Vi Ses, Copenhagen!

On Tuesday, December 9th, I departed Copenhagen and returned to the United States.  After four months of being separated from my family and friends as well as the familiarities of home, I was more than eager to set foot in America.  After a cancelled flight and over 21 hours of travel, I was finally reunited with my mom.  Although the reunion was not as we imagined, I was thrilled to see her run into the airport with my welcome home sign. 

Since being home, I've had hour-long friend dates at Starbucks, travelled up to New York City for the day to have tea at The Plaza and tour around the city, and spent quality time shopping at all my favorite stores.  Being home has been wonderful and I'm soaking up every minute before I have to go back to school in early January.  

Life Is Hard

There's no getting around it-life is hard. Sometimes it seems as though you overcome one hurdle only to be confronted by another one, or two, or three.  As I prepare to say goodbye to Copenhagen, I find myself reflecting on my own challenges that I experienced while abroad.  My semester was certainly not a walk in the park; I had good days, but also days of deep heartache.  I had to mourn the loss of an important relationship, while simultaneously embracing and maximizing my time in Europe.  These two tasks are not easily compatible.  Everyday I had to make a conscious effort to try to find little joys, whether it be a rare ray of sunshine emerging from behind a cloud or a nice meal at a new restaurant.  

My time in Copenhagen gave me a new confidence and independence that I have never had before.  But most importantly, I learned that God is the ultimate Provider.  He knows my needs and never abandons me.  During both my darkest moments and my happiest moments, God was there. God will always be there.

Fashion Friday

Happy Friday! It has gotten bitterly chilly in Copenhagen over the past few days. The dropping temperatures coupled with Christmas being less than one month away has precipitated my hunt for fun and festive leggings! I picture myself wearing them with oversized sweaters or under sweater dresses. Even though Black Friday is not an event in Copenhagen, I have satisfied my shopping bug with some online shopping.  I am thankful for the Internet :)

Here are some of my favorite legging finds!

Holiday Red Flower Reindeer Print

Nordic Reindeer Print

Reindeer Snowflake Print

Holiday Reindeer Print

Happy shopping and enjoy your weekend! 

Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving! I pray that everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday filled with love and memories. 

This is my first Thanksgiving spent away from home (very far from home).  Not being surrounded by my loved ones on such a family-oriented holiday is difficult. However, God is so good and has given me ways to stay connected with my family and friends even from thousands of miles away. Last night I was able to contribute to dinner by helping my mom find a mashed potato recipe and today I plan on video chatting to say hi to my extended family.  Here in Copenhagen, we're even executing an elaborate traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday!  I am thankful for friends and family both near and far and for the eternal love, grace, and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

(Some pictures from last Thanksgiving)

Kisses for Sammy!

A fun visit from my step-sister and her daughter! 

      Missing these snuggles!

Fantastic Fudge

We’re halfway through the week; it's time to reward ourselves with a sweet treat! Here are a few amazingly delicious-looking fudge recipes that don't seem too difficult to make!

Gingerbread Fudge

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Fudge

Chocolate Fudge

Happy eating and have a great rest of the week!

Mid-week Reminder: "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her."

Luke 1:45

Smart Girls Group

Check out the article I wrote for The Smart Girls Group about feminism on the runway!

No Catcalls on This Catwalk!

Power of Prayer

The more time I spend reading God's word, the more I realize of just how awesome He is.  His greatness gives me this unquenchable feeling of love and warmth and protection.  While I sometimes find myself forgetting to talk to God throughout the day, the instant I sit down with the Bible or read a passage from a Bible study, I am once again reminded of the power of our Savior. 

The past few days have been particularly taxing for me on a mental/emotional level. I was faced with making a decision that did not (at first) have an easy answer; it dealt with revisiting an old relationship and had the potential to be either really great or really distressing.  I immediately turned to family and friends to help me navigate this dilemma.  With various pieces of advice, I was still left with uneasiness as to what to do.  I made a decision that I felt ambiguous about and rationalized my choice by thinking "why not?" (not a great reason).  I stuck with this decision for a few days before I suddenly realized I had made a poor choice. Throughout my mental turbulence, I prayed to God asking for clarity and had my family praying for me as well.  And God answered my prayer.  He made it clear to me that I needed to protect my mind and my heart and avoid the situation. When I finally accepted this reality, a weight was lifted off of my shoulders; I felt free from the burden of people pleasing and closer in my walk with God. 

