Only 52 days left?! Where has the time gone?

Yes, I actually counted how many days I have left here and am in disbelief that it's only 52. I have no idea where the time has gone. The college years are beyond amazing, yet they go faster and faster each year. Not okay, in my opinion. I just want to be able to take everyone I've met here home with me (both Danish friends and American friends).

Nothing too exciting has happened in the past week or so but I think that's just in preparation for the crazy and fun two weeks that are about to come. My brother and Lauren arrive on Friday afternoon and I have to constantly remind myself that I'll be with them in Europe and that they will get a glimpse into my life abroad. I'm so excited to go out with them and just be with family (plus I can't wait to see Lauren's beautiful engagement ring). I'll be traveling with them to Stockholm for three days and then I'll come back to Copenhagen to greet Elena, one of my best friends from home who is studying abroad for the semester in France. We both agreed that we're going to have more of a "date night" her first night here since both of us will be exhausted from traveling. However, I can't wait to show her how amazing Copenhagen nightlife is come Saturday. The next Tuesday I'm jetting off to Madrid to spend five days with Shelby and see how she has been living for the past two months. Despite the fact that I saw her about a month ago, I can't wait to see her again and spend more time with her. The weekend she spent in Copenhagen went by way too fast. Once my trip to Madrid is over, I get to see Danny ten days later. I can't even describe how excited I am for him to be here. It's a mix between pure excitement and disbelief that I'm actually going to be with him in Copenhagen. I feel so blessed and happy to be able to spend time with so many people who mean so much to me. In addition, I'm so thankful for everyone who is visiting Copenhagen. I'm pretty lucky.

I've already started looking at classes for next semester at Tufts (WOW) and I'm excited and anxious to see what next semester will offer. I already have an idea of the classes I'd like to take and they seem really interesting. I'm looking forward to just being back on campus and having Boston right outside my window. I of course love Copenhagen, but I will admit I miss Boston quite a bit. Being here has made me appreciate the fact that I go to school so close to such an amazing and vibrant city. I plan on really getting to know the city next semester, even if it means walking around by myself on a Saturday (I've become a big fan of doing that here).

It is obvious that my plans changed a bit this year as I'll be returning to Tufts. People sometimes ask me, "Aren't you mad that you're not staying a whole year anymore?" and if we're going to play the honest game, I'm not. I came to Copenhagen on a pretty big whim. It was really a matter of my future sister-in-law saying, "You should look into Copenhagen, you'd like it." I did and got in to a fantastic and life-changing program. I had never been to Copenhagen before and knew no Danish. It was simply a place on a map to me. Now it has become the place that changed my life and made me realize in order to really be content in life, you have to make your own decisions based on what you want and are passionate about. Coming here has made me more independent, more passionate about my field of study, and more appreciative of the people in my life and the abilities I have. At first when I decided to go back to Tufts, I was a little frantic and uneasy. I talked to my mom and dad over and over. Finally, my dad said something I'll never forget: "Laura, don't worry about anyone else around you. You do you." So it's true, maybe my plans did change a bit, however, what I look forward to most about next semester is taking everything I've learned here and applying it to home. Maybe this means changing my perspective when reading about Islam or different religions. Maybe it means sitting next to a person I wouldn't normally talk to in class. Maybe it even means putting aside time for myself to just "do me" and not worry about what everyone around me is doing or not doing. It all sounds cliche, I'm well aware. However, I think too often we become worried about what others think, say, and do and forget that they're not the ones living our life, we are. I'm thrilled to be returning to Tufts with a new perspective on just about everything. I'm thrilled to be able to see some great friends who will be on campus. Additionally, I'm thrilled for my good friends who will be abroad second semester, learning about themselves and hopefully gaining new perspectives as well.

I plan on loving every minute of the next 52 days. This has been quite an adventure already and I know the adventure will continue even after I land in the U.S. in December (can't wait to see you, Mama and Papa Grosack).

That's all for now. I can't wait to post about what I'm sure will be an unforgettable travel break. Hej Hej!

I Love Me Some Copenhagen Culture

Hello all!

It was a great first week back in Copenhagen after the study tour to Turkey. Syd and I had a lovely dinner in my apartment last Sunday (which included apple crisp...oh how I miss fall in the States) and I was so excited to see her and everyone on Monday and find out how amazing their study tours were. My friends traveled all over: Milan, Scotland, Stockholm, and even Estonia. It was really interesting to hear about their experiences and compare them to my time in Istanbul.

One thing I've really grown to love about Copenhagen is how easy-going everything and everyone is. I love being able to talk to Danes when I'm out or have them find a fascination with the States despite the fact that their culture and country is what is the most fascinating. I love how going out on a Tuesday night is the norm (not just for DIS students since we have no classes on Wednesdays) whereas in the States that would be unheard of. On Tuesday Syd and I headed to Kulor Bar, in the heart of Copenhagen, and had a blast meeting new people and dancing until the early hours of the morning. Wednesday I had no field study so I spent the beautiful and sunny day walking around and once again taking in this amazing and culturally rich city. It baffles me that the semester is almost halfway through. However, I'm grateful every day that I've done the most to immerse myself in the culture and have the time of my life while learning about any and every topic DIS or Copenhagen throws at me.

