Helsingor, Denmark
December 3rd-December 11th
LAST CITY ON TOUR
Soren and Anja
Hidde (The Netherlands)
12-3-18 Monday
Last Travel Day of the Semester!! We drove from Struer to Copenhagen and spent the day in the city. Juliette and I had a very relaxing day touring downtown. We went shopping, exploring, and then to Espresso House to just talk about our feeling about the semester ending. I really needed one on one time with someone to really talk and just enjoy a day like normal people. There were so many Christmas Markets in the street which is a well-known thing in Europe during the winter. When we arrived in Helsingor, I found out that I was hosted with Hidde!! YAYY!! He is a promotion representative for Up with People who is one of my best friends in the cast. I am living withe the sponsor of Helsingor this week which is kind of scary, but also a great experience for me to step up and represent the cast well. Since I am with the advanced team this week, I know so many logistics and I fell like I am getting a PRI experience already. It is showing me that I really do not want to do that in my next semester. Our host family is very stand offish and they seemed burdened my hosting us. If we are quiet and respectful, there shouldn't be that big of a problem for 7 days in their house. Hidde and I talked till midnight and then finally went to bed. I am excited for my last week in B18!
12-4-18 Tuesday
Today was a chill day where I worked on a Thank You project with a large portion of the cast. We finished by noon and had free time for the rest of the day. Luckily, my closest friends also had some free time so we walked around downtown Helsingor, got coffee, shopped in a mall, hung out in our facility that was a club by night, sang in the bathroom with Ivy, and talked a lot about the semester ending. Especially because Maryfer had to leave the cast to be with her family to grieve her grandmother's death. I was not prepared to start saying goodbye to my friends, and this changed the whole vibe of the cast. Everyone is enjoying the moments left with each other, but it's going to be devastating. I know that my best freinds will always be in my life, but they won't be there every minute of everyday like they were for the last 5 months... and that is what makes me sad. I also got to spend some time today with Ellen and the interns!!
12-5-18 Wednesday
Today was the actual last acoustic promo of the semester, and it was such an impactful CA as well! We went to Espergaede Centre and shopped with Elderly people. I was paired up with two ladies who had so much joy in their hearts all day long. We got necessary groceries and shared life stories. I was very impacted by how interested these old ladies were about my life. Then the acoustic promo performed for all the old people that we shopped with in the center. During "Home" I teared up because I saw the passion of each person, and the connection that we have had through singing this semester. Then we decorated Christmas trees, wrapped presents, painted igloos, and listened to Pentatonix Christmas. We were a family in the Christmas spirit. I looked around and had another out of body experience of complete gratitude and contentment. The contact lady was so compassionate about her community that she spends all her free time in the center trying to make it beautiful for people. I want to have that much care for the things in my community when I am an adult like her, she is truly inspiring! When we got back, we had a cast meeting and shared stories from the semester. It was nice to finally reflect on all that we have done as a cast.
12-6-18 Thursday
Last Show Day with Cast B 18!!! This could be the last time that I play "Hope" in the show. It is also the last day of my vocal internship. It is intern week this week, and I took over the entire job of the vocal instructor. I had one-on-one vocal workshops with individual soloists, and gave them my feedback without talking to Ellen first. I taught the "Ice Cream" warmup that Nasya, Angelis, and I made, and I led the vocal shnotes feedback. I am so grateful that I got this internship in Europe because I have learned so much and grown immeasurably these past two weeks. We had an emotional greenroom where the staff made us cry and realize the importance of our last show. The show went so well, and many people cried in home. During the acoustic medley, we all teared up because it was the last time that this group of people would ever perform together. I was really sad as I walked off stage. Then during Keep Hope Alive, the audience started waving tissues in the air. I lost it during the chorus... tears were streaming down Angelis' face, which made me cry even harder. It was a really hard show, but we went out with a bang and I am so happy that that was the last one. Then Josefine drove three hours to see the show. It was great to see her again!!! Ahhh such a successful, and emotional show day!
12-7-18 Friday
Today was an internal day where we spent a lot of time with our home teams. We reflected on the semester, spent quality time with the cast, and enjoyed out last days together. Then Ellen and Josh bought the acoustic group stuffed animal baby sharks. It was such a beautiful moment where we shared our favorite memories and appreciated each other. This is going to be the hardest goodbye. When I got home, Emma, my host sister who traveled last semester was there. We had a great conversation about UWP, and then I got to bed early.
12-8-18 Saturday
Today was community discover in downtown Helsingor. Then entire cast went to Kronborg Castle, which became famous because of Hamlet. There was a big christmas market, christmas shows, wine tastings, and cozy cafe's. I spent the morning looking through the castle and Christmas markets, and then I went for coffee with Pleun. It was raining heavily, so Angelis, LaRyssa, Yaz, Ivy, and I went inside for lunch. We wanted to just go watch a movie, so we went to Santa's airbnb and watched a movie with like 20 people. They offered hot chocolate and blankets. It was nice to have some free time to just enjoy each other's company and not worry about UWP responsibilities for a day.
