Fall Is Here

Fall is in full swing in Copenhagen, and I am loving it.  Just some quick shots from around town:

Roskilde Domkirke

I have to admit, the Danish language is a struggle for me.  By struggle, I mean absolutely impossible, no chance of learning more than "I would like to have a big latte" (Jeg vil gerne have en stor latte), "Excuse me/I'm sorry/move" (Unskilde), and "In America, I come from Texas" (I USA, kommer jeg fra Texas).  Maybe pathetic, but when "dd" makes a -th sound, letters like æ, ø, å exist and it's totally normal to spell the words with strings of consonants, I'm putting forth a strong effort.  


W&L requires me to take a Danish language and culture class while I am here.  While Danish is the source of many lingual frustrations, I am really liking the cultural part of the class.  We read stories by Hans Christian (H.C., or otch-seh) Anderson, listen to popular Danish bands, and occasionally go on field trips.  One of our most recent trips was to Roskilde Domkirke, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Roskilde, Denmark.  


Constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries, the Cathedral is the first Gothic style building made of brick.  It has served many purposes throughout the years, and is still a working church.  More importantly, though, Roskilde has been the burial place for Denmark's kings and queens (konger og dronninger) since the 1460s, when Christian I was buried there.
  
There are several different royal chapels that have been built within the church, each beautiful and unique.  I'll let pictures speak for themselves:

Cold but clear: The outside of the church, from a square nearby

The nave

The iconostasis, or altar screen, used in Medieval times so peasants who could not understand Latin could still see biblical, holy pictures.  This iconostasis is carved wood that has been painted.

Chapel of the Magi: Christian I's Chapel

Christian IX's Chapel; Frederik VIII and Queen Louise of Sweden-Norway are also buried there

Frederik V's Chapel

Detail on Margrethe I's sarcophagus

Wrought iron lattice separating the chapel from the nave, made by Caspar Fincke

Pictures hardly do Roskilde Domkirke justice.  It is a beautiful church, and I completely understand why more than 125,000 people make the trek to Roskilde each year to see it.  

Ashley's How To: Blend in with the Locals

Five Simple Steps To Living Like a Copenhagen-er:

#1 Would You Like Some Rain On That Salad?

Hungry?  Go eat your lunch, but don't force yourself to stay inside... make those restaurant umbrellas serve their purpose!

#2  These Streets Are Made For Walking

Go for a jog with your BFF, bundle Baby Bjorn up and pack the stroller... whatever you do, never hesitate to take a walk outside.  After all, a little rain makes you stronger, right kid?

#3  Rainbows Only Appear When It Rains

If you must incorporate color into your wardrobe (gag), it should only be in the form of rain jackets or umbrellas.  Prepare to stand out.

#4  Living In the Hood

Covering your head is overrated.  Why miss out on a free shower?

#5  Wool, Leather and Silk, Oh My!

My personal favorite: Even though you live in one of the rainiest countries in the world, NEVER appear to own a single piece of rain gear.

Rain boots are so nouveau riche.

Cloth boots and a leather purse

Cow hide purse, leather boots and wool coat... Joe knows how to live

Soaking through boots? Why not!

Don't blame me if after following these tips people start talking to you in Danish!

Spring Break is still 6 months away...

LDN

My life’s dreams are officially on their way to being fulfilled.  No, I do not look like Gisele Bundchen (#2) and I have not won a lifetime supply of Nutella (#2.5), but I have now been to London.   More specifically, I have been to:

HSBC's Headquarters

Wimbledon

Buckingham Palace

Hyde Park

side note: biking + taking pictures = increased chance of death

The London Eye

View from the top of the London Eye

The Prime Meridian

left foot in the Eastern Hemisphere, right in the Western

Trafalgar Square

Big Ben

Westminster Abbey

The British Museum

Harrod's

Lyceum Theatre for The Lion King

I have fallen in love with London (just like I thought I would), and am saying now that I most certainly will live there in the future, if only for a few years.  Don’t worry, Parents: Heathrow wasn’t too bad. 

Cheers, mates!

Møns Klint

Møn, Denmark: I won’t be mad if you haven’t heard of it, but I will tell you that you have seriously been missing out on views like this:

I went to my Danish roommate’s home in Stege, Denmark on the island of Møn last weekend.  It was wonderful to be a part of a family, even for one night.  It was fun to see that in spite of speaking different languages and living thousands of miles apart, moms are still moms and dads will always be dads.  Nicoline’s mom cooked an amazing meal, made up beds for everyone and fluttered around like a wonderful hostess—basically, a Danish Veronica.  Nicoline’s dad, Niels, is extremely proud of his Harley Davidson motorcycle, took us out on a beautiful boat ride, and fired up the grill… sound familiar?

On Saturday, my roommates and I explored the island together.  We hiked up the Møn White Clifs and then went down 128 meters to the shoreline below.  The cliffs are made out of chalk, with a forest like that on the Appalachian mountains growing on top and water that looks like it could be from Hawaii below.  So beautiful. 

Afterwards, we went to Liselund Castle and walked among the gardens there.  There were lots of families out and about, human and otherwise….

Finally, Niels took us out on his boat to go under the bridge that connects the island to mainland Zealand.  I have never seen water so glassy and smooth – incredible weather for a ride. 

We went home and had a wonderful meal, which took more than three hours (so Danish), then went out on the town.  Words can hardly describe the nightlife in a place with 4,000 people.  Quaint?  Quiet?  Let’s go with dully strange, yet entertaining.  And cheap. 

I am so glad that I went home with Nicoline.  It gave me some family time after a very stressful week, and reminded me why I love the city of Copenhagen so much. The best of both worlds.  

Real Life?

Maybe as much a product of sleep deprivation as brain power, I had a revelation as I sat on a Scandinavian Airlines plane last Sunday.  Said revelation went something like: This is what I want. 

After having a crazy week with two midterms and minimal sleep, I took a train/bus/car on Saturday to Stege, Denmark to see the Møns Klint and stay with my Danish roommate’s family.  We stayed until Sunday morning, when we made a quick three hour trip back to Copenhagen.  I then threw my toiletries into an already packed bag and took a metro to the airport.  Two hours later I was on a plane bound for London Town.  I feel comfortable saying that I took every single mode of transportation possible in a matter of 48 hours, because I also went boating in Møn and rode a bike in London. 

As I was getting settled on the plane, I realized that if my life follows plan, I could be repeating this same type of process in a year and a half, right after graduation.  My goal at this moment is obviously a job, but more specifically one that allows me to travel and live abroad.  I love to meet people and see things, and cannot imagine agreeing to tie myself down to a desk job for 80 hours a week crunching numbers (see ya, I-banking).  Although I am still completely undecided about the industry I want to pursue, I will be on the go. 

My trip to London was part business, part pleasure.  My class and I visited the Danish Chamber of Commerce, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, HSBC and Wimbledon, but also saw the sights of London and spent time loving the nightlife.  It almost felt like dress up, wearing constricting suits in dark colors and sensible heels (gag), remembering that perfume is frowned upon in meetings and that the CFO of Wimbledon has better things to do than discuss debentures and sponsorships with 20-somethings. 

In two years, though, this is going to be “real life.”  Suits are going to make up a serious part of my wardrobe, and I will be being paid a real salary because of the work I will do for a company.  I will be focusing on promotions and opportunities, deadlines and budgets, not midterms and class schedules. 

I must say, after being in school since age three, I am really, really excited for the next chapter to start.  Just not too soon.