I’m Getting a Bike!

The title says it all.. exciting news, I know.  The warmer weather we’ve been having recently has inspired me to overcome my fears about biking in rush hour traffic.  My friend and I got a special deal on renting bikes from a guy named Buster, who lives in our kollegium.  We’re waiting for him to get them ready with baskets and lights, but I will keep you updated on our early biking adventures.

Another reason why I finally decided to get a bike is because I’m getting a little tired of being lost a majority of the time.  I’ve accepted the fact that I have a horrible sense of direction, but after almost four weeks I really shouldn’t be getting lost between classes!  I can’t wait to explore the city by bike; I plan on taking an afternoon and just riding around until I really get my bearings.  

As much as I love it here, living in another country definitely has its challenges.  It can be kind of tiring in some ways – worrying about getting lost, not understanding what’s being said on the bus, trying to understand cultural differences – and sometimes seemingly little things can be a big frustration.  The other day, for example, I was trying to print something and my card didn’t work on the printer.  Then I needed to pick up a package that had been waiting for me for over a week.  I had to get to class, but it seems that people here don’t really understand the idea of urgency.  My friends and I have talked about how sometimes little things can seem like a bigger deal than they actually are; I think a lot of us are used to working really hard and being super efficient all the time.  I’m learning to accept the fact that I can’t control the buses (sometimes I’ll wait a minute and sometimes I’ll wait fifteen), so sometimes I’ll be late for class.  If my bus is late, it’s not worth being grumpy the whole way there; if the line in the coffee shop is moving really slowly, it’s better to make conversation than anxiously tap my foot the whole time.  Anyway, hopefully I’ll learn to be a more go with the flow kind of person during the next few months…

It was nice to have a full week of classes this week.  I went on a field study Wednesday with my public health class to a healthcare center and then to a community center for homosexual men with HIV/AIDS and their partners.  It was interesting to hear about the health issues in Denmark and their different approaches to tackling them.  

Last night (Thursday), I went to a ballet at the Royal Danish Theater with my Danish Language & Culture class.  We had a special intro before from one of the previous ballerinas – it was really nice to get everything explained in English!  After the intro, we had an hour to explore the theater (and enjoy some complementary wine).  The show included three short ballets, two of which were more classical and and one which was more modern.  The last one, the modern one, involved audience members and had everyone out of their seats dancing and clapping.  It wasn’t what I expected, but it was a great evening!

We may have been sitting up in peanut heaven, but we had a great view of the stage and the beautiful theater!

Today I went to my Conservation & Biodiversity Class, then to Studenterhuset to meet up with some friends and do some work before the weekend.  We did a little grocery shopping before coming home, stopping at the fish market to pick up some fresh salmon fillets for dinner (I have to treat myself on Valentine’s Day, after all!).  The girls are planning a nice romantic dinner in the common room later tonight 😉  

Anyway, I best go get my laundry from downstairs since I took over three washers – my busy schedule here makes it a little difficult to stay on top of chores.  Laundry couldn’t really wait any longer (I was starting to run out of clean warm socks…)

The Past 10 Days

I’d like to apologize to all my loyal followers about my lack of blogging recently… 😉

The past week and a half has been so busy that I haven’t had time to write much, but I suppose that’s a good thing as I’ve got to experience even more of Denmark.  I’ve done so much that I’m not sure where to begin, but I suppose I could start with last Sunday when I went on my first castle tour!  I went on a canal tour starting at Nyhavn with a friend.  When we found out that the boat made a stop near a famous castle and museum which we had been wanting to visit, we spontaneously decided to go check it out.  Christiansborg Palace is located in central Copenhagen and is the seat of the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Danish Supreme Court.  The currently standing palace is actually the third to be built on that site, as the three previous ones burnt down.

It used to be the official residence of the Danish Royal Family and, though they do not live there anymore, they use several parts of the palace today.  I had the opportunity to tour the Royal Reception Rooms, which are used for events such as receiving foreign dignitaries and hosting dinner parties.

One of my favorite rooms was a hall filled with tapestries that were given to the current Queen of Denmark for her 50th birthday.  The  tapestries were modeled after paintings by the artist Bjørn Nørgaard and each tapestry depicts a different historical era.  The periods represented in the tapestries include the Viking Age, the early and late Middle Ages, the Reformation, the Aristocracy, the early and late absolute Monarchy, the late 1800s, the Second World War, the Present and the Future.  Both historical scenes and figures from pop culture combine to create the beautiful tapestries.  I felt as though I could stare at them for hours and still catch new references every time I looked.

Exploring the palace for a few hours made us pretty hungry, so we headed to a nearby cafe, Konditori Antoinette, for lunch.  The cakes and pastries in the cafe were too good to pass up, so we made sure to save room for desert.  When it came time to decide on a pastry, however, choosing just one was too difficult; we decided to indulge in the afternoon “tea for two” (which probably would have been a sufficient amount of food to serve as lunch on it’s own):

After stuffing ourselves with tea sandwiches and pastries, we sauntered to the bus to return home and get ready for the Ellie Goulding concert!  Three other girls from my kollegium also had tickets, so we went together and had a great time.

