School canteen - guest post

Our school, like many schools, has a canteen/cafeteria. However, this is a rather small one, with a very limited selection. There are various meat dishes, which do not change day-to-day. There are also rolls, fruits, fruit leather, rice cakes, and a salad bar. Formerly, there were foods like fruit yogurt, cake, perhaps cookies, and occasionally rice pudding, but those foods have been eliminated due to their unhealthiness. This means that the canteen is no longer suitable for treats. However, this does fit well with their Nutrition and Exercise program. This is an interesting decision, although not one I personally agree with. However, I can see its appeal.

Easter holiday, random thoughts and pictures

I think we were the only people on the early morning ferry who weren't drinking beer or coffee.

This is a common ashtray in informal places.

The key at our hotel looked like a key from a collection.  It may not have provided the best security, but it was fun to use.

We were driving along listening to Sound of Music in Danish (!) when it was interrupted with a traffic report warning about a problem.  I wonder if it would have broadcast even if the radio/cd player had been off.

I think you had to be really skinny to work at the lighthouse.

The sign outside the nursing area at the science museum.

Notice that each horizontal layer has the bricks set in a different pattern.

In the center you can see the water worms (?) that were all over the beach.

Dogs were welcome at Legoland, as long as they were on a leash and didn't go on the rides.

Easter holiday, part five

We had one more day to fill and could have spent it in a museums, at the zoo (which was right across the street from the hostel), or just going home early.  The unanimous decision was to visit an indoor water park near Legoland, with a stop at an historic site first (not unanimous, but still a decision).

UNESCO's World Heritage List, which includes the Serengeti National Park and Great Wall of China, designated the Jelling monuments as the first of three Danish sites (the others are Kronborg Castle and Roskilde Cathedral).  The Jelling monuments consist of two burial mounds, two rune stones, and a church.

the lack of contrast makes it hard to see, but image being able to the design and runic letters

Here is a somewhat brief summary of the site.  The small rune stone was erected about 950 by Gorm the Old in honor of his wife.  The larger stone, often called Denmark's baptismal certificate, was erected by Gorm's son, Harald Bluetooth, and says, "King Harald made this memorial stone for Gorm, his father and for Thyra, his mother; that Harald who won the whole of Denmark and Norway and made the Danes Christian."  Just as Harald Bluetooth united the Danes and Norwegians, the Bluetooth technology unites electronics.  Their logo uses the runic alphabet for the letters H and B.


The stones are set next to a church built in 1811 and on either side is an enormous burial mound.  The mounds were excavated, but no human remains were found.  About forty years ago the church was excavated and they found remains of three earlier churches and the remains of Gorm the Old.  It was determined that Harald Bluetooth exhumed his father and reburied him in the church.

Across the street was a visitor center and a beautiful stone, which had been carved using replicas of historic chiseling tools.


Then we were off to Lalandia!  We didn't realize it was a whole complex with bowling, miniature golf, an arcade, fitness center, indoor playground, restaurants, and tons of shops.  We stuck with our original plan and headed to the waterpark.


I don't have pictures, but I can tell you it was great!  There was a wave pool, an indoor-outdoor jacuzzi, a circular lazy river with inner tubes (where some people swam with the current without a tube), a basketball area, an island with slides and squirters, and huge slides to use with huge tubes.  The kids were both tall enough to do all the rides on their own, but we went with them a lot of the time.  David and I did take some time just to sit and revel in the fact that we had reached the parenting milestone of not having to watch our kids every second.


There were a few things that made it different from the park we had visited in Erie, PA.  Just inside the locker room there are shelves for your shoes, which people use.  There is a playpen on wheels so you don't have to worry about your kid crawling away while you get dressed.  There were more playpens to use (free of charge) once you were inside the park.  Signs were posted about taking a thorough shower without swimwear before entering the pool, and people did!  The wristband that was issued when we paid could be used to open and close a locker an unlimited number of times.


As with Legoland, it was assumed that you would use common sense.  There was no lifeguard at the top of the slide telling you when to take your turn, but a red light that turned green.  Everyone I saw used the lights properly and I didn't hear a single whistle or disciplinary measure taken by the roving lifeguards.  It made for a low-stress, enjoyable day.


We finished trip with some ice cream and an uneventful drive home.  As always, it was good to go and good to get back.

