Countdowns

I've always had a weird relationship with countdowns, because it can often distract you from enjoying what you're actually going through, as you might be only focusing on the upcoming date. I have however decided to use it as a motivater and as a way to remind myself to live every day of my exchange to the fullest - because time is seriously running out!

I have 50 days left.
That also equals about 1200 hours or 72000 minutes, and when you say it like that, it does actually sound like a long time. But even as I'm writing this, time is ticking away, and tomorrow I will only have 7 weeks left. 7 weeks?! Where did the 43 weeks, I came here with, go? How did I already spend over 83 % of my entire exchange?
My exchange year, my second life in Scotland from 2013-2014, has and still is the best year of my life (so far). It has been a year, I've saved up for and looked forward to for several years, and I honestly couldn't believe that it was actually going to happen, when I sat on the airplane to Scotland oh so many days ago, and now I can't believe that it's coming to an end.
I remember sitting with my friend last year around this time, talking about how only a year from now we would be leaving our host country - it seemed so far away! Yet here I am, 251 days worth of memories and learning experiences richer, and only with 50 days left until it's all over. If that's not motivating to go out and do something to enjoy my last days, then I don't know what is!

251 days adds up to about 68 % of one year, and while that does sound like a lot of time to spend from home (and I remember how I realised how long 10 months is when I came here), it honestly has flown past. Of course there has been days, where I've felt like school just never would come to an end or I've felt sad or down and haven't enjoyed my day to the fullest, but honestly, when I looked back on it all one or two weeks after, I couldn't believe how fast it all went anyways, and how much I actually enjoyed it, though having some bad days once in a while.
Because as my very smart friend Sanna once said, when you return to your home country and look back on your exchange, it's not the bads days, you remember, but instead it's all the amazing stuff, that did happen while you were there, which you look back on and smile.
Because when I look back to the previous years, the years I spend in Denmark, and compare them to this exchange year, I can't believe how much I've done in Scotland in only 68 % of one.
Because as an exchange student, you have this unstoppable will and desire to experience and enjoy every single day of your exchange, because you - unlike when you're home, where time seems to go so slow and everything can seem so unending - are constantly aware that you are only here, in the country you always wanted to live in, for a very limited amount of days, and you will have to say goodbye to the amazing friends, you always hoped to meet, very soon.
That is one of the many things and changes, I hope to take home with me to Denmark in 50 days, now a few minutes less. I hope to enjoy every day in Denmark like I have done in this exchange year and to experience, explore and enjoy all the places around me, that I had taken for granted in Denmark before.

I wasn't really sure where to go with this post, other than to remind you guys, but also myself, that time is always running out. I don't mean that in a negative way, not at all actually, but more as a reminder to enjoy everything while you can! I still have over 16,5 % of my exchange left, 50 days, and I intend to make the best out of them - I still have so many more memories to obtain!