Friday night was Kulturnatten or "Culture Night" in Copenhagen. You buy a 90 kroner ticket and get in to hundreds of museums, events, and bars for free. I started out my night by meeting Syd at the DIS Halloween/Fall event, where there was cider and pumpkin carving. I love those fall activities and it put me in such a great mood. I then got to meet some of Syd's friends, who are incredible people. I'm so happy I get to keep meeting such great kids at DIS who are interesting and hilarious. We then headed to the zoo (which is normally 140 kroner for admission), which was an unforgettable experience. We all kept talking about the fact that we were in a zoo at Copenhagen at 10 PM for free and how great an adventure it was. Not to mention we were such a great group.  Next we headed to a bar in the center of the city where there was a live band. The band was incredible! They really got the crowd into their music and the atmosphere of the bar made me want to go back sometime very soon. All of the songs they played were ones that we thankfully knew so singing and dancing to them was no problem. We ended up meeting some terrific and friendly Danes who joined our group and talked to us for a few hours. Next we headed to a bar/dance club near DIS and, once again, danced until our feet couldn't handle any more movement. It was a night I'll never forget, not just because of the event but because of the people I got to meet and spend time with.

This post is short compared to my others, however, I have two papers due next week so I'll use that as an excuse. On one last note, I finally have my two-week break figured out one-hundred percent. Next Friday (the 28th) my brother and my future sister-in-law will be coming to Copenhagen for five days and then I'm spending three days with them in Stockholm. One of my best friends from home, Elena, will then be coming here for the weekend, which I'm beyond excited for. After a few days of rest in Copenhagen (and exploring the city even more), I head to Madrid to see Shelby and see just how loco Spain is. I feel so blessed to be able to see my family and spend even more time with my close friends in Europe. It's truly a dream come true.

Time for this world traveler to write her heart out in essay form.

Hej Hej!

I Love Me Some Turkish Delight

It has been quite a while since I've posted and so much has happened. During the last weekend of September, my best friend, Shelby, visited and w had the best time. I couldn't wait to see her and show her around my new home. Seeing her in the airport was unreal and we both couldn't stop saying, "Wow, we're in Europe together." On Friday we had dinner with my closest friends from DIS and went out to several clubs and bars after. Saturday we slept in and spent the rest of the day shopping, walking around Copenhagen, getting danishes and coffee, and having a nice leisurely dinner (followed by another night of bar and club hopping). I absolutely can't wait to visit her in Madrid in November.

Now, for the information that everyone has been waiting for: Turkey was beyond incredible. I learned so much on the trip and became even closer with people in my program. We arrived in Istanbul on Saturday night and I was blown away by how crowded and alive the city was. Istanbul has about 17 million people, so all of us were overwhelmed at first. We had a tour guide all week named Korai, who was the sweetest and funniest guy I've ever met. He was never afraid to joke with us and make fun of us yet still knew when to be serious so we would really learn and take in the sites around us. On Sunday we visited the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. The Hagia Sophia was the most incredible site I've ever seen. There is so much history behind it and the inside was beyond breathtaking. It was impossible not to notice a different architecture and art every where we looked. There was so much intricacy and detail in every part of the mosque. The Blue Mosque wasn't quite as extravagant as I thought it would be, but it was still amazing as well. That afternoon we visited the Topkaki Palace and walked around the city. The weather all week was perfect. It was hot but not to the point where it was unbearable and there was always a nice breeze. On Monday night we had dinner on the rooftop of a hotel in Istanbul overlooking the city, in particular the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. I had to take a few minutes by myself to just take in the beauty of what I was seeing. Hearing the call to prayer late at night was also something that was pretty special and unforgettable.

On Monday morning we visited Mavi Karem, the Greek Patriarchy, and the neighborhood around it. Mavi Kalem is an NGO and works to help children and women against violence. The "office" was small and it was sad to see that the NGO did not have the necessary resources to help individuals. The Greek Orthodox Church was small but beautiful. That afternoon we had time on our own and my friends and I went to the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar. I was surrounded by every type of antique, necklace, ring, rug, lantern, and scarf you could imagine. I got to practice my bargaining skills and did pretty well (I got a gold elephant that was originally 35 lira for 8). At the Bazaar I picked up a scarf, jewelry, evil eye bracelet, and some Turkish delight (the dessert that Turkey is known for). That night we got to see a Whirling Dervish performance, which is a religious and sacred dance that is practiced in Turkey. It was amazing to see how much focus the men put into their dance and I was blown away by their concentration.

