Horseback Riding #8 & 9

Horseback Riding #8:
I chose "No Name" again... I think that he is so sweet and a pretty good size for me. This time, I tried really hard to focus on my feet positioning because in riding you are supposed to keep your heal down, though in ballet you do the opposite. I tried so hard to focus on my feet, that I forgot to focus a lot on steering and how the horse was acting. "No Name" started teasing me and in a way bulling me. He would keep jerking his head down. I got plain out frustrated. We didn't have Bente teaching us, but instead a young boy who is really good with horses. He told me to pull the reins back, so I did but then the horse kept stopping. By that time I forgot completely about the feet and began struggling with riding *imagine me on a beautiful palomino riding like this: stop, go, stop, go- my face in a grrr...* Don't worry, when Bente came, everything went fine and I had a great time...

Horseback Riding #9:
I wanted to try another horse and not be too in love with Mr. Palomino- that is not his name, I still don't know it- and so instead, I rode on Faloosa. She is a velvety red horse with curly white mane. Very pretty, and easy enough to ride. I thought that she was very nice and I even was given more freedom riding when I rode on her. Guess what?! I got to ride in GALLOP!!! And then after, we went out side- like we never get to do- and then I got to jump... I'm loving it! I thought that lesson was a great one and now I am very excited (even more than usual, I honestly didn't think that was possible) for the next lesson. Yea!

Mr. Spedding's Questions

• Reflections on friends and friendship:

I have reached the point where I know who is my friend and who is my acquaintance. I really enjoy all this "hygge". I think that it is nice to spend time together and become even closer.

• Reflections on school:

School?! Well, I think that I do learn some things, though I would have learned 100 times as much at ISM. I think that it is also good how we also have hand and wood work as well as house work. They will probably be useful later in life... I find school here as a completely different experience. We have different schedules and we learn in a different way. It almost seems that the social part (hygge) as well as sport are more important than the academic part.

• Reflections on Danish Culture:

The Danish culture is a lot the same and also different from the American culture... Here are some things from the top of my mind:

1. It is the costumer that says "Thank you and have a nice day" when leaving a store
2. Danes do not run a red light on their bike even if there is no one else around
3. EVERYONE from Kindergarten and up has a cellphone
4. Rugbrød, rugbrød, rugbrød and more rugbrød! 
5. The Danes do not have much sense of personal space
6. Rules are rules!
7. Everyone is ALWAYS on time
8. Different sense of humor
9. Lots of swear words
10. Lots of "hygge"!

• Reflections on Danya:

I feel as if I am in a few worlds, under a few masks. A new and old friend mask, a daughter/sister mask, a student mask, a foreigner mask. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with all of these masks, though now I feel balanced and well managed with who I am.  I am more than grateful of all the support in this whole adventure. I feel so much better now. I also realized (hopefully not to jinx myself) that the "hard part" really wasn't that hard. At school I was welcomed like an old friend, I was helped with learning the language and if I don't know how to say something, everyone can understand English. I think that it would have been harder if I came from a different country that has a language that is not very common as English.

World’s Largest Ship

After an hour wait and 135 stairs just to get up onto the ship, we boarded the world's largest container ship! Wow! It was huge and so impressive!

The Danes were offered a unique experience, when the Danish Mærsk Line's newest vessel type and the largest container ship in the world took a detour from its route and berths at the quay of Langelinie in Copenhagen.

The ship will after its Copenhagen visit rejoin the service on the Asia-Europe trade calling 14 different ports – one of which is Aarhus, where a significant part of Danish agricultural export is loaded.

This Triple-E-ship is the second in the series of this type of container ships. It is 400 meters long, 59 meters wide, 73 meters high and accommodates more than 18,000 20-foot containers. The ship is not only the world´s largest but also the most environmentally improved as its innovative design sets new standards for reuse of materials and reduction of CO2 emissions by more than 50% per container moved, compared to the industry average CO2 performance on the Asia-Europe trade.

