A Thematic Analysis of My time in DK

So, because I continue to have so much I want to say, I avoid blogging.  I recognize that I will be dissatisfied with the brevity of whatever I write: either I will write too much about one topic and too little about others, or I will write a little about multiple topics and feel there is little of substance in what I wrote.  At this point it is just plain frustrating to not have written more because I really want to keep everyone up to date with what is going on with me. So, I've come up with a compromise.  I will "list" my life-story here so far as a set of themes and elaborate a bit on each theme to give you an idea about what my thoughts are surrounding whatever theme/life-experience to which I refer. Feel free to "comment" that you want me to talk more about a given topic (although depending on my mood I can't guarantee that I can elaborate on whatever topic you choose at a particular time). 


A) The Persistent Debate: A Night Out or a Day Out?
I was right I'd much rather have a day out then a night out...Today I went to three museums, had lunch on Stroget (pronounced Stroll; it's a long shopping street in Copenhagen) and then had a coffee "date" with my friend Samira that continued into a dinner.  I got to try a new food (Chili Con Carne; surprisingly I like it), learn about the "wonders" that America has brought to Denmark via the museums I went to (mainly a lot of gimmicky things), and make a new friend. I also enjoyed people watching and the company of oldish friends. I can go to a club anytime in the states and I dislike being exhausted all day after staying out til 3. I made a good decision that honored my goals here last night; I chose to allow myself to learn about Danish culture and about the sites Denmark has to offer (although night life is a major part of the social life here since I've already gone out a few times and expect to again I'm in no hurry...Also I'm happy to meet Danes through other venues such as my club, the Buddy network, the Gimlie Cafe on Thursdsays, The Trekoner Association, etc).

B) What Are My Goals?
After today I am convinced that I should spend a day doing homework in a cafe. While cafes may not be the best place to write an essay, simpler work and readings are definitely doable at such a venue.  In talking to Samira today about my "new life" in Denmark, and in learning about her experiences abroad, I was reminded of how much I enjoy people watching. Cafes provide a closed environment where you can learn about social norms while getting homework done, especially if you are hanging out on your own. My day wasn't cheap today, so I won't do the cafe thing tomorrow, but it's definitely on the agenda! (I already notice the differences in table manners but there are other things like posture and manners surrounding ordering food that I have yet to figure out)

C) Finding Friends/Taking Advantage of the Many Wonderful People Here (title says it all; I am struggling to find a way to take advantage of all of the opportunities to meet and hang with people here...I've met so many people and I really want to meet more and gosh the opportunities go on and on, especially since I know people all over Copenhagen and many in Trekoner and Roskile....there has to be a happy medium between meeting people and relaxing on my own and doing homework, but sadly I haven't found it!)


D) Lessons from Ripley's Believe it or not Museum Today
 I wanted to have a gimmicky experience where I went to a museum that wasn't classy (I am in no way trying to sound snobby. It's just that my museum experiences mainly consist of art museums and science exhibitions that locals not just tourists enjoy e.g. The New England Aquarium).  The Ripley's Believe it or not Museum, the Guinness Book of World Records Museum, and the Mystic Exploratorium Museum were fun, but I wouldn't do it again. I had my fill! I learned some interesting facts, but honestly I could have read them online, and the wax and plastic figures representing a lot of the "unbelievable" things were often just plain creepy! ....Anyway, now I know okay to have an experience for the sake of it, but sometimes it's unnecessary because you know at the start (as I anticipated) that you could have done without it.

On a separate note about the museum(s), let's talk about social responsibility. For people unable to travel, museums can be a great way to learn about the world beyond home; museum curators therefore have a responsibility in my opinion to think about how they present their exhibits to their audience...Curators shouldn't display exhibits so that what is foreign is further "otherized" as I saw today.  On display were the plastic, life-size figurines of two men: the tallest man and the fattest man to date as of the time the museum opened. Neither figure was discussed in terms of his life interests, struggles, and success; they were each essentialized and described only in terms of their physical characteristics.  Both men's health was mentioned in the exhibit, as was their reception by the public; the exhibit was morally questionable because it okayed seeing human beings as simply curiosities, rather than as complex beings with problems and characteristics similar but different from our own. It was especially disturbing that the overweight man was depicted next to plastic replicas of sweets, implying that he was a glutton, which may not have accurately represented him given that his weight problems initially stemmed from a burst gland that altered his hormone secretion levels.

E)Fun fact/observation about birds.  Pigeons WILL take over the world; they are everywhere, including in Denmark. But, you should know that in Denmark there are serious contenders with pigeons. Raven-sized black birds with white spotted wings can be seen throughout the city and country.

F) Hippies can be found everywhere.  The staff and I at the Saxogarden Preschool/Kingergarden visited a hut that was partially indoors and partially outdoors. There we made bird feeders, watched a guide cook bird food over a froe, and listened to (incomprehensible on my part) a talk on recycling and bird watching and bird types.  Then, the guides gave each of us recyclable binoculars (made from toilet paper roll tubes) and fake beaks to wear. The guides wore hats decorated with stuffed animal birds on their heads, but they added the beak masks to what they were wearing, and lead the kids in bird watching and feeding. They demonstrated to the kids that they should flap their arms to get the full "birdy" experience and they crouched low, possibly to imitate the gait of the birds...While I don't know whether I would call the guides hippies, that was how my coworker referred to them.

G) What does it mean to be "character" in Denmark? My friends thought that some people we had met were strange when I just thought they were people...So, I wonder whether they picked up on cultural differences or personality differences...

