Christiania, Canals, and the Beach! (a photo montage)

 

Part 1: Chrstiania

This is the bridge leading to the democratic/anarchist/hippe community known as Christiania

 

Outside a cafe

Where it started to rain, luckily we had umbrellas.

No photos are allowed on "Pusher Street" so no photographic evidence of Mary Jane in all her glory, sorry folks.

Allie and I under the umbrella waiting out the rain.

 

 

Part 2: Canal Tour

We were feelin' touristy today and decided to go down to the harbor and do a canal tour! It was a beautiful day so it worked out perfectly! The sun was out and it was great to be out on the water.

In da boat!

The famous Christian IV spire with an outside staircase, hopefully I'll get to climb it before the trip is out!

 

Enjoying the boat ride! (From Left: Me, Colleen, Joelle)

 

 

Part 3: The Beach!

Little did I know there is a sandy beach about 10min walk (2min bike ride) from my place! Today was the perfect day for a beach trip! The sun was shining and it was absolutely gorgeous!

I know it's kind of hard to see but look off at the clouds and you can see the windmills, unfortunately they are covered up by the fog, I'll have to go back on a clear day and get a good pic!

A nice little dock with a lagoon where people can swim and sun bathe!

Temperature today: 65 degrees F, yet for Danish people this is the heat of summer so naturally there were a lot of swimmers! (most of them were totally nude).

 

Vi sees! (see you later in danish) -Helen

 

Welp, Denmark is Different...

There are not surprisingly many differences between this small country in Scandinavia and the giant beasty I call home. In this post I would like to illuminate just a few of those glaring differences that I have noticed since I arrived in Denmark 10 days ago.

I would like to preface this post by saying: This is just my observation from my stay in Denmark to date. I don’t claim to have any superior knowledge of or mean to criticize Danish people or culture, etc. This is just what I have observed to be different (not better or worse) from the ways of my patriotic peers in the US of A.

#1 Kids Chillin’ Curbside

In Denmark it is not only legal, but commonly practiced, to leave your child on the street or alone while you (the adult/parent) do your thing. Danish parents will legitimately eat dinner in a café while their child waits outside occupied by a toy or on a playground. (Subsequently there are a lot of little playgrounds next to cafés). This is not at all unsafe in the country of Denmark, kidnappings are almost never, and society has just become accustomed to curbside children. But let’s be clear on one thing, dogs are taken INTO the café to eat with the family. One would never tie their dog up outside while they eat! Just the kids. There are actually documented cases of Danish families visiting New York City and trying to leave their children outside while they eat lunch and NYPD has had to tell these trusting Danes that you cannot in fact leave your toddler on the streets of NYC while you and your husband enjoy your meal.

Parents will also leave their children in line in the grocery store while they go to grab something back real quick. And I’m not talking 7-year-olds, I mean toddlers. Eighteen month olds who cannot talk yet. Said toddlers will be left alone in the grocery line for a solid 30 second to a minute just chillin’ waiting for mom to go get that extra can of beans. And the kid won’t at all look phased.

When they age a few years, children graduate to using public transportation. It is not uncommon for a group of kids (around 10-15 tykes) to be riding the bus or the metro together with only one or two teachers/guardians watching them. The bell will ring signaling they have reached their destination and the teacher will say, “Ok, everybody off the metro!” and the band of 4-year-olds will all grab hands and get off the metro with their watchers quite a few feet behind them, not in reaching distance of the kids, overseeing they have all made it off.

Another difference is that children are responsible for resolving their own conflict. If two children are fighting over a toy. Parents will sit back and say, “You have a problem with little Yakob, you two figure it out.” and as two youngsters fight to the death over a stuffed bear (probably named Rasmus), the parents just sit back and let them go at it.

Unbelievable to most Americans, I assure you I have seen all four of these things with my own eyes. That being said, I live in a very young community here on Amar, and island outside the City Center, and I have to say, considering the number of children that live in my building (it’s probably in the hundreds) I have NEVER once seen a child cry, throw a tantrum, heard a child screaming at night, or seen a parent yell at their son or daughter.

I gotta be honest…the Danes might be onto something here. There kids are immaculately behaved, responsible, and totally capable of occupying themselves for substantial periods of time.

#2 Danes tell it like it is…but really.

The Danish do not believe in false compliments in any way shape or form. It is not at all that the Danish aren’t friendly, they are extremely so. But at the same time their language is very complicated, and they don’t waste their time buffering what they have to say with pleasant small talk. Whereas Americans might approach a touchy subject with a sandwich statement:

Bread #1 “I do like the color of the dress,”

Meat “But I’m sure it‘s the right cut for you,”

Bread #2 “That’s just my opinion, if you like it you should buy it!”

Danes would get to the point and say: “That dress does not flatter your figure.”

The Danish often see American sandwich talk as over-friendly and fake, (which let’s be honest it kind of is) and prefer to stick to the point. This is also true of any sort of satire, sarcasm, or insults. Free-speech is un-harnessed here and that means that any sort of political, religious, economic, or environmental ideology is up for mockery. Where Americans tend to try and insult no one and be totally politically correct 24/7, the Danes opt for a different sort of inclusion, where they joke around with everyone.

