Chapters open, chapters close

Mit 3. semester er ovre. Mit udvekslingssemester er slut. Om få timer tager jeg flyet til Chicago, og siger farvel til Memphis. Det har været en rutsjebane. Endnu engang er det tilbage til Danmark efter et af mine eventyr. Det har ikke været nemt. Jeg er efterhåndet vænnet til næsten at være flere steder på en gang og jeg troede egentlig jeg var ved at være 'rutineret', men nemmere bliver det altså ikke. Det må jeg vist se i øjnene. Kan man overhovedet vænne sig til at flytte sig hver 3. måned eller hvert halve år? Som jeg beskrev det i dette indlæg, var der ingen nervøsitet da jeg tog afsted mod Tennessee og den kom heller aldrig. På den måde er jeg rutineret. Men tilknytningen? Den vil altid være der. Og det har jeg accepteret. Vi er jo kun mennesker. Hvor trist ville det ikke også være, hvis jeg uden besvær kunne forlade de rammer, som har været mit hjem?

Det er fandme svært at flytte sig fra sted til sted. Imens jeg har været her, har jeg følt et umådeligt sundt savn til Aberdeen. Savn er vel altid sundt, er der nogen der siger. Det kan godt være det er sundt, men det er ikke sjovt at savne noget, du ved du aldrig nogensinde får igen. Lukkede kapitler kan umulige være sunde at savne. Det er overstået. Det har været utrolig rart at savne noget, jeg ved, jeg skal tilbage til. Faktisk lige om lidt. For dem, hvis næse det er gået forbi, så tager jeg hjem nu. Hjem til Europa. Midt i semesteret besluttede jeg mig for kun at blive her et semester, og selvom jeg ved det er det rigtige for mig, så er det alligevel lidt trist. Tilknytningen slipper jeg jo ikke for. Selvom det har været svært, har det her jo været mit hjem de sidste fire måneder. Jeg har levet sammen med de her mennesker, der før var fremmede, og nu er venner, i de sidste fire måneder.

Jeg har været i Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri og Illinois. Jeg nåede ikke til Texas, men det er helt okay. Da jeg havde chancen, tog jeg den ikke. Det må vist være menningen så. Men jeg har oplevet så meget andet. Jeg har følt den ægte amerikanske skoleånd. Spist s'mores, BBQ i massevis, oplevet Thanksgiving i Chicago og Halloween på et ægte amerikansk campus med alt hvad der hører med. Jeg har boet på måske verdens smukkeste campus, som billederne ovenfor så fint bekræfter. Jeg har fået venner, jeg gerne vil beholde for resten af livet. Jeg har haft nok verdens bedste roomate. Antallet af gange vi har været oppe den halve nat for at vende verdenssituationen kan ikke tælles på to hænder. Selvom jeg, indrømmet, mest har hængt ud med mit internationale slæng, så er der også et par amerikanere, der har gjort indtryk på mig. Det sker ellers ikke så tit. Det akademiske miljø har været ovenud fantastisk, og jeg har haft de bedste lærere i verden, uden tvivl. Etnocentrismen viser sit ansigt hver evig eneste dag, men det er også noget af det, der har gjort mit ophold her så lærerigt. At studere i en by som Memphis, hvor segregation, fattidom og racisme er hverdagskost for et alt for stor procentdel af indbyggerne, har i den grad fået mig gjort opmærksom på hvor mange problemer USA, og i særdeleshed sydstaterne, egentlig kæmper med. Det var ikke før, at jeg så det med mine egne øjne, at jeg indså hvor galt det står til. Det var ikke før, jeg hørte mine egne klassekammerater og venner tale højt om den diskrimination, de oplever hver eneste dag - på vores eget campus - at det gik op for mig, hvorfor Black Lives Matter er vigtigt. Hvorfor vi blev nødt til at demonstrere imod det, der skete på University of Missouri. Det virker mærkværdigt at nævne de her problemstillinger, når folk spørger mig, hvad der har gjort mest indtryk på mig igennem min tid her. Men det er sandheden. Som min canadiske professor fortalte os, da hun gav os hendes syn på, hvorfor hun godt kan lide Memphis. Fordi det er umuligt at ignorere alt det, der er galt.

