The "H" word.

Okay, I've been holding out - as if by not admitting it, I will somehow make it evaporate.  But it's time to say it, "I'm homesick".  

What I miss most from my beloved Oregon...

(1) The food!   I'm SO bored of bread! So far in Holland or Denmark (apart from a couple of incredible home-cooked meals), I have yet to hit that place where you're ready to die happy after a wonderful meal.  I miss Laughing Planet's burritos, Old Town's Pizza, Som Tum's Som Tum, and Living Room's Mezza plate! (I'm getting choked up just thinking about it!)

Lunch in Denmark: bread, butter, sausage, mayo, fried onions. Yummm!

(2) My car. Yes, I miss the independence of jumping in and going from point A to point B.  Without working out the tram schedule.  Or allowing time for the wind to blow your umbrella out of your hand 17 times while you ride your bike in the wind and rain.

A typical commute in Amsterdam in the rain.

(3) Portland Beer.  Ahhh, the beer is so amazing! Here, "beer is beer".  Do you want one or not?  It's going to be an 8-ounce pour of something like BudLight... "Cheers!"  Forget getting a good Oatmeal Stout or even a good Amber Ale. 

(4) Night life.  Yes - there's plenty to do in Amsterdam, but it doesn't really "start" until 1am, and goes on and on and on until even I am yawning and ready to die. Now that I'm in this tinseey, weensy village I'd settle for a pizza joint with a jukebox if it had people in it!

My "nightlife": a bike ride to the next village.

...the next village!

(5) English, and Dollars.  Somehow I've adjusted and it now feels "normal" to sit through dinner understanding nothing except the laughter and the baby's "LaLa!" (which translated roughly means "Lynae").  Shopping in Dutch or Danish isn't bad, but I really can't be bothered with the currency.  I just hand them 100 Kr and hope they don't notice the dumb stare on my face as they announce the total.

Danish Dinero: called "Kroner"

(6) A clothes dryer!!!!!!  Holy cow.  Call me a whiner, but in Denmark we're hanging laundry to dry in 94% humidity, and it's is a joke! At least in Holland the dryer will warm up your clean clothes (picture pulling soggy, warm clothes out of the dryer)!

(7) Music.  GASP! Wow, Portland - you rock my face!!!  Where once I could go out 3, 4, 5 times a week and hear a live show, someone on tour, or a jam session... there's just nothing close to that here in my village for certain, and not even Amsterdam.  Yeah - there's lots of great music, but Portland has many of the same names, PLUS the local scene. 

Okay, okay all the whining and fuss aside - I have to say that none of this has me buying a ticket and heading back to the "land of the free and home of the brave" any time soon.  There are heaps of wonderful things I'm enjoying here!  Mmany of them I've blogged about - but then there are the "little things" that maybe I take for granted now, and I won't really notice... until they're left behind!
 

Disclaimer: friends and loved ones are not mentioned here only  because it's so much easier to talk about things I CAN live without! Yes... you're very missed!

when kids get hungry...

The poor zucchini didn't make it...

Or, more accurately, Patricha didn't make it ...until dinner time that is! She got too hungry, so she took matters into her own hands (and mouth!). 

Well, her brother was fine.  Of course, Viggo spent the afternoon with the almond butter jar, so it's no wonder!!!

The accordian that bought a boat...

At age 6 my host father started making money playing shows with his accordion.  After saving up for a while, he bought this boat at age 11.  He asked it made to his specs by a local craftsman, and by age 12 it was completed. 

(He's shown on the left, helping his son up out of the boat).

It's still in beautiful condition, and the family enjoys summer days out in the bay.  The boat is made in typical viking style, like this ship which used to be manned by a 20-man crew to England from Denmark: 

Check out the Serpent's head on the bow:

Naturally, flying the Danish flag.

The craftsman who made it - now his son finds work by repairing his father's boats, but they're not made anymore because the process is so labor-intensive and newer technologies have taken over. The wooden planks of these old viking-style boats (including Lars') had to be bent to make the curve of the boat which is extremely difficult and time-intensive.

It's beautiful.  

Newer boats in the harbor.

Another day at the office...

This is such a simple exsistance here in my little village.

Yesterday I helped the family collect straw for the year. We loaded about 4 more layers on top of this!

Afterwards we enjoyed a beer and it was such a beautiful night for it!

 Happy horses!

Barcelona Market!

