The first full week of classes is coming to an end.

On Monday, I finished my last class at 14:35 (2:35 in American), did some homework for Tuesday. And was at a loss for how I should spend all this free time we apparently have. Mom challenged me with an indoor activity of identifying all of the things on this tea towel.

Can be purchased at http://ow.ly/I8ELs

From top left moving clockwise there is Little Mermaid and allusion to the ports. Top-middle: Christiansborg (Parliament). Christiansborg houses all branches of Denmark’s government – Parliament, the Monarch, and the Justice System. Royal Opera House or Playhouse known as Skuespilhuset. A bus that represents the public transportation system. Danes use trains, buses and the metro. One-third of the population rides bikes. Nyhavn  (pronounced Newhown), iconic because of the colorful rows of houses. Today Nyhavn 17 is a restaurant. No. 9 is the oldest house in the area dating back to 1681, and Hans Christian Andersen lived in no. 20, 67 and 18.Bottom-middle depicts Amalienborg (Royal Palace) and guards who look like the British ones outside Buckingham Palace. The changing of the guard happens daily at 11:30am.The Royal Family is the head of the highest order of Denmark, the Order of the Elephant. You will see them wearing an elephant chain and pendant for major events. Lastly, in the bottom left corner, an unnamed building/unrecognizable to this viewer.

Yesterday was my first real day with nothing scheduled. Usually on Wednesdays we have field studies around the city. I ventured to the Statens Museum for Kunst, the National Gallery of Denmark and the Royal Library, known as The Black Diamond. You might find me reading and/or writing there for the next couple of months.

We’ve decided to end this week with an adventure. Traveling by train, boat and foot, we plan to make a loop Around the Sound to visit Malmø and Helsingbørg in Sweden, return to Denmark in the north at Helsingør and then back to København. We are trusting people of the internet and our few attempts to ask questions. I’m excited.

More comments/observations:
– Bike riding is huge here. Bikers ride in designated bike lanes between the pedestrian sidewalks and the bus lanes and follow the rules of traffic lights (there are smaller lights posted in the bike lanes.) I have yet to be hit, though there have been a few close calls. I haven’t taken to two wheels (yet).
– I’ve embraced wearing all black. Black pants, black shirt, black shoes. Black-and-white scarf. People smile when I respond to their Danish with “I’m sorry. I only speak English.” I am taking Danish language lessons.
– When Danes want to get off the bus but they are sitting by the window, they just fidget with their bag handles or make a little noise to signify that the bus is approaching their stop. Some non-Danes interpret this as rude behavior. In reality, small talk does not exist here and many Danes think Americans talk too much. I am not aware of a Danish word for please and people don’t really say excuse me (undskyld).
– I’m loving my Royalty class. I intend on becoming a princess. As a woman, if I marry the Crown Prince, I can assume the title Queen when he becomes King. However, a man who marries the Crown Princess can never be called King. Unfortunately for me, both of the Danish princes are accounted for in marriage… Sources tell me the princesses are pretty great.  

L to R Princesses Marie and Mary with elephants       and tiaras. Photo courtesy of Hello magazine          03 JANUARY 2014

Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark