Danish Honesty

I'm reading a book called "The Xenophobe's Guide to the Danes". According to the website for the book, it is "A guide to understanding the Danes that highlights their character and behaviour with warmth and wit."

So far, I find that the book is a little full of it...But one quote from the book came to mind today....

"...But once their occasional childlike lack of tact is forgiven, everyone likes the Danes."

I was about to enter my apartment when I saw the only neighbor that I know coming down the stairs. He's a young, Danish guy who I've chatted with a couple of times & I always find conversations with him a little....well...odd. But not because he is odd. He is just a very Danish guy & I am very un-Danish. Today was no exception.

We stopped to say hello & chat for a minute & he asked about my Christmas & I asked if he had plans for New Year's. He's hosting a party in his apartment & asked if I wanted to come. And then he remembered that he had an additional 5 girls coming after dinner which totally throws off the male/female ratio of the party. My neighbor then said that I was welcome to join for dinner but would be better if I didn't stay for the party so as to not throw off the numbers too much.

Does this sound strange to you? Had this conversation taken place at this time last year, I may have completely died of shock & awe at the rudeness of the person. However, as the book suggests, Danes have a childlike lack of tact that apparently must be forgiven. And this is just another example of the cultural differences between us. To him, that is not rude...Just a matter of fact. And to me, that is not rude, Just a matter of him being a Dane.

I constantly spend my days thinking that this a country in serious need of change. But in the end, we are the ones that change. Foreigners come into this country & only leave a small dent in the fibers of the culture of this country. Sure, there's a small foreign influence that exists today - but in the end, it's the foreigners that adopt the attitudes & ideals of the Danes & accept odd behaviours as 'normal'.

As far as the invitation goes, as exciting as it sounds to join a typical Danish dinner & then gracefully slink back downstairs when the party starts to make way for the 5 additional women that will show up to throw of the balance of testosterone vs estrogen in my neighbor's apartment - I think I will pass. I have a book to read. And then I might write a book of my own. Just sayin'....

Christmas

In my family, Christmas Eve was always 'the big celebration'. We'd gather at my Godmother's house in the early evening & by 8pm, the house was full of distant relatives & family friends, the Salsa music was pumping through the speakers, the lechon being roasted in the caja china, & the smell of mojo filling the air. The older men were playing dominoes close to the pig so they can keep an eye on it between games. The older women were in the kitchen making the rice, the black beans, yucca, & other foods. I never fully appreciated the traditions & the deliciousness of the food. I was a very picky eater & my family had to make macaroni & cheese just for me so that I would eat something. Believe me, I got over that one. There would be games, dancing, good food, & wonderful memories.

As the years have gone by, that tradition has ended. The same house is now empty on Christmas as my cousins usually go away for Christmas. It's been a few years that my brothers & I have even been in the same city on Christmas. When I lived in Charlotte, I would spend it with the dog, watching TV.

This Christmas, I am in Europe. Surrounding myself with people was the key to not waxing poetic about traditions & good times that I haven't even had in almost 10 years anyway. A small group of us (all American) decided to spend Christmas Eve in Malmö, Sweden. Turns out that Malmö is just a little bit of a ghost town during Christmas. Stores, museums, cafe's, bars, restaurants...all closed. The only place that was open....was Mc Donald's. And so to Mc Donald's we went. 4 Americans in search of a connection to home. We ate & laughed a little at the irony & then went off again for another little walk throughout the empty town.

And then we heard the Christmas music. Somewhere in the distance, you can hear "White Christmas" & other standards playing. It didn't take long to find that the music was playing from a speaker at an open air ice skating rink. An empty ice skating rink. The 4 of us spent almost an hour sitting on a bench, listening to the music, occasionally gliding around on the ice (not on skates obviously), & just staring out at the empty rink. Not sure what everyone else was thinking of....But for me, my mind wandered off back to the smells & sounds of a typical Miami Christmas with my family. I was grateful for the opportunity to be in Europe, happy to not be alone, & hopeful that the future has way more in store for the 4 of us that were there than an empty skating rink. Every day is a blessing, we just don't always see it.

Oh and someone please remind me of this the next time I start to go off about something....Thanks.



What is up with the peeing folks?

Now that I have waxed poetic about all the good....Let me explain something I truly don't understand about this country: They are fascinated w/ peeing in public.

This is not something that is exclusive to men. Women do it, too. All the time. There isn't a single weekend night that goes by that I don't see someone going to the bike lane, leaning against a wall, or jumping in between the bike racks to get their pee on. I. Don't. Get. It.

It happened just now as I was coming back from a friend's place & this time the lovely gentleman had chosen the wall next to the entrance of my building. What a sweety.

I understand that this is a country where the viking blood runs deep. But during the day (which by the way, daytime is almost non existent right now) these same people spend as much time as possible at the gym, getting waxed (yes, men too), tanning, & basically being as groomed as possible. Yet at night, the oh so classy side of the Danes comes out. One Tuborg too many & there they go. The earth is their toilet. It's so bad that there are even certain streets where you describe them by saying "You know...It's the street that always smells like pee."

