Danish parties!

I love the way they do. Haha.
There is no legal drinking age in Denmark, but you can start buying at 16. Kids usually start drinking around 13. People host parties at their parents houses (while the parents are home) and kids (boys and girls) can spend the night or their parents pick them up at like 1,2, or 3 in the morning. 
When you're older, you drink at peoples' houses and then go out to bars or clubs, but since we were at a friends house in the country, people stayed there for the night.
So we all get there and he (Elias) made dinner for everyone and we all ate and drank together and then cleaned up the kitchen and continued drinking. I asked him about his parents, like if they were out of town, if they cared if we partied, etc. His mom was out of town and it was the first time he had had a party while she wasn't there, but she was okay with it, she just wanted him to be careful and told him he could call his grandma or uncle if there were any problems. As he was telling me, his grandma showed up to say hi and see how things were going, (I thought it was hilarious). I explained that at parties in the U.S., if someone's grandma showed up.. BUSTED. haha. 
So she helped with dishes, said goodnight, and went home!
There were 18 of us total, and 7 got picked up by parents around 1, and then the rest stayed the night.
In the morning, he made breakfast for everyone. 
In general, it was very different than America, since we can't legally drink, let alone, have parents KNOW you're partying and still let you. Very interesting. But look! Nothing bad happened, we're all responsible adults, hehe (;
Yay Denmark!

Coming Home.

I can't believe it. 
Its so close, I can taste it, I can smell it... (:
HOME.


Its been 87 days
Its been 13 Saturdays
Its been roughly 280 meals
Its been a call home every Sunday
Its been Nutella, bread, chocolate
Its been 13 books of the bible
Its been 84 adorable French children who loved me
Its been online KLove
Its been Charles Dickens Quiz Nights
Its been sleeping on a bench in an airport
Its been seeing my best friend waiting for me
Its been 585 pictures of Europe
Its been friends from Germany, New York, Italy, Denmark
Its been 13 cities


There's no place like home.
I can't believe that I'm already making plans with friends back home.
I can already picture my parents standing in the airport waiting for me... (:
Its gone so fast and yet it seems like forever since I've been home.


Soon I'll have my parents, my bike, my sweet Zoe, my car, my job, my favorite kids at work, my best friends, my familiar places, Starbucks, my beautiful church family.... (:
I am so blessed..

First time sleeping on a bench.

My travel adventure started out in Bordeaux, of course, with my host mom. We checked my bags in and walked around a bit, it was a very quiet day in the airport so that was nice, no stress (:
We said goodbye and I headed toward my plane, I got lucky cause there were three seats and no one between me and the lady to my left! It was fun to see Bordeaux with a bird's eye view (:
Then I remembered my host mom had given me a little box I had to wait to open til I was on the plane! It was a little gold elephant charm, I can't wait to find a chain for it.
Landed in Paris Orly West, on time, and headed toward baggage claim. I saw a couple eye-ing my bag and she pulled it off the thing, I was nervous she was going to leave with it but when she realized it wasn't hers, she threw it-literally threw it- back on the belt, thanks lady. 


Got both my giant suitcases, pushed them around like a macho man. Followed signs to the shuttle for Orly Sud (there's four buildings for the one airport). While approaching the shuttle I heard two cute ladies asking a question in English so I asked them if they had a question (first English face-to-face conversation in 2 months!) they were so cute.. typical old British ladies. 
Wandered Orly Sud for a bit then found a bench and called my mama with my free 15 minutes of Wifi (:


I had two hours before I could check in my bags, so I wanted to waste time, and I saw a sign for McDee's and that they had free Wifi, 1st floor.
I hesitated.. the entire time I was in France, never once did I got to Macdo (as they call it) because I didn't want to encourage the stereotype they have of Americans. They think we LOVE McDonald's but honestly, they're obsessed. But I figured it was worth it to have free wifi so I took my luggage and myself onto the escalator and up to the first floor, come to find out you have to take another escalator to get to McDonald's and you can't take your luggage up the escalators.. I laughed at myself for how much I had wanted to go! Ate a really good chicken sandwich instead and had an Orangina (probably the last for a while (: )

Weirdest thing of my life: The airport was completely FILLED with black people dressed in long dresses and robes, I think they were all going to some sort of religious festival but I have no idea what was going on, I was literally 1/700 white people in this building. 


