Diversity Around Copenhagen: Four Languages Before Noon
Posted on January 20, 2009 1 Comment
Pizza from Bottega on Dronningensgade 42
My day today is the perfect example of how much true diversity there really is in Copenhagen. I visited China, Pakistan, Denmark and Italy all before noon. I spoke English and Danish to a Chinese man, Danish to two Danes and a Pakistani, and Danish, English, Italian and Spanish to an Italian.
It started with morning acupuncture where I was instantly transported to China just by stepping into the street-side clinic. Chinese folk music was playing, the smell of moxibustion was abound and silk Chinese pajamas hung neatly on the wall. The Chinese doctor, a former Olympic gymnast coach for the Danish national team, spoke very broken Danish and English to me with a very thick Chinese accent. I did my best with my Danish and spoke Danglish to get my points across.
After the appointment, I walked down the street to a Pakistani green grocer that sold fresh flowers, fruit and vegetables as well as feta, a variety of marinated olives, nuts, beans and exotic spices as well as herbs still planted in pots. I purchased some tulips with the bulbs and roots still attached, blueberries, tomatoes, and a few loose mushrooms. I spoke Danish to this merchant and he did the same.
From there I headed further down the street to the cheese shop. I was almost knocked down from the strong smell of cheese when I walked in and wondered how on earth these two men running the shop could withstand breathing in that smell all day. It was a true specialty shop with huge chunks of blue cheese, a selection of Norwegian goat cheeses, as well as all kinds of crackers, flat breads, jams and chocolates. I was on the hunt for some good quality mozzarella (the kind sold in the grocery store are not the best in my opinion), but unfortunately they didn’t sell mozzarella. The Dane kindly offered the address of the Italian supermarket and I continued on my way after thanking him in my best Danish pronounced expression, “tak skal du have!” or “thank you.”
I drove just a few miles away to the Italian import – a warehouse type shop called Supermarco & Ello supplying to many Italian restaurants selling everything from pastas, wine, spumante, pesto, coffee, meats from the deli and all kinds of dolci including world-class tiramisu and gelato directly imported from Italy. I picked up the last items needed and decided to take advantage of the 5 Dkr($.80) espresso offered at the exit. The Italian man who kindly made the espesso took the opportunity to have one for himself and “keep me company.” We started to chat, first in English, then in Danish, then a little Itailan and mixed in some Spanish. Every other word or sentence we spoke was in a different language. He spoke Italian to me as if he was trying to teach it to me and had a look in his eye like he was hoping that I would understand and instantly learn it. Surprisingly I did get the gist of what he said thanks to my very basic Spanish. He gave me a few tips on where to find good pizza in CPH (also something of a rarity here), and mentioned two places: Pomodoro & Mozzarella on Amagerbrogade 136 (which is where they get their fresh bread from), and La Vecchia Signora on Grønnegade 14. I suppose if an Italian recommends an Italian restaurant, it has a good chance of being OK. Standing there chatting like this having an espresso made me feel like I was truly in Italy – doing just as the Italians do.
As we stood there chatting, he pointed over to a couple of other Italian men. One of which was the importer of the over-the-top tiramisu. He told him that I was going to make pizza for the inauguration and have tiramisu for dessert. The man thought this was funny and said to me, in very broken Danish with a strong Italian accent, that I needed to enjoy the pizza and tiramisu and then go out in the sun and get a suntan so that I could look a little bit like Obama. I didn’t quite understand what the heck he was talking about and thought at first that I looked very pale like most Danes do this time of year, and that I was in severe need of sun. Then they explained it again. Ah! I get it. Not sure how funny I think that is though.
All in all, it was a very multicultural day. I love the fact that I can experience so many different cultures in a place that is also very homogeneous. Here’s to all us foreigners doing our best to speak Danish — the unexpected common language between an American, Chinese, Pakistani and Italian. Cheers and Ciao!
Accepting Things As They Are
Posted on January 16, 2009 5 Comments
“Just be OK with it,” is what someone once told me. I nodded my head in agreement thinking, “yeah, I can do that.” But thinking that you are OK with something and feeling it deep in your heart and accepting what you might not really deep down think is OK, are two different things.
