A Day On A Boat

On the 14th of May we headed out on the boat for a day of enjoyable horizons and fishing. With my Dad as the boat Captain we couldn't have been in better hands for cruising around. It was quite relaxing to be out on the water, in the warmth of the Florida sun with amazing people besides you.

Aside from seeing a manatee, and a dolphin I was quite excited to see a pair of Roseate Spoonbills. These pink colored birds are actually rare to see, yet they have been known to occasionally nest in the Sarasota area. The pink color occurs due to their diet, making them fairly easy to spot when they are among the mangroves.

For lunch, we stopped at one of my favorite restaurants, The Old Salty Dog. With its dockside tables, and the marine themed atmosphere, it is a relaxing place to come to when the weather is nice. What is terrific about the restaurant is being able to pull up on a boat, tie the boat off, get lunch and then go straight back to boating.

After lunch we started fishing, and together we caught 5 fish. 

All in all a terrific day spent on the water! 

Being Tourists in Our Own Backyard...

After my graduation from University of Richmond, Ole and Birgitte joined my family in Sarasota, Florida for a family vacation. We really took the time to live the Florida lifestyle. We went boating, fishing, took walks along the water, went to the best beach in the country, and took the time to go to local museums. It was incredibly nice to have everyone together in my hometown. Too often we forget what an amazing and unique place Sarasota is, so taking the time to explore was perfect. Instead of putting all the sights of our vacation in one post I shall split it up. 

When people hear me say that my hometown of Sarasota has the #1 beach in the country, they think that I am simply biased. Though I may prefer the sands of Siesta Key beach more than any other beach I have seen, it was actually rated as the #1 beach. 

My favorite thing about Siesta Key beach is, as I mentioned before, the sand. With a higher percentage of Quarts than the typical beach, the sand here is very fine grains, that are white in color. The only way to describe it is that it is like baby powder. 

I love watching the birds at the beach. From Laughing Gulls (commonly called seagulls), to several types of Pelicans, Herons and other wading birds, it seems like there are always a few entertaining birds at Siesta.

At Siesta Key beach there is an interesting tradition. Every Sunday, right around sunset there is a drum circle. It is not an elaborately planned or organized affair, yielding spontaneous rhythms, and entertainment for those who happen to be at the beach.

And people still wonder why I am picky when it comes to beaches!

Graduation from University of Richmond

This May, I completed my undergraduate education at the University of Richmond, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Studies with Departmental Honors, and with a second major of International Studies : World Politics & Diplomacy.

Finishing my Bachelor degree is still a bit surreal. The weekend of graduation itself was jam packed with receptions, traditions, and events to commemorate our commencement. I was really lucky that many family members were able to come to Richmond for the weekend, including my host parents. Not only was I thrilled to show everyone where I have been studying, but I felt the strength of my family's support, which was priceless. Family came from Florida, Massachusetts, New York, and Denmark for my graduation weekend, making it incredibly special simply because everyone was together.

Birgitte, Ole, and I

The Levanti family, The Kelly family, and The Johnson family all together!

Words can never express how incredibly thankful I am for all my family members, those who were able to make it to my graduation as well as those who were unable to. Each and every family member has impacted the person that I am today. Their love is what gives me the strength to face life's many challenges. Without these amazing people in my life, I doubt I would have been able to finish my Bachelor degree at a place like University of Richmond. I am thankful for having had the opportunity to attend the University of Richmond, and I am thankful for my family who has given me the strength to succeed.

In September 2012, I will be a Master's student at Maastricht University in The Netherlands. No matter where I am in the world, I know that my family's love will give me the strength I need to face whatever may occur on life's path. 

Spring Semester 2012

Having read my recent posts, one will have noticed that I had fallen a bit behind on posting. As some of you may know Spring of 2012 was my final semester at University of Richmond. Since I was on the Honors track, had two majors, and an on campus job, the semester seemed to speed past. Days turned into long nights at my desk, and my thesis became my primary focus.

Thankfully, the hard work over the semester paid off. My majors were completed, and my Honors research thesis was approved.

With the end of the semester I am back to my blog, and will strive to capture new adventures which come along.

Keep on the look out for new updates!

New Year's Eve In Copenhagen

I know that this is quite late, as we are already halfway through 2012. However, I have wanted to write about celebrating New Years in Copenhagen for quite a while, and simply haven't gotten to it. So instead of boring you with the details of how I spent my New Years I would like to share with you some traditions, and insights about the New Years celebration in Danmark.

Like most places around the world, Denmark celebrates the coming of a New Year with fanfare. It is a time to gather with friends and loved ones in order to celebrate that which has come to pass, as well as that which is yet to occur. The celebration of New Years dates back to, at least, the Romans. The Romans dedicated the first day of the year, appropriately, to Janus, who was the god of doors and beginnings. This god was said to have two faces, one which looks forward while the other looks back. Many argue that Janus may have impacted January as the name for the first month of the year. Yet the history of the celebration of New Years is typically forgotten in the rush to buy silly outfits, gather food, and round up friends to celebrate.

Celebrating New Years in Danmark is a splendid affair, which is packed with activity and laughter. After Christmas in Copenhagen, the population switches gears to New Years. I remember being in a shop with my host parents and seeing mounds of crazy hats, sparkling outfits, table "bombs" which shoot confetti, and a myriad of other celebratory objects. At the time I was primarily concerned with the crazy hats, and the table "bombs" simply because they had never been a part of my U.S. New Years repertoire. For those who typically refrain from hat wearing, but desire to participate, they even had tastefully done miniature hats that are subtly clipped on top of one's head. Table "bombs" are, as the name suggests, not so subtle. These consist of a cylinder of confetti that after being lit, explodes the confetti in all directions.

Table Bomb as it explodes

However, before the table "bombs" are lit, there is 15 minutes in which most Danes are captivated by their TV screens. From 6pm New Years Eve to 6:15pm the Queen addresses the nation. I was a bit taken back by how uniform it seems to watch this production. While there had previously been fireworks in the street which had to be successfully dodged, at 6 pm all eyes turn to the television and the streets remain silent.


On New Years Eve many people gather for fish dinners. This seems to be a relatively new tradition but all the young Danes I talked to were having some type of fish with friends for New Years Eve dinner. Many, like us, had sushi.

Trays of Sushi for New Years Eve Dinner

Aside from the Queen's Speech, there is another TV production that many watch on New Years Eve. This black and white film called 'Dinner For One' adds some humor to the evening. Below I have inserted the original video which is shown at New Years.

As the countdown to Midnight begins, everyone gets up on chairs and sofas. At 12 o'clock you jump into the New Year, quite literally.

Leaping into the New Year

One of my favorite elements of the Danish New Year is the Kransekage. This 'wreath' cake is made out of almond paste, and designed as a tower of rings, with the rings getting smaller in size as the cake gets higher. Most Kransekage for New Years have Danish flags and festive figures. They are not only fun to look at, but quite tasty. After 12 o'clock everyone gets a piece of this special cake.

Vi Ses!