If you're an extrovert when you move here, Denmark will make you an introvert. If you're already an introvert, Denmark will make you a spinster.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Less than 2 hours away & a world apart
Before I get too far ahead of myself, I will remind myself (and you) that I like living in Denmark. This place has a certain charm that I can't quite explain & it's grown on me enough that (as I've mentioned before) will be hard to leave behind.
Now...that being said...I went to Liverpool for a work a couple of days ago & within minutes felt like I had stepped into a land of normalcy & had a very quick reminder of how 'different' everything really is here. When we were seated at restaurants, the waiters held the chair out for the ladies (much to the dismay of the Danes I was travelling with). The food had flavor & every menu offered up desserts! People said please & thank you. Almost everyone smiled & said hello as they passed us by. I went to a mall. A real flippin' mall. And there was a GAP! A GAP!!! And when you walk through the stores, people actually wanted to help me. I saw drive through's & chain restaurants & ok I know this all sounds really cheap & gross but you have to understand...that's 'normal'. That's capitalism. This is what the 21st century looks like. Let's embrace it. I live in retro world - welcome to "throwback land" where you literally feel like the progress of the last 100 years just hasn't quite made its way to you. I'm pretty sure that no one here even knows what a bluetooth even looks like. But even if you can forget all that, the fact is manners & chivalry are 2 concepts that just drowned somewhere in the ocean before it could make its way to Denmark. It. Just. Doesn't. Exist.
Brits are supposedly known for their stiff upper lips (and bad teeth of course) but I found them all to be so warm & friendly compared to what I have come to know about Danes. I was fascinated by the fact that I could understand the local news. I loved that on my last day in the office, the receptionist hugged me & said she would miss me. I've spent almost a year getting to know some of the locals here & I am still relatively surprised if they crack a smile as I walk by. Now, if they could just drive on the right side of the road...ah..but I digress.
When I arrived today, I struggled to carry my suitcase up the stairs from the train station, as 6 men looked on & laughed. Then, I got on the bus & an elderly woman of about 75 years old pushed me because she wanted to stand in the spot that I was standing & trying to hold my suitcase. This is not England. This is not America. Hell, this is not like any place in the world. This is Denmark & they are proud of it. Me? Give me about a week & a few bottles of wine & I'll start remembering again what it is I like so much about being here. Until then, God Save the Queen.
Now...that being said...I went to Liverpool for a work a couple of days ago & within minutes felt like I had stepped into a land of normalcy & had a very quick reminder of how 'different' everything really is here. When we were seated at restaurants, the waiters held the chair out for the ladies (much to the dismay of the Danes I was travelling with). The food had flavor & every menu offered up desserts! People said please & thank you. Almost everyone smiled & said hello as they passed us by. I went to a mall. A real flippin' mall. And there was a GAP! A GAP!!! And when you walk through the stores, people actually wanted to help me. I saw drive through's & chain restaurants & ok I know this all sounds really cheap & gross but you have to understand...that's 'normal'. That's capitalism. This is what the 21st century looks like. Let's embrace it. I live in retro world - welcome to "throwback land" where you literally feel like the progress of the last 100 years just hasn't quite made its way to you. I'm pretty sure that no one here even knows what a bluetooth even looks like. But even if you can forget all that, the fact is manners & chivalry are 2 concepts that just drowned somewhere in the ocean before it could make its way to Denmark. It. Just. Doesn't. Exist.
Brits are supposedly known for their stiff upper lips (and bad teeth of course) but I found them all to be so warm & friendly compared to what I have come to know about Danes. I was fascinated by the fact that I could understand the local news. I loved that on my last day in the office, the receptionist hugged me & said she would miss me. I've spent almost a year getting to know some of the locals here & I am still relatively surprised if they crack a smile as I walk by. Now, if they could just drive on the right side of the road...ah..but I digress.
When I arrived today, I struggled to carry my suitcase up the stairs from the train station, as 6 men looked on & laughed. Then, I got on the bus & an elderly woman of about 75 years old pushed me because she wanted to stand in the spot that I was standing & trying to hold my suitcase. This is not England. This is not America. Hell, this is not like any place in the world. This is Denmark & they are proud of it. Me? Give me about a week & a few bottles of wine & I'll start remembering again what it is I like so much about being here. Until then, God Save the Queen.
St Patty's Day - The Before & After
Growing up in Miami, St. Patty's Day was never really a big deal. We much prefer Cinco De Mayo, Noche Buena, Dia de los Reyes Magos....ummm basically anything in Spanish. ;-)
But then I moved to Charlotte, NC & the Irish in me really started coming up, particularly in March. After 3 years of marathon pub crawls, I have to admit that I was a little heartbroken to be away this year on the big day.
Alas, Copenhagen did NOT disappoint. My day consisted of meeting random Irish people at an Irish bar, being given a hat by someone that may have been a leprechaun in another life, getting quite a few free drinks from a Dane (FYI - this is an almost unheard of phenomenon), several run ins w/ people I know from work, a house party to end all house parties (NOT hosted by me this time), green jello shots, something called sucker punch, meeting the guy who lived in my apartment before me, reciting quite loudly all the words to Hustling by Rick Ross, & well...good times over all. Want proof....Check out the before & after....
And yes, I do think I am getting too old for this. :)
But then I moved to Charlotte, NC & the Irish in me really started coming up, particularly in March. After 3 years of marathon pub crawls, I have to admit that I was a little heartbroken to be away this year on the big day.
Alas, Copenhagen did NOT disappoint. My day consisted of meeting random Irish people at an Irish bar, being given a hat by someone that may have been a leprechaun in another life, getting quite a few free drinks from a Dane (FYI - this is an almost unheard of phenomenon), several run ins w/ people I know from work, a house party to end all house parties (NOT hosted by me this time), green jello shots, something called sucker punch, meeting the guy who lived in my apartment before me, reciting quite loudly all the words to Hustling by Rick Ross, & well...good times over all. Want proof....Check out the before & after....
And yes, I do think I am getting too old for this. :)
Starting the day
Ending the night (SMH in embarrassment - ha!)
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