April 2012
4 posts
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A Danish Final and Jante Laws
I have my Danish final tomorrow, so obviously I’m spending tonight attempting to capture all the “danishness” I can before the big day. Therefore, as I go to bed, I will be repeating to myself the first 3 commandments of the Jante Law. The Jante Law is key in Danish mentality. It is a modest characterization of the Danes by the Danes. The laws focus on the likeness of people...
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The Final Push
Yikes! I can’t believe the semester is almost coming to a close! We only have a month left and I feel like I won’t see the light of day for a while. With our endless presentations, finals and projects, I just know this semester is going to speed by! Though I don’t have enough time now, I will be writing a post about Pre-Architecture pretty soon, addressing:
experiences...
Anonymous asked: Hey Lauren, I just stumbled upon your blog from the DIS site and I have been checking out every post. It is super informative and really entertaining so kudos from me! I am going to a DIS 6 week program this summer and am deciding what housing to choose between a Kollegium and the DIS Residence Community. Do you have any advice what to choose? I know you weren't there over the summer, but I...
March 2012
14 posts
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How to entertain visiting Parents:
So, are your parents coming to visit you this semester? Do you have absolutely no idea what to do with them, where to go, what to eat and where to stay? No problem! My parents came this weekend and we had a blast! Here are some of the things we did:
Hotels
The Nimb hotel near Central station is rated #1 hotel in Copenhagen. It overlooks Tivoli Gardens and is beautiful, but really, really...
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WatchPart 2 (Finland!)
Anonymous asked: I really like your blog !! :) I am from China and I am going to Copenhagen for the coming fall semester too ! Your pics makes me even more excited about it.
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Amsterdam Adventures: The Finished Post
Update: So, here is the final post…
Wow! So, we got back from Amsterdam on Sunday and it’s been a whirlwind of work ever since. They are not joking around in the architecture department at all! Right now, our assignment is to build a model of a building we will be seeing next week when we travel to SWEDEN/FINLAND on our long study tour! Only thing is, the model is HUGE. And here I...
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February 2012
10 posts
Mershed Perderders
After about 18 straight hours in the studio, my studio mates and I agree that this is funniest thing ever (but really I can’t stop laughing!!!):
http://anongallery.org/132/mershed-perderder-shramp-ernj-jews-spogooter-bursl-prots-spegy-n-merbls-aspergers
We’ve pulled another all nighter and to quote Julia, “I’m here forever.” But, it’s been fun. As the hours...
Nostalgic Memories
Sometimes, I feel like in still in China. This morning I got up early to head to my Danish class with the intention of arriving early so I could go over my notes. Right now I have no idea where I am.
I got to the metro station this morning and saw that the car was still parked in the station. What luck! I wouldn’t have to wait 4 minutes for the next one. I sprinted down the escalator and...
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Just found the best website ever!!!
Scandinavia and the World is a hilarious comic site that explains a lot of Scandinavian culture. It talks about the Denmark-Sweden love/hate relationship, the political and social climate of Scandinavia, its geography, and random important things like Åland :) It is written by a Dane (who is also a woman- yeah, girl!) and is really well written and drawn. To read them, Read More.
Also, How the...
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Lazy Thursdays
It’s 1 am on a Thursday (well now Friday) and I am a happy camper :) I got up today thinking, “Wow, I’m going to get a lot work done. I don’t have any classes, I leave tomorrow for my short study tour and I’m feeling energized.” Though I didn’t really get anything done, I excelled at doing nothing, which I guess still counts. It all began with a 2.5 mile...
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“I got into the Sustainability Task Force! Hurrah, environment!”
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Making dinner with TheHagen and friends!!
We had a very easy taco night and didn’t mess up!!! (Easy Dinners for Beginners via the web) What a delight!
What I have found is that the Danes are incredibly good at cooking, or are just more accustomed to it. My ham, leftovers and bell pepper omelets are often viewed with pity by my kitchen-mates, but hey! I’m learning fast :)
January 2012
26 posts
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Cat hoarding and American Idol
I met with my visiting family again and they made the most spectacular dinner! Afterwards we watched a Danish kid-version of American Idol called MGP, which is all the rage right now. After their 11 year-old lost interest, we switched to a cat-hoarding documentary.
Cat hoarding: a phenomenon where old, lonely women think they are saving cats by luring and trapping them by the hundreds, only to...
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It’s official.
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I TAKE IT BACK!!!
Wow, so remember when I said Denmark was a cold country? Well, with a thick beer blanket, it warms up quickly!! In fact, it gets incredibly toasty… sometimes even too toasty.
OMG Danes are ridiculous I just had 6 shots and 5 beers and they are still going I’m going to be dead and if these are my last words, I love you juskldk!!!!
-Texts from last night, 4:01 am
So, last night...
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Just met my visiting family!!
Talk about a different culture! So after two weeks of emailing, texting, talking on the phone and signing off with “I can’t wait!!”, “Can’t wait to meet you”, “I’m so excited to meet you!” (I’m original, I know), I finally got to meet my visiting family and they were delightful!
Buzzwords: Death by Smoking, Dropping out of High School,...
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Reality Check
I guess it’s true what they say about the Danes: reserved is the new casual… and that can be both awkward and tough. I’m currently living in a Kollegium (the apartment-style housing option with a common kitchen shared by hall mates- both Danes and Americans), and for the past few days I’ve been eyeing that social hubbub of a kitchen. Here is the land of handball on TV,...
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The Amazing Race and Liver Spread
It’s Day 3 of orientation and it feels like I’ve been here for weeks! Here are some things I have done:
1. Got lost 4 times (this place is such a maze of streets and interesting things to look at!)
2. Saw the switching of the guard at the Royal Palace
3. Eaten the most delicious hotdogs and sandwiches
4. Nested in my positively awesome kollegium!
Yikes! I’ll have to write...
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WatchMood: Lost in Copenhagen at the metro
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"Sooo... I kinda love it."
Copenhagen, Day 1
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“Customs at Denmark was a breeze!”
– I wasn’t even asked one question! I just walked up, let the friendly Dane look at my passport and walked out into the city.
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Goodbye, California
As I leave my bright and sunny hometown, I can only think of four things:
1. I’m going to miss my dog
2. I’m going to buy a roomful of candles to save myself from the “darkness depression”
3. I should also buy a fire extinguisher
4. COPENHAGEN HERE I COME
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Things I am looking forward to doing:
Living in a Traditional Kollegium!
Taking Danish Language, Architecture Foundations Studio (Sweden-Finland), Sustainability in the Alps, Integrated Sustainability and 20th and 21st Century Danish Architecture
Surfing in Portugal
Cooking Course C: Cooking the Danish Way 1-5
Spear throwing, pile driving, catapulting, and jousting with the Spears, Abbey and Ale Trip
Biking around Copenhagen
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Just found out my housing!!
I will be living in a traditional kollegium. I also got a visiting family (wahoo!) and they sound like the best! I can’t wait to meet them!
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Packing Part 1: Lauren vs. The Yorkie
I was prepared for the normal packing obstacles: finding those matching socks, looking for winter boots, deciding what not to bring and thinking “wait, do I really need that dinosaur onesie in Copenhagen?” However, what I didn’t expect was the fact that all my packing attempts would be thwarted by a 10-pound loaf of fur.
(preparing sabotage)
I was about 5 minutes into...
