Saturday, May 8, 2010

Hej, Hej Hej

Danish translation:

Hej (pronounced "hi"): Hello
Hej Hej (pronounced "hi hi"): Good-Bye



HELLO CALIFORNIA!
Hello...
...warm weather and sunshine
...showering in a tub that is separate from the toilet
...English-speaking friends and co-workers
...affordable food
...bed that is not 88 steps from my door
...oven, dishwasher, and dryer
...a faster, lighter bike
...Thursday night Office Parties
...Netflix, Hulu, Pandora radio, and other assorted websites that are restricted here
...Tuesday night Reef & Runs
...Trulie




GOOD-BYE DENMARK
I will miss...
...my sweet co-workers and the people I've met here
...blogging about awkward experiences
...the fresh bread, cakes, and pastries
...the extra holidays
...the coffee breaks
...the canteen (lunch buffet)
...the long days (of sun, not work). The sun is already setting after 9pm.
...Danish flag celebrations
...zoning out when everyone starts speaking another language
...Danish babies sitting outside by themselves

I will not miss...the cold...

All Wound Up While Winding Down



My last Saturday in Denmark...(sniff, sniff...tear / woohoo can't wait to get home).....

I woke up earlier than usual this morning, bounced out of bed, threw on some clothes and headed for the door. I didn't know exactly where I was going but I am overcome with this anxious feeling of "I have so much to do and so little time now!" It doesn't matter where I go, I just feel like I have to go somewhere! I went to the bakery for one of my last delicious Danish pastries and a cup of deliciously strong coffee. I hopped on my clunky-monkey bike and headed downtown.

I have been here for 3 months and aside from groceries and beer, I really haven't bought much else. I decided to go on a souvernir shopping binge until my bike basket was full and I couldn't physically carry any more.... Not sure where I am going to fit it all in the suitcase, but I have a feeling I may be leaving some clothes behind... I won't be needing so many wool sweaters in California.

Later, I received a call from my American friend Karen. She was going to watch her friend's canoe polo tournament on Amager, the island where the airport is located. I got back on my bike and headed in her direction.. I never heard of canoe polo before, but it seems to have the same rules as water polo for the most part, except you're in a kayak. It was intense.





I felt really bad when the players got pushed and their kayaks flipped upside down. The air today was SO cold, I could see my breath and my fingers felt like they were going to break off even while I was wearing my mittens. I can't imagine what the water felt like.

Here's a clip of the action:


After the games, I headed back home on my bike. Earlier, when I was souvenir shopping, I saw this REALLY cool soap dispenser. I talked myself out of buying it because it was sooo expensive. All day long, I could not stop thinking about it though, and that's when you know something is worth it. I took a detour on the way home to go back to the shop, but sadly it was closed. Oh well, it was a bit too pricey anyway. Fortunately, my route home from the shop took me right past my favorite street performers!! I thought I blogged about them before but I couldn't find the entry.... Anyway, I ran into this band on my first weekend here and I saw them performing around town for the next 3 consecutive weekends. I love these guys and I felt it was so perfect that I spontaneously ran into them on my last weekend AND this time they were selling CDs! Of course I bought one and am listening to it as I type...

This corn man was selling corn out of his bicycle nearby:


It was a lovely day despite the clouds, misty rain, and near-unbearable cold. I think that's just Copenhagen's way of making it easier for me to leave!

What Would Have Made My Bathroom Complete..

This bathroom....




Could really have used one of these....


a good ol' poop and putt

Friday, May 7, 2010

I Survived a Dogme95

This weekend is my last full weekend in Copenhagen! It's cold again, about 5-6 degrees Celsius and it is supposed to rain ALL weekend long! I think I visited every park, museum, castle and tourist attraction there is to see in this cute little city so I am looking forward to just taking it easy.

Tonight I went over my co-worker's house and watched a Danish movie called "Italian for Beginners." The actors were Danish and it had English subtitles. The movie falls into this Dogme 95 category of movies which was created by some Danish directors who wanted to prove that good movies could be made without all the fancy special effects of modern day movies. I'm not completely convinced.... I think the movie had an ok story line and the acting was actually decent but the camera was shaky and the video quality felt like something from America's Funniest Home Videos. According to Wikipedia... to be considered a Dogme 95 movie, the video must follow these rules:

