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