Well, I started a blog on blogger.com, but apparently some websites aren't really compatible to my Danish internet. So, I shall now continue my journey!
*Back track to yesterday, 24/8*
Today I went on an urban awareness scavenger hunt! I'm actually really glad I got to do it because I now realize doing one in Philadelphia for new students is probably a bad idea. It was nerve-wrecking not knowing where to go on top of a time constraint AND having to shop for groceries. But, it ended being a good experience! My group was pretty awesome.
We started our journey at Amalienborg Casttle, where the royal family lives. We met up with a professor from DIS and he told us a bit about where we were. Queen Margrethe II is, quite obviously, only the 2nd queen Denmark has had. When her father died, the next male in line for the crown was a cousin that the Danes did not know. Rather than let a stranger in position, they made an exception to the rule and made Margrethe the Queen, at the time 32. Also, the design of the buildings represents architecture of France, a round arrangement reflecting a statue of the King in the center. At one end of the axis is a church (God), then the statue (King), and then the canal (eternity). However, a few years ago the wealthiest man in Denmark decided to give Copenhagen its own opera blocking the view of the canal from this area. Hennig Larsen worked on this project, but ended up leaving because he did not like it.
Next we ventured to Kongens Nytrov, the King's New Square. From here we could see the Royal Theater (Det Kgl. Teater) and the Charlottenborg (an exhibition hall). Currently they are building a Metro around the circle.
Finally, we went to Christiansborg Palace which houses parliament. The original palace was burnt down, but the foundations remain the same. There will be an election some time soon and a change in government from conservative to more than likely a social party. There are only 7 parties in Denmark politics and they all have the same foundation beliefs so there is never a major change in government from day to day.
We went back to the classroom and had lunch together. The professor taught us a little bit about the Danish language for example:
Tak - thank you
Undskyld - sorry, excuse me
hvor meget - how much
jeg hedder... - my name is...
She also explained how to pronounce the 3 vowels, and that when a letter is in between two vowels, it is silent. Also, if a -d follows a vowel, you pronounce it with a -th sound. All good to know!
For dinner we had left overs, which were delicious still! Helle, Jacob, and I went to see some rabbits and horses. It was very cool! Jacob really likes rabbits. We walked back near town so that I could see the post office and pharmacy. Eventually I'll get the hang of it!
And finally, my lesson for today...