Decisions decisions decisions

Arrrrrrgh!!!

Sorry for starting this blog with shouting like this. It’s just that I’m preparing for the challenges of 2009 and 2010. I only need to pass a few tests in June to enter the career I’ve always dreamt of. I’ll learn how to navigate a ship, and eventually flying a helicopter at sea. My dream is to fly a rescue helicopter someday… or just flying helicopters around the Faroe Islands. Then I will transport people, goods, animals, hay, oil barrels, tourists and musicians around the islands. Or I’ll end up working at the beautiful ocean on a ship.

All that starts in August – if I pass, and I’m pretty sure I will.

Before that comes April, May, June, July – and I have to find out how to spend my time wisely before starting this education, that will take place in Denmark.

That’s the tough part of it. I’ll have to let go of a lot of things to do what I really want, and I’ll be a lot away from home – luckily, my boyfriend is very supportive, and thinks he has a very tough, brave and cool girlfriend. Awwww… even action girls can blush 😆

Anyway. I can spend spring/early summer in the Faroes, and summer in Denmark, since I have to go there anyway in June for that test. Or vice versa. Spend spring in Denmark, then go home after the tests, and enjoy the incredibly beautiful Faroese summer.

And now a new question has arrived: There’s a Roger Hodgson concert coming up in Aachen in August, and some friends tries to convince me to go – it’s not “just” another RH gig. It’s an orchestra show! And I’m ready to go, to get another great concert experience and spend time with good friends.

Realising that I’ll be pretty busy next year, where I’ll spend a lot of time at sea, I think I’ll have to attend that concert – it will take a long time before I have time for that again.

So Anina has convinced Anina, that she has to attend that concert, and spend a weekend in Germany.

But that will mean: not much money for vacations during summer. Dah!

That’s why I can’t wait to start that new career, after many years of studying history and Nordic Litterature I’ve realised it’s pretty hard finding a job where I can use a title called Master of Arts, and after many years on low-budget and never ending financial problems (could be worse though, as I’ve always have had just enough money to have fun), I’ll suddenly have a nice income. But no time to spend money. Nevermind, saving is much better.

Ok… Now I’m just rambling on about career and decisions, but what I’m trying to say is just: what to do now?

I think I’ll go back to the Faroes, finish my thesis there, and come back to Denmark along with my boyfriend in June.
Another thing is: I have planned a one-week long hike in the mountains, and I just can’t wait to go.

I’ll go on that hike in the end of May/beginning of June, where it’s bright 24 hours a day. Perfect time to gather thoughts and mind before big challenges. I have sometimes spent days on my own in nature, but one week in the mountains is very special, and the best vacation I can imagine. And I really need to gather my thoughts and find myself again.

At least: this time I’m not confused and indecisive because of depressions like last year. This time, I’m so happy and optimistic about everything. I’m so optimistic that you could call me impatient: I can’t wait for any of it to happen! Decisions now, is just a matter of where and when, time, and of course trying to find out what’s important and what’s not.

Talking about 2009, it has already been a fantastic year. It was the year when a door opened to follow a great dream, and I had a fantastic trip to Nurnberg, Germany as already described in my blog.

And I have a few things I look forward to, a few things I’m nervous about, and a few things I don’t know what to do about.

Said with less words – it’s an amazing feeling of freedom to do what I want, and still be able to take care of my families in Denmark and the Faroe Islands in the future. I feel strong and happy. I’m happily saying goodbye to a miserable year, and saying hello to a new year of possibilities.

I’ll end this blablabla-blog with a few pictures from the Faroe Islands – I’m hoping to get that helicopter certificate someday, to have views like these every day at work in the future 😉

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Happy happy!

I am excited these days. On Thursday I’ll board the ship to Denmark – and I look forward to two days at sea, riding the North Atlantic waves back home. And I’m looking forward to give my parents and my brother megatons of hugs!

I have been away from Denmark for several months (since July 2008), and my family and friends are calling me, writing me, messaging “when will you come home?”

I feel loved. And I feel grateful, for having such wonderful people around me.

Next week is also something I’m looking forward to – a trip to Nuremberg, meeting cyber-friends for the first time outside cyberspace.. I can’t wait! And the occasion is a concert with my favourite composer/singer/musician Roger Hodgson.

Some may ask why I just keep attending these shows, and the answer is pretty obvious: I love the music! And his concerts are very special, an experience you shouldn’t miss, so if you have the opportunity, then go for it! 😀

And another wonderful thing: it’s been so long since last trip (except a short visit in London, a trip to Northern Germany and Sweden) to a new place in Europe. Latest big trip was to Prague almost ten years ago (omg!) and that’s a city I will never forget. Prague is amazing, and I’ll have to visit it again someday.

