I meant to go to Sweden, I really did. We were on the way to the train station in the pouring rain and planned to stop in at the National Museum for about an hour. But I just couldn't leave, I had to stay and see every inch of that museum. Plus it was warm and cozy and very quiet inside and I was soaked through from the rain. I spent one hour alone in the 1500's with trapestries, painted ceilings, and dower chests. I looked at those stitches and thought of the person who made them, the family who owned them and the travels they had made to arrive at this place. I felt like I was literally sucked into the bowels of the building, twisting and turning through time and place. Each time it spit me out into the middle of the bustling shop and cafe area, I felt a bit dazed and bleary having to adjust to the modern world. I was able to go through six of the eight exhibitions, visiting over 100 rooms in just under six hours. I could have spent another entire day!
I did eat lunch in the cafe which served a wonderful salmon "sandwich" for only 65 K. The word sandwich is misleading as there is no possible way to pick the thing up and bite it. It is meant to be eaten with a knife and fork and consisted of a mountain of salmon on thick bread with some kind of delicious sauce and red celery, carrots and lettuce. I had ordered a chocolate croissant and tea with it, but had to carry the croissant out since I was so full. Good thing, too, since I didn't come out for so long.
The rain stopped probably 10 minutes after I left the museum, so I went for a stroll around the palace grounds. I must say, I didn't even realize that Denmark had a Queen. They have the very same set up as England. It is a lovely palace but I did not tour since I had to be back to the hotel for our group meeting and dinner, which i am off to now.
I will find out how the others did on their trip to Sweden. Today was a very special day, the summer solstice, and apparently there is a huge celebration. Shops and restaurants are closed for everyone to come out in honor of summer! I could definitely agree with that, although it was a bit cold and rainy today. I will have to come back again so I can experience Sweden.
This is it, then. Tomorrow I fly home to North Carolina.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Denmark Day 5
I think I am finally adjusted to the 6 hour time change...now that it is time to return! Tonight is the first night I have actually been tired at the normal bedtime. I never made it to the pub last night. Instead I went with my friend to see if we could find her some vegetarian food. After many strikes, we finally ended up at the train station. She had a veggie sub and I had chocolate cake and latte (oh, maybe that is why I couldn't go to sleep last night:)
This morning we went to see a waste treatment plant to hear how they manage the recycling and incinerating of waste. I had no idea how much was involved, especially in the way of regulating the air based on what was emitted from the waste. Nasty! It does shed a whole new light on the importance of recycling.
Next, we took a bus out to Soro to visit a science camp for students. They are chosen by their teachers based on talent in science and math to spend a few days and nights at the facility learning in a very hands on way. The center is on a property that is over 800 years old and was formerly the home of monks that ran the church there. I loved standing on the grounds looking at the old dormitories facing the water and thinking it was the same view the monks had in their day. Following Denmarks conversion to Protestantism, the facility was turned into a boarding school for noble and common students. As far back as 1500, girls were educated at the school. That was a very progressive idea for the time! What was it that even so long ago made the Danes lean toward progressive, egalitarian systems and beliefs?
Most of our group traveled to Sweden this evening, but since it was late, I stayed behind with the "librarian" group and we went to Tivoli. Tivoli is a beautiful old amusement park with outdoor concerts, rides, gardens and shopping. We only walked through, but the Hans Christian Andersen influence was unmistakable. The water shooting game was full of top hats and there was a "small world" ride with all the different characters from his stories: Thumbelina, The Little Mermaid, Princess and the Pea, etc.
Tomorrow is the last day, so the librarian group is heading to Sweden early to tour a castle and possibly the canals. Heading home soon!
This morning we went to see a waste treatment plant to hear how they manage the recycling and incinerating of waste. I had no idea how much was involved, especially in the way of regulating the air based on what was emitted from the waste. Nasty! It does shed a whole new light on the importance of recycling.
