Farvel til København

Maybe it's fitting that it's Spring, the days are getting brighter, and I have an itch to sort through my ever-dwindling collection of possessions and do a tidy and a clean up. It's been obvious to me for months, since Leo finally handed in his notice and moved, that our life in Copenhagen had reached a natural climax. That being said, I dawdled for months and months and always tried to picture myself going back there to live. 

But naturally, our time in Copenhagen has reached it's conclusion and Leo has in fact moved back to Dublin, while I have an excruciating 1.5 years of PhD left before I can join him (don't get me wrong, I am overjoyed to be doing the PhD, but I am so tired of living in a temporary-home). I've just returned to Durham from Copenhagen, where we finally (FINALLY!!!) packed up all our kitchen stuff, Leo's dozens of work shirts, boxes of cards and letters and memories, and the furniture. 

We spent those last few days catching up with lovely people we might not see for a while, doing a bit of shopping (I lost a scarf this winter that was my favourite one, and needed a replacement), sitting in the same cafe for hours on end, and spending our last night in a Jazz-filled bodega, from which my clothes ended up smelling like an ash tray. 

It was a surreal few days and they went by far too quickly. Now it's back to work, and back to Ireland as well for Easter. It was lovely to live in Copenhagen, and our apartment was cosy and full of fond memories. But sometimes things just come to an end, and that's quite alright. It's onwards to bigger and bolder things, and the most important thing is that Leo and I are journeying together.

the view from here

Looking Back | London

 

Before leaving London we lived in the East End, Wapping to be exact. Cobbled streets and wrought iron fences, this cosy little village is a well kept secret minute away from the towering monsters of Canary Wharf, London Bridge and Liverpool Street.

Our apartment overlooked the Thames, and we could see Tower Bridge from our window. It was really something special. The Overground or Tube was our transport of choice, with bikes for getting around the local area (cycling in London means putting your life in the hands of crazed lunatics).

Moving Forward | Copenhagen

 

Two accommodation moves later and we're finally in an apartment of our own in Copenhagen. Cosy, and well lit, I think this is as good as it gets. We cycle absolutely everywhere now, even in the rain (which is constant). The skyline is a lot lower, a lot more yellow-washed walls and brown roofs. I think it is perfect.

My experience with InterNations Copenhagen

The prospect of moving to a new city can feel like opening Pandora's box. Not only are there practical issues to take of, relating to employment, visas, medical care and accommodation, but all the social elements too.
Meeting new people, putting yourself out there and making lasting friendships can turn your expat experience into something incredible.

The InterNations organisation is active in almost 400 countries worldwide, and basic membership is free. After you sign up you get access to forums, helpful emails full of advice, and can get in touch with expats in your new city right away. Networking for business, finding a meet up with expats from your home country, a dance class or a night out suddently got a whole lot easier, making those initial weeks exciting rather than daunting.

I joined InterNations when I was thinking about moving to Copenhagen, and networked, read the forums, blog articles and emailed contacts. It was amazing having all that first hand information at hand, from a reliable and professional source. I found out about which areas are good to live in and what to expect of the Danish lifestyle through the site.

Some helpful links for navigating your way around the InterNations site:

• http://www.internations.org/copenhagen-expats
• http://www.internations.org/copenhagen-expats/events
• http://www.internations.org/guide/all 
• https://www.facebook.com/InterNations.org

 Happy Expating :)

First Breakfast

Well this is it, we are students no more; we have moved out of our dorm room and into an aparment in Frederiskburg (great location, great apartment). Grown ups now, I guess. Leo started a new job at a fancy-pants bank today, and I'm hanging around, unpacking and feeling a bit listless because tomorrow I go back to Ireland to learn to drive.

I'm 24, and haven't had more than 4 lessons. I've set myself a project for this year to get my license, and hopefully the less amount of time it takes, the better. Then it'll be back here for a while, work, try to make some money, and then I have some really sweet travel and study plans.

But for now, I'm sitting here amidst boxes and suitcases, eating on proper crockery and feeling both content and sad.

For those interested, I am having banana (fruit is better sliced up), pain au chocolat, and the most amazing type of breakfast food that exists, apple pureé heated up with cinammon, and (organic is better) natural yoghurt poured on. When I have kids I will feed them nothing but this. It's magical stuff, and beyond healthy too.

I also whipped out the big Bodum pot and am attempting to caffeinate myself into being excited. Pity it's blustery and grey outside.

Feels Like I'm Not Going Home

 

Today was a bit of a homesick day. I missed the feel of walking in the door and being greeted by my cats and my dog and putting on the kettle, making tea, sitting down and going through the newspaper supplements my Dad always kept for me. I missed the closeness, the familiarity, knowing where I am, where I'm going.

Sometimes I envy those still at home, those that have never moved and never had to say goodbye after a flying two day visit. To never have to arrange Christmas, birthdays, holidays months in advance, to drive a few miles down the road to see friends and family. To know right outside your window the world is as it's been your whole life, with no surprises. Just home.

And then I think to myself, what's the use? What's the use in living in this half-way world, between memories, nostalgia and the reality of the present. I'm here now, and here's where I should be. I chose to move, and then to move again, to a rather strange place where the alphabet sounds all wrong and they never rush. It isn't so bad being away from home, in fact it's pretty nice and it makes the memories sweeter still.

All there is to do, once the bout of homesickness is dispensed with, is to book a flight home and look forward to sitting in my kitchen with Napoleon trying to steal my breakfast again.

Copenhagen: The Arrival

Our last night in London was spent at Leo's friend's apartment with some of his friends. The apartment itself was one of the most surprising I've been in in memory, it was in a dodgy block of flats, but inside the walls were lined with books. The banter was at times decidedly 'political' and I just kept my mouth shut for about an hour straight. I've become so moderate in my old age. I did have a really nice night though, and we decided that it probably made sense to just stay up all night.

Naturally, I couldn't hack it, and had the most intense 1 hour power nap of my life, emerging from my cocoon fresh and ready to go at 5am. Actually, I felt like absolute trash, but it's my blog and I'll colour the past whatever shade I like. The taxi driver didn't actually know how to get to Gatwick, but we got to the airport, managed to root through our bags to get rid of the excess materials and generally faff with about half an hour to spare. Norwegian quality airline that take credit cards, and Euro.

It wasn't the world's greatest breakfast, but it was a damn sight better than Ryanair food

What else do you need? A wave of relief spread over me as we left London behind. I don't mean to sound unappreciative for the opportunities that London gave me, but it tired me out and frustrated me in many ways. It was time to move on.

A Poignant 'This is Goodbye' shot

Getting to our hostel was pretty tricky considering we didn't have Kroner and couldn't seem to find a taxi rank outside Nørreport station. Thus we embarked upon the most challenging event of the past few days, dragging the contents of our little lives two miles. One of the wheels had fallen off a suitcase. It was not fun. About an hour later we arrived.

The rest of the day was a haze. That hour sleep was long forgotten, and after eating a really average burger and buying bed sheets that turned out to be for small children (Copenhagen prices, if it seems too good to be true, it is), we crashed. And with that, we had successfully made the move, several hundred miles, one timezone away, to a country with unpronouncable words and the nicest trains in the world. And I can safely say I am very happy to be here.