Photos of Sunny Sunday in Copenhagen
Posted on May 14, 2009 2 Comments
Just a few pictures taken last weekend. These give a pretty good flavor for a typical sunny, spring Sunday in Copenhagen. Most of these were taken by my husband, Lasse Fredrik Jensen.
New U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Appointed
Posted on May 12, 2009 Leave a Comment
Word has it that the new Ambassador to Denmark is soon to be appointed. Jyllands-Posten reported that Laurie Susan Fulton, a top D.C. lawyer and ex-wife of well-known former Senator Thomas Daschle is the selected Ambassador to The Kingdom of Denmark. It’s not yet 100 percent official though as of this writing. Apparently it will take a couple more days before the Senate gives final nomination, which is said to be a formality at this point.
Ms. Fulton has specialized primarily in civil litigation, internal investigations and white-collar criminal defense. She’s also been involved in consumer class action suits and products liability litigations. She serves as Co-Chair and previously on the Board of Directors at the United States Institute of Peace, an institute funded by Congress to “prevent and resolve violent international conflicts, promote post-conflict stability and development, and increase conflict management capacity, tools, and intellectual capital worldwide.” Here is her full bio on Williams and Connolly’s Web site.
A pdf of her bio can also be downloaded.
Photos of Copenhagen Vandalism
Posted on May 12, 2009 7 Comments
We took a walk down Strøget to see the damage done from Friday’s vandalism. Here is what we saw. Looked pretty well cleaned up in just two days. It’s still quite a shame that these historic buildings were damaged like this. But all in all, it could have been worse, I suppose. And apparently the police have since apologized for not handling the situation in the most optimal way, whatever that would have been. It’s hard to say with such circumstances. At least no one was hurt.
P.S. I forgot to mention the complete and utter misfortune to Danish people that have to pay for this damage through taxes. Oh, and the people whose vehicles were destroyed that have to pay co-pays through their insurance not to mention the hassle of getting their cars fixed and the residences and businesses that were effected. Don’t get me wrong, when I say no one was hurt, I meant physically. There was harm done that will likely have a longer effect on the local community, Copenhagners and visitors alike.
“Love to you all”
“Flower”
“The city is ours”
Vandalism and Gang Related Attacks on the Rise in CPH
Posted on May 9, 2009 4 Comments
See video here: http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/kriminalitet/2009/05/09/085229.htm#
The footage on this video is unreal. I simply cannot believe it was filmed let alone not stopped by the police while it was happening. And to make thing even more unreal, NO ARRESTS WERE MADE — that’s right — not a single person.
Basically, a whole area of Strøget (the shopping street in CPH) including several shops, cars, and residential buildings, was destroyed last night (on Prayer Day no less) by 3-400 left-wing political anarchists known as autonomists having a street (techno) party.
Apparently the police decided to let them go crazy until the party “calmed down” on its own instead of stopping them because they feared the confrontation would bring rise to riots and make things worse. Needless to say residents and shop owners are not happy. The police claim it was a strategic decision.
Great Day of Prayer
Posted on May 7, 2009 2 Comments
Friday, May 8 is a holiday in Denmark. It’s a day off for most. However sadly when you ask about what the holiday is, most have a difficult time explaining it. In essence, most know it simply as a day or three-day weekend rather than a recognized celebration of some kind.
Since it’s now my seventh year here, I figured it was time I got down to brass tacks and figured this whole “Great Day of Prayer” thing out. So, I’ve done a bit of research and this is what I’ve found. If anyone has any other details or traditions, please let me know!
Store Bededag – or “Great Prayer Day,” always falls on the fourth Friday after Easter and three weeks before Pentecost or Whit Sunday or “Pinse Day” in Danish, which is 10 days after Ascension day. All of these days are celebrated as holidays in DK with Whit Monday being a holiday, and Ascension day or “Kristi Himmelfartsdag,” and “Pinse” all falling in the month of May. As a result there is only one full week of work in the entire month of May. Not a bad way to celebrate spring if you ask me.
