Home Sweet Home

I’m BACK from my three weeks of travel around Europe. Copenhagen is beautiful and blossoming (a bit)! It’s great to be back and have the chance to catch up on sleep and laundry. I loved every moment and every destination during my travel break, but there is always something magical about returning “home” to Copenhagen. It’s especially rewarding because of the familiar, comfy feelings that I now associate with Copenhagen, my 1A bus-route, my Danish sweetheart, and the simple pleasures of my Danish-existence. It’s going to break my heart when I have to say “farvel, Copenhagen” in just a month’s time. I’ve gotten so used to this place, these people, and this city-life. I’ll never forget my year in Copenhagen and all the beauty, love, and growth that it has fostered in my life.

Stay tuned for a massive entry that will recap my recent visits to Verdun, Reims, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Bruges, Brussels, and Amsterdam. Oh, the places I’ve been!

Taking the Bull by the Horns in Madrid

For What It’s Worth

“After all these years, I am still involved in the process of self-discovery. It’s better to explore life and make mistakes than to play it safe. Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life.”

— Sophia Loren 

Conquering Cobblestone in Heels

So, last night a big group of us went out to Moose Bar and Surf Bar to celebrate our Friday night. I actually ended up going home really early (even before the night buses started), so I got a full night of sleep and I’m in a very productive mood today. I thought it would be nice to reflect on and share a few memories of my second semester…

• Katrine, Kasper, and Dan coming to Kulørbar with me and dancing the night away. I introduced all three of these Danes to one of the most fun night clubs in København, and I’m proud to say that they LOVED it. Although I may be a study abroad student, even the locals appreciate my taste. Oh, and then collapsing in a heap in the kollegium hallway in a pigpile on top of Dan. Laughing hysterically.
• Finding black and white decorations for my dorm room. I bought black and white print wrapping paper and brought back some lightweight purple and black fabrics from home. My room is so much cozier now with just a few artistic touches. I am going to be so sad to take everything down at the end of the semester – the black little birds, the black and white photos and frames, the Paris-inspired wall-hanging, the purple draping and candles, and my $20 black mattress cover. It feels much homier than last semester, and it fits my style like a glove!
• Teaching the new girls some made-up table-hitting game at Kulørbar … somehow convincing them that I had played it before.
• Jumping on the back of Marianne’s bike – multiple times – to cruise from on downtown spot to another, illegally.
• Watching the entire first season of Prisonbreak with Dan, and then visiting a real Danish prison on my short study tour. Entirely different conceptions of prison.
• Debating about the Danish tax reform initiative that is currently being discussed in Parliament. Dan, Jakob and I discussed the costs and benefits of reducing the student stipend that is tax-funded and how that would affect students’ investment in education. Awesome topic to discuss and I love hearing Jakob’s opinion on everything because he is extremely passionate and thoughtful.
• Meeting a guy from Paradise Hotel (a very sleazy and racy TV show), who then gave me a Corona. My first celeb-sighting in Denmark!
• Dancing the night away at Karel van Mander (formerly Emma Natklub), an ultra-exclusive, ridiculously expensive, get-fingerprinted-at-the-door, no cameras allowed, swanky hotspot near Kongens Nytorv. There were Danish celebrities there and the men’s bathroom had a rose waterfall for them to pee on! Imagine being at a Hollywood bash… that’s what that night felt like, complete with two anorexic Danish twins who looked like Mary Kate and Ashley. Fascinating.
• Everything about my short study tour with the ECH France group. Long bus rides, climbing up and down mudslides, exploring old castles and progressive prisons, allergic reactions to fish, the uber-enthusiastic tour guide in Jelling, Danish shots at the top of the hill, Jakob’s accent, learning Danish songs from Ditte, singing with the high school headmaster at a folk high school (Ry Højskole), exploring Århus and digging deep into my wallet for a delicious but expensive meal, plenty of dancing at Crazy Daisy in Kolding, walking almost an hour to get back to the hostel, getting cars to pull over to give us walking directions, breaking down all barriers and bubble space with Marianne, little kids dressed in red snowsuits learning how to ride tiny bikes, rainy sightseeing, the most fantastic museum I’ve EVER seen (ARoS) with the most thought-provoking exhibitions, hanging out in basically a bomb shelter, being picked by the old tour guide to translate Morse code with Erin, “frat frat frat” chants, naming ourselves Fox, Tiger, and Coyote, debating Gus about women’s self-perception and sexual oppression, being cooler than the other DIS groups, toasting (skål) to anything and everything, bring chased out of an art exhibit because one of the museum staff saw me taking pictures, the mirror room, the ET room, the pornographic table, the big child, the back of the bus vs. the front of the bus, majority apparently doesn’t rule, being asked if I was a famous person at the club, French twists, Poker Face, heart-to-hearts, no sleep, loading up on candy at bus pit stops, counting-off, watching the bus driver make ridiculous 3-point turns, free crates of beer, “I bet you Marianne is…”, and tons of inside jokes.
• Surprising Dan with my ability to read and translate Danish. Incorporating little Danish phrases into my vocabulary.
• Wearing little umbrellas in our hair for Rannva’s birthday.
• Discovering new favorite places in the city and new ways to get around.
• Always missing bus 1A, or running after it so that I can make it to my first class right on time.
• Conquering cobblestone in heels.
• Breaking my black purse because the strap was so worn down. Then somehow turning it into a clutch purse for the remainder of the evening.
• Talking to some rich Danish kid about how much he hates the immigrants (enlightening but terrifying conversation, food for thought).
• Watching all the Americans adjust and gradually learn to lower their voices in public places.
• Making pancakes and cookies from mixes I brought back from the states. Yes, I cheat. It’s the only way I’ll cook.
• Blasting music from my “dkbn” playlist, “Denmark By Night,” which consists mostly of techno and disco songs that Dan shared with me.
• Fruit flies in the kitchen. Eww. Okay, not such a fond thing.
• Banana smoothies every weekend! My favorite thing in the whole wide world.
• The care package my sister sent me, including Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, a sweet mix CD, the cutest card, and a Mr. Potato head sticker book.
• Tearing up at episodes of Extreme Makeover Home Edition, especially the one from Manchester, New Hampshire. Dan thinks I’m such a sap.
• Laughing – a lot.
• Dancing – a lot.

