Love Letter to My Host Family

Mange tak og vi ses (So many thanks and see you!)

“Dorthe is going to cry so much when you leave…”

– Taylor, about Dorthe

As I prepare to say goodbye to my host family who transformed my time in Copenhagen, I wanted to write a letter of thanks.

Dear John, Dorthe, Felix and Freja,

Words don’t do justice how much you positively influenced my time in Copenhagen! But I’ll try anyway. Before I got on the plane to travel to Denmark, I was nervous and uncertain about what my four months abroad would look like. I even considered “missing” my flight! But one thing especially convinced me to get on my flight. And that was your warm welcome via email and FaceTime. I was sold. 

And my first impression couldn’t have been more correct! You have been incredibly generous, overtly warm and caring, wildly accommodating and more than I could have ever asked for. You have gone above and beyond to make Vanløse feel like home, and that makes it all the harder to leave!

To John, I’ll miss training for a spontaneous half marathon and our casual conversations in the kitchen. I’ll miss Friday walks to “Slikland” and watching football on the tele. I’ll miss your joyous laughter and a dozen bagels magically appearing in the pantry overnight. But more than anything, I’ll miss your jovial “woohoo” and your reassuring “take it easy”.

To Dorthe, I’ll miss our discussions about life and faith and love. I’ll miss your commitment to punctuality and laughing about how I couldn’t lock the front door. I’ll miss your gentle teasing about my caramel coffee and my messy room, and your sweet concern making sure I’m not too homesick. But more than anything, I’ll miss your motherly hugs when you come home after a long day of work.

To Freja, I’ll miss balling up on the “court” in the backyard and losing to you in Fifa. I’ll miss your sheepish grin that would appear when we would beat up Felix together. But more than anything, I’ll miss the moments when you would offer me treats in English.

And to Felix, I’ll miss your insistent “Vel?” at the dinner table, not wanting to be left out of any of my stories. I’ll miss your attempts to escape the dinner table that ended in us wrestling on the floor. I’ll miss our “Du er en hunde” games in the back of the car. But more than anything, I’ll miss the way you said “yeah, tak” when you beat me at Fifa.

My life has changed because I’ve met you, and I promise that I’ll take a part of you with me back to the states!

Mange tak, jeg elsker dig, og vi ses!