Next, we took a bus out to Soro to visit a science camp for students. They are chosen by their teachers based on talent in science and math to spend a few days and nights at the facility learning in a very hands on way. The center is on a property that is over 800 years old and was formerly the home of monks that ran the church there. I loved standing on the grounds looking at the old dormitories facing the water and thinking it was the same view the monks had in their day. Following Denmarks conversion to Protestantism, the facility was turned into a boarding school for noble and common students. As far back as 1500, girls were educated at the school. That was a very progressive idea for the time! What was it that even so long ago made the Danes lean toward progressive, egalitarian systems and beliefs?
Most of our group traveled to Sweden this evening, but since it was late, I stayed behind with the "librarian" group and we went to Tivoli. Tivoli is a beautiful old amusement park with outdoor concerts, rides, gardens and shopping. We only walked through, but the Hans Christian Andersen influence was unmistakable. The water shooting game was full of top hats and there was a "small world" ride with all the different characters from his stories: Thumbelina, The Little Mermaid, Princess and the Pea, etc.
Tomorrow is the last day, so the librarian group is heading to Sweden early to tour a castle and possibly the canals. Heading home soon!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Denmark Day 4
The day is not really over yet, but I am posting early tonight since we are planning to go out to visit a pub later. That is an "out of my comfort zone" activity since I usually prefer to stay home and knit or read:) I think it is a cultural experience I need to have, though.
This morning we went to a science camp similar to our science museums. Schools take field trips there to teach the children science in a hands on way. I wish I could take my boys...they would love getting flushed down the huge toilet! After you are flushed, you get to walk through the sewers and meet up with rats and spiders, etc. You feel in holes in the wall to see if they are items that are alright to flush. One hole held a diaper and another had false teeth. You know how kids love to flush the toilet! We also got to ride an electric bicycle. Denmark is very serious about fuel and energy issues, so most people ride bicycles if they are not traveling too far. There is a bike lane on every road and they are full. You really have to be careful not to get run over by bicycles. This new electric bike will allow people to travel farther and arrive less "sweaty". I did get to try one out...what a rush!
After the science camp, we were free to roam the city again. I went with a group to find the yarn shop and the library. Somehow we ended up shopping for souvenirs and then we got separated. I did find the yarn shop but I liked the one in Roskilde better. I never found the library but I happen upon a used bookstore/coffee house. That was marvelous I tell you...I found a 1956 Copenhagen printing of Hans Christian Andersen (in English) and a Little House in the Prairie copy in Danish! I ordered a latte and enjoyed a moment with my new books.
For dinner, I picked up a fantastic sausage from the hot dog vendor. The mustard and onions made perfect condiments. I've come back to the room to clean up, then back out in the sunshine. Today has been beautiful!
This morning we went to a science camp similar to our science museums. Schools take field trips there to teach the children science in a hands on way. I wish I could take my boys...they would love getting flushed down the huge toilet! After you are flushed, you get to walk through the sewers and meet up with rats and spiders, etc. You feel in holes in the wall to see if they are items that are alright to flush. One hole held a diaper and another had false teeth. You know how kids love to flush the toilet! We also got to ride an electric bicycle. Denmark is very serious about fuel and energy issues, so most people ride bicycles if they are not traveling too far. There is a bike lane on every road and they are full. You really have to be careful not to get run over by bicycles. This new electric bike will allow people to travel farther and arrive less "sweaty". I did get to try one out...what a rush!
After the science camp, we were free to roam the city again. I went with a group to find the yarn shop and the library. Somehow we ended up shopping for souvenirs and then we got separated. I did find the yarn shop but I liked the one in Roskilde better. I never found the library but I happen upon a used bookstore/coffee house. That was marvelous I tell you...I found a 1956 Copenhagen printing of Hans Christian Andersen (in English) and a Little House in the Prairie copy in Danish! I ordered a latte and enjoyed a moment with my new books.
For dinner, I picked up a fantastic sausage from the hot dog vendor. The mustard and onions made perfect condiments. I've come back to the room to clean up, then back out in the sunshine. Today has been beautiful!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Denmark Day 3
If yesterday was a people day, today was a tourist day, but not altogether since we started the day at the Danish Energy Department. Apparently, this was a special privelge becauses they don't usually take groups. I think they took ours because they know how desperately Americans need to hear about renewable energy! They presented their goal to be using 30% sustainable energy by 2020 and 100% by 2050. They have private companies doing a lot of research into renewable fuels like biomass, solar and especially wind. They already have the technology and the experience with wind turbines (windmills:) but they only lack space. The director was quite jealous of all the land in American and told us outright that we would be able to fuel our entire country with wind energy and no one would even notice the turbines. But hey, we've got coal to burn, right?
After the energy department, we hopped on a chartered bus and traveled to Roskilde. This is one of the most historic areas in Denmark dating back to the Viking days, 1050 ad. We visited the Viking Museum and saw 5 Viking ships that had been discovered in the 1960's. It was very interesting to hear about the Vikings as a people. They sounded more like farmers than warriors. Funny how history doesn't remember those parts. The most memorable part of the tour for me was discovering the source of our Viking ship images. Although they did not have photography then, there was something that lasted longer than a picture. Tapestry! There is a 1000 year old tapestry in a museum in Normandy, France that depicts the paintings on the outside of Viking ships. That is one big old important cross-stitch. Ah, the value of fiber arts! (Don't worry, I am getting to the yarn store part:) I was able to pick up some very reasonably priced souvenirs for my boys at the museum giftshop before eating lunch at Viking Pizza, good prices and good food. They had soft ice rolled in powdered chocolate, which is much better than any softserve ice cream I have had before.
Roskilde was formerly the capital of Denmark and all the old kings and queens are buried in the cathedral there. We toured the cathedral and were awed by the beauty of its ancient pillars and tombs. Harold Bluetooth (yes, the Danes came up with the Bluetooth device!) is rumored to be buried here. There is a certain excitement in exploring the depths of a cathedral full of sarcophagi.
From ancient history to shopping: Roskilde does have a yarn shop and a bookstore. I walked out with 6 balls of great yarn and only spent about $20! I have fiber friends who are going to be very happy. (Yes, Casey, that means you!) At the bookstore I was able to pick up 3 little books in Danish for 25k. I did get a Rasmus Klump story along with Curious George and Elmer (the elephant not the puppet).
A people story: on the train ride home, we sat across from a very sweet young Chinese lady who told us about her "unlucky" day. She had a big exam at the International School in Roskilde but when she got on the fast train this morning she didn't realize it was to Jutland, which is about a 5 hour trip. She missed her exam and had to spend the entire day on the train. I felt so sorry for her! She did recommend a very good Chinese restaurant by Tivoli near our hotel.
Back in Copenhagen, we decided to use the long daylight hours and head out to the end of the canals for a view of The Little Mermaid statue in honor of Hans Christian Andersen. We had a lot of fun climbing around on the rocks to take a picture with her. I kept reminding everyone how the real story ends...you know when you go to the beach and see all that foam on the ocean? Yep, that's Ariel!
After the energy department, we hopped on a chartered bus and traveled to Roskilde. This is one of the most historic areas in Denmark dating back to the Viking days, 1050 ad. We visited the Viking Museum and saw 5 Viking ships that had been discovered in the 1960's. It was very interesting to hear about the Vikings as a people. They sounded more like farmers than warriors. Funny how history doesn't remember those parts. The most memorable part of the tour for me was discovering the source of our Viking ship images. Although they did not have photography then, there was something that lasted longer than a picture. Tapestry! There is a 1000 year old tapestry in a museum in Normandy, France that depicts the paintings on the outside of Viking ships. That is one big old important cross-stitch. Ah, the value of fiber arts! (Don't worry, I am getting to the yarn store part:) I was able to pick up some very reasonably priced souvenirs for my boys at the museum giftshop before eating lunch at Viking Pizza, good prices and good food. They had soft ice rolled in powdered chocolate, which is much better than any softserve ice cream I have had before.
