What better way to combat
the blasted homesickness than staying in an actual home? Luckily, my dear
friend Alex was left alone for a week while her host family is off on vacation.
We kept her company for two nights exchanging stories of home and showing
pictures of friends, families, and universities back in the States. Three young
ladies in their 20s enjoying a day in their pjs? Fits of giggles ensued.
Dedicated to a
“well-being weekend,” I ran around her Nordic wood neighborhood while passing
scenic horse pastures. Practicing chi qong near a pond proved to be the ideal
breather after leaping over horse droppings during the run. We belted out to
90’s tunes while cooking Italian style broccoli stir fry in the wok and Danish
apple fritters for dessert. Of course, Alex, Sim and I snuck in One Fine Day
with Belgian hot cocoa before snoozing under fluffy comforters. Comfort to the
max in candlelight = ideal girls weekend in Denmark
Perks to studying abroad:
diverse friends with fascinating backgrounds. Over dinner, Sim informed us of
the Sikh religion and attempted to teach us Punjabi. Alex and I agreed it’s a
much easier language compared to Danish! “Sat Sri Akaal” is their core greeting
to each other and she described what a day at temple is like. Alex and I gave
Sim the load down on a typical Sunday Catholic mass. Apparently all women take
up the last name of Kaur and all men own the last name Singh. She keeps a blade
under her mattress at home for protection with God symbols engraved on the
sheath. Sim also explained her bracelet is called a kara, which all Sikhs wear
as a sign of unification.
As for Alex, we learned
she despises the color orange above all things. I do believe April Fools day is
looming around the corner…
I’ll reveal the details
about Scottish ghost tours, bag piping lessons, and my morning at J.K.
Rowling’s café next time!
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