Soaking Up Some D

Vitamin D, that is! Yesterday was BY FAR the most beautiful day we have had in Copenhagen so far! It was in the 50’s and the sun was shining, which meant everyone finally came out from hibernation mode. I only had one class in the morning because my first class was cancelled, so I got to sleep in a little which was nice. I got to school a little before my class started to Gabi and I could figure out our presentation we had to give about a news story that was relevant to the class, Muslims in the West. We found an article about the new Immigration Officer in Denmark, who about two years ago, made a statement that immigrants to Denmark should assimilate instead of integrate. He is a hard core liberalists, so he strongly supports the Danish values of freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the press, democracy, etc… so he thinks immigrants should want and have to assimilate to these ideals as well. Some critics have related his opinion to something out of Nazi Germany, but that is a little extreme I think.

Anyway, then I worked on my paper for my public health class while Gabi was in Danish class, and when she was finished, we booked our hostel for Barcelona! We are staying in a really nice sounding place, and they have nights where they teach you how to make sangria and mojitos! Then I said something to Gabi about how I really just wanted to go sit outside and drink a beer in Nyhavn, although it was only 2pm and I probably should be studying for my Danish oral midterm or working on both of my papers. But Gabi was like alright! Let’s go! Since it was so nice out, I really had to pass up studying and experience the beautiful Copenhagen weather, so Gabi and I bought some ciders, went to Nyhavn (the place where everyone hangs out when it is nice out and the picture you get of Copenhagen when you Google image search), and we gossiped/chatted for about an hour. Then our other friends got out of class, so we met them up on the roof of DIS and soaked up some warm, amazing sun. I actually had to take off my coat… unbelievable!! You could just tell everyone in the city was in a good mood now that spring has finally arrived! I love it so much!

Later that night, Gabi and I had wine tasting. We learned all about wines from France, and we learned what good Champagne actually tastes like! My favorite wines of the night though were the two Bordeauxs we tried. I also didn’t know that champagne actually has to be made in the Champagne region in France to be called champagne. If it is not, then it is just sparkling wine. I also realized last night that I have a terrible nose… I cannot smell like half of the scents I am supposed to be picking up in the wines. I’m not even sick or anything… maybe it will just take me longer to develop my ability to smell wines haha. It was a ton of fun again though. Gabi and I decided that when we go to Paris we are going to attend a Wine and Cheese tasting lunch… we found a place that gives really good student discounts!

After wine tasting we went to the Happy Pig… aka our favorite bar. The place was pretty dead, but our friends weren’t out yet because it wasn’t even 9pm, so we just grabbed a couple of beers. There was a group of like 7 Danish boys in the corner, and they kept looking over at us, but like true Danes, they wouldn’t actually come over and say hi. So when one of them walked by, I asked him how they all knew each other. It turns out they were all guards for the Danish Royal Family! They ended up coming over to our table, and they came to the other bar with us to meet up with our friends from DIS. Being a guard sounds like a terribly boring job. They are outside for 2 hours, inside for 4 hours, then outside again for 2 hours. They also have to wear the same uniform in the winter and summer, so they are freezing cold in the winter and extremely hot in the summer. None of them have met the Queen of Denmark though, I made sure to ask.

Today has been pretty uneventful, just studying. Thankfully my public health group paper just got an extension, so now it is due a week from Monday instead of this coming Monday! That means I will have more time to work on my Health Economics and Health Policy paper that is due Tuesday. Time to get down to business.

Hej Hej!

Emily