So it's time for another update. There is only 1 week left of this course and then it's time to depart this wonderful place along with all the amazing people that I will dearly miss. Though there are about half the people that will be continuing in the Spring course next year which is good but then there will be over 100 new faces! It's going to be a completely full school with about 248 students. We worked out that there would be 3 girls to every boy, so yes not many boys compared to girls. But the reason why there are so many students is that there is a festival in Denmark called Landsstaevne which occurs every 4 years and is a major sports and gymnastics festival in Denmark and the whole school goes to this. So I'm looking forward to this festival as I LOVE festivals, they are so much fun!

Anyways for the rest of the semester we started a new thing called New Horizons which is quite fun. I'm doing Physical Theatre, which is pretty much acting and improvising, a lot of improvising. The other classes are Art in Motion, Word Expression and Static & Moving Pictures. Everyone showcased their work and it is all really good. The only thing that is different this week is that we don't have gymnastics everyday. We're doing this New Horizons stuff instead which is a good change and I guess it gives our bodies a good rest heading into the holidays. And I am kinda injured so it's probably a good thing that I'm not training on it (just the ankle thing again).

Well it's not long til Christmas as you all know and probably already counting down. But over here they really celebrate it in a very traditional way. The last 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas are all special days. We have in the dining hall 4 big candles and each Sunday we light a new candle so 4 candles will be lit by the time it is Christmas. And on each of these Sundays you receive a little gift from your parents/family. Over here they also make their own decorations unlike us where we just hit the shops and buy everything! I guess also the shopping hours are very different. Shops close by 1pm on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays so there is more time to do other things. There's no such thing as extended shopping hours! It's really nice experience Christmas in another country that is so traditional about it (even though I don't celebrate it myself). I will be spending Christmas with a family in Ringsted, so looking forward to the Danish celebrations.

I have been thinking this week how fast time has flown by and how it is nearly the end of this course (this year even!). I'm starting to get sad, as I mentioned earlier not all the people are continuing on next year so they will be missed dearly. Ollerup has been my home these last 4 months and all my friends here have been my family. We have shared many memories of laughter, frustration, happiness, anger and many other emotions together. I have learnt so many things, not just in gymnastics but also in all other areas. I am so thankful for being given the opportunity to attend this school. It is a fantastic school with the greatest facilities and the most enthusiastic teachers. I recommend this to everyone that wants to try something new or enjoy gymnastics. You will have the time of your life, I guarantee you.

As this year ends, I look forward to the New Year, to another 6 months at Ollerup. Meeting new people, learning more Danish, improving my gymnastics and experiencing more of the Danish way of life.

Oh and think of me as you sit back and enjoy the bbqs in the hot sun by the beach in your shorts and thongs while I freeze my ass off in the below 0 temperatures while playing in the snow (that has yet to come, we've only had very little snow. The Danes don't even call it snow, but us internationals consider it snow).
Love you all xoxo