Goodbye America, Helllooo Denmark

Finally, after months of waiting, my adventure is to begin. I've backed my bags and said my goodbyes. It's amazing that after months of dreaming of this day, of signing paperwork, and of sitting tight the day has come for it to really happen.

It's hard to say that I'm scared of what is to come or that I'm frightened about this or that because, in reality, I'm not. I'm just totally psyched about meeting new people, learning a new language, and exploring a different culture. I'm not saying I'm totally comfortable with starting a new school while living with a new family, speaking none of the language, and not knowing hardly anything about the customs. I've spent a good portion of my life moving to new schools where I knew no one outside of my family, but this is a whole new ball game. At least when I started a new school before I could talk to them and they would understand, and I didn't have to worry about doing some social faux pas.

Now I'm sure you're thinking, "Well, you did prepare for this, right?" I did, more than you would know, but you can't just read a book and understand everything. Understanding in itself isn't something very comprehensible. I've always thought that to understand one thing is to know its opposite. To understand day you have to know night. To say I understand they culture would be a lie. No amount of preparation can really prepare you for anything like what I'm about to do. I'm sure other exchange students can vouch for me there. I guess you just have to prepare for the unexpected and grasp all the knowledge about your country of choice before you go. That's just what I've done.

I'm most interesting in this blog because it's my thoughts and feelings right then and there. It will be most interesting to sit down one day and read from start to finish everything I've posted once I return. I want to know if my expectations were right or if I was absolutely crazy to not be frightened or scared or whatever it is your suppose to feel at this moment. So in order to do that I'm going to write, well, type my expectations.

To make expectations is to be disappointed. I don't expect everything to be perfect. I expect to make mistakes and to make a complete fool of myself every now and then. I don't expect to never be homesick and I don't expect to fit right in. I expect to learn more about a different way of life and I expect to come home a different person. I don't expect to change the world and I don't expect to come back a perfect person. I expect to come back an understanding person and I expect to come home with a general knowledge of the language and culture. I don't expect to know everything. I expect myself to stay in touch with friends both here and there. I expect myself to learn about and appreciate my own culture. I expect myself to return a citizen of my own country, a prospective citizen of my host country, and a true citizen of the world. Of all of these expectations, I expect to be disappointed - it's just the way life rolls.

So, with all that said, Goodbye America and Hellooooo Denmark!

P.S. Don't have my address or point of contact? Wish you had it? Shoot me an email at jmoore_92@yahoo.com

Philosophy

I found this among (yes, large, bold, and italics was necessary) all of my papers and random things I packed in my box. I thought it was very insightful and cool. So here some food for thought.

The sovereign freedom of traveling comes from the fact that it whirls you around and turns you upside down and stands everything you took for granted on its head.

I'm not sure who said this or anything so it's an unknown quote.

A Tourist in My Own City

I've made the last major leg of my summer journey. What began in the early days of June has slowly meandered it's way to Tennessee in the late days of July. Two months is a long time to be living out of a suitcase. I couldn't ask for a better ending to my summer thrills in the states than being a tourist in my own (new) hometown of Chattanooga/Hixson, TN.

Sure, I've visited Chattanooga before, but there's nothing like coming and knowing that everything you see will one day be called home. Grandpa and I have been enjoying the ultimate chill time with boutes of travel inbetween. The other day we went to see downtown. Boy was it great. The walking bridge that was an old railroad bridge provides great views of the area. It was a plus with the great weather we had too. After walking over the river and back again our tummies made their usual hunger noise. That's when we parked it at Cheeseburger Cheeseburger. They only serve cheeseburgers there (well, pretty much) and boast some of the best milkshakes around. It was like walking into an old dinner like atmosphere just packed to the brim with people. I have a feeling it's like that all the time. If you ever get the chance you HAVE to get a strawberry cheesecake milkshake. I'd go there just for the shake.

After filling up on some pretty awesome food we made our way around to the water and walked around. There was this awesome parking meter at the top of one of the steps that was blue with a red and white poke-a-pot pole. Really cool. There was also some strange wooden structure with a portion of railroad tracks. Grandpa is standing it in, in the picture up above. It was a great day that we ended at the aquarium. Over all a great day of being a tourist in my own city.

