i know.

17 days down and it is starting to feel like a lifestyle. I have often heard that the first couple weeks, maybe even months, of study abroad can feel like a "vacation." Whether it is figuring out what bus to take, or which grocery store has the best bargains, it is hard NOT to feel like a tourist in a whole new culture with only 2 days of "survival danish" under your belt.

Yet I am proud, and lucky, to say that we are 17 days in and I no longer feel helpless in this city. I'm learning the bus system pretty well and am beginning to feel well acquainted with the metro and the S-Train. I know that "bus stop Netto" is a shorter walk to Keops than Føtex and nicer than "ghetto Netto," but the best deals are at the "cheap place" next to Fitness World. (The names are great, right?) I know that I have to get on the bus at least 30 minutes before class just in case the bus breaks down (which totally happened the other morning). I know that at 7:30 I can walk down into our common room and see at least 10 smiling faces to eat dinner with. I know that Digestive cookies are great with not only peanut butter, but Nutella as well.I know that you can't turn the shower on too high or it will soak the entire bathroom. I know that I really can make 3 meals a day for myself. I know that laundry really isn't as hard as it may seem and that the heater in my room can dry snow-covered pants in less than an hour. I know that even though many of my peers are extremely intelligent, I still have a lot to offer. I know that sometimes the impossible really is possible.

Each day brings new opportunities to learn and more things to fit into my new Copenhagen lifestyle. Today I joined the gym and tomorrow I will venture into a new part of the city to visit a PR agency for my Advertising course. Who knows what the next day will bring?

Yet with all this, I do know one thing for sure. I know that I made the right decision to study abroad. I know that I was meant to come to Copenhagen, take classes with DIS and meet all of the amazing people I have met thus far.

I know I am right where I am supposed to be.