Playing catch-up, and 9 Simple Goals:

I had intended to continue my previous post, but was unfortunately interrupted by dinner, a shower, and say...a flight or two and four days in Copenhagen. So a lot has changed.

While I will in fact do some reporting on what has happened the past few days, first: a continuation and completion of the last post.

One of my biggest faults as a person is my tendency towards being hypercritical and judgmental; I am not the easiest person to be around sometimes. With this in mind, I consciously tried to avoid having too many lofty expectations for Copenhagen. I often make the mistake of envisioning the future in idealistic, unattainable ways, so that by the time the present rolls around, I am again disappointed. This has been more or less the way things have progressed for me -- a cycle of hopes and disappointments -- the most obvious exception being the past eight months (and, more realistically, the past three years -- I can't really complain), which far exceeded anything I could have ever hoped for.

So, perhaps my luck has been changing (or I've been growing wiser, but probably not), but I still didn't want to build my anticipation of Copenhagen too much. For most of the past year, this has worked well -- I had barely thought about it at all. Of course, subconsciously, the expectations were there. After all, I was going to a country known for cutting edge architecture, sustainability, socialism, beer, and beautiful women -- Mike's wet dream, in other words. In retrospect, my expectations were again unattainably high, but I tried to put a damper on them as much as possible. That said, here are my quick, simple, and easily-attainable goals for the semester:

1) Return home with a hot Danish bride. Qualified applicants should also be smart, athletic, and not annoying. It's day four, and while I have spotted some possibilities pass by me on bicycles, I'm still searching. Outlook: not good.
2) Lose 5 - 25 pounds. I don't have a number in mind, but this could be read more accurately as "get healthy again." With the combination of soccer four days a week, walking a couple miles a day, and cooking for myself, this could be possible. Outlook: encouraging.
3) Learn Danish. I learned a couple phrases yesterday. If I continue at this rate, I'm sure I'll know the language in...several...years. Outlook: unrealistic.
4) Drink lots of beer. It's really a wonder I haven't accomplished this already. This may also conflict with goal number two. Outlook: assured.5) Travel extensively. This will happen, sooner or later, but as I am now struggling merely with traveling around Copenhagen itself, it will have to wait. Outlook: reasonable.
6) Become a soccer player again. The team I'm playing for is a great opportunity, so with practices Tuesdays and Thursdays and a game or two a week, I should have my game back in no time. Outlook: favorable.7) Become a soccer fan. I don't have a TV, but I assume that if I hang out with the right people and in the right places (bars, probably), I should be able to get into the Euro game. Outlook: uncertain.
8) Become a Europhile, but not in a stereotypical, tacky way. Keep it subdued. I'm waiting a few more weeks before rushing into the purchase of several sweaters, skinny jeans, and a single speed bike. Oh, hell, that's not very subdued, is it? Outlook: questionable.9: Enjoy myself. Outlook: Too early to call.