denmark- the cultural phenomenon

If you live in Denmark, if you've visited Denmark, you've undoubtedly heard of Nik & Jay. In fact, mentioning Nik & Jay to a Danish person illicits a very polarized response ("Oh man, they are SO bad" or "ZOMG i LUV Nik & JAY"). Some of my personal bias may show through in their description, but they're a talentless Danish rap duo with egos large enough to fill the arenas they grace with their presence. I vowed never to go see them on principle. Yet go I did, and I was astonished.

They were playing at Tivoli, the famed amusement park in the heart of downtown Copenhagen, as part of their summer concert series. I had been to see another band play there when I was in Copenhagen last spring, and it was pretty standard procedure. Go to park box office, purchase ticket, walk in. When I arrived 2 hours prior to showtime last night, a slightly different scenario greeted me.

The line for tickets seemed to extend in perpetuity down the sidewalk, 10 people wide. When we tried to identify the end, we were directed around the corner 2 city blocks down, where the line continued for at least half a block. I gave up, beaten and befuddled by the cultural phenomenon that is Nik & Jay. But, on a positive note, I think I may have learned why folks in Copenhagen are consistently dubbed the happiest people on Earth: when something goes wrong, you can always find solace in the fact that you live in one fantastic city.

Music: Nik & Jay- I Love ya

diversion #2- money

My stipend: 7820 kroner ($1506)/month
My Danish taxes: 45% plus 25% VAT on all purchased items
US tax rate on same income: 15% plus 6.75% state sales tax

Now, common costs:
My half of the rent: ~5000 kroner ($975)/month
Beer at a bar/restaurant: $7-$9
Big Mac Meal: $13
Cafe Mocha, large: $7.50
16.9 oz coke at 7-11: $4.20
Used bike (fair condition): $180


In other news, I'm looking for a student job.

denmark- the dawn of FSM

Well introduction week began for my program on Friday, and through the events so far I've been able to discern a few things about my program:

1. I go to a modeling school. Everybody in this program looks like they jumped out of a Ralph Lauren catalogue. Names include: Magnus, Lars, Fabio, Christian, Cristian, Kristian, Fabian, Frederik and Ben.

2. Danes love to drink. Every social event includes alcohol...teambuilding exercises, dodgeball, sunbathing at the beach, even bowling.

3. I'm the only American. The American, as the Danes say. Let's hear it for preconceived socio-cultural stereotypes...

I found a place to live, although I can't move in until September 1st. As you can see, brand new, lots of space, clean. It works for me!

Music: Kanye- Good Life

diversion #1- ode to my fresh whip

Uh. Uhhh. Can I get a beat ch'all?

Turn my headphones up.

Go grab your lady, getcha fellas

I'm droppin a fly new joint gon' make Kanye jealous

See I love the CPH but y'all know what's whack?

170% on cars, yeah boy, that's the tax

But y'all ain't gotta worry, put away that frown

Ya boy here still got the freshest set of wheels in town

See you'll never hear me comin' and like that i'm gone

Pimpin up and down these streets on my Centurion

Come on.

7 speed transmission, seat's all leather

let's go y'all, put those hands together

front and rear fender

bask in its splendor

for 900 kroners in Danish legal tender...tender...tender

denmark- the grand arrival

NEW LOCATION: COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Oh Copenhagen, how could I not love you? Your classic European architecture, immaculate harbor-fronts, grand opera house, and Bjorn Borg underwear hit me in all the right places. Coming out of the metro stop at Kongens Nytorv made me feel like I'd never left. There was still the opulent Hotel D'Angleterre right past the steps, with its 3 Danish flags bristling in the breeze. Jan's hot dog cart stood on its familiar corner, with the usual group of tourists around it wondering just how bad for you a bacon-wrapped bratwurst covered in mayo could be. Welcome home.

We arrived on Saturday, so Monday was spent walking around the city dealing with administrative matters and cleaning up after the abominable business school administration. The errands were far from golden, but at least the city provided a silver lining: every sidestreet, every wrong turn is unique and photogenic. Not to mention I've been trying for ages to find a restaurant that, in my opinion, truly encapsulates the Danish gastronomic experience. Thanks to my jaunt around the town, I found one.

iceland- on top of the world

8/16/09

It helps to know people. This morning our hostel desk clerk agreed (thanks, I'm sure, to our dashing good looks and American accents) to drive us to a nearby town to go hiking through volcanic fields. What an experience. Through an arduous and entirely uncharted hike we arrived at the peak of a nearby mountain, which offered almost unlimited visibility.

The bus to the airport arrived at 4:30 in the morning. The bars stayed open until 6. Savant I am not, but that math adds up favorably. The most important number of the evening, however, was 7, the number of dollars required to purchase a pint of beer. Economists studying the root of the country's financial collapse need look no further than here. Still, in many ways, the trip provided a very good picture of Iceland...

Music: Sigur Ros- Track 4 from ( )

iceland- where fond farewell meets new beginning

NEW LOCATION: REYKJAVIK, ICELAND

8/15/2009

Who knew a mere 4 1/2 hours on a plane bound from New York took you from temperate deciduous to volcanic void? I didn't. The barren feeling of a country the size of England with 1/200th of its population was underscored by our 11:50 pm arrival at an airport missing not only people, but all of my luggage. Who knew an Icelandic August could be colder than hell? I didn't, but I sure do now.

8/16/09

We spent the morning doing an unofficial self-guided walking tour of the city, witnessing several local attractions. Blondes, mostly. In all seriousness though, it's very easy and interesting to see how the modern city evolved from what I'm sure was at one time a small whaling outpost.
Though difficult to really articulate, the flat landscape and absence of buildings above 4-5 stories gives the impression that the sky is so much bigger than the city. I can't say I've felt that elsewhere. Of note: the local store for mature women, "sexy grandma," can turn flab and cellulite into covered flab and cellulite. Marked improvement!

That night, we went to Iceland's arguably most famous attraction, the blue lagoon. The water is actually runoff from a nearby geothermal power plant, and is a cloudy carolina blue. The minerals bleach the surrounding igneous rock chalky white. Since the water stays around 100 degrees (38 c) year-round, Icelanders spend the winter months bathing in both the water and perpetual darkness, staving off the bone-chilling cold and inclination to take their own lives.

Music: Death Cab- Transatlanticism