I love listening to her music at the gym, but nothing compares to seeing her live – she’s a great performer!  After getting back from the concert (past midnight), I stayed up packing for my study tour the next day.  After only four hours of sleep, I was a little groggy when my alarm clock went off early the next morning.  Monday marked the start of “Core Course Week” at DIS – I traveled to western Denmark for three days with my core course, Medical Practice & Policy.  We went on both academic and cultural tours, and did a lot of eating!  More about the study tour to come later, though…

I got back Wednesday evening and my room here at the kollegium has never felt more homey!  The rest of the Core Course Week involved a series of lectures about the healthcare system in Denmark.  We also met with our “Core Course Group” to discuss our topic for a paper we will be writing at the conclusion of the course.  Our assigned topic is “demographics & economy,” so we plan on comparing and contrasting the US and Denmark, as well as Sweden and Estonia (where we will travel during our long study tour in March) in terms of how socioeconomic status predicts access to and usage of healthcare services and overall health and wellbeing in each country.  We want to understand how each country’s philosophy towards healthcare is reflected in the overall health of its citizens.  I think it will be interesting to see if socioeconomic status still predicts differences in overall health (as it does in the US) in countries like Denmark, which promote “free and equal access to healthcare.”

Core course week concluded with a Medical Practice & Policy social at Café Kultorvet.  It was fun to hang out and relax with friends I became close with during my study tour.  After the social, a few girls came back to my kollegium to hang out and meet my friends here.  We all went downtown later than night – I felt more like a true Dane when I stayed out till 4am!!  I don’t know how they can stay out so late here, but my American friends and I are determined to build up our stamina by the time we leave here!

Yesterday (Saturday) some of the girls from my kollegium and I went grocery shopping to stock up on food and snacks for the Olympic-watching-party we had last night.  We spent about three hours in Fotex buying all the supplies to make buffalo chicken dip, guacamole, baked brie, cookies, and brownies (and more) and then had a fun evening cooking and getting the common room ready for the party.  It seemed like we had a ton of food, but it didn’t last long!

The Bispebjerg girls really know how to cook!

Since I still can’t stay out until 4am like the true Danes two nights in a row, I got a decent night’s sleep last night and was feeling well rested enough this morning to make it to the gym before brunch.  I decided to try another class – circuit training!  The teacher was really helpful and explained the workout to me in English.  He also took a break from yelling out cues and encouragement in Danish to give me some personal encouragement in English – which caused the whole class to turn and stare.  It was a great workout though!

After a quick shower and tidying up the common room, I went to brunch with some girls from DIS and some girls from Australia who also live here.  We went to a really charming cafe in Nørreport and ate till our heart’s content!

There’s really nothing better than a cozy cafe, good company, and homemade Nutella and jam on a Sunday afternoon!  We found a nearby library, part of Copenhagen University, near the cafe.  We were feeling very studious and productive for the first twenty minutes we were there – before finding out that the library closes early on Sundays.  We headed back to the kollegium, and I’m now sitting in the common room finishing up this post.  It’s feels good to finally get caught up on my blog!  I’m looking forward to another exciting week here in this amazing city!  More to come soon… xoxo!

Over the hump day!

I’m midway through my first week of classes!  I’m really liking them so far.  The homework and readings are interesting, and I can get them done and with plenty of time left to explore.  Yesterday, for example, I found an amazing fresh fish market.  I pass it everyday on my way to the bus home, so I’m sure I’ll be picking up lots of fresh Danish cod and Norwegian salmon.  Also, last night my friends and I finally had our first “shawarma,” basically a gyro.  There are apparently tons of places to get them in the neighborhood where I live, and everyone has their own opinion of which place is best.  We went to a sit-down place that was a bit nicer than some of the other grab-and-go places (a favorite late night bite among those living in my kollegium).

One thing I love about DIS is that we don’t have class on Wednesdays.  Today, some friends and I decided to make the most of our day off by going to a nearby museum, Statens Museum for Kunst.  We spent hours wandering through the many rooms, filled with art both old and new.  My favorite was definitely the older paintings from the 19th century and earlier.

 

The painting in the top left was probably my favorite of all.  It depicts a group of friends making music and singing by candlelight.  For some reason, it reminded me of Drennen Family sing-a-longs when at Deep Creek.  The way the artists were able to use lighting and colors to make the paintings come to life was really amazing.

They came in all shapes and sizes, from many different places, and depicted many different scenes and themes.  I must say, some of the paintings in the modern art galleries were a bit disturbing, but these ones below were some of my favorites.  To say that I was awed is an understatement!

After hours in the museum, we were pretty hungry so we headed to a nearby cafe selling the bagel sandwiches that seem to be everywhere around here.  There is another shop near my classes and I think it’s safe to say I’ll be back for more before the semester ends!

