Home

I was trying to think of a good way to start this blog and I found one! So...before you read any further you MUST watch this video.
Absolutely adorable acoustic version of Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Did you watch it? If not, you really should go watch it. It's worth it. I promise.

If you want to be really awesome...listen to the regular version of this song while reading this post. Ready, set, GO  Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Okay, now I can start.  Thanks for abiding by my wishes :)

I simply cannot believe how quickly time is flying.  Six weeks ago I was spending my first night in what is now my home.  On one hand it feels like all the days have mashed together to just be one really long day of adventures, pastries, and a tiny bit of schoolwork.  But on the other hand it feels like a lifetime ago that I was sitting in my pink, purple and teal room in Newton packing my suitcases and saying good-bye to my life there.  The other day I was saying something to Karina and Jesper about what we did "...back in the states."  Ha, I immediately realized how funny it sounded, but then Karina pointed out that "...it's because this has become your home."  I couldn't have said it better.  Not only do I already have wonderful homes both in Newton and at Knox, but now I am fortunate enough to constantly have a Danish home with four amazing Danes to talk to, get homework help from, laugh with and experience hygge with.  I told Karina and Jesper today that they all deserved an award for "host family who endured freezing temperatures just to show Rachel a beautiful beach"...and that is only one of the many awesome things they have done for me.  I better stop spilling my gushy feelings now and get on with the details. Never fear, I am sure I will return to the gushiness many more times in coming blogs.

I wish that I were able to make this more interesting than just laying out my week but each day had things I want to write about and if I don't organize it I will get all jambled and that won't be fun for either of us.  At least not for me...though it might be somewhat amusing for you. Nonetheless, here goes:

Outside view of the school.  It is situated right in the middle of a charming neighborhood.  White building with fun light and dark green stripes. Doesn't look much like the schools back in the states :P

Wednesday:  The morning started with a field trip with my Developmental Neuropsychology class to a special school in Gentofte (picture above).  It is a school for special needs students from kindergarten-undetermined (they stay until they are ready to move on to the next stage of life, which also varies for all of them). Their needs cover a very wide range, so students with physical disabilities can learn in a class with students dealing with ADHD and so on and so forth. The purpose of this is diversity and community. A student with social impairments may learn a lot from a highly sociable but learning disabled student.  The students stay with their classmates from year to year too and they end up forming very close friendships (that is the same as throughout the rest of Denmark too actually).  We met a few charming students who answered our questions, gave us tours of the school and generally made us laugh a lot.  Interesting fact: this school is paid for by the municipality because Denmark believes having a special needs child should not be an extra financial burden on the parent.  Children can receive this special education and be in this wonderful environment because of the whole community.  I think that is pretty darn cool.  On the way out the door I even got a massive bear hug from one of the students, who apparently was a Scandanavian wrestling champion.  All in all I'd say it was a very good trip.



After that trip I headed to my next field study at Christiania.

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Map of Christinia (the dark green is the actual land they own)

Christiania is a free state that was founded in 1971 by some homeless bohemian hippies.  It is a very free spirited place where they pay taxes and they pay a "using fee" for the land, but they don't pay rent. Whether they build a house on 5 meters or 100 meters, the using fee is the same.  There are not many rules in Christiania, but they are strict about the ones they do have.  The main ones are No Hard Drugs, No Violence,  No Cars, No Weapons and No Bulletproof Vests.

I'm sorry it's hard to read. Tilt your head a bit and the pictures might make a little sense.  

We had a fascinating tour guide who has been there since about 1977 so we heard lots of funny stories.  There is one street in Christiania where you are not allowed to take pictures. It is called pusher street and you don't even have to get that close to it before you smell the distinct odor of pot. Marijuana is "legal" there so people have stands with weed and pipes (or whatever you smoke pot with) just out for all to see.  It is rather amusing even if you have no intentions of becoming a customer.  The whole feel of Christiania is chill, laid-back and yet you know the people (more at least most of them) are very responsible for the life they lead in this odd little 'free state'.  Some of the people who live there work in Copenhagen or a surrounding town and lead a regular life. Some people work in Christiania at the markets, metalsmithing place, or a coffeshop or restaurant.  Some people sit on their butts and smoke weed all day.  But what an interesting mix of people this place brings together.  Apparently the court just recently made the decision to shut down Christiania. Basically that means (I think) they will put the land up for sale and then if they can afford to keep it they can keep it but if not they will lose it.  I personally think that is a huge shame. Christinia is the second largest tourist attraction in Denmark and it really has come to symbolize much of Denmark and Danish values and ideals.  Here are a few more pictures for your occipital pleasure.

