Airport: Our flight was from San Francisco at about 5:30 pm on the 26 of June. We checked in our bags, went through security, said bye to Dad*, and took off. When we were entering the plane I was about 35% yellow (excited) and 65% blue (sad, regretful and scared). 10.5 hours later, I felt way different. After all the soda and movies on the plane, I forgot all about being at all sad or scared and I definitely wasn't regretting it at all. I was on an ADVENTURE and I, Danya Novak, half and half of Danish and American, sixth-grader, big sister of Stella was 100% yellow and ready for this. I grabbed my suitcase and marched right out of that plane knowing that I was right at home.
* Saying bye to my Dad was probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. He is my dad, one of the two who raised me, and helped me grow to be who I am. I still can't put it through my mind that I wont see him for about another four months!
Life in Denmark: Life in Lynge, Denmark is nice, quiet and peaceful. Everyone owns a bikes and rides it almost every day. Copenhagen* is different because it is not so quiet and peaceful with all of the people and tourists but it is also very nice and beautiful with all the old buildings and castles.
Everyone eats rolls or bread made from grains and seed. There is a lot of fish, meat and potatoes.
The Danes like everything new, but I'm use to everything hand-me-down and I like it that way. My mom know this place in Lynge called "Glad Gaarden". (The Happy Farm). It is a very old farm that has been turned into a "last chance". It was open the Sunday after we arrived so we went. We walked out of there with a bike each for both Stella and I, a winter jacket for each of us and for my mom and rain boots. Total cost: $89 - got to love that!! :-)
* In Copenhagen, there are a lot of street performers (a lot coming form other countries) and hotdog and ice cream stands. We saw a man who got out of chains and locks in just 3 minutes!
Stella's B-day: Stella's birthday was on the fourth of July. In Denmark the fourth of July is just another day that turned out to be a little girl's birthday. We ate yummy pastries in the morning, went and swam in the lake nearby*, saw Despicable Me 2 in Danish and in 3D, and went to McDonald's** for dinner. Her birthday will also be celebrated tomorrow on July 7.
* It was the first time that we went to the lake since we've been back. We bicycled all the way (26 or so kilometers- a little over 40 miles roundtrip!!!)
** There are McDonald's everywhere in Denmark, but people only go to McDonald's as a treat because it is so expensive...It's funny because in America I never go to McDonald's. :-)
School: Our new school is called "Lynge Skole". It s right down the street from my Grandma's house.
We met with the head of the school - Thomas Kirkegaard. He is super nice! He gave us a tour of the school and we met Stella's teacher.
- It is a public school
- Teachers aren't so strict
- The school is huge!
- Twice the size of ISM (over 800 students)
- Have a huge building for afterschool care
- In afterschool care you make your own food and have own room for grade to hang out in
My school class room is the biggest in the school because it used to be four classrooms.
There are 24 students in my class and 26 in Stella's class.
City Hall: Stella and I have both signed up to be Danish citizens. Our "person number" is coming soon. Once we get it, we will be able to go to the doctor for free and we will be considered true Danes.
REMINDERS:
- My email is imabunhead@icloud.com if you want to contact me
- I am getting internet on Tuesday, so if you contact me before then I will be slow to respond
- Feel free to comment on this blog
- Subscribe so you know when I post something new
I'm subscribed! We've been waiting for news from you. We miss you already. But we're so happy to have this way of "hearing" about your life in Denmark. We took the boys to see Despicable Me 2 also, though not in Danish and not in 3D. 3D makes me dizzy. I love that you guys love hand-me-downs...and can't wait to see some pictures of your new-to-you bikes. Did you get our package yet?
ReplyDeleteYes we did! Thank you so much! It was so thoughtful and it helped me feel more at home. Thank you for all of you help and support of us doing this.
DeleteI was just telling the boys that I would often go to McDonald's when I lived in Rome and we NEVER go to McDonald's here. It's a treat!
ReplyDeleteHi ya, kiddo! Regards from Washington State, where the weather's gorgeous and the water's COLD (11 degrees C).
ReplyDeleteI'm very glad to hear that you're safe and sound. I loved your line: "I was on an ADVENTURE and I, Danya Novak, half and half of Danish and American, sixth-grader, big sister of Stella was 100% yellow and ready for this."
Yay! Go Danya, go Danya! The ADVENTURE has begun!
Glad to hear that you've visited the school, met the Head, got a tour. Good to get a sense of the place.
Email me your address, please. I have books to send.
Best wishes from moi. ENJOY!
Thank you MSped. Your humor (even from across the globe) has made me laugh out loud! Have a great time in Washington State and check out Gig Harbor (one of my GREAT grandparents was one of the founders - there's also a street named after him, Novak)
DeleteOops! I guess I only went 16 miles!
ReplyDeleteActually, I'm headed to Gig Harbor as soon as we get back to WA! A dive shop owner pointed me to a reef there where wolf eels and large octopus can be found. (Spedding to octopus: "Hey, don't be touching me, buddy!") Wolf eels are very cute. NOT! (See http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/bering-sea-gold/videos/the-wolf-eel.htm for a video of a wolf eel. Very cuddly!)
ReplyDeleteI found Novak Street in Gig Harbor on Google Maps. I'll take a pic for you later in the week. There are many references to Novaks in Gig Harbor, and this history (http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/files/library/26048c7577f8f21c.pdf) refers to your greatgrandpop?
"In 1878, Guiseppi (Joe) Dorotich and John Novakovich (shortened to Novak), completed their journey from Croatia. Later, Dorotich married Caroline Jerisich, the oldest daughter of Sam and Anna, and Novak married Zepina Josephine Cosgrove, the Seattle-born daughter of an Irish sailor and his Puyallup Indian wife. (The Puyallups knew her as Cheoka.) They filed claims on the west side of the harbor, and helped build the foundation for the commercial fishing industry, which along with related industries such as boat building would dominate the local economy for a century. Using large cotton nets, the men fished close to home during salmon runs, and rowed long distances in pursuit of the best catch during the rest of the year."
I definitely think you should change your name back to Novakovitch, maybe Danyaovitch Novakovitch?!
There's a historical museum there (http://www.harborhistorymuseum.org), too. I'll try to stop by and look for pics. Does your poppa have family photos?
I'm off to explore the Fraser River. Ta-ta! MSped
So glad to hear you are settling in! When does school start? We had the Despicable Me blimp go over our house yesterday, Gabe was so excited, ran out in the front yard waving and yelling at it! Haven't seen the movie yet, but we did go to see Monsters University on Stella's birthday (Happy Birthday Stella!). Gabe was a little scared of the Dean of Students, he spent some time on Daddy's lap for the last 45 minutes or so... Have fun! and keep posting!
ReplyDeleteDanya, I miss you so much! I still have to get the fact that you won't be at school when we get back through my head. XD
ReplyDeleteHey Danya, I enjoyed reading your posts and I like how you associate colors with your feelings. Glad you guys made it there safely. Sounds like you'll be getting a lot of exercise on those bikes. Can't wait to hear more of your adventures.
ReplyDelete