 

 

For more pictures- look at Picasa web. 

 

Here are two videos that I think that you will enjoy:
The first one shows the Crown Princess of Denmark naming the ship
The second one shows parts of the tour that we went on

= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_zTgudW2wM

= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtWQr0jgGyQ

Børnenes Universitet / Children's University

Stella and  I went to an awesome event at the Danish Technology University called Børnenes Universitet / Children's University. 500 kids, age 8-13, was invited for free inside at DTU for a day of exciting lectures on energy and space research, trial and experimentation. We met real scientists and discovered how much fun it is to work with science and technology.

There were different workshops, where you could try things like building meteor craters, play atoms, set fire to smoke, isolate DNA from banana cells and fight through the digestive system.
We all started off by talking about atoms in the auditorium. I thought they organized it very well with red and green pieces of paper to answer questions with. Did you know that as many times as you multiply an atom to be the size of a Ping-Pong ball, if you multiply the same amount with the Ping-Pong ball the ball would be the same size as the world!!!

I was in a workshop called "Cells and DNA". We were only 4 girls in the group. I felt that we got more attention and work done. We first got in the room and saw their presentation on DNA and cells. I thought that they had a good introduction and that they helped us understand even better. After they presented, we did an experiment with finding the cells of a banana. If you want to try it (yes, it is home friendly and fun- though you do need the help of an adult, handling the cold spirit) here are the instructions:

• mash up half of a banana in a bowl, add water if it helps
• in another bowl, add soap (preferably clear and about a quarter cup) and a pinch or two of salt- mix slowly and without causing bubbles
• put a cup of spirit in the freezer until cold
• get a new, clean bowl/ or glass and add some of your banana, soap/salt mix- stir without causing bubbles
• in a new bowl/glass pour the spirit in, then add the banana/ soap mix slowly
• wait for about an hour
• see your results and write what you saw under comments...
• (SORRY IF THE MEASUREMENTS WERE'NT EXACT, WE JUST USED SHOT GLASSES INSTEAD OF BOWLS)

Look here for the Danish recipe. (it might be more exact...)

When we were finished with the experiment, we went on a scavenger hunt around the cell. We went to the entrance where we gave the outer part of the cell a sugar cube. As we entered the cell, we started looking for the first thing that we needed to do. Then we went onto the second. They we all very fun and all reminded me of ISM and the things that we would do to help us learn. There were fun stations such as:

• We had to drink an energy drink so that we would have enough power to go on
• We had to copy the DNA and then take each 3 DNA piece and match it to a bead
• There was another station where we had to unlock a tube and take out a pink balloon- it said, "Tillykke, du har fundet din vej gennem en celle!"

Stella and I with Sebastian Klein.
He is famous in Denmark for his
TV programs for kids about animals. 



Can you find us?

LOOK HERE....

For more information.

For more pictures.
Even more pictures at Picasa Web.

My Birthday!!!

 

It's my birthday! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeea! *insert me dancing on the table with big eyes, ready for the fun day...
(sorry about the timing on the post...)

Here is my birthday, basically, from A to Z:

 

A: I woke up...

B: I looked supprised...

C: Yea my birthday...

D: D for Danya!

E:...

 

I said basically, didn't I?! ;-) 

 

Anyways, my birthday *deep breath, in through the nose and out the other side- just kidding!!!*. I was woken up on (in Denmark- 9 time zones away...) September 17 to have a morning celebration with my family. I got a couple of gifts and some pastries for breakfast. I was already partying.

 

After, I went to school where I was sucked in to an ocean of hugs. On the board, there were decorations of all sorts. It said: Danya (about 100 times)- that was in the math chart- there were a bunch of hearts, it said happy birthday in Danish and English, and there was a Danish and an American flag. I thought that that was a great birthday gift. All day, we hung out and I passed out cookies in English class. My teacher played a birthday song from YouTube.

