May 2009
6 posts
Gdańsk is super cool!
This afternoon I explored the Old Town of Gdańsk. It’s so pretty! The architecture is a very Baltic-influenced style. There were hardly any cars on the medieval streets, which made them very pedestrian-friendy. Some of the better moments:
Walking down the main square, watching all of the Polish tourists
Noticing some sort of “Protestants in Poland” stand with a sad-looking...
Both a gray Soviet-era building and a Mercedes SUV...
I’ve left Denmark for the city of Gdańsk, Poland, formerly known as Danzig. It’s a city on the Baltic Sea that was once a part of the German Hanseatic League, a major trading system in Europe. Between the world wars it had the status of being a “Free City” not a part of either Germany or Poland, in WWII Germany took it back and 90% of the city was destroyed, and then the...
Last Days in Denmark
My last few of days in Denmark were amazing. I really couldn’t have asked for more. On Wednesay I visited the Our Savior’s Church in Copenhagen, best known for its spiraling tower. It was closed until just a week or two ago, which in January seemed like a shame but now more like a blessing because of the vista it offered of the city in spring. Around 65F with blue skies and a few...
$5.70 for Recycling
Bottle return is another one of those things that Denmark does better than America. In my home state of Massachusetts, you can get 5 cents for bringing a bottle or can to the local grocery store. With the amount being so low, hardly anyone bothers. Many people recycle through their municipal trash pickup, but it’s also common to throw plastic bottles in the trash, where they will likely...
May Day in Copenhagen
For pretty much everywhere in the world besides America, May 1st is International Workers’ Day. The idea originated in America with the workers’ push for an 8 hour work day, but in later years the day became a symbol of the Soviet Union so we replaced it with Labor Day in September.
Some of my Danish friends suggested that I head to one of the big parks in Copenhagen to take part in...
April 2009
28 posts
Sustainable Samsø
Last weekend I went on a trip to the Danish island of Samsø, which is powered 100% by wind energy. Actually, it’s better than that—they produce 167% of their consumption, exporting the rest to the mainland. It’s pretty remarkable, especially considering that they made the switch from fossil fuels in just 10 years. They really turned around their economy, which was facing a...
After Three Months in Scandinavia...
I wonder if the American lifestyle is truly right for me. Spending time here makes me think that Americans work too hard and are too individualistic. Is it really a good thing that we are a “hard-working people”? Do we feel safe? Are we happy? Are we equal with our fellow citizens? I don’t know if I can answer yes to these questions.
The American Dream, the idea that...
Last city, Riga. A place that makes me think.
It’s the last night of my spring break journey and I am in the capital city of Riga in the country of Latvia, which is on the Baltic Sea. I flew from Tromsø to here because it was the best way to get back to Copenhagen. When booking my ticket, I asked myself, “heck, why not stay a night in Latvia if you’re going to land there?” and that is how I ended up here.
I had read...
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
I went dog sledding tonight! What a time. I went to this place called the Tromsø Villmarkssenter (Wilderness Center), where they have 300 huskies. They have some beautiful dogs who love to run. With my musher, Frank from France, I got to ride around for a while on a 5km trip. The scenery is stunning there, off of Tromsø Island. It’s quite peaceful, with just the dogs, the sled, the...
My Time in Tromsø
This is not the most ideal time to visit Tromsø. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Norwegians take the Easter holiday very seriously. At the time I didn’t quite understand the extent of it. For the past two days, the city has nearly shut down. I’ve hardly been able to get food. Thankfully the kind man also staying here offered to share.
At least the museums are still open. ...
I spoke too soon
A few minutes ago I stood outside and saw the Aurora Borealis for the first time in my life. It was small, not that bright, and behind some pretty thick cloud cover, but I saw it! I got one picture that is so-so. It’s good enough to prove I’m not lying!
Northern Lights probably a no-go
I don’t think I’ll be seeing the Aurora while in Tromsø. I had originally hoped for it, but the weather forecast indicates clouds for tonight and the next two nights. Even if there is activity, I won’t be able to see it. Hopefully the forecast will change.
I Got Lost
Trying to walk to my hotel was not such a great idea. I got off the bus in the center of Tromsø and saw the tourist info center was closed, so the plan for getting a map failed. Then I tried deciphering the bus map at one of the stops. Very few labels. No luck. I took out my GPS, but the battery died before it could finish starting up. I tried to orient myself with a compass, knowing that I...
I've Reached the Arctic!
After an 18 hour train ride from Stockholm, I’ve reached my first city in the Arctic Circle—Narvik, Norway.
Before I get into the more recent events, I would like to say that my opinion of Stockholm improved significantly on my last day there. I made myself get up early, have breakfast, check out of the hostel, lock up my backpack at the train station, and go see some attractions. I...
Another not-so-eventful day
Day two in Stockholm didn’t go all that well. First of all, I got up way too late and the place I planned to eat lunch was closed. Thankfully the woman who took my order at the place I did eat was very friendly. She asked why I would study in Denmark if the United States supposedly has everything? Second on the not-so-good list, the Royal Palace is only open three hours per day and I...
