07th - A bit better maybe

The second part of my first week was a bit better. On Thursday I had my first class. It's called International Business Analysis and it's about accounting and organising a company as good as possible so that the profit is big enough to sustain all the expenses  This is a 4 hour course with short 10 min. brakes. It's not really long and boring because it's interactive - power point presentation and questions for the teacher. I thought I wasn't going to like it when I first heard what's about but I think it's pretty interesting...I had a lot of questions and the teacher was really helpful in solving the puzzles in my mind. We have two really big books which of course are extremely expensive. I think I'll just copy them. After that I came home pissed because my internet was still not working. And my entrepreneurial side stepped in. So I just started pushing all the buttons on the modem, switch it off and on, change switches and what do you know at some point it started working. I was like in the 7th heaven...I couldn't believe it. 

I signed up for an elective class on Diasportas and Homelands so even if Friday was my free day I sacrificed it for this course. We have a young German teacher specialised in Indian studies so I guess this is going to be mainly about the Hindu diaspora...but I'll still be going because it's interesting and we have free talks and watch movies and visit places. The day ended really late because I joined the Friday Bar. This is some sort of party every department in the university organises every Friday not only for foreign students. This is for socialising and drinking a beer together. So I integrated in the cultural rituals and attended my department's Friday Bar. It was nice because I got to talk and met a few new people. I even entered a Danish study group. They take the same course as me and it's going to be interesting as I am the only foreigner in the group. They use study groups here to organise exam studies, make projects and answer each others questions. I think it's an interesting way of learning but it will take a lot of my time. I also met a Bulgarian guy and he was extremely excited to met me because he likes Romania  or so he says, and he said, I quote, finely found a person to talk to. He was a bit to enthusiastic but I think he's ok. I left the Friday Bar to join another party - the international students free dinner. Marketa was on Orientation Day and she knew about this and told me and Mara to join. We met at the Math Department and after one week ate a normal dinner. 

I got home barefoot because my boots killed my feet again.

Yesterday I went to buy a new bike. I thought that since I'm staying here longer it's a better idea to buy a new one. But guess what...they gave it to me without paddles, with flat tires and the stare is the other way around. So now I have to wait till Monday to fix it...this was really disappointing because I wasn't expecting this to happen. Maybe I'm just unlucky. But I got over it...I washed some clothes with Mara...and discovered how to use the washing machine in the basement. They have a really interesting system. In the basement there are two old washing machines and a dryer. Every person leaving here has a card. With the card you schedule in advance the day and hours you want to use the washing machine. This is like a credit card so it takes money that are added to your rent - it'a 15 kr/wash. We had a bad experience with the dryer because it didn't dry our clothes - we probably didn't use it right so we paid for nothing and had to hang our clothes in the balcony :( Than after eating a frozen pizza - I will soon die of starvation - we went to the centre to a concert. We had a nice Saturday evening with music and bier. 

This was something like the last evening of the Aarhus yearly festival so we had to go. I'm sorry I don't have a camera and take more pictures of what I see and do. And I also got myself some Kanye West glasses.

Now I should say a few words about the Danes because these days I got a little disappointed  During the weekend - which starts on Friday evening - I saw a part I was afraid to see here. Dirt and lack of civilisation  I was expecting too much from a northern country but it seams that people are the same everywhere. They get really drunk and there is no age limit for this. They throw up and piss on the street, they throw garbage everywhere and they turn into some sort of wild, on the loose rebels. It's just weird for me because I was expecting something else and it's a bit shocking. It's fun because everybody is free but it's scary because anything could happen. They are all just like those foreign business man coming in Terminus, getting wasted and spending a lot of money on a non really that fun activity - getting drunk. It seams like this is their cultural understanding of having fun - getting drunk and wearing weird clothes. And than the thing with the bike - it's lack of organisation...I don't know maybe I'm just expecting too much from the people in the West. I don't want to rush into conclusions so I am just going to wait till December to have a clear straight conclusion on what Danes are like. Maybe they are just like the weather here - you never know what you're going to get in 5 min.

03rd - OMFG what am I doing here?!