 

 

Mercat Boqueria 

There are several markets in Barca.  This one is just off the main strip Las Ramblas.

I was so impressed with how beautiful it is!  The colors, aromas, and sounds are dazzling.  I've seen a lot of markets.... this one really impressed me!

There were plenty of grab-and-eat goodies, including half a pineapple, fresh-squeezed juices...

...And this red, prickly fruit!  ...which I bought, but I still don't know what it's called.

Then of course there was loads of fresh fish!

And cured pork is very common in Spain!  I saw it here, but it's also sold in every supermarket.  An entire pork leg?  I need someone to tell me how they eat this....

And they're not at all shy about fresh meat~

Cow tongue.

Sheep heads.

Chicken!  (feet still attached...)

 And it goes on...

 

 

Heaps of candies!  So perfectly arranged.  Can you spot the candy "fried eggs"?

I really loved discovering all the new food!

Castle Time

My new host family kicked off my stay in Denmark with a trip to a nearby Castle... and it is gorgeous!  

It belongs now to the Count Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille who has expanded the grounds to include several museums, playgrounds, and beautiful gardens.  I spent a day there and saw less than half of it!  

Here are some snippets....

The Castle:

My tourguide, Viggo

The Castle was built in 1554, and is called Egeskov, "oak wood" in Danish - named for all the oak piles that support the castle. 

The castle has 66 rooms.... here's a mini tour!

Danish choir in costume of the day shared some music in the

Banqueting Hall.

This Hunting Room.  The picture does not do it justice, as there were all sorts of old hunting tools, and all sorts of game, including an African Buffalo, and a tiger (my tour guide didn't give me time to snap photos of those!). 

 

The Governess' Room.  She was responsible to teach and bring up the children to be "dutiful and polite".

The Music Room: and the antique square piano. The painting above is the Countess Nonni Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille.

In the attic  found a collection of antique toys. This little guy is from 1930.

 

 

Outside we the castle we found loads of fun things to try.  Here's the whole family playing on the stilts!

Goodmorning Denmark

This morning I woke up in my new room in Denmark, gathered my things and found my way to the bathroom...

...which is where I bumped into the man of the house - in his underwear.  Carrying a dirty diaper.

I did the same thing any civil person in my position would do: stifled a snicker, averted my eyes and said "good morning".

He proceeded to say "good morning", chat a little - obviously completely comfortable with the fact that he wasn't wearing pants - and said, "well, I've got some shit to take care of" and left.

Cultural disclaimer >>>

I've heard many other au pairs talk about the man of the house walking around in his knickers.  Apparently this is not considered sexual harassment here... it's just the European way!  They're very comfortable with skin (ie if you go to the beach it's common to see topless women and men in Speedos or even thongs).  And as for the comment - if they say "shit" in English is not a swear word - if they want to swear, they swear in their own language. 

Amsterdam: Gay Pride!

Gay pride in Amsteram.  

It's an exhibition in skin, dancing, fun, music and celebration. 

This year it was doused in rain, which didn't deter the crowds or those who came out to celebrate their pride!

It's hard to describe the energy that this kind of crowd creates!  Between the blasting music that each boat cranked out...each fading into the next, and the streamers, fog machines, confettie - it was a huge party, and it was only Friday afternoon!!!! I saw a sign in Leidseplein (known for being a party scene) that advertised "After party Sunday morning".  Sunday morning?!  That's an after party of all after parties!  Wow.

Check out how many umbrellas are out!  

And.....

They're not shy!

Countries... REPRESENT! 

yeah... there were boats from all over the world, and all types of [gay] people!

Along the sidelines you'd find people with bags full of beer, smoking, and getting their party on! I have to say - Dutch people LOVE to have fun! They will party any time, and all the time!  It's amazing. 

Phase 2: Denmark.

Aha!  

I've enjoyed the past two weeks couch surfing in Amsterdam being a tourist, taking in the city, discovering new friends, chasing some leads that have led me to..... Denmark.

I don't think I had any idea where Denmark is before I came here.... so here's some geography help! :-)

I am going to be an au pair in Denmark for a lovely family of 4.  I leave soon - so updates to come!

I'm glad to be still so near to the center of Europe (near everything!) and I'm eager to get more travel under my belt!  I'll be only 2 hours from Copenhagen, named #2 top city in the world (Portland was 22) for quality of life by Monocle magazine, 2010.