Jeg vil komme til at savne det her sted. Tak Memphis. Tak for gode minder, gode diskussioner og vigtigst af alt, gode venner.

Today marks the end of my 3rd semester at college. My exchange semester is over, and in a few hours, I'll be on a plane back to Europe. These past four months have been a rollercoaster without equal. Once again, I am about to go back to Denmark after one of my adventures. It hasn't been easy. When is it ever? You get used to moving around, eventually. You get used to being in more than one place at a time. At least that's what it feels like sometimes. I was sure I had reached the point where I'd be experienced enough to do this without losing my cool. But even I have to admit that it doesn't get any easier. It might never. Is there a way to get yourself used to moving around every 3th month or every half year? I'm pretty good at keeping a sense of belonging, but when all this is over, I've had 23 flights this year. Twenty three. And this year hasn't even been that cracy. As I wrote in this post, there wasn't the tiniest bit of anxiety or nervousness to be felt when I left for Tennessee. And it never came. In this sense, I am 'experienced' and I've done it before. Too many times sometimes. However, the attachment is a different game. I don't think that'll ever go away, and I think I have made my peace with that. I am only human, after all, right? Let's face it, it would be pretty sad if we could stay in a place for a longer period of time and not feel any sad feelings once it's time to leave it, right? 

I have to say it. It's difficult moving around constantly. While I've been here, I've missed Aberdeen. Personally, I think it's healthy to be away from something and subsequently realizing how much you love it. Especially when it's a place you can go back to. Missing my 2nd home has been nice, because I'll be back there in less than a month. But the attachment still snuck up on me. Even though I want to leave, I can't help feel a little twinge of sadness. Just because it's over. Just because the reality, that been my reality for the past four months, is going to shatter tomorrow when I get on my first plane. For those of you who are still unaware, I'm not coming back here next semester. Halfway through this past semester I decided to cut it short and return to Scotland next year. I have no doubts about whether or not it really was the right thing to do, because I know it is the right thing to do. But attachment is still a bitch. I've been living here for the past four months. These people, the majority being people with whom I will most likely ever cross paths again, have become my friends. We met as strangers and part as friends. 

While I've been here, I've visited Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois. And Tennessee, of course. I never made it to Texas, but that's okay. When I had the chance, I didn't take it. So I think everything turned out how it was supposed to. I've done so many other things. I've experienced the American college spirit. I've eaten lots of s'mores, stuffed myself with delicious Southern BBQ, I've celebrated Thanksgiving in Chicago and Halloween on a college campus with everything it entails. I've been living on what is probably the most beautiful campus on earth. What more could you ask for? I've gotten to know a lot of wonderful people, some of whom turned into friendships I want to preserve for the rest of my life. I've had the best roommate in the entire world. Ah, the number of times we've stayed up late discussing everything from ethnocentrism, inequality, travelling.. Even though I've mostly been hanging with my international crew (guilty as charged), I have managed to find a few American friends, some of which have made a lasting impression on me. A rare case, I should mention. 
The academic environment at Rhodes has been amazing and I've had some of the best teachers I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. The ethnocentrism is ever-present, but, believe or not, this is one of things that has made my stay here so interesting. Studying in a city like Memphis, where segregation, poverty, inequality and racism are everyday occurrences for a way too large percentile of the population, has made me realize how many problems the US, and the South in particular, is actually facing. I had to see and hear it from my own friends and classmates, before it clicked. It wasn't before I heard the people, people that I see every day, talk about these problems, that I realized why Black Lives Matter is important. I realized why action needs to be taken against what happened at Mizzou. It seems strangely odd to list these things when people ask me what has impacted me the most during my time here. But that's the truth. As my Canadian Political Science-professor said, when she told us why she liked living in Memphis. It's impossible to ignore the problems. 

With that, I'll end this. Thank you, Memphis. Thank you for some amazing memories, some good food for thought and some good people I'd like to keep in my life forever. Another chapter comes to an end.

Enogtyvende leveår

Skal vi lige mindes hvordan jeg tilbragte min 19 års-fødselsdag to år tilbage? Er der nogen, der kan huske det?

That's right, på vej over Atlanten. Den forkerte vej, vel og mærke. Eller hvad? Jeg tilbragte størstedelen af min fødselsdag i George Bush-lufthavnen i Houston. Jeg satte mig på et fly med kurs mod Istanbul om aftenen d. 21 og da jeg forlader det fly igen, er klokken 16 d. 22. oktober. Der var ikke meget glæde over den dag. Så meget for fødselsdag. Det var lidt sørgeligt.
Men hey! Det bragte jo en million og en gode ting med sig, og se, hvor jeg er i dag. Det gik kun opad derfra. Jeg tog til Sydamerika. Fik venner for livet. Flyttede til Skotland. Og nu er jeg tilbage i USA! Tal lige om happy ending. Jeg kan faktisk huske, at jeg, da jeg flyttede til Texas dengang, på forunderlig vis forventede stadig at være i USA den dag, jeg fyldte 21. Ikke så godt tænkt igennem, da den oprindelige mening jo var et år, men man kunne jo drømme. Drømmen gik i opfyldelse, næsten helt uden at jeg planlagde det! Livet er pudsigt til tider.

Meget har ændret sig, som jeg også skrev om her. Endnu mere har ændret sig siden min sidste fødselsdag. Ikke overraskende. Tid har det med at ændre meget. Stopper man nogensinde med at forundres over hvor hurtigt tingene ændrer sig og hvor meget der egentligt sker i løbet af et år? Eller bliver det bare værre, som man bliver ældre? Vi får se.

Min fødselsdag er altid en dejlig dag. Også selvom den bliver brugt i en lufthavn. Der er noget magisk over det. Alting er lidt klarere. Jeg har ingen bekymringer. Jeg får altid en helt masse dejlige beskeder fra folk, jeg holder af, og idag er ingen undtagelse. Det er minimal anstrengelse, men det betyder, at folk har tænkt på dig. Måske kun to sekunder, men jeg tager hvad jeg kan få. Allerede fra tirsdag eftermiddag begyndte jeg at få lynønskninger. Det er nok det eneste gode ved fucked up tidszoner - min fødselsdag varer så lang tid! Så når min fødselsdag er ovre i Danmark, er den nærmest lige begyndt her i Tennessee. I aften skal jeg nemlig til Beale Street, Memphis' øjesten, og flashe mit ID. Bare fordi jeg kan! Måske få en lille drink. Igen, bare fordi jeg kan. Selvom jeg har haft timer idag, så vil jeg glemme det hele i aften, og bare nyde idag. Ingen lektier. Ingen bekymringer om de eksamener og afleveringer, der venter på mig i næste uge. Bare fordi jeg kan. 21 år!

Does anybody remember where I spent my birthday two years ago? No?

I was at the Houston George Bush airport in Texas, waiting for a plane to Istanbul. I was going back to Europe. 10 months before I planned to, actually. I boarded the plane in the evening of the 21st and when I left it again, it was 4 PM the next day. My birthday wasn't very festive. But things turned around after that. I went to South America and made friends I know I'll have for life. I moved to Scotland. And look at me now - I'm back in the States, just in time to turn 21 in the country where 21 is being legal. It all turned out perfect. I remember thinking, back when I was leaving Texas, that I'd be back for my 21st. God knows I had absolutely no idea how, but I promised myself that I'd be here again. And here I am!

A lot have changed since that day in 2013. Time tends to change a lot. Almost everything. My life is completely different from the picture I remember from that day. I made it to college! Not the way I expected, but here I am! The reason for this is, as you already know, that I got accepted to a university I absolutely adore - against all odds. It still perplexes me that it's real. That it actually happened. If I had known that back when I was leaving Texas, I wouldn't have cried on the plane for not being able to reach one of the flight attendants. I was not in a good state. My dream came true. My 19 year old self didn't have to worry at all.

So here's to flashing my passport at Beale Street, being legal and getting a drink - just because I can.

Tourin' Tennessee #1 - Nashville

Så er det vist på tide med en update! Jeg har kun været her i USA i 3,5 uge, men jeg har allerede set en hel del af Tennessee allerede! Fredag eftermiddag satte jeg mig ind i en bil med kurs mod Nashville, Tennessee state capitol og den største by i denne dejlige stat. Jeg var meget heldig at møde en pige, der tilfældigvis skulle mod Nashville denne weekend pga. helligdagen (Labor Day mandag, whooop), så jeg var ikke langsom til at spørge, om jeg måtte få et lift! Og hvorfor var jeg så så ivrig efter at komme til Nashville? Jo, ser I, en varm sommeraften i januar sidste år var jeg til Mundo Lingo i Buenos Aires, og jeg stødte helt tilfældigt ind i Meredith, som jeg hurtigt blev gode venner med. Meredith er fra Nashville, så det var allerede på listen, inden jeg fandt ud af, at jeg skulle flytte til Memphis. Det er jo perfekt. 3 timer senere, og så var vi der! Det bedste ved at rejse er ofte mennesker, og endnu bedre, at blive genforende med mennesker, du holder af, og som du har mødt et helt andet sted, end der hvor I nu ender henne.

Så Meredith blev min tourguide i Nashville! Lørdag blev dedikeret til udforskning af downtown. Det var første dag af college football over hele landet, så der blev selvfølgelig også spillet i Nashville, University of Tennessee mod gud ved hvem. Der var i hvert fald orange fans over det hele (UT's farve). Jeg fik set Broadway, deres turistgade, hvor det eneste du kan finde er country music-barer og butikker, der udelukkende sælger cowboy-støvler. Så er man i countrymusikkens hjemland, hva'? Læg også mærke til at&t-bygningen, der oftest bliver kaldt Batman-bygningen. Lidt sejt..

ENGLISH After being in the States for 3,5 weeks I figured it was about time I ventured out of the bubble and left Memphis. Haha no, just kidding. Nashville has been on my list ever since I met Meredith at Mundo Lingo in January last year, so during Welcome Week here I kept asking people, in case they told me they were from Nashville, if they had the intention of going back for Labor Day-weekend. One day, I got lucky, and Friday afternoon last week we took the 3h drive to Nashville where Meredith was expecting me. I'm pretty sure the best part of travelling is meeting new people, and for me, recently I've travelled to be reunited with people I care about and this time was no different. I love being reunited so far away from where you initially met. It makes the world so much smaller.

So yes, Saturday was dedicated to exploring Nashville. We went downtown to check out the tall buildings and it was pretty awesome. It was like a 100 degrees, but that's a different story. Saturday was, besides way too hot, also the first day of the season for college football, so University of Tennessee was playing at the stadium, hence the overload of orange shirts. We went to Broadway and checked out the country music bars and the cowboy boot-stores, saw a few bachelorette parties (I've been told that's a thing in Nashville), died some from walking in the heat and took a million pictures of the at&t-building, commonly referred to as the Batman-building. Nashville, you're cool.

