Arrival Abroad!

Wow (wauw). Copenhagen.

I write to you this morning from a stranger's apartment.

Let me rephrase that.

My host David is currently looking after an apartment for a friend, whom I have not met, and we have been staying here since my arrival two (WHAT ONLY 2?!) days ago.

At the moment, wifi is a luxury I am only fortunate enough to have at coffee shops in the city center where I pay $7 for a lemonade. So I write these posts on my little tablet and publish them later.

The last two days have been an absolute whirlwind!

I arrived around 1:00pm on Friday, and spent an embarassingly long time trying to find the exit (udgang) from baggage claim. Once I escaped, I was greeted at the gate by my two wonderful friends David and Frederik. They carried an American flag and brought me a Tuborg beer to drink as we navigated the airport and left via subway... Note about Denmark: You can drink beer pratically ANYWHERE at basically any age. 

After the airport, we spent the afternoon wandering the Norrebro area on foot and bus. A popular passtime on sunny afternoons in Copenhagen is to grab some beer, friends, and a blanket  and have some chill time in the cemetery. So we did just that. Minus the beer and blanket. What I'm trying to say is that I collapsed took  a nap in the cemetery. Drooling. Jet lag is real.

Friday evening from about 5 to 10 we met up with some of David's friends on the steps of the Tycho Bacche Planetarium and enjoyed the three hour sunset (with beer and a Faxe Kondi soda for me). 

Later we managed to make it to someone's apartment for gin and tonics (who am I?) and a mini Danish reading lesson for me out of what is essentially the Economist magazine. Post G&Ts they guys went out, but I only made it a few minutes in a bar before the jet lag caught up with me. 

Despite being exhausted I couldn't sleep until about 3:00 am.. about 8:00pm US time. Oh well!

I can't understand anybody and I'm constantly making a fool of myself, but this place is wonderful and I never want to leave.

Next up, Saturday. It's a doozy!

On the Way

I write to you today from Terminal 3 of Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport. Check-in for my flight to Copenhagen has not yet begun (I'm 6 hours early) but the waiting area is slowly filling up with anxious travelers, and even a few backpack toting twenty-somethings like myself.

Today I met a man on my first flight who noticed I was reading a book from the Song of Ice and Fire series and began to talk to me. He spoke about his 3 treks down Camino de Santiago in Spain, his wife, and their one-eyed dog. We chatted about travel stories, book series, and our jobs, and as we began to descend, he asked to give me some advice for my future, having come from a high-stress corporate background.

"Bloom where you're planted," he said. "Be happy wherever you end up. Avoid becoming a bitter, burnt out employee because your work status will reflect that. People won't want to work with you and the bitterness will only grow." Everywhere is a new adventure to embrace.

Next, he said "Going into a corporate job, get ready to be moved around a lot. If you don't like a city, you just haven't found your place within it yet. Keep looking until you find your niche." Explore until you find a place you can love.

His final piece of advice was to change things up once in awhile. He told me to refuse to become complacent in a location or position that I no longer enjoyed.

I was lucky enough to sit next to someone who went out of their way to be kind and offer a fresh college grad some sage advice that didn't make me feel like an idiot. I'm hoping this is only a preview for the rest of this trip. I want to continue to learn and absorb knowledge from each person I encounter, and one day be able to share that with someone else in a similar situation.

Travel is neat.

askdfjahskfh

My first flight leaves in 9 hours and 30 minutes. I finally started to feel nervous as I packed my backpack for the official last time before departure.

To help those (fashion conscious, sneaker avoiding) going overseas for an extended time carrying only a backpack, I have compiled a list of the items I managed to stuff in mine.

Packing List:
15 pairs undies (don't judge me)
3 sports bras
2 reg bras
3 tank tops
4 sundresses
2 skirts
2 knit sweaters
10-ish thin tops with 3/4 to long sleeves
1 t-shirt
1 pair nike shorts
2 pair pants
3 pair shorts
1 pair yoga pants
3 pair socks
Shoes: black flats, nude sandals, tan Clarks, army green TOMS
Travel hair dryer
Tiny straightener
1 tiny towel
Poncho

Wearing: 1 knit sweater, 1 pair pants, 1 tank, Sperry loafers, heavier coat

All of my toiletries and electronics are going in my carry on, a small sports backpack!

