Separated again

Once again I am back in Denmark, leaving my husband behind to further my education in the hopes of creating a better future for us, (and to satisfy my own selfish need to be an independent educated woman who can contribute and potentially take care of her family on her own, if it came down to it). Yes, I could have taken some classes in the States, but for some reason it just worked out better to go Denmark for a semester. Now when I am here I do have a hard time getting my act together and focusing on school. I admit this week has been somewhat of a joke regarding my studies. Many hours have been spent chatting with friends and family, playing with nieces and nephews, looking for plane tickets for Kyle to come and see me or for me to go and see him, and postponing the inevitable trip I have to make by train, dragging my overweight suitcase and way to many handbags with me fromCopenhagen to Kolding, a city two and a half hours from here located on the peninsula where my parents live. I will do this tomorrow...Sigh!

It is nice to be back although it has been raining most days which I have been venting about on my own blog limolinolium.blogspot.com. Here's few pics from my first few days in Copenhagen.

Rain, rain and more rain

Nephew

Yes, this is lunch. Leverposteg (liverpate) and over-medium eggs on Rugbrød (Rye Bread).

Happy to be here.

Missing this.

Blizzard Weather

Today, as the Blizzard is roaring outside my window, making the outside world seem as one big white mass where nothing really exists, I am thankful that I have the opportunity to simply sit on my sofa, browse the Internet and indulge in a few guilty pleasures, such as watching Gossip Girl or Grey's Anatomy, while sipping my third cup of coffee. Yes, I admit, I should fold my laundry and take this sudden opportunity to be house bound to do those domestic chores that too often are ignored during the week. But my theory is that since the snow is making the outside world slow down for a few moments, it should slow down indoor activities as well. How often do you get to just sit down and do nothing?

While dreaming of another snow day tomorrow, I imagine I will spend it outdoors, walking through drifts of snow, building a snowman or even sledding at the nearby neighbourhood hill. I will be outdoors until my cheeks are cold and gloves are wet, until my friends are tired and the laughter and play is coming to an end. Then I will go home, snuggle up under a blanket, read a book while drinking a hot cup of tea. I will be thankful for everything the day had to bring.

As you can tell, I plan on enjoying this winter weather. Hope you will have the opportunity to do the same! Happy snow day everyone. Be safe.

- Linn

Restless Me.

A couple of weeks ago Azuree took some pictures of me for her photography class. One of the assignments was to model with your hands by your face, which truly at the moment made me feel really awkward... There's something so unnatural about looking into a camera and beautifully placing your hands on your face:) This weekend I randomly took some pictures with Kyle's iphone and found it funny that we were all sitting with our hands by our faces. It made me think of Azuree and her assignment.

Me

Kyle

A very contemplative Hannah.

I am desperately longing for school to be out, so I can go home to Denmark. Part of me wishes I would dare to be careless and just take off leaving all my obligations behind. But I would never be able to pull it off. I really need to go home though. I miss my family and friends so much. Also, I think I just need to get away for a while. Have a break from reality and responsibilities. A break from my always contemplating self and instead surrender to laughter and pure fun with friends I've been missing. It will be great.

Kyle just took his final exams last week and the semester is truly over. It makes me happy to see him simply sit around dreaming about our summer vacation together and playing the guitar. I always know he is happy and relaxed when he plays music and talks about traveling.

Oh, come June, come! I can't wait any longer!

April

It was in April that the sun decided to come out and drive away the dark and dreary days of the all too long winter season. We had been looking forward to this without daring to hope that it would happen so soon. As the sun made the days warmer, we went outside with the rest of the people breaking free of our hibernation. April was filled with wonderful bicycle rides with Hannah, lovely dinners with Kyle, one Air concert, one anniversary, one unexpected and indescribable funeral, one field trip to the Field Museum, many troubled conversations planning our summer vacation, and one final decision. The further April progressed, the more restless I became, and as I am writing I have so much hope for the summer that I can barely stand having to go through May to get to June. Even the kids in my first grade seem to be ready to move on and have a break. However as my mother wrote in a letter to Kyle and I: "Time moves so fast, but we must remember to enjoy the present." So I will try to enjoy the present, and keep my restlessness at arms length by trying not to always live in the dream of the future. If the weather keeps up, I see no reason to not enjoy May.

