My life in Bozeman makes up a great duality of studying and late nights at the library on the weekdays followed by exploring and going to the mountains on the weekends.
Running out of sidewalk is not uncommon in the land of cars
Monday through Friday, I rarely leave campus as it functions like its own little city with dorms, dining halls, medical services, and a bowling alley.
Honoring our European traditions with beers in the grass despite local drinking laws
The American college system upholds a great workload during the semester and weekly assignments (us exchange students joke about burnout as we stay up past quiet hours in our dorm to do homework) which keeps me pretty busy during the week.
One alternative to go camping on the weekends is attending frat parties
When the weekend comes around, campus gets deserted as students go to the mountains. During my first week, I (somewhat) jokingly said a goal of mine was to go hiking every weekend during my stay. Now, that has pretty much come true.
Backpacking at Lake Plateau, Beartooth Mountains
Montana is the third least populated state after Alaska and Wyoming, and the open space and isolation is both freeing and claustrophobic at the same time.
Nicknamed Big Sky Country, it is known for its wildness and beauty. I already got to see a little piece of this 3.5 years ago on a road trip.
If we hadn't stopped for coffee in Bozeman back then, I probably would have skipped over Montana State University on the list of places to go on exchange.
Hiking in Hyalite in the Gallatin range
Bozeman
is situated in a flat bowl surrounded by mountains. Northeast, we have the Bridgers, then the Gallatins down south, and finally the Tobacco Roots out west.
Hitchhiking in Hyalite
To explore these areas, you have to get creative when you don't have a car. Hitchhiking turned out to be extremely easy when you want to go to the mountains on a sunny Saturday morning.
By the Madison river
It was also a great way to meet locals and make friends. Still, it is pretty nice to know someone with a car.
Especially when that car is a truck. Riding in the back of one of those American monsters was a fun thing to cross off the to-do list.
Waking up slowly at Wade Lake
Closer to home, we have Peet's Hill. A 20 minute walk from campus, it offers a pretty spectacular view of Bozeman and the surrounding mountains.
Summer on Peet's Hill
Apart from giving a much-needed break from studying on a busy Wednesday, it's also a great place to have a picnic and watch the sunset.
Hiking in the Bridgers
Still, we do find ways to ejoy life at lower altitudes (you just don't tend to take as many pictures of that as when you're on top of a mountain).
Blowing away on Sacagawea Peak
Though a small town, Bozeman offers a lively bar and coffee scene.
We also indulge in local culture by going to church events, country dances, and the rodeo, and even though we like to joke about the dining halls, they're still a highlight of the day.
The Rendevous Dining Pavilion has to be one of the places in which I've laughed the most, and I think all of us exchange students agree that those shared meals are going to be some of the moments we'll remember best when all of this is over.
(Though having a beer on top of a mountain is also quite the memorable moment).
I'm starting to have trouble figuring out what to say.
Post-hike swim in Fairy Lake
A thousand things have happened but also nothing happens at all. This is just everyday life now (for a few more weeks at least).
Fall on Peet's Hill
Watching the seasons change on Peet's Hill, we've become spoiled by the beauty that surrounds us though we still squal every time we see a new mountain.
The sunset from Jackson Pass
It's hard to miss Copenhagen when road trips have become a weekend staple, when taking literature and creative writing classes is more interesting than my actual major, and when dining hall food is more advanced and nuanced than what I'm used to making myself as a lazy student.
Delta Lake, Grand Teton National Park
Then again, I do (somehow) miss doing my own dishes.
Looking over Sacagawea Peak from Pomp Peak in the Bridgers
Though dorm life can feel limiting at times, the American sense of adventure is liberating. Emma (another Danish exchange student and probably the most prominent person in my photos) and I have agreed to try and bring this back to Denmark with us.
On top of Storm Castle in the Gallatins
Despite the hustle culture, people still find time to nurish their passions, chase experiences and memories on the weekends and share them with others.
Campus sunset
Settling into American culture has been a fun and gratifying treat.
Hiking down from Beehive Lake
We like to give the US a hard time in Europe.
Having some fun at Spanish Lakes
Luckily, one still did. Showing Bozeman to a friend from Denmark made me appreciate it that much more.
Technically fall but really summer on Peet's Hill (Thursday)
In spite of its flaws (don't we all have them?), my unintentional love for the US remains intact and I stand by the statement that Americans are some of the most friendly, helpful, and kind people I've ever met.
Winter on Peet's Hill (Monday). Mathilde got to experience three seasons during her week-long visit
As snow and winter cover Bozeman, the hiking and backpacking season is comming to an end, and so is my semester abroad.
Hiking (at Beehive Basin) in the snow is still possible
I'm excited to go back to my life in Copenhagen but I also don't want to leave. Oh the sweet sting of creating home in multiple places.
I guess we were bound to experience a flat tire eventually with all this driving
Montana, you have a little piece of my heart (and a small part of my skin).
Norris Hot Springs (that is frost in our hair)