I don't understand or appreciate this habit as I personally don't want to turn the corner to see a man leaning against a wall....and then turning around to see a woman squatting in between 2 bikes AS IF that could possibly cover anything. It's not pretty people.

If I were a twitterer, this is where I would write #damncountryisstrange.

Thanksgiving

American holidays tend to be a difficult time for many expats. Fortunately for me, I haven't had that experience so far. For the 4th of July I went to an Embassy Party & also dinner w/ an American friend. On Halloween, I went to a costume party & managed to have a great time with about 15 other 'foreigners'. And now comes Thanksgiving.

Since I just came back from visiting family & friends, I was a) still a little jetlagged and b) still on the high of having been w/ my loved ones. So Thanksgiving really didn't phase me. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised when a number of Danes wished me a "Happy Thanksgiving" to which I consistently replied w/ "Gobble Gobble" much to their amusement & delight.

That evening, an American friend of mine (same as the one that I shared the 4th of July with) & I went to dinner @ a Canadian burger joint. I won't dare say that it's close enough so as to not insult my Canadian friends. However, let's just say that the burgers were 'almost American'. (I hope I am safe with that description.) I had a lovely evening of good food, good company, no food coma and DEF no family throwdowns. Not that any of that happens in MY family. ;-)

This Sunday, I will celebrate again at a Thanksgiving luncheon hosted by another American friend of mine. I can't promise that there won't be a food coma this time. The menu will consist of all the traditional fixin's & I simply can't wait.

Just thinking about it all makes me go Yuuummmmmmm......

The Danish reaction to a Danish

Ok Americans. Listen up. The Danish (the delicious pastry we love to enjoy in a cheese or fruit variety) does not actually exist in Denmark. This came has a major disappointment to me when I first arrived to Denmark. I did not appreciate this as all I wanted was to enjoy a cheesy & fruity pastry delight that was covered in icing in the very country for which it has its namesake.

However, the Danes do not believe in icing, the processed cheese in a Danish is nonexistent in Denmark, and the fruity deliciousness is not used in any pastry in this country. They do have pastries, and they are good, but it's not what we think of AT ALL. Sooo....while I was in the US, I picked up a box of Cheese Danishes while at WalMart to bring back & share w/ my Danish colleagues.

First, there was confusion. "What IS this?" That was followed by amusement. "Wow! Whatever this is, it's named after OUR people". This was then followed by curiousity. "Hmm....Should I taste it?" But that only led to disgust. "This stuff is processed & fake & not at all what our fabulous country represents" ....Ultimately, it was almost a dare. Who would eat it? Who would eat more than 1? I only brought back 1 box. This box had 6 in it. As of today, there is still 1 left & no one will touch it.

Between us....I'm dying to eat it but don't want to be caught by the Danes eating the American Danish. However, I will never let a yummy treat go to waste so in all likelihood, expect me to snatch it sometime next week....and gosh darnit...I will LIKE IT.

It's Been A While

And it's not that I have forgotten how to blog. Promise. But things have been a little hectic. The good news is that I recently had a chance to see most of you & catch up in person. Being home really refreshed my batteries & renewed my spirit in ways that I can't explain.

I loved being h-o-m-e. Spending time w/ my bestie, my dog, my family, & my friends is incomparable to any experience that I could have abroad.

However, that being said, being home made me realize something important...I am not ready to come back. I came to Copenhagen with a goal. One single purpose. And that goal has not been achieved so packing up & heading home now would only make the past 7 months a waste of my time. And I am not one to enjoy wasted time. I miss you. I love you. I LOVED being with you. But I had to come back. And I have to focus on what lies ahead. I will be back. The US is my home. It's where I ultimately belong. But right here, right now...This is where I should be. And if nothing else, being away for 2 weeks made me realize that.

And even as I type it out, I shake my head in disbelief as I never thought I would think that.

I know I've been here too long when...

.... I know more about the Rugby Finals than I do about American football.
                 France is in the finals & today is the deciding match between Australia & New Zealand. Quite the nail biter if you happen to want to be at a bar at 6 am.

.... I'm annoyed when I can't download Danish music because I am still using American I Tunes.
                 If you get a chance, look up Fallulah on YouTube. I would say she's as good as Adele or Florence & the Machine!

....I know all the artists nominated for Danish Act of the Year @ MTV's European Music Awards...And I have a favorite! (I think it'll be Medina)

....I don't even blink when paying 35 DKK for a juice at Joe & The Juice (until yesterday when, for fun, I did the math & realized I had just paid close to 7 USD for a strawberry/banana juice!)

....I now own more scarves than I do flip flops.


               

The Morning After

So now you know that I decided to stay a little longer. Just after the decision was made official, I had a wonderful morning after. I was riding in to work (I still laugh at that) & it was an absolutely beautiful morning. The weather was very crisp & quite cool (I'm already using gloves & swapped a sweater for a jacket in the morning in addition to a scarf - which is basically now a staple to my wardrobe). But despite the chill, the sun was rising & the morning was serene & picturesque. Sunrise is now just before 8 am & sunsets, which are equally amazing here, are now around 5:45pm so it coincides with my working hours on most days.

