Here is my first update as a student blogger! So what has my experience here in Copenhagen been since my last post? Well, even with taking at least one wrong bus, using google maps to get to my classes longer than I care to admit and a bit of a cold, I have survived (and maybe thrived? is that cliche?) the start of the semester. So what is this post going to be about? I thought I would start with a general update and then…I have no idea. We will see how this ends up.
Family Visit
The weekend after the first classes my grandma, mom and sister Elizabeth came to visit me before continuing on to Germany where Elizabeth is studying this semester (we will be in the same time zone this semester!) Since this visit was so early on during the semester, I only had only been to a few places in the city so we were able to wander around together. We visited the National Museum of Denmark, the Black Diamond Library, Kronborg (the Hamlet Castle, and those of you who know me know I love Hamlet), the Maritime Museum, Nyhaven, Amalienborg, the Little Mermaid Statue, Rosenborg, the Round Tower and the Danish Jewish Museum.
Still have to go to school (it is study abroad after all)
This past week I had two study tours on Wednesday, a class field trip to Rosenborg and a class trip on the newly re-opened circle line metro.
Wednesday Field Studies
- NOAH Friends of the Earth Denmark (Environmental Impact of Humans)
- We visited NOAH to learn about their mission and also think about the type of ideology at play in their organization. It was interesting to talk about individual vs collective responsibility and how important systemic changes are in regards to climate change.
- more about NOAH here: https://www.foeeurope.org/denmark
- Prehistory Exhibit at the National Museum of Denmark (Nordic Mythology)
Some things I learned/talked about this week in class:
- Possibility of self-censoring in W.H Auden’s No.XXXII in relation to queer identity (Queer and Subversive Writers in European Cities)
- The history of wind turbines in Denmark and how an individual movement became collective action which eventually became governmental (Environmental Impact of Humans)
- The accomplishments (architecture) and failures (war-especially with Sweden) of Christian IV—and his incredible propaganda machine that helped him be remembered as one of the great kings of Denmark even though he lost almost every battle. (History of Copenhagen)
- Vikings may have had many tattoos according to various sources, but they were from the neck down, so no face/head tattoos no matter how much the tv show Vikings likes face tattoos. (Nordic Mythology)
Picture Break: Snuske
Weekend Fun
On Saturday I had my Visa appointment- soon I will have my Residence Permit and will be able to remain in Denmark legally for the next few months! Super simple process (as DIS takes care of the paperwork and everything for you), all we had to do was get on a bus and stand in line to get our picture/finger prints taken. After my bureaucracy filled morning I headed to the Statens Museum for Kunst. There is so much to see- I already know I have to go back!
Sneak peak of the coming week- CORE COURSE WEEK in HAMBURG (and some days in Copenhagen, which is still very cool but not as new/different). Thats it for now. Until next time.
Erika Leaves America 