Smörgåsbord: a type of Scandinavian meal in which all different kinds of dishes; a large heterogeneous mixture of things.
The post is kinda just one big Smörgåsbord containing the highlights of my past few days. On Wednesday night, the social program for CBS had planned an International Buffet night where everyone was asked to cook a meal that is traditional in their home country and bring enough for a few people to try. Even though I had just returned home from the grocery store and fully stocked with food that I could have brought, I and most other people decided that our groceries were going to be for our own pleasure only. However, rumor in the residence hall had leaked that the pizza place down the block was amazinggg and so the International Buffet was out, and pizza and beer were in.
The post is kinda just one big Smörgåsbord containing the highlights of my past few days. On Wednesday night, the social program for CBS had planned an International Buffet night where everyone was asked to cook a meal that is traditional in their home country and bring enough for a few people to try. Even though I had just returned home from the grocery store and fully stocked with food that I could have brought, I and most other people decided that our groceries were going to be for our own pleasure only. However, rumor in the residence hall had leaked that the pizza place down the block was amazinggg and so the International Buffet was out, and pizza and beer were in.
The funny thing is that almost every restaurant I have seen so far have either been Italian food, sushi, or Thai food. Regardless, whoever gave word about how good this pizza was is a godsend because it was honestly some of the best I have ever had. The entire restaurant is a small, cozy place that is run by a guy who seems a little bit bonkers but can sure whip up a serious pizza pie. A group of six American exchange students sat down at the table only to be greeted by a menu that was completely in Danish except for the words that aren't translatable from English. For example, the top pizza read "Margherita" and I was set. A few of the other kids were a little more adventurous and just kinda pointed to some word on the menu and hoped for the best but when our individual meals all arrived, no one was disappointed but rather quite the opposite. It was more like a few words were even spoken for the following 15 minutes because we just so enthralled by what we had just been presented with. The best part is that the restaurant offers a 10% student discount and not to mention the pizzas were huge which meant leftovers!
The rest of the night was spent hanging out "in res" as the Danish like to say which basically just means someone posts on our Facebook group to come hang out in their room and a few minutes later there are 30 students from all around the world conversing in a slew of different languages, drinking the preferred beverage of their country, and dancing to the funky mix that the DJ from Argentina has decided to blast through the speakers.
After a lovely nights rest, I awoke to an invitation to go with a group of people to watch the changing of the guards at the Amalienborg Palace. Anders had mentioned that going to see the "life savers" (the savers of the Queen's life?) was a cool thing to do and so I was excited. Apparently there is the main changing of the guards at noon but it also happens every two hours after that. A late start in the day got us there at two and it wasn't as big of a ceremony as I expected, especially after seeing the changing of the guards in London last Winter which a seriously big deal. None the less, it was very cool because without all the people we could literally stand in the middle of the palace and get an up close and personal view.
The rest of the night was spent hanging out "in res" as the Danish like to say which basically just means someone posts on our Facebook group to come hang out in their room and a few minutes later there are 30 students from all around the world conversing in a slew of different languages, drinking the preferred beverage of their country, and dancing to the funky mix that the DJ from Argentina has decided to blast through the speakers.
After a lovely nights rest, I awoke to an invitation to go with a group of people to watch the changing of the guards at the Amalienborg Palace. Anders had mentioned that going to see the "life savers" (the savers of the Queen's life?) was a cool thing to do and so I was excited. Apparently there is the main changing of the guards at noon but it also happens every two hours after that. A late start in the day got us there at two and it wasn't as big of a ceremony as I expected, especially after seeing the changing of the guards in London last Winter which a seriously big deal. None the less, it was very cool because without all the people we could literally stand in the middle of the palace and get an up close and personal view.
These guys looked like they meant business and so we were slightly intimidated to take pictures but this fine gentleman gave us a little nod when we held up our camera and kinda pointed so we gave it a go.
