A Song For Our Brothers

One of the details about my trip to Denmark that had been floating in the shadowy unknown has been unveiled this evening: I finally heard from my host family! Granted, I found out at the appropriate time–the DIS program told me that I would hear from them ten days before my departure, so technically the family is even a bit ahead of schedule. (Which highlights the shocking fact that I leave for Denmark in eleven days) I like the thought that the family is on top of things like this–it will hopefully compensate for my initial difficulties getting by in a foreign nation, and especially getting by outside the city.

I’m excited to be living outside of the city, as I like the thought that I have a place to escape to, rather than going to sleep to the sounds of traffic (bikes make noise too). However, living outside the city raises questions for me–are the suburbs as navigable as the city? Is the transportation between the city and the suburbs reliable and efficient? What are the differences between suburban culture and urban culture? I should clarify that these are questions, not fears. I don’t think I’ll approach Danish suburbs like I approach the bedroom communities and McMansion housing complexes that I see in the suburban U.S. (that is, with open scorn).

But enough talk of the place. What of the people? The family sounds lovely–my host parents have four sons, two of whom live with them. And based on their e-mail, they speak very good English (so check off one of my bigger fears) The thing that excites me the most about living with the family is that they have two sons who are younger than I am. For the first time in my life, I get to be an older brother. I am very excited about this, but I don’t quite know what to expect. I don’t know what the dynamics will be like, but I hope to be able to spend time with them. Actually, I think I’ll stop reflecting on this topic. There are far too many unknowns to try to comprehend to possibly make any forward thought on the matter, but I like that. I want to be surprised and unsure and left guessing. If a quiet sense of terror and dread in otherwise friendly circumstances (those being the suburbs of Copenhagen) doesn’t build character and make for good blogging material, I don’t know what will.

p.s. post title is a spin-off of an Explosions In The Sky song, “A Song For Our Fathers.”