Well, no rum was involved, but still, sailing is a lot of fun! This weekend I went on the DIS tall ship sailing trip. Sorry, no pictures at the moment, I didn't want to take my pretty camera on the ocean, but I will steal other people's as soon as possible.
The set up: 25 DIS students, 2 interns, 4 crew members, 1 ship, and lots of food and alcohol.
The results: new friends, great memories, and a renewed determination to live on or near the ocean.
We left Copenhagen Saturday morning, after putting up the sails and chasing all the Japanese tourists off our boat. (Seriously, there were about 100 of them, and they kept climbing on the ship, trying to take pictures and just generally be a nuisance. Our fantastic captain soon put a stop to that. But I hate to think how many photo albums and YouTube videos we will soon be featured in!) But we were soon underway, and for the first time of the season, the ship was able to leave Copenhagen under sail, as opposed to using the motor. The crew was very excited about that, so I guess it is a pretty big deal. With the wind at our back, we made quick time under the bridge connecting Sweden and Denmark, past Malmo, and continued up the Swedish coast. Essentially, we had very little work to do. We made lunch, played cards, organized our bunks (which were awesome!) and did our best to stay warm.
We made such good time, that we docked for the night in a port farther away than usual, Landskroner, Sweden. Naturally, the crew, leaders, and some students decided to venture into town, and managed to find the one bar in the very small town. A good time was had by all :)
In the morning, I was awake early, so made my way up to deck, got some reading for class done, and watched the sleepy town wake up on a lazy Sunday morning. I absolutely love the feeling of complete ease that I always associate with the ocean and port towns. It seems like a whole different world, with its own language, culture, and wonderful associations. This trip served to remind me how much I need to live near the water.
We did eventually get under sail again, and began to make our way back to Copenhagen. Of course, the wind was coming straight from Copenhagen, so we had more to do- lots and lots of tacking. Turning the ship is a bit like a well choreographed dance: everyone has a role to play, and each must do so at the right time. The captain serves the role of the music, coordinating everyone's actions to achieve the maximum results. I love that feeling of being part of something bigger than myself; I know that my small action fits in perfectly with a larger plan, and the results of said-plan are more than I can accomplish on my own.
We did make it back to Copenhagen, said goodbye to the crew, and made our way back to our host families, apartments, and kollegiums, all dreading the amount of work ahead of us (or at least I was). But it was totally worth it!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
My new home away from home...
... is Food and Coffee, located just a few blocks from Norreport Station.
How I found it: I was walking back from another favorite Copenhagen haunt, Naturbageriet( a vegan bakery!) after class this morning. I have been in desperate need of bread, so I bought a loaf of bread with seeds and carrots baked in, yummy! And then I saw an almond cookie, with marzipan in the center and toasted almonds on top... and I decided to splurge. Such a good plan! I stole a little bite of cookie, and then resolved to save the rest until I got back to my apartment. I had work to do, so the cookie was going to be a reward to myself. At least that was the plan. And then I saw Food and Coffee on a side-street.
I have no idea what attracted me to it, but I walked in, just to see what it was. And then I smelled the coffee, saw all the organic and vegan products, the smoothie and coffee menus, and the sign that said "Student Discount"... and I just couldn't leave.
First, the design is great. There are bean-bag chairs, tall stools made of tree trunks, pillows on tool counters, and smaller couches and tables in a back room. The front is all windows, so everything is beautifully lit, and inviting, and just fun!
Second, the coffee. Although Copenhagen has a growing cafe culture, their coffee is, across the board, pretty terrible. And expensive. But with my discount here, the cost was just very expensive, not totally and completely unreasonable, like most places are. But more to the point, it is really good coffee! I just had a cafe au lait, but they had everything, even iced coffee, and something that looked kind of reminiscent of a frappacino.
Third, wireless! They have macs there everyone can use, but they also have wireless and will cheerfully give you the password if you ask!
So instead of going home and studying, I sat at a tall table at Food and Coffee, drank my coffee and ate my cookie, studied, and had an interesting debate with a guy from South Africa, who lives in Washington D.C., and comes to Copenhagen frequently for business. Random. But awesome!
The moral of the story... if you can't find me at DIS or my apartment, I am probably at Food and Coffee!
P.S.- I really love random, totally unexpectedly good days :)
How I found it: I was walking back from another favorite Copenhagen haunt, Naturbageriet( a vegan bakery!) after class this morning. I have been in desperate need of bread, so I bought a loaf of bread with seeds and carrots baked in, yummy! And then I saw an almond cookie, with marzipan in the center and toasted almonds on top... and I decided to splurge. Such a good plan! I stole a little bite of cookie, and then resolved to save the rest until I got back to my apartment. I had work to do, so the cookie was going to be a reward to myself. At least that was the plan. And then I saw Food and Coffee on a side-street.
I have no idea what attracted me to it, but I walked in, just to see what it was. And then I smelled the coffee, saw all the organic and vegan products, the smoothie and coffee menus, and the sign that said "Student Discount"... and I just couldn't leave.
First, the design is great. There are bean-bag chairs, tall stools made of tree trunks, pillows on tool counters, and smaller couches and tables in a back room. The front is all windows, so everything is beautifully lit, and inviting, and just fun!
