I can speak Danish

I've been in Aarhus for two weeks now, can't believe it, time has flown by so fast. So far I've really enjoyed my time here, living by myself and the freedom that comes with it and making new friends!

The last two weeks of "intensive*" learning have been quite packed, after our daily morning classes we were arranged to attend lectures on Danish politics, Viking History and Hans Christian Andersen, or visits to the Old Town and a museum.

The excursions were great fun! Especially Den Gamle By (their Old Town museum). I went twice (that should explain why I have two different outfits in the photos), first time with my normal group, the second time with Amy and Amanda. The second time was much funner, because we went on what you may call old fashioned rides, like swings with boat-shaped seats, and a boat where we have to pull ourselves across the water. The swing was particularly fun, us twenty-and-up year olds were having more fun than the little kiddies for whom the swing was actually designed for. In fact we loved it so much we went twice!

Most Danish kids are blonde

The awesome swing (unfortunately there isn't a good photo of me)

The ARoS museum definitely wasn't as fun as Den Gamle By, but I enjoyed the exhibitions, unlike Amy who practically raced through the place. That day I did two quite illegal things, first (and the more exciting/significant) was getting to the museum, I sat behind Tang's bike (I don't really know how to say it in English, it's 他荡我). His friend said he was a good rider; he's Chinese too, so I felt assured knowing he has probably had ample practice at 荡ing someone back home ;) But it's dangerous, cos we didn't have any helmets. Still...we flagrantly disregarded Danish law in downtown in broad daylight. BOOYAH! Rebels we are.

Yesterday was the last day of our Danish crash course, Destination DK. I got a certificate, which says I am able to understand and participate in everyday language. If that means saying Hej, Hej Hej, Tak, Sel Tak and describing to the Aldi man the Danish word for butter**, then yea! I can understand and participate in everyday conversation with a Dane~ ANYWAYS~ we had a little brunch party to commemorate the two weeks we had, everyone brought a dish from their own country, like the Spanish brought Tortilla, the Poles brought sausages, pickles and dumplings with white cheese and potatoes (Pole food was the best ytd)... I made scones with another Aussie chick who happens to live above me.

Tortillas, roll cake with nutella, Polish dumplings, "German" bread and cheese, Polish pickles, and last but not least my scones!

*our teacher was a very kind lady but she really didn't teach us much. She concentrated so much on numbers, which in her opinion was hard, but neglected everything else. We didn't even properly learn the alphabet so as to help us with pronounciation. Heck I don't even know how to greet people other than Hej, Godt Dag and Hej Hej.

** Me: Excuse me do you have butter?
Aldi Man: is it an American...[hand gestures to form a large rectangle]
Me: no, [thinks] smor?
AM: smor?
Me: S-M-O with a line through it - R
AM: oh smurr!

小天堂

When we were young, my cousin and I shared a bed. She would sometimes talk about a room we can call our own. She called it Little Heaven (she's always very creative like that, like that time when she would philosophically say, "wasting your time is wasting your life".) I don't think she said it because sharing a room or bed with me was a drag, but more because of that romantic notion of having one's own room and bed, and where you can prance around in the abundant space.

So this is my Little Heaven in Aarhus. I'm not living in a dorm, it's like a studio apartment with its own kitchenette and bathroom. I'm lucky I don't have to share anything. The previous occupants left me a lot of things so I don't have to buy anything. I had so much pots and plates I even had to throw out some! The last one even left a huge selection of tea and night pads!


On the first Sunday after we arrived, a welcome dinner was organised for us. It was funny how all the Asians sat at one table and everyone else sat at the others. Amanda, Amy, June and I sat amongst those Asians.

Yesterday there was a Speed Meeting thing ("like Speed Dating but without the kissing" - June) and my DKK classmate Ken couldn't be bothered to go back home after class, cos it's so far away so he asked if he could come to my place instead, since my place was within walkable distance of the school. That one guest increased into 3 further self-invited guests.

Here we are eating pizza on the floor:

The chick squatting in the middle is from UTS. I met her at the Welcome Dinner, she's absolutely hilarious - she entertained my guests.