It’s a little bit like getting older and realizing that you can’t do the same things you used to (and most likely don’ t have the desire to) but nonetheless you eventually get to a point where you are OK with it. It’s a process of letting go, being free of the prison oand locked bars around you that you placed there yourself.
It also relates to living abroad. It’s an acceptance that things are not the same. That you can’t live your life in the same way as you used to and you either have to just be OK with it and accept it or you fight it and get frustrated. The only person that loses is you. It does take a little mental work though. It doesn’t come completey natural. It takes a certain kind of awareness of knowing what it is exactly that gets under your skin and why and then deconstructing it to find out how you can make peace with it. That and finding the good in it. There’s always a brigher side. It’s up to you to find it and make the decision to look at it.
I am starting to be OK with a lot of things – many relating to life abroad, my own personal struggles and also most importantly my limitations. Not being “free” to go grocery shopping 24 hours a day is one of them, but I made peace with that a long time ago. In the end it’s me that calls them limitations as there are likely other areas where I will soar high above any perceived ceiling I imagine there to be. It’s my commitment to find this, embrace it and enjoy the process along the way.
Something Poinient
Posted on January 16, 2009 1 Comment
Through the steel of discipline, you will forge a character rich with courage and peace. Through the virtue of will, you are destined to rise to life’s highest ideal and live within a heavenly mansion filled with all that is good, joyful and vital. Without them, you are lost like a mariner without a compass, one who eventually sinks with his ship.
A View Over Copenhagen
Posted on January 7, 2009 3 Comments
Instead of writing something to kick off the New Year, I decided instead to post some pictures we took on Christmas day from the top of the Italian dome of “The Marble Church” or Frederiks Kirke (marmorkirken).
We took a walk and visited the church and happened to arrive at the time a tour was just about to start. Apparently at 3:00 (not sure if this is every day), they open it up and provide a tour up to the top. It offered some spectacular views of the city. It was truly breathtaking and a great way to pay homage to our city. Enjoy!
Participants Needed for Amercian Expat Survey
Posted on December 5, 2008 Leave a Comment
If you are an American Expat here in Denmark on a work assignment or are the spouse of an Expat on assignment, check out this survey. It’s from a researcher at North Carolina State University. The deadline is Dec. 15 and by participating you could win a gift certificate or opportunity to donate your prize to charity.
Here is the information concerning the survey:
My name is Ti’eshia Moore and I am a doctoral candidate in the Adult & Higher Education program at North Carolina State University. I am currently completing my doctoral dissertation on the cultural identity of American expatriates currently working and serving abroad. I am interested in cultural identity as it relates to early return from international assignments.
Research has suggested that an expatriate’s early return can cost a business as much as $2 million annually and can be extremely problematic for the expatriate. The FAWCO & member organizations was identified in my overview of influential organizations assisting Americans in the international setting.
I am contacting you now in hopes that you will agree to distribute the attached survey link to members of your group. I am in the process of recruiting approximately 400 American expatriates on an assignment between 6 months and 5 years to participate in this research. The findings will make a significant impact to our understanding of American expatriates, the cultural adaptation process, and potential causes of early return. The online survey can be accessed at:
& the deadline to complete the survey is December 15, 2008.
The data collected in this study will address a critical research gap regarding cultural identity and premature return from international assignments. In addition, those persons who complete the survey will be entered to win their choice of (1) $25 I-Tunes certificate, (1) $25 amazon.com certificate, of (1) $25 donation to the charity of their choice.
Participant’s names will not be used and the information collected will not be stored beyond use for my personal research. If you have any questions or if you would like to discuss this opportunity further, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at (252) 315-0073 or by e-mail at tieshia_moore@ncsu.edu.
