If I Ask You to, You Will...

I am going to take this moment to briefly describe some items from home that I miss in hopes that it generates some sense of empathy and compassion that motivates someone to send me one, or all, of these things.


Magazines/Newspapers written in English: I just found out that the Politiken, a kind of lefty Danish newspaper, can be read in English. This is an amazing discovery, because I have been feeling separated from Danish current events and, subsequently, isolated from daily Danish life. However, there is something very soothing about holding a piece of print media in your hands and creasing the pages while sitting under a weeping willow and eating ice cream.

Movies: I didn't bring any with me and my computer is a slow, ugly monster that doesn't support watching things on the internet well.

Dessert: Don't get me wrong. There are many delicious Danish deserts that I have sampled and enjoyed. However, Danes don't eat pudding or mousse. I can probably devise a way to make these things, but would really prefer a mix. Also, Denmark is lacking in the sweets department. If I enjoyed licorice (lakrids) I would be in candy haven. Unfortunately, I find licorice putrid and vile and would gladly perform various acts of desperation to have some Almond Roca. I have not seen anything that even slightly resembles this delicacy. Again, I could probably try to make this but Ay Dios Mio! Why?














I also miss besitos y abrazos. I'm pretty sure I'm on my own with this one.

As a reminder, my mailing address is:
Shannon Marie Baca Garcia
trekroner forskerpark 1, 1, -40
4000 roskilde
danmark

marthar, my dear!

I must say, I don't think I could ever expect to see an email like this circulating as official mail on any University of Washington listserv. I am not attaching any value to that statement, but was made very aware of my place in a different culture when I received this:

"Dear all cultural encounter students,

Soon the legendary RUC-party will reemerge. We therefore invite you all to join us on Friday the 19th of September, where you can get together with all your fellow students. The party-committee have put their heads together and made one heck of a program for you all. The party will kick of at twelve o’clock (after the group formation), where we all will go to the cantina and have a few beers. At two o’clock we will go back to cultural encounter, where it’ll also be possible to buy beer, listen to some music and play some social games. If you don’t drink beer feel free to bring your own beverage. When we all feel a bit tipsy, we will eat together at about six o’clock. To make it easier for us all the reading groups will make food for themselves from which we will make a big buffet. Last but not least we will leave cultural encounter around eleven o’clock and head for the bigger party at campus.

All students who would like to join the party-committee, and help us arrange the party, are welcome to do so. We will meet on Monday the 15th of September after the lecture and head for the cantina and plan a little more.

Also if you have some good ideas for some social games we can play or a theme for the party, please tell us. You’re also welcome to bring your iPod or mp3player and we also need to get hold of a stereo and some (loud) speakers. So if you can bring either, do it! :)
It would be nice if the reading groups could inform us how many among their groups who’s planning on attending.
We’re looking forward to seeing you all! Remember, it’s a splendid opportunity for you to get to know you fellow student, get wasted and have fun. ;)"

This email was signed by marthar@RUC

Happiness is a Waffle Cone

I have made a solid group of friend's here and I am so very happy about that. In the first couple days of the group's inception, we had a big outing that happened by accident. Mi amigo de Espana and I planned to go into Roskilde to walk by the water. While we were leaving the dorms we ran into Rannochio and Pollo, mis novios de Italia. The plan quickly changed to going to the Cantine and then heading into town. On the way to the cantine, we ran into Mo and that became our group. These are the boys AKA mis novios
Upon arriving in Roskilde, we got off of the train. Once accomplishing that first, very important, task we headed into town. We walked through down the main strøget toward the water. However, no walk is complete without stopping at a lovely cathedral to snap photos and exchange witty banter. Here is our pit stop:
Please notice how white Rannochio's scarpes (shoes) are. He takes very good care of them to keep them so gleaming and really likes those shoes, because they have little Italian flags on them.
Back to the trip...
After passing the big beautiful church, we strolled down a path in a park on our way to the fjords. There were many opportunities for photo opps and we stumbled upon a very cute, very empty playground and our inner children erupted with glee.

After much laughter, we finally made it to the water and it was beautiful. We walked around, took more pictures, had more laughs, took more pictures.
We walked around the Viking ship area and got to see a man making a boat.
I occurred to me, in hindsight, that it might be a strange feeling to get your picture taken while performing a trade that does not typically include performing for an audience. However, while I was taking the photo I could not be bothered to think about anything other than my overflowing sense of excitement.
On our way back to our town and responsibilities, we stopped by a museum and stood under a weeping willow tree. This was a wonderful date for five if I do say so myself--and I do. The best part of the date, however, happened at the very end. We celebrated our favorite Danish tradition. At the end/beginning/middle of a journey, it is customary to have ice cream. So, when in Rome...

I believe this tradition to be very important in maintaining the Danes status as happiest people on Earth.

SWEET DREAMS....

my homes across the universe...

When I arrived I was fortunate enough to befriend a very generous Dane who put me and my friend up for a few days while I was "homeless" in københavn. She has an amazing flat. So, I want to share some of the interior charm with all of you which constitute my readership...
This is her entry room. This is the first room you see, but it is not the living room. It's more of a transitional room in the home.
This, on the other hand, is the living room. It is a room just to the left of the room in the first picture.
To the right of the entry room is a long hallway: This hallway leads to the kitchen,guest room and bathroom. My temporary home in københavn was very charming.
Now, I'm in Roskilde and my semi-permanent home is quite modern and still very nice.

The architect's name is Henning Larsen and he is also responsible for the københavn opera house. The white walls have since been painted, but were originally bare concrete. This is apparently a big to do as the architect protested the painting of the walls. I think the paint makes is feel more like a home where it could have felt like a penitentiary.
Also, in case you were wondering, my mailing address is as follows:
Trekroner Forskerpark 1, 1, -40
4000 Roskilde
Danmark
I would love some letters from home if anyone has time.