So for some reason, this morning was calling my attention & since I had just received an SMS that my morning meeting was cancelled, I wasn't in a particular hurry to get into the office. That gave me an opportunity to stop at certain points along my ride & take some pictures. At one point, a woman stopped her Christiania Bike (will explain later) alongside mine & said exactly what I was thinking "Isn't it a beautiful morning? I take this route every morning & I've never seen it as pretty as it is today." It must've been something really special because if there is anything that I've learned, it's that Danes do not randomly stop to chat w/ strangers.

So here are some pics of this 'beautiful morning'. I am sure I didn't do it any justice.

The Little Mermaid

Windmills Across the Harbor

(My Bunjee Jumping Experience was just to the left of that)

Sunrise

The Kastellet

Hans Christian Andersen was from Denmark so you have to wonder if it was looking at Swans like these that gave him his inspiration for "The Ugly Duckling"

A Christiania Bike -

This is a bicycle w/ a cart in the front to carry your children in. It is usually big enough that you will even see 5 year olds in it but it more likely that a 5 year old is already riding a 2 wheeler. This is more commonly used for transporting babies & smaller children. These bikes can run into the 3-4000 USD range.

And.....

After months of anxiety, stress, consideration, reconsideration, self evaluation, and so much more in between....I decided to accept the extension that was offered to me.

It came down to an objective (trying like a crazy lady to keep my feelings out of this one) overview of what I wanted the end game to be. And in the end, my objectives would (hopefully) be better met by staying & continuing to tackle the challenges that I am faced with here.

I still struggle w/ the decision because I desperately miss my dog, my family, my friends, etc in addition to not really 'loving' the work I am doing but I am very blessed to at least have good friends, a roof over my head, & an opportunity to continue to explore Europe to keep me going.

So here's to the next 8 months....I hope that it will continue to bring me good material to share w/ you & that you will continue to join me on this ever changing ride.

Cheers from Sunny (but chilly) Denmark!

6 Months & Only Indecisiveness Prevails

As time goes on, the days start to melt together. It was only late last night that I even remembered that yesterday was the 1st of the month, & I had reached my 6 month mark here. Unfortunately, I'm not any closer to a decision on how much longer I want to stay & fortunately, I was given an extension on giving the decision.

My thought process is a little like this:

Wake up, realize that I have to bike to work & it's pretty cold outside - "That's it, I'm leaving"
Just before leaving for work, I look in the mirror, realize that the biking is helping me to look a little slimmer - "Oh hells to the no - I gots to stay!"
Get to work & read my emails. Find out that everything that was promised to me the day before, is never gonna happen - "I can just ride a stationary bike back home. I'm blowin' this joint!"
Go to breakfast, realize I don't pay for it (except for a small stipen out of my salary) - "Hmm....maybe I should...."

And basically, this goes on throughout the day. There's falls from the bike (yes, again & again) that make me realize this place isn't for me. Then there's phone calls from nice friends who want to go out sometime in the week that always remind me I am not alone & I should stay. And the vicious cycle continues. 

I won't go on. Let's not bore you with all the details. My promise to you this month is that I will go back to finding the good so that I have something interesting to blog about. 

Stay tuned for more....And just don't give up on me yet. ;-) 

Pretty Pictures

Just because I can't find nice things to say doesn't mean I don't have nice things to show you. :)

At the Glypotek in Copenhagen

From the Glyptotek

Kronberg Castle in Helsingor, Denmark

(Castle used as the setting for Shakespeare's "Hamlet")

Rose in Kongens Have (King's Garden) in Copenhagen

Sunset in Stockholm, Sweden

(Where I spent my 32nd Birthday)



The Difference

Still no decision on what is going to happen or how long I will stay but in the meantime, just thought you would enjoy seeing the difference a few months can make...

Check out my pro bike riding skills. lol.



5 Months Was Supposed to be the Halfway Point

This is the time of the month that I usually list out the things I enjoy & the things I miss. I try to maintain the list at items that are a little petty & silly because truth is, every month is the same: I miss you. I miss my family, my friends, my dog, & having a place that I enjoyed calling home. It's been exactly 5 months now, I am not any closer to thinking of Copenhagen as home.

And now I have a decision to make....I've been offered a 4 month extension on my contract that would keep me here until June 2012.

Most people will say, "What's 4 more months?" - I can understand that.

But 4 more months is a long time when you aren't happy. What??? I am not happy??? That might come as surprise to some. I know.

I won't go into all the details but I will say that the decision is not as cut & dry as it seems. Both have their pros & cons & I am spending alot of time trying to weigh them both out.

Stay tuned for the verdict....I am SURE that you are at the edge of your seat. lol.

And yes, your advise & opinions are always welcome.

The Accident

Last Tuesday night, I went to dinner w/ some friends. On my way home, I hit a curb & fell of my bicycle. Nothing more than my pride was hurt that night. The next day, I laughed as I told everyone that I fell off my bike for the 1st time. Just as I was finally feeling good about my bike riding & I go & fall off the bike.

