This past year went by so amazingly fast, even though we, at first, didn't think that it would. It seems as when you have fun and are experiencing a lot, time pass by faster. These 12 months was packed with experiences and new impressions. It's a strange feeling now, after returning home, thinking about the life that I have just left and the people I have said goodbye to. I have found out that you do not learn a new culture the first day you step into it. I had an expectation of how things would be, and that of course was not always the case. I was so nervous, and excited, when I sat on the airplane, on the way to Denmark a year ago, but thanks to a bunch of great people, I calmed down and despite being so far away from home and being so far away from everything I knew as my world, I could still feel at home. I have learned that even though you are far away from home, you can easily get a new routine to work under the conditions you happen to have.
We all got a culture shock coming back and right now, everything seems very hard. Mormor is selling her house, we are not there to help. We won't see our school and classroom for a long time. We had to say goodbye to so many great people, Fussie and Bente, Sophie from riding, Stella's gymnastics teachers, our friends and family, and the whole of Denmark. I really miss my friends. They have made me realize that I am who I am and that I need to believe in myself, and I am and will always be grateful to them for that.
There will be many changes and bumps (some bigger than other) in life and we just have to be happy that we are able to experience it. I think that the one thing that I should have changed in the beginning of the year would have be, being more open and take in everything what was happening around me. Now that I think about it, that really wasn't me before this year, how could I have known better. I know now, that taking chances are a huge thing. You never know what will come out of them, but all you can do is, enjoy the ride and live it up to the very highest.
I just want to say a quick thanks to everyone for reading my blog, and helping me with feeling that my writing is open and readable, helping me express myself. Thank you to MSped for writing to me and helping me stay connected to my American friends. I know that many of those who we got to know in Denmark, do not read this blog, but I would still like to say thank you for the warm hospitality we got. Tak til min klasse for at velkomme mig ind så hurtigt, med åben arme og stort smil. Tak til min Mormor for alt hun har gjort for os, med mad og et hus, et hjem hvor vi følte os sikker og glad, hvor vi bare kunne komme og gå som vi ville og at du altid var der for os. Thanks to Mor and Stella for being at my side the whole way, and staying so strong with me, as a team.
I am very nervous about school, because honestly I can't remember any Spanish, and I don't think that I have come so far with school in general, being that I have put most of my energy into learning the culture, the language, both reading and writing.
Even though it feels like we left for Denmark yesterday, when I look back at my blog, I will see all of the great things that we have experienced and all of the things that we have achieved.
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened!" With those words, I would like to say thank you to those who have been following my blog.
Danya, you have grown emotionally stronger in the past year with all your experiences in Denmark. Whatever bumps and changes you experience while adjusting back to the U.S., those will make you stronger too. Love your parting words, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Hope you feel like 100% yourself soon as you adjust to coming back to the U.S. I've enjoyed reading your blog and hope that you continue to do it in some other format if not with this one. You've done a great job with expressing yourself.
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