Roskilde was formerly the capital of Denmark and all the old kings and queens are buried in the cathedral there. We toured the cathedral and were awed by the beauty of its ancient pillars and tombs. Harold Bluetooth (yes, the Danes came up with the Bluetooth device!) is rumored to be buried here. There is a certain excitement in exploring the depths of a cathedral full of sarcophagi.
From ancient history to shopping: Roskilde does have a yarn shop and a bookstore. I walked out with 6 balls of great yarn and only spent about $20! I have fiber friends who are going to be very happy. (Yes, Casey, that means you!) At the bookstore I was able to pick up 3 little books in Danish for 25k. I did get a Rasmus Klump story along with Curious George and Elmer (the elephant not the puppet).
A people story: on the train ride home, we sat across from a very sweet young Chinese lady who told us about her "unlucky" day. She had a big exam at the International School in Roskilde but when she got on the fast train this morning she didn't realize it was to Jutland, which is about a 5 hour trip. She missed her exam and had to spend the entire day on the train. I felt so sorry for her! She did recommend a very good Chinese restaurant by Tivoli near our hotel.
Back in Copenhagen, we decided to use the long daylight hours and head out to the end of the canals for a view of The Little Mermaid statue in honor of Hans Christian Andersen. We had a lot of fun climbing around on the rocks to take a picture with her. I kept reminding everyone how the real story ends...you know when you go to the beach and see all that foam on the ocean? Yep, that's Ariel!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Denmark Day 2
Today I felt much more normal, although it is certainly not normal for me to still be awake at 12:30am. We started the day with breakfast of granola, fruit, lunch meat and cheese at the hotel. We then walked to the Femern A/S building to hear a lecture on the Oresund Bridge that connects Denmark to Sweden. This really was a fascinating presentation by a professor and an employee of the Femern company. There are plans currently underway to build an underwater tunnel from Denmark to Germany. They seem to have thought of everything as they are even setting the lights to get brighter as you reach the middle of the tunnel and grow dimmer as you head toward the end. This is to help people judge how much further they have to go. I find it hard enough to go through the little mountain tunnels from NC to Ohio, I can't imagine being in one underwater for longer.
Afterwards, we walked along the lakes to visit a private school, Ingrid Jespersen's Privatskole, and heard from the teachers about education in Denmark. I was thrilled to get to meet the librarian and see how they set up the library. I discovered that a favorite Danish story for young children is Rasmus Klump, a Paddington Bear like story about a stuffed bear who goes on adventures in a boat. Otherwise, the older children seem to read the same things as American students: Harry Potter, Twilight, and Hunger Games. We were very suprised to see the students outside playing in the rain and with little supervision. It seems children are taught at a young age to be responsible and find their way to class, etc. Imagine that! One of my favorite quotes from the principal involving the many opportunities for artistic expression was "...all the children are very fond of being creative." And what a creative place it was, indeed! The musical for the older students last year was Dorian Gray set to the music of Michael Jackson's Beat It. This year, there are plans for Alice in Wonderland meets Modanna. What child wouldn't be motivated by that?!
After the school, we were on our own for dinner and a group of us went to check out the famous commune, Christiania. The best part was stopping at a little art shop in a man's home and visiting with him and his brother. Come to find out, he was from Boston but had moved here 29 years ago. He was a very good artist and I picked up several postcards of his work. Walking back to the hotel, my walking buddy and I were momentarily unsure of our direction and had stopped to check our map when a young man asked if we needed help. Turns out he was walking to his bus in the same direction we were headed. He was telling us that he was just getting off work (10:30pm) as an IT game designer for GearWorks. We had a thoroughly intellectual discussion on the gaming world and its effects on the way children think today. Fascinating!