Sometimes when I pray, I get impatient with God's response time.  I tend to jump to the conclusion that He has decided my prayers is too insignificant or is busy handling other, more important, issues than mine.  I couldn't be more wrong.  God answers prayer not according to my timetable, but His.  He doesn't always (usually) answer prayer in the way I envision because He provides even greater things or what I actually need.  In every season, God is good.  He never forgets his children.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Romans 12:12

Amen!

"It's the Holiday Season..."

It’s officially holiday season and I could not be happier about it! My floor has fully embraced the holidays with the scent of festive candles in the air and gorgeous wreathes adorning our doors.  Copenhagen has also set up many Christmas markets selling craft items as well as delicious food. All of these festivities are a reminder that Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. Typically, my family hosts fairly casual holiday gatherings; I usually wear a cozy sweater and jeans with a nice statement necklace or scarf.  However, I sometimes have events to attend around the holiday time that call for a more dressy ensemble. There's something so fun and charming about dressing up for a holiday party! Here are some wonderful dresses that would be perfect for a Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Years party!

Jack Wills

J. Crew

Joe Fresh

Anthropologie

Perfect Porridge

Happy Hump Day! This morning, I woke up bright and early to meet my Danish Language and Culture class at Grød for oatmeal (or "porridge", as they call it).  Grød is one of the most well-known spots in Copenhagen for oatmeal and was established by a local entrepreneur.  Even though I am new to eating oatmeal (the texture used to freak me out), Grød was absolutely delicious and filling in the best way! Here are some fun pictures I found to better illustrate the fun atmosphere and the yummy breakfast!

My porridge was topped with granola, walnuts, and bananas, but there were tons of other options to choose from! Here is a link to a wonderful website that gives you a variety of porridge recipes to try at home!

Porridge Recipes

Thankful

Since arriving back in Copenhagen Sunday morning from my European excursion, I am filled with thanks.  I was anxious about some aspects of the trip, up in the air details and overall cohesiveness. However, as I am constantly reminded, God is the ultimate Provider.  He listened to my prayers, my concerns and He showed me that I never need to worry.  God created this incredible world and watches over me as I explore new places in His masterpiece. He takes care of the smallest details with the big-picture in mind. Some things I am thankful for from my journey:

• New friends
• Roman ruins
• Gelato
• Pizza
• Strong legs to walk many miles
• Warm sun
• Refreshing rain
• The changing horizon as the plane ascends
• Fresh produce stands
• Buying gifts for family and friends

That One Time...

As I mentioned in my previous post, I spent this past week gallivanting around Europe with two wonderful DIS friends! We explored Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Florence, and Milan. To say that this trip exceeded my expectations would be an understatement. God truly does provide and minus a few inevitable snafus, our travel break went swimmingly well!

I could write a novel about my experiences in each city alone, but I will try to be concise.  We started our expedition in Paris and were immediately greeted with a warm welcome from the Eiffel Tower shining like a beacon in the night. With the picturesque light show and a view from the top of the Tower, the first night in Paris was practically out of a dream.  The next day in Paris was dedicated to sight-seeing.  We visited the Pantheon, Notre Dame, the famous lock bridge, popped in Ladurée for a sweet pick-me-up, got dolled up and had dinner at Alcazar, and ended the night with the Eiffel Tower light show. On our last day in the City of Lights, we toured Versailles (breathtakingly ornate), stopped by the plaza that houses the Louvre, and finished the evening with a walk down the Champs-Elysées. Paris was the perfect start to the trip and remains one of my favorite European cities. Punctuated with beautiful sights and delicious delicacies, you can never go wrong visiting Paris.

Our next stop was Barcelona, a city that I had never seen before! With the help of Theresa, our amazing tour guide, Barcelona proved to be the most educational portion of the trip.  We swung by the Sagrada Familia, paused to gaze at Gaudì architecture, ate yummy (though small-sized) tapas, meandered through a gorgeous market that held any food you could ever want (from blocks of congealed blood to fresh olives to fruit to pig heads), and escaped the rainy day by ending the tour in a café specializing in churros that you dip in liquid chocolate! The next day, the weather more than made up for the rain-there was not one cloud in the sky and the sun shone steadily throughout the day.  We took advantage of the Mediterranean-like weather by spending the morning at the Parc Güell and the afternoon wandering the narrow streets of Barcelona and stopping in various boutiques. To celebrate our last night in Barcelona, we ate paella on the coast-a night to remember!

