Solstice

from the weather page

Hurray - the days will start getting longer now, but the sun isn't melting the snow and the city is running out of ice for the bike paths.  It has been challenging, but our bike handling skills are improving.

The bike path is in the center with the plow tracks, to the right is the sidewalk, which some cyclists have started using because they are in better shape than the paths.

Although today was the darkest day, the sun was shining on the white snow and people seemed cheery as they did their shopping.

Do you see the clothing in the lower left corner of the photo?  The stores have their clothing out all the time and when it rains or snows they put little plastic covers over it.  I understand that, but people stand around smoking and looking at clothing, which strikes me as bad for business.

Candy

Thanks to the generosity of a dinner guest (who didn't even make it to dinner - have I mentioned we have had a lot of snowstorms?), we were all set to make candy.

before

At this time of year there are logs of marzipan of different colors and many kinds of nougat for sale, along with chocolate and decorations.  We used recipes from Odense, the marzipan company, but they were more of assembly instructions.

during

We did not have decorations, but the results still looked good and tasted fantastic.  R. knows what she wants to do for her next party.

after

Field trip

All schools must be close to bus stops or train stations because I see the kids use them and have yet to see a school bus.  The most amazing group of kids (and teachers) I saw were sitting outside in the sub-freezing weather having their picnic lunch.

Today R. and A.'s entire school walked to the cathedral for a Christmas event (not a service, I was told many times) and filled almost all the seats.  Despite that, it was fairly chilly inside because they didn't build it with heating vents, R. pointed out.  A. said they had humongous bells that rang for a long time and were so loud that you could barely hear anybody singing.  They sang in Danish, of course (although the non-religious songs all seem to be in English).  Afterward they went out the gate that had been unveiled by the queen.

I am interested in learning more about the priest's collar.

Fun and games

A. has been a fan of tiddly winks and soccer/football and recently found an entertaining combination called Flick Ball (instead of football).  According to this link it first came out about 45 years ago by Alga, a Swedish toy company.

The little white disk is the soccer ball to be used like a tiddly wink with the feet of the players (held in the hand of the child)

Ta da!

This post is written by someone who has passed her Module 1 Danish test! 

I was quite nervous even though this was only a 10-15 minute oral exam that focused on basics like time, space, family, and hobbies.  We were required to read three beginner-level Danish books and prepare a one-minute book report.  We also had to prepare two one-minute talks about general topics (our everyday life, our family).  From these five speeches one was chosen randomly, the talk was given, and the examiner asked questions (What happened at the end of the book?  What would you do if you were in that situation?  Why was he late?).  Next we were shown a picture and we had to ask questions (Is it fall or spring?  How old is he?  Are they married?  How many people do you see?).  It sounds so easy when I write it now, but it took a lot of preparation.  It definitely helps to practice with the store clerks and afterschool pedagogues, until they lose patience and switch to English.  Our next exam will have a written part and spelling counts!  We are also supposed to be able to have the pitch and rhythm to the language.  I will try not to worry ahead of time.

Saint Lucia

After A.'s class had a 7 a.m. breakfast together (traditional bread, butter, jam, chocolate, and cheese - bring your own coffee) the kids (and only almost no parents) went off to watch the Saint Lucia procession, a tradition started in Denmark in 1944.  Thirty girls wearing white dresses and silver headbands (no red sash) walked in while carrying candles, with two of the girls also wearing a crown of (electric) candles.  Sitting in the dark watching and listening to the girls walk in was moving, but it was a little jarring when they switched to, "We wish you a merry Christmas," in English.  They sang several more songs, both in English and Danish, before some other kids joined in on the keyboard and drums.  On 15/12 the afterschool program will have a similar event and I think that one will involve more sweets.

A library mystery

Downtown is a department store with an enormous set of windows.  Facing the walking/cycling street are the traditional mannequins, but along the breezeway is a series of promotions done by the library.  One window has books about knitting and some yarn, another has travel guides and a map.  One window has this poster, which says, "Fake or facts - sinister, crazy, scary facts from around the world," and in larger green letters says, "Another world."  I get the paper in another language, the aliens, a UFO, but the Cleveland baseball team's logo?  Any ideas?

Still more Christmas

At the Viking Museum the Christmas tree was decorated with many handmade ornaments.

a small Viking ship

cookies usually go in here

woven Christmas hearts are common and often contain nuts and candy

these look a lot like Viking shields

Danish Christmas star

More weather

off to the library and grocery store

Two years ago there was very little snow, but last year was cold enough to allow skating on the fjord and snowy enough to deplete the snow-removal budget and salt stores.  This year has proven even snowier, and it isn't even mid-December.  The good news is that fresh snow covers all the dirt and makes the dark days a little brighter.

the view from the library

Snacks

It doesn't matter that school gets out at random times because parents do not pick up children after school.  Kids about 10-13 years old take themselves to a club off-campus and parents pick them up there.  Older kids hang out with friends or go home to an empty house.  Younger kids go to an afterschool program (SFO - Skolefritidsordning) on campus and parents pick them up later in the afternoon. 

