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Published: February 13th 2008
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Snow!
Woo Hoo it's cold! Welcome back!
I've not got alot to report on my life, but I decided to discourse on the complexities of Danish living.
First though, this is what is happening to me.... School started, but that isn't so amazing. It's a really different approach to education here. I have four classes, and for two classes I have the same teacher (who gave the same lecture for both classes, I just about fell asleep the first time) and for the other two my teachers change every two weeks. So far no great explaination for what will be due and when it will be due from any of them. I think that my only requirements for 3 of them is to write a paper and give an oral defense of it at the end of the semester. And for the last class I have "project" due in June, but there is (again) no explaination for as to what that will entail either. Ergo, the Danish sentiment towards classes is a bit skewed.
We believe... actually our professors tell us, back in the States, that class is mandatory and failure to comply will result in the loss of a digit, or tooth.
My dorm
Allborg International Kollegium Also, the reading is not only required but necessary for the completion of the course and by exercising you right to be lazy you will ulitmately lose all hope of ever obtaining any profession above pizza delivery guy.
At Aalborg University, on the cool, foggy days where clouds roll over the land with a brisk wind, we learn just the opposite. Yes that is correct, readings are for your personal comprehension of the material, and lectures (optional) are only for the furthering of the collective mind. Attendance is again determined by your willingness to move out of your warm bed and walk and/or ride the bus through the cold and rain. As you may have guessed, there are many who are frequently removed from the enlightenment happening here. And it isn't only students! Teachers can regularly miss classes, and reschedule them for any time that they wish. Sometimes when you have another class, or timed just before you get to school and check your email. Brilliant.
I think I'm rambling... but I digress.
I give a toast to the bus drivers of this town, who run every 8 minutes and seem to be some of the few
Ice Skating
I love that there is outdoor skating. nice people around.
Also to the eager young people who attempt to be more outgoing than their parents, but still can't smile at you on the street. If somone smiles you know that they are either drunk, insane, or American, or all of that.
And to the usage of the work queue instead on line. I think it sounds cooler probably because you use it alot here. Upon entering a bank, or post office, or bakery, or anything for that matter, you look for the queue machine and what number they are on. Then you queue for the queue machine, when inevitably the person in front of you dies, or just stands there really still. It never takes that long, but even a few seconds is an eternity when you look at the number on the wall and the number on your ticket like they will magically become one if you wish hard enough.
And finally to the bakeries themselves, who make the most amazing breads and danishes (though they call them munichbread here) and choose the hardest sounding names possible when you want to order one. So instead you have to resort to grunting and pointing
Americanos
Some of the Americans even if you both speak English.
I did find some friends pretty quickly here in Denmark. Some are American, some Mexican, some Polish, and French, Austrian, Australian, British, Spanish.... the list goes on. Our only outings have included the handling of toxic substances, so where as I know them all intimately and find no problem with eating after them, we have yet to break the surface with deeper subjects, like last names. (it has only been a week and a half). They are wonderful, funny, amazing, and truly some of the best people I could hope to randomly meet while so far from home. Already trips around the EU are whisply pulling at our minds, and it isn't the choices that keep us from doing anything but the choosing of the choices. A fine line I understand, but very critical to planning excellence. In the works are.... Dublin for St. Patricks Day, Amsterdam for a weekend cause it's close, Spain in April for the warmer weather, and Prague this summer. I will add alot more, but those are the only ones that have been spoken aloud.
I'm off to sleep now. It's late and I have nothing to
SMILE!!!
Carrie, Me, Margo... Team USA at the dorm. do till next Tuesday and even then I don't have any readings due. So I just go to class and argue with the teachers ( I'm not sure if they like me or not, I argued against Marx with a teacher today who didn't take too kindly to my interrupting him with a raised hand) (he was smiling though) (and yes he was American).
Here is some random thoughts for you:
I need a haircut.
I just got a shower curtain.
I love Digestive cookies and dark chocolate with my tea.
It's good that I have an unerring sense of direction, otherwise you would never here from me in this rat maze of a town.
On that note, the school is planned out horribly.
Everyone bikes.
I can't figure out what the little piles of dirt are on the grass. They look like somone just scooped up some dirt and layed it down randomly, but they are everywhere. (and it's not poo, get your mind out of the gutter)
You may think I drink alot here, and where the occasions may be frequent, the quantity is not. It's too expensive.
Recycling made easy. Drop it off in the
Giant
I am a giant amongst beautiful women. supermarket queue and instantly get money back.
They have hares and not rabbits. Though they look like just big rabbits. I'm told they are not rabbits.
Just found out that the dirt hills are from moles. but they have got to be huge.
I need to go to the bathroom, so I'm going to leave you with that....
nope, actually, I got a new phone number because the other is a GB area code and it doesn't recharge. But the number is all the way in my room, so I'll put it here later. And my zip code is 9220 not 9000.
Night
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Elise
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I'm jealous
Henry, I'm so jealous that you're in Denmark! Sounds like you have a fantastic adventure in front of you! Have an amazing time!!! Can't wait to hear more!