Reggaeton, Anniversarry, terror and my birthday and showing off arms.

It's amazing how times seems to go by so fast this summer. So much has happened since the last time I blogged 15 days ago. So many good things has happened, but bad things also took place within this short period of time.

Saturday, July 16th., I started off the day, by going to an early zumba class at the new gym. In the evening, I went to a reggaeton class by Karelia, who's a former world champion in salsa with her dance partner Marek. This is the type of reggaeton she was teaching. Not quite the same, but something similar.

There was so many people there, as the couple had just been teaching a salsa class. A lot of sweaty and smelly men was there, but hey... Danish men dancing, is not something you will see every day, so more power to them! :) Reggaeton was at the "Havana Nights" club. I like the place and the people, but for someone like me, who never danced with a partner, I can't join their many dance classes. But reggaeton does not require a dance partner, which is why I like to come for those.

The following week, I was too busy for zumba, but I did join the sals class Wednesday evening.

Thursday, my brother and my uncle stopped by my work. We had to create a long door wreath for my parents anniversarry the next day. Yes, planning the anniversarry is what has kept me busy ever since I returned from my vacation. After work, me and my brother drove to my parents' summer home, where the party would be held in a party tent the next day. We helped with the decorations, tested out the stereo and in the end, before leaving, we wrapped the windows in silver foil, to avoid my parents peeping out, when my aunt and uncle would be hanging up the door wreath early in the morning. My brother and I arranged for some musicians to accompany us with some songs, to wake up our parents, as the tradition calls for here in Denmark. Sadly, not many couples stay together to last a 25th. anniversarry, so I never attended one before.

Waking up my parents went according to the plan. 25 family members showed up at 7 o'clock to wake them up.

The party was a huge succes. Although it was raining the entire day, we all had a great time and kept dry in the tent. Only at one point, late in the evening, a major shower hit in and we had to turn up the volume of the stereo, which of couse, caused a bad fuse or something. The stereo died. Luckily me and my brother were able to connect another stereo and the party could go on.

At one point, I checked the news page from my iphone and read about the bomb in Norway, thinking it was probable one crazy man's work. Maybe he got fired from his job and wanted to put the blame on something. It's happened before, that people do crazy things when they lose their job or wellfare money. Well, little did I know of the crazy injustice that was realy taking place in Oslo, Norway. But when the last guests had gone home and we decided to leave the mess in the tent for the next day, we read on text tv, about the many people being shut at Utøya and was in dispair. The next morning we all saw the special news all morning. It was awful. So heartbreaking to hear the survivors talk about what had happened. Yes, I did get tears in my eyes. I was sure it had more to do about religion that politics. It's true what they say. When being among other people, never talk about politics or religion as it will always cause drama. This guy could not keep his mouth shut and let to terror in the end. This kind of terror, I would describe as opposite terror. He didn't do it to harm people of a different religion. He did it to open up the eyes of the people he was harming. His own people. People who shared his religion, yet not his political point of view. So sad!

Back to something positive. Wednesday this week, I joined the salsa class again. Although we're still not a full group there, I know that more people will show. In fact, I saw 3 new faces there already.

Thursday was my birthday, and as always, I took the day off. I went shopping in town for a bit. Treated myself to sluch ice at 7/11 and strawberry milkshake at Mc Doalds. Things I only do on special occasions. Mc Donald is just across the street from where I lived for the past 15 years, yet I only go there once or twice a year. In the afternoon I went on a ride with my parents and my 2 grand mothers. We usualy have a big party at the summer home, but since everyone was just there for the anniversarry. This year I had no party. Instead we went to a small beach town and had coffee and cake.

I just sent invitations for my friends to come celebrate my birthday with a "Pink Party" on August 20th. It's been hard to find a date that would suit everybody, but I hope I nailed it.

Today I attened a special zumba event at the "Havana Nights" club. An instructor couple had come to town and in a effort to teach some zumba while they were in town, they came to the club. Sadly, in the summer period, it's hard to fill up a class. We were suppose to be 20, but only 7 showed. We had a blast and I sweat so much. I don't know if it's because I put so much energy into my movements or if it's because the other people don't put any energy in it. I think I was the only zumbanista there, apart from the female zumba instructor who's due date is in 3 weeks. He husband is from Cuba, which showed. He took over whenever his wife with the big belly needed a rest. They were realy nice and came over to talk with us before and after the class. I'll write down their names here, so I won't forget. You never know when they show up on a big poster ;) I give Santiago Sotolongo Lomba and Louise thumbs up for their zumba :) Btw. I always use http://www.zumba.com/ to look up information on the instructors I see.. Just a hint.

