I woke up at about 12:45pm after a long night writing a paper. Leah and I aren’t meticulous planners, we are spontaneous and carefree, so we glanced at the train schedule online and realized that the only train that wouldn’t push us to our limits would be departing in 45 minutes. I hadn’t packed, so I grabbed a few things in haste, hoping I’d be able to throw together a few fashionable outfits. Fifteen minutes later we were hauling our baggage to the train station. To Leah’s misfortune, she didn’t have a carry-on bag and had to settle for a very small backpack. She may be the most low maintenance person I have ever met in my life. It’s slightly refreshing.

We got to the train station on time and our journey started. Unbeknownst to us, we chose to sit in the “silent” car of the train and were admonished for conversing with one another. That put a mild damper on the excitement, but it came back soon enough at the airport. We met up with Krista, Beth, and Rishma and boarded the plane. Leah and I had strategically selected the emergency exit aisle seats (lots of legroom) and picked non-adjacent seats hoping that no one would sit between us. It worked and we had the whole aisle to ourselves! It was a nice perk.

We got to London just as the sun was going down and took the train into the city. We first laid eyes on KFC and never have I been so relieved to see fast food. We indulged, but not much since it was so much cheaper than food in Denmark, and then parted ways with the others to take the subway to our hostel. I fell in love with the city in an instant. The beautiful architecture, rich history, double-decker buses, casual dress, and the English language. It was like having a small piece of home.

Our hostel was in much better condition than I had expected. It was right across from St. Paul’s Cathedral and had a rich, cozy feeling with chandeliers and clean amenities. The desk clerk, Alice, was incredibly friendly. Though we shared a room with 8 other people and it was very noisy at times, the bed was comfortable and clean and the showers were the best I’ve had in over a month.

We decided to go out and see some sites to kill some time. We took a few cliché pictures in the British telephone booths and then moved onto the Millennium Bridge. Some of you will probably recognize the Millennium Bridge as the one that the dementors destroyed in the latest Harry Potter film. It provided a fantastic view of the city at night and we happened across some Ohioans and Pennsylvanians in the middle. Small world, indeed.

After crossing the bridge, we came across Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. I would have liked to have seen a performance, but time and money did not permit, so I was content to have some pictures. After all, the original Globe theatre burnt to the ground long ago. Then we walked along the river Thames and made our way back to the hostel.

The next morning, we woke up early (not necessarily by choice, but because of roommates) and headed out. We went inside St. Paul’s Cathedral and looked around a bit. St. Paul’s was built in the seventeenth century and is famous as the spot where Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married. We then moved onto McDonald’s. Normally we would not limit ourselves to American fast food restaurants, but McDonald’s offers free internet access, a luxury we did not have in the hostel. We tried to download a map of London onto my iPhone, but to no avail, so we walked down Fleet Street (think Sweeney Todd) in search of some indication of where we were.

Eventually, we arrived at Trafalgar Square, where Leah’s first instinct was to climb on the backs of gigantic lion statues. After much maneuvering, laughter, and strain, both of us were able to successfully climb up the lion’s haunches and have our picture taken. The lady who took our picture dropped my camera onto the hard concrete and put a small scratch on the side. Needless to say, I was not so happy, but I guess that’s what happens when you entrust valuables to strangers.

We meandered on over to the National Gallery, which was free. We saw some of the great classics, like Monet’s water lilies and Van Gogh’s sunflowers. I felt awed and blessed at the same time. It’s an indescribable feeling to be within inches of something so recognizable and invaluable. For some reason, midway through the museum, I acquired a stomachache, so we went out to get some fresh air and headed toward Big Ben.

We saw the great clocktower and the House of Parliament, snapped a few pictures, and then crossed the street to make our way to Westminster Abbey. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed in Westminster, so Google that. I marveled at what humans have accomplished. Maybe that’s corny, but standing under ornate gothic arches and such intricate ceiling design makes all of my life achievements thus far seem so insignificant. It’s hard to deny the existence of a God in the presence of such magnificent beauty. We saw the High Altar, where coronations and funerals, such as Princess Diana’s have taken place. We also saw the tomb of Queen Elizabeth I, the great patron of the arts, along with the tombs of many other royals, poets, and dignitaries, including Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, and Geoffrey Chaucer. At some point during each hour, the Abbey asks all guests to recognize a few moments of prayer. I can proudly say that I have prayed in Westminster Abbey.

Afterward, our legs were getting the best of us, so we walked home along the river to plan our next move and catch some rest. After a fabulous nap, we decided to do the London Eye, the observation wheel of Lon

The four of us went to the Harry Potter shop across the way and probably embarrassed ourselves, but I justified this to myself by thinking that I would never see these people again. We then walked a good bit to dinner and ended up at The Centre Page. If there ever was a quaint pub in London, this was it. It was a great relief to finally have American-sized portions of food at reasonable prices. I had a delicious rump pot pie in ale gravy. After we ate our dinner downstairs, we went upstairs to pay our tab. However, a strange man approached us and begin to talk to us, criticizing us for not being much “fun.” He volunteered to pay our dinner tab if we would do a shot with the bar crew, for which he was also going to pay for. Well, we certainly didn’t turn this down, it was almost a $70 bill. We all took some shots of Gold Schlagger and made our way home. There was a lot more to do tomorrow.

The first thing we all did the next day was meet up at King’s Cross Station. We had a near-scare when we couldn’t find Platform 9 ¾, but luckily a station worker knew exactly what we were looking for and pointed us in the right direction. A few corny pictures later, we were on way to Buckingham Palace. The palace is very similar to

the exterior of the White House, but more grey. We saw the guardsmen approach on horseback, and I saw one of the classic guards from afar. I couldn’t find one close enough to tickle, unfortunately.

I knew from some prior research that the Palace was open for exploration, but only for a few more days. I wanted to take advantage of it, so eventually we found the ticket office and bought some tickets to see the nineteen State rooms of the Palace. Again, no photography permitted. It was immaculate, to say the very least, but Leah perfectly described it as “gaudy.” Everything was excessive, exquisite, and gold. We were able to walk up the grand staircase, visit the throne room, music room, dining room, bal

lroom, drawing rooms, and the gardens. Afterward, we made our way over to the gift shop and spent a good deal of time and money purchasing some souvenirs. You could furnish a household with the goods they had there, so it was hard to choose. I decided upon a gold-rimmed shotglass to commemorate my twenty-first birth day.

Since the legendary Hyde Park was so close, we decided to hop on over and hunt down the infamous Peter Pan statue designed by JM Barrie, the author of Peter Pan. The walk there took us through rose gardens, lakeshore, and the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk. When we arrived at the statue, we took a quick rest and some more corny, touristy pictures, then headed off to our next destination, the Tower of London, which happens to be on the opposite side of London. Nothing much more to say about the Tower of London and the London Bridge, we took some pics outside of them, but our wallets and legs would not permit any further exploration. So, we had a nap time.

After nap time, it was time for the birthday festivities to begin. We dressed up in our finest black dresses and took the Tube over to Piccadilly Circus, London’s very own Times Square. The hustle and bustle was slightly overwhelming at first, but there was a huge sigh of relief when we spotted a T.G.I.Friday’s on the corner. A great American restaurant for a great American birthday. We ordered some drinks at the bar, and not the small kind. Usually, I’m pretty frugal, but I went all out and got a wonderful steak with peppercorn sauce. Somehow the girls managed to notify the server that it was my birthday and of course, they did the whole schpeel with me standing in the middle of the room and the embarrassing singing. But that’s quite alright because I got to make a wish on the birthday candle. Though, honestly, I couldn’t really wish for anything more than what I already have.

We meandered around until we found the club that had our reservations, Tiger Tiger. It was very posh and they even had security wanding people down and looking through purses. It turns out that cover charge was close to $17, even if we were on the guest list. I wasn’t about to drop that kind of cash, so we decided to look elsewhere. But, it turns out that $17 entry fee is pretty standard in London. We soon ran out of viable options and decided to just head back to the hostel, since we had a plane to catch early the next morning.

We accidentally bought a first-class ticket on the train to the airport and took full advantage of the empty cabin and spacious seating, though you’d think they’d at least serve a drink to make the difference in class a little more distinguished. Then we waited in line with hundreds of other people at the EasyJet check-in counter. We finally arrived in Copenhagen, found some lockers to stuff our luggage in, and headed out to explore the city.

Truthfully, I found Copenhagen to be very dreary, desolate, and slightly dingy. The architecture seems comparable to that found in Russian cities. Tivoli, the premiere amusement park, just happened to be closed until their Halloween festivities in a few weeks. So, we walked around for an hour or so and then anxiously went home to Odense. There was a toga party calling our name and friends we desperately wanted to see. Actually, Leah and I dressed up in togas and went downstairs to the bar. After peaking our heads in to discover that no one else had dressed up in togas, we ran upstairs to change into something sexier, laughing uncontrollably at ourselves. The rest of the night followed in much the same way.

I didn't necessarily know where to begin with this particular blog, so I have put off writing it for a few days or so. In that period of time, however, I have learned so much about the Danish culture that I'm afraid I will forget some of my observations if I procrastinate any longer.

I have only been in Denmark for 8 days, but they have been the most remarkable 8 days I can ever remember having. There have been many difficulties, some of which are the result of a lack of foresight, others that are pure happenstance, and then there are those that arise from moderate cultural dissonance. According to my good friend Leah, even buying shoes in Denmark can be an arduous task. Sometimes I find myself wishing for nothing more than to be at home eating my dad's tuna casserole, taking a hot shower, and climbing into an extra-large bed. Once these thoughts have penetrated my consciousness, I banish them. I am living a dream life here, and I only have four months to make the most of it.

I'm using my time here to improve myself, to indulge in every leisurely, productive activity possible. I find that I have an abundance of time, it's a luxury I never thought I would have again. It's something the Danes seem to value. I read philosophy, take long walks through the city, browse through art galleries, partake in yoga, and whatever else comes to mind on a whim. I'd really like to take some time to work on the piano in the main room of the building, since no one else seems to take advantage of it. The Danes, I've found, love to indulge in painting. They enjoy painting canvases and hang them in their personal spaces. I'm always very impressed with their artistic ability. I'd like to give it a whirl, though I may wait until I'm home, so I don't have to worry about transporting a masterpiece. ;)

What I admire most about Danish culture is their joie de vivre, their zest for life. They do not aspire beyond their means, they merely look to improve themselves through the arts, through their relationships, through their experiences. To the people of Denmark, trying and failing is exponentially worse that never trying at all. It's quite contradictory to American ambition. It is common, and perhaps expected, for a Danish high-school graduate to take a few years off to travel the world, and then return to study at a university. They are in no rush to grow old, to adapt to a life of convention and routine.

Success is rarely equated with material possessions, which may correlate with the mostly even distribution of wealth across the nation. Denmark, at one point a few years ago, was considered a classless society. To them, it is not considered "proper" for a distance of power (rich vs. poor) to exist. They are raised to believe that they are no better than anyone else, and it is evident in their daily interactions. The "garbage holder" has the same status as a "lecturer", so says my Danish professor.

And if my mother happens to read this, she can rest assured that this is a very safe country. People simply obey the rules, the norms, the laws. They are trusted. Pedestrians will not cross the road at 2am, even if there are no cars in sight, until the light turns green. Students are allowed to take the dishes out of the dining hall and are trusted to return them later. Beer is sold in the vending machines at the university, as well as in the movie theaters. Policemen do not patrol the streets regularly, rather they are called when needed, which seems to be a rare occasion. The first few days, I walked around with my purse tightly guarded. And although I'm still cautious and careful, I feel much more relaxed now. There is something to say about the lawfulness that a certain degree of trust provides. Mothers leave their children outside in strollers while they enjoy a nice lunch indoors. Speaking of mothers, it is illegal to slap your child here in Denmark, even on the bottom. It is something they consider "morally wrong" and children can bring their parents to suit over it.

Sounds similar to a utopian society, no? I can hardly think of any outstanding flaws. One interesting nuance, however, is that the word "please" does not exist in the Danish language. Instead of saying "please," they often form commands as a question, such as "Would you give me that bottle?"

Yesterday, in my Scandinavian literature class, our professor gave us a taste of Pico Mirandola's "Oration on the Dignity of Man." It has instantly become a staple of my personal philosophies. I went home and read the entire oration. I love being inspired by learning and my Danish classes thus far have been worth the three-mile bike rides in treacherous rain and wind. I'll share my favorite passage of Mirandola's piece:

"Adam, we give you no fixed place to live, no form that is peculiar to you, nor any function that is yours alone. According to your desires and judgment, you will have and possess whatever place to live, whatever form, and whatever functions you yourself choose. All other things have a limited and fixed nature prescribed and bounded by our laws. You, with no limit or no bound, may choose for yourself the limits and bounds of your nature. We have placed you at the world's center so that you may survey everything else in the world. We have made you neither of heavenly nor of earthly stuff, neither mortal nor immortal, so that with free choice and dignity, you may fashion yourself into whatever form you choose. To you is granted the power of degrading yourself into the lower forms of life, the beasts, and to you is granted the power, contained in your intellect and judgment, to be reborn into the higher forms, the divine."

Leah and I have become very close over the past week. It's such a comfort to have someone to relate to and someone who's willing to walk to get dinner at our favorite spot, The Take Away Shop. I'm happy to say that we will be traveling together during October break. Our plans are as follows:

Odense, Denmark > Hamburg, Germany > Berlin, Germany > Prague, Czech Republic > Munich, Germany > Zurich, Switzerland > Paris, France > Amsterdam, Netherlands

I'm still trying to figure out plans for September 26th weekend, it has to be somewhere cheap. We're thinking...London.

Anyway, the bar opened at 10pm and it's now 22:30 and I haven't even started getting ready. I'll leave you with a few little oddities and observations in list form.

1) The public bathrooms cost about .40 cents.

2) Portion control. A small coke at McDonalds is a little bigger than a juicebox, at least they don't put ice in it.

3) You can take smoke breaks during exams. Primarily because the written exams are 3-6 hours long. Professors (lecturers) have no problem exclaiming, "I need a cigarette!" in the middle of class and then excusing us for a fifteen minute break.

4) They sell jelly, but not peanut butter.

5) Lines and personal space don't mean as much over here as they do in America

6) Danes reallllly like the color purple. Perhaps because it is the color of royalty?

7) Yes, I do see a lot of Great Danes... in the park.

8) The stoplights turn also yellow before going green

9) Danes love to eat outside.