A note on culture.

HI! So, I'm finding that I am now quite well adjusted to life in Copenhagen. I don't even have to think about things to get through my day... which is both good and bad. However, now that I'm used to little things like pulling open doors and stepping over door jams or looking on the corners of buildings for street names, little culture things are starting to show up. Just little ones... particularly at home.

For example, everyone says Danes are MUCH more blunt. Which I kind of saw every once in a while. Now that my host family is used to having me around and we're comfortable around each other, that whole blunt thing... Whoa. The kids will look at Pia and tell her they don't like dinner or tell her to go get them water... Not because they disrespect her, but that's just part of kids being kids and thats what they're supposed to do. They're also much more open about bodily functions. For example, Pia at dinner today asked if I needed any red wine. I said, "Nej tak" (no thanks) and served up dinner to Amanda, her friend and Michael. She responded by telling me that she had just gotten her period and needed wine. Okay. Good to know. Thanks. I was taken a little aback... but no one else seemed to think this was out of place at all.

And now, my favorite story to demonstrate bluntness: Its about Amanda, dearest host sister, who I'm QUITE fond of. I'll miss her. Anyway, the two of us were eating dinner last night. Just the two of us, Pia wasn't hungry. So I ate... she kept eating... and eating... and eating. Then we finshed and sat down on the couch with Pia and the three of us watched TV. We were sitting there and Amanda starts talking about how she's SOOOO full. And she jokes and say "SHE DIDN'T STOP ME!" and points to me, refering to how I didn't tell her to stop eating. I just laugh and tell her how I totally know best about when she should stop eating and she should listen to everything I say. Then, she gets rather gassy because she ate too much. Pia and I just laugh at her, (if Michael does the same thing, he gets repremanded because thats not something you should do in public, but presumably, Amanda knows and thus she doesn't get repremanded. I think.) Then she lets a big one rip and RUNS from the room. Pia and I just laugh at her. A few minutes later, this adorable 10 year old girl with perfect blond hair comes back and simply says, "It was big." and sits down. Pia is just like, "The fart? Yes, it was very big." Very nonchalant, like we were talking about homework or television. And Amanda looks at Pia like shes completely stupid and just says, "No. The shit." And goes on with her life like this was nothing to be concerned about. And that was that, we went back to TV. A few minutes later, Amanda asks for ice cream, Pia says no, but Amanda persists. They argue a bit in Danish, then Pia says she can have a little bit if she asks if I want some too. So Amanda gets up to get us ice cream. Other things happen after this, but that illustrates my point.

First of all, that level of blunt-ness. I've never seen it before. And then Amanda just says "shit" like any other word (actually, Amanda and Pia have had discussions about why when they watch american TV certain things are bleeped out... Pia didn't know. I answered that some words you just can't say on TV. They didn't understand.) And then the fact that she was so open about this... Very odd. Then they argue and she gets her way? Not normal. Other things happen where Amanda will just be sitting on the couch with us and ask Pia for water... and Pia will just get up and get her a glass of water. Tonight we had to pass Amanda her water whenever she needed it. I don't think this is her being spoiled at all; I think its just part of the culture. I've heard a lot about 'kids being kids' and Danish culture just letting kids do what they think is right... And I'm wondering if this is part of that mentality. I'm assuming when they argue in Danish that they discuss why one wants it and why the other doesn't or whatnot... But I can't really be sure. I can't even really be sure that this happens in every family. I mean, I only see mine and hear about others.

Anyway, until the 11th, I'm lying low since I have 3 weeks of travel coming up and mid-terms are next week. So, I'm just doing homework and writing papers and hanging out at home. Friday I think I'm going with Kara to watch movies at her house and then Sunday I might go to Amager with Gabi and explore a little bit and maybe make an apple pie? OH! And I think that I start volunteering this weekend. But my contact has been a little unclear on this... Oh well. Have a good rest of the week everyone!