Our time in Italy was divided between Rome, Florence, and Milan (although we only spent time in the Milan train station and airport). Rome was the most charming and captivating city I've ever visited. I was blown away by the history and almost mystical presence of the Roman ruins that dot the cityscape. And with pizza in our bellies and gelatos in our hands, romping around Rome at night was truly a highlight of the trip.  Although some tourist destinations were under construction (Trevi Fountain…cough…cough), I thoroughly enjoyed every moment I spent in Rome (and Vatican City).  With the stress of Italian train strikes in the forefront of our minds, we traveled to Florence after our limited 24 hours in Rome (luckily, with no issues). Florence was gorgeous and the landscape surrounding the city is absolutely stunning. We filled our time in Florence with sightseeing, eating, and shopping (a new purse for me)…it doesn't get much better than that! After a day in Florence, we took a train to our final destination of the trip-Milan! The train to Milan proceeded without difficulties, however, getting from the train station to the airport in Milan proved to be a bit of a challenge. Due to the train strikes, the normal train that runs directly to the airport kept getting cancelled. Eventually, we accepted our fate of paying for an expensive taxi ride to the airport, but as it turns out, we discovered a bus that took us right to the airport for a fraction of the cost.  With exhaustion creeping up on us and looking into pulling an all-nighter at the airport, it was such a blessing to find the bus instead of having to take a taxi. The final leg of our journey was to spend the night at the Milan airport before catching our flight back to Copenhagen Sunday morning. We all picked up books to read in Florence to help pass the time and after what felt like an eternity at the less than luxurious airport, we finally landed on Danish soil!

I am so thankful to Jacqueline and Madison for welcoming me to travel with them.  This trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one of the best weeks of my life! Reunion in Rome in five (or maybe seven) years :)

Trust is Without Borders

This week, I am traveling with some friends on a whirlwind tour to Paris, Barcelona, Florence, Rome, and Milan. I embark on this adventure in just a few hours! Please keep my me and my friends in prayer for safe travels and enjoyable experiences. I know I will be confronted with situations that are out of my comfort zone. However, the Lord is always with me and I look forward to seeing more of God's great creation!

I won't be able to post while traveling, but I will have lots of pictures and updates when I return!

Have a great week!

Fashion Friday

Woohoo! It's Friday!!

For this week's Fashion Friday post, I want to mention some fun new designers I came across during my sojourn in Ireland.  One afternoon, I visited a department store on the famous O'Connell Street in Dublin.  In addition to all of the familiar brands, I discovered three new designers that are well-known in the UK (but also ship to the United States)! Each of these brands offer fun, cozy and stylish clothing items and accessories. Check them out! I picked out some of my favorite finds from each brand.

Joules: Tunic, Sweater

White Stuff: Sweater, Lace Shirt

Brakeburn: Shirtdress, Polkadot Satchel

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend!

Snack Attack

Happy Wednesday! This week is filled with lots of assignments to complete prior to departing on Friday for eight days of traveling! I'm often guilty of craving a snack while working on homework so I found two great recipes that look delicious and easy!

I love snacking, but I think it's important to make healthy snack choices.  This carrot chip recipe appears to be both satisfying and good for you! All you need are two large carrots, some olive oil, and sea salt! Easy as that! This recipe could also serve as a fun side dish to a dinner meal. 

Carrot Chip Recipe

Another wonderful snack recipe I recently came across on Pinterest is for banana chips! I LOVE banana chips-they have a perfectly satisfying crunch, but aren't filled with sugar or other unhealthy ingredients.  All you need to make your own banana chips are two ripe bananas and some lemon juice (plus an oven and about two hours).

Banana Chip Recipe 

He Knows My Needs

This weekend, I traveled with my Living Learning Community to a commune outside of the city of Copenhagen called Svenholm. Admittedly, when I was given the details about this retreat (mushroom foraging, a song workshop, questionable bathroom situation), I was less than thrilled to attend. I enjoy indoor plumbing. However, bright and early Saturday morning, I scooped up my sleeping bag and backpack and headed to the train to begin bonding with nature.

