To My Danish Home for Christmas

I realize fully that I am an extremely lucky individual. For my academic opportunities, for my traveling opportunities, for the fantastic friends I have made, and for my truly amazing family. Studying in the Netherlands for my Masters makes it quite difficult to go to my hometown in Florida for Christmas. Thankfully, I have family quite close who I was able to spent yet another amazing Christmas with. When I first started blogging in the summer of 2010, I don't think I would have predicted how studying abroad in Denmark would truly change my life forever. And I suppose it wouldn't have changed my life as much without two very important people opting to be my hostfamily. I knew by the end of my year abroad in Denmark that I truly had expanded my family. Now I am so lucky that I have not one place where I feel at Home and with family but two, one being in Sarasota Florida, and the other being Copenhagen Denmark.

The days around Christmas in Denmark can be described as nothing short of hyggelige, which has no exact English translation. I would describe something being hyggelige as something which gives one a feeling of coziness, friendliness, comfort, peace, and warmth. That perfectly describes the days leading up to Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas day, and several days which followed. Those were days full of plenty of good food, good company and good cheer. Those are the days when dinner and a show (Hey Jude) in the city takes on an almost magical element, those are the days where you learn of new Christmas traditions, and struggle to eat the fourth course, yet do it anyways. Our Christmas time this year was full of the essential things - family, food and plenty of laughter.

I am so very happy that I was able to come home to Denmark for Christmas. To spend time with Ole and Birgitte was a perfect way to spend the winter break in my Masters program. To be able to see my hostparents, their families and friends again is simply priceless. I hope that everyone around the world had an excellent Holiday season, and a very Merry Christmas if you celebrate.