H)Passion verses pasttimes. Again, I don't want to just spend time here, I want to make all of it "count" and be meaningful somehow

I) True Communication.
I have had some incredibly insightful, fascinating conversations during my time in Denmark.  As always, I am drawn to conversations where I have to think hard about how I see the world or on how they see the world/their life.  These conversations have been in English obviously, but I am also learning that nonverbal communication and baby-talk in Danish can get you far.  At my practicum this week I teased the kids "Jeg spise dig" meaning I eat you and they ran and I chased them around and around the hallway (which is entirely fine indoors in some places in DK). Some of the kids asked me my name during the break, indicating that they liked me and liked playing with me, and they also hovered around asking something (which they stopped) as soon as I began chasing them agian (I think they were asking to play)...I have also managed to talk to an older girl (she is 5ish) to check on how well I know and understand simple Danish nouns...Each moment of communication is meaningful, especially when we are smiling together...It's cool to realize how enjoyable and meaningful simple commuication can be (granted when you don't know a langauge well any communication is a win)

J)I have been thinking What does it mean to really integrate somewhere? I have met people who immigrated to Denmark. I only sometimes pass as a Dane (when I don't want people to speak English to me I sometimes get away with just speaking in Danish); I wonder if it gets any easier as you know the language?  I know a woman who has been here five years and she says that she still doesn't quite 'pass'

K) Maturity verses knowledge.  I wonder whether I am growing during my time here because I am learning about people, or if I am maturing because of the greater responsibilities I have on my own...I hope that both are coming my way

L) Counting the number of times I have been flustered. They have been surprisingly few, but memorable. I hope the number will continue to stay low! (the most recent was an incident when I had trouble remembering my bank account pin; talk about anxiety provoking!)

M)Am I taking away a Life Lesson or Context Lesson? Meaning, what understandings and ways of being from my time in Denmark will I take with me when I am home?

N) The Five Hugs I've Had Since I've Been Here (I didn't mean to count it's just that I'm used to being more affectionate because obviously I'm usually somewhere where I know more people!)

O) Teaching Verses Psychology? I thought at my practicum the other day that I was sold to teaching kids because it was so cute and pleasant. Then, at a lecture in my Adolescents in Northern Europe class this past Thursday I got completely absorbed by a lecture on schizophrenia in adolescents. We only began to talk about the psychosocial approaches to interventions, but I was so fascinated by what I was learning in a way I hadn't been during my classes here, that I was reminded that maybe it is psychological work that I want to stick with...Sigh! Decisions Decisions!

That's all for now folks, but I hope you enjoyed this long post! XOXO

Language Learning and Food Testing

     So, you may ask why I haven't been blogging for the last number of days and the answer my friends is culture shock, overwhelm, sleep deprivation, and my constant wonderment about what I could possibly write about. So, here I am today writing about my quandary itself!

As I just said, the quadary begins with culture shock...Today I skyped with a friend and tried to explain culture shock through a metaphor; the metaphor involved a loose egg rolling around my brain and, yes, I imagine you are already lost as my friend was...The point I was trying to make and will assert now is that culture shock (for me at least) is the feeling of seeing something, and not really believing or absorbing it as best you try, because you illogically believe (even if you tell yourself it's not the case) that if you blink your eyes hard enough everything will go back to how it was at home.  For instance, every time I stare at the American money I have left, or skype home I suddenly feel as if I have been transported back to a world where everything makes sense.  Then, seconds later I am disappointed remembering that dimes and nickels are meaningless here, because I am in Denmark where they use the Kroner and the ore (the small coins).  The point is that it is strange, dream-like to be somewhere where the little things you are used to no longer are present or natural. And, when you are able to reflect on this dream you are overwhelmed (in a good way): unsure about how to process and store what you see, learn....

    This inability to find concrete meaning in my experience leads me to repeatedly reflect, why am I studying abroad? I know all the reasons I came, but as I reflect on home (which is now how I refer to the States) I think why leave it? Why not travel to Minnesota, North Dakota and leave Massachusetts? Why go continents away? If I hope to expand my independence and world knowledge, was going abroad truly necessary to do so?  I think I may be honestly looking for a sense of completion, meaning that can only come when you know a place well and have the tools to make sense of it: a feeling I am told will only come to me as I am on my way home from Denmark, and have "mastered" the culture somewhat.

   In the meantime I am soaking up as much adventure as I can between classes.

1) I lived with a broken door for days (the lock, the latch, and the door-handle had broken) soon after moving in, and kept the wind out of my room with lots string, an ethernet cable, and plastic bags

2) I tried a Danish delicacy today: a sandwich with pesto, butter (don't worry Dad I stopped eating it when I realized my mistake), laks, lettuce, and tomato. It tasted to me like pizza although the texture was obviously different!

3) They have candied nuts stands on Stroget (a major street with lots of shops)

4)Their red cross has better clothes and organization than most Macys back in the greater Boston area

5) Fast food places have tons of seating, encouraging you to stay a while to sit and eat! A shawarma place even had an upstairs area.  Also, you are expected to leave your plates out so that the staff can clean the table for you (it's like elements of American fine dining are a part of the Danish fast food experience)

6) I joined a Danish chorus and was bluntly told the first day that I need to try harder with my Danish! Danes are blunt; I had heard this before, but experienced it for the first time! (granted the comment was directed to me by my SRA who had known me for a week prior, but still it was a bit early by American standards for constructive criticism I think!)

7)At the practicum where I work four and five year old children are allowed on the playground by themselves while the adults stay outside with the older kids! Of course, I was expected to live by these same rules/beliefs about how to engage with children.

8)I personally saw tons of two and three year olds put on their snowsuits all by themselves!  Kids are trained to be independent starting at an earlier age here! :)