A guy told me to go to gate 134 for checking in my bags, so I went down the escalator and asked, and it wasn't even the right airline, but then I saw on the screen that it was gate 40, so I went back upstairs, and of course, it was exactly where I had just been. 
Waited in line, and then you know how even when its not a big deal, you still get nervous to step up to the counter?
Stepped up, handed her my ticket. 
-nothing-
Beezy: Your PASSPORT PLEASE. 
I handed it to her, more awkward silence, she asked how many bags I had, I said 2. 
Just looked at her computer screen, rubbed her forehead, acted like it was the most difficult thing she's ever done. She called someone for backup and I started getting nervous that there was a problem with having two bags.
She gave me back my passport and papers and told me to pay for my second bag upstairs. 
I went upstairs and was not sure what she meant, because there was nowhere to pay. Asked around, didn't find it, went back downstairs, but I wasn't going to ask Beezy lady again so I found another desk for Norwegian air, and the lady was very confused as to why I didn't have a ticket from the other lady, Oh la la, ends up, it was her fault so my baggage was free, can't complain! (:


My flight leaving Paris was magical, seeing the city at night, and seeing the Eiffel tower from the sky was amazing, a perfect way to say Au Revoir to France! 
And got lucky again, no one between me and the nice french girl to my left. I curled up and read the book I bought in the airport, then only English one. Danielle Steel. haha!


Arrived in Copenhagen at 11:30 at night and wandered in. It was very empty, with everything closed, very quiet, and lonely. I didn't have to get my bags so that's nice, but I just walked around a bit, not really knowing what to do. 
Then I looked at the map so I knew what to do for the next morning, I would have to take a bus to a different Terminal but they didn't start until 5:30 am.
I found a bench, an lied down to read my book. People passed but it didn't bother me. 
Eventually the entire airport was empty, and there was me, the luggage belt, and maybe like.. one janitor. 12:30 I tried to close my eyes. 
Literally the weirdest night of my life. Between people walking past me, trying to avoid everything by hiding in my coat, hearing a guy screaming in the middle of the night, and trying 8 different positions to be comfortable, I probably got about an hour and a half of real sleep. At 5:00 the first flight came in so I woke up and acted like it was no big deal that I had just slept on a bench. 
Took a chance on the door I walked through, and it was the right one! (:
Figured out where I needed to go next and then took time to go to Starbucks... first time in 3 months.. couldn't have been happier (:
And not too tired!
Headed toward the bus stop, it was a beautiful morning before the sun had come up, went through customs and then played cards and listened to music for an hour before boarding my plane. I also found a pay phone and told Mama I was good (:
My plane coming into Aalborg... I was shaking I was so excited to see Karina, then land out the window was beautiful and green bordering the ocean, and you couldn't have slapped the smile off my face!
I saw my best friend and ran to hug her, and hugged her mom as we met for the first time! 
I've got the next 9 days to live it up for the end of my trip in Europe! 
Then back to the airport life to get home, but no big, airports aren't bad enough to stress me out when I'm so stoked to get home (:

Last day of school in France (:

Today was a fantastic day! 
When I got to school in the morning, the teacher I've been working with, Elisabeth, told me we were going to have a little party and she gave me a present. 
It was a book of songs in English and French, with a CD, its just like the one she has that I used to teach the kids "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"
I love it so much, it's the nicest thing anyone could have given me! 
Then the kids came in and I asked my autistic buddy, Axel, if he wanted to work for me today since it was my last day... he said no (:
BUT!
Today was the best quality work, and the greatest in quantity he has done the entire time I've been with him!
Not to mention, we still had time to color a picture for the teacher (;

At lunch, I talked with a teacher that I hadn't met yet and he had been to Vancouver, and Oregon! It was fun to talk about Starbucks and Taco Bell, the other teachers were mortified that there are Venti coffees (;
It was a fun time though! And I said bye to the teachers I've eaten lunch with the past 4 weeks.
Took a good walk while I ate my apple (that's my favorite thing to do)
Then I said goodbye to my little classes (:

Then we continued working, then had our cake and juice (: well, the kids did!
And then they all drew me pictures and kissed me goodbye. 
I am so thankful for having had the chance to work with such sweet kids and such amazing teachers. 
The teachers all told me I'm going to be a wonderful teacher and I'm so good with the kids. I'm so lucky. 

Also, I showed them on their map where I am and where they are!

 yeah, it was a pretty good day (;

Great day!

Today was a good day! (:

Started off by wearing jeans, flannel shirt, cowboy boots, and my new H&M coat, ah, I felt so country and so at home! I've been dying to wear jeans but today was the first cold day we had and I LOVED it, it was fun to finally feel the season change.

I got to school and greeted all my students (:

Then we split up into groups and headed out for our field trip! 

I held hands with Axel, my autistic buddy who I work with individually each day, and Simon, who wore the cutest scarf and jacket today! (:

We skipped, and kicked up leaves. 

