When I first learned that I would be travelling to Denmark over the summer I had no idea what to picture. Even the few days leading up to my departure, I still could not imagine what this place was going to be like, or look like. Now that I’m here, I must say, it’s absolutely wonderful. The weather this weekend has been summery and inviting. There’s barely any wind and glaring sunshine, something, I hear from the locals is not very typical of this time of year. Either way, I’m grateful.
The house I’m staying in is very cozy, and I’m really glad to be here. Viborg itself is absolutely gorgeous. There’s an old town feel to it, and I love how everything is so close together and accessible. The town has two lakes in it, a north lake and a south lake. I walked around one of them today, it was very peaceful. There’s also a garden with these beautiful flowers. I think Peter told me they’re rhododendrons. Whatever they are, they’re breath taking. I made sure to take a whole lot of pictures today. It’s an amazing first weekend to be here, that’s for sure. Foulum is really interesting too. It’s just huge! I was on a tour the other day, and the place is just vast. They have so many departments in the actual buildings themselves, and along with that, all of these fields and barn areas for all of the animals. I found out that they have chickens, pigs, cows, and minks. Somehow I wasn’t expecting minks, but seeing them was pretty cool. It really made me want a mink coat, or maybe a hat or something. There are so many different fur types and patterns. I’m sure they’ll all make stunning jackets in due time. I also got to see the robotic milker in one of the cattle research places. That thing was so high tech it wasn’t even funny. But at the same time, I really found it funny, but I’m not sure why. It’s such a strange concept, these cows just wandering in to have themselves milked. Funny ladies!
I’m not at all feeling weird about being so far from home, in fact, it’s a welcomed break. However, it is hard to adjust to having to do everything for myself. I really underestimated shopping for groceries, especially in a country where the words look like gibberish on the label. I seriously just buy things and hope that they turn out to be what I’m looking for. This method works about 70% of the time, so I can’t really complain. Cooking for myself is no fun either. I feel like I can finally sympathize with my mother, strangely enough. Basically, my whole routine in life has changed, but I’m coping just fine. I’ve had to make a few adjustments, like trying to decipher my way through stores or streets, and not having a car to drive everywhere. I’ve taken the bus a few times, and now I’ve got a bike. A man from Foulum, Lars, has showed me a nice little path to take to get from there to Viborg. He turned out to be basically my neighbor, it’s nice having him around if I’ve got some very important issues. Like I did the other day with my bike having a flat tire. Oh Lars what would I do without you?!
Denmark is proving fairly easy to adjust to. It’s weird not actually knowing anyone, but that will come with time, I haven’t even been here a whole week! Even though I’ve been here such a short time, for some reason, it doesn’t feel like it. When I go to work at Foulum, everything is so familiar seeming. It’s like I’ve lived here forever… without knowing the language of course, ha. A country inhabited by people who do not speak English as a first language is pretty tricky to live in, I have to say. I had a conversation; an actual conversation, uninterrupted by explaining everything, the other day. But it was with Kasey, the other girl from America who I finally got the opportunity to meet. I was thinking to myself how odd it is to not have someone understand what you’re saying. I’m speaking plain English! Or maybe it’s not so plain, and I think I talk to fast. I need to learn to slow down. Maybe I will eventually.
31 May 2009
28 May 2009
It's Always Sunny in Denmark!
This trip, I supposed that it would go just like any other trip to Europe. For the most part, I was right. However, I found that the Scandinavians have an excellent airline. Maybe it’s because conditions were ideal, and we had nothing but blue skies the whole way, but this flight was so smooth. I swear, sitting on that plane, one could’ve thought we were cruising along on the ground. It was brilliant. Nothing was really negative, except that I accidentally spent like $10 on a coffee in Copenhagen. But I really didn’t care; I needed that Starbucks so bad.
The country I’m visiting is just gorgeous. There are so many fields, but unlike back in Illinois, it’s not all corn. There’s rapeseed, wheat, potatoes, barley, rye, things like that; and they’re all so interesting to look at. And the land is more interesting, hilly and all. I must note, something that I find really surprising about this place is the fact that everyone is such a patient driver. I’m not sure how to explain it, but everyone I’ve driven with is just so content to wait for another car to move. Back home waiting more than a minute, or a few seconds extra when you miss a break in traffic to turn makes people flips out. Not here. It’s so refreshing. I’m staying in a town called Viborg. It’s such a charming little place. There are two lakes that it’s sitting on, and flowers everywhere. I’m renting a room, sharing a house with two other girls. One’s named Eva, she’s from Spain; the other is Annie and she’s from Burkina Faso. They’re both very interesting people are sure to make my stay here very interesting. People here in general are just so earnest and cheery. I’ve never really seen anything like it, it’s spectacular. They’re always so optimistic. Even a ‘no’ sounds positive when a Danish person says it. Today, we were out in the barn collecting blood samples from the cows when it starts totally pouring outside. Everyone just shrugs and mentions how you gotta love the weather in Denmark! I thought it would suck to have to work outside today, or ride home on your bike. This one woman I’m working with, Anne, laughs and says, ‘There will be a beautiful rainbow after, at least!’ What charming people, I hope this optimism catches on to me.
