Summertime in CPH

I know I promised you posts about Italy, but I think Copenhagen is feeling a little neglected over here on the blog. I've been so busy bragging about elsewhere that I've forgotten to let you in on my daily life and surroundings.

This is really the most wonderful little city. And man, does it bloom in the summertime. Physically bloom, like plants and stuff, yeah, but also in other ways. Copenhagen feels so, so alive when the weather gets good. The minute that big stories-tall thermometer on H.C. Anderson hit 15°C, the Danes just, like, erupted onto the scene. They find any excuse to lap up the sun, too (which lasts until 10:30pm!). The past month has seen dozens of street festivals, like Blågårdsfest, May Day festivities and the 5-day-long-city-wide-free-festival Distortion (which was SO COOL). And each park I bike past is always packed with Danes tanning and barbecuing. Danes are good at summertime.

I, meanwhile, have been a little too stressed to fully enjoy the weather. Its finals time, and my two 15-page essays have kinda-really been giving me mental hell. I don't love University of Copenhagen's school structure, with the final exam counting as 100 percent of my grade. Yuck. Major stress. But I've survived one essay so far and the next is due Monday. And the minute I turn in that last essay, I know I'll get better at appreciating Copenhagen.

Which is a good thing, because I leave in two weeks! So bittersweet. I've already had to say goodbye to some exchange friends, and reality is setting in. The past six months have been dreamlike. But I'm also really ready to get back home. I miss Greg, I miss my family, I miss the Bay Area. Its hard to be fully here when so much that I care about is over there. 

Goals for the next two weeks: Really be here. Bike around the city aimlessly, be outside as often as possible, speak Danish a little more than I want to, and check off those final tourist destinations that I've yet to visit. I'm going to miss this city, this flat, these housemates, these friends. 

A few photos:


^9:22 pm view from my little balcony. So hard to wrap my head around.


^Discovered a beautiful park right next to my flat. (Of course I just discovered it, its only been six months...)


^The last "hygge" night of Distortion, in the same park pictured above.

Ok, Italy soon, I promise. Just one more essay to finish. 

♡ Maddie

P.S. I think I'll keep posting on the blog after I get home. It's such a good outlet for me, and it makes me take post-worthy photos. Thanks for reading.

P.P.S. Homesickness has manifested itself in weird ways for me: I'm really enjoying American country music (for the first time like, ever) and in those especially lonesome moments I listen to NPR CarTalk podcasts. How silly is that?

P.P.P.S. Dad's here in a week, too! We're gonna explore CPH (and maybe a little bit of Sweden) before he heads back with me on the same flight. Yay family!