A Dark Day in Denmark

This is not the blog I planned on writing when I left for my field study this morning. By all accounts, today should have been amazing -- a scavenger hunt through the heart of Copenhagen, observing differences in the expression of sexuality and gender between American and Danish urban societies. As we gathered in the basement of Vestergade 5, we were each handed a pamphlet with a list of both gay and straight bars and clubs we were expected to find and scrutinize under educated sociological lens. Along the way, we were also expected to observe couple interactions (cough PDA cough) and family dynamics. Sounds fantastic right?

Wrong.

The day soured quickly after we ventured out from DIS. My group decided to hit up the closest location on the list which happened to be a gay bar around the corner. What transpired was mostly our fault, but it really shook us up and set the mood for the rest of the hunt. Since the club was our first visit, we didn't really have a set idea of what we wanted to do. Did we want to just observe from the outside? Or should we go in and take a look around? Our teacher, Helle, had suggested that we maybe go in, order a glass of water (around 20 kronor), and soak in the atmosphere. We decided to bite the bullet and go in, thinking there would be plenty of people inside so that we could slip in and out unnoticed. 

We opened the door and immediately four pairs of eyes were fixed on us. Three guys at the bar and the bartender turned and stared at us, four little girls with backpacks on, frozen in horror in the doorway. It was too late to back out so we awkwardly found a seat in the empty bar. The bartender came over to take our orders, but we were still puzzling over the Danish drink menu. It was only 1:30PM, far too early for a drink, and none of us were really hungry. One of us ordered a water while the other three politely declined. The bartender looked really annoyed and said, "This is an 18 and over bar." so we assured him that we were all twenty. I tried to explain to defuse the increasingly tense situation. 

"I'm really sorry, we're here for a school project..." I was hoping to engage him and maybe get a Danish perspective on the Copenhagen party scene.

He cuts me off, "Well, you are certainly not going to do your project here if you don't order something."

We were really looking for an excuse to leave, and while we were hoping for something a little more discreet, being asked to would have to suffice.

When we got outside, there was a moment of collective, mortified silence. I was so appalled and embarrassed, I wanted the pavement to open up and swallow me whole. We shouldn't have gone in unless we were going to order something, but we weren't expecting to sit down in the first place. I guess this was also a lesson in Danish forthrightness. No silent disgruntlement on this bartender's part, he tells you straight up when there is an issue. I feel like this situation would have been handled differently in the States, much more polite dancing around the issue, certainly. My group decided to observe from the outside from then on and walked away from the scene of the crime as fast as we could, our horrified shuffle punctuated with occasional exclamations of "Oh my God." (I purposely omitted the name of the club because I don't want to give them a bad rep for what was probably an anomalous encounter.)

The rest of the scavenger hunt was tame in comparison. Considering that we took a stroll down Istedgade, a street in Copenhagen that is dominated by sex shops and adult clubs, that's how traumatized we were. We finally decided to take a break and sit in Baresso, the Starbucks of Copenhagen (Note: the ONLY Starbucks in Copenhagen is located at the airport. So yeah, leave your Gold Cards at home.) We spent a good forty-five minutes winding down and discussing different things we had observed throughout the city before heading back to DIS. As we got up to leave, all of sudden one of the girls asks, "Guys, where's my backpack?"

Her entire backpack. Complete with laptop, camera, and wallet inside. Gone.

We frantically started asking the patrons around us if they had seen anything, but really? We were sitting right next to her, and we didn't see jack. The scariest part was, it really could have been any of us. We had our bags carelessly tucked around us, mine was just hanging on the back of my chair. Perhaps the thieves targeted her because she was the only one with a backpack rather than a purse, and it was fairly obvious there was a laptop inside. One minute, she was tucking sugar packets into the front pocket of her backpack, the next moment, it was nowhere to be found.

We went back to the DIS and reported her items as stolen. The front desk informed us that DIS students are insured and can be reimbursed to some extent for stolen possessions. We made a list of the items in the stolen bag and then took a trip to the police station to fill out an official report. As we walked, Amber lamented, not the lost items themselves, but the emotional value they held. The pictures on her camera, two years worth of documents and files on her laptop -- no amount of reimbursement can bring those things back.

