Taking Advantage

Yesterday in between classes I was walking around the busy city streets (as I usually do during the day) when all of a sudden there was a marching band followed by guards walking down the street! I had heard about this but did not realize I had been in the right place at the right time. Every day at noon a bunch of soldiers march down the main walking street (Stroget) to the Palace for the changing on the guards; I of course followed them to watch, trying to not stay so close looking like a tourist though. It was so cool, something like that would never happen in the states!
I continued to wander around onto streets I had never been before and find my way back to school just in time for class.

Today I went up the round tower in the center of the city. It gives a great view of Copenhagen and reminded me a lot of the Empire State building look out. They also had an exhibit about Christiana (the “independent” part of Copenhagen), which inspired my friend and I to return to the pot district to explore more. This time we walked and crossed the bridge to make it over to Christiania. WE discovered the town was much larger than we had explored last time and were able to see more than just the entrance streets.

We took the metro back (our toes had been numb for a few hours now), got a cup of coffee and then went to the Design Museum because it is free on Wednesday nights. It was really cool and talked a lot about light!- It was interesting, I promise! The Danish are discovering ways to obtain more light with less energy (I hope you are not surprised!). They also had an “IQ lamp” that apparently helps you study better. What do you think?

I have also visited the Glyptotek, a beautiful building with a lot of famous art and the National Museum.

Stockholm & Black Boots

I just got back from Stockholm for the weekend and am sooo tired, I really just wanted to write before I went to bed to try to remember what we did because there was so much! We got in Friday night and did not leave until Sunday night and now it is 12 30 and I have to get to school early to print out the paper I have due tomorrow morning for my 8 30 class!

We just walked around the entire city for two days straight; we were really proud we saw so many different parts of the city in only 2 days. Stockholm is really beautiful, and it is a lot cheaper than Copenhagen! I got a diet coke for under $3! (I really miss diet coke).

Saturday we went to a Church and then he Royal Palace, which has over 160 rooms! The Castle was gorgeous and definitely nicer than the castles I have seen in Denmark. We also were able to see the changing of the guards. After walking through the old city we went to the Modern Museum later in the day. Today we walked through a whole different part of Stockholm, which I do not even know how to spell, but had the most beautiful sites.

The best part of Stockholm was that I found black boots!!! And for really cheap. I think my friend Molly was even more relieved and excited than I was- she knew she would not be dragged into any more shoe stores in Copenhagen (even though I am pretty sure we hit all of the shoe stores already).

I have heat in my room!!!!

Yes, I have heat. Finally! Denmark is not the place to be without heat.

Another update: I am going to Stockholm this weekend!

By the way…if you want to send me anything…
DIS, Danish Institute for Study Abroad
Vestergade 5-7
DK-1456 Copenhagen K, Denmark

(Don’t worry too much though- mom is sending me no spray on butter and some other essentials so I will last for a while!)

The Danes...

Want to guess how much of Danish peoples paychecks go to the government? 60 %
Still complaining about your pay check? Didn’t think soo….
The good part about all this I guess is that I have free health care while I am here!
Yes, the are taxed very heavily. However, most don’t mind it. Everything is paid for: health care, school –even a masters degree! Also its nice that when I go into a restaurant and order, the price on the menu is final (tax & tip is already included).

Now you are in for another surprise…cars are taxed 180%!!!!! Does this explain why most Danes ride their bikes? Did I mention Denmark is trying to be environmentally friendly? However, cars used for work are not taxed. So all the truck drivers are driving Mercedes!

First Time: Hostel & Putting unkown food in my mouth

I didn’t know what to expect. And let’s be honest, even though I am not as bad as my sister, some may consider my standards of hotels a bit high maintenance.
It was time for my short study tour with my Business class and we were traveling to Western Denmark and staying in Hostels. I cold not have been anymore pleasantly surprised. They pretty much shoved 7 girls in the size of something a bit bigger than a dorm room – plus a kitchen and bathroom – but it was so clean and really modern. I did not mind it at all; probably nicer than some hotels I have stayed in.

We visited Bang & Olufsen, an extremely pricey electronics luxury company and Vestas, the largest company that makes windmills for alternative energy; both company visits were pretty cool. DIS also provided us with several meals and refreshments. However, the fist nights dinner was a traditional Danish meal. It was the first time I ever ate anything without knowing what it was; and we all know that is a big deal for me. Lets be honest, I am a picky eater! I think it is safe to say most students would have been happier if DIS spent an eighth of the cost of dinner and bought us all McDonalds.

European Style

So I have a theory that you need only 3 things so look European and fit in: the right coat, boots and bag. I got the coat! I am still working on finding the right tall black boots (I have been into EVERY shoe store in Copenhagen I think though). I did however buy a pair of shorter boots that will do for now. As for the right bag, I got one but still searching…
To sum it up, all you need is the long black coat, tall black boots and a stylish bag. People in the streets won’t see anything else because you will be all bundled up in the cold! However, I am thinking I may need the right gloves too…

Another Euro style is brightly colored jeans and yes, I did get a pair. They are purple (almost like a lavender). And yes, I did wear them to class and out the other night. Pictures will be up soon because it is necessary you see these amazing jeans. However, I can predict some (Amanda Suckow) will not enjoy them.

Sooo.....

It is hard to believe I have been here for almost three weeks. It went y really fast but at the same time I feel somewhat adapted to living in Copenhagen. I no longer wake up wondering how and why I am in a different country. Antoher way I can tell I am acquainted is that I no longer am surprised that after my shower the entire bathroom and floor outside near the bathroom is soaking wet.

I am actually really enjoying my classes (maybe that is because I did not have to write any papers yet! Which reminds me…..).
My core course is International Business and Economics. We had a field study today to some company that makes wires, it wasn’t really that boring actually and they feed us, which is a huge plus these days! Tomorrow I leave for Western Denmark for my short study tour and come back to Copenhagen on Saturday.
My other classes are International Advertising in a European Context, International Marketing a Branding, Holocaust and Genocide, and Danish. In April we have an overnight field study to Germany to visit a concentration camp.
People do not exaggerate when they say everyone in Denmark speaks English. I don’t even have to ask “Do you speak English?” However, the only two people in Denmark who don’t have approached me asking for who knows what (I take it as a compliment that they think I am Danish and think I may know the answer to their question- I guess I fit in!).
Danish is a really hard language though, absolutely nothing is spelled the way it sounds
Example: “Jeg” is pronounced “Yi” and it gets even worse…

I also recently have a lamp in my room! (Still waiting on the heat)

I even made it out of Denmark already! We went to Sweden on Saturday. It is only a 30 minute train ride to Malmo.