Velkommen Til København
August 18th, 2017.
It is raining outside, the sweet haunting sound of Ludovico Einaudi’s piece, Ritornare, is playing from my cell phone speaker. I have now been in Denmark for 3 days. My mornings while staying at this apartment located in Kastrup consist of waking up to make French press coffee, pouring my bowl of muesli granola, banana yogurt, and milk, and going for a run along the beach. Denmark is an interesting place, I would be lying if I said I was not intimated a little, being “out of my element”, it is quite the humbling experience to be in a place that speaks another language, resembles many of the things I am accustomed too, and yet is foreign. Most individuals here speak English as well, but most strike up conversations in Danish before I get a chance to introduce myself with a “Hi I am Aric, I am an American, I do not speak Danish.” Perhaps I fit the part, maybe that is flattering, I digress. Tomorrow I take the metro into Copenhagen, most of my time has been spent here in this suburb which has been a lovely way to transition into the new environment. I used an analogy with my mother that I think describes my feelings perfectly. I feel like a cat. A cat that has been moved to a
new home, the apartment I am staying at is my room, my safe haven, my comfort zone. Gradually I move a little further from home, I run a few miles further, I walk an extra block or two. This may not be the traditional way to get to know a place, but I am not a tourist. I am going to be a resident for the next 4 months, so I figured I should behave as such. It is also quite interesting being here and knowing only friends of family friends, mere acquaintances that have extended very generous hands to me (meeting me at the airport, providing lodging, giving a personal tour of the area). There is a strange mix of excitement mixed with fear, but as they say, sometimes the things that terrify us the most are the things we need to dive in to full on. Like cliff jumping for the first time, sky diving, going down a big ass ski slope, or a big ass mountain bike hill. All the while thinking there is no way in hell this is safe, I shouldn’t be doing this, why did I leave my comfort zone? I was just fine where I was! But here inlays a secret. This pattern, of becoming comfortable and being (sometimes rudely) awakened to something else is life. Life is all about that, if we didn’t break out of our comfort zones, we may still be at home, we may still be living in our home town, we may have never ventured outside of our home state. I am not in anyway shaming this life choice, merely trying to address the value that comes with perspective. And perspective my friends, is gained only through experience.
Peace and Love Turtle Doves,