I talked with the female instructor about the lack of quailfied instructors. We agreed that the best instructors are those who used to teach dance and not aerobics/ gymnastics.. Cause Zumba is all about dancing while doing the work out moves.. Which reminds me! I'm very proud of myself. Today, for the first time ever, I wore my "Crazy Happy" zumba t-shirts without the usual 3/4 sleeve underneath. I'm finaly ready to show my arms, although they still scream "Bingo arms" - after one year of doing zumba, the bingo arms have vanished to almost nothing. Next goal is, to make me feel good enough to wear the racer back tops. That won't happen any time soon, but as long as there is zumba, there is hope :)

Wake up and smell the ZOEGAs coffee!

Before I left to NYC, Buzzador contacted me to say I had been invited to test the new coffee brand called "Molegas." It's funny. I loved being in NYC where you can buy a coffee on any corner. In Montreal it was very hard to find a decent coffee. I found myself buying instant coffee as that seemed to be the only coffee the people in Montréal knew about. It was horrible. I use the term "Camping coffee" when I talk about instant coffee.

Coming home with a jetlag, and lack of decent coffee, it was a thrill to find the Buzzador package in the mail.

It came with tests that I'll be handing out to my friends and family. Today it's raining and I decided to taste the ZOEGAs Imprezio today. I have something special in mind for the Espeziale coffee, as we have a big event coming up in my family early next Friday. I'll make sure to tell you more about it later.

I decided to enjoy the coffee using my new, vintage, china.

As always, I add just a tat bit of milk to my coffee. When people ask me if I take milk with my coffee, I always reply "just a bit for the coziness."

While brewing the coffee, I noticed the coffee fragrant being spread out in my entire apartment right away. The first Friday after my vacation, sofa, blanket, tv and loads of coffee. Yes, sometimes coffee can brighten up your day.

The coffee has a lovely taste, which is probably why it also has the lovely fragrant. It's a dark coffee, and with something sweet like a cookie or cake on the site, I believe it brings out the flavors even more.

So what are you waiting for. Wake up and smell the coffee ;)

If you want to join Buzzador, just click on this link and join the fun of buzzing something new

https://www.buzzador.com/buzzador/index.php?file=u-regstep1&lang=DK&refstr=CKaroline

(If you want to know more before signing up, click the link below)
Hvis du vil vide mere inden du bestemmer dig, kan du klikke på dette link:
http://www.buzzador.com/?refstr=CKaroline&lang=DK

I know the Imprezion coffee is gonna be my best friend when I wake up early tomorrow morning. I signed up for 2 morning zumba classes at the new gym. I have to take a train at 8:12 to be there on time. That means I have to get up before 7. And not to mention the 3 upcoming weeks where I have to get up before 5 to get to work, as my usual ride has the time off for those 3 weeks. Oh joy. I'm sure the coffee will be my best friend! No wonder they say Danes are the most coffee drinking people in the world, after the Finish people.

I've been to New York & Montréal

I apoligise for the lack of updates lately, but I've had a few things to deal with. All good, thank God.

To start with the most recent. I just got back from a trip to NYC and Montreal. It was awesome. The main goal for the trip was... Shopping, of course. It's been 10 years since I last was there, so I also took the trip as an aniverssary trip. Last time I was there, the WTC were still standing, but 1½ month later, was 9/11/2001. I'm so thankful that I had returned home safely. Especialy since I was flying from Logan air port in Boston, which was also where the 9/11/ planes took off from. A Bostonian actualy told me at the time, that Logan airport had so much bad karma, that something bad always happened. We did have a minor problem when taking off, as my friend seemed to have been checked in as another friend, whom had already left on an earlier flight. Anyway, I'm thankful to have been without any further problems.

We saw all the tourist sights such as Times Square, Central Park, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, The Statue of Liberty, China Town. We also went to a mall in Queens, went shopping in Harlem and many more places.

I was hoping to bring home some new zumba sneakers, but a vist to both Sansha and Capezio, didn't leave to any purchase. I did find a few cute dance tops. One of them reads "I live for dancing." :) I will post a picture later.

While being in NYC, we also went to see Macy's big 4th. of July firework. It was awesome. 1 show would've been enough, but because they were doing it on the Hudson river, they had 7 firework displays and we could see all of them. It was awesome.

