Getting Hygge With It

Hamsterdam

There may be a bit going on. I haven’t eaten since yesterday so my mind is scattered.

Up until recently I have felt super separated from the world. Europe itself is a small bubble but slowly I feel like I’m be reintroduced here to the real world. Maybe it is me? My first month was spent adjusting again to a new place. Now, adjusted I can look out again, read the news, feel a part and engaged in the society. But lets skip to the more important things…I took my first trip outside of Denmark!! To…Amsterdam

Amsterdam, is super nice. It is more than just a haven for stereotypical ganja experts. Although, it is quite the nice place for them as well. The grandeur of this European gem lies in the extensive canal system designed in 17^th century.

When I got to Amsterdam, I posted up in the nearest hostel that we were going to stay at (or at least one associated with it). This trip I was planning on meeting Caroline (one of my comrades from home). It was the first time that I would meet up with another human from back home. Although I’ve traveled with Caroline pretty extensively though the eastern coast of the US, it is such a wonderful shock to see such a good friend in a foreign environment and reminds you that wherever one travels they carry their home with them (or at least plan to meet them in Amsterdam). Posted up at the hostel I caught some breakfast since I left my house in Copenhagen at 4:30am that morning. Nutella on toast. Simply perfect and I guess is a popular entrée for the hostel crowd that wants a freshly baked breakfast…

We ate:
        

- Awesome French FRIES

- Walk to Wok mmm stirfry

I visited with my friend Alice:

The Heineken Museum

Things I learned there:

-          Foam is important

-     Buy Heineken

-          Heinekens love dem hops

-          Buy Heineken

The place was one huge shrine to the beer makers. Usually I would be expressing some distaste for such blatant worshiping of consumerism, but the beer is delicious. So, I’ll let you slide Heineken. Plus, I was accompanied by my good friend Alice from Gettysburg.

Okay, now about the prostitution. So, the red light district in Amsterdam is so in your face. It is like you are walking along taking in the beautiful city and all of a sudden BAM. Women behind doors resembling a soda machine. Well, not quite. But they are behind glass doors. I thought I wouldn’t be super affected but I surprisingly was. Now, I am for free choice and many argue that the prostitutes in Amsterdam are exhibiting free agency. I had a different type of vibe. Plus the mixture between tourists being jokey about the whole versus those who are really serious about the sex transactions is so strange. Not that I would ever really be into such a thing but it is all so interesting.

Later in the evening after exploring the city, we met up with an old high school friend Lindsay for some drinks at her host families house. They were so welcoming. Unfortunately, we realized later that our hostel was too far to get to any transportation for our early flights.

Thus began our trek to the airport where we would deliriously roam and spend the night. Traveling can be rough right? Overall, great trip and would definitely go back!

Mike

Exploration.

There’s too much to do and see. And I haven’t even left the country yet. 

This past weekend we went to Odense, home of the one and only Hans Christian Andersen. Note: Almost everyone in Denmark has the name: Anders, Anderson or some variation of the sort, guess they didn’t mingle with other countries much…actually, that isn’t true either. Christian or Fredrik the something had several daughters that he dispersed all over Europe to charm half of the potential kingdoms. In reality, they were arranged but the king could have been considered a royal pimp to his daughters. Thanks Mom and Dad for not pimping me out. On a side note, there is a section of Copenhagen similar to Amsterdam’s famous Red Light District. The sight isn’t much but was interesting to me is that they paid taxes. It shows that at the core of all economic progress in Denmark (now matter how you choose to make your money), taxes are involved. In other words if you are going to have some brass balls and make a buck, you gotta pay the brass tax. Interpret as you will.

Regardless, Hans Christian Andersen, the beloved children’s writer (and maker of paper cut outs) was a bit of a strange man. Though many writers seem to have beloved quirks, he was a rather ugly fellow who loved to look at himself. In addition, he proposed to about three women throughout his life to get rejected by all. He is the ugly duckling, maybe the little mermaid.

The next part of the study tour was pretty academic. We visited regional healthcare administration centers, a General Practitioner, and condom shop. That’s right. DIS took us to a condom shop. They had the “wall of condoms” which was probably the most I’ve ever seen in my life. In reality the place was a health promotion center that focused on safe sex and HIV care for the population. I found it real interesting based on the approach to HIV prevention and health promotion in Scandinavia.

**Wall of Condom**

One of the greatest and most celebrated Danes in their long history was a man named Nikolaj Grundtvig. Beautiful name, right? Well, Grundtvig was a philosopher, writer, poet, priest, etc. Basically, a big deal for Denmark. He also created an interesting idea in Denmark called the Folk Highschool or in Danish the Folkehøjskole. Basically Grundtvig wanted to educate rural farmers in Denmark. He started these high schools that focused on basic skills and learning to enhance yourself. The schools have changed over the years, but it’s similar to a small college. As a student you live in the school and help out around the school, in addition you study to specialize or try out a specific field. Our final night on the tour we stayed at one of these schools. At the højskole we took some time to bond with the Danish students over some floor hockey. Things got aggressive, USA/Denmark  chants ensued. 

**In Odense**           

Denmark is filled with surprisingly delicious things. Most people don’t associate Denmark with food, as in the case with more southern European countries. With pastries abound, rye bread, interesting fish and plenty of stands for hot dogs, you won’t find yourself board with the options. Being in such a cold environment, experiencing hygge requires some tasty snacks and good spirits. On that note, Denmark has good beer. Carlsberg and Tuborg are the staple drink for a Dane. But, luckily my friend Ani showed me one of those hidden gems that you find and can’t wait to brag about to all your friends. Mikkeller brewery in Vesterboro only a few blocks from Copenhagen Central is a cozy nook that reminds you of those small closet bars that people used to drink in during prohibition. Luckily prohibition never hit Denmark (not that it would have mattered for these guys. This microbrew pumps out some unique bastard ales that aren’t for the faint of heart. They’ve been reviewed as the best beer in Scandinavia. I’m not expert on beer, but it was great. With a few friends it’s easy to sample a couple of their 20 beers on tap (or more if you friends have a friendly wallet).  My favorites were their Cream Ale and their “Bitch Please” Barley Wine. The Barley Wine was strong and had deep smoked wood flavor.

I’ll leave you with that on your pallet! I’m behind but sneak preview, I went to Amsterdam this weekend…

Love,

Mike

**This giant is our professor** -Taken at the Trapholt Museum next to the Kolding Fjord

Dilly Dally in Danmark

Weylp. A few of my posts that I pre-typed were deleted. This is frustrating. Yet, a theme of my adventures over the past few months has been about “going with it”…so that’s what I’ll do.

As I write this post there is a crisp autumn breeze rolling through my window. It is those types of breezes that remind you that you are close to the ocean. They are unique and one of the most refreshing feelings wherever you are in the world. First interesting fact about Denmark, no matter where one is in Denmark, they are no farther than 50 kilometers from the ocean. It’s one of the reasons why it can be so cold but hardly snows.

Over the past few weeks I’ve found myself becoming acclimated to Denmark. The sensation of a new place is always disorienting at first. Still, I find it fascinating. The best way to describe it is like your first day of high school or that first week of college. Everything looks so new, so foreign (literally), but in a few days you learn the paths and slip quickly into a new routine. Try to remember what it was like the first time you came into a place where you would spend a ton of time…if you can remember, it felt completely different. I’m already comfortable here in my home, going to school, commuting, biking and even getting around Copenhagen. Sure, I’ve taken wrong trains, wandered streets, and asked plenty of helpful Danes for directions. But, getting lost is the best way to learn a new city.

