All you've got to do is do it, to know there's really nothing to it

Oh my word, the rollercoasters were so immense.  I had adrenalin overload before I'd even been on any of them.  We went on the Star Flyer first, which lifts you up in your seat so that you can see the entire city and then spins you round really fast.  This was my favourite as it was a lovely sunny day and you could see for miles.  Then we went on the Demon, which was just a normal rollercoaster but it had loads of loop-de-loops and upside down bits, that was really fun.  We also went on the Golden Tower which lifts you up slowly and leaves you at the top for a while and then drops you incredibly fast, I flew out of my seat and tried to scream but no sound came out, that was crazy.  Anyway the whole experience was pretty epic.  Afterwards we walked past a shop that sold glasses, but in a funny kind of way.  Glasses and pasta.

I woke up on Friday with a horrible cold so just did some chores and read my book for hours.  Stayed in even though I was dying to go out (self-discipline) and had an early night.

Today is when things got really interesting.  Today was the day of the Mystery Jets concert at VEGA in Copenhagen which I had been planning to go by myself.  I woke up at 6.30am coughing violently and then had to sprint to the bathroom to be sick, very unpleasant.  Had a banging headache and generally felt terrible. 

In the afternoon I took my bike out for a little ride which was pretty exciting, and around 4pm I started getting better at an alarming rate.  So I started considering going to this concert by myself.  And that is exactly what I did.  I just got back from seeing the Mystery Jets at VEGA and it was bloody brilliant.

It was a 500 capacity place but they are so unknown here that I just got my ticket on the door and there were not more than 300 people there I reckon.  They played brilliantly, all the great songs from their 3rd album and they seemed to be really enjoying it.  I considered sticking around afterward to meet them as my hair was looking ultra-glossy but I couldn't really be bothered seeing as it would just be 2 minutes, forgotten by them in a second.  There were other people there alone, but I was definitely the only girl but it just shows if you want to experience something badly you shouldn't ever be swayed.  With my train tickets etc, it cost under DKK200, very reasonable and totally worth it.

BEDTIME

I was dreaming of another world, but now I've found it.

OK, so Saturday I did nothing.  Boy, blogging about my weekends is easy.

On Sunday Charlie came round to use my internet, and we sat separately while I painted and did some reading for our classes and he read the Observer and watched the football.  Boys eh?  We went for a big circle walk and saw this huge grafitti on the side of a building that said, 'One Man's Trash, Another Man's Treasure', which I was a little overcome by as I thought it was very true.  We had fajitas for dinner and Charlie left to get the metro at midnight.  Little did we know that this week the metro is shut from 11pm until 5am so guess who slept on my sofa?? Simon got home at 8am to find him there but said it was fine, I love where I live.

Monday I studied in the library for a bit and had my Climate Change class.  Charlie got really involved with the capitalist-bashing that was going on and this girl said, ' I don't have any answers, I only have more questions' - like she was in a film or something.  We met Matt and this Finnish girl for a drink and then had dinner at this salad bar that is half-price after 8pm throughout September.  That was a good dinner.  Got home to find Simon had run a half-marathon on Sunday (INSANE) with no prior training and this week outside of his classes he has gone to a meditation session and a yoga class.  Anyway, we hung out and listened to some music for a while.

Tuesday I was up early (for me) and went to my Scandinavian Political Systems class where I was one of the lucky few to actually get a seat at a desk.  There was this guy in that class who was proper asleep and he would wake up every few minutes and then his eyes would shut immediately, it was hilarious.  Went to my first session of International Relations and the Third World which was such a good module swap for me.  Then I went shopping and spent quite a lot of money.  It seems to happen in spurts.  Had the apartment to myself in the evening so swanned around listening to Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder and started reading someones copy of STUPID WHITE MEN.

This is a poster I bought.

