This past Thursday was my first Thanksgiving outside of America and my first without my parents, and I had a lovely time. I'd met a couple girls in my Nordic Mythology class, and so found myself as the "token American" at American Thanksgiving with four Canadians, a French girl, and a Hungarian.. I don't enjoy celebrating how we screwed over the Native Americans, but I enjoy spending 4 hours in a kitchen with other young women, everyone preparing something yummy and vegetarian, and having a hyggelit (cozy) meal, celebrating yummy food and good company.
On Saturday, the Education Abroad Program at the University of California arranged for the students Copenhagen to visit the students in Lund (southern Sweden) for a Thanksgiving meal. Aside from learning never to have a catered Thanksgiving meal in Sweden because they FAIL at serving Thanksgiving foods, we all had a lovely day touring the very small town and hanging out with the other students. It had been way too long since I was in a group of other Californians, and immediately my pattern of speech changed, the conversations changed, and it felt refreshing. Lund, on the other hand, felt like Brugges in Belgium, Maastricht in the Netherlands, and Odense in Denmark. Basically, small town Europe. Except Swedish. Maybe I really am too jaded.
As the end of my program nears:
I am thankful that I had this opportunity to go to Europe. I am thankful my family supported me. I am thankful I was able to visit so many countries and travel to so many places. I am thankful for the adventures I have had. I am thankful for the wonderful people I have met. I am thankful that my friends at home continue to support me emotionally. I am VERY thankful that my life here finally worked itself out. I am thankful I was able to grow individually and learn so much about myself.
And of course, I am thankful I have a life and home to return to.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Goodbyes
I leave Europe one month from Saturday. In typical Lizzy fashion, I am freaking out. When I first got here in August, I wanted to go home. I missed Santa Cruz, I missed my friends, and I wasn't happy. But now? I don't want to leave. I've built a life for myself. I've made good friends. I've become part of the Kehillah. I've loved my traveling. My classes have been interesting. See, I just really hate saying good bye. I hate saying good bye to a place that I have lived, to cafes and bars I spend time at, to communities that I'm part of. I hate that I thought it was a good idea to leave Denmark so late in December, not realizing all the friends I made would go home earlier than I so they would be with their families for Christmas, and then returning just after I'm gone. I hate that I'm going to be by myself my last week here, because I can't afford to travel anywhere else and I'm afraid of missing my flight home.
Leaving Santa Cruz in June was difficult, but I knew I was coming back. My friends here keep asking me to stay in Europe, but I can't. And I may not see them again. Ever. That's the scary thing. Friends you meet while traveling are one thing, because you rarely put much effort to stay in contact with them beyond facebook, unless they're particularly special. But even if I did stay, my life next semester wouldn't be the same, because some of my friends are leaving, and then new people would come for me to get attached to, and the goodbye process would begin again.
I'm not ready to say good bye.
Leaving Santa Cruz in June was difficult, but I knew I was coming back. My friends here keep asking me to stay in Europe, but I can't. And I may not see them again. Ever. That's the scary thing. Friends you meet while traveling are one thing, because you rarely put much effort to stay in contact with them beyond facebook, unless they're particularly special. But even if I did stay, my life next semester wouldn't be the same, because some of my friends are leaving, and then new people would come for me to get attached to, and the goodbye process would begin again.
I'm not ready to say good bye.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
getting ready...
The Cop15 Climate Conference approaches... the city is getting ready, my environmental websites are getting ready. In Kongens Nytorv in the city center, there is a photo exhibit of '100 places to remember'. At the metro stops, there are painted globes (some of you may remember NYC and Chicago having painted cows all over the city? Angels all over Los Angeles? Fish all over New Orleans? Well, Copenhagen has globes). At the airport picking up Rachel, there are advertisements trying to show off how 'green' Copenhagen is. This city is about to explode.
Besides the Cop15 conference, another one will also be taking place, the KlimaForum, which I suppose is an international version of PowerShift and other conferences I've attended, which I'm very excited to volunteer at (the official one only wants Danish volunteers.....very jealous of my Danish friends).
And of course, Grist.org is amazing as usual with Top 25 Reasons to Give a Damn about Climate Change.