Easter holiday, part four - guest post

Legoland Billund and Legoland California are rather different, although they have similar elements. For one, the focus is more on Miniland, and less on rides.

even Miniland has more bicycles (see Dutch train station in the foreground)

 In addition, many of the same types of rides have new themes. For instance, what is called The King's Gauntlet in California is called Power Buildersin Denmark. This is a ride where you sit down, and then get swung around in all directions. Also, their learn-to-drive program costs money (55 kroner~$10), perhaps because everything else car-related is expensive in Denmark. In Denmark, you may bring your own food to the park; in the US, this is forbidden (with a few exceptions). The overall feel of the park remains somewhat the same, although the Danish one seems to rely more on on common sense for safety, and less on avoiding ridiculous lawsuits. For instance, there is a train going around Miniland, and at the crossings, the presence of a train is indicated only by a flashing light. Also, there are fewer instructions on how to pull down a lap bar for rides. There are two characters outside Legoland to chat with: Chester the Jester, and a princess we did not get to meet. They will speak Danish, English, and possibly German. Descriptions in Miniland are in these 3 languages as well. In addition, body dryers are available for after some wet rides (20 kroner ~ $4), and they are definitely needed. 

people using the drying booth with an ad on the red sign that asks, "Have you become wet?"

We had a great time!

Easter holiday, part three

Even though we didn't have a ferry to catch it was hard to sleep in, but it was nice to read or explore without being in a rush.

in front of the museum

Our first stop was ARoS, an museum with art from Denmark's Golden Age, contemporary, and modern art. I wish had had more time to explore the art from the Skagen School artists, but I was glad to have seen a bit of the museum.

my boy with Ron Mueck's Boy

From there we walked to Den Gamle By, or The Old City.  The majority of the area was dedicated to 1887, with a smaller portion for 1927 and tiny bit for 1974!!  The last section was a big hit.

a scene from the section dedicated to 1927

I was sorry there weren't more people in period costume, but the one person we met was the ironmonger, who sold everything from tin toys to nails and more, like a brush for your dentures.

the ironmonger with his wares shown outside each drawer 

Another highlight was the garden of the pharmacist and the lab where the herbs and other ingredients were distilled and mixed.

not my photo, but it looked like this

The true highlight of the day was a visit with old friends from California, who are also on sabbatical in Denmark.  Not only did we appreciate their company, but also the fact that they live half a block from the beach.  The younger kids swam and played and the rest of us savored the spring sun.

playing on the beach at the Aarhus Bay

It was wonderful to talk with people who completely understood our daily lives, both the joys and struggles in Denmark, but also the logistics of being an expat.  It was a real hyggelig visit!

Easter holiday, part two

We were early for the ferry to Fynshav on the island of Als (far, far better than being late) and we had time to explore.  A. and I found a wooden playground and a little booth selling homemade jam.  We chose fig, which was not the world's best, but I didn't regret the purchase.

The next bit of serendipity was finding this cube in a traffic circle on the way to the science museum.  This cube was originally designed by Piet Hein in the 1980's and built in 2006 with funding from the Bitten and Mads Clausens Foundation with the goal of beautifying the area.

Here we are having fun before we even go in.  R. is trying to lift the car.  Notice the teeter-totters in use is off-center.  The flag in the background is at half-staff because it is a national holiday (Langfredag or Good Friday).

Danfoss Universe opened on 5/5/05 at 5:05 a.m. and was designed to increase children's knowledge of science.  I had been feeling as if I had my fill of science museums, but this was different.  It is set up like a campus and has many open-air portions, which helps spread people out and reduces the din found in other museums.  Like the Ithaca Sciencenter it has clever touches, like this sink.

sink with no front lip

In a move I have not seen in the U.S., dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash.  Dogs may not go inside the buildings so outside each one is a place to park your dog, complete with water bowl.

The kids have now been to science museums in the U.S., Canada, England, The Netherlands, and two in Denmark.

I hope you can see the different licorice sticks despite the funny shadows

We headed out-of-town and looked for a local ice cream shop, but did not find one.  We stopped at a rest area, complete with hiking trail.  I liked seeing the bulk licorice (different hygienic practices) and the ice cream was deemed acceptable.  We did not get food there, but noticed that it was made-to-order and served on ceramic dishes.

On to Aarhus, where we stayed at the hostel on the edge of town right in the middle of the woods.

reception building

our room is on the right with the curtains closed

three minutes from our door

What more could we ask for?

