That's A Wrap

It's over - 5,206 words and 18 pages later, I can say I've officially completed the IARU course after submitting my final paper this past weekend. Though it was a struggle to get started (still being in summer vacation mode), I really came to enjoy compiling all the lessons and notes taken from Copenhagen and putting them into my own research project. After finishing the paper and reflecting upon the course, I can say that the topic of "global security" is definitely something I plan on pursuing in the future, maybe even for graduate work. Only time will tell...

It's hard to believe that I've been back in Berkeley for a month already. The more I think about it, however, the more I realize two weeks is too short of a time for this course to be carried out. While I loved every minute that I spent in Copenhagen, the only complaint I have with regard to my IARU class is that it was one of the shortest courses offered by the Global Summer Program. I would love to see at least a month dedicated to this topic and the professors in the future so that prospective students have more time to familiarize themselves with the city and surroundings.

With that being said, though, I'm very grateful to have had this opportunity to study abroad and meet students from all over the world. It was a truly unforgettable experience and I owe many thanks to my IARU coordinators, UC Berkeley, Professor Waever, Lise and the University of Copenhagen. To my readers as well, thank you for following me along through this journey and I hope you enjoyed these entries as much as I enjoyed sharing them. It's been wonderful :)

Back In Berkeley

It's been almost a week now since I left Copenhagen and settled back in Berkeley - hard to imagine this time last Friday I was sitting with all my classmates at our farewell dinner. We had a wonderful last night together, though. Alongside the IARU coordinators and professor, all of us students were treated to several courses at a very nice restaurant in Copenhagen. Good food, great wine and even better conversation. After our meal had ended we all went to a nearby bar and spent the last few hours talking and laughing about the past two weeks together. Sadly, the night had to end eventually and though saying goodbye to everyone was difficult, I know we'll all be staying in touch as we continue on with our studies.

Farewell Dinner

Our professor giving his goodbye speech

Group shot of our IARU class

Since I flew out early Sunday morning, Saturday was my last full day in Denmark and unfortunately it was devoted to clearing out my apartment and getting my bags ready for the trip home. I had made plans to go visit the castle in Helsingør with a few classmates but there ended up being too many last minute errands to run. After a long day of souvenir shopping, cleaning, and packing all my luggage, it was time to say goodbye to Copenhagen. Following a few hours of rest I hopped on the train for one last time and made my way over to airport. Though incredibly long, the flight back into California went very smoothly and I was able to catch up on a lot of sleep which helped pass the time. While leaving was hard, it was a really great feeling flying back home into San Francisco and reacquainting myself with a few things I wasn't able to find in Copenhagen (i.e. good Mexican food).

Now the final step left for me in the IARU program is to write a 5,000 word paper that serves as our final project for the course. The content for the paper is fairly open ended, so long as it touches upon the security theories we've discussed over the past two weeks. While I haven't made a final decision yet, I think I'll research the issue of securitization theory with regards to humanitarian intervention. More specifically, whether or not the securitization of a humanitarian threat (i.e. genocide) should necessitate action from the international community to intervene. We'll see how that goes! Once again, thank you for reading and I'll have one more update to come after I turn in my paper. In the meantime, here are a few photo highlights from my last weekend in Copenhagen and trip back.

One last stroll through the streets

Catching up with a friend from high school who happened to be in Copenhagen - small world!

Saying goodbye in true fashion

First meal back home in CA - Mexican food was greatly missed in Denmark

Last Hours in Copenhagen

Well it's 6:30am and I have just a few short hours left in Copenhagen before I head home to California. My bags are packed and room is cleared but I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to this incredible city. Though I'll be dragging my feet all the way to the airport, I know that this is definitely not the last time I'll be visiting. I wish I could update along my 15hr journey home but unfortunately I won't be able to access my phone or internet until I land in SFO. So until then, here's hoping for a safe and easy flight. Photos and descriptions of my last weekend in Denmark coming soon!

Amusement Parks, Parliament and Everything In Between

This week in Copenhagen has definitely been the busiest to date. I'm happy to report, however, that this wasn't the result of homework assignments or reading loads but rather several trips and guided tours our class took throughout the city. Monday started off with a trip to Tivoli Gardens - the second oldest amusement park in the world and arguably Copenhagen's greatest landmark (debatable with the "Little Mermaid" statue). Though I'm not one who enjoys roller coasters or anything, really, that involves being spun around at high speeds, I had a wonderful time at Tivoli just walking around enjoying the sites with my fellow non-riders. It was a very charming park with plenty of shops, theaters, carnival food and free entertainment stages all around.Whether you're looking for a thrill or just want to enjoy an ice cream and show, Tivoli is definitely a must-see while in Copenhagen.