All in all, today was a great success, especially in the area of connecting with the real lives of Danes. Tomorrow we are hearing from the Danish Energy Agency about renewable energy followed by a trip into Roskilde to the Viking Ship Museum. I am determined to find a yarn store there:)
Afterwards, we walked along the lakes to visit a private school, Ingrid Jespersen's Privatskole, and heard from the teachers about education in Denmark. I was thrilled to get to meet the librarian and see how they set up the library. I discovered that a favorite Danish story for young children is Rasmus Klump, a Paddington Bear like story about a stuffed bear who goes on adventures in a boat. Otherwise, the older children seem to read the same things as American students: Harry Potter, Twilight, and Hunger Games. We were very suprised to see the students outside playing in the rain and with little supervision. It seems children are taught at a young age to be responsible and find their way to class, etc. Imagine that! One of my favorite quotes from the principal involving the many opportunities for artistic expression was "...all the children are very fond of being creative." And what a creative place it was, indeed! The musical for the older students last year was Dorian Gray set to the music of Michael Jackson's Beat It. This year, there are plans for Alice in Wonderland meets Modanna. What child wouldn't be motivated by that?!
After the school, we were on our own for dinner and a group of us went to check out the famous commune, Christiania. The best part was stopping at a little art shop in a man's home and visiting with him and his brother. Come to find out, he was from Boston but had moved here 29 years ago. He was a very good artist and I picked up several postcards of his work. Walking back to the hotel, my walking buddy and I were momentarily unsure of our direction and had stopped to check our map when a young man asked if we needed help. Turns out he was walking to his bus in the same direction we were headed. He was telling us that he was just getting off work (10:30pm) as an IT game designer for GearWorks. We had a thoroughly intellectual discussion on the gaming world and its effects on the way children think today. Fascinating!
All in all, today was a great success, especially in the area of connecting with the real lives of Danes. Tomorrow we are hearing from the Danish Energy Agency about renewable energy followed by a trip into Roskilde to the Viking Ship Museum. I am determined to find a yarn store there:)
Sunday, June 17, 2012
My computer is back!
Will wonders never cease...at 1:00 am Copenhagen time, I was able to go down to the hotel desk and purchase an adapter so that my American computer can plug in to the European outlet (for the small price of 50 Kroner)! That makes me feel better so I can write all night! I did make it until 8:00 pm last night, but I woke up at 12:00am completely bright eyed and ready to go. Thus, the long blog writing...
Back to the museum...the art was truly beautiful. My favorite Degas sculpture was a woman lying on her side with a midwife holding her leg while she was in labor. Timeless. The landscapes and portraits were inspiring also, especially the Danish sea and countryside. I was thrilled with a 200 year old painting of a woman and man outside on their farm, with a title something like, Taking a Sunday Break. She is standing in the yard knitting! (Speaking of knitting, I now have almost 2 inches completed on the doll dress...250 sts on size 2 needles...that is an accomplishment!)
After the museum, we walked down to the canals. Most of the group took a canal tour, but I decided to go off on my own exploring the city. It really is the only way to get to know a place. I walked for over an hour following whatever attracted my attention; church spires, shops, and enticing little sidestreets. It is amazing that if you don't know where you are, you really can't get lost!
By now, my legs were like rubber and my head was dizzy with lack of sleep and constant walking. You don't even want to know how bad my feet hurt. I decided to head back to the hotel to check in and have a cup of tea. The room is great. Their slogan is "Everything you need to sleep". I love that! It is very true. The best part is the bathroom which is a shower/sink/toilet combo. All one room but different faucets for the sink and shower. So efficient! I had to run out to the 7/11 to buy some "digestive biscuits" ,or cookies, for tea. I stopped in at a tiny grocery owned by a sweet old man and his wife. I was looking for a real mug (no self-respecting tea drinker can drink tea from a styrofoam cup) but the man didn't speak English. He did understand the universal sign for tea cup though and produced a very functional gray tea mug for 10 K.
