No Matter What Country You Are In... Midterms are NOT FUN

Halfway through my abroad experience?  This cannot be true!  It feels like I have just arrived, yet this week marks the halfway point.  Midterms have begun and the stress is settling in.  Today is generally field study day, but I am grateful that I did not have one this week.  Thus, I was able to hang out and catch up on some much needed study time.  Tomorrow I have exams in my Lost in Translation and Creative Industries classes.  I have been reviewing readings and going over key topics.  Midterms are essentially the same here as they are back home.  I am NOT looking forward the the exam I have on Friday, it is for my Danish class.  The midterm consists of two parts: A written exam about Danish history and culture and the upcoming oral exam.  In the oral exam we have to carry on a short conversation in Danish with a partner.  The professor records the conversation and grades us on our pronunciation and correct translation.  Tonight I practiced my Danish with a friend on the train and all of the true Danes that were around us found it pretty amusing.  I am well aware that I butcher the pronunciation, but I try my best.... it is a hard language!

I am not going to lie though, I have found some time to procrastinate as well.  I am not going to act like all I have been doing is studying.  I mean I am in Denmark!!!!  Tonight I had a lot of fun!  After studying in town for awhile I met two friends from SLU.  We went to Liz's house and then went with her host family to a pro handball game.  You would not believe how popular handball is here.  Every time I turn on the TV there is always soccer and/or handball on.  It was a really cool experience to see a game in person.  Liz's host siblings actually play handball as well.  We saw FKC-Handball play a team called Ajax.  FCK-Handball won but the game was pretty close the whole time.  It took me a little while to pick up on the rules and regulations, but it was a good time.  After the game we headed back to Liz's for some pizza.  We had 3 different kinds classic pepperoni, one with ham, and one called shawarma.  There are shawarma shops all over, which essentially sell kebab like food.  I had never had a shawarma pizza though.  It had the kebab meat, lettuce, tomatoes, dressing, and more.  It was delicious!  After the pizza we had some homemade apple pie, which Liz made.  If that wasn't enough we finished the meal with some ice cream and 7-layer bars (Liz's specialty).  I went home feeling like I was going to burst I was so full!

I have included some pics from the game tonight!  Also, for those of you who have been following along, don't be disappointed if I do not post next week.  I will be leaving for my study tour and be gone for 3 weeks.  I will have little or no access to computers during that time, but I will have LOTS to talk about when I get back!  I will be beginning my travels with a week in London with my core course from DIS.  From there I head to Florence to meet up with some of my other friends from SLU, then to Amsterdam, and finishing up in Stockholm with my family that lives there!  I CAN'T WAIT!  Just a few midterms and papers stand in my way!  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!  I'll be back before you know it!