Wednesday I went for a long walk and then went to the International School for a tutoring session.  Really enjoyed it again this time, it's really focusing my mind on what will happen once I graduate.  Met Charlie and his Italian friend for a beer, had dinner at the half-price salad bar again and met some other people for a drink in a kareoke pub.  A few of them got up and sang, well done Max and Sandy!  However I did get a bit annoyed when Sandy told me to sing - 'why are you scared?  you will never see these people again' - i told him that that is completely the wrong perspective to look at it, because I will see myself again and if I have done kareoke stone-cold sober I will hate myself forever.

And then here we are.  Today I will be a thrill-seeker, I'm going on the rollercoasters in Tivoli.

'Let's go on a living spree, They say the best things in life are free'

I do believe a wise philosopher called Kanye West once said the above.  Good man.

So here, whilst all my happiness and fun times are free, very little else is.  Thursday night, Charlie, American Matt and myself headed to this club not far from my apartment called RUST.  I do not want to alarm my relatives reading this but I want this blog to be a truthful account of my year in Copenhagen.  We left mine at 12 midnight and got home at 5am.  I am not used to this but it seems to be the norm all days of the week here.  I didn't really drink but the club was really nice, lots of seating and really good music, the likes of which Guildford has never seen/heard.  It was full of cool, youthful, beautiful Danes, lots of blond hair and trendy trainers.  Needless to say I slept well into Friday day.

Then we decided to go to this party in the Royal Library on Friday evening.  Met at mine beforehand and just chilled.  Headed there about 10pm, the party having started at 8.30pm to find that it was already at capacity and there were about 1000 people waiting outside to see if they would get in.  We decided to just go to our campus Friday Bar instead, but managed to pick up two other groups - neither of which got into the party.  It was absolutely heaving at CSS and we danced good and proper.  There are a few pictures to illustrate this but they are on Charlies camera so I'll add them later. 

I danced on the stage with some Danish boys and basically loved life. 

At about 2am, we decided to head to Christiania.  We went to this seriously good reggae club and I danced there too, but then the men started to get uncontrollable so I decided to head home to bed.  Today has been another wasted day so I am very determined to make the next week or so extremely interesting and productive.  My pizza is now ready in the oven so this is OVER AND OUT.

'I voted for John McCain'

I promise to start taking more pictures again soon, I've just been having too good a time, or its been beating it down with rain.  For this reason, this is just a quick update.

Tuesday my class was cancelled and I ended up staying at the apartment all day because the weather was pretty horrible.  In the evening I went to the International Dinner which consisted of everyone taking some food from their home country.  I was planning on Marmite on toast but at the last minute changed my mind and took Strawberries and Cream.  I don't really remember what I ate, although I know that something was Slovakian!!!  When this had ended myself, Charlie, an American and two Danes decided to head out for a drink or two.  By this time it was raining - SURPRISE SURPRISE - and we just ducked into an Irish Pub.  We debated who had the worst political/economic situation out of our home countries, and in my view the USA lost big time.  This had been confirmed earlier in the evening when we met some crazy Americans who I have quoted in the title of this post.  On my way home I got absolutely drenched to the bone.

Wednesday was slightly more productive.  I went to my Jean Monnet class, which I think I am going to drop, and take another one in its place.  Then I headed up north to Copenhagen International School where I had my first session as a tutor.  I really really enjoyed this experience and on the train back to the city was already thinking about what I could do for next session.  Had a relaxing evening in the apartment with a stir-fry and watched Bear Grylls.

Today I went to the library and did some reading for the new module I am thinking that I will take instead of my Europe one.  Strolled around the city for a bit and then walked home in the rainstorm, it was absolutely insane.  Tonight I think a few of us are planning to try and find somewhere good for a quiet drink.