Getting a room in the basement of a hostel really messes with your head. It’s 11:30 now and I’m nowhere near ready to go out. With no natural light in my room, I lost my natural motivator to get out of bed. On the plus side, I didn’t have to pay for breakfast.
OK, time to go!
Onward to Stockholm
Yesterday I left Oslo, which was a little sad considering that the city was so wonderful and I have no idea when I’ll be able to see it again. My train wasn’t until 4pm, so I had some time to kill, and kill time I did. Unlike the two days previous, the weather wasn’t cooperating. It was foggy and gray, so my plans to go to a former maritime school with a great view and to ride...
Another Beautiful Day in Oslo
The wonderful weather continues in Oslo! When I went out this afternoon, I didn’t even need my jacket. As the Norwegians often say when they speak English, it was “quite nice”! After breakfast I slept for a while, so I started my day late. First, I went to DogA, the Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture. They displayed some students’ design work, which was very...
“Do you want to win, or do you want peace?”
– Martti Ahtisaari, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 2008
Oslo, Norway
Oslo is the most beautiful city I have ever seen. I think it even beats Luxembourg, which is pretty fantastic. I took the picture below from atop a mountain, accessible by the T-Bane (Metro). Yes, that’s right, the metro will take you up a mountain. To a bobsled track. 469 meters (1538 ft) above sea level. No April Fools’ joke here—this is Norway. I was literally in...
March 2009
10 posts
My Saab Pilgrimage
I’ve arrived in Trollhättan, birthplace and home of Saab! I was so excited to get off the train that I nearly forgot my bag. Right away I took a picture of the train station sign and then headed to the nearest food joint, which happened to be a place called Pizza Arena, across the street. When I saw “Saab Special” on the menu board, I knew I had to order it. For 58 swedish...
My Journeys in Germany
I’ve just returned to Denmark from a week-long study tour in Deutchland (Germany)! It was a trip organized by my study abroad program here, with a one-credit class about the Memory & Identity of Germany leading up to the trip. All of our travels were in what was once East Germany, except for the former enclave of West Berlin. The tour was led by two of my professors who both have...
A Visit from a Friend
Last weekend I had the pleasure of having one of my best friends from Brandeis visit. Ben has been studying at Oxford in England for the year, so I hadn’t seen him for quite some time. First I took him to Elsinore, that castle in the picture of me a couple of posts back, and to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. The museum is located in my town here and I get free admission because I...
Travel Plans for Break
It’s been a while since I last posted, so a lot has happened. Basically, the time here is flying by. After tomorrow’s classes I’m on a three week break. Here’s my travel schedule:
Study Tour (integrated with one of my classes)
22/3: Dresden, Germany (city America fire-bombed in WWII, killing between 24,000 and 40,000 people)
23/3: Weimar, Germany (home of the...
Saturday in Sweden
(Note: before you read this, check out my photo in the previous post).
I had a great time today in the Swedish city with my friends Judy and Sarah, who both live with me at the folk high school. We did some shopping, which was actually quite cheap because the US Dollar is strong against the Swedish Krona. I got a new sweater and scarf from H&M, which I didn’t know was Swedish until I...
I Sang in Danish Tonight!
Some of you might know that every Monday we do choir at the folkhøjskole. It might be my favorite night of the week for that reason. Singing is something I love to do but never really did in a group. Thus far all of the songs we’ve done have been in English, so I’ve had no trouble at all. Well tonight Rikke, the højskole’s principal and choir leader, pulled out a new...
February 2009
7 posts
Snippets: Becoming Danish, Urban Design Class,...
Yesterday I had an interesting moment on the train. I was riding alone in the evening, watching a video on my laptop, when I heard two women speaking loudly in front of me. A Danish woman and an British woman were talking, presumably about business. My first thought was, “Gosh they’re annoying. Why do they have to talk like that?” It was then I realized that I’d had a...
The Danes and Their Government
I had an interesting interaction with my friend Simon here at the folkehøjskole today. Simon is a Dane but studied for a year in Minnesota, so he has an interesting perspective on the differences between our cultures.
He said to me during conversation at breakfast, “You see, in Denmark the people are up here,” raising his hand to chest-level, “and the government is down...
“Life has its own hidden forces which you can only discover by living.”
– Søren Kierkegaard
The Architect's Subculture
Now that I’ve had my first class with architects, I find their subculture totally hilarious. Going to a liberal arts college with no architecture program, I haven’t had much exposure to it, but I get a full dose in my European Urban Design Theories class. As a sociologist in training, I find the ways they project and express themselves through documents and websites the most...
Universal Healthcare!
Today I received my Danish “Yellow Card” in the mail, which officially makes me eligible for Danish Health Insurance! For someone from any industrialized nation other than America it must sound silly, but I’m extraordinarily happy to be a part of a single-payer, universal health care program. I don’t wish to become ill, but I would like to test the system to compare it...
The Danish Open-Air Prison
Since Thursday I’ve been on a short study tour to the island region of Fyn in Western Denmark. Yesterday we visited a Danish boarding school and received a lecture on the Danish “flexicurity” model. However, today we had by far the most interesting experience.
That’s Søbysøgård, a Danish prison. No lie, that is the main building of a prison. The other buildings...