The world is about to change, and I'm at the front lines.
Besides the Cop15 conference, another one will also be taking place, the KlimaForum, which I suppose is an international version of PowerShift and other conferences I've attended, which I'm very excited to volunteer at (the official one only wants Danish volunteers.....very jealous of my Danish friends).
And of course, Grist.org is amazing as usual with Top 25 Reasons to Give a Damn about Climate Change.
The world is about to change, and I'm at the front lines.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Language Barrier 2
Most of my friends here are not native English speakers. They come from different parts of Europe, or Japan, or Turkey. Most of them have to speak English, because that is the most common world language. Many of them went abroad so that they would improve their English.
This is not an issue for me. I went abroad to meet different people. However, funny things happen. Many of my friends ask me to correct their grammar so their English will improve, which I do, but this breaks up the flow in conversation. Or, because people imitate others, esp with language, I find myself speaking in fragments or pausing as I think of words, as they do. Or just speaking slowly in general because otherwise they won't understand me. I also find myself forgetting English words, or explaining things in a different English than I would use at home. And you would never hear me say the most Californian of phrases (like, my computer is "HELLA jank").
And don't get me started on other English dialects. When I first started hanging out with Aussies, I always needed a slang translation, sometimes I can't understand what my Brit is saying, and Scots might as well be speaking another language.
But the funny thing about language is, even if my friends English isn't perfect (though to me it's perfect enough), or they say something using words that one wouldn't use ("make" a photo instead of "take" a photo), I still understand what they convey, and the message comes across, the conversation flows.
This is not an issue for me. I went abroad to meet different people. However, funny things happen. Many of my friends ask me to correct their grammar so their English will improve, which I do, but this breaks up the flow in conversation. Or, because people imitate others, esp with language, I find myself speaking in fragments or pausing as I think of words, as they do. Or just speaking slowly in general because otherwise they won't understand me. I also find myself forgetting English words, or explaining things in a different English than I would use at home. And you would never hear me say the most Californian of phrases (like, my computer is "HELLA jank").
And don't get me started on other English dialects. When I first started hanging out with Aussies, I always needed a slang translation, sometimes I can't understand what my Brit is saying, and Scots might as well be speaking another language.
But the funny thing about language is, even if my friends English isn't perfect (though to me it's perfect enough), or they say something using words that one wouldn't use ("make" a photo instead of "take" a photo), I still understand what they convey, and the message comes across, the conversation flows.
RETHINK
This past week, I participated in a two day conference with international and Danish students called "Rethink Our Energy Future", sponsored by the University of Copenhagen and Energy Crossroads. For two days, we listened to lectures (more self important people telling me things about climate change I already knew and why it's important to stop it), and participated in a workshop called "Changing the Game."
For this, we were divided into large groups representing Europe(mine was orange), and within the groups divided into 4 regions (Western Europe). Each table had Lego towers (yes, Legos are Danish) that represented how much coal, natural gas, oil, biofuels, electricity, and renewable energies were used for housing, transportation, and industry. After setting goals for reducing energy usage, we were given stacks of "money" and change cards to figure out which programs and strategies could be used to acheive our goals. Change cards were anything from installing solar panels, using electrical cars, replacing oil with biofuels, etc. With each card, we discussed the social and environmental real life implications. On the second day, each region chose their favorite change cards and a negiotator, and after the regions presented their changes, the selected representatives were given the task of negotiating down to 8 change cards to apply to all of Europe. Afterwards, in different groups we were each given a change card and the task to develop ways to implement this goal into public policy (this part felt like National Environmental Policy all over again).
It sounds complicated, but this workshop was brilliant. By giving me visuals and role play, I was able to further understand the enormous task politicians are given in combatting climate change and developing energy policy, while still fulfilling the needs of its constitutents. Many people commented that we were not given enough factors to make a serious decision (population growth, other enivornmental impacts) but the point of this game was NOT to make real decisiosns. The point was to provoke dialoge, to think about things differently, and to really understand the daunting task of implementing these policies (in developing policies, you need to consider ALL the stakeholders, how they'll retaliate, how to make everyone happy, and where the money comes from).
