some more detailed information soon!

nat nat. 

Has anyone else cried excessively the day their flight was leaving?

This does not feel real at all!

it hurts soooooo badly. Can’t stop crying.

Denmark in 2 days. 

That was completely difficult… 5 more days of goodbyes.