When I was there, I traveled by train, and so I will do also this time – it’s cheap, and the train goes non-stop from Copenhagen, Denmark. Perfect. It takes 10 hours, so I’m happy to travel by night, and hopefully get some sleep while going south.

That’s a life I love: me, a backpack, travel tickets and Roger Hodgson tix in my pocket. The only thing missing is my boyfriend by my side, but he’s busy these days.

(Oops, I didn’t call my boyfriend a “thing” did I?)

First of all, I’m looking forward to a couple of days on the ocean. One of my favourite places on the Planet 😉

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Random thoughts

One of my favourite activities is dreaming – and another favourite activity is learning. Why not make a nice combination of these two activities?

That’s why I have taken this major step towards a career I had never imagined. My head is filled with thoughts of all kinds. One part of it says “oh Anina, do you think you can manage a career like that? You don’t even know for sure yet, that it will become a reality? Do you have the courage of doing this?

The other part of my head AND my heart says: of course! I once closed a door to a big part of myself. That part of me that is craving adventures and is yearning for always learning. When I opened that door again, it was like seeing a new part of myself. And that part of me would make a great career at sea.

Maybe all that also has to do with age. I am still very young, yet, I’ve went from being in my first-twenties, to mid-twenties to have the age of 30 in sight. And with age comes new ideas and ambitions.

When I was 20, I wrote a note to myself, and I found that note yesterday, when organizing my home office, and cleaning up – it was a note about 10 things to achieve in my life.

I’m not going to mention them all – but one of them was to learn 10 languages. But no words of what languages they should be, except I had plans of learning Icelandic just for fun… or at least.. ALMOST for fun, as I did have plans of studying 6 months in Iceland. Then I met my boyfriend from the Faroe Islands, and I chose studying him and Faroese language instead.. if you know what I mean.

And so – without realising it, I’m one step closer to fulfil some of my dreams from back then. I just have to pick 7 other languages, and three of them is not far from being achieved, as I know some German, and a bit Swedish and Norweigan..and with Faroese, I got Icelandic for “free” even though I don’t speak it, except a few phrases.

So, constantly learning has to be the goal of my life. I won’t say that I think so much about who I am and all that – I’m pretty much in touch with myself and my soul. But still – it’s fun to discover new parts of one self.

So, said with other words: I’m very excited AND nervous of what future has to offer. It’s like leaving one world to enter another. Like leaping over a huge gap – let’s say between two sides of a huge ravine, and I’m currently mid-air between the mountainsides. Will the other side be better than the one I left? Will I be able to leap back if that’s not the case? Should I rather have built a bridge than spending all my energy in one giant leap?

I haven’t landed yet, so I don’t know. I just know that believing in my own abilities and will, I will make it safely to the other side of the gap. The only thing that would make me crash, is if my application is rejected. If so, I know myself well enougto know I will find strength enough to climb back up.

But honestly – all my papers; exams, tests, results, statements ect. looks so good, so why shouldn’t it work out for me?

I feel really optimistic about what 2009 has to offer. One sad thing is that can’t spend much time in the Faroe Islands that I love so much, but I guess one can’t have it all? Afterall, I am from Denmark, and some time in that country, close to my family and friends wouldn’t hurt – only the time I will miss my boyfriend. But our relationship has proven itself to be very strong. I have taken education in Denmark while he worked full time in the Faroes. We can do that again, knowing that we’ll have an interesting future together to share when I get back home.

All I can say is: life seems to be beautiful and challeging at the same time. Carpe Diem.

🙂

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Yearning for a cool breeze

*Sigh* Vacation in Denmark – that’s nice! I like it there, but the last few days have been hot. Really, really hot! Already at 10 am, it reached 30C/86F, and around 12-1pm, it reached 33C/92F. I’m not used to this kind of heat, and I’ve already changed clothes two times today because of the sweat running down my arms, legs and face. Luckily, the town where my parents live, is located at a very nice beach.. it takes less than 5 minutes to walk from home to the beach, and my boyfriend and I have enjoyed it there – and we took a long swim yesterday. That was nice, but one has to get out of the water sooner or later, back into the sun.

But tonight I’m going back to the Faroe Islands.. and I’m longing for it’s nicer climate. Nicer temperatures at least. Because the weather forecasts says FOG. Wich means I may be “lucky” to visit Iceland and Norway as well on my way home, because fog means they cannot land on the short runway between the mountains. Well, then at least I’ll have another North Atlantic adventure, and I’m not in a hurry anyway. But please.. I hope well get there in time tonight.

Oh, by the way – did I mention that I forgot, that I – in this kind of weather – needs to use a sunlotion SPF30? I used a SPF6.. so I’m being fried inside and outside so to speak. Well, I’m off to the kitchen, to have another litre of water. I can’t wait to get back home to that wonderful place in the North Atlantic, that I call my home.