My region of 4 got along really well. We had equally strong personalities, but were level headed enough that after making an argument and making sure we were heard, backing off if the rest of the group felt differently. We also came from different environmental backgrounds, giving different perspectives in our discussions.
Basically, it was amazing to have serious environmental discussions in my life once again.
I could end this blog on how climate change is real and happening and we all need to do something to reduce our CO2 emissions and make the world a better place, but if you read my blog, I'm sure you believe this anyway, or know that I do, so I will end it with something silly.
For this, we were divided into large groups representing Europe(mine was orange), and within the groups divided into 4 regions (Western Europe). Each table had Lego towers (yes, Legos are Danish) that represented how much coal, natural gas, oil, biofuels, electricity, and renewable energies were used for housing, transportation, and industry. After setting goals for reducing energy usage, we were given stacks of "money" and change cards to figure out which programs and strategies could be used to acheive our goals. Change cards were anything from installing solar panels, using electrical cars, replacing oil with biofuels, etc. With each card, we discussed the social and environmental real life implications. On the second day, each region chose their favorite change cards and a negiotator, and after the regions presented their changes, the selected representatives were given the task of negotiating down to 8 change cards to apply to all of Europe. Afterwards, in different groups we were each given a change card and the task to develop ways to implement this goal into public policy (this part felt like National Environmental Policy all over again).
It sounds complicated, but this workshop was brilliant. By giving me visuals and role play, I was able to further understand the enormous task politicians are given in combatting climate change and developing energy policy, while still fulfilling the needs of its constitutents. Many people commented that we were not given enough factors to make a serious decision (population growth, other enivornmental impacts) but the point of this game was NOT to make real decisiosns. The point was to provoke dialoge, to think about things differently, and to really understand the daunting task of implementing these policies (in developing policies, you need to consider ALL the stakeholders, how they'll retaliate, how to make everyone happy, and where the money comes from).
My region of 4 got along really well. We had equally strong personalities, but were level headed enough that after making an argument and making sure we were heard, backing off if the rest of the group felt differently. We also came from different environmental backgrounds, giving different perspectives in our discussions.
Basically, it was amazing to have serious environmental discussions in my life once again.
I could end this blog on how climate change is real and happening and we all need to do something to reduce our CO2 emissions and make the world a better place, but if you read my blog, I'm sure you believe this anyway, or know that I do, so I will end it with something silly.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Rachel is coming to visit!..... tomorrow
My friend Rachel is studying in Israel for the year and decided to spend her week off visiting me in Copenhagen! Alas, I was convinced she was coming on Thursday, as that's the day her itinerary said she was leaving, so I went to the airport, waited for an hour, freaked out because I didn't have her number, she didn't have mine, and what if she was lost in Copenhagen? I called my mother at 430 am CA time, who had to check my facebook in case she had tried to contact me that way, and then I called her parents at 5 am asking where she was, only for her dad to go online and tell me she was coming on Friday. Hello Life.
Meanwhile, it's been nice seeing Copenhagen and international student life through her eyes, because to be honest, at this point I'm jaded and/or over it. I swear I'm happy, and I think the city is beautiful and I like the people I hang out with, but going to a party where people are from 8 different countries is no longer a new thing for me.
On another note, the new block for the Faculty of Life started. Thanks to annoying bureaucracy and me taking too many credits in college, I don't need this next course, but I am a dork and go crazy when I'm bored. Hence, I'm taking a class on Biological Pest Control for fun. Why? Because I get to 1) learn more 2) have something to do with my time and 3) meet more interesting people (Faculty of Life students are way cooler and more interesting)
Here's to a week of adventuring!
Meanwhile, it's been nice seeing Copenhagen and international student life through her eyes, because to be honest, at this point I'm jaded and/or over it. I swear I'm happy, and I think the city is beautiful and I like the people I hang out with, but going to a party where people are from 8 different countries is no longer a new thing for me.