When we finally returned from the police station, Amber realized that she had no money to get back to her host family. The front office was closed. Fortunately, our teacher was still in her office and generously offered to pay for a klippekort (similar to a transportation pass). It must be said though that everyone at the DIS was so helpful and comforting about the issue...unlike the hot policeman who told us, "This is not uncommon. We get 100 cases each day. It may be a while until we get to your case." 

Even though eventually the police will (hopefully) review the Baresso security cameras and identify the perpetrators, there isn't much that can be done. 

A few lessons I learned from this experience:

1.) Keep your belongings close. Whether it's a backpack or a bag or just a cell phone, keep it close to you, especially when you are sitting down or walking. Keep backpacks or bags tucked in between your body and the seat so that you are leaning on it while you are sitting. iPhone thefts have been rampant in these past few weeks so a few tips here too. Don't leave your iPhone in loose outer coat pockets or in the outer pocket of your backpack. Keep them in the pockets of your tight-fitting jeans or in the pocket of your jacket under your outercoat.

2.) Back up files continuously. Sometimes, shit happens and there's not really anything you can do about it. Just do your best to preemptively minimize the damage.

3.) When in doubt, go to DIS for help. The nice ladies at the front desk were able to give us a checklist of things to do such as cancelling credit/debit cards, contacting PicCell to discontinue accounts, etc.  Which leads me to..

4.) Keep a copy of all account numbers at home. Whether it's your credit/debit card number, your PicCell account, your driver's license, or passport, just keep a photocopy at home (in both Denmark and with your parents) in case something unfortunate happens so you can have all the necessary information on hand to take appropriate action.

5.) Minimize the amount of things you carry on you. If you don't need your laptop that day, leave it at home behind locked doors. If you're going on a field study in Copenhagen, DIS has plenty of lockers that you are free to use. Just go to the front desk in Vestergade 7 and they will help you check one out. 

6.) To quote Alastor Moody, "CONSTANT VIGILANCE". Look out for your own belongings and be aware of your surroundings. Maybe if I had been less focused on my pastry and more on the people around me, we wouldn't have appeared to be such easy targets. 

Another thing to note, be careful when you use the backpacks that DIS gave us. In Copenhagen, those backpacks pretty much mark us as easy prey because would-be thieves know that we aren't from the area. ...not that our tendency to speak louder than the average Danes in obnoxious American accents doesn't give us away. Don't get me wrong, I love my backpack, but I think I'm going to save it for when I get back to the States. Right now, it's doing a great job doubling as a laundry hamper.

This is one of those unfortunate happenings that makes you want to throw your head back and scream to the universe "WHO THE HELL DOES THAT?!? WHY. OH THE HUMANITY." Walking around all day, weighed down by the hopelessness of the situation and not being able to offer any real comfort was devastating, and I wasn't even the one who had my belongings stolen. I found myself clutching my tote bag a little closer to me on the train ride home today.

I don't want to end things on a sad note, so I'll leave you with something to look forward to. Short study tours are happening next week!! I'll be traveling to Western Denmark with the rest of my section in Medical Practice and Policy to conquer both castles and clinics alike! Expect all the updates! My camera battery is a-charging!

Café Paraplyen

This morning, I went down to Copenhagen to visit Café Paraplyen, my volunteer site, for the first time. I must admit that during the entire hour and a half trip, I entertained thoughts of requesting a site transfer because of the long commute. Getting up early on a Sunday and missing brunch makes me a very Bitter Betty.  However, once I walked into the Café, with its miniature green awnings and little knit hats in the window, I knew that this site was a good match for me. I was greeted by Nina, another volunteer who is responsible for making desserts on Sunday. She introduced me to two other male volunteers working in the kitchen, who unlike her, were not as fluent in English. The setting was very hyggelig ("cozy" in Danish, pronounced kind of like "hooguhly." It's a cute word that sounds like its meaning.), with lit candles and flower arrangements on each small table. I felt like I was walking into a family friend's living room, rather than a kitchen that serves dozens of meals each day. As we waited for Louise, the supervisor, to return from a quick grocery run, I struggled to make small talk with Paol, who had emerged from the kitchen to rearrange the magazines. Our conversation consisted of a few broken phases in English, gestures, and helpless smiles, yet Paol managed to make me feel instantly at home and welcome amongst this small kitchen family.