Entrance

Tivoli Gardens

One of the many intimidating but very popular rides

Inside the park

Row of shops

The next stop on our list was a visit to the Danish Parliament where we received a lecture about religion in relation to global security by Naser Khader - a Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party. As a Political Science major, it was a very exciting moment for me to be able and listen to MP Khader while sitting in the place considered to be the "center of Danish democracy." After a Q&A session we took a break for lunch along the canals and returned for a guided tour.

Outside of Parliament

Inside the Folketing Chamber

Canal lunch break

Inside Parliament

Following our visit to Parliament we stopped by the headquarters of Danmarks Radio (DR) - the largest broadcasting center in the country. Here we were greeted by Thomas Falbe, Chief Editor of the foreign news division, who spoke to us about the media's role in promoting issues considered to be security threats (just a quick reminder, this course is all about assessing what one may consider a "threat" to global security, ie. climate change, religious radicalism, eco-terrorism). We wrapped up the day by taking a guided tour around the center which, in addition to the news department, encompassed radio stations, music recording rooms, television studios and several concert halls. As you can tell from the photos, it is a very modern structure which actually provided a nice change of scenery from the historic buildings you become accustomed to in central Copenhagen.

Inside DR

View from inside floor

Another view from inside

Another view - they like their windows

Finally, we made our way over to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a way of incorporating our discussion of security and fragile states. Everyone here was extremely accommodating and welcomed us with coffee, baskets of fruit and pastries before we sat down for another lecture series and Q&A. Though all the lectures so far have been especially engaging, these discussions have continued to be my favorite part because you're given the opportunity to hear people from all over the world express their opinions. The fact that such discussions are taking place in locations such as Parliament and the Foreign Ministry, however, have definitely added to their appeal.

Tomorrow, unfortunately, marks the final day of class which means I only have a couple more days left in Copenhagen.As of now, weekend plans include a goodbye dinner and party organized for the class, a possible trip to Helsingør to see Kronborg Castle (aka Elsinore in Hamlet) and a lot of last minute souvenir shopping. Hope you enjoyed this round of updates, thanks again for reading!

A Little Visit From Norway

This weekend my former roommate and her boyfriend - who both live in Norway now - journeyed down to Copenhagen to visit me for a few days. We couldn't have asked for a better weekend; the weather was beautiful and the city was full of events and festivities to keep us entertained. Though I've only been here for a little over two weeks, I found myself able to take on the tour guide role (or at least try to!) while showing my friends some of my favorite spots in Copenhagen. We toured the canals, walked up and down Strøget St. (the largest pedestrian-only shopping street in the world), made a visit to Rosenborg castle and stopped in Christiana for a concert series. Naturally, we had to make room for plenty of pastries, snacks and local beers in between. It was a pretty great weekend - here's a few photos from our wanderings around the city: 

View from Christiana

Lunch - the food is definitely growing on me

Posing with one of over a hundred elephants in Copenhagen - part of the "Elephant Parade" charity expedition

Afternoon in Rosenborg

Coming soon: A trip to Tivoli Gardens, Parliament, Danmark Radio and the Foreign Ministry. Looks like it's going to be a great week of class!

Class, Carlsberg and Christiana

Another week in Copenhagen has gone by and I wish I had months more to spend. I've been meaning to update more frequently but once class started on Monday the days have been pretty full with welcome events, lectures, and field trips around the city. The course itself, though, has been very engaging. Every morning we begin with student presentations of the material covered in the day prior, followed by a few lectures given by our professor and guest speakers, and usually ending with a group outing. Though the classes have been fairly long, beginning at 9am and going until 4-5pm most days, there have been plenty of discussions and breaks in between to help split up the hours. The instructor and student coordinators have really gone out of their way to make sure everyone is comfortable and entertained - showing us around the campus and town, clarifying any questions in the readings, and providing us with plenty of ideas for our weekends and nights off.

Welcome dinner - 3 courses and plenty of bread

The political game"Junta" - putting our course material to practice

While this IARU course has certainly broadened my knowledge in an academic sense, it's the cultural and social aspects that have really sparked my interest. Coming from someone who has never been outside the U.S., studying in the city of Copenhagen has become an experience that goes far beyond lecture notes and scholarly articles. It's the class discussions with students from all over the world and visits to the restaurants, pubs, and local landmarks that have really made these past two weeks memorable.