NO CAMERAS

Saturday, I had a lazy start to the day and then met my freinds Max and Maria for a drink in the late afternoon.  Charlie came round to mine for tea (I made a scrumptious beans on cheese on toast - which was ridiculed by all, but I quite enjoyed) and then we headed out to see what there was to do.  Went to a party on campus but just stood there talking about the weird music tastes of Political Science students in Denmark.  Met up with some other international students and ended up getting the train out of the city at midnight to check out this really popular club.  However, it was not very popular on Saturday night so we just stopped in a pub for a drink before catching the metro home.  Denmark does have a smoking ban like the UK but some pubs refuse to enforce it and this was one of those places, I had not realised how much I had forgotten what having your throat and lungs engulfed in smoke felt like.  Pretty disgusting for a non-smoker.

On Sunday I was so tired from all this strenuous activity that I just stayed in the apartment and caught up on sleep and some reading for my classes.  In the evening I caught the metro down to my friends flat on Amager, south of the city and a big group of us watched a French film, which only had French subtitles.  Luckily, the concept was easy to understand and we had two French people there to translate the dialogue.  Got home, got in my pjs and watched TV with Simon.

Monday, I did some chores and met Charlie for lunch near campus.  We had a little wander around and then went to my Climate Change class together.  After that we went down to Christiania (the hippy commune and cannibis smoking area of Copenhagen).  Obviously, I did not smoke but it was an interesting place to be and I enjoyed my beer with a relaxed vibe and good conversation.  Sellers down there have lots of these strong looking dogs and Charlie told me they are trained to attack the police if they go down into that area.  Such a contrast to the rest of the city, but a very worthwhile experience.  Taking pictures is not allowed down there for obvious reasons.  Hence I have no pictures.

You're Beautiful, You're Beautiful, You're Beautiful It's True

This post is going to start slowly and then finish with a mighty peak, kind of like a rollercoaster.  I've been a bit slack with this so we are heading all the way back to Wednesday.  Once again I had my mammoth 4 hour lecture on the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union.  Afterwards, I went for a walk in Frederiksberg Have which is this massive park in my neighbourhood which houses Copenhagen Zoo.

On my way round the park I found loads of letters and baby's dummys tied to these trees.  Obviously all the letters were in Danish but I think that it is something they do kind of like the tooth fairy business.
Got home for dinner and to meet my housemate Simon.  He is Danish, studies Physical Education and likes rap music.

On Thursday I went for a walk as the weather was so nice.  Went through the same churchyard as before and found this tree, which I really like.

Also, saw more of the neighbourhood of Nørrebro, including this pedestrianised street filled with cheap cafes and bars, guitar shops and vintage clothes shops.  It also has a square which on Thursday had a stage set up and loads of street art set up.

That afternoon I spent doing some reading for my Climate Change course and I think I have decided what I will write my essay on for this class now.

Friday was meant to rain for the first time in weeks so I decided to go to Statens Museum for Kunst (the Danish National Gallery).  I was interested to see what Danish art they had and Bob Dylan is also exhibiting some of his paintings there until January so I was pretty excited about that.  There were installations everywhere and I bought two books and a postcard (but we will not be going in to how much that cost - lets just say I skipped lunch so I felt more okay about spending that amount.)

This guy had seriously long legs.

Gosh, it doesn't even end there.  Last night I met up with Charlie (from Surrey Uni) who had just arrived in the country and took him to the Friday Bar on campus.  I had an astonishingly good time, mixing with the French, the English, the Danish and some Kiwis.  Met a Danish girl who says she will sell me her spare bike for a crazily low price, so I'm going to try and go see that in the next few days.  Got spotted by a New Zealander who I met on my second day here and he apologised profusely for never emailing me.  All in all I had a lovely time.  At 2am I started walking to the metro station alone as I had lost my friends.  I was walking down Gothersgade towards 10 Danish boys who were being pretty rowdy, so I got ready for some serious ignoring.  To my pleasant surprise, about 8 of them got down on their knees in front of me and two of them held my arms and they all started singing 'You're Beautiful' by James Blunt.  I was laughing.  Alot.  After they finished I said very meekly 'Thank you very much' and they ran off.  All this time (nearly a minute probably) my French friend had been standing across the road watching.  Walked back to the metro and back to my apartment with a massive smile on my face.

