Singing to the Prince of Denmark

Written by Olivia Way

We boarded the overnight bus, all of us a little out of breath from running to find the right exit in the endless Stockholm train station. The bus was already filled with travelers, most of them looked to be about our age; twenty somethings in search of an adventure that does not cost a fortune to find.  

Vasiliki was the leader of the group. Fearless and determined to find her way. She led us forward and we collapsed into bus seats that stank of past travelers.  

Yui is the sunshine that keeps us bright. Everything is astounding and worth celebrating. She is a good friend to travel with; even the most mundane becomes beautiful.  

Then there is me, I will call myself the narrator, and that is all I will say.  

We had a three-day weekend off from school at Södertörn University where all of us where stationed as exchange students for the spring semester. Vasiliki was my roommate, and Yui lived down the hall. We congregated in the kitchen every day and experienced the wet winter cold that Stockholm offered up to us with open hearts and cold hands. The long nights spent dancing in the kitchen to K-Pop and techno had bonded us together in ways that only we know.  

And alas it was finally spring. So naturally-naturally- we had the itch to see the world we had been living in. Scandinavia was blooming, thawed out and golden.  

Denmark was on the horizon. A short ten-hour bus ride from Stockholm. Cheaper than a flight and holding the feeling of untapped potential and rogue adventure; the kind of story you would see in a grungy teen flick. You know the type. 

The bus ride passed smoothly. I did not realize that Sweden and Denmark were so close together until we had begun the short drive over a long bridge from here to there. The first mission was to get a donut and some coffee for breakfast to power us through our day trip. 

The city was busy and old and filled with new people. We gazed in wonder at most things, Vasiliki leading us to the city center. 

Then a strange thing happened. There was a commotion inside the gates of the palace. All three of us looked at each other, shrugged, and made our way to the courtyard. People were gathered inside, and the royal guard watched from the shadows of the court. Poised in perfect stances and stoic in their unwrinkled uniforms.  

We still did not know what was happening, other than that the crowd was cheerful and waiting for something.  

Then it happened. The Prince of Denmark and his family stepped out onto the balcony high above the crowd. We cheered and then the crowd began to sing. We swayed with the crowd and joined the celebration. 

Somehow, we realized, it is the Prince’s birthday and the citizens of Denmark had come to sing to him. Prince Frederik, the Crown Prince of Denmark celebrated his 50^th birthday on May 26, 2018. And we were there to witness the celebration! 

Sometimes adventure finds its way into your life, and you should let it take you where it will.