Store Bededag is a day for praying for peace. The holiday was established in 1686 after an idea from a Danish Bishop from Roskilde, Hans Bagger (1675-1693), who sought to consolidate a number of other fasting and prayer days. So called “super prayer” day was invtented to reduce the number of days for prayer so that productivity time wasn’t lost.
In old days bells were rung from the churches the night before (at 6 p.m.)signaling for shops, bars, restaurants and other merchants to close so that people could go home and prepare for a day of prayer. This ensured people would be sober when praying in churches the following day. On Store Bededag people refrained from acts of vanity such as work, play, travel, etc,. It has also been said that prayers were made around crops to enhance growth for the season.
SO, Great Prayer Day or “Store Bededage” is tomorrow. This year will be our first year to actually take part in the traditions associated with this holiday. That is, to eat large, warm wheat rolls and walk around Copenhagen City. In fact, it’s such a big part of the holiday that it’s also known as Hvededag or “Wheat Day.”
This occurred due to the fact that bakers made extra bread for the following day because the bakeries closed on Prayer Day. People picked up their rolls for the following day. Since the rolls were fresh baked and crispy they must have been hard to resist because it became tradition to eat them the eve before!
The second tradition is to walk around Copenhagen to enjoy the spring blooms, including it’s many chestnut trees, and as a gesture to show good citizenship. It started in the 1700s around the Frue Kirke or “Københavns Domkirke,” which range the bells to commence the holiday. Sine the bell was destroyed by the British, it is now tradition to walk around the ramparts of Kastellet and/or Christianshavns vold (embankment from the old fortification) around the old mill or “Lille Mølle,” a Dutch made mill from 1783 located between Torvegade & Bådmandstræde.
Tonight there is a concert in the church at Kastellet Church at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. It’s free, but tickets must be picked up in advance outside the church from 6:30 p.m.At the Little Mill, the shop officially opens this evening with tours and warm rolls available at 6, 7, and 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the nearby restaurant Bastionen and Løven.
Here is a recipe for the wheat rolls should anyone feel inspired to do as the Danes. I think for us we will keep with tradition and pick some up from the bakery.
NOTE – this is a very rough translation from DR
INGREDIENTS
3 dl milk
35 grams yeast
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
½ tsp cardamom
1 egg white
50 grams potato flour
approximately 450 grams of wheat flour
1 egg yolk
Melt margarine/butter and add milk, salt and sugar. When it has cooled add yeast. Then add cardamom, egg white, potato flour and half wheat flour. Then stir in the rest of the flour a little at a time until dough is soft and smooth.
Place the dough in a bowel with a towel over the top. Put in a warm place for about an hour.
Knead the dough through and make into 16 buns made with 1 cm intervals in a form lined with baking. Let the rolls sit and rise for 30 minutes.
Brushed the rolls with whipped egg yolk and put in a heated oven (200 degrees Celsius). They will bake in about twenty minutes.
Let cool, cut and toast or put in the oven to 250 degrees until crispy. Add butter and/or jam. ENJOY!
A Word on TV & The Computer
Posted on May 5, 2009 Leave a Comment
When you really look deeply at something, it becomes a part of you.
This is one of the sinister aspects of television. People are constantly looking at empty and false images; these impoverished images are filling up the inner world of the heart. The modern world of image and electronic media is reminiscent of Plato’s wonderful allegory of the cave.
The prisoners are in one line, chained together, looking at the wall of the cave. The fire behind them casts images onto the wall. The prisoners believe that what they see on the wall of that cave is reality. Yet all they are seeing are shadows and reflections. Television and the computer world are great empty shadow-lands.
To look at something that can gaze back at you, or that has a reserve and depth, can heal your eyes and deepen your sense of vision.”
