Arrival

I arrived in Denmark on January 14th, 2002. I landed at Kastrup on a rather foggy morning to meet my uncle Preben. I was happy to have landed. I do not like flying, period. I do not really know what I was expecting coming to Denmark. It wasn't exactly 'European'. There were no overly warm welcomes. No tastety 'Danishes'. It all seemed rather, 'normal' in a way. Kinda like flying to Ohio.
I do not remember meeting my Danish family before, so it was all Greek to me. Was welcomed into his home in Næstved for the night. Had dinner with the family. Met my cousin for the first time. But here is the first stereotype about Europe that I can confirm. The bed was for people who are 5'10'' or under. If you can play basketball, go sleep on a couch instead.
The next morning, just as foggy and gloomy, my bags were loaded onto a cargo truck and it was off to Helsingør, to the school I was to spend the next 20, fun, educational and semi-drunk weeks.
The school that gave me my first impression of the world, outside of American media, is called The International Peoples College. It is a school were students from around the world can come and meet each other, learn something about other cultures, and during my semester, about globalization and communication. It was also the first time in my life were I was put into a social situation with out any sort of shelter. I came out of my shell there.
The next 20 weeks was a time of maturity for me. The people I met, including my first real girl friend, left a lasting impression on me and form a key part of who I am today.
But, that doesn't mean I cannot come with criticisms about the school. Although I took every bit as the truth when I was a student there, reflecting upon everything else I have learnt since leaving the college leavings gaping holes that could have been filled.
On my arrival, I met people from four different continents in the space of a couple of hours, and people who could mutually go far beyond my American modesty. For people who go to church and worry that our children are becoming more and more immoral, liberal and socialist, you can stop worrying. Even I, a guy who most Americans will consider extremely open, blushed often early on at the school.
My time there was well spent. I was quiet and laid back and loved hanging out in the loft with the other students. It was one of the most social experiances of my life. Just talking with the students taught me more about the world around me than any class I had at the school. It is a place I truely do miss.