12-9-12 Sunday
Last Host Family day of the entire semester... sad:(. Since Hidde is in The Netherlands today, Soren and Anja spoiled me for the day in Copenhagen. We went to The Rosenborg Castle where the Royal Family keeps all their expensive jewels. While we were walking there, the guards were changing shifts. They walk with the orchestra through the streets of Copenhagen every Wednesday and Sunday. Then we walked through the soldiers barracks called Kastellet on the way to The Little Mermaid Statue named Den Lille Havfrue. On the way back, we visited Amalienborg. This is where the Royal Family lives in Denmark. It's the equivalent to seeing The White House. The Queen was not currently living there, but the Crown Prince was with his wife and four children. It is four identical buildings in a circle where the Royal family lives. Then we got lunch in Nyhavn, which is the postcard views of Copenhagen. It has beautiful buildings along the water. We walked along the street of Stoget, which is the longest pedestrian shopping mall in the world. There was another Christmas Market called Kongens Nytorv. After we walked 5.2 miles, we went into Tivoli. This is a big amusement park decorated for Christmas. There were so many lights, artificial snow, Christmas trees, Glog, Hot Chocolate, and positive energy. This was a great tour of Copenhagen, and I am so glad that I got the experience with this host family because they really knew their way around the city.
12-10-18 Monday
Today was the last full day with the entire cast. We spent the day remembering things from our entire semester. In the morning, we had a CA debrief. In Cast B 18, we had 12,098 hours of community service hours, 45 days of CA days, and 172 CA sites. Then had gallery where there were 150 pictures taped on the hallway as the cast walked through. Then we wrote our favorite memories from each city on paper, and got emotional reflecting on all the amazing experiences. Leah and Liam recreated the cross the line activity from staging, but instead made it light hearted and funny. Then I got an allocation card that had my home address on it with my own family, and I just broke down!!! I read the poem that they wrote, and felt really excited to go home. Then I found out that Nasya got the dance captain position, and Mattias got the admissions position next semester. I am really happy for both of them, but I am now kinda sad about my second semester because all of my close friends will be on staff, and I'll still be a participant. It is going to be a really hard transition, but a good personal challenge as well. In the afternoon, the cast checked things off our bucket list like making a video for A19 and recording our cast song. It was really nice to just be in the presence of everyone in the cast for one final day.
12-11-18 Tuesday
FINAL BANQUET!! WHATT!!! How has this day already come?? This has been the shortest six months of my life, but it also feels like I have been here for three years. It's a bizarre feeling to think about saying goodbye to me BEST FRIENDS. I got closer to these people in just a short amount of time than I have with my closest friends back home. In the morning, Hidde and I went over to Pleun's house to get ready. We wrote our final banquet letters while we curled each other's hair. We got to the Gala and everyone was dressed up so nice. When you live with people for six months, you see how ugly they can be, but tonight it was exciting to see everyone at their best! The banquet was so much fun. They served food and wine and shared touching stories from the semester. We voted on our "Most Likely Too..." The cast did a staff appreciation to the Greatest Showman and we made them cry. They said that no cast has ever done something like this before! Most of the night was spent taking pictures, crying, and saying our final goodbyes. I am so glad that my last memory from my first semester was at this banquet! It was one to remember.
12-4-18 Tuesday
Today was a chill day where I worked on a Thank You project with a large portion of the cast. We finished by noon and had free time for the rest of the day. Luckily, my closest friends also had some free time so we walked around downtown Helsingor, got coffee, shopped in a mall, hung out in our facility that was a club by night, sang in the bathroom with Ivy, and talked a lot about the semester ending. Especially because Maryfer had to leave the cast to be with her family to grieve her grandmother's death. I was not prepared to start saying goodbye to my friends, and this changed the whole vibe of the cast. Everyone is enjoying the moments left with each other, but it's going to be devastating. I know that my best freinds will always be in my life, but they won't be there every minute of everyday like they were for the last 5 months... and that is what makes me sad. I also got to spend some time today with Ellen and the interns!!
12-5-18 Wednesday
Today was the actual last acoustic promo of the semester, and it was such an impactful CA as well! We went to Espergaede Centre and shopped with Elderly people. I was paired up with two ladies who had so much joy in their hearts all day long. We got necessary groceries and shared life stories. I was very impacted by how interested these old ladies were about my life. Then the acoustic promo performed for all the old people that we shopped with in the center. During "Home" I teared up because I saw the passion of each person, and the connection that we have had through singing this semester. Then we decorated Christmas trees, wrapped presents, painted igloos, and listened to Pentatonix Christmas. We were a family in the Christmas spirit. I looked around and had another out of body experience of complete gratitude and contentment. The contact lady was so compassionate about her community that she spends all her free time in the center trying to make it beautiful for people. I want to have that much care for the things in my community when I am an adult like her, she is truly inspiring! When we got back, we had a cast meeting and shared stories from the semester. It was nice to finally reflect on all that we have done as a cast.
