One belt notch down...

As I may have already said this is a very expensive city. However, I guess that it has it's advantages because since arriving in Europe I have already lost one belt notch and I imagine that the second isn't far away. It stems from two different reasons, the first is that I am forced to eat less every day because the food is just too expensive to really overdo it. Second, I am walking at least an hour every day and I have been doing some Pilates. I am looking into the gym here on campus because I can get a membership during my time for about $50 so since I would like to keep up my good habits I think it's a worthy investment. Maybe if I am lucky I can get a discount since I have waited a week to join, keeping my fingers crossed but not holding my breath because I think that the CBS is a succesful business as well, haha!

I have had some cool stuff happen during the last week as well. One is to see my old exchange student Louise from about 17 years ago, geez I'm getting older... She is doing well and works in an architecture firm. Her background is in Anthropology so she works in design/urban planning and she helps to create spaces that are funcitional and provide the human element that the architects don't think about. On top of that is the sensational news that perhaps before I leave I will get to meet the newest edition to the Kielgast dynasty. Louise is pregnant and has about 7 weeks to term, so if the little girl decides to make a curtain call a little early I may get to meet her! Pretty cool.

Next, I worked my way into the Porcelænshaven 24/7 reading room to do some emailing. As I am sitting there a girl walked by and I thought that she was very familiar. She looked like a Danish girl that lived in the Cour des Muses building during my time in Lyon. My friend Richard had a big crush on her in fact. So I stopped her to say hello and inquire whether she had ever lived in Lyon. As the words came out the recognition came across her face. It was Maria, What a small world after all!!!

We took about 30 minutes to catch up on the current events and trade numbers to try and get some of the crew together from Lyon as most of them are still here in Copenhagen. She is currently writing her Master's thesis which apparently takes quite a long time her in Denmark. It was just serendipidous to see her by chance. I am very happy because I haven't had any luck finding anyone on Facebook because its just now becoming a phenomenon here in Denmark. So again my lovely Lyonnais séjour is coming back to me.

Yesterday one of my new friends from UNCC, Vaughan, and I went to the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek since the museum is free on Sundays. They have a very cool collection of sculpture that ranges from Danish to Egyptian to some really nice Rodins. I snapped many pictures, especially of the Rodins of course.

The weather has been very nice as Maria and Louise have told me that usually it's not this nice every day during the summer. But except for last night it has been sunny and warm every day since I have arrived. Maybe I am bringing that lovely French weather along with me :)

Next week the CBS program is going to Berlin and since it's about $250 to go along with the trip and it's mostly a tour guide event with a lot of free time so I decided to go as well using my rail pass. Instead of $250 I spent ten dollars making the reservations and I am travelling by train in lieu of the buses the others are taking. My friend Brandon may be going along with me and if so we are talking about staying in a hotel room. Do you know what I am looking forward to most? I want to veg out one night and just watch some television! What an American thing to look forward to isn't it? I have nothing in my room so I am hoping to do some reading and just got my library card so I can check out books now. I have no idea where I am going to start but I think it's going to be something that my high school English teacher would be proud of me for choosing. Even thought it may serve to give me something to fall asleep to at night.

This is me during a game and a rule was made that if you said drink you must put your forehead on the table. To my credit I was one of the last to do so. But it's still a very clever rule and you should use it the next time you party with 20 year olds!