Around 2pm one of the kids goes around and rings a bell announcing that snack is ready.  I am fascinated by the Danish snacks.  Here is a little list -
  1 rice cake, 2 apple slices, 2 orange slices
  1 cracker, butter, and thin slice of chocolate
  roasted potato with side of ketchup
  2 crackers, 2 large slices of cucumber
  pasta with choice of pineapple or tuna fish
  your choice of corn flakes, oat flakes, raisins, and milk
  hot dog in a mini-bun (or just the bun)
  1 piece of chocolate, 1 orange
  applesauce with cream and jam
  SFO-made rolls with butter and jam

Firsts

In the past couple weeks I have seen three firsts, in random order -
    a bumper sticker
    an obese person
    a Subaru station wagon

I have yet to see -
    an umbrella stroller
    a hummer
    a personal snowblower

Here I see more -
    fur coats
    runners with reflective gear
    Wii (in most homes, in the library, at work, at the afterschool program)
   

Another mystery

This picture was taken in the short period after all the leaves had fallen but before the first snow.

About a block from our house is a street that leads down to the fjord and the main road north out of town.  Just before you get there you pass this magnificent house, which is labeled Haraldsborg, although it is not the fortress from 900 years ago.  What is odd is that this house is on Baldersvej (Buttocks Street?), not on our street, Haraldsborgvej.  We have no idea about the house's history, but currently it seems to be a group home or maybe individual apartments.

Winter

It is definitely warmer, as you can tell by the clear roads and paths, but it was still chilly (below freezing).  This picture was taken on our street while cycling home from the library.

1 December

I still haven't heard much about St. Nicholas Day or St. Lucia, but the first of December in school was all fun.  Robin took a small gift to school, which was added to the class advent calendar and each day a different student gets to take a gift home.  The class will have secret nisser/elves, which is a new concept to my kids.  The good news is that she can leave the gift by his cubby instead of figuring out which tall, lanky boy with short hair wearing a bjorn sweatshirt is the one she is assigned.  Arlo's class has an advent calendar made by their big buddies and each day they burn part of the advent calendar.  They will bring in a small gift just before Christmas vacation and have some sort of party.  In a few weeks the whole school will go to the cathedral to sing carols and to hear the Christmas story (no sermon), although it is not mandatory.

Meeting Denmark

Our event hosted by relocare

The Danish government has done research showing that it has been losing money because it invests in new hires only to have the people leave before the government's investment is returned.  Their solution has been to increase activities for expats and hold seminars to teach people about Danes and how to adapt.

Our family was invited to a two-day seminar in Køge.  Here is my first hint for the government.  Hold the meeting in an easier-to-pronounce place so that when Danes ask where I am going I don't have to mumble or stutter, have them say the correct pronunciation, repeat it, and have them laugh.  I suggest Vig or Lund.  How hard could those be to pronounce?


The first leg of our trip was also a challenge.  We arrived at the station in the blowing snow and sub-freezing temperatures to find that our train had been cancelled.  I was concerned because in Denmark a meeting is said to start at a specific time, that is what they mean.  On the other hand, if you call and tell them your train is cancelled, they understand.


The kids were excited to take a taxi to the hotel (because we were late) and to learn that the nanny was young, energetic, and had brought her netbook.  One highlight for the adults was meeting the other expats from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Iran, Italy, and China.  Another highlight was having someone else cook for us!  We had a chance to have ris á l'amande, a rice pudding taken from the French.  Although it wasn't done at the hotel, it is traditional to hide a whole almond in one serving and the person who finds it receives a gift.

Typical hotel room in Køge

What seems normal to people here (and the Germans at the meeting) is that the hotel rooms had two single beds pushed together.  I don't need to get into my personal life, but it seems odd to me.

Walking to the beach (look carefully to see the flag)

No skinny dipping today

Even though the weather was not great for swimming (windy and -5C), we did take a walk to the beach.

Not only are there flags everywhere, there seem to be orphan bicycles everywhere, too.

If the course had been taught the first week we arrived it would have been more useful, but I was happy for the chance to see somewhere new, meet new people, and to be by the water.

A miracle!

At the end of the driveway we often have puddles, but since it has been so cold they are frozen solid.  Arlo was excited to be able to walk on them and declared that he can walk on water.  I have thought so all along.