Prague (Wrapup)

My final day in Prague consisted of a visit to the Prague National Gallery at Prague Castle, a packed lunch in Stare Mesto (Old Town), Josefov (the Jewish Ghettos), and an evening stroll down the Charles Bridge. Nightlife on a Monday night is surprisingly dull for a big cultural city like Prague, but I happened across a group from our hostel at a Discotek called "DoubleTrouble.cz." All in all, Prague is a beautiful city, and there was no shortage of couples from all around the world basking in its beauty. My return to this romantic city is inevitable...

Prague (Part 2)

Saw the Kafka Museum today, which was sombre, but interesting. It has rained almost all day, but I managed to cover the final one square mile in Prague that I haven't seen in the last three days I have been here. Whilst a beautiful city, I can't wait to get home (Sonderborg) and meet my Danish homies. I also managed to snap a few pics of the Swedish Embasy, which has no meaning now, but may one day hold my dual citizenship.

The hostel environment is much different from the 5 star hotel Jon and I stayed in to begin the trip, but i have had the chance to meet some people from all over the world. I spent most of the day with two girls from St. Olaf's College.

I think the rain is letting up, so i'm back out and at it!

Prague (Part 1)

How dare you force me to try and describe about Prague... see for yourself and look at the pictures here.

If you don't believe me... come here for $433 round trip and I'll prove you this is the best city since Dublin (aka the second city I've seen...) Meet me in Old Town and I'll prove it (ask me why it's good... I'll give you my 9,546,9832 minute explanation and we can go from there!)

We saw a ballet in the Prague National Theatre, (Mozart? Mozart!) We saw the Jewish Ghettos, and that was just in the first day! I'll let you know the rest of what i see in the next 3 days i have in Prague!

Dublin, et all.

Not much time... just have to say, Dublin is beautiful! Click here for all the pics from Dublin... more from Prague to come!

Soooooo... Goodbye! Fairwell... So Long Forever...

This black and white picture from the future is the scene of the parade to be thrown in the streets of København for my safe return home to Scandinavia from war in America.

January 25
Chicago to Dublin
Depart: 6:00PM CST

Day in Dublin... city tour, pint of Guinness, Hooligan fight on the pitch... typical day in Ireland.

January 26
Dublin to Prague

Two nights at the 5-star Hotel Ventana with Marquette graduate and current seminarian in Vatican City Jon Bakkelund (those priests really know how to live!)... Followed by two nights on my own at the Old Prague Hostel in a 20 bed shared room.

January 30
Prague to København
Four hour train ride to Sønderborg/Home...

What would you bring? (ATR's)

Unbeknown to the packing supervisor (my mom), I plan on taking out two of the unnecessary changes of underwear and replace them with an item of your choosing. Practicality would be nice, but when have I ever been practical at the expense of humor? If it fits in my luggage, and I decide to bring your item, I promise to take a picture in front of the European monument of your choice with that item and send a personally autographed copy of the photo! Also... general packing tips are required to make all this stuff fit... like this video:

Hurry and send in your items... I leave in just 40 hours!!!

Handelskollegiet (Home)

Handelskollegiet
B.S. Ingemannsvej 2, Room 118
DK-6400 Sonderborg

Tel: 0045 74134572

My new home and phone number for the next six months (once I get there.)

I would encourage everyone not to call my room number, but rather install Skype, which lets you talk to me for FREE over the internet. I know you will all want to talk to me once you realize how much you miss me, so there you have it. My screenname on skype is benallenallen, so add me and we'll talk through this whole withdrawal thing...

Student Residence Website for Handel (hows your danish?)

Hygge is in the air

Hygge is an important element of the Danish mentality. The term is difficult to translate, but it is often, inadequately, translated as cosiness. Yet, it is much more than that.

Uncomplicated, unexaggerated and informal are some of the incredients in hygge. It is closely associated with having a good time together with friends or family and with eating and drinking. It may include a long dinner at home with a group of friends who know each another well. It may be a good time at the “fredagsbar”. In can be going out with some few friends for a cup of coffee on a Sunday afternoon. In may be listening to music, playing board games or just watching a TV-program together.

The term hygge is widely used and connected with different situations. For instance you can have a hygge-evening and a hygge-weekend. You can have a hygge-chat and you can even sit in a hygge-corner.