After a refreshing shower, I was ready to head back out with the group for a perfect dinner of Swarma, fries and cola from a Middle Eastern deli. (I am eating good, Mom:)
I really am going to try to go back to sleep now, since tomorrow will be a busy day. I honestly have no idea what time it is as my computer and phone are very confused. The computer says 7:45pm and the phone says 11:45pm. I am almost certain it is really 1:45am. Hmmm. We are up for breakfast at the hotel in the morning and then off to a bridge and a school. I will post more on that tomorrow.
Back to the museum...the art was truly beautiful. My favorite Degas sculpture was a woman lying on her side with a midwife holding her leg while she was in labor. Timeless. The landscapes and portraits were inspiring also, especially the Danish sea and countryside. I was thrilled with a 200 year old painting of a woman and man outside on their farm, with a title something like, Taking a Sunday Break. She is standing in the yard knitting! (Speaking of knitting, I now have almost 2 inches completed on the doll dress...250 sts on size 2 needles...that is an accomplishment!)
After the museum, we walked down to the canals. Most of the group took a canal tour, but I decided to go off on my own exploring the city. It really is the only way to get to know a place. I walked for over an hour following whatever attracted my attention; church spires, shops, and enticing little sidestreets. It is amazing that if you don't know where you are, you really can't get lost!
By now, my legs were like rubber and my head was dizzy with lack of sleep and constant walking. You don't even want to know how bad my feet hurt. I decided to head back to the hotel to check in and have a cup of tea. The room is great. Their slogan is "Everything you need to sleep". I love that! It is very true. The best part is the bathroom which is a shower/sink/toilet combo. All one room but different faucets for the sink and shower. So efficient! I had to run out to the 7/11 to buy some "digestive biscuits" ,or cookies, for tea. I stopped in at a tiny grocery owned by a sweet old man and his wife. I was looking for a real mug (no self-respecting tea drinker can drink tea from a styrofoam cup) but the man didn't speak English. He did understand the universal sign for tea cup though and produced a very functional gray tea mug for 10 K.
After a refreshing shower, I was ready to head back out with the group for a perfect dinner of Swarma, fries and cola from a Middle Eastern deli. (I am eating good, Mom:)
I really am going to try to go back to sleep now, since tomorrow will be a busy day. I honestly have no idea what time it is as my computer and phone are very confused. The computer says 7:45pm and the phone says 11:45pm. I am almost certain it is really 1:45am. Hmmm. We are up for breakfast at the hotel in the morning and then off to a bridge and a school. I will post more on that tomorrow.
I am here!
The past couple days have been amazing, exhausting and slightly unclear. We left Saturday morning from RDU and flew into JFK then on to Copenhagen with no hiccups. During the eight hour flight over the Atlantic, my body continued to think it was on NC time, so when they told us to close the window and turn out the lights, my body refused to believe it was night. It didn't help that somehow the sun never really fully set (I kept sneaking looks out my window). I thought of one of my boys favorite Disney movies, Rocketman, when the monkey steals the astronauts sleep chamber on the way to Mars and he has to stay awake for three months while everyone around sleeps. I was very lucky to have such a nice seat mate who was able to sleep and not be annoyed by my reading light and constant checking out the window.
When we landed, we went through customs with unbelievable efficiency, took the train into the city and walked to our hotel to store our bags. Being 9:00am the rooms were not ready for check in until 3:00pm. Buoyed on by the sunshine, we walked to our brunch destination. It was a lovely buffet set up in a modern little restaurant. When I say buffet, it was not the kind of American set up with rows of unending food. There was one round platform covered with a variety of cheese, breads and meats. There were thermos to pour cups of coffee and tea. Sauces were available in a thick Danish honey, jams and others I could not identify. My favorite was a kind of squash bread and delicously light sausage balls.
Possibly sitting and eating, although unavoidable, may not have been a good idea. The day had turned from bright and sunny to cloudy and rainy, a phenomenon we would see repeated all day, and my supply of energy had finally seeped out. Our very excellent tour guides suggested we push on and try to make it until at least 8:00pm to sleep, so onward we trudged to the Glyptoteket Museum (museums being free on Sunday). The art was simple and extraordinary. There was an entire room of Degas sculptures...