Second, the coffee. Although Copenhagen has a growing cafe culture, their coffee is, across the board, pretty terrible. And expensive. But with my discount here, the cost was just very expensive, not totally and completely unreasonable, like most places are. But more to the point, it is really good coffee! I just had a cafe au lait, but they had everything, even iced coffee, and something that looked kind of reminiscent of a frappacino.
Third, wireless! They have macs there everyone can use, but they also have wireless and will cheerfully give you the password if you ask!
So instead of going home and studying, I sat at a tall table at Food and Coffee, drank my coffee and ate my cookie, studied, and had an interesting debate with a guy from South Africa, who lives in Washington D.C., and comes to Copenhagen frequently for business. Random. But awesome!
The moral of the story... if you can't find me at DIS or my apartment, I am probably at Food and Coffee!
P.S.- I really love random, totally unexpectedly good days :)
Friday, September 18, 2009
A day of ups and downs
As of tomorrow, I will have been in Copenhagen for four weeks. And for the first time this morning, I got very homesick. I'm not sure what set me off, but I would have done anything to have woken up in Madison or Northampton this morning. Which is strange, considering yesterday I got to talk to a lot of my favorite people from home, which made me incredibly happy. But I guess talking to all of them made me realize how far away I was, and how long it is going to be before I see them again. I will be home in three months. Three months is a very long time. It is also a long time to go without being able to just pick up the phone and call or text anyone. I think I am missing that instant connection the most.
So feeling rather sad and sorry for myself, I made my way to my one and only class today. I honestly would have been happier with more today, then I would have had something else to focus on. But the first bright spot of the day appeared heading to class- I ran into Ania and Rachel, who I hadn't seen FOREVER; hugs from my favorite smithies= an excellent turning point in my day. Second bright spot, two muffins to munch on during class! Yay, late night baking paying off!
I normally really hate not having a plan for the day, but I had no plans after class. I ended up just walking... and walking... and walking. For about three hours. It was fantastic. I got lost. I found new stores, namely one with AMERICAN peanut butter, maple syrup, and BBQ sauce, and on that had much cheaper versions of my favorite vegan granola bars here, which, yesterday I ran out of. So the day was improving.
Well, to reward myself for all my walking (while carrying my heavy backpack), I decided I needed food. I was headed to The Living Room for a smoothie and wireless, but saw a cafe in a bookstore, where lots of people had their computers. I found a table in the back with an outlet and yes, wireless, and set myself up to finish some work. Of course, I still needed sustenance, so I ordered a hummus sandwich. It was the most delicious thing I have eaten in a long time. And HUGE! I need to remember that place. Oh, and another bright spot (these are becoming more numerous, aren't they?), I got to talk to Hal for a while on FB chat! Yay, catching up with other friends living in strange hemispheres! That conversation really really cheered me up. As did finishing up a bunch of work, and continuing work on the ever-growing spreadsheet of med schools I want to apply to.
I finally did make my way back to the apartment, in a much better mood then when I left. My roommates are around, making waffles at the moment for a few friends coming over (saying goodbye, yet again, to Alexis). Oh, and I convinced them to try my muffins, and according to Mitte "They are really really good!" And Alexis is now raving about them too. More non-vegan converts... :)
Overall, I am still homesick, but writing this, I realized I had a much better day than I expected. And it can only get better right? Especially because I am drinking a glass of chocolate soy milk, my new obsession! Seriously seriously yummy.
So there is my rant. I am still in need of hugs. Anyone? Thanks. <3
So feeling rather sad and sorry for myself, I made my way to my one and only class today. I honestly would have been happier with more today, then I would have had something else to focus on. But the first bright spot of the day appeared heading to class- I ran into Ania and Rachel, who I hadn't seen FOREVER; hugs from my favorite smithies= an excellent turning point in my day. Second bright spot, two muffins to munch on during class! Yay, late night baking paying off!
I normally really hate not having a plan for the day, but I had no plans after class. I ended up just walking... and walking... and walking. For about three hours. It was fantastic. I got lost. I found new stores, namely one with AMERICAN peanut butter, maple syrup, and BBQ sauce, and on that had much cheaper versions of my favorite vegan granola bars here, which, yesterday I ran out of. So the day was improving.
Well, to reward myself for all my walking (while carrying my heavy backpack), I decided I needed food. I was headed to The Living Room for a smoothie and wireless, but saw a cafe in a bookstore, where lots of people had their computers. I found a table in the back with an outlet and yes, wireless, and set myself up to finish some work. Of course, I still needed sustenance, so I ordered a hummus sandwich. It was the most delicious thing I have eaten in a long time. And HUGE! I need to remember that place. Oh, and another bright spot (these are becoming more numerous, aren't they?), I got to talk to Hal for a while on FB chat! Yay, catching up with other friends living in strange hemispheres! That conversation really really cheered me up. As did finishing up a bunch of work, and continuing work on the ever-growing spreadsheet of med schools I want to apply to.
I finally did make my way back to the apartment, in a much better mood then when I left. My roommates are around, making waffles at the moment for a few friends coming over (saying goodbye, yet again, to Alexis). Oh, and I convinced them to try my muffins, and according to Mitte "They are really really good!" And Alexis is now raving about them too. More non-vegan converts... :)
Overall, I am still homesick, but writing this, I realized I had a much better day than I expected. And it can only get better right? Especially because I am drinking a glass of chocolate soy milk, my new obsession! Seriously seriously yummy.
So there is my rant. I am still in need of hugs. Anyone? Thanks. <3
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