As it turns out, Svenholm is pretty amazing. We took a tour of the beautiful grounds and learned a bit about their history and inner-workings. We followed up the tour with a delicious vegan carrot soup and fresh spelt bread which gave us just enough energy to spend about three hours in the forest foraging for wild mushrooms.  Under the guidance of a trained biologist, we collected a few mushrooms which we later made into a gravy for our homemade mashed potatoes.

If it had been up to me, I would have elected to stay in Copenhagen this weekend and skip the Svenholm retreat. But I'm so glad it was not up to me. Contrary to what I anticipated, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Svenholm, being surrounded by God's breathtaking creation (even if that meant using an outhouse).  This scenario happens a lot in life. I often shelter myself or avoid engaging in certain situations.  I think I know what' s best for me. However, I have found that the most impactful and meaningful experiences occur when God steps in and shows me what I actually need.  This weekend, I needed to be surrounded by nature, sing around a campfire, and get my hands dirty picking mushrooms. I needed to get away from the city, spend time with new people, and, most importantly, appreciate God's handiwork.  God knew this and He provided. Amen. 

Fashion Friday

Happy Happy Friday!! And Happy Halloween! 

With fall in full swing, I'm wearing my LL Bean Boots almost everyday.  They keep my feet warm and dry despite the cold, rain, and wind that frequents the weather forecast. While I love my Bean Boots, there are also some great alternatives for the fall season! Here are a few other great boot options!

Slimshortie Boot

Scotia Boot

Duck Boot

Salomon Hime Boot

The best way to ensure snuggly feet in the fall is to pair your favorite boots with a cozy pair of socks! I absolutely love socks and have a whole drawer practically overflowing with them.  While I have collected socks from a wide range of stores, I have personally found that some of the best socks to layer under boots come from J. Crew and Target.  My favorite picks include:

J.Crew Barbour Houndstooth

J.Crew Plaid Trouser

J.Crew Fair Isle

Target Brown Argyle

Target Alaska Knits Fair Isle

Easy Breakfast Idea

Being an extremely novice chef, I love recipes that have limited ingredients and do not require a lot of preparation or work.  So when I stumbled across this recipe for yummy two ingredient pancakes (only eggs and a banana), I was thrilled. My usual breakfast consists of yogurt and granola so the prospect of starting the day with warm, comforting (and easy) pancakes is so exciting! I'm going to add some cinnamon to the batter as well so that the pancakes have a fall-y flavor.

Two Ingredient Pancakes

Freedom

Sometimes I find it hard to discern what God is telling me.  I can get so wound up in my own issues that I forget to lift up my worries and burdens to the Lord and wait for His guidance (which always comes in the most perfect way). Other times, God practically flashes His message to me like a bright neon sign. 

Recently, I've been spending more glorious time reading and meditating on God's word (it's become one of my favorite activities). In doing so, I noticed a common theme that I kept coming across whether it was through scripture or a Bible study.  

FREEDOM

A few weeks ago, I was participating in an online Bible study through She Reads Truth-an amazing online resource for women that I highly recommend. One of the texts that was included in the study was from 1 Peter 2:16.  The verse reads:

"Live as people who are FREE, not using your FREEDOM as a cover up for evil, but living as servants of God."

I wrote down this verse in my journal and then honestly forgot about it. However, God was not done teaching me about this idea of freedom.  Yesterday at church, one of the verses we discussed was from John 8: 31-36.  A portion of this text reads:

"…the truth will make you FREE."

As I opened my journal to prepare to take notes from the sermon, my eyes immediately landed on that first verse from 1 Peter. The word FREE practically jumped off the page. It was one of those God moments where, with His help, I finally recognized the importance of this idea of freedom through Jesus Christ.

For me, freedom through God is one of the most liberating, awe-inspiring, hopeful messages! I'm free from the burdens of this world:  the trap of perfectionism, the pressure to get the best grades, this world's idea of the ideal body, etc. I am enough. You are enough.  Just the way we are. Jesus' suffering and ultimate death on the cross frees us from the concerns of this world so that we can instead channel our focus on the most important thing-living our lives according to His will. He chose me and He chose you. He loves me and He loves you.  We are free through God.  Amen. 

