Oh Christmas Tree! Oh Christmas Tree!

Trudging around looking for something out in the cold with snow higher than your boots is not how most people imagine spending their Sundays. But this is exactly what Ole, Birgitte, and I did this Sunday, in search of the perfect Christmas tree.

As we pulled up to the Christmas tree farm I was already pretty excited, but the excitement tripled when, instead of selecting a ready to go Christmas tree we headed off into the fields of trees to go find Our Tree. And that is how I found myself trudging through snow past the tops of my boots and enjoying it. One tree was too short, another too big, one too wide, another too thin. It was quite a challenge to find the perfect tree.

Finally we found Our Tree. A tall one that was not too tall, and full but not overly so. After the tree passed the test to be declared The One, Ole took his saw and cut down Our Christmas Tree.

After bringing it back to the farmhouse, and netting the tree, we brought it back home.

Figuring that ornaments and water do not go together, we waited for the snow to melt off the tree before setting it up. We then decorated The Tree in red and gold, candle lights, and Danish flags. I must say, Our Tree is a very beautiful one! Don't you agree?

God Jul Alle! Merry Christmas Everybody!

Crazy Christmas Cabaret at Tivoli, land of Nisser

Welcome to Tivoli at Christmas time, a glorious Christmas inspired Danish theme park filled with wonder at every turn. Complete with mounds of snow, a house of nisser, and endless amounts of Christmas Cheer. If you are ever in Copenhagen at Christmas time, go to Tivoli to absorb this essense of Christmas that is spread throughout the park. It is truly magical! Ole, Birgitte and I went to Tivoli Monday the 29th, the day after getting back from London in order to see Crazy Christmas Cabaret. But along the way we absorbed a good amount of Christmas cheer!

A house full of Nisser! Living in Denmark around Christmastime there is no way that one can avoid an encounter with Nisser. These friendly pranksters are extremely prominent during the Danish Christmas season. In order to keep them well behaved, or for children to receive a present from Nisser, a bowl of the Christmas pudding, similar to our rice pudding, must be left out for the Nisser. These little guys are one of my favorite things about the Christmas season in Denmark! It is a guarantee that I will be bringing some Nisser back to my family for Christmas!

A special treasure of Tivoli at Christmastime is the annual Crazy Christmas Cabaret, a comedy show put on for over 25 years in english at the heart of Tivoli. I think I was almost constantly laughing throughout the whole show. I am so glad that my host parents ensured that I would not miss out on this Christmas time tradition!

Vi Ses!

To London we will go!

“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life” Stepping off of the plane in London, only a small amount of time passed before I heard this quote from Samuel Johnson. Despite this being repeated throughout the trip, it wasn’t until arriving back in Copenhagen and I was thinking over things I had done, as well as things I still wanted to do in London, that the meaning really hit me. It is true that if one wanted to get to know London inside and out you would have to remain for a lifetime, and even then I don’t think you would know about all the treats that London has in store for those within its bounds.


My host parents and I left for London on Thanksgiving day and stayed until Sunday evening. With only three full days in London it is incredible how much we saw and got to do. We spent Friday morning at St. Paul’s Cathedral and not only did we see the Cathedral in all its splendor, but we braved the stairs to the top, where there is a spectacular view of the city.

St. Pauls Cathedral as seen from a building across the street.

After an afternoon of strolling through the shops on Oxford Street our day was still not done. Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer of Phantom of the Opera, has long been working on a sequel to Phantom. It was just our luck that Phantom’s sequel Love Never Dies has been making its debut in London. Needless to say, by 7:30 Friday evening we were in our ideally situated seats watching this wonderful performance. Not only was the performance absolutely superb, and the music just as catchy as Phantom, but the audience was in for a surprise when it was discovered that Andrew Lloyd Webber himself was attending that particular performance!

Saturday we saw Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, parts of the Royal Stables, and Royal Art Gallery. Needless to say, Saturday was jam packed with experiencing history, which as one who has always had a love for history I thoroughly enjoyed!

Here are two quite similar guards... though one can not stop laughing at the thought that she is on guard duty!

