I came home to a job! Possibly 2...3...4 jobs!

I was expecting the job hunt to be a *least* another month or two by the time I came home from Europe, but the following morning on the 12th I was called into St. Frances Cabrini School...I got the job! Kind of. :-P

Because I don't have a teaching certificate or classroom management experience, we are doing a 3-month probationary period to see how it goes. By the time Christmas Break rolls around, we're going to re-evaluate and see if I should teach for the rest of the year.

Today (Monday, 20th) was my first day...overall, it was a *great* experience. It was an exhausting experience...nerve-wrecking...fun...memorable...frustrating...patience-testing experience. It really is comforting to teach in a spiritual environment, because no matter what my title is, it really does not feel like a job...it's an extension of a comforting home that I already belong to, and to be openly able to express my faith through music to these kids...it's a beautiful thing. :-)

Today I taught preschool through 5th grade. Each class was back to back, and it was a real test of time management, control and connection to each age group. I was absolutely terrified, but I survived! Wednesday will be Day 2 with the grades, and then Friday will be 6th grade. In time I will be teaching 7th and 8th, but for now that's on hold.

What's even crazier is that I have an interview tomorrow for ANOTHER job at ANOTHER school...but *this* time it is for mainly Administrative work and assisting teachers with students who have difficulty in school.

I may or may not get this position, but for the next two weeks I have agreed to take on part of the position on my Tuesdays and Thursdays as an assistant for childcare in the late afternoons after school. And let us not forget my music directing gig for the music ministry of St. Frances Cabrini Church on the weekends!

I don't know if I'm hungrier to earn $$ or experience, but Lord knows I'm definitely *hungry.* I just pray I don't overwork myself.

How ironic...I graduate to go FAR FAR away from school...and now I'm back in school. Sheesh.

I really *really* thought that I would be working in a cubicle inside a high skyscraper in the heart of Seattle. At this point in my life, I dig the fact that I was wrong. :-) (I hope I'm not too quick to say that...after all it has only been one day. :-P)

------------------------------

A special prayer intention for my mother and my family.

Day 13-14: Final Days in Denmark...

Day 13 (Friday):

We did some last minute shopping in Lyngby...found SO many things I wanted to purchase for interior decorating and for the backyard, but alas...1) too expensive 2) won't fit in my suitcase....sigh. Makes my heart hurt. :-P

Went back to Sorgenfri...spent the rest of the afternoon/evening there, had the very last home-cooked yummy meal by Sidsel, Pasta Carbonara yum yum yum! and then...

Off to the Ice Bar in Copenhagen! *SO* fun! *SO* cool, literally! Iced sculptures in the walls...you wear fuzzy, insulated poncho thingies, the cocktail glasses are made of ICE, the tables were ICE, the game tables were ICE, the seats were WOOD (kidding...they were ice too. :-D)

Then we went to a loungy/restauranty/bar...then we had hotdogs that were very yummy, fatty awesomeness...

Came home (U.S. clubbing time...2isham) to find that I may possibly have a job!?!? Maybe...we'll see what is offered to me...I'm coming home to a meeting Monday morning to see about a music teaching position, pray for me, please! (Geez, how ironic would that be...I finally get out of school just to get back in it again...that'd be funny. :-P)


Day 14 (Saturday): Latest I woke up here ever! I knocked the eff OUT and woke up around 1ishPM...woke up to immediately eat yummy yummy pizza! Then I had to pack up...rest a while and then we had we went to a nice "cozy" (depending on who you talk to ;-)) French restaurant. Sigh...the farewell dinner...

The vacation has come and gone! We were so blessed to have such great weather these past two weeks! But yesterday was the first rainy day I really encountered while I've been here, but it wasn't so bad...(::Sniff:: Denmark's sad to see me go!) :-P


To Sidsel and Troels: Thank you so much for taking care of me and showing me around. You've been great hosts and I will miss you both a great deal!

Troels: I'm going to miss your video-gaming, goofy "colorfully opinionated ;-)" nature. :-D You're a great guy, thanks for introducing me to your family, the fun foods, and my new comic book addiction!!! Take care of my girl, Sidsel and I wish you all the best with the job hunt. And congratulations on your new toy, Red Chili!

Sidsel: It brought back GREAT memories to be roomies again for these past two weeks! I love you *SO* much and I'm teary to think that we'll be countries apart again soon. :-( Thanks for re-introducing me to your families, the girl-to-girl chats, and the yummy home-cooking! I pray that you have a successful and fun final year of college.


