Sunday, April 03, 2011

The Adventure Begins


I thought I would go ahead and take my first post to answer some questions that have come up since August from friends and family.

Why do you want to go abroad?
I guess I always answer this question with a question: why not? Why not take the opportunity to live in another country and learn about their ways? I’m already ahead in school, so why not take a year, just for me? Just to learn and have fun for my benefit. It seems to me like the opportunity of a life time. I get to go to Denmark for 10-11 months, live with three different families, go to school, and learn to live in a totally different way than I’m used to. May sound crazy to you, but sounds like fun to me!!

Why gap year?
Honestly, this was a recent idea for me. I had never thought of going on exchange until this past summer, and by that time my only option was gap year. Honestly though, I’m very happy I’m doing a gap year exchange. I’m already done with high school, so I don’t have to worry about credits or coming back and finishing up high school. I’ll most likely be in the second year of gymnasium, so I’ll actually be almost the exact same age as the kids in my class. If I had gone my Junior or Senior year, I would have been a year or two younger.

Why Denmark?
One of my main reasons for picking Denmark was I wanted a country that was different. I didn’t want to come back and say, “I went to Denmark.” And then have other people say, “Oh I’ve been there too!” I wanted to go somewhere different, a place that wasn’t in the news all the time. When I came back I wanted to be able to educate people about the place I went to. On top of that, I’ve always loved the Scandinavian countries. They’re so pretty and have a very rich history.

Will you miss me?
Of course I’ll miss all of my friends and family! I mean most of us are leaving for college anyways, but you guys will come back for Christmas and Spring Break. I won’t!!

What's the time difference?
Denmark is GMT +1 or 9 hours ahead of PST.

Will you go to school? Won’t that be boring and just feel like a 5th year of high school?
Of course! I will most likely go to the second year of gymnasium which is almost equivalent to senior year of high school here. I don’t think it will feel like a fifth year of high school because since I am in running start, I am already used to adapting to different teaching styles and I don’t really feel like I’m in high school anyways. Plus I will probably be spending more time trying to figure out what their saying more than being upset I have to do homework.

Where will you live?
I will live with 3 host families. I’ll get to live with each family for about 3-4 months.

What language do they speak?
They speak Dansk (Danish) and English is the primary second language.

Do you speak Danish?
No I do not. I know a few basics, and hope to pick up a little bit before I leave. But I will go basically not knowing the language and hope to be fluent by the time I return home.

That’s about it for now I think. I will definitely answer some more when I get them; I just really wanted to get my first post up! Today was the day I officially found out I am going to Denmark. I cannot wait to continue on this adventure…

Indtil næste gang mine venner!
Kelsea Jo <3

6 comments:

  1. WE have decided that we want to go live in a country where we don't speak the language, know no one, and live for one year in a totally different setting.

    Sond Crazy? YEP :D

    That's why I did it :)

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  2. Was Denmark your first choice? If not what was?

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  3. Yes Denmark was my first choice. (:

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  4. TILLYKKE!!! :) I'm so so happy for youuu!!!

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  5. Yay, you made a blog! I'm so glad you got Denmark :D

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