 

That’s all for now, folks.

 

CPH Hotspots

According to Copenhagen Fashion Week…

Slå Katten af Tønden (“hit the cat out of the barrel”)

Last night I celebrated my first Danish Fastelavn! This holiday, observed seven weeks before Easter Sunday, is a cross between a Danish Halloween/ costume-party/ carnival / festival. In some places, kids go from door to door in their neighborhoods and collect candy and money, similar to America’s “trick-or-treat” tradition. Like American Halloween, though, the celebration of Fastelavn isn’t limited to just children. Event flyers were posted around my Kollegium, and the Kollegiums Caféen officially Facebook-invited me to participate in this Danish holiday. I hadn’t fully committed to participating, but upon seeing the many Danes and Americans happily mingling in ridiculous costumes last night, I was sold. What better way to meet the Danes than to celebrate one of their most spirited, outrageous fests?

Here’s a little background knowledge about the origins of the holiday. A guest speaker in my European Culture and History class explained to us that Fastelavn is a holiday rooted in religion and superstition, which have lost their influence over time. The date of the Fastelavn is the preparation day for fasting and Lent; traditionally, people binged on food to prepare for fasting. “Most people no longer fast on Fastelavn, however children still wear costumes and play the traditional Fastelavn games. One of these is the so-called ‘beating of the barrel’ or ‘knocking the cat out of the barrel’ game. In medieval times this game was taken very seriously – a live cat would be placed in a barrel, and the barrel was beaten with sticks until it broke and the cat escaped. It was then chased out of the town, and people believed that it would take the collective bad luck and evil spirits of the town with it. These days the game is symbolic and definitely not played with live animals. Children gather around a barrel (filled with candy and fruit and usually decorated with black cats), which hangs from the ceiling or from a tree (depending on the game being played indoors or outdoors). They then take turns hitting the barrel with a wooden club until the barrel finally breaks. The lucky child causing the barrel to fall apart is crowned ‘the King or Queen of cats’ and is given a golden paper crown” (The Friday Team, 2006). This was exactly how the holiday was celebrated at my kollegium, but we were a bunch of college students, not children. J I arrived at the Caféen just as the last piece of the barrel was knocked down, which was followed by raucous cheers from the large, costumed crowd that was gathered. The Dane that knocked down the final piece of the barrel was crowned kattekonge (“king of cats”) and was awarded a yellow paper crown to wear for the rest of the night, true to tradition. I was happy to see a handful of the DIS Americans participating in “slå katten af tønden”… as the Spice Girls! Luckily (or unluckily, if medieval), no live cats were harmed.