Those are some of the big things, but here’s a list of some of the little things I’m just going to rattle off but they don’t really need an explanation. Some of these things are European and not specifically Danish but still different from ‘murica.

#3 Drinking age is 16..so kids start drinking around 14...and have a handle on their alcohol and can drink 20 year old Americans under the table around age 15.

#4 There are showers are in a lot of public bathrooms (reasoning: unknown).

#5 Danes don’t touch each other. Not during conversation, or when getting someone’s attention in line at the pharmacy, or when trying to get through a crowd, they just say “excuse me”, they don’t tap you on the shoulder. If you tap someone on the shoulder to get their attention, or pat them on the back or touch their arm during conversation, they will look at you like you’re weird.

#6 Walking in the bike lane is on par with kicking someone’s puppy.

#7 Danish students cook legitimate meals in their kitchens, like homemade stir fry and quiches, no ramen over here.

#8 There are pictures of naked people in public. I.e. art, advertisements, or even actual naked people if you’re at the beach.


Nothing like a culture shock to make you think about where you come from and why it is you value what you value, I would definitely recommend it!

Rasmus the Adventurous Bear

Today I met with my Danish Visiting Family for the first time!! The DIS Family Visiting Program is set up so that students who don’t live with a host family can still have interaction with a Danish family. I met my Danish Mommy and Brother (Elisabeth and Sebastian) today! They we so nice and took me around downtown Copenhagen to see the Little Mermaid Statue and then we went to the Tivoli which is an amusement park! Unlike six flags the Tivoli is equipped with beautiful gardens, cafes, coffee shops, candy stands, AND roller coasters. It was amazing! It was really great to finally get to meet Elisabeth and Sebastian after having only email contact. They are so fun and friendly I am so looking forward to getting to spend more time with them! Sebastian is very involved in theatre, no coincidence in that matching!

Tomorrow I have to go to the embassy to get my residence permit and then were going to Christiania with my kolleigum which should be really fun!

Colleen and I have also been watching a lot of Danish television to help us accustom our ears to Danish. Danish commercials are ridiculously hilarious everyone should google that stat! We have also become fans of the Danish reality show “Sunny Beach” easily comparable to Jersey Shore, so even though I might be in Denmark, JERZDAY lives on!!

Here is also a picture of Rasmus, a children’s comic here in Denmark, about a bear who loves pancakes and has sea adventures with his friend Pignon the penguin. It’s really adorable!!

-Helen

The Little Mermaid Statue

 My danish brother, Sebastian in front of the Little Mermaid

 

Cafe at the Tivoli

 I went on this roller coaster! Way fun!

Rasmus nomming on some pancakes

Hans Christian Anderson themed roller coaster, also very fun!

 more tivoli...

What I ate for dinner! (some sauteed mushrooms, spinach, onions with chicken and sundried tomatoes YUM)

 

A Danes Favorite Topic = American Politics

When any Dane learns I'm from Missouri....let's just say I've been asked my opinion on Todd Akin's recent comments more times than I can count. And with the election approaching Copenhagen is a buzz with excitement about the election. Talking about politics doesn't have the stigma attached as in the United States and people will ask you your opinion and who you plan to vote for in a bar as if they just asked you what time it is. It's really interesting to get the Danish perspective on American politics as Denmark is a country so focused on equality and inclusively their commentary can be harsh but hard to contradict.

Today was the first day of classes! I found my way through the city just fine! The urban campus is very different from the matching buildings of Rhodes but it is really cool to be able to walk out of class and grab a coffee and sit by the fountain surrounded by the hustle of city life. Today I had a Sociology class: Cultural Diversity and Social Capital as well as EU-US Relations. Both seem really really interesting! My EU-US Relations teacher is the former Minister of Transportation. And he bikes to class everyday...

I take the metro to school, it’s only four stops and takes minutes and then about a 5 min walk from the metro to my classes. The metro is so easy and efficient, I want to get a bike but when the metro is at my disposal and the riders aren’t as aggressive the bike argument is quickly weakened…

 

I’m really excited about this weekend! On Saturday I get to meet my Danish visiting family! They are from Allerod, a small town about 30 min outside the city. Their names are Elisabeth and Sebastian and I am so excited to meet them! They way the visiting family program works is you get a family (as I don’t have a host family) that you can visit and go to lunch with and hang out around the city to kind of get the cultural experience without doing a home stay…kinda the best of both worlds I think! Also on Sunday I go to get my Danish residence permit in the morning and then my SRA is taking all of us Oresunds people to Christiania. If you don’t know what that is I’ll let you google it on your own time J

Helen

More cafe Bizzaro (we love it!)

Outside the royal palace (one of three) with Jasmine and Caroline!

The Kings Garden

Also in the Kings Garden

The Royal Ballet

Fountain Reflection!

P.S. Right now I have a gooey butter cake in the oven for my hall mates. I warned them it was American and extremely fattening but they said they wanted to try it anyway!
 