Tuesday morning we heard a lecture by Nora Fischer Onar, who works at Behcesehir University and went to college in the States. She spoke to us about minority groups in Turkey and it was an interesting and informative lecture. Unfortunately, when asked a question about women's rights in Turkey, she didn't go into much detail, which a lot of us found to be disappointing since we were subjected to rude comments and uncomfortable remarks by Turkish men on the streets. That was probably the most uncomfortable thing about Turkey: some men have no shame in yelling whatever they want at women. I've learned not to take for granted the respect I receive from people in Copenhagen and the States. That afternoon my friend Katherine and I visited the Basilica Cistern, which was underground and is the largest surviving cistern in Istanbul. It was an amazing experience to go there and see the history of Istanbul. Afterwards we walked around and both purchased gorgeous tapestries at a small shop we found. We then went to the Islamic Arts Museum. After a much deserved nap, a few of us went to a nice Turkish restaurant on the main pedestrian street, Istiklal and then went to a bar where live Turkish music played. We ended up going with many other DIS students and all of us had a great time just taking in the life and culture of Istanbul.

Wednesday was a long day. My group, Immigrants and IDPs, met with an organization early in the morning that takes care of refugees and their housing, food, and security needs. The woman who spoke to us was American and moved to Turkey just a few years before. What we were told was sad and frustrating. Most of the immigrants were unable to gain admission to countries by the UN and were forced back to their countries for other reasons. The stories we were told were appalling and it made me think about how much we take for granted in the States and how many individuals, whether in Turkey or elsewhere, can't even receive proper housing. It was easy to tell that the woman speaking to us felt just as terrible. We then attended a lecture as a large group and had an amazing lunch overlooking the ocean and all of Istanbul. That afternoon we got to meet and talk with Turkish students about the government, Turkey's accession into the EU, and what it was like to be a university student in Istanbul. The girl I talked to was sweet, honest, and everything she said was eye-opening. She told me how she truly felt about the Turkish government and how she often feared arrest based on her thoughts. I'll refrain from saying her name and her views on the government out of respect, however, it made me realize how important it is never to for granted the religious and political freedoms we have in the U.S. (and even Denmark). Being able to talk to Turkish students about religion, politics, classes, music, movies, and even partying was an incredible experience. I learned that all of us are truly the same regardless of political views or religion, which is an aspect of life that many individuals often fail to recognize. That night we had a great dinner with the Turkish students and went out with them afterwards. It was so amazing to see how fun and thrilled they were to be interacting with American students. It was truly a day I'll never forget.

Thursday was our last day and was devoted to a lecture at another university and free time in the afternoon. We went from the European side of Turkey to the Asian side within an hour. After the tour, we did some shopping and went to the Turkish baths (look it up, it's pretty unique). Since it was our last night we had a final group dinner at a restaurant on the main walking street. All of us felt even more like a family and couldn't wait to go out together after dinner. We ended up at a bar/club that played great dance music and our professors danced (and drank) with us until about 3 AM. Being able to reflect on the amazing week we just had as a group was unforgettable.

Istanbul was a life-changing experience and was the best academic trip I've ever been on. I learned so much about politics, religion, people, unique cultures, and it changed my view of the world as a whole. I've often contemplated why religion gets in the way of so many issues between individuals and groups. As the product of a Christian mother and Jewish father,  I've seen firsthand how religion can get in the way of people's views and opinions of others. Yet if I learned one thing from this trip, it is that no religion or belief system is greater than the other. From meeting the Turkish students and other Turks, whether they were Christian or Muslim, I came to realize that, as cliche as it sounds, we're all the same. Christianity does not triumph Judaism and Islam is no better than Hinduism.

Additionally, I learned never to take respect and my rights of free speech for granted. As mentioned before, many of the girls, myself included, were uncomfortable in Istanbul because of the numerous negative comments we received from men on the streets. It's obvious that cultures and cities differ, however, I have never been subjected to that level of disrespect in any other country. To know that many women go through that every day made me realize how important it is to be respectful to any and every human being, regardless of gender or ethnicity and that respect should always be strictly enforced. When I got to really think about it, I wish that one of the lecturers had discussed women's rights in Turkey more just because of that aspect of Turkish life. In regards to the free speech part, I will never forget the conversation I had with the Turkish students I met. Some were afraid to express their views while others simply said nothing. To not be able to speak freely on issues related to politics and religion is something that still baffles me. From now on I know I'll always think about those students and the fears they face regarding their personal views.

Our good family friend, John, always told me, "You have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable." I had to constantly repeat that phrase to myself throughout the entire trip. In fact, that's what made the trip so unforgettable.  I was put completely out of my comfort zone and forced to think about some incredibly significant issues and see life from a different perspective. While I enjoyed my time in Turkey, I was thrilled to be back in Copenhagen. Never have I been so excited to be surrounded by hundreds of bikes or get on the 6A bus back to the apartment I love. I gave my roommate a huge hug when I saw her and spent all of my first day back just walking by myself throughout the city and being so happy to be "home." I've truly realized how at home I feel in Copenhagen and it's an amazing and beautiful feeling.

I can't wait to see what the rest of the semester brings. My trip to Turkey was such a significant part of my experience abroad and changed my perspective on many things. Who knows what the next two months hold but I know they will continue to change me as an individual and give me more and more insight on how huge this world really is.