My First Week

Tomorrow will mark one full week since I have arrived in this city. There have been so many new things in my life I don't know where to start! The Danish class I am taking in the mornings eats up quite a bit of my time. Our teacher is quite animated, so learning Danish is fun, but it is so difficult! There are twelve vowels and much of what is written in Danish is not pronounced. Although everyone speaks English, there seems to be a lot of respect earned if you at least try to say a few words in Danish, so I am eager to learn!

I have met people from Germany, Brazil, England, the United States, Italy, the Czech Republic, Singapore, Hong Kong, Poland, Russia, Columbia and more! It has been amazing experience to be with people from all over the world who are in the same situtation as me - nervous, lost and excited!

Most of all, I cannot wait to get a bicycle! It seems to be the only practical way to get around the city. The metro is expensive and not exactly comprehensive, although it is very efficient - machine-operated with an honour-based fare system enforced by hefty and unsympathetic fines. And you can buy your passes and tickets at machines! It just seems to make senese... when oh when will Toronto learn?

I am living in an area to the south of the city called Amager (pronounced "ah-mah"). Although it may not be the prettiest area, I am only 10 minutes from the city centre on bike and just a short walk to the metro. There are 11 other Danish students with whom I live on the same floor and share a kitchen. I have only met a few, but they are all very friendly once you get past the initial "hej" and awkward exchanges. One girl has been helping me find a bicycle! I have been doing most of my grocery shopping at the local Netto, a small kind of grocery/convenience store with cheaper prices. The prices are still more expensive than home though, and it is so hard to find a variety of vegetables! On the other hand, there is a huuuuuge selection of sandwich meats and breads... which doesn't really help me much.

Everything here is fast, efficient and clean. I have found most Danes to be incredibly helpful, warm and genuinely friendly but there a few that with a somewhat brusque demeanor... Our Danish teacher thinks that Danes have become "rude" in the past few decades, but at least when they are friendly it is genuine!