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Published: February 2nd 2008
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Aalborg
Aalborg Hey guys and welcome to my travel blog! I'm hoping to keep you all up to date on everything that I'm attempting to do and see here in Europe. If I take awhile between blogs it is probably because nothing interesting happened, or I'm really lazy. and pictures will be coming soon. I promise. Ok for those who haven't read any of my traveling messages, be prepared. I tend to be long-winded, superfulous thoughts, and probably a bit boring, but you have been warned so any complaining will be met with swift punishment (later on).
I guess I'll start with a brief Danish lesson. If you don't know where Denmark is look for the thumb of land sticking out of Germany, pointing towards Sweden and Norway. I'm living in Aalborg, which is in the northern part of the country. Cool little town of about 150,000 people, with lots of shopping, museums, a zoo, and whatnot. I'm studying at Aalborg U., which looks like a rejected seventies architectual design, but apparently works for them. I tried to explain it to my sister and the best I can come up with is a cross between IKEA and quait little thatched houses. Go
Aalborg
Aalborg figure. It's not as cold here as I thought, global warming and all I assume, about +5 C (which I haven't tried to convert, but I know it is above freezing and below nippy) the wind blows almost constantly, and so far it has been pretty overcast all day. It gets dark at about 5 pm and it's not really light until after 8 am. So there is just enough darkness to confuse your senses. But that will all flip when Summer sets in this may. Fantastic!
Ok to the meat of my trip.
Airports suck. I got to the Nashville airport at 11 am and I got out of the Aalborg airport at 3.30 pm local time the next day. Let's see, minus seven hours, makes it 8 am, so total travel time (if you include layovers in airports) was 21 hours. Nice.
Aalborg, though not big, has the most expensive taxis and hostels in the world. (personal opinion) it cost as much for the hostel as a hotel in the US (I think hostel and I think it should be like 10 bucks a nigh, but no I'm wrong) and 40 bucks for a taxi
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Aalborg to take me 5km. stupid. But the alternative was a more expensive hotel (I found the cheapest place) and no one could tell me where the buses ran. so I just shelled out the cash and went to bed at 6.30. I couldn't stay up any longer.
on Wednesday I wandered around the town, following random people who looked liike they knew what was cool. I saw lots of shopping, and cafes, and more bakeries. I looked at some of the buildings that are still around from the past 500 years, and after getting over my fear of trying to order something for lunch, I settled on getting a smorrebrod with kylling and bacon. Right. I didn't know what it was either. Turns out that I verbally ordered an openfaced sandwhich with bacon and kitten. I wondered why he laughed. Kylling, pronounced correctly by swallowing the g and adding a w after the k, means chicken. Stupid language. I'll never get it. good thing they speak some English here.
Then I happened upon the Studenterhuset (student house obviously) where basically everyone hangs out who is under 30, because it is cheap. It is kind of a bar/cafe/music venue/school
Aalborg
15th century church offices place. I like it.
Skip boring Thursday where all it did was rain and I stayed in and slept.
Friday... I'm going to jump to when after finding my dorm room (with kitchenette and private bathroom) all of the international students met at the school for orientation. Now, Danish school is a bit different. I'll give you some examples.
1. Beer. I'll get back to this in a minute.
2. Teachers are very informal, more like tutors. First name basis and all.
3. Class is not mandatory, all you have to do is pass the exams.
4. Exams are written (papers or tests or both), oral, and independent study projects
5. Beer. yes twice.
Ok, this is how I was introduced to Aalborg University.
Welcome, welcome, yadda yadda... we are going to tour the campus and answer questions, but first let us go to the bar and get a beer. (Silence) What? Yes, apparently the Aalborg tradition is that every Friday after classes are over at 3 pm every main building has a bar that opens so students can get cheap beer to start the weekend. Cool, huh. So here we go touring campus
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McDonalds on right. in the dark and cold, everyone with a beer, and questions asked beer in hand. Who are these people?
The saying goes in Denmark, "There is nothing more Danish than a beer. Unless it is another beer." They also have more breweries per capita than any other nation in Europe. It is a bit expensive, like 4 bucks a bottle, but I found out that that is because you are buying the actual glass bottle too. Which you can then return to a recycling center and get a refund, making your beer only cost about a dollar. Now bars take advantage of this by helpfully taking your bottle back from you when you put it in the trash, but if you go to the store and buy some, your can return the bottles for some cash back. Again pretty neat. They actually recycle so much that they take on other country's recycling to help out.
No wonder they are considered some of the happiest people in the world. Easy recycling so you feel good about helping the planet. Almost no crime. And there is a beer waiting for you after class. I'd be happy too. Oh wait I live here now. Excellent.
That's pretty much it for now. The school has 3 "get to know the town and other students" thingies this week. I believe that they all include bars as part of the walking tour of historical sites. So we know where their priorities lie. When something else happens I'll let you know.
Farvel,
Henry
Oh right contact info.
Myspace and Facebook
email - Stikman777@yahoo.com
Skype - henryemartin (this is easy, free and works great)
Phone # - 44 7937 020 810
Address - Henry Martin
Brandevej 10, Apt. 30
9220 Aalborg Oest
Denmark
Care packages are welcome!
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George Grant
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Praying
We're praying for you, Henry. Enjoy your time in Europe!