Biscuits and Barbour

This week has been filled with travel adventures! Last Friday, I departed for London to spend a lovely (and unbelievably fast) weekend with my college roommate from sophomore year. Having already been to London, we tried to visit some spots that I hadn't seen yet. We began our British excursions with as stop at Abbey Road for the touristy walking-across-the-road photo op (as a Beatles fan, I was in heaven). We then stopped by the station at King's Cross to try our luck at catching the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 3/4. So fun! After many pictures, Erica and I made our way to the mecca of all department stores, Harrods! With a quick bite from a delicious food stall in the basement (the best thai noodle salad), we tackled each floor with reverence and awe.  We gawked at the unparalleled selection of handbags, jewelry, and shoes and fantasized about the day when we can (maybe) afford some of them. Once we fully satisfied our fashion cravings, we went back to Erica's dorm room in Chelsea to relax, eat dinner and prepare for a pub crawl.  Even though I don't really drink, I still had a great time seeing all the different pub venues and of course spending time with Erica! I then pulled my first all-nighter and went right from the pub crawl to the airport to fly back to Copenhagen.

On Monday, I flew to Dublin with one of my friends in my program.  We stayed in the Temple Bar area, which was the perfect location to walk to all the spots we wanted to visit! We visited Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells, stopped by all the National Museums, had fish and chips for dinner, toured the Guinness factory, saw the beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral, and celebrated our trip with drinks in a traditional Irish pub! Since we were only in Dublin for three days, it was such a whirlwind! Unfortunately, due to poor scheduling, I spent all day Thursday in the Dublin airport (11 hours!). Luckily, the airport had wifi so I was able to talk to my mom on the phone periodically throughout the day.  Around the ninth hour, perhaps out of pity, my mom suggested that I purchase a Barbour jacket I had been eyeing up from a store in the airport. Practically mad from being cooped up in the airport all day, I decided to take my mom up on the offer and I am now a proud new owner of a beautiful Barbour jacket that is absolutely perfect for the drizzly cold weather in Copenhagen! Thanks mom!

All in all, my UK adventure was so fun and I am very thankful for each new experience!

(Almost) Fashion Friday

So I know it's not actually Friday yet, but since I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon to visit my college roommate in London for the weekend (yay!), I wanted to share my fun, fashion, finds a day early!

Wind is abundant in Copenhagen and can really chill you to the core.  While I've always loved scarves, they have transcended being merely an accessory and have become a necessity.

Here are some very cute (and wallet-friendly) scarves!

Oversized Plaid Scarf Option 1,
Oversized Plaid Scarf Option 2,
Multicolored Plaid Scarf,
Knit Infinity Scarf,
Houndstooth Infinity Scarf

Here are two great examples of ways to incorporate scarves into your fall wardrobe!

What Makes a House a Home

Last night, I weathered cold, rain, and wind to attend a young adults Bible Study with a group of sweet, Jesus-loving students from my church here in Copenhagen.  With the navigational help of a fellow DIS student, I managed to find the Pastor's home (the first house I've been in since arriving in Copenhagen in August).  Upon arriving, I was immediately grateful for the shelter from the cold and rain as well as comforted by the sight of friendly faces and the smell of pumpkin soup on the stove. The cozy home was sprinkled with candles and filled with laughter and love.

After the perfect soul-warming dinner of pumpkin soup, salad, and fresh bread, we retired into the living room where, wrapped up in tartan print blankets and nurturing cups of coffee and tea, we opened our Bibles to the book of Hebrews and began reading chapter 8.  Once we were done our round robin reading of the chapter, under the Pastor's guidance, we discussed any questions, concerns, or thoughts we had about the passage and then concluded the evening with prayer requests for the week ahead.

Being in a home surrounded by fellow believers, even if only for a few hours, was so encouraging and a wonderful way to start my week.  I am so thankful to be able to share my love of Christ and my faith journey with such a diverse group of Christians.  While many good reminders were discussed during the Bible Study, one comment really struck a chord for me.

We must sacrifice efficiency to listen to God.  

In the world today, and especially in American culture, speed and efficiency have great value.  I am often guilty of prioritizing quantity over quality, wanting to check everything off my to-do list instead of completing each task to the best of my ability.