This weekend is the Bon gout d'aquitaine, the area's big farmer's market! We went to a place at  the market where the kids learned how to make bread, and the different kinds of bread and all.

 - While we waited for the Baker to be ready for the presentation, we practiced our song, "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes" and learned how to count to 20 in English. - 

Bread is a BIG DEAL in France. They are very strict about not wasting bread and "if you are not going to eat it, you give it to the ducks so that it returns back to nature." 

And of course, we got to taste it, it was fantastic! (:

Then we walked back to school and continued as normal! 

At lunch I went for a walk after I finished eating, (they have and hour and a half for lunch here) and went back to the market and walked around, it was really fun! I love seeing so many things on display. While on my way back to school I heard English and my ears perked up, ah, the sweet sound of English! (: 

It was a hippie-ish looking couple, dreads, dig it, and I asked where they were from. She was from Scotland, her husband from France, and they live in Greece. Talk about random! But it was fantastic to speak English with someone! She was really nice! (:

I went back to school and we went through our normal activities, math, writing, reading.

Recess! I played... "hide-behind-the-tree-then-run-out-and-tickle-Axel" haha, it was fun, and I loved that he smiled so bright!

After working some more, he was totally finished for the day and didn't want to do anything else, so we colored frogs, and I wrote him a note telling him how smart and nice he was, he kissed it and put it in his back pack (:

I'm going to miss my class when I leave.

Then I ate cake. 

Then I drank chocolate milk.

and ate more cake.

OH FRANCE.

Then I came home and did some organization in my suitcase (I can't wait until I get to pack!)

TRIED to make a video for Kalli's birthday, but it didn't work, stink! So I'll have to do it tomorrow. But in the process, I discovered that I remembered the password to my old Photobucket account, and found all my pictures from like 6th grade-sophomore year, I loved seeing picture I thought I didn't have anymore! (:

Then we ate dinner and laughed about the fact that I can NOT pronounce the word "grenouille" Frog (:

Tomorrow is my last Saturday, we're going back to the market (yes!) and then going out to dinner at a restaurant that does traditional french cuisine! 

5 days until I get to pack!! (:

6 days until I see my best friend in Denmark! 

16 days until I hug my parents!

17 days until I have life conversations with Derrick at Jump off Joe!

17 days until I see my beloved Brenna, Dani, Joshy, etc! and get my job back! YES! (:

Country Strong (:

Okay the title doesn't go with the post, I was just listening to the song (;


GREAT. 


I heard a sermon by Mark Driscoll at Mars Hill's Balard Campus last year in April (I think?) with my mom and brother. 
I found it very applicable to my life, and often do a "Great check" to see if I'm on track! I hope you find it helpful (:


G.R.E.A.T.


Glorify God alone.
     -This one is a toughy. Most of the time, I think well sure! of course I glorify God.... ALONE.. ? OH. Think about things you may glorify (knowingly or not) in your day:
Drinking, sex, ungodly relationships, fighting, certain music, etc.. 
maybe look at recent FB posts and see really whom/what you praise?


Reject unhealthy comparisons to others.
     -Okay, maybe this one is tough too. Especially for girls. Have you ever actually let yourself realize how often you compare yourself to others? Compare your skin, hair, SIZE?, clothes, talents, cars, boyfriends, job,  I do it alllllll the time. If you take a minute to notice.. it doesn't get you anywhere but jealousy, and disappointment. So why do it? Once I mastered the "R" of Great, I was much happier. When I look at other girls senior pictures and wish mine were that pretty, or wish I had hair like that... why? Honestly, why do it? It just sucks. So if you reject it, just move on! You feel much better! You can't control the way you are so stop comparing!
God made you the way you are, EXACTLY the way you are, because that's how He wants you to be! So why try to change yourself when you already have 100% approval from the only opinion that matters? 


Enjoy humbly serving outcasts.
     -This is pretty self-explanatory. BUT! take notice at the word "HUMBLY" the magic word that means... Stop complaining! (: 
Reach out to others, and enjoy it! Give generously! Really... what reason do you have NOT TO? You can't take it with you when you go, so why not give to those in need? (:


Accept your life and do your best.
     -You know that fashion show where the contestants are given material and they have to create a certain piece of clothing? That's kind of how it is with life: here's what you got, now hop to it! This is how it is and how its going to be, so work with it! Do you have a bad relationship with a family member? That's just how it is, now roll with it! Accept it, and do your best, get going!