We stayed at a brand new hotel that had just opened in the beginning of June. The Yotel hotel. It was only a few blocks away from Times Square. We stayed at the 15th. floor with a great view. I recommend the hotel to anyone going to NYC.

July 1st. I made sure to go buy something very special on-line. The ultimate zumba experience was being put up for sale that day. Mr. Zumba himself, Beto Perez will be having a zumba master class in my country. It is so cool that he is actualy coming to my small country!! I'm so excited. I feel that zumba has changed my life and always wanted to grab the opportunity of meeting him once I had the chance. Well, it's coming! October 1st. I will join his master class in the capital of Denmark. Funny thing is. October 1st. is also my zumba instructor's birthday. I know that he will not be in Denmark at that time, as he's moving to Brazil in September. But hey, what great way to honor him, right? Beto, Zumba and me having a party on my instructor's birthday :)

After NYC, we took a train to Montreal to spend a couple of days there as my friend was attending two U2 concerts. I spend the time shopping and having a look around the city. Well, I didn't see much of the city as I was already tired from the week in NYC. I also went to see the Bio Dome one day, as I love animals. I loved it. I know it was not exotic animals, although they did have a small section with animals from the rain forest, but most of the animals were animals you can find in the various climates of the world. I saw animals that I never saw in any zoo before. Such a great experience! 

I didn't catch much sleep on the way home to Denmark. After a long trip abroad with many things to think back on, I just couldn't sleep on the plane ride home. Instead I killed some time watching "Black Swan" - the movie I was too scared to watch at the movies. I hate scary movies, but by watching it from the seat of the plane, I was able to look at the passenger in front of me's movie, so it was a pleasent way to both kill time and watch a scary movie. Afterwards I watched something crazy as "Gnomeo & Juliet."

As I got back home, I decided to see if I could avoid jetlag, by staying awake till night time. I thought I succeded, but then, then following night, I could only sleep for 1 hour and I was very tired at work. I still feel a bit tired, but hopefuly the jetlag will be over with this week-end.

Reggaeton and Salsa as substitute for Zumba!

Saturday, June 11th., me and 3 other women from Zumba, decided to meet up at one of the women's place, before going to the "Ladies Night" at a Salsa Club in town. They had a woman teaching Reggaeton from 9-10 PM. It was my first time there, as I always saw the club as a club that only had couples dancing. Well, because of the Ladies Night, there were no couples in sight to begin with. In fact, we were the only women there, except for 2 of my latin mix instructors, who came over and said hi. When we were about 10 women there, the reggaeton instructor called us over to begin the class. It was great fun. I love reggaeton music and some of the steps she taught us, I'm always using when going clubbing.. Only when I go clubbing and do things freestyle, I have no idea if the steps and moves I use, have an actual name. It was great fun. While we were dancing, more and more women joined in and it was fun to see how our small line got longer and longer, as we were moving from one end of the dance floor, to the other. Well, there were free cocktains for the women from 10-11 PM and I did manage to get two cocktails withing that time. The bartenders were way too slow to maintain the bar, if you ask me. Normaly, when you go to have a drink in the clubs in town, you usualy get a shot of Barcardi mixed with sprite.. Those drinks only take 1 minute to mix for the bartenders. At the salsa club, the bar was so crowded, that it took you 15 minutes just to get close to the bar, then it took the bartender 15 minutes to create a Mojito or a Strawberry Daquiri. I think it will do the club better justice, if they start mixing the same drinks all other clubs are serving. After the 2 cocktails, the club was getting crowded and people were starting to dance on the dance floor, like they would do at any other club. This night was special, as they played all of my favorite music. Reggaeton mixed with r&b and hip hop. If they play this kind of music every weekend, I asure you, that I will be coming back and bringing my girlfriends some time.However, I see them broadcasting the place as a Salsatek normaly, and that will not make me come. The club has 2 dance floors, that is used for teaching dance during the afternoons, that turns into Salsatek/ Night club in the evenings. That evening, they would play Salsa at one of the dance floors and my favorite music at the other. It was amazing. Although the two dance floors were almost conected, you could not hear the music that was played at the other dance floor, which created two different atmospheres in the same bar. Amazing, if you ask me. The women that I was there with, were all 10 years older than me, but they didn't mind letting loose and dancing to the music with me. So I'm now at an age, where I can go out clubbing with people that are 10 years younger or older than myself. I love it! Only bummer was, that the women wanted to go home very early. So we left the club at 12.30 AM.

