True Life: I Live in Denmark

I've had a few people ask me what life is like here. So I decided to document an averageish day here in Copenhagen. So...this was my Tuesday. 

In the morning I taught English at the muslim private school. I had to wake up early and walk to Nørrebro to get there. This is what Danes look like when they commute to work. This is nothing, but its a lot of bikes and its pretty intense.

In class today we learned about the differences between American English and British English. Things like who says pants vs. trousers and what you get if you order chips in different countries. I helped teach the difference between "do" and "does" and then answered some questions about life in America.

After teaching, I was hungry, so I decided to stop into a 7-11 for the most delicious ham and cheese croissants ever. They are less than $3. Soooo yummy.

This is my view on the way back into the city for class.

Next, I had 3 hours of class here in Vestergade 23. Classy right? The inside is actually super nice.

First I had Danish Language. We are still practicing things like how to say where you are from and how you get to school. Mostly we talked about Danish history. Then I had Danish politics and society with my hilarious teacher. He is always talking about how "America gives shit about welfare" and its my favorite. We are doing presentations on various political parties in class right now. So I got to learn about the red-green alliance, which is, I kid you not, code for communists who really like the environment. This is a picture of their leader. She is 28, and has been leading the party since she was 22. But seriously, does she look like a communist to you? I think she looks like she should be setting the table at her grandmother's house.

After school, I decided to go to the grocery store. I went my local Netto, which is basically like trying to by groceries at a gas station/albertsons/pharmacy. It looks like this. Seriously, the happiest country in the world and this is where they buy their groceries.

Next I had a field study for my Sociology of the Family course. We visited a co-housing community west of Copenhagen. This is the train station during rush hour. I really love trains. Especially trains with free wifi. I also saw this super cute dog on the train.

So this is the co-housing community. There are 54 families that live there. They all have their own apartments but they also all eat together for dinners if they want. I sat next to an adorable blonde Danish family (weird right?) and asked them all kinds of questions about why they chose to live in this type of community. 

This is the courtyard in the compound. All the houses have outside entrances as well as doors to the courtyard. Its definitely a pretty personal living style, but I can see the benefits. Danish average children for a family is 1.8 and in this community it is over 3. I guess families are able to have more kids here, and I would definitely consider it if I was a single mother or something. 

Once I got home, I decided to stop in on each floor to see what people are doing. I do this often, partly because I like my housemates and partly because its a lot of stairs and I don't mind stopped to rest on each floor. This is my roommate Mayrah trying to stick a candle in Marsha's clavicle. So here is the ground floor for you...

On the first floor, my floor mate Will and Camilla are cleaning up. Camilla bakes a lot, and I am fond of her.

I skip the second floor because they are technically not culinary, and therefore are anti-social towards us. I spend the evening relaxing and hang out with friends while we watch Danish tv for the first time. After watching a CSI where a lady is murdered in a McDonalds in Tennessee, several people on my floor decide to go get McDonald's. I cave and eat some kids chicken nuggets, which are one of the only things that taste exactly the same in any country. So that was my day. Just a regular Tuesday :)