That night, I was leaving my apartment & as I went to cross the street, I realized that I wouldn't make it so I tried to brake. Realizing that I was still propelling forward, I tried to hop forward. Unfortunately, my shoes were slippery & slid forward. I landed on the bike frame & then fell over & the bike landed on top of me in the street.

As I got up, I realized that I had ALOT of pain on my left wrist, left knee, & my upper thigh. I decided to put the bike away & as I was locking up the bike, I put my hand on my leg & noticed that my hand was now covered in fresh blood. I apparently cut myself in the upper thigh area. After realizing the cut was kind of long & deep, I decided to go to the hospital. Thankfully, the friend I was meeting decided to go with me.

There is no 911 system here. There is a 112 system which apparently is run by the fire department & not linked to other emergency services. I also called a couple of 'hospitals' I found on google & all claimed not to have an emergency room. My friend decided to hail a cab & take me to the only hospital she knew of, which was less than 10 km away.

When I got to the hospital, I entered & approached a nurse who looked like she  bought her uniform at the sexy nurse section of the porn shop (except she was about 70 years old so try THAT for a mental picture) who told me I needed to wait on the other side of the yellow line. The wait wasn't long & soon enough she called me over where I explained what happened.

One kinda cool thing: There is no need to go to registration or fill out paperwork. The nurse took my CPR # (which is like a social security #) & all my info & medical history (from Denmark) pulled up right away. I was immediately escorted into a room where a doctor came in to examine me in less than 5 minutes.

The dr said that because of the location of the cut, stitches were not ideal & that it should heal on its own in a week or 2. No bike riding for a couple of weeks (or I am thinking possibly never...I haven't made that decision yet) & have to keep a close eye to monitor for infection.

Since then, I have confined myself to self prescribed bed rest because I do feel that infection is a huge possibility. It hurts, I'm cranky, & I'm scared.  This is prob the most time I have spent in my apartment since I have been here & I am bored, still cranky, in pain, & scared....and did I mention bored?? BUT, I do think it's healing better than if I were trying to be out & about so I will hopefully be back to my old schedule in no time.

The question now becomes...Will I ever get on the bike again???? That's not a question I am ready to answer yet.

Rome If You Want To

At this time last Saturday, I was baking in the heat of Rome, Italy. It was an amazing weekend full of good food, breathtaking sites, & SUN. After this poor excuse of a summer, the heat of Rome was a surprise that my skin was not expecting. Rome was exactly what I envisioned. Traffic was chaotic, Vespas zipping about to & fro, landmarks at every corner, & food that is as full of flavor & life as the people that live in this amazing city.

It took me a little while to realize why I was so happy but then it hit me. There was emotion everywhere! Until I was in Rome, I didn't realize exactly how much of a difference there is between the Scandinavians & Latins (Italian's, Spanish, etc). I was in a place where people stopped to chat w/ each other in the street, hugs & kisses are a normal greeting, drivers constantly yelled & flipped each other off (yes, even that was something that brought a smile to my face). Italians, or Romans as they prefer to be called, are passionate & I liked it!! Ok, maybe I didn't like the stereotypical gang of guidos sitting on a front porch hooting & hollering at every "bella" that walked past them but in every other sense, it was GREAT.

However, by the end of the weekend, I learned something about myself that surprised me...I could never live in Rome. For as exciting & interesting the people and the places were, as I boarded the plane for Copenhagen, I started to compare the 2 & realized that there are things that I value more than the great food & warm weather. I want to live in a city where there isn't a beggar, hustler, or gypsy on every corner. I want to live where my kids (in case that ever happens) will grow up feeling safe & enjoying a healthy lifestyle (I prob wasn't thinking so much about that as I engorged on pasta but whatevs). I found myself preferring the clean (albeit quiet) streets of Copenhagen.

Don't get me wrong...This still doesn't feel like home to me. But little by little, as I explore the world a little more, I learn about me & I learn about what is important to me & maybe...just maybe....some of those things are here, In Copenhagen.

And the best part of Copenhagen? Rome is only a 2 hour flight if I start to miss the food, sights, & passion again!

Going to the Movies

In my earlier post, I mentioned my expensive habit of going to the movies & realized that this is an experience worth sharing.

First, let's begin w/ the joys of trying to find a movie to watch in a country where you don't understand the language. I finally found that the easiest way to do this is to google "Movies in Copenhagen" & I get a list of movie times. Trying to use Fandango or MovieFone is a futile effort. I know there is a website that you can purchase tickets in advance but this is apparently for experts or people with levels of education beyond me b/c I can't figure it out.

The average cost of 2 movie tickets is just over $30 (yes, that is US Dollars) & when you buy your ticket, you are assigned a seat. You read that correctly...assigned seating. (there is a story about this....read on)

When you go to the concession stand, it's a full blown candy bar. You know, the kind where you walk around & fill a bag w/ every candy that you can imagine. You just walk along, scooping candy into your bag, oblivious that your entire month's salary is about to be given to this theatre. There's soda, which is self serve, along w/ wine & draft beers.

Now, last night, I made the mistake of not getting to the theatre on time. This is not really a problem because just like the US, there's a good 15 min of previews. However, don't forget the assigned seating factor. My friend & I chose seats in the back but no one told us that we'd have to cross over almost 10 people who were already in their seats so that we can get to our seats in a back corner.

Being the sweet, polite, considerate Americans that we are, we decided to just sit in the front & not disturb the people in the row we were so ridiculously assigned to. Ok, that's a bit of a lie. My friend decided to sit in the front & I followed. I felt like I was breaking some cardinal rule & that somehow the movie theatre gods were going to descend upon us...like somehow the film would stop & a voice from above would call us out for not following the rules.

This may have been ok, except that sure enough, the seats we sat in were assigned to someone else who came in less than 5 min after us. The people stood in front of us holding out their tickets because it was apparently imperative that THEY sit in THEIR assigned seats...Not the empty seats next to us, in front of us, or prob even behind us. Nope. The rules clearly state that they must sit in that seat. So, off we went in search of another set of empty seats. This time, I sat in the corner & said to my friend that if anyone came for those seats, they were not going to be coming to me first! I was already full of guilt & shame that I had broken a rule as sacred as the assigned seat rule.

The rest of the movie night went without incident but you can bet your bottom dollar that next time, my bag of million dollar candy & me will be sitting in the correct seat!

Oh My! 4 Months Have Gone By!

It's hard for me to believe that it's now been 4 months. Admittedly, this last month has been more fun & less of a struggle than the one before. I'm starting to find my stride (kinda sorta) and have enjoyed some really fun times in the past couple of weeks.

What I miss:

1. Fresh Produce  
It's not easy to find fresh fruits & veggies here, which is odd considering the Danes love to eat fruits & veggies. And most people will react to this by saying "Don't shop at the Netto" but it doesn't really matter what store you shop in, the veggies don't look quite right. I'll eat them from the canteen at work or in a restaurant but I have a hard time buying it at the store when it doesn't have the shine & 'fresh' quality that you will find at American grocery stores.

2. Knowing what the weather will be
The news is in Danish and the English websites rarely have accurate reports. Search BBC, Weather.com & my Iphone & each will have a different forecast & they are all wrong.

3. Summer
Tank tops, shorts, flip flops (with nicely pedicured toes of course), bathing suits, suntan lotion, suntans....I miss it all. I don't need to have it year round. I really don't. But a couple of weeks of it won't hurt anyone. Just sayin'.

4. American Jokes
Nothing is worse than sitting in a room & everyone laughs at a joke & you're looking around the room wondering what's so funny. It's great to meet people of different nationalities & cultures...but the humor doesn't always translate.  

5. People with attention spans
Trust me...It's not that easy to find around here.



What I Enjoy:

1. Weekends
There's always an adventure. Maybe it's watching my first Rugby match or enjoying some absynthe w/ friends or maybe it's a travel opportunity (this weekend baby!!) ...But I find ways to keep busy & that's always nice.

2. Friends
And I mean the TV show this time. It's nice to come home & watch something familiar...And it just so happens that I know every episode by heart so it's def like a piece of home when it's on.

3. Skype!
Loving the connection to home via technology

4. (Some of) The Food
Thai, Vietnamese, & Sushi are really good here. And I found a great pizza place (Mother) and loving me some burgers at Halifax. 

5. Going to the movies
Admittedly this is an expensive habit but the movies are American, the concessions are way better than the US, & it's a great place to be on those rainy days where being outside doesn't seem like a good option.  

I Ride a Bike Now

I was determined to accomplish this monumental feat before the end of Summer & there you go...I ride my bike to work, to the store, to friends houses...I'm pretty good at it, I think. But Mother Nature is a bit of a royal bitch because the moment I decided that I was going to ride the bike to & fro'...Well that's when the trick decided that the weather needed to be one huge pain in my arse.

I'm constantly hearing that nothing beats a Danish summer. Summers are soooo perfect here that they totally make up for the harsh winters, cold Springs, & even colder Autumns. Summer is IT. What no one tells you is that the Danish summer lasts for about 2 days. Blink & well, you just might miss it. Oh...And just to make it even more fun, these 2 days are usually a Monday & Tuesday & you can only stare in amazement from your office window.

So now that I am opting to use the bicycle for transportation, the temps drop, the rain has started, the wind picks up. It's incredible. So friends...While you are all complaining from your airconditioned homes & cars about your 100 plus degree temps & planning your trips to the pool & the beach because your tan needs a touch up...well just think of me...Riding my bicycle, in the rain, in 50 degree temps, looking a little like Casper the friendly ghost. Think of me, shut your mouth, and spend an extra 10 minutes at the beach/pool just for me. ;-)

Danish Customer Service

It doesn't exist. But, this is not going to be a post about how terrible the service is but instead I hope to give you some interesting examples of how the Danes believe they are providing good service.

The first example took place a couple of weeks ago. I'd been invited to dinner & to watch an Interactive play (the play alone could take up a few blog posts) by a Danish colleague. It was a small group of 4 of us (Danish colleague, his female cousin, & my friend - also female- from South Africa). We agreed to meet in the uber trendy meat packing district of Copenhagen. The restaurant was completely empty when we arrived except for a few people having drinks outside. My colleague had arrived a few minutes before the rest of us & was told that there would be a table available for us.

When the group was together, we walked inside, & I heard alot of Danish & the colleague & cousin promptly walked out. I asked what happened & was told that earlier there was indeed a table available, however, now they did not have tables available because the restaurant was fully reserved.

Yes, the restaurant was still empty except for the few people drinking outside but were turned away because eventually, the restaurant would be full. Eventually.

This did not phase the Danes I was eating with. In fact, they were confused when I asked them why then was the restaurant empty. Apparently, I was speaking nonsense. We made our way to a different restaurant & dined on traditional Danish cuisine. Normally, that is followed by a gagging sound but this one wasn't too bad.

Last night, I was invited to go eat burgers w/ an American buddy of mine & his neighbor. Great burgers are not easy to find here so you can't imagine the relief it was to be introduced to this place almost 2 months ago now.  Best American burgers in the area & it's a Canadian restaurant. Oh well. I'll take it.

Anyways, this burger place is conveniently located on top of a gym (which in my opinion is like having a Dunkin' Donuts next to Jenny Craig) & it has a nice indoor as well as outdoor eating area. Since it was a beautiful Autumn, errr...I mean Summer evening, we asked to sit outside. However, we were told that we cannot sit outside because earlier it LOOKED like it was going to rain and now that it doesn't, it wouldn't be fair to let us sit outside when the other people who were here before have to sit inside.

Instead, we were told we could share a booth with a couple & their toddler or sit on a long bench table, which we would eventually share w/ other patrons of the restaurant as they came along. We chose the long bench but stared longingly out the window, wishing we were outside.

So now you know...An empty restaurant doesn't mean you will get a table & if it LOOKS like it was going to rain earlier in the day, you won't get to sit outside when the day is actually nice & pleasant.

Welcome to Denmark. I hope you enjoy your stay.

Swept Away

Last Saturday, I was invited to a Summer BBQ Party. Danes love summer. I mean, they LOVE summer. In Denmark, summer is short & sweet, & about as hot as an Autumn afternoon. But it's amazing compared to how it is the rest of the year.

I was excited to go to this summer BBQ, however, I knew that the weather had been a little sketchy all morning long. As soon as I arrive to the party, I looked up & noticed the clouds rolling in. It didn't take long before the heavens opened up & the mother of all storms came crashing down.

I have been through many a hurricane but this...this was just something else. In less than 2 hours, there was over 6 inches of rain, hail, wind, thunder, lightning. It was reported that over 6,000 bolts of lightning struck in that short period of time. And where was I? Still sitting in the courtyard under a covered shed trying to stay dry.

Roofs were leaking, basements were flooded, traffic lights were out...It was like a mini tropical storm with no advanced warning.

I decided to leave the party to check on my basment storage that had a few items I was storing for other people. After getting lost & eventually finding my way again, I made it to the center of the city by metro where I just needed to take 1 bus home. But that would be too easy. I waited for almost 2 hours & the bus never came. The bus sign kept saying that the bus was coming but that was a lie. It was a dirty stinking lie.

Once I came to the realization that the bus would never come, I decided to take the metro to the next station where I could switch to the S-Train & I could just walk from there. However, once I reached that station, the metro's also stopped running, the S-Trains had already stopped running, & guess what...There was NO bus there either. And the cabs were nearly impossible to catch. Standing in front of the station, in the dark, with people just roaming or fighting for one of the few available cabs was truly surreal. The worst part of it was that I wasn't totally sure how to walk to my apartment from that station & google maps wasn't picking up my location on my phone.

Panic started to set in...I looked around & wondered if this is what being in a war zone felt like. A strange quiet falls over the city with only the sounds of the occasional argument breaking out. As much as I try, it's hard to explain what that night was like.

I finally realized which direction I needed to go in & began to walk. After walking for over an hour, I made it to the apartment...Tired, wet, & w/ achy feet...But I made it. Found out later that this was the worst storm that Copenhagen has had in over 30 years. Here's to hoping it's another 30 before that ever happens again.

The party goers under the 'protection' of a covered shed

Just some of the rain in the courtyard

And you wonder why the basement was flooded??

Celebrating the 4th Abroad

This past weekend was a great weekend to be in the good ole U.S. of A. People were grilling, going to the beach or pool, setting off fireworks, & general shenanigans in celebration of the birthday of freedom in the U.S. Needless to say, there isn't a whole lot of that in Denmark.

However, I did not let this holiday pass me by...Oh no. I did not. I was able to celebrate this great American holiday in the home of the American Embassador to Denmark. That's right. I got to be Ms Fancy Pants for the night. The Embassador hosted a private party for 1500 friends, family, dignitaries, diplomats, and me on Friday July 1st.

