Long Overdue Update

Hello everyone!

Wow - I can't believe it's been over two months since my last blog post. In a way, that's how I feel about my whole stay here. Time has just flown by!

So much has happened in the last two months that I don't even know where to begin. One of the reasons why I haven't blogged in so long is because I've gotten overwhelmed with the amount of stories and information I want to share with all of you that I simply haven't written anything. However, tonight I've come to the realization that I'll never find/take the time to write everything down. I think you would all agree with me when I say some news is better than no news.

So, below are just highlights of my last two months in Denmark:

• Started classes on September 2nd. I'm taking three classes at ASB: Corporate Storytelling, Cross-Cultural Negotiations, and Aspects of Denmark. I'm enjoying all of my classes but am especially loving Cross-Cultural Negotiations. It's taught in a workshop format so we get to negotiate during each class. I've found that I love negotiating and coming up with solutions that will be beneficial for both parties.

Picture from my first week in Denmark. This is my school's sign at the campus' main entrance.

First day of school
Trying to blend in with the natives by wearing leggings and a scarf. :-)

• I bike everywhere. I LOVE having a bike and being able to go anywhere I want at anytime I want (not being dependant on the busses and to their schedules). It's also been a great way for me to get exercise every day. I would guess that I bike on average anywhere from 3-6 miles a day. Århus is one of the more "hilly" cities in the predominantly flat country of Denmark. I really can't complain though. The hills are more like inclines so all I do is switch to a lower gear. :-)

• I've joined a Danish Christian student group called KFS (Cristian Fellowship of Students). I attend their bi-weekly large group meeting with around 40 Danish students. I also meet once a week with 3 other International students and two Danish guys who are all members of KFS as well. This group of friends has been a true blessing during my stay here.

I went on a 2 day canoe trip with a group from KFS the 13th-14th of September. We canoed two fulls day and camped out one night. This was a great trip to meet fellow believers (both Danish as well as international) as well as see more parts of beautiful Denmark.

Group photo of the Canoe trip gang

Gorgeous Danish scenery on the canoe trip

• Dr. Gartner came for a quick visit. He's the Clemson professor that gave me the entrepreneurial narrative research job here in Denmark. He was in Århus the 17th and 18th of September and introduced me to many people I'd be working with and he also gave me several projects to be completed by the end of the semester.

Fine dining with Dr. Gartner (on left) and Poul Christensen (the Danish version of Dr. Gartner). Poul is the director of IDEA, the group I am working with here in Denmark.

• Met and spent time with a really neat professor and author called Saras Saravathy. She was in Denmark for a month giving presentations on entrepreneurship and helping different universities with various projects. She resided in Århus and worked closely with my Danish collegue Poul Christensen. I learned so much from her entrepeneurial knowledge and loved listening to her many great stories. She is also a wonderful cook and on one of her last days with us she prepared a deliciuos Indian dinner at Poul's house.

Saras Sarasvathy and Me

• I auditioned and landed a part in a Danish TV commercial. An email was sent out to all American students at ASB by a Danish film company that was searching for three Americans (one guy and two girls) to act in a commercial that would be a recreation of the Blair Witch Project trailer. The commercial was for a Danish Carpentry School. The commercial will only be played in Danish movie theaters and it's going to be the last commercial before the trailers. The idea is that the audience will be fooled into thinking it's actually the first trailer and initially think it's a trailer for a new Blair Witch Project movie. I will be receiving the final version of the commercial sometime in the next week or two. I'll try and figure out a way to post it on the blog.

The three Americans on set (Michael, me, and Ingrid)

• I went to Legoland with a group of exchange students from ASB on October 4th. It was pretty fun but the amusement park is primarily for little kids. In my opinion, the coolest part of the whole park was the Lego city/world where they have recreated cities and famous landmarks from all around the world ALL MADE OUT OF LEGO!

Main entrance to Legoland

My favorite part of Legoland - Lego City! I'm standing in front of Copenhagen.

• On October 5th, I visited the most northern point in Denmark, Grenen, where the two seas collide. I went with a group of friends (a guy and girl from Germany, a girl from China, and a girl from Austria). It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. Not only did I get to see something quite unusual of two seas colliding, but God even gave us a rainbow right as we were about to leave. I came home with awesome photos. I've included a picture I took just to show you how beautiful it was. We also visited Skagen, a larger town, about 3 miles south of Grenen. The town is famous for it's yellow houses and red brick rooftops.

The most northern point in Denmark

• I was interviewed by a Danish TV station concerning the U.S. election. Again, an email was sent out to American students at ASB asking if anyone would be interested in telling who they voted for in the U.S. election and why. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that I'm the only Republican exchange student from America. Below is the link to the interview. You can also click here to see the video. Let me know what you think!

http://community.dr.dk/default.ns?lngItemID=1310&klip=2846

• I went on a school trip to Brussels, Belgium, from October 8th-12th. A total of forty-five exchange students came on the trip along with three staff from the International Office. The journey from Århus to Brussels took us around 10 hours by bus. We all packed into one big bus and drove through Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands to get to Belgium. The TV system was broked on our bus so we all mainly slept the whole way (we drove through the night on the 8th). We were given a guided tour of the city and spent a morning at the EU (European Union) Parliament listening to several speakers explaining the functions and operations of the EU. Other than those two planned activities, we had the rest of time to ourselves! While I was in Brussels, I tried two famous Belgian things: Waffles and Mussels (not together of course!). Surprisingly, I like mussels and finished off an entire bowl of them. Who knew? Lastlly,, I went with a group of friends on an hour train ride to Brugge where we spent almost an entire day. I definitatly want to go back to that city! It was SO beautiful and charming.

The Atomium in Brussels, Belgium

Brugge, Belgium

• Jessica, Julia, and Daniel Brown came to visit me October 13th-29th! I met them in Copenhagen on the 13th and we stayed there for two days. We took a bus to Århus and stayed at my place for the night. The next morning, the 16th, we went to Hamburg and stayed there for one day. The 17th-20th, we toured Berlin and stayed with a really nice missionary family called the Newbranders (my mom went to school with Mrs. Newbrander). Jessica's best friend (and my third sister), Miriam, flew from Madrid to meet us in Berlin on the 17th and stayed until the 19th. The 21st-23rd we visited Prague and stayed with a very cool missionary couple. The 24th was spent traveling back to Århus and was full of adventure (our train caught on fire on the border of Germany and Denmark and we ended up evacuating and having to take 3 other trains to get to Århus. Only 2 hours behind our planned arrival time. Not bad.) The 25th-28th was spent touring Århus and relaxing at my dorm. Jessica, Julia, and Daniel left early on the 29th to catch the train back to the Copenhagen airport. We had such a wonderful time together and I miss them so much!

Nyhavn, Copenhagen

Berlin, Germany
(Daniel Brown did the wonderful job of setting up the shot and editing the photo)

In front of the Berlin Wall

Prague, Czech Republic

• November 5th I woke up to find out Barrack Hussein Obama is our President-elect. This was a very insteresting day for me with everyone (even strangers!) congratulating me on my new president. However, my closer friends knew I had voted for McCain and were sensitive to my feelings and understood that I wasn't exactly thrilled by all the congratulations. I've come to terms with the fact that Obama will be our next president and pray that I will fully trust the Lord and his good will. I've been encouraged by the following passage and wanted to pass on the uplifting words of God.

Philipians 4:4-7:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I hope my future blogs will be shorter and more regular. I am much better at talking than writing so feel free to call my Skype online number: 1-864-502-2900. I'd love to hear your voice!

To Christ be the Glory,

~JMC~