Thank you,
Ti’eshia Moore
Instructor, Leadership Fundamentals
Research Assistant
NCSU Campus Box 7801
Raleigh, NC 27695
www4.ncsu.edu/~tmmoore3
FAX: (919) 515-4039
Thanksgiving from Afar
Posted on November 28, 2008 4 Comments
The smell of fresh rosemary, thyme and sage-marinated turkey roasting in the oven and homemade pies helps some, but nothing is quite like being in the U.S. for Thanksgiving. It’s something that is irreplacable and unduplicatable. Unlike Christmas, Thanksgiving is NOT only celebrated anywhere except primarily in North America (in the States and Canada – a Canadian reader just informed me) – contrary to some beliefs. Yes, it’s true, I have had some people say, “you mean they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Denmark?”. It is usually part of the same conversation that also includes, “they don’t have Wal-Mart or Target either?”.
“They” don’t have a lot of things that “they” do in the U.S. oh like 295 million more people for example, and with a completely different history, geographical location, culture and oh yeah, language it’s not really fair to compare now is it?
My first year in Denmark we held a huge Thanksgiving dinner at my Danish in-laws. We invited about 25 people. I felt that it was my mission to introduce this American holiday to my Danish family so that they could come to appreciate it as I do. I even gave a speech and wore my hair like a pilgrim.
It was such a big affair that we quickly realized that it wasn’t feasible to do this every year on our own, so we scaled back the next year. Year two we went from over 25 people to about 15, and then the third year down to 10. Our fourth year, we skipped cooking at home altogether and opted for the Thanksgiving buffet at the Marriott. It was very disappointing and we declared never to do that again! Year five, I was lucky enough to be home in the U.S. and celebrate in Texas. Last year we celebrated with a small group of friends (reducing even further to six), and also attended the American Chamber of Commerce’s annual family Thanksgiving dinner at the Marriott. Yeah, we went back but only after having our own, much better version of course!
This year, it’s just L&L. In fact, we didn’t even decide to cook until Sunday night so it was a little last minute. I guess I can say that over the years my need to share this very American celebration with a foreign land has reduced significantly. What hasn’t is my programmed sentimental side that always gets activated on this day. I suppose it’s because it’s been ingrained in me since I was a child.
The main activity of Thankgiving that I miss the most isn’t the eating or the napping or even watching the football game. It isn’t looking forward to going to the mall the next day (the famous “black Friday” or biggest shopping day of the year) kicking off the Christmas shopping season. It’s watching and listneing to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in the morning. It’s like Christmas but instead of opening presents, you watch some of America’s most talented dancers, musicians, singers, performers, etc. There’s just something about a big band, twirlers, floating Snoopy and Sponge Bob Square Pants that pull at my heart strings. And don’t forget Santa closing the virtual parade curtain.
Thanks to this wonderful invention called the Internet, I can watch some of it and listen to all that happy glory while waiting for turkey. It’s soon done now so I will enjoy as much as I can and infultrate the feeling of Thanksgiving in our humble home — far away from the home of Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving to all those other Expats out there! Enjoy it as best you can.
Guide to Copenhagen Christmas Markets
Posted on November 25, 2008 4 Comments
There is no place like Scandinavia during Christmastime. It’s cold, snowy and dark and one of the most cozy places on earth. Tasteful decorations are abound and a host of traditions incorporating Christian, Pagan, Norse Mythology and Winter Solstice celebrations keep the season bright. One of my most cherished traditions is going to Christmas markets. Handmade arts and crafts and ingeniously designed housewares and other practical things are usually available.
I have found that information concerning these markets is often scattered about in many different places making it a little tricky to find out just when and where they take place. Thanks to an Expat newsletter I received, as well as doing some research on my own, I have compiled a fairly comprehensive list.
There is one other market that I want to highlight that’s taking place this weekend to benefit the Danish Cystic Fibrosis Association. It’s an organization that my husband and I volunteer for as ski camp leaders for children affected by CF. You can read about the camps here. So, if you can make it, go and support and a good cause and have some fun in the process. Santa will be there 🙂
Cystic Fibrosis Christmas Market
Friday and Saturday, the 28th and 29th from 10-19 (7:00 pm) both days
Helligåndskirken on Strøget in Copenhagen
Here is a list of other markets around town:
TIVOLI CHRISTMAS MARKET
14 NOV – 30 DEC
What to expect: Stroll around Tivoli and sample the Danish Christmas treats ‘gløgg & æbleskiver’ a hot and spicy drink made on red wine and traditionally accompanied by round, pan-fried cakes served with sugar and jam. Or visit one of the 20-odd restaurants and have a traditional Danish Christmas lunch with pickled herring, liver paté, meat balls and other Danish delights. Most of the restaurants also offer a la carte international cuisine if you are not up for culinary experiments.