              

When Louise arrived, I bid the three kitchen volunteers goodbye and followed her upstairs to the office. There, she introduced me to the most delicious apple juice I've ever tasted. It was tart, it was organic, it was glorious...not to mention all proceeds go to support various Café Paraplyens around Denmark. She conducted a short interview that consisted mostly of her ascertaining my volunteer history and availabilities, then she gave me a short overview of the Café's mission.  Café Paraplyen serves discounted meals and provides various activities for the economically and socially challenged. This includes not only the homeless, but also under-served populations such as people with psychiatric disorders or even recently divorced individuals. It is an alcohol and drug-free environment, but with its Christian origins, the Café almost never turns anyone away, regardless of their pasts or histories.

               

It looks like my responsibilities at the Café will include a wide variety of tasks, including helping to prepare meals and desserts, washing dishes, socializing with the guests, and maybe even playing piano for ambiance. I'm a little nervous about the last item, but I did come to Denmark to step out of my comfort zone...

Can't wait to start volunteering this Friday! :)

                

Disease and Compensation

DISCLAIMER: This post is going to be kind of all over the place because that is how the last couple of days have been. Bear with me here...

I've been sick and out of  commission for the past two days. Coming down with a fever and having to brave a walk home in 25°F weather with the chills is not the business. It did, however, make me very grateful that DIS had urged us to bring cold/flu medications because they aren't as easily purchased here in Denmark. So for future reference, stockpile the meds, the painkillers, the birth control, etc. before you come because it's illegal for it to be mailed to you once you're here! It will definitely come in handy. I was talking to one of my classmates the other day who suffers from insomnia. She didn't bring her serotonin thinking she could get some here. Long story short, the past few days have been miserable for her.

I missed three classes on Thursday, including a special tour of the Radiology department at the Gentofte Hospital with my Human Health and Disease course. I am so disappointed. :< Also, sort of an epic fail as the Medical Practice and Policy program blogger. Sorry!

Spending the day in bed does have its perks though. I got caught up on some TV reading. No joke, a few of my courses assign ~60 pages of reading per class. That's about 200 pages of reading per week. I'm either going to master the art of judicious skimming or die trying.

On the evening of my second day of deathly illness, I finally mustered the strength to wander upstairs for some dinner. I was immediately roped into our weekly Friday party. The student council here at the International People's College (IPC) decided that this week's theme would be a Costume Party. We were directed downstairs to the costume room...and the pillaging begun. Just a few pictures to illustrate the chaos of the night:

Hristijan (Macedonia) as some sort of Greek King,
 Kristyn (DIS) as a Nicaraguan/French Queen 

Leopold (Belgium/Mexico) as a stunning geisha,
Anna (DIS) is either a Russian Bunny or a  Playboy
Assassin?

Tucker (USA), Yuichiro (japan) and Gyurgy (Czech Republic)
as a skiing pimp, terrifying woman, and...Matrix Medusa? respectively.

Can you guess how many males and females are in this picture?

Overall, a good time had by all! :)

Absolutely everything we are wearing in these pictures was found in the magical Costume Rooms. It was like a thrift shop of Macklemore proportions.

Also, woke up in the morning to this brunch spread. Ample compensation, I would say, for these past couple days of misery...

Change is for the Better...Right?

Some things have changed since my last post. Nothing terribly monumental, but significant all the same. For one, I can now say that I've had a real Danish. Correction, I've had two Danishes. The first one was so good, I may have blacked out and came to with the second one already in my mouth.

An important thing to note: Danishes are just called pastries here. (Actually, more accurately, they're called "weinerbrød"  in Denmark, meaning "bread from Vienna".)  I overheard the following conversation in the student lounge. 

Girl #1: "Oh my God. Did you have one of those Danishes at the Studenterthingy after the Amazing Race?"

Girl #2: "Oh my God, YES. They were so good!! But I thought those were just pastries though? I want to try an actual Danish."

facepalm. Danishes are pastries, guys. F'real. I think this is residual bitterness from not getting any Danishes that day. But no more! Today, I took my first bite and was anointed into the enlightened Danish-eating kingdom.

I'll blog more about pastries another day, after I check out the bakery around the corner from DIS or finally try some smørrebrød (an open-faced rye bread sandwich that is the epitome of Danish cuisine.) Expect some serious food porn then.