Uh oh, my battery is dying...more to come...
When we landed, we went through customs with unbelievable efficiency, took the train into the city and walked to our hotel to store our bags. Being 9:00am the rooms were not ready for check in until 3:00pm. Buoyed on by the sunshine, we walked to our brunch destination. It was a lovely buffet set up in a modern little restaurant. When I say buffet, it was not the kind of American set up with rows of unending food. There was one round platform covered with a variety of cheese, breads and meats. There were thermos to pour cups of coffee and tea. Sauces were available in a thick Danish honey, jams and others I could not identify. My favorite was a kind of squash bread and delicously light sausage balls.
Possibly sitting and eating, although unavoidable, may not have been a good idea. The day had turned from bright and sunny to cloudy and rainy, a phenomenon we would see repeated all day, and my supply of energy had finally seeped out. Our very excellent tour guides suggested we push on and try to make it until at least 8:00pm to sleep, so onward we trudged to the Glyptoteket Museum (museums being free on Sunday). The art was simple and extraordinary. There was an entire room of Degas sculptures...
Uh oh, my battery is dying...more to come...
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
There are only four days until Denmark! Today, a very good friend gave me a gift of a handmade travel journal. It is a stitch bound cover of a map of Northern Europe and Scandinavia. Isn't that perfect?! She made it herself! I do so prefer real paper (no offense, Blog).
I got a call from the bank that my Kronner had arrived. Thinking this would be an adventure for my two young d's, I waited until I had picked them up and we went to the bank together. I had pictured two eager faces watching as the teller handed me the exotic foreign currency. Ah, best laid plans...Instead, as I approached the teller they instantly scattered to explore the pen curiously attached to the counter with a stretchy cord and the equallly interesting line partition that could also be stretched and released. I managed to grab my envelope and make it to the car before anything got broken. It is my own fault for avoiding taking them to public places.
I got a call from the bank that my Kronner had arrived. Thinking this would be an adventure for my two young d's, I waited until I had picked them up and we went to the bank together. I had pictured two eager faces watching as the teller handed me the exotic foreign currency. Ah, best laid plans...Instead, as I approached the teller they instantly scattered to explore the pen curiously attached to the counter with a stretchy cord and the equallly interesting line partition that could also be stretched and released. I managed to grab my envelope and make it to the car before anything got broken. It is my own fault for avoiding taking them to public places.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Danish Reading, etc
Well, there are 10 days until we depart for Denmark! I feel completely prepared and ready to go:) I have made some very important purchases for traveling. From Amazon, I spent $20 on a good selection of plane reading. From Michaels, I purchased a $2 ball of cotton yarn for plane knitting. I am ready!
One of the books I got is A History of Danish Dreams by Peter Hoeg, described as "suffused with satire and magical realism". That is right up my alley. From my very own bookshelf, my son discovered a copy of The Eternal Smile: Three Stories by Par Lagerkvist, described as "infused with a brooding mysticism". Fun!
I never worry about things like packing...the night before I will pack clothes.
One of the books I got is A History of Danish Dreams by Peter Hoeg, described as "suffused with satire and magical realism". That is right up my alley. From my very own bookshelf, my son discovered a copy of The Eternal Smile: Three Stories by Par Lagerkvist, described as "infused with a brooding mysticism". Fun!
I never worry about things like packing...the night before I will pack clothes.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Why 3ds?
I have three sons whose name's begin with d...Steph's three ds! The purpose of this blog is to share with friends and family my travel experience to Denmark. I am going with the UNC Center for International Understanding along with several other educators from June 16-23. My focus will be on Hans Christian Andersen and how his works effect culture. I want to help my students recognize the original works versus fractured fairy tales and Disney movies. One of my personal worries is when children think Walt Disney wrote the Little Mermaid, or Puss in Boots is just a character from Shrek. I am very excited about traveling to the birthplace of story!
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