After passing through the receiving line where I got the Embassador herself, I entered her back yard to await the starting ceremony. The Marines presented their colors & admittedly, I was a little misty eyed as they marched along past me to the stage. The Danish & American anthems were played & a speach was given about the importance of freedom from sea to shining sea.

I did not know what to expect but I imagined this elegant catered event full of American goodies that were not readily available in the city of Copenhagen. But this was an AMERICAN party & what's an American party without showing our true love of capitalism. The party was sponsored by other businesses. Each business was able to put up a tent w/ their company logo & provided food & drinks accordingly. There were servers walking around w/ silver trays but take a guess what business they represented. If you happened to guess McDonald's, you would be right.

The McDonald's tent had coffee, soda, & chocolate muffins. The Domino's Pizza tent had..well..pizza. Ben & Jerry's and  Budweiser also had tents & the Crowne Plaza donated the wine. 

All in all, it was a very pleasant night & an experience that I will get to brag about for a long time to come. 

And in case you are wondering what I did on the ACTUAL 4th of July??? Well...I met up w/ an American friend, spent an hour trying to find an American restaurant for dinner only to walk almost 2 miles to get there & find out the place is closed (the sign w/ the explanation was in Danish so no idea why). We ended up at a Thai restaurant around the corner enjoying a yummy yummy Thai dinner. 

Ah, God Bless America. 

The Embassador

The Marines plus 1 Danish Soldier

Who knows who could've been in that crowd?

Solstice

A couple of weeks ago, Denmark celebrated the summer solstice (yes, I am a little late w/ the story). As with pretty much everything in this country, this is really just an excuse to drink. However, there are some traditions associated w/ this celebration of the longest day of the year. People will gather w/ their families &/or friends, pets, and sometimes even strangers & have a picnic along w/ a bonfire where a witch is burned as everyone...oh that's right....They drink.


Originally, I had not planned to partake of these events. However, at the last minute I got an invite from a friend to just go 'look' & I thought to myself, "What if I am not here next year?" so off I went to observe this witch burning celebration.


I went off towards one of the harbors w/ my friend & watched as people stared at the bonfire (aka witch burning), had their picnics, listened to music, & ...yes...drank.

This pic was taken at Sunset - which was just around 11pm. Yes, that's right - 11pm!

3 Months Have Gone By

The past month has been challenging. Probably a little too challenging to put into a blog...So many interesting things have happened. So many moments I wanted to share. But internet issues & personal issues prevented me from being able to share all of that with you.

However, here we are. It's now been 3 months since I boarded a plane for this new chapter of my life. Maybe this next month will lead to better compliance from me in sharing my experiences w/ you. But in the meantime, let's go through the update of what I like & what I miss. :)


What I miss:

1. Pedicures
That has shot straight to the top of the list. I can't even discuss with you what my feet look like. It's just THAT bad.

2. Air Conditioning
It doesn't exist here & I guess that's not a problem most of the time. But right now, it is. Open window, close window, open window again...Life would be easier w/ a little temperature control.

3. TV
My options are repeats of 2 1/2 Men, Friends (No complaints there), and How I Met Your Mother. Oh and the Simpsons. Seriously...Those are my options.

4. The Pool
It's summer & I should be chillin' poolside working on my tan.

5. Shopping Days
Nothing beat some girly shopping time w/ my close friends.

What I Enjoy:

1. Staring out at the sea.
My office has a view of the ocean & I just love to look out & see the sailboats & Cruise ships. Of course, I always wish I was on them but it's still nice to look.

2. Knowing that I am getting better w/ the bike!

3. Always being busy.
Not so much at work but still busy in other aspects.

4. Practicing the 2 or 3 words I know in Danish.

5. Pastries on Fridays for Breakfast!

The Blog Has Not Been Abandoned

But I'm very much in the phase of "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all". It's been a tough few weeks with alot of personal struggle. It's almost all work related & I hope there is a positive outcome soon.

In the meantime, here are some pics & I promise that there are plenty of Danish observations to be shared, laughed at, & enjoyed together...Keep checking back & don't forget little ole me over here. ;-)

I love how this street looks. It's just off one of the main streets in the city.

This is part of an art exhibition for elephant conservation. Uniquely designed elephant statues are all over the city. This one was in Christianshavn.

While the weather is nice, the Danes will spend as much time outdoors as possible. A couple of my friends & I are trying to adopt that as well.

Just a random shot.

2 Month Update

Yep, It's been 2 months. Time is flying past & I can't decide how happy or sad I am about that. I'm becoming more comfortable with my surroundings. The past few months have taught me alot about myself & yet, I know that there is still so much to learn.


Just as before, I'll recap what I miss & enjoy the most. :)


What I miss:


1. Dopey, Family, & Friends: I don't think that will ever change. And Dopey's recent health issues make it that much harder to be away.  


2. Mani/Pedi's! I didn't go ALL the time but Lord knows that when the feet were starting to look a little too rough, It was time for a quick trip to the nail salon. To do that here would be approx $250 (yes, that's 250 US DOLLARS) for a basic mani/pedi. This is no bueno!