But on to more serious topics. After sitting in on Neuroscience of Fear last Friday, I realized that the class wasn't what I had been expecting. A lot of the material I had already covered at my home institute, and I didn't really get a sense of the new perspective on the field that I was looking for in a study abroad program. To be honest, I initially chose the class because my academic advisor wanted me to scope out the developing Neuroscience program at DIS for future semester students from my school. However, now that I'm actually in Denmark, I realized that I wanted to take the opportunity to take classes that I am genuinely interested in, and more importantly, to gain experiences that I couldn't otherwise find in the States. 

Changing courses was easy. A few of my DIS friends at the International People's College (IPC) had done it already and recommended that I either go to the website or take care of it at the office in person. I switched into Danish Language and Culture and exchanged my books the next day.

Now comes the part I'm a bit ashamed about...

I went to Danish Language and Culture for the first time today. It may have been because I was a day behind all the other students, but I was so lost in today's class. I struggled over the pronunciation and was so flustered at being cold-called. About ten minutes into class, I resolved to do a cowardly thing -- I would drop the class. In my defense, for the rest of that class period (one hour and ten minutes), I weighed the pros and cons of my decision.

PROS:

1.) According to my schedule, I would then have Tuesdays and Fridays off....in addition to the Wednesdays that DIS keeps free for field studies.

2.) I found out that I have to work 6-8 hours a week to meet work study requirements. Having Tuesdays and Fridays off would help me work this into my schedule, as well as the 3-4 hours of volunteer work that I do for the Service Learning Seminar.

3.) I have to be home by 7 PM for meals at the IPC. Dropping the class would allow me to make it back in time.

4.) I still have the Danish Language and Culture materials in a binder. I can now learn Danish at my own pace. The podcasts online can help me pick up the pronunciation. (Note: Danish is almost never pronounced as it is spelled. Most disconcerting.)

CONS:

1.) I miss out on the awesome immersion opportunities that the Danish class offers such as a visit to the Museum of Danish Resistance, the Royal Danish Theater, and the Royal Danish Defense College

2.) No one will keep me accountable. I have to be incredibly self-motivated to continue learning the language.

3.) I might miss out on learning Danish culture from an actual Dane's perspective

The consequences of my decision definitely settled in this evening when I was on the train home to Helsingør. The pleasant "ding-dong" notification preceded the conductor making a short announcement in Danish. This is not an uncommon event. Sometimes the trains get backed up and we have to wait for one to clear out before we can pull into the station. I thought the conductor was saying the same old thing, "Sit tight, thanks for your patience." Then the train started moving backwards.  Panic. First thought: AM I GOING TO MISS DINNER???

The train pulls into Nivå station. More announcements in Danish. A few Danes start getting off the train, but still others remain in their seats, unperturbed. I catch a few words I recognize, like Helsingør (where I want to go) and Østerport (where I came from). After about 15 minutes of sitting in the stationary train, the conductor makes another longer announcement. Everyone starts to file off the train. I finally cave and ask a Dane several rows in front of me what was said. Apparently, the train had broken down and we were asked to move over a few platforms to catch, not the next train, but the train after that. Whew. Some life lessons stand to be extricated from this experience.

Lesson #1: When in doubt, don't hesitate to ask. This also holds true to public transport. Don't just get into random trains because the city names seem familiar or because you "always get on on this side". "Hmm, yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm going to the place that starts with an H." Hillerød and Helsingør are a good thirty minutes apart. Oops.

Lesson #2: Knowing Danish in Denmark can suuuuure come in pretty handy. Further motivation for me to crack open that binder and get to work!

Anyways, now you know the truth. I'm a lazy bum, sittin' pretty on 12 credits this semester. Still, I promise to make the most of every opportunity! I took advantage of the free time I had this afternoon to take a quick expedition around Copenhagen. Just a few pictures to illustrate the beauty this city has to offer:

The Lute Players, located just around the corner
 from DIS on Vestergade.

Københavns Rådhus (Copenhagen City Hall) 

Tivoli: second oldest amusement park in the world.
Doesn't open until April though. ): 

The Dragon Fountain located in City Hall Square

Hans Christian Andersen Statue, located across the
street from Tivoli Amusement Park and adjacent to City
Hall Square.

The other downside of all this free time is that my friends still have class. ): It's not as fun exploring by myself, but I think we will definitely conquer Helsingør this weekend, weather permitting. Walking around in 19-21°F weather is not the business. Never before have I been so cold. I lost sensation in my face and consequently, the ability to speak because I couldn't tell what shapes my mouth was making. I really need to invest in one of these.

Until next time! Keep warm!

Fashion Show: Just Another Day at the IPC

Last night, the students at the IPC put on a "little" fashion show. Quick lesson of the week, IPC don't play, they go all the way. Just a few pictures from the explosive event: 

Chris, who helped coordinate the entire event. To get an idea
of his character, check out his music video on Youtube here.
Also, several of the Japanese students helped put
 together the decorations. When they realized they spelled
 "fashion" wrong, they looked so discouraged that one of
the DIS students exclaimed, "You didn't spell it wrong.
 It's 'FAH SEE YOHN! Much fancier!'"

Maggie (front, Bulgaria) and Henry (back, USA) showing
 off their swag.

Kristyn (DIS) and Alex (Brazil) bringin' down the house.

Every night is party night here at the IPC!

Just a taste of life at the International Højskole. Photo credits go to Pavel!

First Day of School

You know it's been a rough couple of days when waking up at 7:30 AM is considered "sleeping in". Breakfast is served between 7:45-8:15 AM here at the International People's College. When Danish people give you a deadline, they mean it. A gorgeous spread is waiting when you arrive at 7:45 and promptly whisked away at 8:15. People who mosey in late don't get fed and receive no sympathy. It takes some getting used to. As a slow eater myself, finishing a meal in 30 minutes sounds like a precursor for indigestion. I sat down to breakfast this morning with three Japanese, one Czech, one Bulgarian, and one Danish student.    We were told during Orientation that Danes aren't ones to make small talk. I think the same applies to many other cultures as well. I have definitely noticed that when I sit down to meals with the other American DIS students, we are often the only table having conversation while eating. At the IPC, the students come from all over the world, so perhaps the silence can also be attributed to a language barrier or unfamiliarity. I look forward to testing this theory and seeing if conversation over meals will make an emergence once we get to know each other better.

My class schedule today:
Gender and Sexuality in Scandinavia
Sociology of Family
Service Learning Seminar
Human Health and Disease (Core Course)

As a Neuroscience major and a pre-med, it isn't often that I get the chance to take humanities courses, let alone ones that I am actually interested in. My first two classes absolutely blew me away. I don't know if it was because of the small class sizes (around 20), but the professors were very approachable. They seemed to really enjoy the topics they were teaching and genuinely invested in the exploration of our own ideas and interests. Very different from the rote memorization that I am accustomed to. There was this one embarrassing moment where I ran into my Sociology of the Family professor in the stairwell and mistook him for a student. I even asked him if he could get out his ID card and swipe me in! Imagine my horror when I saw him begin to unpack his things in the front of the classroom! In my defense, he was wearing jeans and this amazing pair of blue and black high tops. The Danish classroom is definitely a bit more casual than its American counterpart, but I feel that it helps to facilitate more authentic and uninhibited discussion.

I also received my volunteer assignment today during the service learning seminar. The idea of this class is to enrich the volunteer experience by bringing it to an intellectual level. We are expected to devote three to four hours to our volunteer site each week then meet once a week to discuss what we have done, the difficulties we have faced, the cultural differences we have experienced, etc. I was assigned to Cafe Paraplyen, which translates to Cafe Umbrella. Its mission is to provide discounted meals and activities for those who are either socially or economically disadvantaged. I look forward to seeing how I can get involved!

My core course actually takes place at Gentofte Hospital, a short bus ride away from the DIS.

I found this gem on the bus. I love how ice
cream is such a primary feature of the
Danish diet that it merits its own category.

The bus ride was well worth it because when we arrived at the hospital, there was hot coffee, cookies, fruit, and candy waiting for us.

The doctors said we needed a sugar boost in
 the middle of the afternoon in order to
function. I agree 100%.

