I live for Pancake Sundays

As I mentioned in my last post, I fear that I have less to say now that amazing European adventures no longer occur on a daily basis. Don't get me wrong: it's no exaggeration to say that every day is something new. But not everyone finds my classes (which include GIS modeling, Bronze-Age Mediterranean ship construction, and prehistoric Danish coastal economies) nor my daily adjustments to life abroad (from corn, bizarrely, being found on Danish pizza, all the way to the deplorable lack of spring mattresses) half as fascinating or noteworthy as I do.

Nevertheless, for those loyal loved ones who do visit my humble corner of the internet tubes to see what I am up to, I thought I'd describe my daily life in general now that I've been here three weeks and have settled into some semblance of a schedule.

I have classes once a day on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and twice on Thursdays. But don't let all that "free time" fool you as it did me. There is a ton of studying and research for which I am responsible outside of class. I promised not to gush about Egyptian intuitive and innovative design in ship construction (would that I could...); suffice to say that my classes are both exciting and exhausting.

As far as life outside of class goes, it's been very difficult to balance studying with socializing. I'm sure I've mentioned that I live in a house with three other MAP ladies, in a cul-de-sac with identical houses, all for students (including but not limited to students attending Southern Denmark University like me). The majority of my fellow students also live here at Hedelundvej, which means our free time is frequently spent with one another. Family-style dinners have quickly become a daily occurrence, with a different chef and location every night, leading to the necessity of a dinner calendar. For example, the night before last Alex and his girlfriend Mari, both from Belgium, made shrimp scampi, and tonight, Natalia, who hails from the Orkney Islands, is making us macaroni and cheese. Sunday afternoon brunch is always held right here at my house, where my roommate Sylvia (a third-year from England) makes a pile of pancakes for upwards of ten people. Pancake Sundays are my personal favorite.

The main form of transportation around here is bicycle. Only one guy in the MAP brought his car, and the rest of us either walk, bike, or take the bus. Michael found an abandoned, unlocked woman's bike in his shed (we all have lockable outdoor sheds) and he has three male roommates, so I claimed it for my own. It required a bit of repair (it had a punctured tube and crooked back wheel) but one grumpy old bicycle-mechanic and 200 DKK ($40) later, I had myself a perfectly acceptable bike. Since I acquired it, I've cycled every day to school, which takes about twenty minutes. It's been a rainy couple of weeks, which has made for some unpleasant rides, but after riding a scooter for almost three years in all kinds of inclement weather, it's really not so bad. One of my roommates, Dimitra, also got herself a bike, so I have a cycle-buddy to and from school most days.

Every day it gets better. I am so happy to be here, because the more I learn about the field of maritime archaeology and what jobs are available, and what those jobs require, I feel more confident that I am in the right place. My intensive dry-suit diving course (separate from my graduate studies but absolutely mandatory to work in this field) is four weeks long, and begins after the first semester ends, in mid-November. You heard me right, people, I will be diving in Denmark and northern Germany in the depths of winter. Totally insane... or totally invigorating!? (hangs head... just insane... I know...)