Påskeferie or Easter holiday

Since both school and work were closed (and there was no mail on Thursday, Friday, or Monday!) it seemed like an ideal time to explore a bit of Denmark.  There was no worry about all the Danes having the same idea because there aren't very many of them (about 5.5 million).

We rented a car using our U.S. driver's licenses, which cost about half the price they charge Danes.  Unfortunately, we had to pay the same price per liter of fuel, but we saved a bit of money by having a diesel car, which is more common in Europe.  I am grateful that we have a standard shift car at home because that is what is offered here.  

From Roskilde, which is on the island of Zealand(Sjaelland), we headed to Faaborg on the island of Funen (Fyn).   The thirteen-year-old bridge between the two islands saves a ferry ride and the toll of 220 kr (>$40) was less expensive than a ferry, but it was clearly a good idea that a credit card lane had been included at the toll booth.

a courtyard in Faaborg

Because we didn't get lost and there were no traffic jams we arrived well before the departure of our ferry from Funen to AEro.  We used our guide book's map and found a controversial sculpture in the town square and more art in a courtyard.  We admired the town church and wooden boats and enjoyed the unexpected visit before heading to the ferry.

After an uneventful crossing, made more pleasant by the warm weather and calm water, we found the narrow road to the northwest.  We had read that the lighthouse at the end was worth the drive.  

close up of the Fresnel lens

lighthouse and beach from the ferry

What we hadn't thought about was the beach that would be near the lighthouse, which was our second unexpected find of the day.  After initially sharing it with another family, they left and no one else joined us.  One boat and two kayakers passed by, but the rest of the time we heard only the lapping of the water.  Bliss.

We made our way to the town of AEroskobing, a port town known for maintaining its charming old homes, some dating back to the 1600's.  

click to enlarge and see that the date above the door is 1690

We found a picnic spot with a good climbing tree and then wandered around town, imagining what it would be like to live there.  

My favorite part was a path between some truly quaint backyards and the beach.  I loved getting a peek at the lives of the natives (their laundry, vegetable gardens, flower beds) and the people themselves.

Finally we headed to Marstal at the other end of the island and found our hotel, a simple place with shared toilet and shower facilities.  It was right across from the harbor and a short walk to town, where we found falafel for dinner.  Unfortunately, we were not able to visit the local solar thermal plant, which is the largest in the world.

We all agreed it was a fantastic first day of vacation.

Vacation preview

I really must do my Danish homework, but I couldn't resist a little post.  Here is a picture from our first destination, on the northwest tip of the island of Ærø.

What more could you ask for out of a trip?  We could have guessed there would be a beach by the old lighthouse, but we didn't know every rock on it would be the world's most beautiful rock and we didn't know the water would be so clear and calm.  We didn't know we would have the beach to ourselves, with the exception of a couple kayakers passing by.  We didn't know the weather would be absolutely perfect the whole trip.  It was a perfect start to a fantastic holiday.  More pictures and posts soon.

Names

Just as our names seem different to people here, most of the names of the parents and kids I meet are unfamiliar, or maybe I had seem them only in books.  The only Biblical names I have seen are Jakob and Sarah.

These are a few of the kids' names

Ida, Ester, Kamilla, Mie, Anne Sofie, Frederikke, Mathilde, Ulrikke, Emma

Anton, Sofus, Magnus, Marius, Lukas, Niklas, Gustav, Mads, Asger, Kasper, Frederik, Christian

Here are a few of the parents' names

Lars, Jens, Jesper, Mikkel

Mette, Ann-Dorthe, Kirsten, Birgitte, Anette

All forms require full middle names, which seemed odd to me until I realized that so many people have the same name.  Although the number is declining, many people still have last names ending in -sen and many people have traditional Danish names, often named after royalty.

Spring holidays

Easter is not as big as Christmas, but the stores are filled with candles, napkins, and items needed to have a beautiful table, or påskebordet.  Families gather for Easter lunch that is almost as big as Christmas lunch (several varities of herring, fish filets, salmon, egg & shrimp, chicken, lamb, or pork tenderloin, roastbeef, and cheese).  There are restaurants that serve the same meals and advertise Easter buffets, but they are not open on Easter. 

the snowdrop represents the first flower of the season

One Danish tradition is to make something resembling a paper cutting or snowflake and write a love poem on it.  Children often send them to their grandparents, but instead of signing it use a little code, like the number of dots corresponding with the number of letters in the child's name.  If the recipient can't guess who sent the letter, the sender receives an Easter egg.