 

When I got home, the party continued! I got a traditional Danish party with pastries, rolls and hot chocolate. I felt pretty darn spoiled (oh well!)... :-) After our second mini party, I was taken to a "secret" place. I even had to close my eyes! It was a horse riding store. BEST. STORE. EVER!!! I got new riding boots and socks. I told my self- I will be one stylish rider on Saturday! 

 

The next few days, we chillaxed (mix of chilling and relaxing). I got to ride with my boots when Saturday came around. Bente was so proud of me- she didn't like how I rode with rain boots and really wanted me to get new boots.

SUNDAY!!! Sunday was the day of my family birthday party. Unlike Stella's, it wasn't outside. That was fine. We had a great time. I got a homemade, original birthday cake and a delicious dinner from my grandma! After dinner, we opened gifts. I got money, some room decorations, earrings, some cute clothes, and some amazingly well thought and well made (with love and everything) gifts from Stella. A couple drawings, a card, and some bling! I felt over spoiled. THANK YOU!!!

A few days ago, I took my birthday money and bought some riding pants for me and a candy stone for the horses. I thought that those were great birthday gifts as well.

I also want to say, thank all of you who wrote to me on my birthday. It made me feel very special, remembered, and warm inside.

Thank you all!!!

Come Fly Away - a Workshop at the Royal Theatre

I went to a workshop at the Royal Theatre. It was on the old stage...BEAUTIFUL!! I went with my sister, mom, aunt and Mormor.

The workshop was for an upcoming ballet by Twyla Tharp called Come Fly Away.

"Twyla Tharp, who is celebrated as one of America’s most acclaimed and versatile choreographers within ballet and modern dance, has previously staged works set to Sinatra’s music, and with Come Fly Away she has now created an entire ballet based on some of the very best of Sinatra’s songs.

Come Fly Away combines Sinatra’s smooth vocal with Tharp’s elegant and seductive dance style, giving the Royal Danish Ballet dancers the opportunity to explore new and more show-like sides of their talent. Sharing the stage with the dancers is an orchestra. The orchestra is composed for the occasion by the world-famous Danish jazz bassist Chris Minh Doky, who will also help bring the music to life."

It was super interesting to hear all about how the production came about. The costumes were amazing, the dancers fantastic and the theatre was really old and gorgeous! After the workshop Stella and I were the only ones that got to meet John Selya and Stacy Caddell who both are American dancers and who ran the workshop as well as staged the show for Twyla Tharp. Very cool!

The Royal Danish Theatre's Old Stage: 

The Royal Danish Theatre's Old Stage

• The Royal Theatre in Copenhagen has graced the Kongens Nytorv Square since 1748.

• The Royal Theatre's has two main venues at its disposal: the Playhouse, and the Old Stage, the latter almost exclusively for ballet performances.
• All performances are state-subsidized, making tickets quite affordable compared to theatre tickets elsewhere in Europe.
• Should Her Majesty attend a performance, the audience is required by tradition to rise and remain standing until the Queen is comfortably seated.

I thought that the performance was amazing. It sort of made me miss dance and preforming more than I already do. At the very end we heard the Danish jazz bassist Chris Minh Doky and another musician play- they were also very good. *insert picture of me dying to dance to the music, but instead sitting properly and sophisticated*

I really hope that we can go to see the up coming performance!

Link to Picasa web.

Horseback Riding Competition!

Competition: I went to a competition for beginners. It was Bente's idea.... It turns out that Bente has 5 other sisters that all love horses and they all have stables. Bente brought a couple horses out to the stables for the riders to use. I saw so many horses and I recognized a large deal of them. One was Sofus! I haven't seen him since the second or third riding lesson because he was sold. I was extremely nervous because I didn't get to practice for 3 months like in the nutcracker... I did have a girl running with me and the horse- so that did help. After I saw a few other girls ride from my category they passed out awards... I got FIRST place!!!!
JK!!! (got you!) Actually, everyone got an award... I felt so proud of myself for doing it!

 

More pictures at Picasa web.