I definitely wouldn't say I packed light, but my bag certainly isn't heavy. I'm not going to be trekking back country and sweating through my tops, so the majority of my clothing is urban and cute. Navy, stripes, dark neutrals, and a few pops of color dominated my wardrobe. You can be the judge of my success through the pictures I hope to post.
My Danish friend, David, told me that it's the most beautiful time of year in DK right now, and that everybody is in shorts and tanks. After checking the weather (nothing higher than 67F) I decided to keep my Texas summer attire to a minimum. It would appear they don't make summer in Europe like they do in the south.

Tomorrow's the day!!!! Dying. Auf geht's, friends!

Backpackin'

After much contemplation, I have decided that the rolling suitcase life is just not for me this time. My travel schedule is very fast paced, and often through less urban landscapes, so I have decided that my main luggage will be a hiking backpack.

This one, to be exact. The North Face Terra 40L. I went back and forth between the 40L and the slightly larger 50L but decided that I could start small and upgrade if the pack life fit me. The 50L was also designed for a man with a much longer torso than mine, so it didn't quite suit my size. 

I couldn't be happier with my choice! Don't mind my raggedy appearance.. Just woke up:

The perfect fit!

I'm fairly confident I can fit almost all of my belongings for a month in there. I'll also be carrying a small duffle carry-on with important things I can't lose, as well as one change of clothes and my toiletries. For day time excursions I'm bringing my KAVU backpack and a small nicer purse. I'll include pictures with my packing list post soon to come.

Yeeeee! Less than 48 hours until I leave!

FAQ

When talking to friends and family about my trip, I get asked certain questions very often. I thought I'd go ahead an address some of them in case you guys were wondering the same things!

Q: What countries are you visiting?
A: Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, and maybe France!

Q: Who are you going with?
A: I am traveling alone and meeting up with friends and family along the way. I will be solo in a few places, but I'm excited to test myself mentally and physically.

Q: How long will you be gone?
A: Undetermined. I will be gone at least a month, but hopefully longer! It all depends on my American Airlines training date.

Q: Do you speak any of the languages?
A: I have a background in Spanish (inapplicable for this trip), and I'm learning a bit of necessary French, Danish, and German in my spare time. Although I don't want to rely on it, many people grow up learning English abroad and hopefully we can muddle through things together!

Q: When do you start training for flight attendant?
A: I don't have a start date yet! When I am notified of the date, I will get at least a month's notice, so I'll have time to organize a flight home.

Q: Wait, so you don't have a round trip ticket?
A: Nope! It's a one-way ticket for now!

Q: Aren't you scared?
A: Perhaps a bit nervous, but excited more than anything. I am so ready to be lost and completely out of my element for a while. It's an opportunity to grow and learn about myself and how other parts of the world live!

Q: How much was your plane ticket?
A: Flying Norwegian from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Copenhagen, DK was right around $300. I added a checked bag making my international leg closer to $335. I am also taking a flight from Dallas to Fort Lauderdale that cost me $120, making my trip $455 total! Cheap cheap cheap!

Q: Can I met you in _____?
A: ABSOLUTELY!!

Hopefully that clears up a few commonly asked questions. Don't be afraid to ask me other things in comments or through any other social media channel!

Love!

3 Days 'til Departure

Happy Memorial Day!

Now that graduation, Macy's wedding, and the madness that accompanied both are finished, I finally get to focus on this blog's purpose: MY EXCURSION TO EUROPE! I leave in THREE DAYS. WTF. There is so much to do before then!
Today I'm taking care of miscellaneous things: signing up for an international phone plan, letting my bank know I'll be abroad and figuring out affiliated banks oversees, establishing firm plans with my friends in various countries, and looking for a decent backpack for my side trips.
Tomorrow is a big day. I will have to call American Airlines to see if they have assigned me a training date yet. I haven't heard from them since April when they notified me I had completed all the pre-training requirements. Yikes! Until that conversation, I'm not entirely sure how long I'll have oversees! So all this planning could be uprooted very quickly.. I'm into taking risks, what can I say?

I would like to take this time to also notify any readers that this blog officially has a new, official name.
WHERE WOULD KATE GO?
Hurrah! WWKG has been a brainchild without a name for several months, but its title has come just in time.
That's all today.

Love!

