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!

Hello from Denmark

I finally made it! After nearly 24 hours of flying, busing, and train hopping around I'm happy to say that I arrived in Copenhagen safely for the "Security, Practices, and Dilemmas" course offered by IARU's Global Summer Program. I may be one of the few lucky travelers to say this but I could not have wished for a better journey. From the security checkpoints at SFO to the baggage claim in Denmark, my entire trip went incredibly smooth. The longest and most difficult part was probably keeping myself occupied on the 11 hour flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt, where my I had my layover. With the help of a good book, plenty of movies, and a carry-on full of snacks, however, I managed to ward off boredom for most of the flight.

Once my plane arrived in Copenhagen it was surprisingly easy to find my way from the airport to the apartment where I would be staying. There was the option of metro, train, or taxi so I opted for the train because it was cheaper than taking a cab and much faster than taking the metro. It only cost around 4USD which was pretty comparable to BART but a much more spacious and cleaner ride overall.

I was pleasantly surprised with my apartment offered by Copenhagen's International Office - a single room furnished, balcony view, and a completely new kitchen. The entire housing complex, called Signalhuset, accommodates both international and resident students from the surrounding universities. In the first hour of settling in I met people from Australia, Germany, London, and a number of fellow Californians. It was very comforting to learn that almost everyone here speaks English and it seems to be the common language amongst all the students.

In the next few days, after the jet lag and exhaustion wear off, I hope to meet up with a couple friends/students in the area and see more of what central Copenhagen has to offer. Though it may sound cliche, I really can't put into words how excited I am for this program to start. I received the final copy of our syllabus today and although it will be an intensive course, it seems like the coordinators are doing everything they can to make it as entertaining as possible (field trips include a champagne tour of the canals, museum visits, film screenings and pubcrawls!). I have a feeling that it's going to be very difficult goodbye once the program comes to a close but I'm looking to make the best out of my three weeks here.

I hope to update in the next few days along with more photos of the actual city of Copenhagen but for now, here's what I've documented of my journey so far. Enjoy!

Heading to SFO

Flying over Germany

In-flight breakfast and my first Danish of the trip

Apartment

My room