Here is another picture of the temporary royal guard. Yet in the below picture the attempt to look angry is abandoned. Apparently I was not meant to be a guard.

Sunday we went to the Tower of London. Though remembered mainly for its very dismal history as a prison, the Tower of London is something that should not be missed. From the royal jewels, to the stories of past occupants and the armour exhibit, one could easily spend the day exploring the Tower of London, and then still have to go back the next day.

In the picture to my left (your right) is the "Bloody Tower"! Spooky!

After spending the majority of our last day at the Tower of London, we got a tasty meal of fish and chips, and walked along the waterfront before heading to the Airport.

A picture of tower bridge as we walk along the waterfront.

I really can not thank my host parents enough for including me in this trip! Not only was the trip itself amazing but it was fantastic being able to spend the long weekend together!

Our family picture of this trip

Thanksgiving, Danish Style!

In my mind Thanksgiving is supposed to be a large scale event in all regards. A large number of attendees,  a large quantity of homecooked food, and a large amount of friendly banter. When myself, and two other host students started planning our large multi family feast we had this idea in mind. This was a great way to share the essence of Thanksgiving (along with the traditional foods) with our host families.

It probably does not surprise anyone that I was in charge of the desserts, while the other two students were in charge of the turkey and sides. So I made a total of four pies, two apple and two pear-cranberry.

Above is an uncooked apple pie.

Our big Thanksgiving feast was on Wednesday the 24th of November starting at 7pm and lasting until late at night. With our two turkeys, cranberry sauce, green beans, mashed potatoes, assorted vegetables, and pies it was a great feast. The people there were all amazing and since there was such a great group we all had a blast!

Family members starting to take their places at the table. To the left is my friend Melissa and her host family and to the right is my host family.

Here Peter is carving up the first Turkey while the second waits. Peter's host family allowed us to hold Thanksgiving at their house. (my pies are in the picture!!)

As Thanksgiving was approaching I was really worried that I would get homesick, since it would be the first year I could not fly home for Thanksgiving. Fortunately, due to friends, and my host parents, I did not feel like I had been cheated out of a Thanksgiving feast with family.

My host parents and I in the middle of the feast. (And no we did not purposefully match...haha)

Thanks to everyone involved for a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration!

Nu er julen startet !

Now Christmas has started! It may still be before Thanksgiving back in the United States but here in Denmark, all our thoughts are already on wish lists, nisser, and Christmas celebrations. For me the Christmas season started this past weekend with my Danish family, some Christmas shopping and the scent of Danish treats.

Since I had come back from Greenland it has been darker and colder in Denmark, so thoughts of Christmas definitely adds cheer even on a cloudy day. It is wonderful to walk around Copenhagen and observe the Christmas decorations that are going up everyday. (That is as long as it isn't rainy or snowing)

This past Saturday, in the true Christmas spirit I spent the day with my Danish family getting gifts for those back home, and baking cookies with my host Mom. In total we made over 300 cookies! This seems like a large amount when you consider how big American cookies are, but Danish cookies are considerable smaller. These cookies are a perfect sized mouthfuls of holiday spirit, without the guilty conscience of gobbling up a gigantic American Christmas cookie.

Pictured above are some Pebernødder cookies.

After baking the three different types of cookies, Pebernødder, Jødekager, and Finskbrød, they were loaded into multiple Christmas tins. We tested out the cookies with tea, coffee and a movie, creating a wonderful end to the Saturday.

Though that was the end of our Saturday it sure was not the end to the Christmas baking for the weekend. On Sunday my host Mom made Æbleskiver, a traditionally Danish Christmas dessert. These round puffs are typically eaten with jelly or powdered sugar, which we promptly did soon after they were made. Below is a picture of the delicious dish of Æbleskiver, next to the special pan required to cook them. Such is not an easy task, particularly when they must be turned several times to create the round shape. Thus it was probably a good thing someone with more talent than me in the kitchen was making them.

Thus was the wonderful start to the Christmas season!

After a weekend of Danish Christmas treats, we will spend Wednesday evening with two other host families and my friend Sandra as we celebrate Thanksgiving!

Vi Ses!