As promised, the second update...

Written on the 9th of December, my second update written on facebook...
Hello loved ones,
This is my second installment of my adventures in Scandinavia. A lot has happened since the last note, mostly great things, some not so good.
I will quickly summarize the bad things: 1) trying to date someone in the US while I’m here ( = failure), 2) language barriers between my Korean project member and me creating some HUGE setbacks (potential plagiarism… yikes),3) weight gain, and 4) the never-ending bureaucratic disaster of both Aalborg University and GSU. However, I can counterbalance all of those points: 1) I’ve had the chance to get to know a side of myself that I love, and I’m over my commitment phobia. Also, things might work out when I get back, and I’ve made a really good friend. 2) If it weren’t for Sookjung (Soo), I wouldn’t have had the chance to do a study on culture from two opposing perspectives. 3) Gaining weight got me to start swimming again… have I ever told you how much I LOVE swimming?? 4) I actually cannot counterbalance this one. I am still holding up one middle finger to GSU and the other to AAU. Aside from that, the eternal optimist strikes again!
Lately, I’ve been budgeting my money really well, like I never have before. I am not sure if this is a permanent thing, but I hope this is one of those coming of age, you’ll-grow-into-it kinds of things. I come to Europe while the value of the dollar is plummeting, and I learn to budget my money. I guess that’s one way to do it.
My project was due last Thursday, and Soo and I finished all 49 pages right on time with little to no stress (other than having to fix some plagiarized writing). Results of our study: people in individualized cultures (societies that value independence, such as USA) have longer memories and describe their memories with more emotion than do collectivist cultures (who value interdependence, such as South Korea). This is attributed to the value independent societies put on talking about past events and the emotional experiences of events versus the value interdependent societies put on emotional suppression for social harmony. It was a really interesting paper, but I’m about done with talking about memory. When I took Psyc 1101, I remember thinking, “I will never do anything with memory. Why do we always learn about it in every basic course?” …. Eating my words right now. We have our oral exam in a week, and then I’m DONE with my project! I don’t really understand oral exams, so wish me luck! I also get my cognitive psychology exam tomorrow at noon, and I have a week to write 7-10 pages on some topic. I prefer this time of examination than the US style for sure.
I’m finished with everything here on the 17th, and then I’m going to Århus for a concert with Bastien and Séverin! On the 18th, I’m spending the weekend in Hopenhagen to see some friends and see the city during the Climate Conference. I feel so lucky to be in Denmark during the conference, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’ll be back in Copenhagen for New Years, and then I’m going to Turkey for 2 weeks! I’m so excited!! I’ll be staying with friends of friends in Izmir and Istanbul, seeing another world so separated from mine. My friend Yasin, who is from Istanbul, asked me to write or blog everyday that I am there, which I plan to do. In 5 weeks, I will be home sweet home! What a busy next 5 weeks.
Two nights ago, while Yasin was telling me about Turkey, we talked about how going abroad peeked a newfound curiosity in our home countries. Although I want to continue to travel the world, I realized that I have seen only a small part of my own country! Proportionally, I have seen more of Denmark than I have of the States.
On Sunday, I saw the highest point in continental Europe (considering that the rest of Scandinavia is considered to be an island off of the continent) Skågen and Grenen where the Baltic and North Seas collide into each other… go there if you have a chance in life. It’s so surreal to see two separate bodies of water push against each other! I have now been to both the very Northernmost and Easternmost tips of the L-shaped land of Denmark as well as the point where the horizontal and vertical lines meet (which is more or less where Billund/Legoland is). Even though I’m a bit homesick, I love Denmark. Maybe two months ago I didn’t think I would say that, but I have made a nice little home here and appreciate everything the country has to offer. I’m getting ready to say goodbye to a lot of people in the next two weeks when they go home for the holidays, and it’s strange to think that I won’t see a lot of these people ever again. Going from a permanent home to an international scene has forced me to mentally regard people differently. As opposed to creating an emotional attachment to these people being in my life for a countless amount of time, I know that we will part and hopefully see each other in some undetermined future. I will say goodbye to one family and hello again to another. I’ve never had a similar experience, but I love having international friends and people I want to see outside of my borders. It’s a great impetus to travel to new places to see familiar faces (yikes, what a cliché).
Ah, I almost forgot to write about Mom and Dad meeting me in Amsterdam, Thanksgiving dinner for 70 international students, and the Crossing Border festival in Den Haag! I could have done without the heart of tourist-ridden, marijuana-filled Amsterdam with its red lights and pick-pockets, but the city had gorgeous architecture, great food, and so many perfect little cafés with Illy espresso, some with views of the canals. Also, the surrounding “countryside” was so serene and beautiful. Den Haag, where the Dutch parliament is located, was almost a view into the past during WWII. I couchsurfed with some people who lived in a brick building that was crookedly built during the war, and the toilet in the bathroom was diagonally angled (?). On the Friday night I spent in Den Haag, I saw Yo La Tengo, the Low Anthem, St. Vincent, and Grizzly Bear at Crossing Border. All of the bands were fantastic, although Grizzly Bear was STUNNING. I mean, I was stunned. Speechless.
Mom and Dad came back with me to Aalborg before going to Hamburg five days later. Aside from the dark, windy, wet weather, I could definitely see them living here. They thought that the city center was precious. Our International Thanksgiving dinner attendance got out of hand, and we had literally 70 people eating. Somehow, my friend Vanessa, and I successfully coordinated the most organized dinner party for 70 that may have ever existed. Delicious food, lovely people, a night of dancing… these are a few of my favorite things. I can say that if Mom and Dad weren’t here for the dinner, this may not have been the case. And Mom, the table decorations are still on the tables and people love them!
Well, I’m going to force myself to wrap this up. A verbose life is a full/filling life. It’s been beautiful and charming here, and I wish you all happy holidays and many blessings!
Until next time…
p.s. I've put up pictures from Norway and Copenhagen if you're interested!