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Vacation in Denmark

I’ve spent the last two weeks in Denmark, and I’ll stay one more before going back to the Faroes again. This is the first time I see Denmark more as a place for vacation, than my home country. Maybe because my flight ticket says Faroe Islands-Denmark return, and not the other way round. And the last two weeks, I’ve traveled more around Denmark than I’ve ever done while living there 😆

A few days ago, I visited the most beautiful place in Denmark I’ve ever seen. And that’s a bit ridiculous, as I grew up not far away from that spot – how come I’ve never visited it? Anyway, the place is the island Møn, known for its 128m high, white cliffs and the forest Klinteskoven (the Cliff Forest).

 And of course, I took some pics (a lot actually!) and here’s some of them.

The white cliffs of Møn

Klinteskoven (the cliff forest)

The stairway to the beach

The cliffs seen from the beach

 

The Hylledal gorge

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Funny commercials

Commercials. I hate commercials! Just as you’re watching a movie or a TV show, they pop up and you (at least I do) forget what I was watching.

But some of those commercials are worth blogging about – because they’re fun! I remember a TV show, that showed funny commercials from all over the world….that show, of course was also interrupted by commercials *duh* – but apart from that, it used to be my favourite show! 

Now I watched some of them again (thanks again, youtube!), and I wondered why the Danish ones always have to do with either beer or sex? Are Danes really this naughty (or simple) that the most hilarious stuff has to do with those things? I don’t know, but I admit – I laugh everytime I watch these 🙄

The first clip I’m going to show you, hasn’t anything to do with beer or sex though, but it’s still my all time favourite – I still remember those days, where people tried to learn English by using a walkman and a tape.. hilarious! 😀

So – enjoy!

And..good ol’ Internet addiction..:

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The perfect flower

What I saw when I stepped out my door today, was fantastic. The smell of flowers, the sound of singing birds – and not a cloud on the sky. And it is warm. So warm that I had to go inside again, and leave my jacket there, so I went outside just wearing a t-shirt for the first time this year. It difficult to get used to, as the last months, since September, we have had to wear woolen sweaters, jackets, scarfs, gloves and raincoats. So no wind, 20C/68F and sunny weather feels incredibly hot.

My uncle is married to a lovely woman from Guatemala, and they moved to Denmark two years ago. I once asked her, if it’s hard to live here with the dark winters and cold weather. “No” she said. Because in Guatemala, they don’t have the spring, and they don’t have the long summer days with their bright nights. The winter in Denmark is a bit rough, but she has her family, her husband, her kids – she doesn’t think much about the winter. “But” she said, the spring is fantastic..

Which led us to talking about God, as she is a strong believer – “look at the first flowers in the spring. So perfect, so pure, and so beautiful. Only a God can create a world like this! And that is only the beginning – then everything is blooming, and birds starts singing.” She is right. I took this picture few weeks ago – and watching those small flowers and a bee, just made me so happy.

And it leads me to another thing about the spring that I love. The beech. You can almost say, that the beech is a tree, that every Dane loves – because its first, light green leaves tells us that finally, the winter is over. The beech is even mentioned in Denmark’s national hymn:
 “There is a lovely land, with beeches green about her, encircled by the sea”

And of course, I was also out taking a picture of those beautiful trees:

And my uncle’s wife is right – it is a miracle every year!

Of course, I’m in Denmark these days, but I will soon be back to the Faroe Islands. The climate there are rougher, wetter more windy – but it has its beauty as well. All the small lambs playing around the mountainsides, the buttercups, and millions of birds. 3.5 millions birds actually – and only 48.000 people. And the spring there means that I can go hiking, fishing, sailing and all that again. I can’t wait to go back there to the middle of the wide ocean.

Even though I have enjoyed the beautiful springtime in Denmark, I thank God, that I soon will be home again. I can’t wait to see views like these again! *sigh* 😀

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The good thing is…

Now that I have complained about this “home sickness where ever I am”-feeling, it’s time for some more positive vibes in this blog. In a few hours, I’ll be on a train with my mother to the city Roskilde to visit my grandmother (oops, that means I’ll miss the Sunday chat again, sorry guys!).

Only few people know how much I love my grandmother, and how much I love visiting her.

She’s one of those who have been through really tough times in her life, but somehow found the strenght to keep walking – and not only that, caring for others in spite of those hard times.

A precious memory I have that I’ll never forget, was when my mother and I visited her many years ago.. I guess I was 7 years old or so. When going home again, I refused to leave her home and said: “I’m staying here the next 24 years!” Appearantly, 24 years seemed to be forever at that time.. nowadays, time seems to be flying.

She still lives in the same flat, with a wonderful view over the city and the firth. And always when I’m there, I love looking at this town, remembering when I was a child and we went for a walk in the park, down the pedestrian street, at the viking ship museum, at the library and other places like these.