Monday our instructor was back, to inform us, that he would not be back till August. We already knew that he would be doing another job from June 24th. untill August. He did the same last year. I'm not sure what that job is, but he might be performing with a band or doing dance workshops abroad. Yes, he's a famous man, so we have to share him with the world. It's fine. I'm still very honoured to have had him for zumba for a year. Not many people can brag with having a so talented instructor like he is. Everyone knows who he is. If you tell them you have a Brazlian zumba instructor, they will all know who you're talking about, and most of them are jealous. Anyway, the reason why he would be away for the rest of the week, was not the job abroad, but a job at the Royal ballet. They have a performance today and needed him to be there to help them adjust some details all week. Well, we had 2 hours outdoor zumba Monday. Just as we were in the middle of our stretch out, it started raining, and we all ran under a roof to finish off. We were so lucky that the rain didn't kick in while we were doing zumba. It had been dust raining for a bit, though, but we were fine. However, the ground became more and more slippery towards the end, but we had no injurys at all. After the stretch out, we were talking for 5-10 minutes. The instructor wanted us to think about what he has taught us, for when we have to go out and find a new place to do zumba in the future. There are good instructors that will inform you about what shoes to wear, what to do to avoid injurys etc., and there are bad instructors, who end up with injurys themselves, cause they have no knowledge at all on how to maintain a healthy and fit body. I feel that because of my instructor I'm now capeable of taking care of my own body. I know what to do, if an instructor is trying to put my weak ankles in a bad position and so on. I know how to use a little more strenght and power, when doing my salsa step, to create a smalle twist on my tummy, to tone the muscles. Yes, I can do it! Now I just need to find the right place and instructor.

I've always been doing research on various zumba instructors whenever I've been out for special zumba events. But now I want to look at other gyms than the ones I know. I cannot go without zumba all summer. So in my search, I found a gym that has a lot of zumba on their schedule. They have a special 3 months summer sale, so Friday I called them up. By faith, they told me, that at 5 PM that day, they were having a free Salsa class that I was more than welcome to join as they were having an audition of an instructor. I was so happy. And when I got there, I saw the name on a poster. It turned out to be the instructor that teaches couples salsa at the salsa night club. Well, at the gym, he will be teaching salsa the zumba way. Meaning, without a partner. I always hated the fact, that all the salsa and zouk classes being taught at the club, was for couples only. Cause I always dance alone. The instructor was from Guatemala and held the class in English, which didn't seem to effect the class. He was very serious to begin with, but as he had us doing some pretty tricky steps and turns, he started to have us all laugh a lot. In the end, he brought he dance partner in, to show us 10 minutes of couple dancing. Well, I need to learn a lot more, before I can do a couple dance with anyone. When class was over, I talked with the leader of the gym, who told me that I was more than welcome to bring my other zumba friends for a free zumba class one time, now that our instructor will be leaving us soon. The salsa instructor was hired, and will be teaching salsa every Wednesday at 7:30 PM. Not the best choise for me. I already have latin mix at one gym from 4:30-5:30 PM. Then the sports arena near my home also used to teach Zumba from 5-6 PM... So unless some changes are made with the various gym schedules, I have something to think about. SIGH.

Wednesday this week, I had to cancel Latin Mix as I was going shopping with my grandma. She suffers from alzheimers in the early stages, and asked me to take her shopping for a dress to wear at my parens' 25th. anniversarry next month. Next week, I'll make sure to go to latin mix Wednesday. I know that 2 people from my zumba class will join me, along with my friend.

Time flies and new connections are made

Time is starting to run so fast. I can't believe, that in less than a month, I'll be on my trip to NYC. I know I should probably start to prepare for it, but I just haven't got around to it yet. It feels like I haven't been home much, lately. I know for a fact that my tv has not been on more than an hour for the past couple of days, which is unusual. But I like it. I love that I always had something to do!

Monday I had my usual latin mix and dance fit class. Wednesday I cancelled, so that I could go to the movies with my friend.

Thursday I went to the first outdoor zumba class. I wasn't sure which shoes to use, so I had my shape ups toners on. I found out that they were not the best choise, but I didn't feel like changing right then and there.