Tomorrow we're going to see the Lookouts, a local baseball team, play. I'm looking forward to stuffing myself with hotdogs. There are two places were hotdogs are their absolute best - camping and at the ball park. I, of course, am going to go sporting my Tampa Bay Devil Ray's hat. Thanks to Papa Fred and Deb, I've found a new liking towards baseball. Couldn't play the game to save my life, but it's enjoyable to watch.

Sweet 16

Sweet 16 - the ultimate birthday, or so goes tradition. It's the year we get to drive, the year we pray our parents get us some wheels, and the year we look forward to. But why 16? Why not 18, the year we become adults, or 21, the year we can legally drink? Who knows why.

I never quite understood why we would hold such high standards for the 16th year of life so I've never looked forward to it. I never expected anything special because to me it's just another year - any other day to have an excuse to do something special with friends and family. This year, I not only turn 16 but I also embark on the adventure of a life time. It seems perfect. Some friends from home have asked me if I'll miss not having a 16 birthday in the states with my family and friends. I said "No", well I guess to be more exact, "Hell no!" How many Americans can say that they turned 16 in Denmark?

Even though I won't turn 16 until 3 August, my family has done some celebrating. While in St. Petersburg visiting my Aunt Donna, Grandma Jo, and everyone else, we decided on a dinner cruise to celebrate my birthday a little early. It was just short of cool. The sights were really awesome. Some of the homes there were amazing. I think they said something along the lines of 1.4 million dollars per level of home. That's some serious cash since some of those places were 3 floors! As we got to the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico we saw the sun set then ventured back indoors to eat a fabulous meal. It turned out to be a great night especially since it was something I'd never done before.

(just a down right perfect sunset)

The food was great as was the company. I think the sad part was that most of the music they were playing was geared towards the older age group and I actually knew a good bit of it. Who says the oldies eventually die??!! Anything can make a come back.

I think the biggest stumbling point for most people involved around what to get me. Well, I could image how hard that must have been. Most have settled on a little pocket cash which is greatly appreciated. I'm not an overly materialistic person and money can be but aside if anything for something important like college or the latest book....

16 is such a big year, and even though I'll be caught in this mad mode of transition I don't think I could ask for a better one. Now the interesting post to read will be the one I write after and concerning my birthday on the third. Y'all better look forward to it so I can be pointed out as a hypocrite when I complain.

An Odd Occurence

Some one was telling me that I should do photojournalism. I'd never thought of that before and to be frank I wasn't quite sure what exactly it was. I've always thought that a picture could say more than words written by the most talented writer. A picture could be interpreted so many ways and in reality words can only say so much. So why not? I love to take pictures of random people and scenes - things that really tell a story, not just a group of people smiling in front of a building or sign.

And so a little bit of research was done through the most unreliable site on the Internet; Wikipedia. Come to find out that the first nationally organized group of newspaper photographs was in Denmark. The Danish Union of Press Photographers was founded in 1912 in Copenhagen by just 6 photographers. Today the DUPP has 800 members.

Though is just a small little something of nothing important it was the irony that I found most odd. It seems that now that I have become exposed to Denmark in the most superficial way that it pops up everywhere. There are so many things to Denmark that people just don't know about. I guess the major one is the Lego. We think of it as an all American play toy, but in fact the Lego was made in Denmark. The original Lego land is not in California, but in Denmark. It is such a small country that we tend to think that it has nothing to offer the world like a larger country, say America, would.

It just goes to prove that small countries are as capable of doing as much, if not more than any larger country. It also goes to show that sometimes odd occurrences aren't really that odd, but just a sign that you are doing the right thing.

San Francisco - Day 3

Weather is one of thoes mysterious things in this world. In one place it is so predictable and in another you think you know what the weather will be like and it turns out to be the complete opposite. Day 3 was one of thoes days. Day 1 and Day 2 saw high temperatures of 90's and maybe 100's. Day 3 say temperatures of 50's..... Is that not odd or what.

