Why hello there!

[photo: Hanging out on castle ruins in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.  If ever go into exile, I might just move here]

Wow, that was a long time not to update!  Between traveling and hanging out with a friend from home on her spring break (Hi, Emily!) I completely forgot to update.  Ok, excuses aside, here's what's been going on in my neck of the woods.

St. Patrick's day was great fun with a "parade" (people wearing green walking behind a guy dressed up like the saint himself) and some traditional Irish culture at a local beer garden.  There was a folk band playing all of the old songs, some Irish step dancers, and plenty of Irish stew (which is some kind of beef / potato mix) throughout the evening.  

Last week I went to Bulgaria with my study program and got a taste of some Eastern European culture.  The first place we stopped was in Sofia, the capital.  We toured the Aleksander Nevski Memorial Church and got a crash course in folk dancing before finally checking in to the Red Star Hostel.  From Sofia we drove into the Balkan Mountains to the very remote, very beautiful Rila Monastery where we toured the church, hiked, and spent the night.  Our last few days were spent in Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria.  Our guide claimed the city was older than Rome, and we got to see some of its history first hand at the ruins of amphitheaters, castles, and churches from the last couple millennia. 

Next week I'm heading off to Grenoble, France and Les 2 Alps resort for a bit of snowboarding (err, I mean...I'm studying applied physics).  I may not be able to post again for a while, but I promise all is well over here!   

Chicken = Kylling, Kitten = Killing

This explains the look I got when I ordered the "Kitten Sandwich"

[photo: Aleks and I were walking about when we found the coolest bike store ever.  Danish design is not just for wealthy homes and museums, it's part of everyday life]

Earlier this week a friend showed me Cafe Retro, a nifty little place near Nyhavn about 5 minutes from where I have most of my classes.  This place is the definition of "Hygge", the Danish word for "cozy".  In a country where clouds and cold weather dominate most of the year, creating a cozy indoor environment has become a big part of the culture.  This cafe has huge wooden beams, old squishy couches, plenty of candles, and some of the cheapest soda in town.  A great portion of the Cafe's profit goes to charity and the workers are all volunteers.  Every time I grab a cup of coffee in there I feel like I'm saving the world, one sip at a time. 

[photo:  He looks just like Sammy!  Ma & Pa - be sure to give the dog a big kiss from me]

On Wednesday I visited the Carlsberg Brewery.  Besides the usual "history of beer" type display, they also had the world's largest beer bottle collection, the Carlsberg stables, and the "aroma test", where visitors could choose which aromas they preferred and the bartenders would recommend a specific beer for them.   

[photo: Ok, I promised I would go see her this week.  I give you "Den Lille Havfrue", the Little Mermaid]    

[photo:  I didn't cook a thing, but look how shiny the silver is!  Courtesy of yours truly.]

Vibeke and Marianne threw a fancy party on Friday night complete with champagne and bow-ties.  I think the Dane's reputation for being quiet and reserved needs to be reevaluated.  There were plenty of speeches, wine, laughter, more wine, great food, even more wine, and finally music and dancing.  The vicar was the last person to leave at around 4:30.  I think everyone, with the exception of the cats, had a great time (Vibeke's brother is allergic, so they had to incarcerate the cats at the neighbor's house).  

The Rich and Danish

[photo: When she's not mud wrestlin' or trap shooting, Queen Margrethe II (far right) enjoys wearing sparkly things and waving at crowds]

I promise Europe is still old and beautiful and cloudy, but I didn't have my camera with me this week to document it.  Instead, here are some pictures I ripped from the internet of a few important Danish public figures (I suppose this is the only way I'd get their picture anyway)

[photo:  Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary were married just a couple of years ago.  As an Australian, Mary is a bit of a novelty over here.  I think this couple has 2 kids now]

My group finished our project for Aging in Northern Europe by interviewing an elderly man about his recent retirement.  It was neat to spend a rainy afternoon sipping coffee in cozy apartment while Anders told us about his days as a jail guard.  Everyone has had projects and papers due this week as we head into midterms.  

The beloved statue of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Mermaid" will be sent to Japan at the end of the month as part of a mini worlds fair of sorts.  I know this is pathetic, but I haven't been out to see her yet.  My train passes that spot in the harbor every day, though, so I just need to hop off and pay her a visit.  

[photo:  Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen is a member of the Venstre party.  Don't be fooled by the girly flowers in the picture, this guy means business.  He's favored to become the next president of the EU]

Vibeke and Marianne are back from vacation (skiing in the Czech Republic, Marianne had a medical conference down there).  They've been busy with preparations for a big party this Friday celebrating Marianne's promotion as the head professor of neurological studies at the State Hospital.  Later today I'll help polish the silver and pull out the dinning room table.  I'm so glad I brought a dress (good call, ma).  

Festelavn!

[photo: The Danish version of Halloween is called "Festelavn".  The celebration takes place before Lent and involves wearing funny costumes and hitting the "cat in the barrel".  Back in the day I'm sure some unfortunate felines fell victim to this holiday, but now the barrels are filled with candy, like a piñata]

Yesterday a friend and I hopped on the regional train and headed over to Malmø.  After about a half hour ride (I still can't believe how close Denmark is to Sweden) we arrived at the central station.  The city is perfect for day trips with plenty of little shops, cafes and such.  We stopped by the Swedish Design Center and saw some of the most oddly shaped chairs in the world.  Before we headed home we stopped by a store that sold wooden shoes and a traditional bakery.   

