The Nibe festival was absolutely awesome! I got to spend four days hanging out with one of my best friends and listening to good music. A few days after I returned home, my USA parents as well as my host dad and host brother attended the annual 4th of July celebration in Rebild Bakker. It's the only place in the world apart from the United States that celebrates the holiday. The place was well decorated. The American and Danish flag were flown, and all of the state flags were on display. We heard Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the Danish prime minister as well as a representative from the US Congress speak. It was pretty neat. Before my parents headed south to Odense, I biked with them from Hjørring through Lønstrup to the town of Løkken. We sat on the beach together and enjoyed old style Danish candy before eating dinner together. After my parents left, Camilla came to visit for a weekend. It was nice to see her one more time before I left. About a week later I celebrated my 19th birthday. I received my birthday wish, which was a classic lagkage for breakfast :) I also went to say goodbye to two of my friends from gymnasium that would be on vacation when I headed home. I was pleasantly surprised when they brought out a cake and sang me happy birthday. It was super hyggeligt and really just the cherry on top moment of a fantastic day. That evening I attended a huge party with my host family to celebrate two birthdays and two graduation for some of their cousins. I have never seen such a big party before. There were three whole, roasted pigs! It was a lot of fun with the family.
With the end drawing ever closer I found myself busy saying my last goodbyes. Five days before I left I went with my second family to Fårup Sommerland, which is a small amusement park out in the woods in northern Denmark. It was a great way to end a fantastic year with them. My brother, Connor, was also up in Hjørring visiting. My host parents and I took him to Rubjerg Knude as well as the beach in North Lyngby. It was great to see him again as well as share my year with him. After he left, I had only 3 days to finish packing. Two days before I left, my Danish friends had a small going away party for me. Since my friend Stine had just gotten her license, we decided to go out for a drive, and they let me choose the location. I decided I wanted to go to Lønstrup. It was the first place I had visited after arriving in Hjørring, and the first place I walked on the beaches I had grown to love. I couldn't think of a better way to end an amazing year surrounded by the people who had made my year at the gymnasium such a fun and memorable experience. I am going to miss them terribly and can't wait until I see them again.
Two days later I found myself in the Aalborg airport waiting for my flight. Where did my year go? Here I stood with my Danish families and counselor not wanting to leave, not wanting to say goodbye. I know that I wasn't saying goodbye forever, but i knew once I stepped on that plane nothing would be the same again. It was physically painful getting on that plane. My heart felt like it was breaking in two. I am forever grateful to the amazing people who stood on the other side of security waving; my mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters who opened their homes and lives to me. Denmark, you will always be in my heart.