Mostly, what I’m looking forward most is getting more involved at Foulum. Everyone here is really great. They’re so eager for me to learn everything and to work with them. Also, I met the cows we’ll be working on throughout my stay here. They’re absolutely adorable, but they don’t like me so much. I’m looking forward to building up some trust with them too, haha. As they keep telling me, we’ll soon be ‘good friends’. I also hope to get my bearings a little bit better. I’m totally confused when I go anywhere. I get lost in Foulum at least 3 times a day, and let’s not even get me started on Viborg. I tell everyone I’m working with, if I don’t show up to work one day, you’ll know I’m lost and wandering around the fields somewhere, so send a search party. We’ll see how that works out!
There’s something so weird that happens here in Denmark. The sun comes up before 5am, and goes down after 10pm. Like, it’s 10 to 10 right now, and it’s still bright as day outside. It’s really odd when you’re trying to sleep. It’s going to take me a while to get used to it. On that note, I should get to bed. TGIF tomorrow, there's a 3 day weekend coming up! Everyone is very excited =)
The country I’m visiting is just gorgeous. There are so many fields, but unlike back in Illinois, it’s not all corn. There’s rapeseed, wheat, potatoes, barley, rye, things like that; and they’re all so interesting to look at. And the land is more interesting, hilly and all. I must note, something that I find really surprising about this place is the fact that everyone is such a patient driver. I’m not sure how to explain it, but everyone I’ve driven with is just so content to wait for another car to move. Back home waiting more than a minute, or a few seconds extra when you miss a break in traffic to turn makes people flips out. Not here. It’s so refreshing. I’m staying in a town called Viborg. It’s such a charming little place. There are two lakes that it’s sitting on, and flowers everywhere. I’m renting a room, sharing a house with two other girls. One’s named Eva, she’s from Spain; the other is Annie and she’s from Burkina Faso. They’re both very interesting people are sure to make my stay here very interesting. People here in general are just so earnest and cheery. I’ve never really seen anything like it, it’s spectacular. They’re always so optimistic. Even a ‘no’ sounds positive when a Danish person says it. Today, we were out in the barn collecting blood samples from the cows when it starts totally pouring outside. Everyone just shrugs and mentions how you gotta love the weather in Denmark! I thought it would suck to have to work outside today, or ride home on your bike. This one woman I’m working with, Anne, laughs and says, ‘There will be a beautiful rainbow after, at least!’ What charming people, I hope this optimism catches on to me.
Mostly, what I’m looking forward most is getting more involved at Foulum. Everyone here is really great. They’re so eager for me to learn everything and to work with them. Also, I met the cows we’ll be working on throughout my stay here. They’re absolutely adorable, but they don’t like me so much. I’m looking forward to building up some trust with them too, haha. As they keep telling me, we’ll soon be ‘good friends’. I also hope to get my bearings a little bit better. I’m totally confused when I go anywhere. I get lost in Foulum at least 3 times a day, and let’s not even get me started on Viborg. I tell everyone I’m working with, if I don’t show up to work one day, you’ll know I’m lost and wandering around the fields somewhere, so send a search party. We’ll see how that works out!
There’s something so weird that happens here in Denmark. The sun comes up before 5am, and goes down after 10pm. Like, it’s 10 to 10 right now, and it’s still bright as day outside. It’s really odd when you’re trying to sleep. It’s going to take me a while to get used to it. On that note, I should get to bed. TGIF tomorrow, there's a 3 day weekend coming up! Everyone is very excited =)
21 May 2009
Can I drink tap water in Denmark?
So here we are. What is it, like, three days before I have to leave? Not gonna lie, I’m pretty nervous. That’s probably what I’m most stressed out about in anticipation for this trip, just waiting. I really can’t stand packing; it’s really the bane of my existence. I bet I’m going to forget something important. Of course I know I’m going to over pack, bring way too many clothes, bring way too many pairs of shoes, too many suitcases that I’ll get heckled about when I got to O’Hare. Speaking of, O’Hare is going to be my biggest challenge during my travels. Never in my life have I been somewhere so chaotic and strict. Everyone working there is just so unsympathetic. Never in all my years of travelling have I had a good experience with O’Hare. I’m betting this summer will not be an exception, I wonder what I’ll get hassled about this year?