Take opportunities to redeem ambitions.
     -I like this one. A lot of times, once we get ourselves in something too deep, we think we're stuck, but really we have the power to turn it around at any time! Example: When Mark Zuckerberg was creating facebook, he was ambitious, and had a dream to create this social network.. his ambition eventually became corrupt and was ruining relationships and he went down a crazy path. At ANY moment, literally any minute, he could have chosen to just stop, turn around, and use his means for good! PETER/SPIDERMAN! When he put on the black suit, his ambitions became corrupt and evil, but he took an opportunity to redeem his original ambitions to help people and he changed his ways! (;
We constantly need to renew our ambitions and make sure our desires are on track with what God wants us to do!


Do I follow this every day? No. Its HARD, but Lord knows I'm gonna try (:

:D

Hmm. I am beyond fortunate. Beyond blessed. Not just because I get to be in another country, living with a loving family, but because I get to know the love of Jesus.

Which is what makes everything else possible.

 My best friend Karina just told me that I'm so religious, (in a posotive connotation of course) and I said "nope, just madly in love."

Honestly, I'm just in love. When you love someone, you want to be around them, you want to talk to them, you want to know everything about them. Therefore, I pray, I read my bible, I talk about Him. And in doing so, I learn so much about myself, about who He wants me to be, and about how I can please Him. 

A lot of people buy and read Self-Improvement books. There's a section for it on iTunes digital books. Self-improvement and reflection is a part of life, if we want to be successful, its helpful to read and try to change things about ourselves in order to have more friends, get along better with family members, fix a marriage, be more successful in business. So, we take time to reflect on who we are currently, we read books, we go to counseling, talk with friends, and attempt to start shifting things inside us. 

Here's an idea:

Don't buy a bunch of books: buy one.

 THE BIBLE

Self improvement is kind of just a side effect of falling in love with Jesus. 

Its kind of like a geometry proof, remember that horrible semester? (; 

 A. Because I love Jesus, I want to please him.

B. By focusing on loving Jesus, the person I become as a result of wanting to please him is exactly who I want to be. 

C. When I love Jesus, I am happy, kind, forgiving, accepting, generous, happy, and passionate. 

D. People like happy people. 

Therefore, if A=B, and B=C, and A=D... I'm sorry Mrs. Baird, I don't remember how to do proofs! All I know is that because of Jesus, I am someone people want to like! I have good relationships with friends, family, and everyone else. I have no enemies, but when I do, I love them!

One time a friend was skeptical of Christianity because she felt like you had to be happy FIRST, and then try being a Christian. She told me, "I feel like its so easy for you to be a Christian because you don't have anything bad in your life" and I told her, "Yes, I am very blessed, however.. EVERYONE has crap in their life. I have massive problems sometimes, but I'm still happy because its SO much easier to cope with problems when you trust in the Lord."

Ever wish you could just hand off your issues to someone else? You can. Hand them to God. He'll take 'em in a heart beat. When you know the Lord like He wants you to know Him, He's tangible. You can sit in your bedroom and talk to Him like a friend, because He is! He's my best friend, my brother, my boyfriend, my Father. He's everything! And I'm so glad He has promised me He'll stay forever.. cause Lord knows I need Him! haha!

You know how people always promise you things..? 

well I think as humans, we generally have learned to accept that as like a... I.O.U. with an expiration date. 

No, your boyfriend in high school won't ACTUALLY love you forever, no he won't ACTUALLY call you when he says he will. 

Promise is just a fancy word to reassure someone for the time being.

Look back on your life, was there ever a "promise" that someone REALLY, TRULY kept? 

It's a shame that we ruined the word "promise" cause it doesn't hold much weight anymore. 

GOOD NEWS!

when Jesus made a promise to love us forever, to protect us, to forgive us, to stand between His father and us on Judgement day.. oh wait, PROMISE, that means like.. legitimately, HE WILL. He doesn't mean just for a little while, or when He feels like it. He is unwaivering, everlasting, consistant! I can't type fast enough to explain it! AH!

You know how everything is better with Nutella? okay but not EVERYTHING.. cause you wouldn't eat Nutella on dirt?

but no... EVERYTHING is better with Jesus! Even depression is MUCH BETTER! haha, because you don't fall as deep when you know that God loves you and He'll pull you out! 

LIGHT!

you can't pour darkness into light.. you can close all the windows and make it pitch black but light always seeps in somewhere! You can't trap light. You can't contain the joy in my heart! Since I don't have enough room for it in my heart, I'll give you some! (;

I have so much love in my heart that I just have to give it away, because I don't have room for it all, that's what God intended for us to do! He gives us SOOO much love that we can't HELP but share it with everyone else!

and anything I know about Jesus, came from reading his blog (the bible), and from talking to him one-on-one. 

Relationships really aren't all that hard when the other end is giving 120% and all you have to do is give at least 2%. And finally! You found someone to love you that will keep promises and will stick around forever. Promise (: