La Favorite

Today was one of those perfect sounding Sunday's when planned and it turned out to be even better when experienced. The sun was shining in the Hagen, which always puts everyone in a good mood, and the plan was to visit Denmark's oldest confectionery for coffee and cake before watching the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's at the Film Institute. We topped it off with an impromptu stroll through the Botanical Gardens which was the icing on the cake.

La Glace is one of those places you walk by and admire from the outside that lives up to all of your expectations when you finally make it inside. It has a friendly staff, a quaint atmosphere, and cakes and confections galore. Even though I have lived in Europe for a year and a half, I was overwhelmed with how quintessential European this little place really was. From the cramped space, to the vintage photographs on the wall, to the old school water fountain, to the antique coffee pot, everything had an element of history and intrigue.

The place was founded in 1870, but who knows how long the building has been there. Even though it was 3pm on a Sunday afternoon, when most Danes are at home enjoying their families, and 99% of all businesses in Denmark are closed, a stream of people, young and old, tourist and resident, were waiting to be seated or waiting to get inside. We lucked out and found a table as soon as we walked in the door, and took our time soaking up the delicious atmosphere and fantastisk company.

La Glace is definitely one of my favorite places so far in Copenhagen and today was another great memory to add to the list of life in Denmark.

Memories of Rhoni

The purpose of this blog is to write about my life in Denmark. However, every once in a while something so important happens in your home country that it is all you can think about. That for me over the past couple of weeks has been about praying for justice and peace for my cousin Rhoni. I have no doubt that Rhoni has been at peace for the last 3.5 years, as that is just the sort of person she was, but I think her soul would rest a little bit easier knowing that her Mom and Dad and brothers can finally begin to heal.

Memories of her have come flooding back over these past couple of days and my first thought was to write them down in a paper journal, as I did before I moved to Denmark and began writing about my life online. Then I thought, how liberating it would be for others to have a chance to know her, how I knew her. Not as the victim or woman portrayed to be hopelessly in love with a local hero, but as a phenomenal, striking, amazingly beautiful personality of her own.

We were always family, but we became friends shortly after I moved to Chicago in 2001. She had lived there for nearly a decade before I moved to the city, and was many years older, but that didn't stop her from seeking me out and becoming like a big sister to me over the next 8 years. We would meet for brunch or lunch and keep up with each others lives via email throughout the years. We didn't have a regular meeting schedule, but always knew when it was time to see each other again. When we did meet, I was always blown away by her beauty. She radiated it inside and out. The sort of person that you stop and stare at when she walks into a room. People would literally ask me who she was, when we were out together. I'm not sure she ever knew that.

We shared stories of family. She told me I had my mother's eyes and I told her she reminded me of my sister Renee. She told me of her dreams to go into fashion while I was just beginning to figure out mine. The more we talked, the more we realized how similar we were. She was reading about the "Blood Type" diet at the same time I was. We both believed in the benefits of using natural products and eating organic foods. But the one thing that stays with me in our last conversations was our shared belief in a higher purpose, energy, or spiritual realm. A way of living your life where you focused on the good and brought those positive things into your life.

She was in a really good and happy place before she left us. That is the one comfort that I go back to again and again. I hope that good place stays with her in the next realm, and I pray her family can find it again after enough time goes by on earth.

Concert at Christiania

I was lucky enough to have been recently invited to a concert in Christiania, a "freetown" in the middle of Copenhagen with a hippie vibe, featuring an Afro beat band called "Who Are You People." It was one of those nights where everyone smiled at you and the mood was completely chill.

It could be said that the location of the concert, or the mood of the music, or whatever was floating in the air that night, might have had something to do with the 'relaxed' vibe everyone was feeling, but it could also have been one of those nights where people were just a little bit kinder to one another, or a combination of all of the above.

Either way, it was a breath of fresh air and for a second I thought I was back in Madison, Wisconsin attending the "Berkley of the Midwest", dancing to Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans at the Crystal Corner. Which, for those that have no clue what I am talking about, means I was surrounded by good people and good music and "life was good." It was nice to feel that familiarity again, if only for one night, in my new country of residence.

Fastelavnsboller

I've lived in Denmark for 18 months now and this is the first time I have heard of Fastelavn. It's a carnival or special time of year when children (and adults) dress up in costumes and get candy and oranges by hitting a wooden barrel (similar to a piñata) with a black cat painted on the outside. In the old days a black cat actually used to be inside the barrel and was thought to ward off evil spirits.

Sounds a lot like Halloween in the States to me, except there is not a delightfully delicious pastry to go along with the event called a Fastelavnsboller. (Which is so Danish!) And one of the reasons I love living here. The bakeries and the pastries and wonderful customs that are still celebrated even though no one actually knows why at times.

Fastelavn also comes at the same time of year as Mardi Gras which is a big carnival in New Orleans, that is celebrated all over the States. In French it means Fat Tuesday which is the last day of feasting on rich foods and drink before fasting for Easter begins on Ash Wednesday. Even though Denmark is not a religious country, it's comforting to know that similar traditions are an annual calendar event here as well.

Cabin Fever

Right about now I would be booking and/or taking my Mexican vacation if I were gainfully employed and still living in the US. When you are from a part of the country like the Midwest that begins winter in October or November and ends in March or April you need to get that dose of Vitamin D in January or February to keep you going until Spring. So what does one do when the situation has changed from fully to partially employed (on the other side of the world) and I have my nose in the books the other half of the time? Book summer vacation!!

Alas, the picture of Nice, France where we will be spending my first few days of freedom once the Spring semester breaks for Summer vacation in June. Not to mention, our second wedding anniversary which is the icing on the cake, but the ice cream on the side, is the fact that I get to see a good friend I met in Danish class from the South of France, whom I adore.

Next trip for the summer will be with my parents to the Netherlands to trace the family heritage which will be monumental. Particularly since we will be driving through Germany and taking in the countryside along the way. I can hardly wait for July!

Last, but not least, my dear, dear friend Lori Ann will be visiting me in Copenhagen to end the summer on a sweet note. August simply can't get here soon enough!

En Rigtig Fest

This past weekend my Svigerfar (or Father-in law) turned 60 and him and 40 of his closest friends got together for dinner, singing, and dancing.

This was my first 'rigtig' or real Danish birthday party where songs are written especially for the occasion and man of honor. There were three songs written in total and several speeches and laughs along with food and drinks galore.

My favorite part of the night however was when the lights turned low and all the couples got out on the dance floor. I felt like I was watching my parents back in the days when they first met and I realized that soon I would not be able to witness parties such as these as this is not the stuff of my generation.

Couple dancing, like I saw on Saturday must have died somewhere with the later generations. My parents are in their 70's and my husbands parents and friends are in their 50's and 60's but my oldest brothers and sisters who are in their 40's don't dance like this, and never have to my knowledge. That tells me that those born in 1960 and above dance to a different tune.

That's cool that the later generations march to the beat of their own drum and all, but sometimes you just want someone you can dance with.

Home Team in a Foreign Land

This year I watched the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl with a movie theater filled with Danes. I knew American football had a following in Denmark, but I had never anticipated how large that following actually was.

Since the game started at midnight on this side of the pond, the evening began with a movie at 9pm. We watched the Oscar nominated film The Fighter about an American boxer from Massachusetts and then it was game time. With popcorn and Budweiser in hand, we settled in for 3-4 hours of my home land's national winter past-time.

The theater was 60% Packer fans, 40% Steeler fans by the sounds of the cheers and an exciting game from the start. Even though it was nearly 3am at half-time I was amazed at how awake I was, but coffee was still a nice and necessary treat. Soon it was over and at 5am I found myself riding the Metro home with other Super Bowl fans, ready to get some rest and get back on local time.