The Beginning

And so it begins. At the moment I am a young sapling from the rural tourist valley of Door County,Wisconsin. In less than one week, I will be embarking to the other side of the world to live a year abroad in the Scandinavian landscape in Denmark. (If you were sleeping in Geography class, Denmark is the weird growth sticking off of Germany's upper region.)

So to get all the standard information out of the way:

Name: Shelby Kahr
From: Ellison Bay, Wisconsin, United States
Going to: Denmark
When: 5 days
Duration: about 11 months
Program: Rotary Youth Exchange (I will be staying with 3 families)
Interests: Art, traveling, reading, eating, sleeping, watching Milo & Otis
Nervous: yes.
Why Denmark: I love the Scandinavian culture and was drawn to explore my Danish heritage. Plus I REALLY like Salty Licorice. That may have been the biggest factor in my decision making process. 

My original environment can be classified as rural. Growing up, I endured the hour long bus ride to school where I was often overcome by bus smells and spitballs. I've gone to school with same 50 kids since kindergarten and the closest reach to American civilization is an hour away in the town (city by my standards) of Sturgeon Bay, home to our beloved Super Walmart. The town I'm going to in Denmark is 15 minutes away from Copenhagen and 30 minutes away from Sweden. This modern accessibility is mind-boggling by my standards and fills me with excitement. 

I've been relishing my last few days with packing, visiting with friends, and overall laziness knowing that soon my brain would be exploding with culture shock and inaccurate danish translations. Just the other day I visited the county fair with my friends. I was comforted by the sights and smells of animal manure and heart attack-inducing fried goods. It was at the very top of the Ferris wheel that I could spy the humble glow of the Super Walmart just across strip mall stretch. It's neon lights reminded me of the home I was leaving behind  while readying for my adventure ahead. While the cheese, Midwestern friendliness, and ubiquitous Packer memorabilia will be sorely missed, I am looking forward to my new Scandinavian home 4,188 miles away.  

Typical day in Wisconsin. (Family Portrait)