the sun also rises

I woke up today for the first time in my Danish house. I arrived yesterday afternoon after a night flight from Chicago where, in the airport, I'd immediately bonded with a bunch of other DIS students (an easy way to find friends is to whip out a deck of cards during a long layover). Snow, but not much of it, greeted us as we walked out of the airport to the bus that took me to my new house. Walking down the street it's on and up to the door, you get a very old-timey feel. Walking into the house, though, feels totally different. To sum it up easily, I feel like I'm living in an IKEA. Everything's super modern and simple. Also, huge perk: the bathroom floors are heated. Location couldn't get any better either. We're right smack dab in the middle of Copenhagen, right at the heart of the city and within easy walking distance of pretty much everything... which I found out the right way (by doing it) today during one of our orientation events nicknamed the Amazing Race. I just kept thinking of the time I watched an episode of the Amazing Race that was filmed in Copenhagen and thought to myself "Man, I'll be there soon!" Well, the soon is now. And I love it! Also, in just 24 hours I've seen quite a bit, though at a fast pace to be sure. In 3 1/2 hours my group went to 3 different castles, a beautiful old church, to the iconic harbor area, and even to a grocery store (Netto).

at Nyhavn

But, even with all that excitement, I think one of my favorite moments of today came in two parts: 1. first thing this morning when I woke up, went to the kitchen, and saw a beautiful scene out the window of the sun rising in the background of the street-scape and 2. seeing the sun rise more fully while walking to our opening ceremony. I have a soft spot in my heart for the Sun. Stars in general, really. Did I mention that Trinity Church which we went to today has the Royal Observatory attached to it? Think I'm going sometime? Heck, yes! 

This is what I get to see every morning now!

sun rising (taken around 8:45)