Let's Eat!

I told people I was studying abroad and the two most popular questions I got were, “do they speak English there?” and “what is the food like?” Before you travel it is a good idea to have some idea of the types of foods you will be eating for the sake of dietary restrictions, allergies, religious beliefs, and simply because you have a right to know.  I studied abroad in Malaga, Spain last summer and my host family was also hosting a student from Copenhagen.  One night, he made us a traditional Danish meal.  The meal consisted of a boiled potato (that I seasoned myself) and a piece of sausage.  So you can imagine my standards for Danish food were pretty low upon arrival.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.  Denmark prides itself on their pesticide-free food.  Most food items are fresh and organic and it fits in with the healthy lifestyle that most Danish people live.  Besides the crazy amount of bread and butter they eat, this is a culture that has been able to fuse delicious and healthy.  Read on for some traditional Danish foods and some of my favorites and not so favorites thus far!

Bike (Cult)ure

Before I arrived to Copenhagen, I did some research so I wouldn’t be a completely clueless “American” when I arrived.  Biking EVERYWHERE and I really mean everywhere, is a huge part of the Danish culture.  Bikes get more respect than cars here, and just a little less than pedestrians.  In the states, most people bike for fun or fitness.  In Denmark, they bike for their life. There are more spots for bikes than cars. You can even bring your bike on the train, but you have to buy a train ticket for it of course. Cuz that makes sense.  Anyway, I used to be extremely fit. Worked out 4 days a week, ate healthy (ok I’m lying) but I was in great shape.  I went to college and completely digressed and now I can barely walk up a flight of stairs without gasping for air at the top floor. When my host family told me they had an extra bike for me, I didn’t know whether to be happy that I did not have to rent one, or cry because I knew it was going to kick my ass.  I have not ridden my bike in so long I don’t even remember what color it is.  But once you learn how to ride a bike, you can ride one whenever, forever, right? No.  

Comfort Zones are a Nice Place, but Nothing Grows There...

It has been a month since I have been in Denmark and I have been super busy, which is the main reason I have not been blogging often.  However, every time I would set aside time to blog I would end up deleting everything I had written.  I could not figure out what I wanted to share or what direction to go in.  I have been experiencing so much I felt overloaded with information.  Culture shock has never been a “thing” for me.  I usually adjust well in different cultures, but this experience has challenged me in various ways. There has been no place for my comfort zone here, and it has jump-started the growth I had hoped to obtain during this journey. I came here alone. No friends, no family, no familiarity.  I am someone that enjoys being alone.  I am not anti-social, but I enjoy myself and I am okay with not being around people all of the time.  For this reason, I knew that coming to an unknown country, by myself, would be OKAY.  I would finally get time to myself to truly discover who I really was.