Hyggelig is the adjective for hygge and is used about many things. A person can be described as hyggelig, a café and a town – especially if it is a small town – can be hyggelig. Furniture for instance a sofa can be hyggelig and candlelight are definitely hyggelige.

Hygge is all about feeling comfortable in a friendly atmosphere. It is impossible to stay in Denmark for long without experiencing hygge.

Bank Update 1/21

Bank Update:
Pre-departure bank balance: 25,636.39 DKK

Time to get moving...

You'll notice the timer SLOOOOOWLY counting down on the right side of the blog... I'm not sure if thats going to help make these last few days faster or not, but wow have these last few weeks been long and boring (as can be noticed from my BORING posts)!

Pilsner A pale pilsner. The most common type of beer in Denmark are the Pilsner. For instance: Carlsberg HOF, Tuborg Grøn, Royal Pilsner.

Classic An all malt pilsner with more color and taste. The classic type is named after the Tuborg Classic. For instance: Tuborg Classic, Tuborg Classic Gylden, Carl's Special, Royal Classic

Guld Øl (Gold beer) usually refers to the strength of the beer. Basically all tax category II beers are called Guld Øl named after the Tuborg Guld. Examples include: Tuborg Guld, Carlsberg Sort Guld, Carlsberg Dark, Royal Export

Stærk Øl (Strong beer) refers to tax category III beers such as Carlberg Elefant, Tuborg Fine Festival, Royal Selection.

Juleøl (Christmas beer) are usually gold strength beer with additional flavor. Examples include: Carl's Jul, Carlberg 47, Tuborg Julebryg, Royal XMas

Påskeøl (Easter beer) are usually gold strength beer with additional flavor. Examples include: Carl's Påske, Tuborg Påskebryg, Royal Spring.

Hvidtøl (White beer) is classic Danish beer, pretty much unknown anywhere else. It is brewed from white malt, and should not be confused with wheat beer or Belgian white beer. It was once the most common beer in Denmark but has declined much so it is today just a soft beer usually served at Christmas with rice pudding. Considered it has an alcohol content of appr. 1% by volume Hvidt øl can be consumed by many underaged people. It has a malty sweetness and none to moderate hop bitterness.

More Swedish Beauty (Retro)

Kerstin (Kiki) Håkansson was the winner of the first Miss World beauty pageant in 1951, where her name was quoted as Kiki Haakonson. She represented Sweden, and was the first and last winner to don a bikini. For the next two decades, Miss Worldwinners wore one-piece bathing suits for the crowning ritual.

Rank	Country	Titles	1st Runner-Up	2nd Runner-Up	Total
1.	Venezuela	5	2	3	10
2.	India	5	0	0	5
3.	United Kingdom	4	4	3	11
4.	Sweden	3	2	0	5

Class/Travel Schedule

Well... details are starting to trickle in from Denmark. Since I'm the first (and only) Marquette student to study in Denmark, nobody really knows what is going on. I've always loved an adventure, so this experience shouldn't disappoint.

My schedule came in, and I think I can work with it (see picture.) No classes on Friday! Jensen, Sibbernsen, Jessen, Larsen, Thaysen, Jensen... everything "sen"

When I return, call me Allensen.

Am I a Viking?

Who were the Vikings? For most people, thoughts of raping and pillaging probably spring to mind, as do images of busty women called Brunnhilda with blonde plaits and horned helmets.

The Vikings sailed from the Nordic countries to Britain, Ireland, North America, Russia and even Turkey. Yet for visitors to Scandinavia and locals alike, there are currently precious few opportunities to find out the truth about the extraordinary people who spread their culture over most of the known world.

This could soon change, as plans have now been unveiled to start an interactive museum in Stockholm to satisfy tourists’ hunger for the medieval Scandinavians.

“There is a big interest worldwide in the Vikings,” says Marie Nork, one of those trying to set up the Stockholm Viking Center. Quite apart from countries actually visited by Vikings, there is huge interest in both the United States and Japan.

“They are used in commercials – they’ve even been used in propaganda. During the 19th century they really became romanticized: that’s when they acquired their horns.”

The Stockholm centre, which is still in the planning stages, will look at these myths and compare them against the reality of Viking life – a reality that was more usually centered around trade and farming than the art of war.

“East-bound Vikings particularly did lots of trading, rather than fighting and pillaging,” she says.

A word from the "Intro Team"

A friendly note from the Intro Team in Sonderborg ^

A woman we all grew up with... BLONDE