Getting ready for our champagne canal tour

View from the boat

Another view from the boat

One of the most notable highlights so far has been a trip my class took to Freetown Christiana -  a self-sufficient and autonomous commune established within Copenhagen in 1971. What I found most interesting about Christiana, which greets you with a "Now Leaving the EU" sign upon entering - is how distinct it what was from the central city. In place of cobblestone streets and historical monuments were unpaved dirt paths and military barracks turned residencies for the 850 members of this small commune. Dubbed a "social experiment" by some, Christiana struck me as a place that pretty much embodies the liberal culture and alternative lifestyle often associated with the free movements of the 1960s/1970s. It was almost like walking through parts of Berkeley, namely Telegraph Ave., when passing through this commune. With it's cooperative sense of living and lax approach to a number of issues often considered controversial, Christiana has established itself as a truly unique society and one that I found incredibly fascinating.

View from a bridge in Christiana

Christiana Common Law - Including no violence, no hard drugs, no weapons, no cars

Playground in Christiana

Love & Peace door

One of the many painted and colorful houses

Tea set in the middle of the canal

Thanks again for reading and I promise more updates as I enter into my last week here in Copenhagen (time is going by way too fast!). For now I'll leave you with a few random but hopefully enjoyable visuals of my time spent in and around the city:

Denmark's take on a "burger" - of course it had to be accompanied by a Carlsberg

Detail of a sculpture in Copenhagen

Finally, it wouldn't be Scandinavia without a Viking

Has It Really Been A Week?

It's hard to believe that a week has already gone by since I've arrived in Copenhagen. There's so much to share I don't even know where to begin! All I can say is that it's been an incredibly fun, exciting and eventful trip so far. Here's my attempt at summarizing these past several days: 

The Sights: I took the train into central Copenhagen with absolutely no plans or destinations in mind - I just wanted to walk around and explore. As soon as I stepped out of the station I was in awe - cobblestone streets, moss and flower lined buildings, and a number of hole-in-the-wall shops selling everything from antique maps to designer shoes. After a couple hours of window shopping and people watching I made my way up the road to what happened to be the University's Botanical Garden, or Botanisk Have. It was a very beautiful and serene property that seemed to be a popular spot for locals and tourists alike to spend an afternoon.

Botanical Garden

One of the many Greek sculptures in the garden

Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden

The next day I followed the same approach and continued my walk around the city. With no direction planned I made my way down one of the crosswalks and stumbled upon Rosenborg Slot - a castle built in the Renaissance and former "summerhouse" to the Danish monarchy. Similar to the Botanical Gardens, touring the Rosenborg grounds was a great way to take advantage of the rain-free forecast and spend an afternoon.

Rosenborg Castle

Danish Renaissance style

Rosenborg Castle

Walkway to the castle 

The Food: Though the sights of Copenhagen have more than exceeded my expectations, I'm sad to report that the food hasn't been so outstanding at this point. Perhaps I'm spoiled being from California and having easy access to fresh and seasonal produce or maybe I just haven't been eating at the right places, but so far my diet has consisted mainly of bread, cheeses, and meat. This was by no means a bad thing during the first few days but now I'm starting to really miss all the fruits, vegetables, and variety of cuisines that are so readily available back home. I think once class starts we'll be given some good recommendations about cafes and restaurants to check out, though. Here's hoping!

Trip to the market = lots of carbs

My first real meal in Copenhagen at a local sandwich shop

Afternoon snack - I had to substitute my fruits and veggies with something

The People: Whether it's fellow international students or locals, everyone here has been extremely outgoing and friendly. It was a concern of mine, naturally, that arriving in a foreign country and not knowing anyone would make it difficult to settle in and familiarize myself with the area. Copenhagen, though, has really struck me as an accommodating and generous city. The few locals I've been lucky enough to meet here in my apartment have gone out of their way to show me around and introduce me to little known spots that I would never find in a tour book. The students, similarly, have all been very eager to organize socials and explore the city together. Concerts, bbqs, dinner parties, and pub visits have just been a few ways we've gotten to know both each other and the town - a pretty good start I'd say!

Local band, spoke in Danish but sang in English. Everyone loves their American music here

Tomorrow marks the first day of class and I don't think I've ever been more excited for school to start. It's been an unforgettable week so far and I have a feeling it's only going to get better once this course goes underway. Thanks for reading -more stories/photos to come!