Last Show Day with Cast B 18!!! This could be the last time that I play "Hope" in the show. It is also the last day of my vocal internship. It is intern week this week, and I took over the entire job of the vocal instructor. I had one-on-one vocal workshops with individual soloists, and gave them my feedback without talking to Ellen first. I taught the "Ice Cream" warmup that Nasya, Angelis, and I made, and I led the vocal shnotes feedback. I am so grateful that I got this internship in Europe because I have learned so much and grown immeasurably these past two weeks. We had an emotional greenroom where the staff made us cry and realize the importance of our last show. The show went so well, and many people cried in home. During the acoustic medley, we all teared up because it was the last time that this group of people would ever perform together. I was really sad as I walked off stage. Then during Keep Hope Alive, the audience started waving tissues in the air. I lost it during the chorus... tears were streaming down Angelis' face, which made me cry even harder. It was a really hard show, but we went out with a bang and I am so happy that that was the last one. Then Josefine drove three hours to see the show. It was great to see her again!!! Ahhh such a successful, and emotional show day!
Today was an internal day where we spent a lot of time with our home teams. We reflected on the semester, spent quality time with the cast, and enjoyed out last days together. Then Ellen and Josh bought the acoustic group stuffed animal baby sharks. It was such a beautiful moment where we shared our favorite memories and appreciated each other. This is going to be the hardest goodbye. When I got home, Emma, my host sister who traveled last semester was there. We had a great conversation about UWP, and then I got to bed early.
Today was community discover in downtown Helsingor. Then entire cast went to Kronborg Castle, which became famous because of Hamlet. There was a big christmas market, christmas shows, wine tastings, and cozy cafe's. I spent the morning looking through the castle and Christmas markets, and then I went for coffee with Pleun. It was raining heavily, so Angelis, LaRyssa, Yaz, Ivy, and I went inside for lunch. We wanted to just go watch a movie, so we went to Santa's airbnb and watched a movie with like 20 people. They offered hot chocolate and blankets. It was nice to have some free time to just enjoy each other's company and not worry about UWP responsibilities for a day.
12-9-12 Sunday
Last Host Family day of the entire semester... sad:(. Since Hidde is in The Netherlands today, Soren and Anja spoiled me for the day in Copenhagen. We went to The Rosenborg Castle where the Royal Family keeps all their expensive jewels. While we were walking there, the guards were changing shifts. They walk with the orchestra through the streets of Copenhagen every Wednesday and Sunday. Then we walked through the soldiers barracks called Kastellet on the way to The Little Mermaid Statue named Den Lille Havfrue. On the way back, we visited Amalienborg. This is where the Royal Family lives in Denmark. It's the equivalent to seeing The White House. The Queen was not currently living there, but the Crown Prince was with his wife and four children. It is four identical buildings in a circle where the Royal family lives. Then we got lunch in Nyhavn, which is the postcard views of Copenhagen. It has beautiful buildings along the water. We walked along the street of Stoget, which is the longest pedestrian shopping mall in the world. There was another Christmas Market called Kongens Nytorv. After we walked 5.2 miles, we went into Tivoli. This is a big amusement park decorated for Christmas. There were so many lights, artificial snow, Christmas trees, Glog, Hot Chocolate, and positive energy. This was a great tour of Copenhagen, and I am so glad that I got the experience with this host family because they really knew their way around the city.
Today was the last full day with the entire cast. We spent the day remembering things from our entire semester. In the morning, we had a CA debrief. In Cast B 18, we had 12,098 hours of community service hours, 45 days of CA days, and 172 CA sites. Then had gallery where there were 150 pictures taped on the hallway as the cast walked through. Then we wrote our favorite memories from each city on paper, and got emotional reflecting on all the amazing experiences. Leah and Liam recreated the cross the line activity from staging, but instead made it light hearted and funny. Then I got an allocation card that had my home address on it with my own family, and I just broke down!!! I read the poem that they wrote, and felt really excited to go home. Then I found out that Nasya got the dance captain position, and Mattias got the admissions position next semester. I am really happy for both of them, but I am now kinda sad about my second semester because all of my close friends will be on staff, and I'll still be a participant. It is going to be a really hard transition, but a good personal challenge as well. In the afternoon, the cast checked things off our bucket list like making a video for A19 and recording our cast song. It was really nice to just be in the presence of everyone in the cast for one final day.
12-11-18 Tuesday
FINAL BANQUET!! WHATT!!! How has this day already come?? This has been the shortest six months of my life, but it also feels like I have been here for three years. It's a bizarre feeling to think about saying goodbye to me BEST FRIENDS. I got closer to these people in just a short amount of time than I have with my closest friends back home. In the morning, Hidde and I went over to Pleun's house to get ready. We wrote our final banquet letters while we curled each other's hair. We got to the Gala and everyone was dressed up so nice. When you live with people for six months, you see how ugly they can be, but tonight it was exciting to see everyone at their best! The banquet was so much fun. They served food and wine and shared touching stories from the semester. We voted on our "Most Likely Too..." The cast did a staff appreciation to the Greatest Showman and we made them cry. They said that no cast has ever done something like this before! Most of the night was spent taking pictures, crying, and saying our final goodbyes. I am so glad that my last memory from my first semester was at this banquet! It was one to remember.
WE'RE GOING HOME
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