Monday, January 30, 2012

We Won!

If you asked me two weeks ago what handball was I would have replied with a blank stare and a shrug. Being in Denmark, however, I've been exposed to many different things-- one of which is of course the great game of handball. I arrived right in the midst of the European Handball Championship, and I'm proud to say that we (yes, that's right I've caught myself several times identifying myself as a Dane) beat Serbia last night and won the title as European Champions.  To celebrate, the Denmark handball team made an appearance in Copenhagen's main town square this afternoon.  Instead of discussing the homework readings for my International Reporting class, our professor thought it would be more appropriate to "throw us" into the world of reporting and allowed us to take part in the celebration. We were instructed to take in the sights, sounds, and even smells of the area and interview a few Danes. The massive amount of people proudly waving Denmark's flag, illustrated just how delighted the country was in this monumental victory.  





Vi ses snart

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Kronborg Castle and Elsinore Trip

Yesterday, I visited Kronborg Castle in Elsinore, Denmark with DIS.  Throughout the semester, DIS sponsors various group trips to historic sites, famous attractions, and fun activities such as cooking classes and hiking trips.  This being my first Saturday in Denmark, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to see one of the most important and most visited Renaissance castles in Northern Europe.

A group of about 60 DIS students left Copenhagen via bus early Saturday morning. Elsinore is located approximately 45 km (yes, now that I'm in Denmark I've had to adjust to using the metric system) north of Copenhagen, so we were able to take the scenic, coastal route to reach our destination.  We actually passed the stop for Horsholm (the location of my host family) on our way to Elsinore and I was able to show my friends the harbor I ate lunch at last Sunday.

                                                            The Streets of Elsinore

We had two hours to walk around Elsinore before our 1.5 hour guided castle tour. My friends and I, both SLU and new friends, explored the quaint town of Elsinore, stopping in shops and glaring at the displays of Danish pastries. Before stopping to buy a pastry and eat our packed lunches in a cafe, we wandered into a grocery store/home living store.  Since most of my friends also live with host families, we have been exchanging stories of what we have been eating and what kinds of foods our host families particularly enjoy throughout the past week.  While in the grocery store, we were able to show each other some of the food items we recognized from our host family's pantries, such as Digestive cookies (a mix between a cracker and a cookie, which sounds weird I know, but they are strangely addictive), muesli (a granola-like topping that is popular in Europe to put on yogurt for breakfast).

                    Walking across the moat to Kronborg

Our bus then drove us to the entrance of Kronborg-- the most visited castle in Denmark, partially because it is well known as the setting for William Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Being an English major and studying Shakespeare in both high school and college, I must admit I was also intrigued to visit the castle for its ties to the famous playwright.  Kronborg was built in 1425 by Eric of Pomerania, but the castle was transformed into its impressive state today in 1574 by King Frederik II.  The castle has been open to the public since 1938, after serving as military barracks for about 140 years.



Our tour guide showed us some of the most impressive rooms, including the ballroom, the chapel, the little hall, and the royal apartments.  Unlike other castles I have seen in Europe (like Neuschwanstein in Germany), the decor in Kronborg was very limited as parts of the castle were destroyed due to a fire that erupted in 1629.  The last part of the tour took us beneath the castle to see the casemates, soldiers' quarters during times of war and where prisoners' were tortured.  Also beneath the castle sits the famous statue of Holger Danske, a legendary Denmark hero who will awake from his slumber only when Denmark is in serious trouble.  As our tour guide said, however, it doesn't look like Holger Danske will awaken anytime soon, and I couldn't agree more!

                            Holger Danske


So after a long day of looking back into time and exploring the castle grounds, my host sister and I cooked spaghetti bolognese, watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith on television, and served ebelskiver for dessert.  I don't think there could have been a better way to end an excellent day!  


Vi ses snart!



Thursday, January 26, 2012

Three Days of Orientation = Three Days of Learning How to be a Dane!

It's so hard to believe that this is only my fourth day in Denmark, because despite clinching a map in my right hand, I've already been mistaken as Danish TWICE. While this may seem like a small or insignificant feat for an outsider, as someone who worried about "looking American," I feel pretty proud of this accomplishment.
After arriving Sunday morning and being picked up by my host family, I immediately saw that these next four months were going to be life changing. Weekends for the Danes, I found out, are days of relaxation; instead of running around to do errands or completing chores, my host family explained to me that weekends are designed for family time. In order to get over the jet lag, we went on a walk around the Blixen Musesum garden in Horsholm and ate at a local cafe for lunch. Since the menu was in Danish, my younger host sister translated every single item for me. In the end, however, I decided to order what she ordered-- a risotto made with barley and pesto and sautéed mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes.  Maybe it wasn't the most Danish-choice, but it was absolutely delicious :)
These last three days have been filled with Orientation workshops including "How Not to Meet the Danes" and a fun Amazing Race tour of the city center and waterfront. I really appreciated the busy orientation schedule because I was able to meet lots of new people and navigate the city. I also really enjoyed the opening ceremony held on Monday morning; the speeches by the DIS director and past DIS students allowed me to really understand just how important immersing myself into the Danish culture is going to be.  As of now, my bike ride to and from the train station from my host family's house has been a time to really appreciate the Danish lifestyle; riding my bright yellow bicycle down the bike/walking path in the cold morning and evening is not only refreshing, but also slightly invigorating.