3. DVR - Oh sweet sweet DVR. What a great contraption! Records all my shows and let's me watch them when I am good & ready. My shows aren't played here & I can't stream them b/c of my location. This may be ok now that it's summer & the new seasons won't start until fall but the minute y'all start posting on FB "Ooohh...Parenthood was SOOO good this week" and "SNL was hilarious this week!" ...Yea, I may have a meltdown right around then.  


4. Being all up in your business - It's a little hard to be up to date w/ my friends & be able to be 'in the know' when you are so far away. Love all your emails & attempts to skype but I need more. I just neeeeeeddddd more.


5. Driving. Who cares if it's raining or cold or hot...You can get in a car and turn on the a/c, heater, lower windows, turn on windshield wipers, & get to your destination mostly unaffected by the weather outside.


What I Enjoy:


1. More travel. More. More. MORE! 


2. Accents! It's great to be in a room & hear accents from all different parts of the world. Makes conversations more interesting. I'm also quite fascinated to hear other people's views on the US. People are just amuse me.

3. Looking around & feeling more comfortable. I'm starting to know where things are & enjoy making plans & knowing how to get to these places (sometimes without a map).


4. Realizing that there's more work to be done. Stay tuned there...


5. The friends I am starting to make.

The Dice Game

Every culture has at least 1 game that they like to play as a way to pass the time while drinking. Danes are no exception. Apparently, one of these games involves dice & a leather cup. I'm still not quite sure I understand the concept of this game but I am really good at it b/c I kept winning.

The game is like part poker & part bullshit. Each player shakes their cup & turns it down. You look to see what you have rolled & you have to guess what others have rolled. The first player says, "I think that there will be two 2's". The next player then has to up that ("I think that there will be three 5's") or call the hand. If the hand is called on your turn & your guess is wrong, you continue playing w/ 4 dice while all the other players get to lose one die. This goes on until someone has no dice left & that person is the winner. At least, that's how I think the game goes. I wasn't paying much attention & kept asking after each hand "Does that mean I won?" "Yes, you won again" "Great!!! Now...how did I do that?"

This is a funny little culture. With funny little games. I think next time, it should be my turn to show them one of our games. Which one should it be? Hmmmm......

Did You Drink Enough?

I was out & about last night & ended up in a small bar w/ a few buddies. As I walked in, I noticed something that seemed incredibly out of place in a country where drinking should be listed as the National Hobby: A breath analyzer machine.

This machine will check your alcohol levels & tell you if it is safe for you to drive. Drive what? No one flippin' drives in this place!! Are they concerned about drinking & biking?? How many accidents are caused each year by 2 drunk cyclists running into each other on their bicycle? I want actual stats on this.

Now...I think that this machine is a great idea....for the US. All the bars in the US should have this contraption & folks should know whether they can drive at the end of the night or not. But, in Copenhagen, it just seems...out of place. In fact, one of the guys (a Dane) we were with said, "Oh yes...We use that machine from time to time. If it shows that our alcohol level is a 1.5, well, then it just means we haven't had enough & have to work on getting ourselves to a 2.5!" Ah yes, I am sure that this is exactly what the intention is.

The Sleeping Channel

Tons of expats go without television around here. They manage to find ways to stream shows or just read the news online, etc. I, however, could not go cold turkey without television so I signed up for the "full" cable package. This package has very limited english programming but hey, it's better than nothing.

But who needs english when you're just watching people sleep??? That's right. You heard me correctly. There is a children's programming channel that does not have any regular programming after 8pm b/c that's when kids go to sleep. So instead of shutting off or doing some kind of interim programming, they show people sleeping. Just sleeping...

Can you imagine the casting call for that? Wanted: actors w/ the talent of sleeping. Must know how to snore, drool, & lay motionless.

Think I am kidding? Watch...It starts up about 17 seconds into the clip. Enjoy!

New List: Places I Want to Visit While Here

I just came back from a super fantastic weekend in which I went to Switzerland, Germany, & France in 1 day. Yes...3 countries in 1 day. It was a busy weekend but I saw some amazing sites & it was well worth it. However, now I have been bitten by the bug. The travel bug. So many places I want to see... Think I am going to make a list & see how close I come to meeting these goals in the time that I am here.

1. Reykjavik, Iceland - To see the Aurora Borealis.
2. Oslo, Norway
3. Stockholm, Sweden
4. Berlin, Germany
5. Zurich, Switzerland
6. Vaduz, Liechtenstein - Just to say that I went to Liechtenstein!
7. Vienna, Austria - and I want to go to a classical music concert there
8. London, England - and Stonehenge
9. Dublin, Ireland
10. Glasgow, Scotland
11. Andorra La Vella, Andorra
12. Luxembourg
13. Prague, Czech Republic
14. All over Denmark
15. Rome, Italy
16. Athens & Santorini Greece
17. Malta
18. Barcelona, Spain
19. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
20. Budapest, Hungary

Think I can do it???