We woke up refreshed and hit China Town. I thought China Town was culturally enriching, but I don't think my fellow travelers would agree with me. The Chinnese lead very different lives compared to Americans. Their standards and ways of living is very unappealing to us. They pack their stores with tons of stuff, their restaurants would probably pose as health hazards, and their markets would send any American running the other way. The extreme cultural difference makes us think that they are unclean and don't care or what not, but in a sense I don't think that is true at all. They probably don't know any different so why should they live up to our standards. Why should we not live to theirs?

I think what I loved about China Town the most was the market. The center of every way of life centers around food becuase you can't have life without it. One walk through their market is enough for us to go running to the nearest Albertson's and up on arrival throw ourselves upon the ground thanking the lord that civilization still existed. There is nothing like walking down the sidewalk and seeing fish heads in a box, fish swimming in buckets, and chickens complete with their heads hanging in the window. It's and enlightening experience.

(Chicken just waiting for the pickin')

(Fish head soup anyone?)

(Crowds around the markets. It was unbelieveable!)

After spending the morning in China Town we scaddled over to the most visible landmark in the city. Now your probably thinking it's the Golden Gate Bridge, but I have to say that it was probably the least visible landmark in the city. What I'm talkig 'bout is Coit Towner. This collosal mass of a tower stands tall on Telegraph Hill. If you dare to look through the tons of photos I took you can get a great view of Coit Tower at ever angle. The information in the book said that the tower was built in honor of firefighters and is suppose to look like a fire hose. Personally, I didn't see it AT all.

We went for the lost look after Coit Towner. We began to wonder around the area just north of Cow Hollow. I'm not sure what the original attraction was to this area but we ended up seeing Daniel Steel's mansion and a few other nice houses inaddition to postcard row.

(Daniel Steel's Mansion)

Postcard Row was wonderful. By then we were dog tired. Our feet were hurting and we had no desire to go anywhere if it included walking up a hill. Postcard Row is a row of victory houses called the Painted Ladies. Each house has a unique style and eara of painting. To me they all looked victorian but I suppose one was more gothic then the other and so on. The striking difference between the victorians and the city is wonderful. There is a park infront of the houses called Alamo Square. It was a great park but you had to walk up a hill to see the houses with the city in the background. My travel buddies ditched me so I got to walk up the hill to get the great photos while they sat down on a bench. Once walking up this hill I waited for the Chinese tourist to snap their photos then I snapped mine.

We wound down at a Catalan restaurant called B 44. Normally allies are places to avoid, but this restaruant was well worth the venture. The add in one of the tourist books boasted B 44 as a place "Where the locals go for Catalan cuisine in a modern atmosphere, specilaixing in paella and other Spanish dishes." Boy where they right. Each of us tried a different paella dish along with great tapas and dessert. We even had a little fun with our leftovers on the table.

I highly encourage playing with your food. Its fun!

Where in the world is Jennifer Moore?

For all anyone knows I've dropped off the very ends of our planet and have probably already been sucked in by a black hole. I am here to assure you that I am very much alive and living fat, dumb, and happy in the retirement state of Florida. Maintaining a blog page is much more difficult than a person could know (that is, unless of course, you have one). So much time and effort gets put into the entries for the readers. So much as been happening that words seem a very poor way to convey them. This is where I should say pictures come into play, but I really don't have many pictures to show you. Okay... I don't have any pictures to show you.