My mother just talked to her, and asked what we should cook for dinner tonight – but she insists on ordering pizza, and then enjoying some tea and pastries.. unhealthy? as she says, she lives on third floor and there’s no lift in that building, so she gets the exercise she needs!

So, visiting her makes the perfect ending for this week, and a new beginning of another. Time IS really flying, and today I thank God that my Grandmother is still with us, so I can enjoy another Sunday evening with her.

Oh, and I think that I’ll bring my copy of Roger Hodgson’s “Take the long Way Home” DVD, I’m sure she’ll enjoy it, as she loves music. And if she likes it, I already know what to bring as present next time I pop in for a visit 😉

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Faroedane

Sometimes I ask myself a deep question: where is home? Home used to be Denmark for 24 years, until I decided to leave it behind me, looking forward to a future in the Faroe Islands. And I felt at home from the first day in my own house in my new village.

But I remember myself moving the last stuff out of my flat in Roskilde, and me listening to Roger Hodgson’s album “Open the Door” for the first time while painting the walls. I had tears in my eyes; one tear of sadness of leaving Denmark, and one tear of happiness when thinking of the future with the man I love. It was kind of ironic, to listen to “Say Goodbye” for the first time in this situation, but it kind of comforted me when listening to the lines “Say goodbye to the old way, say hello to a new day
Well if you want your freedom, oh where’s your freedom?
On the road that lies before you, that is all you need to know, let go”

Not that this song is about moving from one place to another (not literally, I mean), it’s rather about that changing ones life sometimes involves difficult decisions. In my case: leaving family, friends and home behind me to start a new life.

So where am I now? It’s easy to answer: I LOVE the Faroe Islands, it was a very good decision to live there. I have never in my life had so much peace in my mind, because I’m surrounded by all those things I love: mountains, hills, valleys, rivers, never-setting sun in the summer, cosiness with lovely faroese people in dark winter nights, fresh air… freedom. Even though I’ve been through a rough time, my ability of staying calm and focused (thanks to the beauty of mother nature, as shown on the pic on top of this page) keeps me going. So where am I? – I am home.

But still. I’ve been in Denmark for a long time now, to study and work. I’ve mostly lived at my Dad’s home, even though I get along with both my (divorced) parents. But daddy is a great friend, and to listen to him playing his good ol’ Gibson (for those interested: Gibson “The Paul”, 78) while studying reminds me of sweet childhood days and I feel.. well.. at home!

Technically, Faroe Islands is a part of Denmark (which kind of annoys me) so there’s no such thing as “Faroese citizenship” – my passport remain Danish. And since I grew up there, my roots are Danish. The Faroe Islands should be independent (a completely different topic and discussion), because they have their own language, culture, and all in all a different identity. They are Faroese indeed – not Danish. I don’t care about myself when it comes to the identity part of moving, as I see myself more or less as a “world citizen”,  but a Faroese guy told me, which I’ll never forget:

“Anina, are you sure you don’t have Faroese ancestors? You speak Faroese perfectly, you love living here, you join chain dances, sail, hike and enjoy Faroese foods.. you are Faroese!” 😀 “Nei” I said, because I grew up in Denmark. “Well” he said – “then you’re a Faroedane!”

That does sound cool!

But it doesn’t change, that when I’m in the Faroe Islands (home) I miss Denmark (home) and when I’m in Denmark, I miss the Faroe Islands. I guess that will never change. I guess I have to look on the bright side – I’m very fortunate to have people around me who cares about me, and where ever I am; home is where the heart is.

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Europe is a country and everyone speaks French here

Ok, I must admit that I had a really good laugh today, when a friend of mine sent me this video – a woman who had no idea about in which European country Budapest is the capital – she thought Europe is a country!

Anyway, it isn’t that funny afterall, because I bet that most Europeans would have problems answering questions about American states. I only write that, because I once was asked in a quiz at my college “what is the capital of Kentucky!” Yaiks!! I know there’s a large city called Louisville there, but something in my mind told me that Louisville isn’t the capital there. Then suddenly I remembered… Frankfort. How did I know that? I only remembered it, because when I heard of it (in a movie I watched long time ago) I couldn’t help thinking about the European “Frankfurt” – where one of the largest Airports in Europe is located.

So only through weird associations I knew the right answer to a somewhat tricky question – otherwise, I wouldn’t have a clue!

 And talking about that, I don’t think you can find a single Dane, who expects Americans to know of Denmark. It’s a tiny little country with only 5,5 millions inhabitants (and at this point I couldn’t help but looking up Kentucky, that is inhabited by only 3.883.723 people). Hehe, actually there were two Danish students, who once went to New York, and asked random people “do you know of Denmark”, and one was pretty sure Denmark was the capital of Sweden 😀

So this poor lady – it wasn’t the easiest question in the world, but still – Europe ain’t a country 😉

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