Today we played what is, without a doubt, the best game BFH's second team has played this season. Despite having barely enough players to field a team and our regular coach being in Egypt, we managed a devestating 15-14 loss to Ørum, the number one team in our division.
After what could only be described as an interesting first encounter acting as captain for my team with a referee who did not speak English, our game began.
We knew the game would be interesting to start with, as due to injuries and some Americans already having taken off back to the states, we were left with a total of 7 players - just enough to field a team. Knowing this, none of us expected much to come out of this game, but somehow the idea of this being the last game with an American-Danish combo team lit a fire under us.
We started out behind by 3, and the game seemed as if it would play out exactly as we imagined - long. However, a few quick shots put us behind by one, and then up by 2. Half time put us up by 9-10.
After half time, things started gettng a little more difficult. I moved from right back to left back, and then into circle runner. In the circle, I was unable to draw a 7-meter penalty or 2-minute suspension-despite the obvious want my defender had for a piggy back ride. At one point, we were forced to play with only 4 players because of a 2-minute suspension and an injury. The game ended with me finally sinking a penalty shot, but unable to bring us up one more for the tie.
This game felt more like a win than any others, though. Our defense was the tightest it has been through the entire season, and we moved the ball extremely well. We would not have been nearly as successful, though, if it had not been for our goalie- Camilla Holm Pedersen. She's only 13, brought up from the younger team, and she had close to 10 one-on-nobody blocks, a 7-meter save, and countless other blocks. Did I mention she's only 13? Seriously-remember that name.
Speaking of remembering names, Jennie Bergsma and I were lucky enough to wrangle up some tickets to go watch the EHF Women's European Handball Championship in Aalborg with Randers Elite Sportscollege, a school that two girls from BFH attend. We had amazing seats, directly behind the goal. I know I've said it before, but the energy in the Aalborg Gigantum was AMAZING. Despite not playing in top form, Denmark defeated Spain in what was, without a doubt, the best sporting event I have EVER been to..
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
It's beginning to look A LOT like Christmas..
If you're like me, then you probably scoff when the local Macy's subtlely starts putting up Christmas (excuse me, Holiday) decorations the week before Thanksgiving while silently counting down the days until December 25th. In Denmark, however, I've found that you scoff when a stores decorations aren't in full swing by November 20th. Downtown Bjerringbro has a Christmas tree wrapped around every light post, and giant balls of lights strung up between wreaths hanging over the street. (Don't worry, pictures to come) All of this is without even mentioning the amount of snow that covers EVERYTHING, or the Danish & American christmas carols playing where ever you go.
At our school, Bjerringbro Gymnasium, we (along with the entire school) took off the hour before lunch to participate in Christmas arts & crafts, eat æbleskivvers, pebernødders, and sing Christmas carols. A girl from our club, who saved us from our awkward American walk around the cafeteria/auditorium/main area, was extremely suprised when we told her that this would never happen in a US school. She explained to us that every class in Denmark does this, and until 9th grade, you take off the full day to have classroom 'hygge.' When we brought up that the school can't even allow Christmas carols to be played because of seperation of church and state, she made the point that in Denmark, Christmas isn't just a holiday, but a part of the culture. After that, we shut up and enjoyed the chance to meet some new people, eat, and pretty much fail at making paper stars.
Christmas hasn't just invaded stores and schools, either. At home, I'm responsible for not one, not two, but THREE different 'julekalender's or Advent Calendars. These aren't your average Advent Calendars, either. One is the typical US Advent Calendar with small square chocolates mesauring roughly 1/2 inch square, one that typical US Advent Calendar, but on steroids. It's about 16 inches high, and 2 inches wide, and made by 'Tomsen' chocolate-meaning that I get an epic mini european chocolate bar every day. Example: Today, I got a full sized chocolate frog filled with caramel. My final julekalender is less like an Advent Calendar, and more like a scratch and win lottery ticket. A giant scratch and win lottery ticket. Pretty much, for every day until December 24th (Did I mention Danes celebrate Christmas the 24th?) there is a little scratch off box, where you hope to uncover a little Christmas tree. Uncover 9 of them-10,000 Dkr. Uncover 4-1,000 Dkr. etc, etc, etc. Pretty much, they are like Advent Calendars for Grown-ups.
It's so weird to think that in less than 2 weeks, I'll be headed back to the states. (Pending some visa issues, I may be coming back in January :) ) What seemed so weird when we first arrived here now seems normal(Tucking our sweatpants into our socks, walking or riding bikes everywhere, the Danish language, just to name a few.) Bjerringbro has been so good to us, and I cannot explain how at home we all feel here. Not only has the club opened it's arms to us, as well as the families from our team and people from the school, but the community in general has welcomed us. We've been blessed to have families open up not only their homes, but their lives and their schedules. Both Amber Turner & I have had times when we needed to go to a doctor (Her with swimmers ear, which I am still dumbfounded as to how she managed that, and myself with my knee injury) and our host mothers have set up appointments for us to be seen. They've fed us, housed us, done our (my) laundry, driven us around, and treated us like family. We've had so many adventures here, so many good times, so many experiences, and I know I'm not alone when I say thank you so much to the Bjerringbro community, to BFH, and Bjerringbro Gymnasium, for this trip has truly been life changing. I know that personally, going 'home' is starting to feel a lot more like leaving it.
At our school, Bjerringbro Gymnasium, we (along with the entire school) took off the hour before lunch to participate in Christmas arts & crafts, eat æbleskivvers, pebernødders, and sing Christmas carols. A girl from our club, who saved us from our awkward American walk around the cafeteria/auditorium/main area, was extremely suprised when we told her that this would never happen in a US school. She explained to us that every class in Denmark does this, and until 9th grade, you take off the full day to have classroom 'hygge.' When we brought up that the school can't even allow Christmas carols to be played because of seperation of church and state, she made the point that in Denmark, Christmas isn't just a holiday, but a part of the culture. After that, we shut up and enjoyed the chance to meet some new people, eat, and pretty much fail at making paper stars.
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| These took us about the entire hour.. |
It's so weird to think that in less than 2 weeks, I'll be headed back to the states. (Pending some visa issues, I may be coming back in January :) ) What seemed so weird when we first arrived here now seems normal(Tucking our sweatpants into our socks, walking or riding bikes everywhere, the Danish language, just to name a few.) Bjerringbro has been so good to us, and I cannot explain how at home we all feel here. Not only has the club opened it's arms to us, as well as the families from our team and people from the school, but the community in general has welcomed us. We've been blessed to have families open up not only their homes, but their lives and their schedules. Both Amber Turner & I have had times when we needed to go to a doctor (Her with swimmers ear, which I am still dumbfounded as to how she managed that, and myself with my knee injury) and our host mothers have set up appointments for us to be seen. They've fed us, housed us, done our (my) laundry, driven us around, and treated us like family. We've had so many adventures here, so many good times, so many experiences, and I know I'm not alone when I say thank you so much to the Bjerringbro community, to BFH, and Bjerringbro Gymnasium, for this trip has truly been life changing. I know that personally, going 'home' is starting to feel a lot more like leaving it.
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