The Sunday paper (a bit like the Parade magazine) reviewed 15 Easter beers, but I am not sure if that is as many as are made for Christmas.

chocolate soccer ball and cleats

I don't pay much attention to Easter items in the U.S., but I think these are unusual.

pre-filled Star Wars eggs, also available Hello Kitty eggs

The most significant difference I notice is that almost everything (grocery store, library, bank) is closed on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, and Easter Monday.  Many families hang out at their summer homes but don't take big trips.  The cycle of vacation days starts 1 May, so many people have used up their days by now.

It is telling that if you put easter and passover into Google Translate it returns the same word - påske.  If you capitalize the words then Passover comes out as Jødisk, or Jewish.  Knowing this, it will not surprise you that we found exactly one place selling matzah (maybe there is a place in Aarhus, also, but it is three+ hours away).

At the store there was matzah from three countries.  David chose the Israeli matzah.

    Dutch matzah - 155kr/$30 for 4.4 pounds

    Israeli matzah - 107kr/$20 for 4.4 pounds

    French matzah - 165kr/$31 for 2 pounds

I did find a horseradish root (peberrod) and beets.  The library system has some old haggadot, but we are using a photocopy of part of the haggadah we regularly use, Why on This Night by Rahel Musleah.

Next year in California?

Not another royal event

Through the university affiliated with David's lab I often receive emails about events that may be of interest.  The queen's birthday caught my eye because it was on a Saturday, a day we set aside for family adventures.  Tradition has it that she comes out on the balcony and waves to her loyal subjects.  Often her family joins her and I was curious to see her grandchildren after just watching the christening two days earlier.

notice flags on the bus in honor of Queen Margrethe II

Along with A.'s friend we bundled up and headed to Amalienborg Palace.  We took pictures with the guards and admired the setting, right on the water.

We gathered to watch the changing of the guard, patiently waiting for the guest-of-honor.  We were surprised to learn from a person in the crowd that the queen was at another palace, Marselisborg Palace in Aarhus.  If we had looked carefully at the flag flying above her wing of the palace we would have seen that her royal logo was not in the center, indicating that she was out-of-town.  It wasn't a total loss because it was fun to be part of the minor festivities and see somewhere new, but we didn't hang around.

We headed off to the Zoological Museum, which is one floor of a large building on Copenhagen University's campus.  For Easter there were hidden eggs along with a nice variety of natural eggs.  The room honoring Darwin was stunning with an enormous variety of skeletons and preserved animals.  A good time was had by all.

Religious proselytizing

I don't know if it is the law or just tradition, but last week I saw a man with a friendly smile standing along the main pedestrian street.  He was holding religious literature, but he wasn't calling out to anyone or shouting out warnings.

Today I saw a man and woman holding literature while they walked down the same street.  Again they were silent, just smiling at everybody.  I did not get close enough to see or ask what religion they were promoting.

I have seen two LDS missionaries, who invited me to a Danish class.  I passed.

I haven't had anybody at the door proselytizing, just asking for money for Red Cross-type organizations.

Royal event

Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, Christian, Isabella, and the babies-to-be-named

I am practicing my Danish as I watch the festivities leading up to den kongelige dåb (the royal christening).

The queen's firstborn son married a woman from Tasmania and they have a son and daughter.  Tradition says that the male first-in-line to the throne shall be named alternatively Frederik or Christian.  The queen's son is Frederik and therefore his son is named Christian.  There is not a tradition for the children who follow, but it was still a surprise when Christian's sister was named Isabella, which is not a traditional Danish name or even a royal name.  Frederik's wife gave birth to a boy and girl in January and today is the naming!   Will it be a royal name?  A traditionally Australian name?  Top predictions are for Ingrid and Valdemar.

Queen Margrethe II

A few thoughts
   +the guests look so normal - fancy clothing, but nothing like the Oscars
   +I wonder if any of the service will be in English to allow the Australian guests to understand it (assuming they don't understand Danish)
   +even though the event is not local, bakeries in Roskilde are selling dåbskage (christening cakes)
   +after the service the guests will be taken on a cruise to the palace where the reception is being held

The newly named Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine with their parents and siblings.

House names

I thought house names were exclusive to the UK, with a few exceptions.  Several houses near the fjord and scattered around Roskilde have names and I wonder if it is a more common tradition than I realized.

Strandlyst (click to enlarge)

Lindely

Fjordvang

Dally

Any suggestions for a name for this house?