The Long Walk

So... yesterday nothing exciting happened. I got to sleep in... then almost over slept. had another 3 hours of survival danish (don't really remember much...) then sat around for an hour until I had my meeting with my program (Migration and Identity). The meeting was interesting- my professor works for PriceWaterhouseCoopers as a diversity consultant, which is cool. We're going to the Danish/German border region in a couple weeks for our short study tour (since after WW2 the boarder moved around a lot and trapped Danes on the German side and Germans on the Danish side so they have dual identities (my program focuses on identity formation and minorities and things). Later, we're going to Vilinius, the capital of Lituania for 5 days, which should be QUITE interesting. We're going there since it is such a new nation (only since 1991) and as soon as the EU opened up the boarders and allowed immigration between EU countries without papers, the entire younger generation left, so now its all old people or children. We're going to look at how all that effects identity. Theres also a couple minority groups there- the russian minority, a roma minority, and another one too... Our program coordinator is from Lithuania, so she's getting us all sorts of great connections. After the meeting we went out to dinner at a moroccan place, The a la methe- (tea with mint). I don't really like tea... But this tea was FANTASTIC. And the food wasn't bad either. Then, I came back here and went to bed early. No pictures.

Now, today I took LOTS of pictures! It was my first day of class, so I had to get up at 6 (class started at 8:30) So I went to class, sounded very interesting, learned a lot, found out the crazy smoking girl from the tour was in my program/class... and is from my school. Lame. Anyway- most other people seem very nice :) After class I found out my other class today doesn't start until Monday! So I went for a walk down Strøget, to my bank :) Jyske bank! (Jizka Bahnk) Its at the OTHER end of Strøget, right next to Nyhvn! So I got to see Nyhvn too! Basically, I went exploring on my own a little bit. I think I like exploring like this alone a little better. You can go at your own pace and see what you want to see... And the Danes don't think you're as loud and annoying- which is nice :P Anyway: It was all very beautiful, but all very touristy... In fact, i heard MANY languages, couldn't get away from tour busses, and everywhere I went were tourists with rolly suitcases. Never the less, i took tons of pictures (looking like a dumb tourist myself) I did get everything organized for my bank account too (I went in, they scanned my passport and took a page of paperwork and said they'd mail me my card and that I was done, bye! very simple.)

The next order of business was to go find school supplies. THIS was much more difficult (and expensive) than it should be. LAME. So, to do this, I walked all the way back to the OTHER end of Strøget, past Rådhuspladsen (Town Hall Square), where my bus stop is :). I stopped at the Tiger, cheap but few options. So I went to Fakta, which, at this location, only had food. So I made the 10-15 minute walk to the Fotex... Only I found a store on the way and my feet were getting sore, so I went there. They were EXPENSIVE. 5 kr = 1$. A 3 subject notebook was 45 kr. A little folder thing, also 45 kr. I ended up spending 200 kr. (So... thats like 40$.) Thats fine and all, I knew things would be more expensive here. But I only had 900 kr to last until bank account has money and I have danish credit card! And I wanted to sign up for Danish cooking classes... and there are less than 3 spots left and they cost 600 kr... Basically, I can't sign up for them until my bank account opens. So I probably can't do them, which is sad. But I guess I'll deal with it. :) After that, I made it back to my bus and now I'm back at Pia's. All in all, my adventures took... 2 hours? Not too bad! In a couple hours we're going to the Gladsaxe Kommune (our town's city hall) in order to get me my CPR (danish social security number). I love that they call them Kommunes. :P

Now, the fun part for you! Pictures! I know, they're your favorite :) remember: I only put favorites up on here. I put even fewer on facebook. They're ALL on photobucket, even boring ones that I just think tell lots about everyday life :) (theres a link on the left side of this page!)

Hans Christian Anderson!

In this picture, please not the Burger King and the KFC down in the bottom left, as well as the McDonalds in the top left.

Tivoli!!! Someone told me Disney Land was inspired by Tivoli.

So... This is just the Palads theater because I love it, and I love the contrast between the Palads and the old brick building.



This is the NY Theater, its currently showing Chicago!


NYHAVN!!! This picture actually looks EXACTLY like my desktop, but I SWEAR I took it!


SEE! It even says Nyhavn! Havn means harbor, by the way.


This is in Rådhuspladsen (same with HC Anderson's Statue). Rådhuspladsen is actually (sort of...) compared to Times Square because of all the neon advertising. But anyway, I like how the fountain is so old and beautiful, but its right there next to the modern building covered in ads...


Just a nifty building. There are LOTS! Love them.


This is the other entrance to Tivoli... with HC Anderson on the left side looking at it!

This is, as described to me by the lady in Jyske Bank, the "Large Round Square." Anyway. There are lots of awesome buildings with a statue in the middle... And then this! That little building has probably been there FOREVER, but now it is a little sidewalk cafe thing :)

This is actually the statue in the middle of the "Large Round Square." The square has a name. I'm just too lazy to look it up. Sorry!

More Nyhavn... I love all the sidewalk cafes. But the prices were REDICULOUS. As in, Egg and Bacon was 89 kr. Thats just under 20$. For a simple breakfast. Its because all the tourists go there.

The Opera House... I think I've shown you pictures of it before though...

Don't know who the statue is of. But I love how this park is so beautiful and in the middle of the road- theres a one-way street on either side.

Strøget. Main walking/shopping street. Longest of its kind in Europe. RIGHT by school. Its pretty cool.


This is an awesome looking Church right off of Strøget!


Nice fountain on Strøget. There are fountains and statues EVERYWHERE. I'll never get pictures of HALF of them. Its crazy.

Note the nice ground and the lovely ad right behind the nice fountain.

Last picture for now. So. Isn't that building in the middle awesome? Know what makes it more awesome? Its old! And the buildings next to it? Not so much. Why? Copenhagen has this history where it gets bombed sometimes. The old building survived. Yay, history :D

Have a lovely day everyone! I'm going to go read or nap or something until its time to go to the Kommune.

Edit: I just got back from the Kommune. Woo! I'm all registered. I'll have my number in a couple days. It was quite simple. I handed over my papers and was on my way. But... I felt stupid most of the way there and home. Pia and I biked there and I borrowed one of her bikes (family of 2... has5 bikes. 1 is a kids bike thoug...) Problem being: its TALL. So I couldn't get on it. Or stop. Because I couldn't put my foot down. So I basically looked like I couldn't ride a bike. When all danes ride bike ALL THE TIME. I didn't fall though. Once I was on, I was good. But yeah. Being on a busy road and not being able to get on the bike = EMBARRASSING.