September 15, 2009
When in Denmark…
It has been over a week since my last update. I’ve started writing updates several times, but have not had time to finish them. So, I will take the highlights and try to compile them into one.
Last Wednesday the University of Copenhagen held a “matriculation ceremony.” I guess it was similar to an academic convocation. It was at the University’s Ceremonial Hall in the center of Copenhagen (a beautiful building although I did not get pictures) and the first session was specifically for exchange students. Afterward they organized a social event in the courtyard next to The Ceremonial Hall where students could meet and talk, and more importantly eat and drink free food and beverages. So for this reason I and some friends went. We thought the ceremony itself would be long and painful, but it was actually not bad at all. The headmaster (I guess that’s what they call him?) of U. Copenhagen got up and talked to us for about 20ish minutes. He was actually pretty funny. To open his speech he told a story: Way back when, Ronald Reagan was supposed to meet with Olof Palme, the Social Democratic Prime Minister of Sweden. Before the meeting Reagan turned to his advisors and said, “Isn’t this man a Communist?” To which his advisors replied, “No, Mr. President, he’s an anti-Communist.” And Reagan said, “I don’t care what kind of Communist he is!” Everybody, including myself, had a good laugh at this. Then he connected the story to his speech in a very clever way, which I can not remember. It was about integrating into Copenhagen, meeting people, being open minded, etc. It was a good speech, opened with a joke about an American 
In the evening all of us went to Chun Li’s apartment to have a drink or two and hang out before the Wednesday international night at Studenterhuset. I met a bunch more exchange students. By now I have met people from all over the world – Poland, Germany, France, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Singapore, Czech Republic, Mexico, Canada, UK…just to name a few. It’s very, very cool. After a while we all headed to Studenterhuset. It was packed again, as usual. I met a couple of Danish friends of Chun Li’s – Patrick and Henrick. I was excited to meet some Danes, because one of the big complaints from exchange students who come here is that they never got to meet any natives. The headmaster even addressed the issue in his speech at the matriculation ceremony. Both were really nice guys and we talked for quite awhile. It was another fun night!
On Friday the University set up a canal tour for exchange students. It was pleasant, but not something I would pay for normally. You don’t get too close to any of the sights, but you do get to see a lot of the city. Here’s some pictures:
Amalienborg Slot and Marble Church from the water
Not exactly sure...Some government buildings I think.
The Opera House
A pretty street along the canal
Somewhere along the way
A little further along the way
Christiansborg Slot from the canal
I found out that this is the old Copenhagen Stock Exchange Building
The spire on the Stock Exchange Building. When Bri and I first saw it, in my first days here, we decided the creatures were Plutos (as in Disney..). Turns out, surprisingly, that is not so. They are dragons, and their intertwined tails represent the union of the Nordic countries. But I will continue to think of them as Plutos.
Old warehouse
Later Friday night we all went to an event at “The Black Diamond”, which is the extension to the Royal Library. This huge library annex was basically turned into a club, complete with bars and a dj. I’m not sure what exactly the event was for, or if they will do it again, but it was pretty cool. Imagine a huge party in a huge library! And part of the Royal Library, no less.
The Black Diamond, as seen from the canal tour earlier that day.
Inside The Black Diamond, from the second floor looking up.
The djs
We stayed at The Black Diamond for awhile, then Chun Li’s Danish friends (the same guys from Wednesday night, plus a few other girls) wanted to go to another club. So a large group of us walked all the way down to Vesterbro, south of the city. Quite a long walk. This place had more of an underground feel to it, less mainstream - a place probably only known by locals. The charge to get in was 60DKK ($12!!) but it was worth it. The dj was good and we were lucky enough to get a table, so we had a drink or two, danced, talked and had a great time. I’m really glad to have met some Danes, and I have really enjoyed the company of those I have met. I mentioned in my first post how reserved most of the Danes seem. Well, I am realizing that that is not so at 1am or later, when they’re drunk. At the club Patrick and I took a break from dancing to get some air in the lobby area. We were standing there chatting when a pair of Danish guys came along. They said something to us (in Danish so it was jibberish to me) and upon hearing my American accent as I told them I don’t speak Danish, they immediately wanted to know where I was from and why I was in Denmark. Turns out one studied landscape design at the Faculty of Life Sciences, and we talked about the gardens in front of my residence. They were very curious and seemed excited to meet a foreigner. They were nice guys! Later, around 3am, as I walked with another girl back to the metro to go home, we were stopped 3 times by groups of drunk Danes. They would say or call or sing something to us, and we would be obliged to inform them we don’t speak Danish (something I must do very often here). Each time, their eyes lit up and they wanted to know where we were from and what we were doing in Denmark. Then, after my friend and I parted ways, I was waiting for the metro and was approached by another pair of drunk Danish guys. They were pretty funny, and we talked about American tv shows and football until I got off at my stop. They were all about the Dallas Cowboys, and their quarterback - what was his name? Sadly, I could not remember Tony Romo. haha! All of the Danes I casually met that night thought it was very interesting that I was from Texas, most of them mentioned George Bush, and all wished me a great stay in Copenhagen. The point of all this is that, maybe my original description of them is inaccurate. The Danes I have actually met and gotten to know are great people. And the ones I have met in the early morning drunken hours have been friendly, fun-loving, outgoing, and welcoming. As for daytime strangers, well, I’m still trying to figure them out.
On Sunday Caitlin (the other girl from NC State) came from her dorm in Amager to hang out with me and Bri. We walked around Frederiksberg, then bought a cheap pizza and sat on the fountain in front of the Frederiksberg City Hall to eat it. It was a really nice day, and we had a nice time. Sometimes I still can’t get over the fact that I’m sitting in this beautiful, old city just eating pizza out of the box on a fountain.
The view from where I was sitting on the fountain in front of the Frederiksberg City Hall
The fountain we sat on, and behind it the Frederiksberg City Hall
The statue is of a naked man and woman, back to back, holding hands. Why is it out in front of the City Hall? Hell if I know.
Another view from the fountain. Even the simplest streets here have such charm, but I fear it's not fully captured by my camera
Me and my bike!
In some reckless act of bravery I took this picture while riding my bike home from the city the day after I got it. Just to give everyone an idea of what it's like to ride on the bike lanes of Copenhagen!
Our view of Rosenborg Slot from where we had our picnic in the King's Gardens
The King's Garden
. After leaving the party at 4am we then engaged in a traditional Danish activity for the drunk: early morning shawarmas. If you don’t know what a shawarma is, I will try to explain. It is meat, usually beef or chicken, shaved off the bone and put into a pita or wrap with lettuce, tomato, and a special sour cream/cucumber/whatever sauce. That’s the best I can do, but suffice it to say they are delicious.
Filed by andreab at 5:57 am under Uncategorized
1 Comment
A shawarm. Sounds like a Gyro. And the “dressing” is actually yougurt and cucumbers. Usually the Gyro is made with ground lamb meat and shaved off a rotisserie spitfire. As you can tell I am a big fan!!! Obsessed!!!