We are definitely planning to go back and try to watch the changing at noon because even if it is the exact same thing as what we saw, walking around town to get to the palace is half the fun and something that is never going to get old. There is so much beauty in this city and almost every building that you walk past is so intriguing.
Tesla shop just randomly in the middle of a street.
From the Metro station to Amalienborg you also pass Nyhavn Street. This canal street is one of the landmarks of Denmark and I can only wait anxiously for the warmer months when the sun is out and we can sit outside of the one of the little cafes to enjoy the scenery.
After our outing, we just returned home to get some basic housekeeping done which I have come to find for most just means finishing unpacking because after being here for six days you come to find that it just might be time to actually get your stuff out of your suitcase, napping, or just going for a beer run.
I have never really been one to nap but the Danes have a funny way of going out at night. Their typical routine:
8pm Dinner
10pm Go back to your home to get ready to go to a bar/discotek
11:30pm Leave for the Metro to go to the bar/discotek
12-6am Party
6:30am Go to Sleep
8am Wake up for work/school
Everyone from America here thinks it is purely ridiculous, probably because it actually is. Back to naps though- they are becoming more and more crucial to be able to keep up with this crazy breed of people. When you tell someone from Denmark, or almost any other country that is not the US, that in the States the last call at most bars is around two, they will laugh in your face. "Getting into the club at 2am is not even that weird." -Direct quote from one of the students here from Argentina. I guess America needs to start stepping their game up.
Social night number four was bar night! The program had reserved Grock, a local bar, for the exchange program and their buddies. Anders just finished his exams yesterday afternoon and had warned me that he was finally going out and had every intention of "drinking me under the table".
Mom, Dad, no this did not happen. I promise.
I have never really been one to nap but the Danes have a funny way of going out at night. Their typical routine:
8pm Dinner
10pm Go back to your home to get ready to go to a bar/discotek
11:30pm Leave for the Metro to go to the bar/discotek
12-6am Party
6:30am Go to Sleep
8am Wake up for work/school
Everyone from America here thinks it is purely ridiculous, probably because it actually is. Back to naps though- they are becoming more and more crucial to be able to keep up with this crazy breed of people. When you tell someone from Denmark, or almost any other country that is not the US, that in the States the last call at most bars is around two, they will laugh in your face. "Getting into the club at 2am is not even that weird." -Direct quote from one of the students here from Argentina. I guess America needs to start stepping their game up.
Social night number four was bar night! The program had reserved Grock, a local bar, for the exchange program and their buddies. Anders just finished his exams yesterday afternoon and had warned me that he was finally going out and had every intention of "drinking me under the table".
Mom, Dad, no this did not happen. I promise.
Anders was not hesitant to buy a few rounds though, which is always appreciated considering the steep prices of drinks here in Denmark. It is also a very common thing for Danish men to buy way more shots than they could ever possibly finish because they say it is a good way to make friends when you give out the extras. Brilliant. Did I mention this is the happiest and nicest country ever?
Also, note the color of the liquor in those glasses. The dark, tar-like color is not a product of bad lighting but the actual color of the alcohol. It has a taste that is a weird combination of licorice and cinnamon- don't even start to think about Fireball because NO- and I would not recommend it to anyone.
Also, note the color of the liquor in those glasses. The dark, tar-like color is not a product of bad lighting but the actual color of the alcohol. It has a taste that is a weird combination of licorice and cinnamon- don't even start to think about Fireball because NO- and I would not recommend it to anyone.
Anders!
Overall, the last few days have been just dandy. In addition to all the great fun, I had quite the exciting morning after realizing that my ethrenet cord is long enough to be able to stretch to my bed so I no longer have to blog while sitting at a desk but can while laying in bed with my airplane pillow comforting my neck. Be jealous. However, the sun is currently shining here in Copenhagen and it is the first time I have even seen blue skies since my arrival so I am pulling myself out of my cocoon to go enjoy it.