–From the book “Anam Cara,” by John O’Donahue
Spring Has Sprung
Posted on May 4, 2009 Leave a Comment
A few pics that capture the wonderful feeling of spring in the air.
Rapeseed Fields Almost Ready
Posted on April 30, 2009 4 Comments
France has its sunflower and lavender fields. Denmark has rapeseed.
During our trip to Jutland this weekend we saw the first bright yellow rapeseed fields blooming, a common sight in the spring and summer across the Danish countryside. Rapeseed is a big part of Denmark’s renewable energy industry and provides oil used for biodeisel and is also a type of vegetable oil, many know it as canola oil. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapeseed
I tried organic rapeseed oil recently and found that it gave me terrible heartburn (maybe because of its erucic acid content), so I’m going to have to pass on adding that to my diet. For those that can stomach it, it has a lot of nutritional benefits because it contains both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Claims have been made that it’s heart healthy reducing cholesterol.
You can learn more about “How Denmark is leading the way in renewable energy” in an article by MoneyWeek from 2006. The country’s biggest manufacturer and one of Europe’s largest, Emmelev, produces approximately 100 million litres per year (80,000 tons of biodiesel), which is mainly exported to Germany, Sweden, Iceland & Norway. CEO Bjarne Sionsen is said to be “Denmark’s Oil Sheik.”
Here are a few pics of one of the fields we saw along the way.
Here are few pics of the fields in full bloom.
My Danish Doctor Wears Diesel Jeans
Posted on April 20, 2009 12 Comments
Yes, it’s true. My doctor was strutting $200 Italian designer jeans at my last appointment. I don’t know why but it just struck me. I’m used to doctors wearing scrubs like a uniform of sorts that signals, “I’m a doctor, I know what I’m doing, trust me.”
I suppose it’s fine that a doctor chooses to wear the latest style and trend however I’m not sure if it’s the best message to send to patients. Patients that are paying their salary via high taxes (upwards of 50-60%). While I secretly wish for my own pair of Diesel jeans, I don’t know if I would flaunt them if I were treating ill patients. But this is Denmark, where sporting brand names like Lacoste, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana or Louis Vuitton is almost as interwoven into the social fabric as is eating rye bread for lunch.
This starts at a young ripe age and even includes underwear, i.e. the famous Bjørn Borg skibbies hanging out of the skinny jeans. I’ve even seen these brand names listed on a 13-year-old’s Birthday “wish list.”
It’s not just the pants.
I went in for a month-long earache problem I’ve had and was told to try some over-the-counter nose spray. When I asked the dr. what to do if it didn’t go away after I tried the nose spray for the recommended 5-6 days and he simply shrugged his shoulders (insinuating “I don’t know”), shook his head and said it might take more time before it goes away. That’s it. I’m not saying the doc is incompetent, it’s just all too familiar advice to be told to basically do nothing, which is essentially what I had done for the last month or so since it started.
The funny thing is that when I went to the pharmacy to purchase the nose spray, I decided to pose the same question. “What should I do if the problem doesn’t go away after the max. 10 days of usage?” “Well, I would go back to the dr.,” the woman said. Hmmm….P.S. the nose spray didn’t work and I ended up having ear infections in both ears that spread to my jaw. It is better now thanks to a substitute dr. that finally addressed the problem.
It’s almost like when my husband went to an ear, nose and throat speacialist for a tinitus problem and the dr. told him to put a piece of cotton in his ear. That was it. No other advice was given. Or when another person I know had the whole work-up for snoring and was told that it’s perfectly normal for a person to snore and that there’s no harm in it. Tell that to his wife.
More recently a more serious situation occurred that required at 112 (911) call at 3:00 am and hospital visit for a most unfortunate and potentially preventable situation. When the person had this particular condition checked a month ago he was told, “let’s see what happens.” Well, we have seen what happened and it wasn’t good.