I wish all the best for you both and I *really* hope to see you next year in Seattle! That would mean the WORLD to me! Remember to keep me posted!

Until next time! T-Minus 10 hours until I board the plane back to the beautiful U.S. of A!


Godnat!


PS

Troels: I'll trade you TWO Stink Beans for a Chili Bean IF you bring Bohnanza to the states next year! THREE Wax Beans on me! :-D hehehe....(But no Blue Beans, k thanks. :-D) hehe! I made a funny...;-) Love you both!

PPS

On another note: I still remember. I will never forget.

Day 12: Part I- Farewell to Copenhagen!

So when Sidsel came home from school, we took the train into Copenhagen, but before roaming around there we took a quick walk-around through Christiania.

Christiania is known as "Freetown" because of its urban culture and relaxed atmosphere. It was most definitely the most unique area I had seen my entire vacation, incomparable to any other part of Denmark.

This was the one place I wanted to take lots of pictures, but once you're enter this area, photos are not allowed because of the...um..."happy" people don't want to be photographed...if you know what I mean. :-P There are other reasons as well, but that's one of the main reasons, I'm sure.

A lot of amazing graffiti art, happy-hippie people everywhere...unique and colorful atmosphere rich with bold character. Oh, and lots of brownies. ;-)

...Then we went into Copenhagen and looked at some *amazing* Danish interior design. I love the look of Danish furniture and how the Danish designed kitchenware looks and functions. I bought a really cool salt'n'pepper shaker and some cool coasters.

Tomorrow: I will be seeing Hillerod for the first time for some last minute shopping, and then we come home early to have dinner and dress up for our last night on the town in Copenhagen. (I can't believe the trip's coming to a close! :-( I'm not ready!)

Day 11: Dinner w/Troel's Parents and SATC Night!

Today was a relaxed day...as they all have been, of course. But today was mainly job hunting day and then for dinner we went to Troels' parent's house.

I would tell you what we ate, but I don't know how to spell it at the moment. But we had very traditional Danish food...SO traditional, it's hardly eaten here. :-P But it was nice of them to make it for the evening. It was really yummy.

Afterward Sidsel and I had a night to ourselves and we watched a couple of SATC episodes while flipping through ******* magazines. Yay girl's night! Just like the good ol' dorm days. :-)

But as I had mentioned, I have been applying for jobs like mad via Campus Point and the Archdiocese of Seattle website. Nobody's biting yet, but I'm praying for good things. I will continue to be on the hunt. (Don't ask me how many places I've applied to and what I've been applying for...there's too many to count.)


Tomorrow: The beginning of a 2-Part Copenhagen Farewell! Part I: Freetown Christiania and window shopping in Copenhagen!

Day 10: Tivoli Amusement Park

Have you ever gone to an amusement park and the first thing that came to your mind was: "This is so romantic!"

...I know, right? That was *not* what I was expecting, but it really was! Just like the majority of everything else I have seen here, Tivoli is *beautiful.*

We went late at night and most of the rides weren't running, but there was scenic lighting throughout the park, beautiful fountains and gardens, live big band music with a VERY large band/orchestra, chic and cute little restaurants, it was, once again, a very good time. :-)

Of course, I could also see where the fun comes into play, they have insane rides and nostalgic carnival games. A broad variety of things to do in a conveniently compacted space planted right in the heart of Copenhagen. :-)

"Once you're in the park, you would never guess that you are in the center of Copenhagen." Very true to form, Sidsel and Troels. The buildings and rides are stacked high in the park...once you're inside you are tucked away into this fantasy-like atmosphere.

I dig it. :-)

~Tomorrow: Dinner with Troel's parents!

Day 9: Helsingor and Kronborg Castle

Today we went to Helsingor to see Kronborg Castle, known by many as "Elsinore," the setting in Shakespeare's Hamlet. This is where Hamlet was first performed. It was cool with a great view of Sweden (Some Danes don't think this is the *greatest* thing in the world, lol)...the creepiest but coolest part of the castle was going BELOW it....spooky spooky.

Below the castle there is a stature of Holger the Dane. Legend has it that if Denmark were to ever be under attack, Holger would wake up from his sleep and protect them. dun dun dunnn...