Day 1: Graduation

I'VE DONE IT FOLKS. This girl has GRADUATED COLLEGE. And in 4 years to boot!
The ceremony was 2.5 hours long, the shortest of all 7 graduations my university had this weekend. Thank da Lawd. It's such a strange feeling, to know I'll probably never enter my old classrooms, see classmates and professors, or read in my favorite hidey-holes again. Luckily, I'll be able to fly in to College Station for game days and to see my wonderful gentleman.

My grad cap:

Fitting, right?

Diploma Selfie:

naturally

I am now a third generation graduate of Texas A&M! What a glorious feeling, to not only share that tradition with my parents and grandparents, but also to be FREAKING DONE WITH CLASS FOREVER!
..oh wait, until Flight Attendant Training.

These last 40 days have been absolutely jam-packed with activities. I'm incredibly satisfied with all that's happened. I ended up accidentally burning a bridge or two, but hopefully time and distance will heal those connections. If not, I suppose that's what was supposed to happen.

THAT'S HOW YOU CONCLUDE 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS.
YEAH!

Day 3: Survival of the Revival

THE FINAL DUKES REVIVAL HAS COME AT LAST!

Duke's is a bar on Northgate that everybody loved in 2010 and 2011. By the middle of sophomore year, Duke's had become a weird gathering place for creepy guys and awkward gals. By the beginning of 2014, it was on the way to closing down. Drinks were $1.00 to rid the bar of their remaining liquor supply. Bouncers didn't even check your ID as long as you went inside. The place was a ghost town.

That is, until one man decided to bring Duke's back to it's former glory through the establishment of a celebration called Duke's Revival.

On selected Thursdays, all the friendly people we could gather on Facebook were invited to attend a night of $1.00 wells and dancing on elevated surfaces. Crowds were massive.

Last night was the very last one. The organizer is graduating, along with most of the people that ever knew Duke's in its hay day. Our pregame was the last ever Threepeat at the Mungalow and our transportation was not one, but TWO party buses. Killer. 

I have lovingly attended each Revival, and I can confidently say that this one was the largest of them all. What a night. 

I have very few photos because I was too busy dancing on speaker boxes and supporting very drunk friends as they vomited on the second floor. So I stole one.

#DukesRevival #DukesSurvival 

THREE DAYS 'TIL COLLEGE IS OVER. Yikes.

Days 16, 9, 5, 4: Finals.

Ugh. I'm pulling my hair out. I hate this time of year. I'm a senior, just let me graduate, damn it!
This is how I feel about finals.

Enough said.

Day 10: Moving On

Today was my last day of work!

It's been an awesome 2 years at the School of Public Health and I've learned so much about professionalism, academia, and handling curve balls. Things were rocky in the beginning.. I did not get nearly enough training with the girl I replaced and didn't know how to do anything correctly for the first few months. I think my boss hated me. I wanted to cry some days.

Fast forward to now and I still want to cry because my coworkers have become part of my family. I don't want to lose touch with them quite yet! It's hard not to fall in love with a group of people that you see and chat with every day, but at least we'll still have Facebook to keep tabs.

My boss made me tear up in her office by giving me a graduation card and Texas A&M Former Student shirt. She's really become a mom away from home to me, always there when I needed to know what car shop, veterinarian, or hairstylists to trust.

Sigh. At least it's a beautiful sunny day to help keep my spirits high.

Day 10, you are bittersweet.

Day 11: My BIRTHDAY!

TWENTY TWO! What a lame age. Taylor Swift songs can't make this pathetic year any more pleasant, so let's just call it what it is. MY SECOND 21ST BIRTHDAY!

My lady friends and I all went out to eat at my new CS addiction, Napa Flats for din. I'm obsessed. It's got everything PLUS free gelato on your birthday. Hell yes.

Post dinner, my sweet sweet gentleman friend had purchased kick-ass concert tickets for the two of us. I asked all my friends to join, but they were busy. So off we went to Bryan to watch Cherub, Carousel, and some rapper from Chicago whose name I can't remember. Sorry, guy.

It. Was. Amazing.

yay friends!                                                   yay Gentleman!

And then post-concert, as Gentleman and I were dancing down the street to our car, we ran into THE LEAD SINGER from Cherub, and Riley had the composure to get a photo of him and I. But I look like a DWEEB so it's not going on here.

Food babies, concerts, free dranks, celebrity sightings.
DIS IS HOW U DO DAY 11. UH!