Danmark Skal Videre

Denmark must continue was the rallying cry of Social Democratic party supporters who successfully elected Denmark's first female Prime Minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, on Thursday. In the 2007 parliamentary election, 86.6% (!) of voters turned out to the polls; 87.7% voted last week. There were nine parties running: 4 left-wing and 5 right-wing. Thus coalitions are necessary and many Danes anticipate another election before the proscribed 4 years because consensus will be hard to reach among the parties. Lisbeth told me anyone can start a political party with enough signatures, so I asked her what party she would start. She said the party for the good food. I'd vote for her. News channels broadcast not only the vote count but scenes from each political group's respective election parties. Helle's party played Beyonce's "Run the World." Listen here, I promise it's worth it.

Don't you hate when the internet figures out where you are and translates your webpages into Danish?

Also on Thursday Alexis and I visited the Rundetaarn, or Round Tower, a typical CPH tourist attraction. It was built in 1642 as an observatory (still operating), attached to a church. Like most things in Copenhagen it was ravaged by a fire and rebuilt. Unfortunately the day was seriously windy and slightly overcast.

 

Friday I volunteered at the SKC, again in the cafe. I was in the recovery stages of a cold and figured I should stay out of the kitchen, so I just sat around smiling like an idiot (which Mia's Argentinian husband Anico said we foreigners tend to do), looking at the pictures in Danish newspapers. I spoke with one man who has family in the DC area. It was hard to understand his accent but we talked about cooking, his family, and his daughter, over pita. Other users acknowledged my presence and even said hi but most couldn't speak english well enough to carry on a conversation. But I think at the end I'll have some great revelation of what my time there is teaching me. The following weekend was just great.

On Sunday afternoon Lisbeth and I joined Fin and Annette to go to their daughters Mia's and Sarah's birthday party in Copenhagen. Lisbeth's daughter grew up with Mia, Sarah, and their other sister Laeger, and the families have remained close friends. Mia works for DIS and is actually the one who chose me to live with Lisbeth (it feels good to be hand picked!). Everyone was so welcoming and friendly that I didn't even feel like a stranger. I was so grateful to meet them and their families (husbands and children included) and for their hospitality. And we ate a lot of great food. But that goes without saying.

Copenhagen's streets are currently tied up with the UCI 2011 Road Race World Championship = Bike racing to the extreme. For once my mode of public transportation is not the one affected (even though the entire mass of riders on my morning commute had to exit our train to get on  a new one). It's symbolic to Danes that the championship is being held here because bicycling is so central to their culture. It's an honor for sure. Quick update on my own biking skills: I begin and stop with no problems, and no longer get nervous when small children are within 20 feet of me.

Tonight I toured Norrebro Bryghus, a trendy little microbrewery, with a DIS group. Let's be real here, I didn't even know what beer was actually made of until tonight. We learned about that, and about the basic process of brewing and how beers differ. We sampled 4 kinds and I wish I could tell you what they were, but I didn't want to be that nerd taking notes on a beer tour. But trust me, they were good, and the one featured in the pictures is a dark ale with hints of coffee and maybe also chocolate. Yes, please.

Skål! (pronounced skol, translated: cheers!)

And last but not least, scumfydoozas. That's how you say marshmallows in Danish. Certainly not how you spell it, but at least sort of how you might pronounce it. As it happens approximately 3 per year, I got an intense craving for glucose syrup, sugar, starch, water, pork gelatine, flavourings, and stabilizer E450 all rolled into one irresistible treat. Lisbeth found them for me at Netto last week. They were better than Jet Puffed and possibly laced with addictive drugs (besides sugar). Just a little taste of home.