I signed up for Danish class! Strategically, Spanish or Portuguese would be more “useful” because of the sheer number of Danes that speak English, but I think the greatest way I can respect a country is through the process of trying to learn their language. Am I going to forget everything as soon as I come back? Yes. But the process of trying garners more room for respect in my mind.
There’s that.
Today, well yesterday now, my SIM card plan expired. No internet. Which means I?ll be lost again. It?s okay, I?m used to it. Sometimes it?s fun. Like when I found a white-tailed deer. They?re not supposed to be active in the harsh winter, so I was lucky. Also, where I was, I could?ve just as easily been eaten by a wolf, but? I was lucky. Why didn?t I top it up? Well, when I went into 7-11 where I got the card from, the guy told me I had to repurchase a new card every month. ?Wait that?s not how SIM cards work?, I argued, ?I?ve never bought a SIM card like that?. I showed him my plan and even my receipt; he shook his head and assured me I needed a new card. A new number. I mean, I?m not a phone plan (or anything) expert, but I know people don?t change their numbers every month, even when the plan is for foreigners. Confused, I headed out to grab my textbooks at an electronic store.
I miss Prime. Amazon, where?s your next expansion effort located? S *my* S here. I need a foolproof method. These textbooks technically only took a week, but I was dumb and kept waiting for the?textbook?company to text me the number I needed to grab it when all along it was the?shipping company who already texted me but I ignored it- it?d been half a month by the time I got it. Without data, I couldn?t check anything. ?Is there a way you can look up??. ?That?s not my job? he interrupted. I?ll figure it out later, I sighed. Confused, I headed out to meet a friend.
Her apartment made me rethink what I?ve been doing with my life. She was paying less, had a gym, a music room, amazing architecture, incredible interior design, and with online class, being located away from school wasn’t a huge issue. It?s okay, I have some doves that hang out around my window sometimes. and a garage door across the street that wakes me up at night. Construction noise every day. Nice. One thing I do love – hearing all the laughter coming from the daycare when the weather?s nice.
When we walked into their open, spacious, elegantly designed kitchen (trademark of Danish society – even the most plain-looking exterior involves thoughtfully designed interiors), someone was already there, toasting bread.
?what are your plans for today?? she asked casually.
?absolutely?nothing,? he declared, ever so confidently.
My mouth dropped open? ?Ruby, you good?? they asked.
I snapped out of it, covered my awkwardness up with a laugh, ?Yeah, yeah, sorry?, and smiled.
What shocked me, was his confidence in what he was saying. Absolutely nothing.?Absolutely nothing. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! It wasn?t that I?ve never not done nothing- believe me, I?ve had my fair share of ?absolutely nothings? (I procrastinate. I?ve never been efficient. I?m still trying to learn how to manage my time); I was SO guilty about them, hated myself SO much when it happened, and never PLANNED for nothing before. I?ve never declared it so boldly- because if I ever did, I wouldn?t be able to trick myself into thinking ?I?ll do ___ as soon as I ___?.
My first thought: wow, you are too cool.
My second thought: wow, I am so behind.
My thoughts afterwards: He must be SO fulfilled in who he is, SO satisfied in the work he?d already done, that doing nothing wasn?t a problem for a day.
what do I have to do to get to that point in my life?