My internet is still not working and now I just realised my Microsoft Office doesn't work either but maybe the two are related somehow...I hope. Anyway I decided to write on my blog twice a week on Wednesday and Sunday. So because today is Wednesday and I don't have access to the internet I'm just going to write and upload later...I don't want to forget or leave out anything. So...it's been three days since I'm in Aarhus, now I know how to pronounce it at least. My blog is going to turn into a "how to survive in a country you've never dreamt you will get to and don't know anything about" step by step guide.

I arrived this Sunday. First I took the plane from Bucharest to Copenhagen. Of course it was a small jet because who goes to Denmark right?! I had a rough night before leaving because I didn't feel so good, so I was drawn of energy, sleepy and didn't feel so good. I didn't cry when I left because that was the last thing I need it in this recepie. Anyway I got on the plane and set next to a Danish guy. He tried speaking to me but I wasn't feeling very friendly, so I had my head phones on, waiting for the plain to land to nowhever.

I didn't really have time to think about how I was feeling when I got to Copenhagen because I had to get my baggage and buy my train ticket to Aarhus. On the train I had my first contact with the Danes...I looked at them and studied their behaviour for 4 hours. The train was full of teenagers probably going away from home to study. I wasn't expecting them to smoke or anything but they are the wild. And by that i don't refer only to the smoking part but you should see the way they dress and wear their hair and act. I thought I was in a juvi correctional school. They are way more than I expected from the word freedom of expression  Coloured clothing, piercings, tattoos, weird dressing etc. But this made me feel good because I realised that I can say and do anything because it will be just a act of solidarity. Anyway..when I finally got off the train I knew the bus I had to take but not where to buy tickets from. With my highly travelling developed brain I thought that there has to be a system of buying tickets on the bus. And yes it was. I didn't know how to use it so I did what a everybody was doing...went to the bus driver to change the money and than stayed in front of the machine till somebody came and showed me what to do because I was to stupid to read the two steps one should follow. The bus driver kindly told me where to get off...I forgot to mention that the bus has only one entrance (the back) and one exist (the front) and a ticket costs around 3 euros. It was almost 11 o'clock...and I was in the middle of the street with two large bags. Now...I was lost. I had no idea where to go..no map no nothing. I was lucky a Danish girl passed me and offered to take me to the Guest House  So I was finally there. The first day was over..and I forgot to mention I also made a friend - Romain, the French guy :P. I never felt so well..ever..about getting to a room, with a bed and a shower. It didn't matter that I didn't have anything to eat...I was there.

I had to tell the whole story because I am proud of getting here in one piece. Now the second day...I woke up without knowing where I am, because it was night when I arrived. I had to go out and buy something to eat because I was ding. I woke up earlier because Romania is one hour later than Denmark...so everything was closed. I managed to find a bakery and was surprised to pay 56 krone for a croissant a something...a juice and a chocolate. 1 kr = 0.49 lei...or at least that's how it was. I was afraid to eat on the street because it's not polite and everything but I was so hungry that nothing mattered. After my morning walk I met with Romain and went to the university. I found out that he is in the same department (history) as me and we will have a class together. After registration and walking around confused and lost we finally got to the opening conference. I didn't understand what the Dean and another guy were saying because I was either very tired or their English was really bad. Anyway I noticed the fact that the Dean had a piercing in his ear. Even though I wanted to go as fast as possible to the International Secretariat to get my key I had to attend the opening speech for my program - International Studies. And it was a good thing to do because I received a map and some other useful stuff and I got to meet two of my teachers. When the short lecture was over I got to take my key and go to my room. I leave 7 km away from the University. I still don't know if Brabrand is a district of Aarhus or another city...I will probably find out in these two years. The ride was ok...and I found the flat pretty fast. There is a super market very close to it and a mall a bus station away. The neighbour hood is ok...mostly Arabs...but this is a good thing because they have really tasty, natural food at the super market.

The apartment was empty. As I imagined there were three rooms, so I had to be with two more people. I started crying because I felt alone and I was thinking that I shouldn't be there but at home, working and meeting people after...not just people..but people I love and love me back. I felt like I didn't want to make new friends and sort of start over everything. To get out of this mood I went shopping for food and stuff just to forget. When I returned, both by apartment mates were there. So I'm staying with a Marketa from the Czech Republic and Mara from Latvia. They are both Erasmus and Mara will leave this winter and Marketa in summer. They are really nice and seeing them made me feel better. We stayed together that evening talking about nothing. Marketa studies Psychology and Mara Scandinavian Languages and speaks Danish. We were all upset because our internet isn't working and we all wanted to talk to people at home. We read our housing contracts together..I have the biggest room but I pay the bigget rent too. Maybe in winter after Mara leaves I can switch with her room because it's cheaper and I don't really need such a huge room.