Visit Nissekøbing and study the life of the Danish pixie or gnome (‘nisse’) in this grand display of mechanical puppets. You can also listen to the Nisse Band playing Christmas songs, enjoy the Tivoli Boys Guard Parade or meet Father Christmas/Santa Claus – in Danish Julemanden – who has settled with his sleigh and reindeer to listen to your innermost wishes.
Just like any family, Tivoli likes to add to its collection of Christmas ornaments. For 2006 the Tivoli designers are preparing a giant snow globe in front of the exotic Nimb Building. Really, Christmas at Tivoli is not to be missed.
Open every day from 11 a.m.
Closed 24 and 25 Dec.
ELSINORE CHRISTMAS MARKET
28 NOVEMBER – 21
On Axeltorv in the old town of Elsinore, you can explore more than 30 small Christmas huts and shop for pottery and jewelry, jackets, mittens, hats, scarves, clogs and nisser. In the big tent you can taste sweets and other Christmas delights. The ice rink, the nostalgic ferris wheel from 1912 and the small carousel are open throughout the period.
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 11:00 – 18:00, Thursdays 11:00 – 20:00, Saturdays 10:00-17:00, Sundays 11:00 – 17:00.
THE CHRISTMAS BAZAAR IN THE SWEDISH CHURCH
22 – 23 NOV
A very popular annual tradition featuring many stalls with Swedish Christmas specialities, arts and crafts. In Gustavskyrkan, open from 11am to 5pm.
NYHAVN CHRISTMAS MARKET
14 NOV – 22 DEC
Along the quaint old canal off Kongens Nytorv, stalls offer samples of Danish Christmas specialities, decorations, gifts, candles and other examples or arts and crafts, which have been especially produced for the Christmas crowd. On weekdays from 5 to 6pm you may chance upon the ‘old watchman or town cryer’.
Open daily from 11am to 6pm, Fridays and Saturdays until 7pm.
NYHAVN XMAS BEER
15 NOV
Sampling of this year’s Christmas brew is a tradition offered by the breweries. A jazz band will entertain by the Nyhavn Memorial Anchor while the free samples from ten breweries are passed around. (From 1 to 3pm in Nyhavn)
CHRISTMAS TABLES AT ROYAL COPENHAGEN
20 NOV – 31 DEC
Every year elaborate, beautifully laid out Christmas tables are on display on the first floor with a
new theme each year. The tradition began in 1963 and is very popular. The theme of the 2006 tables is Christmas in the Metropolis of the World and will be displayed from Friday, 24 November until the end of December.
JETTE FRÖLICH CHRISTMAS EXHIBITON
23 NOV – 13 DEC
Jette Frölich, Danish designer who has made decorations for Royal Copenhagen Porcelain for many years, presents her Christmas Design 2006 at Gammel Holtegård, 170, Attemosevej in Holte. Open weekdays from 1 to 6pm and weekends from 11am to 6pm and in Illums Bolighus on the pedestrian street, Strøget, downtown Copenhagen, there will be a Jette Frölich outlet from 28 October to 17 December on the second floor.
CHRISTMAS AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM EVERY SUNDAY IN
DEC 12 – 3PM
NISSEVERSITY – only for children! Now you have the chance to learn, all that a true Christmas nisse should know. This includes the difficult wooden clogs walk, writing with the artistic nisse handwriting, getting your very own cat friend and much more. Also test your nisse knowledge. When you have passed the test, you receive a nisse diploma and a list of ten typical nisse tricks. Bring your own best nisse cap. In the restaurant there will be glögg (i.e. mulled red wine), and you can shop Christmas gifts in the museum shop.