Costume-wise, I was unprepared and underdressed for Fastelavn. However, I managed to dig up a princess tiara and a long string of pearls to adorn my Danish boyfriend with. He was enthusiastic to dress for the occasion, most likely because all of the other Danish guys were dressed in women’s clothes, complete with socks stuffed into their girl friends’ bras. Some even wore makeup, wigs, high-heels, and dresses! One of our friends, Allan, dressed up as Pocahontas. I don’t know how he found that costume in Denmark, but I was highly impressed (and amused) by the holiday spirit.

Love Actually Is All Around

“I wish for you today at some point a feeling of heart-wrenching, jaw-dropping, head-over-heels surrender to love- whether this is to the perfect vanilla soy latte, an incredible book you found and couldn’t put down, a perfect song that matches your mood and makes you smile, a ridiculously great best friend, the sunset, or of course… that perfect person who can release the hordes of butterflies laying dormant in your stomach. Know that there is love in more than a few things in your life.“ – Source: http://lovebot.tumblr.com/post/78318715/happy-valentines-day-tumblrland

Happy Valentine’s Day! I know it’s a bit belated, but that’s my point. February 14^th, 2009, was a new day in your very special and fleeting life… so I hope that you made the most of it and treated yourself to a little TLC. J Hopefully you spent it well, alone or with friends, pro or anti-Valentines. But never forget that every day is a new opportunity to pamper, cherish, and love yourself. Treat yourself to a Valentine’s Day every day. Love your life. Every day. Be passionate and sexy about it, or cuddly and sweet; whatever you do, appreciate it. Be tender and gentle with yourself. Love everyone around you, whether they deserve it or not. Fill your life with lovely things, lovely thoughts, lovely friends, lovely smiles… just try to appreciate the little expressions of love that can be found in your life, whether or not you have a significant other to spend cheesy holidays like Valentine’s Day with.

And I quote….

“Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge – they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion… love actually is all around.” – Love Actually.

“Sooner or later we begin to understand that love is more than verses on valentines and romance in the movies. We begin to know that love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in our lives. For love is the creator of our favorite memories and the foundation of our fondest dreams. Love is a promise that is always kept, a fortune that can never be spent, a seed that can flourish in even the most unlikely of places. And this radiance that never fades, this mysterious and magical joy, is the greatest treasure of all — one known only by those who love” – Unknown.

Memory & Identity

I had such a fun-packed, adventure-filled weekend thanks to DIS and my fellow ECHers. The European Culture and History program brought us on a short study tour to the towns of Skanderborg, Kolding, Jelling, and Århus. The objectives were to learn about Danish values and traditions, visit cultural landmarks, experience Danish life, and see how the past has shaped contemporary Denmark. Our itinerary was packed: visits included an “open” prison, Jelling stones, the Museum of Occupation, ARoS Art Museum, Ry Højskole, and Koldinghus castle. Fortunately, each excursion was valuable and much more eye-opening than a couple of regular class days. The DIS-planned study tours are one of the reasons why I chose to remain in Denmark for a second semester. DIS seems to understand the importance of cultural exposure and definitely encourages students to use Europe as a classroom. There is no better way to learn than to experience for ourselves the rich histories and societies of a completely foreign place. I’ve never challenged my mind, my perceptions, my intellect, and my smarts as much as I have while studying abroad. It is a whole new level of learning. Maybe it’s not all rocket science and head-splitting equations, but it is the best education for my future. I am so appreciative to be here, and even more appreciative of DIS’s agenda. It offers students an unrivaled abroad experience and unparalleled opportunities for travel.

More than anything about this short trip, though, was the cohesiveness of the group by the end of the weekend. Although we didn’t interact with every other person in the group, we at least had molded into a unit. We had inside jokes, shared memories, and a collective identity; it’s appropriate that our Core, homeroom class is called “Memory and Identity.” As we learned about the memories and identity of Denmark, we began to weave our own story together. We started as 31 strangers, and we emerged from this weekend as a fused, unified group. I can’t wait to visit France with my class. It’s bound to be a memorable, amazing trip.

Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You?

I’m going to prison tomorrow.

Passion for Fashion

My friend Cathy was mentioning how she wants to go all-out-Eurotrash one night. She’s been shopping around the local stores, but hasn’t figured out the perfect outfit yet. It’s hard to figure out the style, anyways.