It seems the solution for most ailments is to do nothing and assume that it will simply go away. It only really leaves you with a feeling that you are stuck with this problem and on your own with something that is unfixable. Live with it. I guess it could be due to the whole Viking mentality, which can be pretty raw and scary if you ask me.
This approach has been positive in many regards because I’ve drastically reduced the amount of antibiotics I’ve taken and I do tend to nurse my ailments naturally now instead of going for meds. I also admit that Americans are more drug crazy and are taught that there is a magic pill out there for everything when in reality there’s not.
But to me it’s frustrating that when you have a problem it’s not taken very seriously until you are almost dying or it becomes extreme. There is no real preventative medicince practiced either. Tests are rarely offered and almost never for routine check ups — most times you have to ask for them yourself. Due to this I’ve learned that I need to take things into my own hands and ask for what I need. So has a fellow expat blogger at www.cantcopenhagenblogspot.com who wrote about her experiences with the medical system in here post, “doctor’s orders.” After reading her post, I know for sure I am not alone.
In the end, I am a person that likes to get things resolved in the most efficient manner possible. It doesn’t mean that I’m impatient, but waiting for months at a time (and sometimes years) to see a specialist can test your limits. Time that people litterally die while they wait to get treatment. While it is truly fantastic that you can go to the doctor and see a specialists for “free” (free = high tax), the overall approach to medicine is more about treating the acute rather than prevent illness.
My experience with the system has not been entirely negative but unfortunately it has been extremely disappointing and concerning. I’ve consulted with doctors in the U.S. and I wouldn’t think twice about doing it again if necessary. You can get good care here, but you also need to really push for and ask for what you need because normally it’s not offered or suggested. This includes regular OBGYN check-ups, mammograms, blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid tests, etc. It’s up to you.
To those that have encountered this problem or that don’t know how to navigate through the medical system yet, I have the following advice.
Top 10 Tips for Dealing with Danish Doctors:
1) Tell the dr. what is wrong and tell them what you want (ie., medicine, tests, a referral). Do not expect that the dr. will order any tests or perscribe medication.
2) If you are not happy with your dr. and can’t communicate well with him/her — get another dr. Do not settle for less. There is a list of referrals on the U.S. Embassy web site. That or get a referral from a trusted family member or friend.
3) For anything more than a cold or flu, it may be best to just ask for a referral to a specialist automatically.
4) Know your rights. If you have a long waiting time for a procedure, there is a possiblity that you can get in to see a private dr./specialist earlier.
5) Know that you can always go to Germany or Sweden for care. This includes the dentist, which I understand is substantially less expensive than in DK.
6) Don’t take the fact that drs. have absolutely no bedside manner personally. Get sympathy from your friends and family.
7) There is no such thing as follow up so if have a problem that needs to be checked after treatment, schedule it on your own.
8) Be assertive. Be VERY assertive.
9) Put your dr’s phone number in your mobile phone memory so you can use the automatic re-dial when calling for an apt or to speak to him/her.
10) Share your stories and ask questions. The more information you have about the system from others, including Danes, the better. There seems to be an unwritten rule book that only exists between lips and not on paper. At least it wasn’t readily handed out to me when I met with my integration counselor.
And the bonus piece of advice: stay healthy so you don’t need the dr. 🙂
Capturing Spring Along Christian IV’s Old Moat
Posted on March 25, 2009 1 Comment
We had it all today – sunshine, blue sky, clouds, sleet, snow and major winds. The fight is on: winter versus spring. Today spring fought a pretty good fight with peering rays of shining blasting through those gray snowy clouds. And just as soon as the wind took the clouds to make way for some clear sky, another acumulation swept through.
The baby flowers that blanket the forest floor are starting to bloom and the daffodils are nearly ready to pop. It won’t be long now. Here are some shots I took along the moat between Christianshavn and Amager (King Chrisitan IV’s old moat) in Christiania showing clear signs that spring is definitely on its way.
May spring win over winter’s grip sooner than later.
Laura Stadler Consulting 