On Thursday I went with Marketa to school..and we got to see a little bit of the centre of the town. We didn't do much...we just went to the IS to tell them about the internet and solve other birocratic stuff like the residence permit. I really want to get a job and I know it's possible but I need my permit and my CPR number - which is like some sort of Danish registration number. I will also get a full heath insurance with it so I mustn't worry if anything, God forbid, happens. I also bought some of the books I need and from what I saw I reallyyyyy have to start learning. There is a lot of information and it's not that easy to pass the exams. I really hope I'll manage. I also saw that there are other 7 Romanians here through Erasmus and I heard two speaking in the line at the residence permit and they were from the same type of program as me. I don't want to talk to any of them...even if this might make me feel closer to home. I want to have a full experience of foreigners. It seams that everyday things settle more and more. I probably had to write a lot now because I did a lot of things. I still don't have a clear impression on how the Danish people are - I think it will take a little time.

Today it was raining really bad. Me and Mara walked to the University and I was completely wet. I got to read my email though I wasn't allowed to do it there..but till they come fix the problem I have to check it somewhere. I remained alone in the afternoon so I went shopping :D. I bough 3 pairs of boots..which I didn't necessaries need but liked. I bought some other stuff but it was sad cause I had nobody to share the joy with. And I was trying on things and imagining talking to Ana about how they look and whether I should buy them or not. I must be going crazy. I ate caramel peanuts which they sell in the centre only. Things aren't very different than Romania. You see garbage from place to place and people selling stuff in the street. Anyway this a thing I had to say to feel proud to be a Romanian :P...

I started eating better and in time I hope I'll get used to the food.

This is my first Aarhusian post...

2 Mai - Vama Veche - Sighisoara

I don't know if it's the fact that I leaving tomorrow or the fact that I had the best days ever why I'm feeling so relaxed and lazy. As I was saying before life takes you places you never thought you would ever end up in. My past 25 days have been more than I could ever ask for. I'm sad they are ending but I'm happy they happened and I know they are just a beginning.

The first part of the ride was in 2 Mai, Vama Veche and Mangalia with Irina and Ana. Though I didn't stay with the two of them this year, ruining our tradition, we tried to follow the staying in Vama Vache till the morning comes and sleeping on the beach at sunrise part. It wasn't as fun as it usually is because I guess we kind of got bored of the same songs and tequila drinking part. But it all got even because of him. We woke up together for the first time and it was fun…no not fun...but warm. We went with the motorcycle and it was my first long trip on it. It was also a trip I never took when going to the seaside. I saw the most beautiful sunset in my life. Again I was mesmerized of what life can do to you and what things you might miss along the way if you refuse to look around.

Probably the fact that I was leaving so soon made us both open up as much as possible and give the other a good preview of what we could be. I tried avoiding making a psychological profile of the person I'm leaving with but than again I realized it's best to do it because this way I will have no unanswered questions in my mind while I'm away. The problem is that this quest has made me fall in love for real and now my heart will be split worse than it would before. It's really difficult to leave behind more than you were ready to at some point and it makes the trip difficult and bumpy. But at the same time I think it's a great test which we have to pass before saying yes and I love you with a full glow in our eyes.

When my parents got back and we couldn't stay together anymore we had to leave and run into the world. So we decided to go somewhere where with shame I must admit I've never been before: Brasov-Sibiu-Sighisoara. It was a full breath of air I could take in Romania. These are three great places one shouldn't only visit but also dream of leaving in. You feel like at home but with a different view of what home is.

My return from the trip meant saying goodbye to the people I love one by one. I don't want to remind myself because I don't want to get tears in my eyes again. There is one person I know I'm never going to see again and maybe this is the best for her - my grand grand mother. I never thought it was going to be so heartbreaking to just say goodbye. I guess I have to get really pissed and angry to never want to see any of these people anymore, ever in my life. I'm glad I'm leaving things behind me pretty settled and I'm glad the feedback was good because I know than no matter what I decide to do later I can always return to a handful of people opened to accept me back in their hearts and homes.