In the same way, I sometimes struggle to wait for God's timing. I think I have a plan that will get to the end result in a faster, more efficient way.  But as a follow of Jesus, I need to remember that God doesn't value efficiency; His timing is perfect.  Instead of interceding to "speed up the process", I need to pray to God for Him to help me be patient and trusting in His ultimate plan for my life.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11

Fashion Friday

It's Friday! Another week checked off the calendar! 

With traveling so frequently, when I have a finally have a full week of classes, there are abundant readings and assignments.  Plus, after cooking dinner for all my housemates last night (about 25 people) and finishing a twelve page research paper, I am officially living by the motto:

"All I need today is a bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus."

Onto fashion friday! Right now I'm loving fall shoes! In high school, during Homecoming Week, my school would host a 80's dress-up day. Instead of adorning neon spandex and crop tops, I would elect to sport a preppy sweater and my mom's vintage penny loafers (complete with an actual penny). 

I love the look of a pair of classic penny loafers.  Here are some of my favorite loafer styles from G.H. Bass, the company responsible for introducing the first pair of penny loafers in 1876!

Denim Weejuns, Kiltie Tassel Loafer, Missy Driver

(A classic shoe on a classy lady)

Monday Motivation

Happy Monday!

This weekend was spent recuperating from my long study tour- lots of relaxing, having wonderfully long phone conversations with my mom and watching many episodes of Gilmore Girls. I also went to church on Sunday and saw the most adorable baby's baptism, it was such a treat!

I also accomplished some items from my fall to-do list: my floor mate made absolutely delicious pumpkin bread (thanks, Pinterest) and I found a scented candle in Amsterdam called "Cheer in a Cup" (it doesn't get more festive than that!).

In preparing my heart and mind for this week, the verse from James 1:12 stands out to me.

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because having stood the test of time that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

Life is not easy; challenges arise everyday in both subtle and obvious ways.  However, these challenges are not in vain. God's love does not abandon us in times of struggle. Instead, by overcoming obstacles with God's help, we deepen our relationship with God and are drawn closer to Him.

My goal this week is to find the little joys, the blessings amidst the struggles- whether it be starting a new book, enjoying a conversation over a cup of coffee, or taking a stroll around the block.  God knows the needs and desires of my heart and He never ceases to provide.

God is good.

I Am Never Alone

To be honest, being away from home is hard.  I am blessed with a very close relationship to my parents and friends who are currently miles and miles away.  Thanks to modern technology, I am able to stay in contact with them and I talk to my mom at least once every day.  However, I still feel the distance and loneliness can creep up without warning.  

Since coming abroad, I have been challenged in ways for which I was totally unprepared. I came to Copenhagen with a boyfriend and an expectation of what my life would look like here. To say that nothing has gone according to my plan would be an understatement. I have gone through my first breakup, made new friends, and have been confronted with situations outside my comfort zone on a daily basis--all miles and miles away from the tangible support of my family. 

But that's where God comes in.  He is the ultimate source of love, courage and companionship.  In those dark moments when the distance from home seems unbearable, I call out to God and talk to Him. I share with Him my fears, my anxieties, my joys, and my hope for the future.  I spend time reflecting on His truth and I remember that I am never alone.  

fear not, for I am with you;

    be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Long Study Tour

Happy October 1st!

The air is getting crisper and the leaves on the (few) trees I see are starting to change colors. Although I won't be participating in any pumpkin patches or apple picking this season, the festive fall atmosphere is still contagious!

I am celebrating the beginning of a new month in Brussels, Belgium with my core course. Since arriving on Sunday, my days have been busy with interesting lectures and fun activities.  I went on an extensive bike tour around Brussels, listened to members from NATO, the European Parliament, the European Commission, and other influential European organizations, and dabbled in chocolate-making--and the trip isn't over yet! I am so blessed to have the opportunity to explore this new city with some really great classmates.  I've had lots of "pinch-me" moments!

Here are some photos that recap the awesome experiences I've had so far in Brussels!

Tonight I am going to dinner with my class where we'll eat mussels in Brussels and then tomorrow we leave Belgium and continue our long study tour adventure in The Netherlands before flying back to Copenhagen on Friday!