Just a fun friend for the top of your stove

Random art found outside

This building, translated, is called The Flea because a large flea market used to be held here. Now there are lots of concerts and other events for hip young people (like me!)

Just a normal old sign for the business in this building...painted on the brick wall

Free clothes anyone?  Why thank you, I was just getting tired of my own.

I have already been at this blog for about an hour and I only got through one day...and now I'm nodding off at my computer.  Uh oh.  I have so much more to ramble on about but I think I'll have to wait until I have another moment to catch my breath...so talk to you again in May.  Haha just kidding.  Here is a preview for what I will write about in the next day or two:
New hat and danish candy :)
Bike ride around Copenhagen with my European Urban Design Theories class
Andreas and his friends's massive rave-like birthday party
Today's beach walk and traditional Danish food at a brunch I got to tag along to
There will also be some really fantastic pictures to accompany those stories, just so you know :)

Godnat for now!

Knights in shining armor, salty licorice and pickled herring...some wonders of København.

Technically, right now would be an excellent time for me to work on homework, maybe finish my project, and generally be productive. But I think it's an even better time for a new post :)

I am sitting in the Black Diamond Library in downtown CPH. It is a stunning building right by the harbor and has places to study along with amazing exhibitions and a very classy atmosphere.  I haven't explored much in the building though because my backpack was very heavy and I was anxious to just sit down.  

Here it is! (picture it on a cloudy day with gigantic snowflakes falling all around)

The last few times it has snowed here it hasn't stuck very much. The city just becomes a snow globe of large white flakes that look pretty against my grey coat...and then within a few hours it is back to the bleak sky and howling wind.  My host dad says this weekend will feel like spring. I'm crossing my fingers that he is right!! 

So let's see, I think I'll give you a rundown of my last few days. Friday I got done with class at 11:30, so my friend Thuy and I went to the national museum.  It is free and was actually way better than I expected. It has so many exhibits that we even got kind of lost of a few times. We didn't get to spend too much time there but I did take some sweet pictures :)

 Inuit clothing...I think. 

 and Inuit...thongs?

 Whaling suit!

 Model of beautiful Japanese house

 Insane palace model. How did they make this?? (the actual palace I mean, not the model. Obviously the model wasn't that hard to make)

Indian necklace.  Birthday present for my best friend Jana?  :)

It's a clock! How cool is that??  (It was 3:00, by the way)

Well, I finally found my knight in shining armor!

Oh hey it's a Rachel circle!  :)

Personally I think 4 of me would be just a few too many...

And a kitty mask...for no other reason than because it is awesome. 

After that super exciting adventure I went back home and that evening we had company (one of Karina's friends and her family came over).  We had a yummy dinner and watched X-Factor (pretty much the Danish version of American Idol...complete with a somewhat rude baldheaded judge).  It was very hyggelig.  We had some Danish candy and I tried my first actual piece of lakrids (Danish salty licorice).  I have to say it is not my favorite thing. And by that I mean my tongue was actually in pain, it was like tiny little jagged swords of salt were having a death match with my taste buds. Ok that might be a little harsh but you have to understand that this licorice is so strong it is not actually legal to sell in the US (I think). I am not sure how but the Danes really love it-- must be an acquired taste...a really acquired taste.  

Anyway, Friday night was lovely and then Saturday I managed to do some homework and then we all went to Karina's work, which has an awesome recreation building, where we played table tennis, air hockey and foosball (and drank lots of hot chocolate because they have a free coffee/hot chocolate machine!)

Action shot! Andreas and Jesper

Table tennis! 