Also, Simon has just confirmed that my description of him is wholely correct.

FOOD - for the belly and for the mind

Mother Evans has been in Denmark since Friday and all I seem to have done in the last few days is eat and go to classes.  On Sunday I watched an Irish Hurling match in the Dubliner with some international students and had a go on my friend Max's bike.  About 30 seconds pushing myself on the bike with my tiptoes has given me the bug so I'm planning to buy a second hand bike next week!  Had fish and chips for dinner with my mum and then she bought me an ice cream!! For those of you who know me very well, you will know that this is very strange behaviour on her part.  Hahaha

On Monday morning my landlady Maria and her boyfriend Rune left for New York where they live, so now I am in the apartment alone until tomorrow when my housemate arrives back into Copenhagen.  Monday, the Evans women met for lunch at this lovely cafe on the water of one of the lakes that is between my neighbourhood and my campus.

Then I had my Climate Change class which I think is going to be my favourite this semester.  It is so interesting and kind of hard, in a good way.  Home-cooked dinner at my apartment for the mother and me afterwards.

This morning I had my Scandinavian Political Systems lecture which even more people turned up for today - about 60!  Had lunch with my mum again at this cafe-bookshop-library-art gallery.

Then I got lost in two separate libraries.  Quite an achievement.

Summer In The City (and lots of useful errands)

Alrighty-roo!  Got a lot to get through today so I will start by starting at the start.

Yesterday morning I went and registered as a Danish resident, so I am one of those now.  And in the afternoon I went to Tivoli with a couple of girls from my course.  Tivoli is an amusement park with loads of restaurants and rides, it also has a concerthall (which shows musicals and plays) and an outside rock venue.  We wandered around for a while and then watched a free ballet production of Swan Lake.
Anyway its pretty cool - check it out.

JOKER

Watched a free ballet show

Afterwards we strolled around town and had a pint in the Dubliner on Strøget, the main shopping street.  My pint of Stella cost DKK53 which is approximately £5.95 and I'm not going to lie, I was very angry!  But you live and you learn.  After that we went to the FridayBar at CSS which is like a Students Union, but the students actually run everything.  Here I got two cans of Carlsberg for DKK20 so I was placated.  Had a really good night, danced around and met some new people.  Got the Metro home - this city is incredibly safe.

This is very long already but I'm going to include today as well.  My mother arrived at my apartment just after 10AM and I gave her the tour.  Then we walked down my road to Frederiksberg Town Hall and went to a 2nd hand market as I was in need of a couple of things for my room.

Around the front of the town hall there were a couple of weddings finishing and also some kind of charity event with live music.  Everything melded together beautifully and we both got wet eyes at one of the just married couples, they were so happy and unpretentious, she was wearing a denim jacket over her short white dress.

We got lunch at this amazing Italian Cafe across the street from my flat and it was one of the yummiest sandwiches I have ever eaten.  Yum yum yum.  We walked up to the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen which is meant to be hip and cool and multi-cultural - and it is all of these things.  During our wandering we happened across Nørrebro-parken where there was another 2nd hand market and also some kind of summer fete which had a rap crew competition and a bouncy castle.

On our way back to my apartment we took a side street which had this crazy house with crazy decorations.  I was really interested because the street was completely normal and this house was mental.  It had a sign outside that said ISLAMER UDANSK, which I guessed meant Islam in Denmark because this is a very diverse area of the city.  I googled it when we got back and it actually means Islam un-Danish so thats horrible.  Good example of how Denmark is just like anywhere else though - there are always the insane.

Gosh, this entry is going on forever, I promise I'm nearly done.  We also walked home via the churchyard that Hans Christian Andersen is buried in.

Urgh the length of this entry makes me feel a tad sick.  I would apologise but that would be insincere - ENJOY!