Copenhagen
The Latest
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!
Last night, Victoria, Zack, and I went to a fancy restaurant in Copenhagen called Bøf & Ost. It was located in the “Grey Brothers’ Square,” where many small restaurants and cafes are. In the middle of the square is a big tree where a mansion used to stand. The square features some of the oldest buildings in Copenhagen, bringing out the true meaning and epitome of the Merchant’s Harbor.
While we were waiting for Zack to get out of class, Victoria and I walked around Copenhagen center to find a good restaurant to eat in. We decided that once a month we would splurge on a restaurant, now dubbed “hygging sessions.” Like moths to a flame, we gravitated towards every restaurant that had candles. Ever since I’ve gotten to Denmark, I’ve fallen in love with candles. I used to think Yankee Candle was a dumb store, but now I think I’ve found a new appreciation for it.
Bøf & Ost instantly became our top choice when the charming chef saw us peeking into the window and invited us inside for a tour. I’ve noticed that the Danes like their restaurants in the cellar, so it’s warmer and more conducive to the “hygge” atmosphere.
Although the food was a little bland and on the expensive side — a mark of all traditional Danish food — I had one of the best nights in a long time. We sat there for hours just talking, making silly jokes, and laughing. I smiled and laughed so much that my cheeks started hurting. It was so nice to have so much fun without alcohol for once. Victoria and I couldn’t get enough of Zack’s dead pan humor, and we later said we’d keep a notebook of everything he says. Now looking back on it, I can’t remember anything, but I just remember laughing. And I also remember our Gordon Ramsey impressions, when Zack muttered “It could be better” about the expensive dessert platter.
( Zack, Me, Victoria: I’m looking forward to our future hygging sessions!)
Since coming to Denmark, I feel so free from everything that had been holding me back. I’m still knocking on wood and hoping I’m not jinxing it. I’ve become close friends with some of the people I live with, and some people in my classes. So far, I’m loving every single day here because I’m always learning, laughing, and living.
(And earlier that day, Henne, my visiting mom, bought me flowers when I was calling Victoria to set up dinner. Henne is honestly the sweetest old lady I’ve ever met. I’m so excited to get to know her more this upcoming semester!)
The Dubliner
Last night, we went out to the bars in Copenhagen with a magical treasure map in hand (Maya, my Danish buddy, drew me a map of all the good bars in Copenhagen). We had, like most obnoxious Americans do, pre-gamed on the train ride there. As many of you know, I am obsessed with food when I’m drunk … so I could not stop talking about wanting to get a hot dog or a shwarma (my two new favorite drunk foods in Denmark).
Yum.
After a good hour of word-vomit and laughter, we stumbled into the Dubliner, where we met up with some other friends who had already been in Copenhagen for their Danish cafe nights. It was so much fun! There was live music, standing up on tables and chairs, singing, and dancing.
The prices were not so much fun…50 kr for a beer? Good Lord.
Anyway, the last train ran at 12:45, so a few of us left the bar to catch that train. I, however, was on a mission to get shwarma…so I made a bee line for it and inhaled it once I got it. Also some chips that Kate got. Now I have a stomachache because I am a vacuum when I drunk-eat. I also talk a lot about eating and stupid things (aka, the inevitable zombie apocalypse and my plans of survival and escape).
Update: On the back of the “map of all the good bars” and our drunk list of things to do in Europe is actually my class schedule. Shows where my priorities are.
Last night, we went to the DIS Welcome Party. DIS rented out a club in Copenhagen for DIS students. There were free drinks, so everyone went crazy. Needless to say, it was the best party I’ve ever been to.
By the way, it’s legal to drink in public places in Denmark, so we started drinking on the train … I hate being the obnoxious American, but the Danes do it too. And that makes it okay?
I need to get better at blogging.
As boring as it is, I think I’m going to start a daily blog where I actually talk about what I do each day. I know it’s tiring to read, but I think it’d be fun to keep up with what I do.
I had to wake up at 6 AM today to get breakfast and catch the morning train into Copenhagen. It’s an hour’s commute from Elsinore to Copenhagen. We were almost late for the bus, so we were all in a rush. Unfortunately, I left my pass in the room, so I had to go to the 7 Eleven to buy a 24 hour clip card. It reminds me of Taiwan because there’s a 7 Eleven at every corner in Taiwan too.
The train ride from Elsinore to Copenhagen is one of my favorite parts of the day. It’s incredibly peaceful, especially since the Danes don’t particularly talk on public transportation. You can literally hear a pin drop on the bus or train. The silence can be a little unnerving and weird at first, but I’ve learned to embrace it for the quick power naps or daily reflections.
I really like how close the DIS students at the folkehojskole are. We instantly connected and banded together. It’s just incredibly refreshing to be around such down-to-earth people. We’ve started to become a little family that eat breakfast together, go off on our daily grind and come back to unwind at dinner.
After our classes, we all went back to Elsinore to eat dinner and get ready for the DIS Welcome Party in Copenhagen. DIS rented out an entire club and provided free drinks for DIS students and non-DIS students, which was amazing. Since public drinking is allowed in Denmark, we didn’t hesitate to have a little party of our own on the train ride there…
Pictures will be up soon, I’m just incredibly lazy! And my blogs are still all over the place because it’s 4 AM, and we just all got home from the party.
Denmark is…
I’m so glad that I live in a folkehojskole because everyone else is just as wide-eyed and excited as me about the culture and the experience of Denmark. I live in an international folkehojskole so there are students from all over the world here, and every night, I hear so many different stories and backgrounds… and I’m just so excited for my upcoming semester here.
We live about an hour’s commute away from Copenhagen in Helsingor (Elsinore) … and the best part? We’re walking distance away from Hamlet’s castle, Kronsborg! And on clear days, we can see Sweden!
There are a total of 70 international students in the hojskole and there are about 15 DIS students here now. Every night, we have a mandatory dinner at 6 PM and we eat family style. I’m not articulating the culture of a folkehojskole very well, but it feels like one big family from all over the place!
Just tonight, we had an evening fellowship, where everyone gathered, shared announcements, sang a “fellowship song” (tonight, it was Wonderwall), and formally introduced ourselves to the folkehojskole.
I’m getting along with the DIS students really well, along with the classmates that I’ve met over the past few days during orientation. I seem to be very attracted to Russian people because my closest friends are Russian. Take that, Aldar (sp?) from Moral Reasoning! I can say cute egg whenever I want now!
There were a few DIS students during orientation that irritated me because they were just the typical college kids who wanted to get drunk in Europe just because they can every. single. night.
Anyway, the food is AMAZING. I don’t know what people were talking about when they said Danish food is boring. I think it’s really fresh, organic, healthy, and very good. And just for the record, liver paste + cucumbers + tomatoes + rye bread = delicious.
And Copenhagen is beautiful! During orientation, we would have scavenger hunts that took us all over the city. It’s cobblestones, old buildings, castles, cathedrals all juxtaposed with amazing modern architecture and design. Bicycles are everywhere. Even though it’s a major city, I feel like it’s really peaceful and calm…
I know I sound like I’m all over the place. Classes start tomorrow! I just got my luggage today, so I’ll be uploading pictures during some downtime tomorrow (if I ever have any).
