I am safe. My friends are safe. DIS is safe. The city felt strange yesterday after the Saturday afternoon and night shootings. Sundays are generally quieter than other days of the week, but yesterday was especially eery and empty. There are police with big machine guns around Nørreport Station, nearby the synagogue (the second shooting), and I heard a helicopter last night. There are more sirens than I’ve been used to. Overall, though, the Danes and the DIS students are continuing their lives normally, slightly more conscious and alert. I’m interested in observing the unfolding of dialogues and dynamics throughout the city this week. A lot of the talk mentions that “both of the attacks were targeted.” These were not random. My EP professor talked with us briefly this morning in class, saying that for the moment, the political conversation surrounding this event is one about community and solidarity rather than politics. He foresees politicized discussions about tightening border control and limited travel to Syria as a result of these attacks. The fact that only two people died, plus the assumed shooter, significantly reduces the anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiments, he thinks. And let’s remember that the shooter was born and raised in Denmark, was known to police for previous criminal activity and was recently released from prison.

I titled this post Vi er Danskere which means We are Danes because the French newspaper, Libération published a story about Copenhagen on the front page of the print edition this morning, the headline Vi er Danskere in Danish, not French. European countries display solidarity in light of Charlie Hebdo last month.

On Krystalgade, outside The Copenhagen Synagogue in the wake of yesterday’s shootings #JegErDanskere #JegErCharlie

On a lighter note, the other night I gave a restaurant host my name, Sophie. He looked at me, looked to Grace, and asked for her name. I must have made a face, confused as to why he needed both of our names. He said he already had a “Sophie or two” on the list. I forget that Sophie is a common name in Denmark. A really common name. On the first day of my Royalty class, our professor, Steffen, told us he likely would not remember our names unless they were Frederik or Sophie. Check mark for me and kudos to my parents for picking a Danish royal name. Hence, the existence of many Sophie’s in Denmark.
The Queens:
Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, married to Frederik II
Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg, married to Frederik III
Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, married to Christian VI
Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, married to Frederik, Hereditary Prince of Denmark

I don’t have tissues in my room. I also haven’t noticed them around school or in the markets.

I’ll continue to be in touch as I can. Stay informed, stay safe.