Abroad from abroad

Eventyret er i gang, jeg er en Lynx nu (deres maskot og derved det, vi alle sammen hedder når vi repræsenterer Rhodes) orienteringen er i fuld gang og døgnet har ikke nok timer. Jeg får deja vú til rusugen sidste år i Aberdeen hvert 10. sekund. Skemaet er fuldt. Og den rigtige rusuge er ikke engang startet endnu. I lørdags startede vores internationale orientering, og siden da har jeg været sammen med de andre 4 udvekslingsstudenter og 17 andre internationale studerende, der skal til at påbegynde deres 1. år. Dagene har været pakket med alt det, der bliver nyttigt for os når først timerne begynder og collegelivet går i gang for alvor. Briefings om alt lige fra campus sikkerhed til deres writing center, hvor man kan få hjælp med opgaverne som jeg forventer vil hobe sig op, så snart jeg træder ind i klasseværelset. Vi har været på bådcruise på Mississippi-floden og lært lidt om Memphis' historie. Vi har haft besøg af en højt respekteret FBI agent, der fortalte os lidt om sikkerhed i Memphis (og som også fortalte, at han desværre ikke havde haft fornøjelsen af at møde præsident Obama endnu..). Jeg har skrevet en stor bunke emails til professorer, hvis fag jeg gerne vil tage. Jeg har købt mine bøger, været på shoppeture til Target med de andre for at købe alle nødvendighederne til et dorm room.

Rhodes College er en stærk konkurrent til Aberdeen hvad angår pænhed. Rhodes er smuk. Bygningerne er magiske. De ligner alle sammen hinanden, men det er en del af skønheden. Det er gotik i den absolut smukkeste form. Campus indeholder alt, hvad vi nogensinde kan få brug for: spisehal med et hav af forskellige retter, svømmepøl, fitness center, kæmpe bibliotek, boghandel, atletikbane, eget posthus og alle vores venner, næsten lige ved døren. Alt sammen til fri afbenyttelse. Hente en pakke eller sende et postkort? 2 minutter fra min dør. Et hurtigt dyk i poolen i solskinnet? 3 minutter. Morgenmad, som jeg ikke engang selv skal lave? 4 minutter. Det er vores egen lille, sikre verden.

Imorgen torsdag flytter alle de nye førsteårs studerende ind, og jeg forestiller mig allerede nu, at det bliver kaos. Præcis ligesom i film. Men det betyder nye mennesker og nye venner. Jeg glæder mig.

ENGLISH I'm a Lynx now! I've been in Memphis since Saturday now, and everything continues to be new and exciting. 2nd year of university, and in a different country! Studying abroad from my home abroad. If I was still in Aberdeen, first week/orientation week would smooth sailing. But once again, I'm starting from scratch, and several times I take myself getting deja vú to last years Fresher's Week back in Aberdeen. There's stuff to do every single second, places to be and people to meet. It's exactly the same as last year, and the real Fresher's Week hasn't even started - the new freshmen don't move in until tomorrow. So, for the past 5 days, I've been with the new international students (exchange students, Teaching Assistent's and new freshmen from all over the world). We've been through a ton of info sessions with all the stuff that'll come in handy once classes start. One thing that I love about Rhodes is all the different stuff we have available on campus (paid for through the tuition); there's a writing center, ESL-service, a huge library with a media center, fully staffed dining hall, a swimming pool, a fitness center, post office, an outdoor track, free laundry, a bookstore (with Rhodes merchandise - very important!).. basically, all the stuff you could ever need as a student. It's amazing. Send or receive a package? 2 minutes from my doorstep. A quick dip in the pool? Three minutes. Breakfast cooked for me in the dining hall with my friends? Refectory's 4 minutes away. It's like living in a bubble where you pay for people to do the work for you. I guess that's what college's about, isn't it?

So yeah, so far I've been with the international kids and our international orientation is coming to an end tomorrow when the new freshmen move in (it's going to be insane!). It's been really nice getting to know the campus and some of its people before everybody else gets here tomorrow. We've been briefed about academic life, Greek life (sororities, fraternities and all that shit), campus safety, we've had an FBI agent visit us to talk to us about safety in the Memphis area, we went on a cruise on the Mississippi and learned a bit about Memphis history in the process, we've been trying out different Memphis foods on different restaurants around the city and the list goes on. The schedule has been absolutely packed so far.

Rhodes' campus is beautiful. A very worthy competitor to the beautiful scenery we have back at Aberdeen. Both places are like Hogwarts in their own way. Both places are magical.

Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave

Denne her blog var oprindeligt for at give min familie og mine venner et indblik i mit 'nye' liv, da jeg for første gang tog afsted mod USA tilbage i august 2013. To år er gået, og meget har ændret sig siden da. Det var faktisk lige præcis to år siden i går, at jeg fløj mod New York City dengang. Der er løbet meget vand under broen, som nogen ville sige. Som de opmærksomme og trofaste læsere/min familie nok ved, holdte jeg kun 70 dage i Texas dengang - noget, som jeg egentlig nok allerede godt vidste taget omstændighederne i betragtning. Min store drøm var jo ikke at tage til USA for at være au pair, som så mange jo sirligt påpegede, da jeg entusiastisk delte nyheden dengang. Nej, det har altid været et andet lys der brændte og det har den store portion amerikanske college-film, jeg har slugt gennem tiderne, ikke været med til at slukke. Det har kun gjort det stærkere. Min drøm har jo nemlig altid været at tage til USA for at læse, og nu er muligheden her. Nu tager jeg endelig afsted for at opfylde min drøm, jeg får endelig mulighed for at se, om det er alt hvad jeg drømmer om, og denne her gang bliver det ikke under andres betingelser - det bliver på mine egne vilkår - og hvis I spørger mig, så er det præcis sådan, det skal være.

For dem af jer, der ikke har helt styr på detajlerne endnu, så kan jeg fortælle jer, at jeg skal studere to semestre på Rhodes College i Memphis, Tennessee. Jeg vil vove at påstå at jeg efterhånden ikke mere er fremmed til hele oplevelsen med at 'starte op' et nyt sted, hvor jeg ikke kender andre end mig selv; jeg har jo rejst og resideret lidt forskellige steder i verden, men udvekslingsstudent, det har jeg alligevel aldrig været. Men nu skal det være. Og det er egentlig dejligt at have lidt rutine i det, for jeg husker stadig tydeligt hvor nervøs jeg har været mange af de første gange, hvor jeg skulle til et nyt sted uden at kende en sjæl og samtidigt skabe mig tilværelse. Hvad end det har været kortvarigt eller i en længere periode. Men man når et punkt, hvor det nye og uvante føles hjemligt og rart, og hvor følelserne ikke længere sidder uden på tøjet.

Jeg sidder pt. i Københavns lufthavn, og venter på et fly til Ft. Lauderdale i Florida, hvor jeg, efter en forhåbentlig smooth immigrationsprocess, skal flyve videre til Memphis i morgen tidligt. Evie, en vældig sød pige fra Manchester, som er en af mine venner fra mit uni, skal også på Rhodes og vi skal bo på hotel imorgen aften indtil lørdag morgen, hvor et par flinke folk fra Rhodes kommer og henter os. Og så går det hele løs. Udflugten til Target lige når vi er ankommet er et stort højdepunkt!

Under alle omstændigheder, så glæder jeg mig enormt mig til at komme tilbage til USA. Selvom min tid derovre endte brat og uventet for at sige det mildt, så havde det absolut ingenting at gøre med hverken landet eller staten. Der er ingen tvivl om, at jeg skal tilbage til Texas. Og jeg tror også, at Tennessee kommer til at falde i min smag. Det skal nok blive fantastisk. Udfordrende på det akademiske plan og det personlige plan, men fantastisk. Det bliver vildt, uforudsigeligt, hårdt, og vigtigst af alt, worth all the trouble.

Jeg kan mærke den spændte følelse; den der fortæller mig, at jeg er klar til det her, og det er den samme, jeg sad med, dengang jeg var på vej mod det ukendte for to år siden. Og alle de andre gange, jeg har trådt ombord på et fly, der skulle tage mig et helt nyt sted hen. Det endte ikke helt som forventet, dengang i Texas, men det ændrer ikke på, at jeg har lyst til at prøve det hele igen. 