Tak = Thank You, Tuken Tak = Thanks a Million

Day two in the City and a total success!! For our orientation today we had the DIS Amazing Race where we all raced around the city in small groups stopping at different historic places in downtown CPH. It was so fun! I initially was skeptical of this 4 hour endeavor but it turned out to be very fun and a great way to bond with some other American students I hadn't met before!

It has been a little weird adjusting as I am the only student here from Rhodes (lots of other students came with friends from their respective university) and I am the furthest south of anyone I have met. No other students from the Midwest so far and absolutely none from the South…I’m representin’ all on my lonesome here, Memphis! But everyone is sweet as pie and I’m sure when classes start I will meet I’ll meet lots more people!

We have been out two nights so far and it has been really fun! The Copenhagen nightlife is laid back and fun! The first night we went out with about 25 other Americans (the EXACT opposite of what DIS told us we should do.) But rollin’ 20 deep we found a hole in the wall local pub. The rest of our group wanted a more hopping scene so they quickly left this bar but myself and four gals from my kollegiet stayed and chatted up the locals. We learned that most of them want to interact with Americans and find our outgoing and friendly demeanor charming (also the opposite of what DIS told us.) And last night we were able to chat up some members of the Danish Royal Navy who showed us videos on their iPhone of the Danish crowned prince playing on the deck of the royal ship as it sailed to London last week. This truly is a testament to the way Danes live, they are excited to meet other people, they love their country and want to share their culture with visitors, and above all they are kind-hearted and love good company. I am so unbelievably excited to call Copenhagen my home even if it is just for the next four months.

We just returned from a local café where I think we may have frequent outings. Café Bizzaro has a small but wonderful menu and the most delicious hot chocolate (see picture below). It is about 50 degrees tonight and it’s late August….

Busts of some Christians (aka Danish kings)

 

Colleen and Caroline enjoying the river bus!

 

our kitchen in the kollegiet!

 

 

Chillin by the Stroget (said like "Stro-urt" but you have to say it really fast so it comes out incoherently and in one syllable)

 

 

Cafe Bizzaro (our new hot spot a block from home)

 

pure deliciouness...

Don't worry the cafes give you blankets so you don't get a chill in the cold  night air :)

 

 

 

 

 

And as always, some pictures, I figured out how to make them bigger so hopefully that helps!

Tuken Tak,

Helen

When Copenhagen becomes Kobenhaven

I arrived yesterday morning and everything was a mad rush to get acclimated to the city. DIS (Danish Institute for Study Abroad) was extremely helpful in getting the hundreds of American students they are hosting to all of their respective living situations.
I arrived at Oresundkollegiet (Ur-sund-college-iet) yesterday afternoon and have been working to acclimate to the culture/community since. A kollegiet (or kollegieum) is a cheap student residence building. Not associated with a particular university yet all residents must be students. However, there are many young families and couples living in the kollegiet. (I have legitimately seen more pregnant gals and babies here then anywhere else I have ever been.) I live in building D out of M on the 5th of several floors. I share a bathroom in a complex with one roommate, her name is Colleen she is absolutely delightful, and I share a common kitchen with 11 other students, all Danes.
Our first day consisted of some orientation, picking up our books, getting lost in downtown Copenhagen, learning that you need a number (as if you were at a deli) in order to purchase things in the pharmacie, and that bikers are the top dog hard core riders of this city.
The many different neighborhoods or burrows of Copenhagen, are known as the bros, yes the BROS, the most popular of which for young people is Westerbro, only a few metro stops away.
Everything is coming together slowly but surely as we come up with more questions and more anxious looks to give to our SRAs or Student Residence Associates, two brave Danes who agreed to accompany 42 Americans in their journey as we live in Copenahagen for the next four months.
This is just a general overview of the past few days, more stories to come for sure! And now for some pictures!

Stroget: Pedestrian only street in dowtown CPH

BBQ/Wine Night on our beautiful Oresund terrance

BIKES!

 Fountain and Street performer on Stroget.

The light in my room at Oresunds.

Stay tuned!

Helen 

Greetings Avid Readers!

This is my blog to document my time in Denmark this semester! I leave tomorrow (August 18th) and will be in Copenhagen through December!

Some background information:

I will be studying Sociology and International Relations while at DIS (Danish Institute for Study Abroad). I will be living in a Traditional Kollgieum in the city of Copenhagen which is kind of like a student apartment dormitory type deal. I have a roommate...I haven't heard from her yet, but I'm sure she's great! I have never been to Copenhagen or anywhere in Scandinavia before and I speak absolutely no Danish (the native language of Denmark).

While I have read extensively about this program and am super excited for my stay, it would be extremely accurate to observe that I am jumping feet first into a cultural experience for which I am totally ill prepared...but then it wouldn't be as fun right? :)

It is my hope that this blog will serve to keep my friends and family updated on my adventures and my experience while abroad. I have plans to travel to Glasgow in the beginning of September, Munich at the end of September, and a mandatory school trip to Turkey in late October. Many other small trips will likely surface throughout the months I am there.

I can't wait for this adventure to begin and I feel so unbelievably blessed to have this experience. Stay tuned! -Helen

P.S. This is a picture from my time in Scotland the summer of 2010....but I felt like this post needed a picture so here ya go!