But restlessness has seized me now, it’s true

Well, so begins a blog about my life and times in Denmark. But because I like to get a jump start on things (that’s actually at least partially a lie, I’m a pretty bad procrastinator), I’m going to start my blog while still in the United States (which I already refer to as “The States” because I feel like that’s a more worldly thing to do). It’s a little bit silly, but I stand by my decision.

A brief run-down, for the curious and uninitiated: starting January 18th, I will be living in Copenhagen, taking classes at the Danish Institute for Study Abroad and living with a host family (I don’t know who they are yet). This will be my first experience away from the North American continent. I’m very excited, but clearly in over my head. Considering I’ve never set foot in a land that did not have English as a primary language, this will be intimidating, and I’m sure one of my early blog posts will include me shamefully confessing an incident in which I yelled “I’M AN AMERICAN! I DON’T SPEAK DANISH! HELP ME FIND A BUS STATION!” at some friendly Dane. But largely, I welcome the challenge.

The title of the blog, Learning to Bike, comes from the fact that Copenhagen has a transportation infrastructure that really promotes bicycle use (that last sentence should signal to the reader that I like public policy. Be warned). Apparently, it’s one of the most effective ways to get around the city. But the problem is, I am not a very good bike rider. I can peddle around a suburban community and keep pace with friends, but I think my most strenuous bike ride was this one time in eighth grade when Sam Ostrow and I biked about six miles (round trip) to a convenience store. This hardly makes me an urban cyclist. But I want to embrace the experience as much as I can, so this means I will try to adapt to biking around a city, going over cobblestone roads on two narrow wheels.  So I will be learning how to bike like a champion in my time abroad.

I am full of hope for what lies ahead, and I know I’ll adjust soon enough (but seriously, I’m glad I picked an Anglo-friendly nation). So I warmly invite you, dear reader, to follow the adventures (and misadventures) of a college student (and policy wonk) as he navigates foreign lands.

p.s. post title comes from Belle and Sebastian’s “Asleep on a Sunbeam”.