In the interest of fashion, I read some definitions of “Eurotrash” on UrbanDictionary (a brutally honest and vulgar reference) and was amazed to find very few commonalities in the descriptions. “Eurotrash don’t bathe, smile or wash their hair on a regular basis so they may reek of perfumes and colognes,” one says. Another says, “Pretentious, narcissistic, metrosexual Europeans,” while another decides Eurotrash is “ultra-urbane sophisticated inimitable style which others try to copy.” My gosh! Well, we might as well give up now.

Upon further examination, though, I noticed that much of the discussion about so-called Eurotrash is pretty negative and discriminatory, either of Europeans or of Americans of European descent. So I’ve turned to my trusty, politically-correct Wikipedia for an answer. To my dismay, I learned that I am insulting an entire region of people- a region that I now hold dear. “Eurotrash is an American English slang term to describe stereotypical Europeans. These words often will cause rage to the European.” I never knew how Europeans felt about the term, unfortunately, so I’m glad I investigated it before I made it the title of this post. Although, my understanding of Eurotrash was not a description of a stereotypical European, as wiki suggests, but more of a sub/ rare/ underground culture. It’s not typical of any region or associated with any country, in my mind, but now I realize that “Eurotrash” isn’t really the best way to express that. I’ve learned my lesson, at least. I’ll have to come up with some catchy “slang” for this theme-night I’m planning with Cathy. Garbage chic? Classy grunge? Trendy rave?

Anywho, there *was* a point to my little fashionista-ramble. If you read my Bucket List, you may have noted that I intend to dress as “Euro” as possible this semester. This is my follow-up. Oh, and just a trendsetting tip: I am obsessed with chictopia.com, especially user “bettinastyle’s” lookbook. If you can pull off her styles, you will be raking in European nods of approval (and mine).

Okay, sure, you might only have American brands (and lots of H&M), but all you really need are a couple pairs of killer heels (extra style points for pulling off ankle boots), tights, leggings, and super-skinny jeans. I decided that it’s the waist-down that sets Europeans a league above Americans. They are much more daring with their legwear and shoes, and it makes a huge difference.

Which reminds me: one of the most outrageous culture shocks I experienced when I first got here was how stylish the beautiful Danish women are – on their bikes! I’m not sure how they can pedal so fast and gracefully over cobblestone streets in their 2-inch heeled boots or pumps. I simply couldn’t believe my eyes. Over the course of the semester, though, I started incorporating more heels into my fashion routine, and now they dominate my shoe rack. When in Copenhagen…

So here are some of my inspiration pieces (click “more…” below), courtesy of chictopia.com and ASOS clothing. It’s really important to me to stay true to my personality and fashion range. For instance, you won’t find me popping my collar or wearing expensive designer brands – I’m not impressed by either, and those attitudes are lost on me. You also won’t find me in sweatpants or sneakers. I’m way too girly for that (“such a girly girl!” my Danish boyfriend says – he loves it).

“To some people a street is just a street- to others, it’s a catwalk…” – Carolina Engman.

A Danish Fødselsdag!

I celebrated my first fødselsdag last night! For the majority of you who don’t know Danish, fødselsdag means “birthday.”

My Danish friends kidnapped me from another kollegium party and pulled me upstairs to Rannva’s birthday party where there were plenty of happy faces to meet and greet me. I am so astounded by how curious and friendly most Danes are. It might be because I am a fairly easygoing, low-profile American, but I think that the normal stereotype of Danes as being “hardboiled,” “reserved,” and “like the weather” is a bit harsh. Now that I know some Danes, I feel comfortable mingling and participating in more Danish customs. I enjoyed some delicious kage (cake!) and helped the party-goers carry armfuls of balloons downstairs to our kollegium bar to continue the celebration. We all saddled up to the bar, quenched our thirst, and began dancing to the Spice Girls and Katy Perry. In that sense, it was very similar to most American birthday parties I attend. Everyone was festive (we put little umbrellas in our hair) and rose to the occasion. I was happy to be included, even though I was the only native English-speaker of the group. I still felt very welcome and loved! Silvia, Katrine, Dan, and Rannva are especially good at making me feel included and adored. Happy birthday, Rannva!

This semester is going to be amazing. I have such a nice group of both Danish and American comrades, and I can’t wait to grow even closer to them and meet even more people.

Some photos….