  1. Filming must be done on location. Props and sets must not be brought in. If a particular prop is necessary for the story, a location must be chosen where this prop is to be found.
  2. The sound must never be produced apart from the images or vice versa. Music must not be used unless it occurs within the scene being filmed, i.e.
  3. The camera must be a hand-held camera. Any movement or immobility attainable in the hand is permitted. The film must not take place where the camera is standing; filming must take place where the action takes place.
  4. The film must be in colour. Special lighting is not acceptable (if there is too little light for exposure the scene must be cut or a single lamp be attached to the camera).
  5. Optical work and filters are forbidden.
  6. The film must not contain superficial action (murders, weapons, etc. must not occur.)
  7. Temporal and geographical alienation are forbidden (that is to say that the film takes place here and now).
  8. Genre movies are not acceptable.
  9. The final picture must be transferred to the Academy 35mm film, with an aspect ratio of 4:3, that is, not widescreen. Originally, the requirement was that the film had to be filmed on Academy 35mm film, but the rule was relaxed to allow low-budget productions.
  10. The director must not be credited.
After the movie we hung out and watched a little TV. In Denmark they have a children's channel with lots of cartoons, Disney shows, Sesame street and Blue's Clues-type shows etc. After a certain time of day (I think maybe 8pm) they stop airing the children's shows. In the evening they only show clips of the hosts and characters from the children's shows sound asleep in their beds. They even have a count down to wake-up time running along the top of the screen! I think they show these clips of sleeping people all night long from 8pm-8am. So Danish children have no excuse to stay up late watching TV. I thought that was funny.

Here are some pictures from my going away dinner:

Sandra, Birgitte, Birgitte, Charlotte


Rune, Jakob, Karsten


Me, Vibe, Helle

Vibe, Helle, Anne

Hans Christian, Anne, Sussie

Monday, May 3, 2010

Nordic Nostalgia


Maybe it's a little to soon to be doing this, but tonight I had a "going away" party with my work colleagues and it was pretty sad. It got me thinking about this whole trip ... although it feels like I've only just arrived here yesterday, when I think of all that has happened to me in the last 3 months, it seems like an eternity.....which got me thinking...

Remember when...

I got stuck in London and wrote a cranky blog? What a complainer I was!

There was snow on the ground, all the lakes and harbors were frozen over, and it was dark and freezing?!

I walked to the train station at 5am thinking it was 6am?

I couldn't figure out how to work the laundry?

I lost my key?

I used to draw pictures with the bug? whatever happened to that bug?! I think he disintegrated. miss him...

I drank that rotten milk?

Mom and I went to Sweden?

I was in that video and said "I love science" ? ...how awfully embarrassing! At least they didn't keep the part where I say "the favorite part about my job is teamwork!"

Trevor came to visit but only brought one black and one white sock?

We went to Ireland and Ciaran's car broke down?

I went ice fishing in Norway?

I ran a half marathon?

E-man played at Loppen?

Joey and I fell asleep in a kebab shop?


Meanwhile, in the news....
The Winter Olympics came and went
The Chilean earthquake happened
The healthcare bill was passed
The Polish airplane crashed
The Icleandic volcano errupted
The oil rig off the coast of Louisiana broke

What was your favorite highlight?






Sunday, May 2, 2010

Danish Designs

City Bikes
Now that it is summer time, the Danes have these "city bikes" locked up at bike racks through out the city. They are mostly near the train stations and near tourist attractions. All you need is one 20 kroner coin (about 4 bucks) to insert into the bike and it is yours for as long as you wish. The bikes are heavy and not the best to ride long distances so they tend to stay within the city center. The coin stays in the bike until you return it back to any of the city bike racks, giving a little extra incentive for people to return them. If they don't care about losing the 20 kroner and dump the bike, then kids, bums, or drunk people are more than happy to pick up the stranded bikes and bring them back to collect their little reward.

Energy Efficient Escalators
I thought for a while that Danish escalators were crap and frequently broken. It never dawned on me that they were always "broken" when I was alone. Until one day I decided to walk down the broken one and it started moving once I stepped on it. As it turns out, the escalators turn off when no one is riding and have sensors that switch it on when people are riding.

Bike Locks on the Bike
There are millions of bikes in Denmark. The majority of them are only locked around the back tire. There is a piece of metal attached to the frame that you can lock in between the spoke and that is enough to keep the thieves from robbing you of your bike. You don't have to carry around a u-lock or chain, only a key. Of course if you have a fancy, expensive bike it would probably get stolen regardless. The average Danish bike looks like it is from the 1920's, is usually covered in rust, and weighs about 200lbs.