COPENHAGEN ZOO
1—28 DECEMBER
Every day the Reindeer wander through the garden, saying hello to the guests, passing the big Christmas tree by the Zoo Tower, where ‘nisser’ have moved in. All kids are offered a free red ‘nisse-cap’ and many extra activities. You can read about them on the Zoo homepage: www.zoo.dk
‘CHRISTMAS SHIP’ LOADED WITH TREATS FROM BORNHOLM
29—30 NOVEMBER
In the harbour of Køge, south of Copenhagen, there is a regular ferry service to the island of Bornholm in the Baltic. On the first weekend of December this ship arrives loaded with the best products Bornholm can offer. Visitors on board can taste, smell, sample and buy and, most important, feel the Xmas spirit! Open daily from 10am to 5pm. A vintage vehicle is used as shuttle bus and, naturally, the rest of Køge will follow-up ready to receive the many Christmas shoppers.
COUNTRY CHRISTMAS AT THE OPEN AIR MUSEUM IN LYNGBY
NORTH OF COPENHAGEN
6—7 DEC AND 13—14 DEC
A festively decorated Open Air Museum celebrates Christmas and sets the stage for an exploration of traditions in the old farm, the manor house, the old water mill and in the community hall. Visitors will experience Christmas traditions in Denmark through 300 years, with activities for families and children. See the decorated Christmas trees, smell the food on the farmers opulent table and taste the home made cookies in the kitchen at the manor house. From 10.00 – 17.00 / 10 am -5 pm, activities from 11.00 – 15.30 / 11am -3.30 pm.
CHRISTMAS IN KAREN BLIXEN’S HOME
6 DEC -30 DEC
Although Karen Blixen used to spend Christmas Eve in the home of her sister Ellen Dahl or with other family members, there were very special traditions in her own home: Rungstedlund up to the holidays. The Christmas tree was decorated with a top star, tinsel, white paper cut stars and glass and silver globes and as a finishing touch the white candles. Following these same traditions the museum decorates a tree every year, which can be admired from 6 Dec. Everywhere in the museum there are also floral decorations, inspired by another of Karen Blixen’s talents.
The museum café serves Danish Christmas goodies and is decorated with Sonia Brandes’ hand cut Christmas decorations that can be purchased in the museum book store.
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FLEA MARKET
22—23 NOVEMBER
Popular market with many stalls filled with all kinds of products just right for your Christmas preparations!
Open both days from 10am to 5pm, admission fee DKK 30 for adults, children accompanied by adults go in free. At Bella Centre.
SANTA SAILS INTO HELSINGØR HARBOUR
30 NOVEMBER AT 15:30
See Santa as he sails into Helsingør harbor. From the harbor he will go to Axeltorv for the lighting of Helsingør’s Christmas tree at 16:00. This is annual event and is heavily attended. Be sure to get their early.
Many thanks to Barbara Mozdzierz & Jennifer Burnham for allowing me to post this information.
Here are a few more that I have added:
Havnegade Christmas Market
22-23 Dec
From 11-17:30 (5:30 pm)
Christmas Market in Christiania
6-20 DEC
Den Grå Hal in Christiania
Open M-F from 14-20 (2pm-8pm) and from 12-20 (12pm-8pm Sat & Sun. and until 18 (6pm) on the last day.
Danish Design School’s Christmas Market
5 DEC
Strandboulevarden 47
2100 København Ø
Open from 16-20 (4pm-8pm)
CAMILLA PLUMS ORGANIC CHRISTMAS ROOM
5-7 DEC
Fuglebjergarrd
Hemmingstrupvej 8
3200 Helsinge
Open from 10-16 (4pm)
FREDERIKSBERG CITY HALLSQAURE CHRISTMAS MARKET
6-14 DEC
Smallegade 1
Monday-Thurs. 10-17 and Friday and Sat. From 10-14
Nordic Christmas market on Frederiks Bastion
6-7 DEC
Refshalevej 80
CHRISTMAS MARKET IN THE BACK GARDEN OF INGOLFS COFFEE BAR
6 DEC
Ingolfs Kaffebar — Ingolfs Alle 3
From 10-16
AFRICAN CHRISTMAS MARKET
20 NOV
Verdenskultur-Centeret on Nøree Alle (Sank Hans Torv)
From 12-18 (6pm)
KUNSTHÅNDVÆRKERNE (ART HANDWORKDERS) CHRISTMAS MARKET IN VALBY
29-30 NOV
Prøvehallen, Porcelænstorvet 4, 2500 Valby
From 11-16 (4pm)
CHRISTMAS MARKET ON Jægersborggade
29 Nov
Jægersboggade, Nørrebro
From 10-15 (3pm)
Career Guide 2 Denmark Targets Skilled Knowledge Workers
Posted on September 5, 2008 11 Comments
In a move to help Danish companies fill openings and find skilled knowledge workers, a new organization has just launched a rather extensive career web site.
