`How is Denmark?´

Hey!

On this blog you can read all my Danish adventures. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

Actually we have to make a Dutch blog (for Artevelde) and an English one (for UCSYD Danmark), but they said it’s okay if I just write one in English, no dubble work.

Thursday, January 31

In the last sessions we`ve learned more about how to deal with different cultures.

The most important thing about that is that you have to be open minded. You have to be receptive to new and different ideas or the opinions of others. It`s not something you`re borned with, it`s an attitude that has to be developed by being curious about other peoples beliefs, habits and opinions. 

This morning we`ve learned a bit more about al the cultures of the erasmusstudents by a working method similar to `speeddating`. By telling your partner about your own culture, you get some more information about the other ones culture. I´ve learned from the Hungary talkpartners that the capital city Budapest is splitted up in two parts by the Donauriver: Buda and Pest. The Hungarians don`t get a visit from Santa on Christmas. It`s Jesus who gives presents to the children. They like spicy food, they make their own alcohol drinks, the ballpen is a Hungarian invention, ... A Japanese girl told me that they usually sleep on the floor, that they do like tepanyaki, that lots of subjects have a spirit, …

I like that sort of activities more than lessons where we have to read digital texts in difficult English.

When we arrived in the Danhostel, we got our results from our exams in Gent. Four of us passed all the exams, me to! We’ve celebrated it with a bottle of bubbles.

Saturday, January 28

Hej venner!

I woke up yesterday in the apartment of the German students. Julia had invited me to attend a Danish lesson. The internationals get free Danish lessons here. From 9 to 14 we had a Danish film and discussion. (All chalkboards are here controlled by touchscreen and surround speakers!) There was a break after each hour. In one of those breaks everyone from the language center gathered in a main hall to sing a Danish song together. Why? No idea, but it was nice. Some people presented themselves in Danish. A Congolese even began to rap spontaneously, very funny. During the lesson we also got the chance to eat something or we were treated to coffee.

Then we went back home and it was time for a nap. In the evening we were invited by some students in another  house. 10 people, each with a different nationality. They were all very friendly, curious and a bit drunk. They also share a great apartment. It is normal here to have a living room with flat screen, to have beautiful parquet floors, a kitchen with American refrigerator and dishwasher, bathroom with washing machine and dryer, balcony, ... . I wonder how our house will look! Too bad we have to wait till the 8 February to move there. Now I have to wait to unpack my bags. After the aperitif with all the other internationals (and for some, after a whole bottle of vodka) we went to a bar in Haderslev city. With a wink, a Danish student arranged many free shots syrupy vodka. In Fredagscafe, you can get beers at a friendly price. I joined a girl from Florida for a game of foosball  and we’ve lost from a Danish giant. It was late and we parted with a big hug. Everyone takes good care of each other. Anyone who doesn’t like to walk home alone gets company.

This morning the parents of Catherine arrived with their dog. It was proven again how friendly German people can be. They immediately proposed to help me moving to the hostel this afternoon. Some Danish students have problems with tolerating the German internationals. Sometimes they even insult them or confront them with the Second World War, really ridiculous. But not all Danes are like that. All Danes who I have met are very cordial and sympathetic.

I just went shopping together with Lea and Julia. We took a walk through the shopping streets of Haderlsev. We went to a huge supermarket, Fotex. There you can find everything you need. It's nice to do some shopping here. Everything is very neatly displayed and looks very fresh. They also have Aldi, Lidl, Spar, ... everywhere with the same products as in the Belgian chains.

This afternoon I’ll move to Danhostel.  I’ll finally meet my new fellow students. I’m sure we’ll have a great time!

In short, the cultural shock is better than expected. Everyone is friendly and sets me at ease. Haderslev is very cozy and without too much fuss. I can’t wait to get to know everyone (better)!

Thursday, January 24

This afternoon I arrived safely in Haderslev!

I left in Kortrijk with an hour delay, then the Thalys in Brussels was an hour late so I had to rush through the station  of Cologne and I could just catched the City Night Line where I met my three ‘trainroommates’,  three helpful, enthusiastic dark guys.

When arrived in Kolding, I took the bus to cozy Haderslev. There I found a nice restaurant to recover from all the dragging with my heavy luggage. Pending the arrival of my buddy Leah, I enjoyed a pasta carbonara and a few coffees with a big smile. Very exciting, but the first contact went very smoothly. I treated Lea on a coffee and then we left each with a suitcase to her dorm. It is actually more of a luxury apartment that she’s sharing with two other German students. Super cozy, large living room, large bathroom, large kitchen with balcony, large bedrooms, ... And everything is very neat and attractive. I was a bit drizzly from the crowded night train, but after a soothing shower, I was reborn. The pizza dough is rising, we are going to have a nice evening!