I can't wait to see what other cultural experiences I will have and what else I can learn from the Danes.

Vi ses snart

Saturday, January 21, 2012

And Away I Go!

Ever since I found out that I was accepted into DIS 110 days ago, my friends/peers at SLU who also studied abroad with DIS have suggested several things that I MUST see and do while there. I managed to jot down most of their ideas, as they excitedly told me how much fun I was going to have and how jealous they were that I was studying with DIS.

So here's my mini Denmark bucket list (in no particular order):
- Make a trip to see Hamlet's castle (feel like this is a duty since I took a full course in Shakespeare last semester)
- Visit Tivoli Gardens... and try to see a concert there
- Take an iconic Copenhagen picture at the port with friends
- Christiansborg Castle Square
- Go to the best restaurant in the world, Noma (I know I won't be able to afford to eat there, but there's no harm in at least looking at the menu, right??)
- Watch the changing of the guard
- Round Tower
- Little Mermaid Statue
- Visit as many royal castles as possible (glad I'm in "Royalty in the Land of Equality" course)
- Eat a Danish... probably more like Danishes!! But at least one must be from Lagkagehuset (saw it on travel channel, of course: http://www.travelchannel.com/video/sam-eats-a-danish-danish-11095)

My biggest goal for this semester abroad is pretty simple- live the life of a Dane. And while I know this may be hard at times (especially because Americans always manage to stick out like a sore thumb in Europe), my hope is that when I return home in May I'll be able to say that I successfully accomplished my intention.

And so today's the day.... here's to the best semester ever in Denmark!!!

Vi ses snart

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Host Family :)

With my adventure beginning in only 4 DAYS, it only seems fitting to update everyone about my host family! I received a personalized introduction letter and photo from my host family two weeks ago, and all I can say is that DIS really did an absolutely amazing job in the selection process.  Just from their short letter, I can already tell that we have so many things in common.  The family of four consists of Karen and Per and their two children, Camilla age 14 and Rasmus age 13.  They live in Hørsholm which is only about 30 minutes away from Copenhagen and is in a prime location for outdoor adventures, with the nearby sea bordering Sweden.  The family loves to travel and Camilla and Rasmus were born in Thailand. They later moved to China before returning to Denmark a little over six years ago. With my father being in the military, I have also traveled and lived in many places, including Japan for three years-- this is definitely a shared experience that I will be able to share with my host family. As far as hobbies and everyday activities, they enjoy being outdoors, cooking, and spending time together as a family.  I really feel like they are going to be a perfect match for me, and their excitement in my arrival has only made me even more comfortable and excited for my semester to begin!!  Can't wait to meet them in person and spend time with them in Hørsholm! Until then, I'll be busy trying to fit/stuff/shove four months of clothing into my suitcase.... why do shoes have to take up so much space?!? 


Vi ses snart 

Monday, January 2, 2012

Ebelskiver Extravaganza!

What's the best way to ring in the New Year??? With a traditional Danish breakfast of course, and my closest friends will tell you that pancakes are my ultimate breakfast "go-to" item.  Therefore, I thought it was only fitting to make Ebelskiver (Æbleskiver)-- traditional Danish pancakes that can be filled with just about anything such as jam and jelly, real fruit, or even meats and cheeses.  Ironically, I received an Ebelskiver pan last Christmas and I thought it would be fun to make these tasty pancakes once again in anticipation of my semester in Denmark.


The only main difference between the Ebelskiver batter and the basic American pancake batter is that egg whites are whipped into stiff peaks and delicately folded in.  While this extra steps makes it a more involved process, the result is a light, and moist popover-style pancake.  In order to achieve a perfectly filled pancake, one tablespoon of the batter is added to each round indentation of the pan.  Next, a teaspoon of the desired filling is added (I filled mine with cherry jam, mixed summer fruit jelly, and fresh blueberries), and then another tablespoon of the batter tops it.  As you can imagine, one has to work pretty quickly to ensure that the batter cooks evenly.  One simple flip of the Ebelskiver-- with the accompanying Danish wooden tongs-- and they are done in less than 5 minutes.



And although powdered sugar and maple syrup probably are not the traditional Danish toppings, they add a nice sweetness to these already delectable treats.  These pancakes were absolutely delicious and I'm hoping that I can sample some real Ebelskiver during my stay in Denmark (less than 3 weeks to go!).  Until then, I guess I will have to be satisfied with my Americanized version!

                                                                                         

Vi ses snart!