Public Restrooms
The public bathrooms in Denmark are immaculate and always very private. I have never been in a stall where you can see people's feet or see through the cracks. Each stall has a real door that goes all the way to the ground. The locks have a pea sized dot on them and when the door is unlocked, the dot is white. When it is locked, the dot is red. There is no need to check under the door or knock to see if anyone is in there. The toilets have 2 flush options, low flow for #1 or heavy flow for #2. In Roskilde I used a public WOMEN's restroom and there were 3-4 stalls on the right when you walked in. The sinks were in the back and in the very back was a desk with a man sitting at it! He works in the Ladies room. He cleans down the sinks and wipes down the toilets and door handles every so often.

What Would You Say of the First Nice Day in May?


On the last Friday of the month the Danes receive their monthly paycheck. The first weekend of the month is an important day in the Danish economy. The Danes go shopping! Stores are open on the first Sunday of the month and the S-trains are free to ride anywhere! I found this out on the way to drop Joey at the airport and even though I was completely exhausted, I felt the need to take full advantage of my last first weekend of the month. How did it take me 2 and a half months to figure this out!? I jumped on the first train that pulled up to the station and took it to the furthest possible stop, Hillerod. Luckily there is a beautiful castle in Hillerod called Frederiksborg Palace and the day couldn't have been more picture perfect...The air was warmer than usual and the sun was shining... I loosened my scarf...













Back home...

Mr. Dignified Pup says..."Yes, it was a good day."

Marketing the Danish Way



Danish Ad: Forstoppelse far mennesker til at fole sig indelukket...
English translation: Constipation for people to feel themselves confined.







Danish Ad: Her er 3 store danskere.
English translation: Here are 3 Great Danes.







Danish Ad: Kom taettere pa dage hvor tiden star stille.


English translation: Come closer upon the day where time stands quiet. Visit Norway.DK


Nothing like a sexy lumberjack sitting in the weeds without his pants on to motivate you to find some peace and quiet. Doesn't it make you want to visit Norway?!

May-Day May-Day The Vikings Might Attack

May 1rst is another holiday in Denmark where hundreds of thousands of people flood the park down the street and listen to union leaders and politicians speak about I don't know what. It's some sort of labor day. Even the Danish people I know couldn't give me a good description of how it started or it's purpose...something about rallying together and demanding 8 hour work days..you get the picture. It has since turned into an excuse for everyone to sit out in the park boozing it up and chowing down on McDonald's. There were McDonald's wrappers and beer cans all over the city! I counted at least 7 garbage cans with vomit in, on, or near them. I would say the average age of the drinkers was 16 and there was plenty of public displays of affection. It was a mess....


Joey and I decided we had done enough boozing lately and decided to take the sober approach to a cultural experience and took the train out to Roskilde, about 30 minutes west of Copenhagen. Roskilde is famous for 3 things: their summer music festival (in June or July), the cathedral, and the viking ship museum.




We missed the summer music festival but we were able to catch an outdoor talent show. The boys were dancing around with guns to Michael Jackson's "smooth criminal." A lot of the Danish kids play with toy guns which seemed so wrong. Apparently guns are completely illegal in Denmark so no one is worried about distinguishing a real gun from a toy gun. If you walked into a Danish bank and tried to rob them at gun point they would just think you were playing around.




Later we toured the Roskilde Cathedral where all the dead Danish Kings and Queens are buried in tombs and coffins.




Below is Christian IV's tomb. He's my favorite Danish king. I couldn't tell you what he did or what he looks like. But his initials C4 are on all the cool buildings in Copenhagen.



I thought this room was pretty amazing...All the artwork below is painted on a flat surface. They really did a good job of making that C4 shield look 3-D...



After the cathedral we mosied on over to the Viking museum where we got to go out on a replica 10-man viking ship and sail into the harbor. Joey and I were the only customers so we had to use two of the museum staff as extra man power. Good thing we borrowed those guys because in order to get back to shore we had to row all the way back against the wind. I would never have survived being a Viking. The museum was slightly disappointing. I expected big huge Viking ships and cool artifacts. But they didn't really have any of that stuff. There were some people carving wood and painting shields and boats in the same way that the Vikings probably did back in the day. Inside they made up some stories about how a Viking attack might have happened if the Vikings attacked Roskilde. The Vikings never attacked Roskilde though. They found 4 or 5 boats that the Roskildians had sank in the harbor to prevent the Viking ships from getting to land and pillaging the village. I don't think there's too many detailed historical accounts of what went down during the Viking era. So the museum was a bit of a stretch I thought. But at least we could see ourselves as Vikings....






Yes, they have real swords and axes in the children's play area...

Here are the boats they found in the water:


The end.