But enough with my personal battle with the Chicago airport. I’m really excited to get out of the US; I didn’t go anywhere last summer, so I’ve really been missing travelling out of the country. I can’t wait to get to Denmark. It might seem kind of dumb, but one of the reasons I really wanted to study in Denmark was because I had a layover there a few years back. I was only at Copenhagen airport for a few hours but I just loved it. Everyone was so nice and the place was so modern. And oddly enough, there were sections in the hallways where you could smoke. Not that I smoke, but I found that so fascinating. I had always wanted to be able to come back to the country, and when I saw that the U of I offered a study abroad program there I was very intrigued. I can’t wait to go back; I’ll have some time to chill at the airport before my flight to Karup. I love layovers for some reason; it’s like a glimpse into another country. On that note, I was excited to see I’ve got a layover in Stockholm, Sweden before I head to Copenhagen. I’ve never been there before; I can’t wait to scope out that place!
I’ve been many places before, Europe being one of them. I’ve flown to Poland for years on my own in order to visit family there. In that aspect, I’m no stranger to travelling abroad. I have a feel for what it’s like to live in a country over seas; it’s a lot different, but at the same time, after a while it starts to feel like the same old, same old. However, the fact that I’ve been to Europe before isn’t the only thing that separates me from the other students that have gone on this trip before. Unlike them, I’m the only one going on this trip from the U of I. it will be strange being all alone. It feels so definitive now. It feels like I’m up a creek without a paddle; I really have no idea what I’m doing. I’ll figure it out eventually though. Ha, at least I hope! In Poland, I always had family to go to, there was always something familiar. Not this time. I know I’ll cope just fine, but the first few days will be rough. I’m so accustomed to the familiar; it’ll be a shock to go to a place where I won’t be able to find any of that.
I still can’t picture this place in my head, especially the place I’ll be staying or working or the project I’ll be doing. I’m sure it’ll be perfectly nice; I just don’t know how to envision it. I can’t wait to actually get there. Once I am, I think everything will be ok. I still have a million questions though. Poor Peter, he’s going to get bombarded with them all when I get there. Sorry in advance you chipper guy, you!
But enough with my personal battle with the Chicago airport. I’m really excited to get out of the US; I didn’t go anywhere last summer, so I’ve really been missing travelling out of the country. I can’t wait to get to Denmark. It might seem kind of dumb, but one of the reasons I really wanted to study in Denmark was because I had a layover there a few years back. I was only at Copenhagen airport for a few hours but I just loved it. Everyone was so nice and the place was so modern. And oddly enough, there were sections in the hallways where you could smoke. Not that I smoke, but I found that so fascinating. I had always wanted to be able to come back to the country, and when I saw that the U of I offered a study abroad program there I was very intrigued. I can’t wait to go back; I’ll have some time to chill at the airport before my flight to Karup. I love layovers for some reason; it’s like a glimpse into another country. On that note, I was excited to see I’ve got a layover in Stockholm, Sweden before I head to Copenhagen. I’ve never been there before; I can’t wait to scope out that place!
I’ve been many places before, Europe being one of them. I’ve flown to Poland for years on my own in order to visit family there. In that aspect, I’m no stranger to travelling abroad. I have a feel for what it’s like to live in a country over seas; it’s a lot different, but at the same time, after a while it starts to feel like the same old, same old. However, the fact that I’ve been to Europe before isn’t the only thing that separates me from the other students that have gone on this trip before. Unlike them, I’m the only one going on this trip from the U of I. it will be strange being all alone. It feels so definitive now. It feels like I’m up a creek without a paddle; I really have no idea what I’m doing. I’ll figure it out eventually though. Ha, at least I hope! In Poland, I always had family to go to, there was always something familiar. Not this time. I know I’ll cope just fine, but the first few days will be rough. I’m so accustomed to the familiar; it’ll be a shock to go to a place where I won’t be able to find any of that.
I still can’t picture this place in my head, especially the place I’ll be staying or working or the project I’ll be doing. I’m sure it’ll be perfectly nice; I just don’t know how to envision it. I can’t wait to actually get there. Once I am, I think everything will be ok. I still have a million questions though. Poor Peter, he’s going to get bombarded with them all when I get there. Sorry in advance you chipper guy, you!
09 May 2009
Welcome
This blog is intended to act as a journal of reflections by our student who is visiting Denmark in summer 2009. The student will be working with scientists at the host institution, as well as experiencing the culture of the country. This reflective journal provides a forum for the student to regularly record her challenges, frustrations, successes, achievements and learning during her stay in Europe.
This summer, one student is visiting the Research Centre Foulum in Tjele, Denmark, now part of the University of Aarhus. The student will work on several research projects currently being conducted by the host Danish scientists.
For previous blogs maintained by students see:
Summer 2007
Summer 2008
This summer, one student is visiting the Research Centre Foulum in Tjele, Denmark, now part of the University of Aarhus. The student will work on several research projects currently being conducted by the host Danish scientists.
For previous blogs maintained by students see:
Summer 2007
Summer 2008
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