[photo: The holy grail of my European travels - A Swedish Chef!  I know Thomas will be excited about this, as will anyone well versed in The Muppet Show]

[photo: The Swedes are all about peace, love, and pastries]

My Cross Cultural Encounters class has started working on our project with asylum seekers.  Each group is teamed up with a Danish immigrant to investigate various topics for a magazine published by the asylum center.  Our group is focusing on a play called "Fence".  Playwright Michael Svennevig tells the story of Sandholm Camp, an asylum center where many of the residents suffer from post traumatic stress syndrome.  The camp is located near a military firing range (not exactly helpful for people recovering from war-related stress).  We start interviews next week, which should be thought-provoking to say the least. 

[photo: When I truly have to get some reading done I head over to the University of Copenhagen library.  It might just be the quietest place in the city.  The first time I walked in my converse were squeaking, and every time I stepped I felt like my shoes were shouting "american american american america"]

    
[photo: This sign is next to a door off the alley I walk down on my way to class in the morning.  I don't know what the Fabulab is, and the key-pad lock has kept me from finding out.]

"I sure hope 'melet' means flour"

[photo: For breakfast this morning I tried to make Vibeke and Marianne some good ol' American flapjacks.  They tasted just fine, but it's clear I need some practice.  "This one looks like Sjælland!" exclaimed Vibeke.  I've provided a map of Sjælland to illustrate my level of incompetence]  

Yesterday Vibeke and I went to a concert at Copenhagen's new concert hall.  It was classical music featuring soloist Andreas Scholl.  When he first started singing I pretty much had to pick my jaw up off the floor (check out the video to see why).  The new concert hall is a bit awkward for large crowds to navigate, but it's beautiful in the actual auditorium.  There were several terraces arranged sort of "in the round" to provide seating for 1600.  The design was very organic, with no right angles or straight edges (hence the difficulty when finding one's seat) and it was all done in a light wood lit by a sort of orange glow from the lights.  Essentially, I felt like we were in the middle of a peach.  It was a wonderful concert.  

[photo: I like to start my day right with "Guld Korn" cereal.  I was doing so well with the games on the back...until I got to the word scramble]

At least once a week I try to grab some shawarma for lunch.  I think this is technically a Turkish dish, but it's all over Copenhagen (hot dogs are to New York City as shawarma is to Copenhagen).  It basically consists of beef, lettuce, magic sauce, and pita.  The beef is cut off a spindle which is usually displayed in the window of the shop, a form of advertisement so effective it's almost cruel.  It's become a sort of bragging right if a DIS student can find the cheapest shawarma in town.  

 
[photo:  Lots of host families are out of town this week, so the DIS kids are banding together to make dinner for each other.  On Thursday we managed a chicken-vegetable-rice combo with some curry thrown in at the last second.  Mission accomplished]

A local cafe by day / bar by night called the Studenterhuset (student house) is run mostly by University of Copenhagen students and DIS volunteers.  I worked my first shift on Wednesday night and had a blast!  Behind the counter I found some flyers they were going to put up for swing dancing on Sunday afternoons.  After joining the Bradley Swingers last semester, I've been feeling a bit deprived.  After a late pancake breakfast, I can't think of a better way to procrastinate on a lazy Sunday.  

It schnowed!

I have about a ten minute walk to the s-train station.  Here's some stuff that I see along the way.

[photo: This is my street, which as of yesterday I can pronounce correctly.  And yes, the city dots all the j's at the end with a little heart]

[photo: Ok, I might have the coolest host family, but these guys would probably be the second coolest host family.  Check out that playhouse!]

[photo: This is the Mexican / Italian food place run by some Turkish guys.  I try to stop in on Saturdays]

[photo: "Democrats", the local toy store.  I think Dad and Grandpa will find this amusing.  Also, the little orange elephant in the corner glows at night]

[photo: Yeah, the Danes really are that happy]

[photo: Best graffiti ever]

Århus

[photo: If I had a dime for every bicycle I've seen over here I wouldn't need to go back to Bradley]

This may be a historic first.  I'm actually updating this thing on a Sunday as promised!  On Thursday my program (Migration and Identity) went on a study tour to Århus, the second largest city in Denmark.  We got to hear all sorts of people talk about immigration, integration, and what all this change means for the Danish society.  We had a lecture by a man named Mehmet Necef who tried to answer the question "is denmark a racist society?"  He was arguing that it was not, but nevertheless he managed to ruffle some American feathers during his speech.  
[photo: Our hotel, the Cab Inn, was located right along one of the canals]

We also stopped by the ARoS museum and got to see their new exhibit "Enter Action".  I'm not even going to pretend to understand modern art, but this exhibit was pretty nifty.  Everything was interactive and connected in some way to technology and its affect on society.  Check out a video of one piece called "Life Writer"
[photo: We visited Søndervang, a school with 80% non-ethnic Danes.  The staff and students described the challenges of having such a diverse student body.  In the teacher's lounge we found the quick solution to dealing with the issue: a beer machine]

The food on this trip was amazing, especially considering there were 40 in our group.  Buffets are pretty popular over here, and we hit 4 wonderful places.  I wish I knew the names of all the dishes, but I could barely pronounce them let alone spell them.  One dish was pretty familiar, though.  They served waffle bits with yogurt and some kind of heavenly chocolate sauce.  Next time you're whipping up some fancy breakfast I highly recommend this combo.  

This next week will probably be pretty busy as classes start to really kick into gear.  I hope all is well back in the motherland!