For now I am visiting my Aunt Lisa in Orlando, FL. She recently purchased a beautiful condo that any guest could very easily mistake for a house. I pride myself is saying I am the first official guest to check in, but we won't dwell on my bragging rights. The condo has been tastefully decorated throughout its three bedrooms and two baths. Now matter how spectacularly decorated the interior may be, it is the exterior that is to die for. As most may know since the beginning of time our (well, my) dear Aunt Lisa as rented apartments. If there is an apartment complex in the vicinity of her work chances are she has called it home. Most apartments come with amenities such as common areas, laundry mats, a communal swimming hole, and a gym. I am here to tell you that here any guest has access to a personal pool and a fabulous jacuzzi tub in the guest bathroom. As for the common area the living room is a great space to sit in front of the boob-tub for an hour or you can curl up in a chair by the fireplace. Sure there are some electrical issues and the occasional kitty toy lying around, but it is just freshly inhabited after a brief dry spell. Any guest would be lucky to book a room here. Not only are you free to make yourself at home, but your favorite pop will be stocked in the fridge and all your meals will be cooked perfectly for you. Enought about the home - how about what I've been doing? Now that your all excited about hearing about me I'm going to tell you that I really haven't been doing too much. Aunt Lisa and I decided and a nice time indulging at home was in order. So far we have done some small shopping, cooked some fabulous oriental dishes (I can now make crab ragoons!), and have taken total advantage of the personal pool that we don't have to share.

After a week of stay at Aunt Lisa's condo, I will make my way about an hour south of here to a very small and remote town called Dade City. Here I will book residence with Papa Fred and Debbie. The first thing to be said about Dade City is the location. I'm in love with it. It has that kinda small town feeling by not. It even has a Winn Dixie (hey... I haven't seen one of thoes in ages)! I love the trees and the river and just the access to the great outdoors that it provides. There is nothing like waking up in a house way up in the trees. A few years back their dream was realised when they embarked on the building of their dream home. I am pleased to say that Papa Fred and Debbie are NOT leaving their plot of land and beautiful home anytime soon. Standing three stories tall this house in a fabulous walk in the woods. Complete with two bedrooms, two baths, a giant personal office, four outdoor decks, a kitchen any chef would be proud to cook in, and a fireplace that scales two stories, this home away from home is a great way to enjoy a Florida summer. Never will you be bored for it has to offer any resident or guest alike a pool table, dart board, jacuzzi, outdoor dinning for a hundred (okay, maybe not that many), and an amazing view of the nature. You can even go kayaking along the river conveniently located ajacent to the home. What exactly I will be doing here I don't know because, as I type but not necessarily as you read, I am sitting on the computer in Orlando, FL.

After my tree top stay in Dade City I'm going to assume that my journey will wind me a little further south to the St. Petersburg/Tampa area. The POA kind of stops after a week. I will be arriving home (which is going to be Chattanooga, TN) on the 23rd of this month. From there I will be chillin' with gramps for a few days until I embark on the adventure of a life time.

Oh, did I mention that I got my SAT scores back?? Probably not so here they are: Critical Reading 560 , Math 530 , and Writing 610 (a 10 on my essay)! That, for you mathematically challenged people (yes, dad, I'm looking, no, starring, at you) is a grand total of 1700. Not too bad for my first try as a sophomore.

Livin' in the Panhandle

You never are able to realize just what it was you missed about a place until you've left and then returned. I saw rain today! Can you believe that. Well it might seem a little on the 'duh' side, but living in the desert has really given me an appreciation for the rain. And I even heard some thunder!!! There are natural growing trees here and wildly running grass everywhere. With all that is so familiar and yet so foreign you, or I guess I, can't help but to feel at home.

Uniquely all the homes in Florida seem to be the same but different. All the contradictory characteristics of an area are enticing. Homes in Florida seem to all have rod iron columns on their front porch or at least rod iron railing leading up to their door. Hanging over each window is a shutter like awning with a scalloped trim usually made of a tin or a vinyl. The landscaping consists of at least one Palm tree and other tropical plants or its just one huge over grown mess. Homes are all one story because they have to be at least 50 years old or they are new construction with 2 stories. One of the most diverse and uniquely similar aspects is the colour. Typically we tend to paint our homes a neutral colour so as to present a clean looking home that doesn't stand out, but this isn't always so in Florida. Colours such as salmon, peach, terracotta, pale blue, pink, and even the occasional lime green often blanket the exteriors of homes.

Even with these vividly worded images, when you step back beauty of the home goes unnoticed. It's just an old decaying home on 4th St. that's painted an obnoxiously bright peach colour. The roof tiles in old Spanish style are falling off and the garden that was once manicured to perfection has grown wild.

The things that make us leave home, make us return.