Amager > Arken II

There was art and there were cows, both good for pondering.

Cast Off

Today we went on an adenture into the depths of Amager. After passing Ørestad City (see: Scandinavia's Version of Sprawl. Intensely architect-ed area overwhelmed by glass and airy post-modernism. incl. The largest mall in Scandinavia), we were confronted by cows and fields that stretched to the sea. Amager is a lot bigger than I thought. We saw these eerie yet comforting land art sculptures that looked like the temporarily abandond dens for imaginary wild creatures.

Sea/Land/Sky

This photo was taken south of where I live on the island of Amager, an area which houses the airport and has only recently been developed. My trip down the bike lane today completely changed my impression of the area. Previously, I had only been able to see new housing development after housing development, a sea of smooth glass and steel and not much else. Today I discovered some of the islands' wonderful parkland as well. It is especially interesting to see the speed of such development within such a defined and finite land mass (such could be said of most of Denmark).

Tomorrow I will be leaving for a brief weekend trip with my faculty to the Danish countryside! I am excited to meet more people and take a winter dip in the sea!

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!