My Room

My simple room.

Ask the readers:
I desperately need some posters or something...

Post suggestions in the comments.

Jogging in the Flensborg Fjord

In preparation for the Broloppet Marathon in Juni (June), I decided to take in some of the scenery and go for a Søndag (Sunday) jog. About two minutes from Handelskollegiet (where I live), is the Flensborg Fjord! Even on a cloudy day, the trails around the Fjord are beautiful, and there are parks along the way. Everything here is green, and the temperature is 9 degrees (48 Fahrenheit)... perfect for marathon training. I think everyone trying to get in shape should come here, as it is a pleasure to go out running when the scenery is so beautiful!

Nightlife

Last night was the annual winter welcome back party. Imagine a grade school sock-hop with a DJ in the school gym, only add beer and gorgeous women. Again, I forgot my camera, so I don't have any pictures, but it was much more fun than I remember a sock-hop to be. It was fun to talk to some of the full time Danish students, but it is hard enough to try and talk with someone when the music is loud, let alone their thick accents.
At about 2:00, the school kicked us out, so the party continued into downtown Sonderborg. When we walked into the "Buddy Holly" pub, everyone was up on tables dancing to Greece Lightning (did I mention they love that music over here?) After that excitment, we walked across the street to "Penny Lane," another pub, and they were all dancing to the Packer Hey song... they love the strangest music here.

First Day of Classes

Thursday marked the first day of classes. My International Economics professor decided to be in Sweden Skiing instead of teaching, so my first class was canceled. He failed to tell anyone, and a student called his cell phone and he was on a lift to the top of a Mountain. My Finance and Investment professor speaks with a Danish fake British English accent, and is hilarious. This course sounds exactly like my Finance course from last semester, so it should be easy. First impressions of the schooling process are that it is very informal, and the professors prefer to be called by their first name. This varies greatly from some of the pompous professors in the US that get all in a huff if you don't call them Dr. whatever.
Thursday also marked the grand reopening of Tutten, the residence hall pub in the basement of our dorm. Try to imagine if McCormick Hall invited all of its residents to the basement and served beer... thats what it is like (only with hot Danes and Germans instead of drunk Wisconsin girls.)
It seems rains nearly every day here, on and off, kinda like Seattle. From what I hear from home it's cooooooold, so 50 degrees and rain is okay with me.
Well... off to the intro party, more to come.

Yes, in the Library!

Orientation Day
New exchange students for this semester:
8 Spaniards
3 Frenchmen/women
4 Germans
2 Mexicans
1 me

Add to this the fact that there about a million other exchange full degree students here, and it makes for an awesome atmosphere. There are so many international students that I think they outnumber the Danes at the school. The interesting thing about it is that when speaking to each other, they speak in their native tongue, but English is the common language when there are two or more languages represented. My four years of high school Spanish are surprisingly helpful, and I'm sure in a few weeks I'll have "remastered" my Spanish.

The tour of the university ended at the library, at which time we were asked to enjoy a drink in the basement of the library. I assumed coffee... enough with the assumptions. No, there is a fully stocked bar in the basement of the library. The student cafe, is basically a discotek in the basement of the library open "from 12:00." No closing time, just from 12:00.

On that note, I have class tomorrow at 10:00, so I'd better go...

First Impressions: Denmark

I arrived into Sonderborg station at 9:17 pm last night, awaiting my guide to pick me up. After a 1/2 hour, I decided he wasn't coming, and made the 1.2 mile trek to my apartment building (thank God for GPS). I knocked on a random door once I got there, and was greeted by a very kind Dane. Long story short they were able to track down the guide, who was at Tutten (local pub), and got the key to my room.

The moral of the story: Don't expect a Dane to be sober after noon.

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