The site, Career Guide 2 Denmark, aims to help both Danish companies, particularly those open and interested in skilled workers from abroad, and foreign workers looking for jobs by listing most of the major as well as medium and small companies that do business in English in need of workers.
The site is in both English and Danish and categorizes jobs into IT, Engineering, Medical & Health, Technology & Technics, Administration, Business, Finance & Marketing, Natural Science, & Logistics.
The site also has info on living in Denmark, and background info on each company listed. It does a great job of bringing a lot of important information together in one place, which should make it easy for the job seeker. A great list of relevant links to other sites concerning Denmark have also been gathered.
Danish Chamber of Commerce Organizes Expat Event & Job Fair
Posted on August 29, 2008 1 Comment
The Danish Chamber of Commerce (Dansk Erhverv) is holding two special events for the Expat community including a seminar about Settling in Denmark and a JOB FAIR (“for the expat partner”).
The organization created a Web community called Expat In Denmark http://expatindenmark.com/ launched June 30 this year that is free to join and offers Expats a social networking platform, information about Denmark and important info on the health, taxation, education, culture, entertainment, etc.
The site has a blog and a LIVE hotline that members can call — the Danish Chamber of Commerce Hotline — every day (M-F) from 13-16. Members can send a mail too with the promise of receiving a response within 24 hours.
One thing I noticed is that the job fair event specifies that the event is a “Networking Event and Job Fair for the expat partner,” so obviously this initiative is targeted to the transferred executive that has a spouse that needs placement as well. I don’t know if they will make a distinction between these kinds of job seekers and other kinds, like for example, spouses of Danes that are foreign. It’s worth pursuing if you are in need of work.
Here are the details on the two events listed on the site.
Tuesday, Sept. 9 (9:30-12:00) Expat Cafe’ – Settling in Denmark: Opportunities and Challenges
The Power of Naps
Posted on August 26, 2008 2 Comments
Einstein did it, so did Dali, Napoleon, Edison, Churchill and Kennedy so why doesn’t everyone? Power naps, cat naps and other naps of the sort are scientifically proved to help you function better, reduce stress and perhaps help you live longer. And if we take a cue from the Mediterranean countries, we should all take siestas!
Many know this but still feel guilty for sleeping during the day or even sneaking in a nap at work. But, the truth is there are many benefits to napping that rightly justify it. I googled the word “nap” and found a Wikipedia overview of napping which cited:
Studies demonstrate that naps are as good as a night of sleep on some types of memory tasks.
Scientific experiments and anecdotal evidence suggest that an average power-nap duration of around 20-30 minutes is most effective. However, a Harvard study showed that those that napped about 1 hour performed better in various tasks than those that only took 30 minutes.
Naps have so many benefits that they should be prescribed to everyone! From increasing ones ability to process information and learning, helping prevent burnout, improving performance, memory and emotional stability, naps rule.
If you are still not convinced, read the National Institute of Health press release on “‘Power Nap’ Prevents Brunout: Morning Sleep Perfects a Skill,” and on how a study showed the “Naps May Reduce Coronary Mortality,” from Harvard University.
Some suggest napping every day to create a consistent schedule. As we all know, our bodies love routines just like when we were babies. Think you know everything there is to about sleep? Take this Sleep IQ test to find out how much you really know and start your napping routine today!
Laura Stadler Consulting 