My evening consisted of an orientation for my core course week coming up next week, followed by dinner with my Danish Language & Cultures class at a pub, Caféaften, in Nørrebro.  Dinner included pork and potatoes.. although it was really unlike any pork I’ve ever had; it kind of reminded me of overdone bacon? Oh well, when in Denmark I suppose…

After a brisk walk to my bus stop, I arrived back to my room.  My “quick post” has turned into a forty-five minute endeavor, so I think I may have to cut it short and get to bed.  All the fresh air and my constant sense of excitement (and mild anxiety about getting lost with my non-existent sense of direction) has me thoroughly exhausted!

I miss everyone at home, but am loving it here – not a day goes by that I don’t encounter a friendly Dane who goes out of their way to help me when I’m lost.  I don’t think that sense of cheery contentment will ever get old.  Not to be too corny, but it definitely lights up these dark and chilly days!

TGIF! (And Saturday)

It’s a cloudy (typical) Sunday morning here in Denmark!  As much as I’m missing sitting in Zelda’s Cafe recapping the weekend with friends, a Sunday ritual at school, the past couple days have been so busy that I’ve had no time to be homesick.

After my one class on Friday, Conservation and Biodiversity, taught by a sweet, bubbly, plant-loving Dane dressed head-to-toe in various shades of green, I enjoyed lunch at Torvehallerne again.  I think it’s safe to say that my friends and I are hooked!  I’ve already made friends with the owner of the stand selling the most amazing sun dried tomatoes, olives, and artichokes, as well as olive oil and balsamic vinegar (I get a sample of something every time I pass).

Friday night was a blast because I got to meet up with some friends from Bucknell!  I met up with four other girls from DIS and four students from the Bucknell In London program for dinner and some happy hour drinks not far from where I live.  It was really nice to see some familiar faces!  I even navigated the bus system and made it home without any problems – I just may be getting the hang of public transportation after all!

Saturday morning I went with the other DIS students from my kollegium to get our residence permits.  It was a quick and easy process.  We were so close to the little cafes along Nyhavn port that of course we had to stop by one for brunch.  It’s my goal to try them all by the time I leave!  I’m so excited to sit outside at the tables lining the water once the weather warms up.  After brunch, my friend and I decided to check out one of the department stores nearby.  I was only looking, but the store was so fancy and grand on the outside that it looked more like a luxury hotel than any Macy’s or Nordstrom’s in the states, so of course I had to have a look.  I have a bad habit at home of buying things I don’t need, but here the prices are so expensive that even I wasn’t tempted (twenty dollar Essie nail polish anyone??).  I’m saving my money for traveling and sun dried tomatoes from Torvehallerene!

After returning from the city, I took a nap and then cooked dinner in my room with a friend.  Even though the “kitchen” consists of two hot plates and a sink, we made some pretty good salmon and sweet potatoes.  After dinner, we had a drink at a cafe down the street and came back for our kollegium party.  It was a lot of fun to meet some of the other people living with us. I met a lot of the Danish people living here, as well as some Australians law students who are doing an exchange program with students from Copenhagen University.

I’m not sure what’s up for today; I should probably motivate myself to get some schoolwork done.  I must say, I love that my classes here are pass/fail, but I’m definitely less motivated to study than when I am at home.  Oh well, it will be nice for one semester to just take classes for the fun of it – and to live it up in Europe while I have the chance!

First Day of Classes

Today marked the start of classes for the semester.  My first class in Copenhagen was actually not at DIS, but at Copenhagen University.  I signed up for the class (a philosophy class – rather out of my element) because I thought that taking a class with Danish students would be a great experience.  I didn’t have much to add to the discussion about Kierkegaard and other Danish philosophers, but I plan on trying to take in as much as possible!

After philosophy class, I had a class called “The Public Health Implications of Modern Lifestyles.”  My professor is great – he’s really passionate about the subject material and has an interesting Danish sense of humor.  I had Danish Language & Culture next.  I’m hoping to at least be able to read and pronounce common words and phrases by the end of it.  I’m also really excited about the fact that we learn history and culture in addition to language.  We’re going out to dinner soon and, later in the semester, we’re going to watch a ballet and tour one of the famous castles in Copenhagen!

My last class for the day was for my core course, Medical Practice & Policy, and is called Human Health & Disease.  The hospital where the class will be taught is just a short bus ride away from the center of downtown.  We have two teachers for the class, both doctors, and a medical school student as a class assistant.  One of the doctors teaching the class is the head of the neurophysiology department at the hospital and both seem easy-going and excited to teach us.   Throughout the course of the semester, we’ll be working on case studies and learning useful skills such as how to write a medical record.  I’m also really looking forward to the guest speakers and labs that are planned!

After four classes with no break, I was thoroughly exhausted (and starving) so it was nice to get back to my kollegium and enjoy dinner in the common room with friends.  I only have once class tomorrow, Conservation and Biodiversity, but I still have some reading to do so I best get to work on that!

I’m looking forward to tomorrow evening when I get to meet up with some friends from Bucknell!  They’re studying abroad in London this semester, but are coming to Copenhagen for the weekend.  I hope I can show them around without getting us too lost…