Friday our instructor sent a stand-in. It was a guy he talked about a lot, as he owns a salsa/ night club in town. On my way to zumba, I noticed an add for the club, saying they were having a Ladies Night, the following day. While we waited for him, I told the other women about it, and 4 of us decided to go check it out, as we talked about going before.
The stand-in instructor was not used to zumba as he mainly teaches couples salsa, but we ended up having great fun. After the first class, the gym mannagement informed us, that there would only be one class instead of two.. But we talked our way into getting the second hour as well. It was a bit of black mailing, but they let us stay if they could snap some pictures of our out door zumba class.

Saturday morning, the stand-in instructor cancelled. It might have something to do with us weating him out after the two classes the other day. Well, in the evening we went to his club for a free reggaeton class and cocktails, so it was all good. I'll write more about the club later.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Cancelled Zumba Event, friends and outdoor zumba

Monday I had my usual hour of latin mix and dance fit. This time in dance fit, my ancles were pushed to the limits again, but luckily I'm now aware of that as it happens, so I made sure to take my breaks and not over do it. Wednesday's Samba classes has turned into latin mix, so I went for a class of that.

Thursday I was suppose to attend a Zumba event in the morning, due to the Holyday. As I got to the bus stop, I realised I couldn't make it to the gym as the bus would drive on Sunday's schedule. Then I had to call up my dad and make him drive me. That resultet in me being there very early, so I took some time at the library, which is in the same building. As I wanted to sign in for zumba, I was told it had been cancelled as the instructor had just called in sick. What a bummer. In a village near by, they were trying to beat a record with as many people doing zumba at the same time, as possible. People had asked me if I would join them, but I would rather attend my usual zumba class.. Well, what a bummer. Noone wanted to go with me. Later on, I heard in the news that only a couple of hundred showed up compared to the 3000 who had signed up. I'm glad I didn't sign up, then. Too bad, though, as it seemed like a fun thing to do.

Instead I went home and prepared for going to my aun's birthday party in the afternoon.

I've spent some lovely days with friends these past couple of days, as Thursday was a Holyday and I took Friday off from work.

Looking at the gym's schedule yesterday, I noticed that my instructor now offers zumba out door on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Awesome. Here I thought zumba season had reached it's end, when it's actualy coming up with more posibilitys than before! I just hope the weather will be nice. Looking at Thursday's weather forecast, they predict rain. Oh well, I don't believe it till I see it!

Master Class wiith Nathan Blake feat. gf. Maria

I packed my bag with 2x zumba wear that following Friday.

I went to work and after that, straight to zumba. The instructor had some good news and some bad news. Well, the bad news, we already knew for a couple of months. He's moving to Brazil in September, so we will not be having him as our instructor after that. Well, my other concern had been, that zumba would be cancelled in all of June, due to a big press corps in town, following the UEFA U21 European Championship, which will be held in the city. Well, he said we would be having 2 zumba events out door during June. He also said, that he would leave for international work from June 24rd. till August. Fine by me, as the gym will be closed 2 weeks in  July for summer break, and the other 2 weeks, I'll be away on my trip to NYC and Montreal.

After zumba, I jumped on a bus, that woúld take me on a long journey, as the center of town had been shut off due to the Battle of Carnival parade. I just made it to my friends when the start of the parade hit the corner they were standing at. Perfect timing! The parade was not as spectacular as it used to be. I think the big troops know that there is a great risk of costumes breaking in the Danish summer wind´. Oh well, I saw it.

After that, I waited 1-2 hours before going to the zumba master class. The first master class was still going on, which gave me some extra time to relax, put my shoes on etc. Compared to Nathan's Master Class in October, only a few people showed up. I think it's because schedule had been pushed to a Friday, but it was perfect for me! We were about 20 people there on the floor and we gave it all we had. I think they both knew how to make us push it a little further. Someone took pictures of us, that was posted on facebook. I'm wearing my pink "Crazy Happy" Zumba top.
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/media/set/?set=a.220656584630667.69696.132302056799454
 The woman from my usual gym and zumba classes, gave me a ride home, and I was home at 11 PM.

Zumba was cancelled the next day because of the carnival. The weather was not the best. Grey and raining all morning, so I didn't go to town till after 1 PM. I like to go watch the parade, but again. They rain was putting a cooler on this year's parade. My friends met me in there, but when the parade ended, we went home to have some coffee, then dinner and finaly we decided to go see if the party was still going on. Well, at 9 pm almost everything had stopped. Everything was soaked in the rain, so we went home right away.

I will post pictures later.