ENGLISH As some of you might know, a burgundy passport was created back in 2013. In April, if I'm correct. I remember this due to the fact that I matched with my host family back then. That's when I knew for sure that I was on my way to the States. As an au pair, granted, but I was still going. Which brings me to the original purpose of this blog. Initially, it was supposed to my American diary, the place where I'd share all my adventures from across the Atlantic. And granted, it kept this purpose, but not for long, because what I thought was going to be a year was cut short to just 70 days. Being an au pair was as far from what I wanted as humanly possible and I knew that from the very beginning, so I ended up going home and my American dream was crushed. Or, to be fair, I never actually got to live out my dream. I got to smell it and see other people live it, and that's exactly why I liked our local library - it was a part of the local college. So maybe you've guessed it now? 

Yes, my big dream has always been to studying the US. Cringy and corny, I know. But finally, that's what I'm going to do. On my own terms this time. My visa is not tied to an employer this time; it's tied to myself and my commitment to my studies. Which is just how I like it. So, my blog will now be what I always wanted it to be, at least for the next couple of months: a place where I document my adventures, the ups and downs that college life will inevitably throw at me and where I'll share my memories, thoughts and words on this crazy experience that lies ahead.

For those of you still unaware of the plan, I'll give you an update: I'm off to study two semesters at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee (will go home for Christmas to celebrate with my family and Chris'll come to Denmark, finally, hehe!). I'll be rambling about my classes and schedule and all when it's settled, but already now I know that there are three specific courses I have to have in order to progress into 3rd year upon my return in Aberdeen. It's gonna be some Modern Ideologies, International Relations Theory and International Political Economy. Besides that, anything goes, which is also making me really excited. Academically speaking, this year is going to challenge me, but also prepare me for Honours back in Scotland. Hopefully. Let's see.  
As far as the whole 'new-place-new-people'-experience goes, I'll dare to say that I'm kinda used to it all by now. This is far from the first time I have to do this, and I have to admit it's incredibly relieving and relaxing that I no longer feel nervous by the thought of a whole new beginning, and new people I have to turn into friends. The perks of being an experienced traveler, right? This doesn't mean I don't feel the excitement that follows - it just means I'm calm. Not afraid. I know it's gonna be okay no matter what happens. Eventually, you reach a point where the unknown somehow becomes familiar, where you find comfort in new places and you can feel at home wherever you are. 

As of right now, I'm sitting in Copenhagen Airport, waiting to board my flight to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After a couple hours waiting and me making my smooth way through custom and immigration, I'll fly to Atlanta and then finally arrive in Memphis tomorrow morning local time. Upon arrival, my roomate from Rhodes is going to pick me up (overly excited to meet her as well!) and we're gonna drive to my friend Evie's hotel. Evie is a friend from Aberdeen and she's gonna be at Rhodes for the next year as well. So, to be fair, I'd be lying if I said there's not gonna be any familiar faces in the crowd. This is actually a first. I've always done these things alone. So many firsts here, huh? Anyways, after a good night sleep and a shower to beat the jetlag, nice people from Rhodes are picking us up Saturday morning and then it all begins. International Student Orientation, a Fresher's Week for us foreigners, will last 6 days and then the new 1st year students will move in next Thursday. Which means another Fresher's Week. Good luck me. I had so much during Fresher's Week last year in Aberdeen, but it was exhausting. Pray for me.

I'm not gonna lie, this year has changed my dreams and my priorities, but saying no the opportunity I've been waiting for for what feels like my entire life would be a disgrace to the travelling soul I used to be.. and the adventurous soul I continue to be to this very moment. Due to the way my last stay in the States ended, I have to underline that this had nothing to do with the country nor Texas as a state. Quite on the contrary, Texas was amazing and I absolutely have to go back there before I go back to Europe. No doubt about that. But this year is going to be tough. It is. However, it means the world to me that I have people close to me who only want the best for me and supports me in this even though I know it's tough on them as well. They're really the people making all of this possible. 
It's not easy being head over heels in love with someone who's on the other side of the world, but you know what they say. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.