Crazy game where we each hit the ball once and then run to the other side. Around the world: table tennis version.  We really got our cardio workout in :)

I believe it was Saturday at lunch, after our couple hours of fun exercise, that I finally tried pickled herring! It was definitely not bad,mostly just a very strong fish taste (surprise, surprise, right?). I actually rather liked it on rugbrød with smør (rye bread with butter). I can begin to see why the Danes are so fond of herring. Not only do they have more than plenty of it, but it has so much flavor and can be manipulated in many ways (one of these being pickling).  Yay for trying new things!

Saturday night my friend Devika came over to the house for dinner. She was my first friend to meet my family and we had a really nice time! I believe this means she owes me an invite to her house at some point and then I will get to meet her host family too!  :)

Sunday I went into the city to do Zumba with my friend DeLayna...only to find out the instructor was on vacation. Oops, guess I should have signed up in advance so I wouldn't know that.  We just spent the hour working out on our own and then I headed, sore and a little tired, back to my house.  

Earlier I had told Jesper and Karina that I will soon be doing a project on a housing development called the Eternal 8-house, so the three of us went Sunday afternoon to see it! WOW. It literally blew my mind. Unfortunately I haven't uploaded the pics to my computer yet and I am still in the library so I don't have them. But I will post them soon! It is really an incredible building and it was so much fun to explore.  You can make the judgement yourself once you see the photos but I don't think I would ever see something like this in America.  Here is just one photo from google images to spike your curiosity.  

We also drove over to a place along the harbor where the first harbor-side apartments were built in the early 2000s.  Jesper worked on some of them with his company!! They are amazing.  I am constantly surprised by the variety of design that you see from building to building.  It is just so...cool (for lack of a better term) seeing such a mismosh of designs that somehow manages to work together so perfectly.    

Yesterday and today I have been busy with classes and trying to focus on the work that needs to be done before our long study tour, which is coming up so quickly! We leave on March 5th (6th?...one of those) and will be in Milan for a week or so.  

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In 20th and 21st century Danish Architecture yesterday we made a list of "Must See" places while in Copenhagen.  It was so long! I knew there was a lot to see here, but I don't think I realized just how much CPH has to offer. That list makes me feel like I need to skip class everyday and go exploring just to have time to do it all! Don't worry, I won't actually do that, although I am considering taking one day once it gets nice to bike the coastline or something like that.  I think it will definitely be worth it.

Quick update on family news:  I was supposed to skype with Dad on Friday but got an email from my mom saying he wasn't having the greatest day so we should wait on the skype. I then found out Saturday night that he was back in the hospital.  He had been having more confusion than "normal" and was very agitated and restless.  At the hospital they did some tests and finally came to the conclusion that Abby and my mom had guessed: he was having a rough reaction to the steroids that were supposed to reduce brain swelling.  I got to skype with Abby on Sunday and Dad just happened to get up from a nap and start walking the halls while I was on so we got to chat a little. He is definitely different but I know he was doing better than the day before. He was pretty groggy when we talked but I was able to understand him and we all had a laugh about how impressed he was with water and the fact that we all need water and he and I both had water bottles. I know things are very jambled still and we continue to have surprises and new things to deal with, but mom and Abby have such a positive attitude that it is hard for me not to (although I will admit it is getting harder and harder to be away from them and deal with this here in Denmark).  I am currently trying to figure out if I can come home from towards the end of March for a few days, when DIS has a long "travel on your own" weekend. I would have to miss a few days of classes but my professors are very understanding and flexible.  It is hard to make plans now though since we don't quite know where in treatment dad will be at that point.  I will try to be patient and see what would be best.  I am very thankful to the support from both DIS and Knox and especially my wonderful friends.   

Now that I have an hour left here at the library before I go to my cooking class, I should probably try and get a little homework done.  I heard it is snowing at home too...so we have something in common :)  Enjoy it while it lasts...and hopefully it won't last too long!

Knus! 

Hej hej. 

Last one!

Very hyggeligt!

Just a couple of Danes in Sweden

Marching Band Groupies #2

Marching Band groupies

Beautiful Swedish architecture

Duck? Duck? Goose?

Man with power!?

Crazy mirror and stars room

Prisoners

This area of the castle was turned into a prison for awhile and before each prisoner was released, he/she had to have his/her picture taken. For most of them, this was the first time they had ever seen themselves photographed. And here they are today.