Well that flew by. I am finishing my 6th week in Denmark and I am obviously super cultured, fluent in Danish, and worldly now. NOT.
It's been possibly the greatest summer of my life.
I have compiled a list of the things I have learned about myself and about the world outside of my little Boulder bubble.
1.) Boulder is the tits.
Because I was housed in a dorm-like setting with all other American student's, I actually learned more about other colleges and other parts of the US just as much as about Europe. I lived with people from the South, from the East Coast, from California, from Iowa (where the f*ck is that anyway?), and a few others from Colorado. My state wins. Sucks to suck.
I am serious, Colorado, Boulder specifically, is the greatest place in the world. Between the mountains and the weather I couldn't ask for anything more.
I always have heard people say that people in Boulder are "down-to-earth." I never really understood what this term was referring to and I have just assumed people thought we were literally close to the earth, being dirty hippies and all. I assumed they pictured us all smoking pot and sitting cross-legged on the dirt under a tree. But actually, Boulderites are so down-to-earth - in the sense that they have their priorities in the right places. I have a new appreciation for where my parent's decided to raise me.
2.) Europe love/hates America.
Europe's relationship is like my secret love for Zac Efron. It's Love/Hate. I literally HATE HIM. He has a "YOLO" tattoo - need I say more? But secretly, I love the way he looks, I thought he was phenomenal in Hairspray, and I think he's damn sexy. But if you ever ask me about this again I will deny, deny, deny. Zac who?
I have noticed in my recent travels that although many Europeans do see Americans and America in general as inferior to themselves, naive, and full of loud, obnoxious, fat people - they actually love us. Every store is filled with American flag message T's and burger's dominate all of the trendy restaurants. The music and the TV shows are all re-runs of what we have all worshiped at one time or another in the US (Friends from 2001? Hollaaa.). So although we've been told that Europe hates us, they only hate us like I hate Zac Efron - outwardly. Inwardly they want to take us out for a nice lobster dinner and learn everything about us.
3.) Travelling is exhausting.
After visiting 5 countries and living half out of a suitcase all of the time, I am pooped. All of the time. We all are. If anyone in my program sits still long enough, we fall asleep. No exceptions. Imagine how hard studying and taking lecture notes is now? A god damn challenge. Coffee is about $8 a cup, so we do our best to get by without it.
4.) My parent's love me a lot.
I am so grateful that my parents love me. Not only do they put up with my endless tears, mean jokes, loud voice, and pretend to read my blog (see you Sunday Dad!) - but they love me enough to send me to Europe on study abroad. Boy, am I a lucky girl.
XO,
K
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