Then we had some yummy open-faced sandwiches in Helsingor...did some shopping...hehe ;-)

Tomorrow: Tivoli! :-D

Day 8: Dim Sum in Denmark! :-D

We started off the day with going to mass at Sankt Knud Lavard. They had English masses, but why would I go to that when I can always do that at home? So we went to a Danish-speaking mass...it was very cool. :-) I knew most of the songs and the service music, but it was sung in Danish!! Very awesome. :-)

It was a humble and simplistic church, not elaborate like the ones in Copenhagen for the Protestant religions, but it was very communal and welcoming. :-) A lot of the Danish immigrants attended, lots of Vietnamese, Chinese were the majority of the congregation. (Don't ask me what the homily was about, though coz' I have no idea...and apparently neither do my friends because it was an Indian priest trying to speak Danish. :-P)

During the day Troels stepped out with his friends and bought his dream canoe! :-D (I hope they call her "Red Chili" :-D hehe)

And then in the evening I treated them out for their very first taste of dim sum and Royal Garden in Copenhagen. I was impressed, *very* yummy! ~Apparently we were sitting next to a very famous chef in Denmark. I was next to a celebrity and didn't even know it!

---------------------------------------

Tomorrow Sidsel and I will be heading off to Helsingor to see "Hamlet's Castle" :-) and then dinner with her mommy.

Tuesday night: Tivoli

Wednesday night: Dinner with Troel's parents

Thursday: Christiania...lol, check it out at christiania.org

Friday: Copenhagen shopping with Sidsel, and a final night out in the city!

Saturday: Last day here. ::sniff:: Food/Packing day.

Sunday: Back to the U.S. of A...sigh. :-P


I pray we have perfect weather this week just as we have been having. :-)

Day 6-7: Copenhagen Night Life and Lyngby Soe

Copenhagen nightlife is insane...people can roam around here with a full bottle of wine at hand and drink freely wherever they please.

We went to a club that didn't close until 6 in the AM...and they were serving beer for free until 1 in the AM!? Insane...we couldn't keep up, we left got home at 4:30. :-P

Today we were supposed to be homebodies, but it was too beautiful of a day to pass up. We went canoeing and it was very fun, relaxing times. :-) For lunch I tried open-faced sandwiches a lot of pickled herring, mackarel and fish cake. :-) nom nom nom!


And that, my friends, is the end of week 1!


Tomorrow I will be checking out one of the Catholic churches over here...I'm assuming they're not as elaborate or grand as the churches I had seen in Copenhagen the other day because it was never a prominent religion over here, but we shall see. :-)

Day 5: Copenhagen

Troels and Sidsel gave me the *best* tour of Copenhagen! I saw many churches, the arial view of Copenhagen, the royal palace, the most popular restaurant in the world NOMA, shops, funky foods...it was a great time. Then I went jogging with Sidsel, then she made the yummiest lasagnas ever.

Photos on my FB!

Tomorrow: Going to venture off to Lyngby, dinner, then Tivoli (sp) for live music, and then central Copenhagen to check out the night life! :-D

I wonder if next week is going to be as eventful...is it possible!?

Day 4: Day of Rest

All of my days have been days of rest! :-)

But instead of venturing off to Lyngby, I ended up staying home and catching up on reading material that *isn't* assigned text for school...it's vacation, after all! :-) It was a very relaxing day.

I even fell asleep on the balcony and woke up to find a butterfly on my hand! :-D (She moved away before I could take a picture :-(...)

Weather has really been good to us this week. :-)

So anyway, I am currently reading Jodi Picoult's "Nineteen Minutes." I love her, she's one of my favorite authors. ~And now thanks to Troels I have a new comic I'm addicted to!! (which is perfect because my manga has been discontinued and I forgot my Archie Comics :-(...)

For us college grads and grad students...you will LOVE this:

http://www.phdcomics.com/ .....<----(sorry, I can't get the links to work. just copy and paste)

I'm definitely buying these books when I get home!


Sidsel made another yummy dinner for us tonight (I'm *definitely going to miss her cooking when I head home! Must take advantage of the home cooking while I'm here. :-))

And then Sidsel and I played video games to top off the night. This is *my* kind of vacation: Good weather, good food, great company, video games, shopping, art, books...annnd...

Tomorrow: Copenhagen exploring!

Friday: Copenhagen nightlife!!!

Saturday: Day of rest. :-D hehe

LOVING THIS! :-D Hope you're loving your days too!