Fords, Fiats, and Death by Bikes!

Hej Alle from Aalborg!
(pronounced without the ending --Aalbor--)

I can officially say this is my first post from Denmark!
 I am so thankful to have made it after some rather difficult traveling! If you would like to hear all about it, shoot me an email and I will give you the story!

Denmark, is green. No not just environmentally concerned green, but in the-grass-and-trees-are-still-green green. It was an adjustment seeing green grass and not snow! 

Through my program here, I had made arrangements to be picked-up at the airport, which was super nice! I got off the plane and headed to luggage only to find that one of my bags did not make the flight and the handle on my other suitcase (my brand new Christmas gift) was broken! It was a horrible feeling.
But back to the pick-up service. I was greeted by Christina (from Denmark) and Christine (from Maine) who were at the airport to pick up myself and two Canadian girls (Kensey and Carly). I told them about my bag and Christina helped me get things figured out and to locate my bag (which was in Copenhagen and scheduled for the next flight!). Christina also informed that she would be heading back to the airport to pick up others and would be able to get my bag for me! Thank God!

We were driven from the airport to the Studenterhuest or Student House in City Center were registration and accommodations were given. Conveniently, it is also features a popular pub on the main level! There was a lot of information thrown at us but I was also able to meet a few of the other international students as well! 

From there a guy named Jeff brought two other guys and myself to our accommodations. I live in the Aalborg International Kollegium (AIK) on Brandevej. My room consist of a small kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom to myself. 

My small kitchen and very few utensils! 

And my bedroom was nicely furnished! 

Here is my desk and small table. As you can see, I also hung up photos!

It also included a bed and bookshelf! So useful! Off to the right is another chair and bay window! 

In the kollegium itself, there is also a shared kitchen. It is an island with two ovens, two stoves, two sinks, a small fridge, microwave, dishwasher, and cooking ware to share and use! Most people actually prefer to make their meals and eat out in the main area. Our kollegium, to me, is shaped like a triangle. With rooms along the longer sides and a giant window on the small end. It has a very nice view! There are also several planted trees in here as well. The other unique thing of the AIK is the fridge stocked with beer! At anytime of the day we can ask for the key and pay for a beer! I've also been told AIK holds some of the biggest parties! (as I've been told, alcoholism does happen here)

The AIK is situated 1.6 kilometers away from the university and approximately 6.4 km to city center.

Enough about the dorm, let me tell you of my experience, thus far!

The first night here was filled with unpacking and homesickness. I did not have Internet so I could not contact anyone! It was a horrible feeling, but I decided to brave up and go outside as I heard a bunch of noise. To my surprise, there were about six or seven people making supper. They were all super friendly and welcomed me right away! I talked for a bit and got some access to the Internet, but being jet lagged, I decided to call it an early night. 

The next morning I used the FB groups I was in to ask about a grocery store and directions. With a dying iPod and a map of the city, I decided to venture out. After three wrong turns, I decided it was time to come back. When I returned, I saw that someone had posted saying they too lived in AIK and need a grocery store. I found her room number and went to introduce myself! 

That is how I met Tara, the other "American". We pulled our resources and made our way to Føtex (the grocery store)! It was exciting being able to talk to someone and find our way together! We also learned just how expensive things are in Denmark! 

To help you out, $1 is roughly 5KK (Danish Kroner).  

Bread....15KK

Two pieces of chicken......23KK

Mac book Charger.....599,00KK

You get the picture! 

That night, Tara and I planned out our next day as we had two meetings in the city center. We used a helpful website that gave us directions to the bus stop, the bus number, and times the bus were leaving. 

On my way back to my room, I stopped and talked to a few new people. I met Lotte (Holland), Mihail (Bulgaria), Nicolai, David, and Michael (Denmark), Marta (Italy), Juan (Spain), and Haiyong (China). We talked for a bit. Most of them could not grasp the temperatures of the ND/MN area. Its still a shock when they hear "well we get a few feet of snow every year."

I have made it to the City Center, I have attended several meetings. Met more people, including Erica (California), Dorina (Hungary), Venus (Australia), Eloy (Spain), and Amélie (Belgium). I have (maybe) mastered the bus system. And most importantly, I have learned that bicyclist do not move for pedestrians. The easiest way to get killed is to stand on a bike path and not move.

I have also started to make notes of the different things along the way on the bus route. For example, to know when my stop is coming I look for the Ford dealership! To know where to get off for the city center I look for McDonald's. To clarify, I am not in America any more! Ha ha!

I have been on campus, the building where I will have my classes. Which in essence, is the size of all the academic buildings on Jamestown College put together. I have also been to the main canteen (caf/Java Hut) for coffee. I have also walked along the small river on campus. Did I mention that the campus was HUGE?

My new campus has 18,000 students, 10% are international students here for one semester. Needless to say, I am no longer a name as I was a JC.

On Saturday night, Tara and I went out with quite a few people for the kollegium. Going out means pre-gaming at the kollegium and then finally heading to city center at 00:26.
Aalborg is famous for this entire street of just pubs on both sides.
The first one was a German bar that had cheap beer. There was a random techno version of John Denver's "Country Road Take Me Home" playing when we got in. It was glorious!
After that we went to a second pub and danced the night away! We danced to some random Danish and German songs as well as a song from Grease, "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go," "I'm Blue," and other random songs!
It was soo much fun!
 Nightlife here starts after 23:00 and goes until 5-6 in the morning. It may take me awhile to be able to pull that off!

If you hadn't noticed my use of military time, I am trying to get adjusted to the time here so I will be using it when I can.

I feel like I really haven't done a lot of things worth sharing but in a way I have. I hope to update my blog weekly to let everyone know what I am up to.

Erica and I in snow, she was way to excited since it was her first time seeing it!

-Suz