Even though it was my fourth class of the day and I was exhausted, this class made me look forward to the rest of the semester. Today I learned that in Denmark, doctors actually do not get paid a lot. They may enjoy a higher status in society because of the nature of their work but in most cases are driven by a legitimate desire to help others, not monetary gain. Also, the ratio of women to men in the medical field is actually in the women's favor! The two doctors that lead the class are both working mothers -- three children each! As a young woman looking into becoming a doctor myself, I hope to learn from their perspective on balancing work, play, and family.  This may be more do-able under the Danish healthcare system because a doctor's workday ends at 3 PM except for days in which they work the night shift. Anyways, I look forward  to weighing the pros and cons of different healthcare systems, especially when we visit Budapest and Vienna! Heeeeyyyy.

Pssssst, the doctors also informed us that we will gain hands-on experience such as learning how to put in an IV over the course of the semester. The pre-med geek in me is doing mental backflips of excitement. Yee! I can't wait!

Anyways, I just verbally vomited all over this blog. Justified, I hope, since it's the first day of school. Tomorrow, I only have Neuroscience of Fear but since I'll be making the commute all the way down to Copenhagen anyways, I might as well take the chance to explore the city some more. Time to charge my camera battery and start Googling sights in Copenhagen. Woot!!

Hello There, Denmark!

After over 15 hours of flight time and layovers in Seattle and Iceland, I have finally arrived in Denmark! Was so exhausted yesterday, I barely had the energy to unpack. When we were greeted by a hot meal consisting of rotisserie chicken, sea-salt encrusted baked potatoes, and roast broccoli/cauliflower, I knew I had definitely chosen the right place for housing this semester.

At first, I was skeptical about living a 45-minute commute away from the DIS in Copenhagen. But the appeal of socializing with other international students studying abroad in Denmark and the sense of community that comes with life in a Folkehøjskole definitely overruled my fears. I made the journey to Copenhagen from Helsingør today for Orientation, and my fears have been assuaged! The train ride is so peaceful and quiet, I can definitely see myself using that time to write blogs, reflect on the epicness of each day spent in Denmark, or even just to nap. Also, living in the IPC (International People's College) comes with the perk of an unlimited transportation pass to all zones. This definitely comes in handy if you're like me and have a penchant for getting lost. Got on the wrong train heading in the opposite direction? No problem, just step off at the next station and try again! (True story.)

Woke up at 6:30 AM this morning to eat breakfast and catch the bus. The alarm was originally set for 6AM, but when it went off, both my roommate and I sat up, looked at each other, and with no words exchanged,I reset it for 6:30.

 Breakfast was an amazing mix of unfamiliar cereals, fresh baked bread with Nutella and raspberry jam, yogurt from a carton, and coffee. I definitely look forward to starting my morning with this every day.

Copenhagen, Biking Capital of the World!

At the Opening Ceremony, Director Uhrskov gave an amazing talk that made me really excited to explore Europe and immerse myself in the Danish culture. The open and engaging nature of the DIS program is definitely going to encourage me to step out of my comfort zone and develop the "real identity" that the Director mentioned.

After the ceremony, we were directed to the Amazing Race in Copenhagen. Three hours of walking throughout the city in the snow? Should have been agonizing, but the sights were so amazing, I hardly noticed the jet lag. (The fatigue is settling in, however, as I type. Ow, my feet.) Below, a few pictures of the places we went.

The equestrian statue in front of the
Danish Parliament

The altar at the front of the Church of Our
Savior. If you have the chance to visit,  try
 to count how many elephants there are total.

"Copenhagen" = "Merchant's Harbor"

If you look closely, you can see the two armed guards who
circle the many buildings of the Danish Royal Palace.

Yeah, lots of walking today. Also, we were promised free Danishes at the end of our adventure, but they ran out by the time we got there!! All the disappointment!

Picked up a hefty stack of books at the library this evening. I guess I better get crackin' on that required reading... :\

So exhausted! Got back and had dinner at around 6:30 PM -- that's 12 hours we've been up, out and about.  My roommate and I are now relaxing in the room and refusing to let ourselves sleep until a reasonable hour. I can't wait until I kick this jet lag so I can stop feeling like a social zombie and start actually getting to know all the other students here. 

Orientation: Day Two starts again at 6:30 AM tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!
                                       

Pre-Departure Jitters

It's the night before I leave for Denmark and it has not sunk in yet that I will be leaving the States tomorrow for over four months. I'm all packed -- all the chargers for the miscellaneous electronics I'm sure I will regret bringing, layers and layers of clothing for what weather.com has assured me will be 30 degree weather, passports, itineraries, etc.By all accounts I should be ready to go.