Now, let’s describe the living situation. I’m currently writing from Blovstrød in the greater town of Allerød, Denmark. It is a small town about a half hour from the historic part of Copenhagen where I attend DIS. In short, it is very quiet, clean and very typical Danish. Small cozy houses, parks, no big buildings and a great get away from long days in hustling Copenhagen. I live with Agnete (host mom), Bjarke (host dad), Mo (host sister) and Esben (host brother). From the first day, they did everything to make me extremely comfortable and within the hour I was able to joke at the dinner table and put feet up on the couch. Agnete is generally a school teacher, but also a writer. This year she is spending putting one of her books that she published with her colleague online. Bjarke was in China the first week I came because he works as a recruiter for a company here in Copenhagen. Mo is in her last year of Gymnasium (our equivalent to high school) and is close to age as me so it is great to have her around. A week ago, Mo, her friend Anne Marie and I went to see Arcade Fire in Ballerup. Seeing one of your favorite bands so close in a foreign country gave me goose bumps. Esben, who is sixteen (close in age to my brother Daniel) is also in his first year of Gymnasium. In Uganda, some of my greatest moments and experiences were with my host brothers and sisters who were close in age so I have good feelings about Denmark.

I am going to try hard to more regularly update this blog since I’ve fallen behind already and so much has happened. To compensate, I’ll quick sum up a bullet list of new things, experiences, and differences I’ve seen over the past weeks.

Cool things I’ve seen:

•  Parliament
• The Royal Palace
• Old Buildings, Copenhagen burned down approximately three times but still has buildings dating back to the 1400s
• Christiania, a free town started in the 70s, home to tons of artwork, interesting food stands, filled with counter-culture and a controversial open hash market
• Royal Danish Academy of Music
• The Black Diamond, part of the Royal Library
• Nyhavn, that little canal cove that everyone sees in every post card of Denmark
• Danish Design Museum

Tasty things I’ve eaten:

•  Lots of cool my family are mostly vegetarian which is new to me since I’ve always considered myself a raging carnivore.
• Weinerbrød, a “Danish” as we would call it, flaky, sugar, heaven in the mouth
• Fransk hot dog (French hot dog), hot dog stuck in a hot dog bun
• A good amount of smoked salmon, herring, other salted and cured fish
• Leverpostej (liver pâté), common on Smørrebrød or an open face sandwich. Smørrebrød=good, Liverpostej= not so good
• Rugbrøg, staple Danish rye bread, actually delicious.

Different things for an American who was just in Uganda and now is in Denmark:

• Public Transport. It is amazing here. Getting from place to place, train to train, bus to bus. It is so easy and thanks to DIS, gratis. A train ride from one part of Zealand (the island I am on) to the other can take a few hours. Oh yeah, they are roomy and leave on time.
• Friendliness: Danish people are friendly but reserved at first. Not everyone will go out of their way to be your best friend.  
• Working vs. Studying abroad: Two words. Concentration. Free-time. There has been a huge difference between working professionally abroad and studying abroad. I loved the work environment in Uganda as frustrating as it was sometimes. Still, I had a lot of free time to think and even concentrate on projects I wanted to do. In Denmark, studying is rigorous and I am interested in all of the material. BUT, Europe is at my doorstep. Sometimes the last thing one wants to do is hit the books. It’s all out there!
• Prices: $8 pint < 70¢ pint. Nough’ said.

Similar things for an American who was just in Uganda and now is in Denmark:

• Looking Different Just having white skin does not make you a celebrity in Denmark. Being attractive here does not make you a celebrity in Denmark. In fact, if you want to be a celebrity please go elsewhere. My goal is for someone to mistake me for a Dane. Only then will I feel the most attractive.
• Knowing how to pronounce anything: You know how in grade school you had one teacher that managed to botch your name or everyone else’s name that first day? That is every day. With every word. Danish is hard. We got vowels like ø, å, and æ. And Y is like a U, V is like a U sometimes and D, well D is there but it’s basically an L.
• Fresh and organic food. The stuff here is healthy. Fruit ain’t Uganda, but it ain’t bad.
• Topics in class are surprisingly similar. Although the major focus of disease in Europe is chronic disease and management. Approaches to public health are similar all around the world. Health is global.

I believe that is a fair wrap up. Below are some pictures if you haven’t stalked my Facebook. I am still alive and well. Miss you all!

Vi ses! (See you later!) 

Mike

, 

Strøget

An old church in Allerød

Min Hus.