Blogs from Birkerød, Region Hovedstaden, Denmark, Europe
February 25th 2010
I normally don't wear my new headphones when I'm walking by myself in the dark, but today I made an exception because it wasn't that late and I was only walking the 200m from the bus stop to my house. I saw two guys walking the other direction and I turned off the podcast that I was listening to because I wanted to be alert. They flag me down as we get nearer and ask me in Danish: -Excuse us - do you know where the 500S stops? -Yes, it's just ahead. -Thanks. Are you Danish? -No, I'm half-Danish. -Where do you come from? -I'm from the USA. -The USA?! No. Well, you look like an Afghan. -I do? -Yeah, you look like an Afghan! -I'm not. -No? OK. Well thanks, and bye. I was wandering ... read more
Music is my boyfriend, music is my girlfriend
Published: February 15th 2010Europe » Denmark » Region Hovedstaden » Birkerød
February 15th 2010
The long commute to and from town everyday has been made much more bearable, thanks to the arrival of a package from my father that included his old mp3 player. Now I am one of the multitude of people hustling to my destination, all while staying in my own little sound-induced bubble. It's rather strange, actually, how I notice that I notice so much less when I have my (new Sennheiser) headphones on. I feeling like I'm floating through the world, instead of participating in it. This doesn't stop me from listening to the music, of course; I've been deprived for too long. But I do think about turning it off. What I'm Listening To (But You Can't Hear It Because It's In My Headphones): Tilly and the Wall - Bad Education Santogold - You'll Find ... read more
Integration with a dash of sunshine
Published: February 10th 2010Europe » Denmark » Region Hovedstaden » BirkerødFebruary 10th 2010
I know I have mentioned it before, but let me stress: do not take your sunshine for granted!! When I left the house today around 1145, the sun was making a definite, if all too brief, visit to my part of the world. It's incredible, the affect that just a little bit of sunlight can have on my day. It cheers me up instantly, brightens my mood. I cannot imagine how deliriously happy I will be once late spring rolls around and the sun is out in full force! I smile to myself as I walk down the street, alternately squinting up at the sun and keeping track of my shadow. I feel just like a child. When the semester began, I was a little disappointed because some classes that I had expected to be interesting ... read more
February 3rd 2010
It's the start of a new semester, and that means new faces, new places, and new routines, even in Denmark. There's a lot to get used to (again) and lots of new input. Sometimes is feels as if there is so much going on that it's a challenge to process and reflect and make sense of it all. Half of my classes are interesting, and the other half are, unfortunately and so far, dull. In fact right now I should be reading an article for my economics class, but I'm obviously using my time in other less-productive but more-interesting ways. It started snowing again. The sidewalks and streets are all covered in a slippery gray mush - it's a wonder I haven't yet fallen. However, the sun was out in full force last Thursday! A friend ... read more
January 24th 2010
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! I started school on Thursday. There are approx. 662 students, full-years like myself included. The newbies have questions - should I actually do the homework for this class? (No) Where is a good place to buy jeans? (Not Denmark) What's a good restaurant? (I don't know, I don't go out for food) Where do you meet Danes on a Monday night? (Where do you meet Americans on a Monday night? Exactly - neither of us know). I am optimistic about the quarter, despite my previous doubts. I think my new attitude has a lot to do with the fact that I saw the sun for the first time in what seems like months. The days are slowly but noticeably getting longer. Sunrise: 08:18 Sunset: 16:27 Length of the day: 8h 09m 12s Today ... read more
I'm keepin my glass of champagne full
Published: January 15th 2010Europe » Denmark » Region Hovedstaden » Birkerød
January 10th 2010
As my first semester abroad came to a close, I was homesick, frustrated, and worried. At one point I seriously considered withdrawing from my program - not to go back to the USA, but to take Danish lessons and travel at my leisure. Unfortunately the Danes love their rules, and because of the visa restrictions, withdrawal would essentially mean deportation. That being the case, I am sticking to what I originally signed up for, and I will try to make the best of it. It's definitely a case of "if I knew then what I know now" because I do know now what I didn't know then, and I am actually redoing the same basic scenario, so I can use this knowledge to my advantage. Paris, France So in early December I was starting to feel ... read more
December 8th 2009
I feel like I've fallen off the face of the Earth...which is what may very well happen to countries like the Maldives, Kiribati, and Bangladesh if the governments represented at COP15 can't get their heads out of the ground and their hands out of their pockets...if the politicians don't start listening to the people instead of the corporations...if the USA doesn't stop acting as an impediment to these negotiations and just commit already. The city is in a tizzy. There are new people and languages and activities left and right and coming out the ears. It will be interesting to see what happens to the city (which has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2025) after all the climate warriors and politicians go home to their own countries. For now, no one can seem to get ... read more
November 27th 2009
The year has 16 months by Henrik Nordbrandt The year has 16 months: November December, January, February, March, April May, June, July, August, September October, November, November, November, November. I was going to go for a run today with my aunt in order to justify all the fatty fat fat food we consumed yesterday for our humble Danish version of Thanksgiving; however, as soon as she got home from work, the sky opened up and it started pouring. It really is no wonder that the concept of hygge is so important to Danes; without it, the weather would make them all suicidal. The gray drizzle is putting me in some sort of a mood. I can't wait for April. ... read more
Putting the study in Study Abroad
Published: November 25th 2009Europe » Denmark » Region Hovedstaden » Birkerød
November 16th 2009
EDUCATION For the majority of the semester, it seemed like I was just "abroad" without much "studying," which was fine by me, but now all of a sudden all my final projects are creeping up on me and I actually have to DO WORK. Which is part of why I haven't found time to update lately. My paper topics include the United States' military and nuclear history as it pertains to Greenland and the Inuit Einar Wegener's female identity and how it influenced the art of Gerda Wegener the development of the right to asylum in the European Union, specifically within the ever-more-conservative Danish context the murder of Dr. George Tiller within the context of Søren Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling HEALTH CARE Once upon a time, a young woman woke up. Later that day, her neck ... read more
I'm in Denmark - really!
Published: November 11th 2009Europe » Denmark » Region Hovedstaden » BirkerødNovember 11th 2009
I'm sure it seems like all I do is travel outside of Denmark to exotic locations like Amsterdam, Brussels, and Kangerlussuaq - but that is not the case. This weekend I am staying in Denmark. Granted, I am traveling from Copenhagen to Jutland, the main peninsula, but at least I'm not leaving the country. And it's not all fun and games; I have research papers to do. I mean, I won't work on them this weekend because this is strictly family business, but hey, it's something hanging over my head. First, I will take a bus to Århus to visit some family, kind of. It's my grandfather's half-sister and her husband and daughter - I think, but don't quote me on that. After a couple of days there, I will take the train to Aalborg to ... read more