Here is a few pics from our April.

Walking to church on Wilson Avenue on the evening of Good Friday/Langfredag.

Watching dogs enjoy the sun at Montrose Beach

Missing Gunnar

Clean Beach

Kyle saw this poster at while working at Joe's and sent the picture to me. It made me laugh.

Kyle and The Wiitala Brothers after getting hair cuts at the American Crew convention.

Biology

80 Degrees Fahrenheit/ 26 grader Celsius and Sunny.

Vi savner Vesterbro!

Field Museum

This goat was being a little inappropriate.

Sue

Vi så dette billede på Field Museet og syntes, det var en sjov udtalelse. Udstillingen viste billeder og selvbeskrivelser af forskellige amerikanere, der har mere end en national oprindelse.

We saw this picture at the Field Museum and found it pretty funny. The exhibition was about people who have more than just one origin ( which I guess is most people in America).

Our future home?

Ari & Avner

Breakfast at Pancake House.

Min bryllupsdagsgave til Kyle. En hjemmelavet t-shirt af Larry David fra tv-serien Curb Your Enthusiasm (Den originale amerikanske version af, hvad der i Danmark blev til Klovn.) Teksten under billedet siger: "Pretty...pretty...pretty good!"

Det bedste var at Kyle elskede gaven.

My anniversary present to Kyle. A homemade t-shirt with a print of Larry David from the tv-show Curb Your Enthusiasm. The caption under the picture reads:

"Pretty...pretty...pretty good!"

The Best was that Kyle loved the present.

Søndag eftermiddagskaffe og liljer fra vores bryllupsdag.

Sunday afternoon coffee and lilies from our anniversary.

A pretty amazing month all in all. We wish everyone a happy springtime.

Vi sender især mange tanker til jer, vi elsker og savner derhjemme. Vi ses snart. Indtil da håber jeg, at i må få et dejligt forår.

Masser af Kærlighed,

Linn

A year has gone by.

Incredible how time seems to pass one by so gently that one doesn't even notice how it slipped away so quickly. It's been over a year since our last post. Once again we have relocated from Copenhagen to Chicago. This time as a married couple who the last eight months have been trying to find their own standing place as a couple but also individual after yet another move, leaving the Danish friends and family behind - and reconnecting with the America friends and family. I have to say, for me - I would not have been able to get through the move this time, had it not been for the friends I already had in Chicago. Uprooting and creating something new is one of the hardest things to do, especially if you are content with the life you already have. It helps to have friends in the new place who understand you or at least are willing to listen to you when you are having a hard time.

But there are perks in being an intercultural couple. You get to see things and have extraordinary experiences you would never have had if you stayed put where you were. Here are some of the moments that might seem ordinary but that I have appreciated since our last post.

Getting married on the first sunny Saturday in Copenhagen last April.

Honeymoon in Phuket, Thailand.

Riding in Tuk Tuk's in Bangkok.

Rabbit's in a Thai Market.

Shopping in Chinatown - Bangkok.

View over Bangkok from our 58th floor hotel room's balcony.

Talking with my sister and her husband on Skype.

Birthday party at Benihana's in Wheeling, IL, of all places.

Friends

First Snow

Christmas Tree

Yes, this is me and Vince Vaughn Christmas shopping at Williams Sonoma together.

Passing time at a diner in Green Bay while visiting relatives.

Risengrød

Merry Christmas

Starbuck's moments.

Last Snow

Falling through the ice covering Montrose Beach.

Now I am desperately waiting for spring to come, and looking forward to what new adventures life has to bring this upcoming spring and summer. It's already beginning... To quote the rather cheesy line of Phil Collins: "I can feel it coming in the air tonight..."

, Linn