I spent my last couple weeks in California with my family and as I clasped my Mom and Dad's hands in our last family prayer together tonight, I was struck by just how blessed I am. Not only have I been given an opportunity to broaden my perspectives and see the world, but I have loving parents who support me and my decisions, as well as an amazing sister who suggested/demanded that I go study abroad in the first place. Without them, this trip would not have been possible.

We are waking up at 5 AM tomorrow to make the one hour drive to the airport for my 9:20 AM flight. Two layovers, one in Seattle, another in Iceland. It's a little surreal; I don't feel anxious or worried or excited or sad. I guess I'm numb in expectation. I see myself one week from now, riding my bike through Copenhagen, and suddenly struck by the thought: "Oh my God. I am in Denmark." Then I can commence the freakout.

Until then, eager anticipation! The next blog will hopefully written in Denmark! :)

Logistics

Ok, so I've been a bit slow on boarding the "Prepare for Denmark" train. I blame my tendency to oversimplify. My parents have been repeatedly asking me what I need to buy/arrange for my trip and my response thus far has been: "Meh, pack, but that won't take very long." Foolish, Abby Wang, very foolish.

Things I overlooked and am now scrambling to pull together:

1.) Unlocking my Cell Phone:

            I am a smartphone addict. My HTC Vivid is an extension of my right arm. When I was informed by the AT&T company it could not be unlocked because I have not yet owned it for 10 months, my life crumbled a little bit around the edges. Not to mention, I currently pay $20/month for data and to voluntarily suspend my data plan I would need to pay $10/month. So Plan B is to surrender my smartphone and data plan to my sister (however much it pains me to do so) and unlock her dumbphone for traveling abroad. I also missed the PicCell two-week deadline to register for a phone/SIM card to be mailed to me in the States, but I've been told I can get one during orientation week. I'm not terribly concerned because I don't plan on using my phone a lot in Denmark. My primary concern, I am ashamed to admit, is my lack of access to Instagram and all the other apps I have made an integral part of my life since being anointed into the smartphone kingdom. A family friend has loaned me her old locked iPhone. I'm going to look into getting it unlocked, otherwise, I may end up just using it to gain access to my trusty apps via WiFi. 

2.) Banking:

           I've been told that I need to get my credit and debit cards flagged for travel so they aren't frozen after I use them for the first time in Denmark. While on hold waiting for the next available Bank of America representative, I came across some interesting information in the DIS Facebook thread. Apparently, Charles Schwab does not have any international ATM fees. Compared to BoA, where I would be charged up to 5% of each ATM withdrawal made, this was clearly a better option. Needless to say, I hung up the phone, went online, and immediately opened a Charles Schwab bank account. Then I proceeded to drag my parents to the nearest Charles Schwab branch to fund the account so they could mail me my cards. 9 days, crossing my fingers that the card will get here in time. Otherwise, my parents are going to have to mail the card to me in Denmark (which would be a major hassle). My friend who studied at DIS last year told me that my best bet is to bring some USD with me to Denmark just in case, then withdraw large amounts of DKK (Danish krone) from the ATM or at the bank when I get there. I'll let you all know how it goes...

3.) Voltage Conversion:

          I thought currency conversion would be my only problem...then I realized that the Danish use a completely different outlet than Americans do.

 When I first saw this, I thought "Good Lord, isn't that what they use to plug into the Matrix?" Apparently, this two-pronged outlet supplies voltage around 220-240 V...as opposed to the three-prong American outlets that operate around 110V. I've been reliably informed that plugging in appliances that are not equipped to handle such large voltages may cause very bad things to happen. Luckily, my sister just bought a universal outlet adapter for her Bar trip to Southeast Asia. As for the voltage, I bought a voltage converter on Amazon for about $14. I plan on hooking all these up to a power strip, plugging in my appliances, crossing my fingers, and hoping that nothing blows up. 

Partying it up in San Francisco this weekend, but telling myself that packing will definitely get done when I come back on Monday. In the meantime, I've been trying to eat all my favorite ethnic foods (Chinese, Mexican, Thai, Afghani, Japanese, etc.) because something tells me I won't be getting much of them in Europe...

Hopefully my next post will include a picture of my shiny new Charles Schwab card and my packed suitcases! 9 days! Whee!!