On another note, the new block for the Faculty of Life started. Thanks to annoying bureaucracy and me taking too many credits in college, I don't need this next course, but I am a dork and go crazy when I'm bored. Hence, I'm taking a class on Biological Pest Control for fun. Why? Because I get to 1) learn more 2) have something to do with my time and 3) meet more interesting people (Faculty of Life students are way cooler and more interesting)
Here's to a week of adventuring!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Birthday Trip
OK, prepare yourself for a long post:
My birthday in Copenhagen was lovely. Not epic and crazy, but nice to go out for drinks in places I like hanging out in, and with people who I like being around and who actually care. On my actual birthday I flew to Prague, flying an activity that everyone knows I incredibly dislike. My camera managed to break on the way to Prague, so any pictures I have were taken on my phone (if you know how to transfer phone photos to the computer, PLEASE call me when I return!)
I was only in Prague for two full days, but here were my impressions/favorite things:
-Prague reminded me a lot of Russia. The metro system was very deep and designed like in St. Petersberg, the language sounded like Russian, and when I wasn't surrounded by tourists and travelers, the people seemed to have a similar attitude. It was like a Western version of Russia.
-Visited Prague Castle, where I saw THE very window of the defenestration of Prague, an act that started the Thirty Years War. Can't tell you the exact history, except that "defenestration" is one of my favorite words. Not kidding, after seeing this window my life is MADE.
-Wandered more wings of Prague castle, and found a winding staircase that led to a hall of armour and shields, with one end having a chance to shoot a crossbow like at the Renaissance Faire (something I clearly needed to do in the walls of a castle in the Czech Republic), the other end viewing a room of Medieval torture devices (very very terrifying).
-Prague has a lot of Jewish history, something I forgot about until I arrived. I was very excited to see: the shul where the mythical Golem is supposed to be hidden in the attic, waiting to come to life to protect the Jews of Prague and the Old Jewish cemetary, where the Maharal, a famous rabbi of the 16th century who brought the Golem to life is buried. Also, the beautiful temples, one of which had the names of all the Jews of Czecheslovakia who died in the Holocaust written on the walls.
-A note on visiting Jewish places: I am very used to living in Denmark, where people have their own space, you don't talk to people, people are quiet and in their own world. I am also used to visiting Cathedrals where people are quiet, reverant and reflective. I was NOT prepared to be surrounded by Jews again, where we're loud and in your face and there is no chance of prayer in the old synagogues. *sigh*
-Most meaningful to me, I had an absolutely magical day by myself wandering the city, seeing the aforementioned places, where I realized I was ok with being by myself and doing things on my own.
-And yes, Charles Bridge is beautiful.
As for Berlin, I really had no idea what I wanted to see. Devina flew in from Italy and I had a lovely visit with her, and I also knew someone through a friend currently living there who was more than happy to show us around the city. So, this was mostly a social trip. As for Berlin itself, it felt like San Francisco. Except German. And with a Communist history. It felt like a city to live in, not a city to ogle at its buildings and masterpieces (though if I were there for longer, I most certainly would have visitied all of its museums). And so, live is what I did.
-Matthias took me to his favorite vegetarian restaraunts, and I had a vegan version of curryworst (a Berlin speciality which is basically a hot dog covered in ketchup and curry powder)
-Through Matthias, I met a lot of English speaking expats living in Berlin, as this is apparently the city to go to when you want to leave where you currently live (and it was SO refreshing to hang out with people who were neither travelers or students).
-Berlin has the coolest and most clever memorials. I've seen my share of Holocaust memorials, but the one in Berlin is incredible. In the middle of the city is a square filled with many stones of different heights. (Nothing screams 'Make Jewish babies NOW' like a memorial to dead ones.)
-Seeing the wall. Part of it was still up and left with all of its graffitti. Another section was turned into the East Side Gallery, with paintings by modern artists. (Similar to the Merill moat at Santa Cruz. Except on a very famous wall.)
Being on this particular trip made me appreciate Copenhagen again. Maybe I'm retreating too much into a comfort zone again, but it's nice to see new places, and then have a European city you can call home, whose language you recognize, whose streets you sort of know, and which has a life you can go back to.
My birthday in Copenhagen was lovely. Not epic and crazy, but nice to go out for drinks in places I like hanging out in, and with people who I like being around and who actually care. On my actual birthday I flew to Prague, flying an activity that everyone knows I incredibly dislike. My camera managed to break on the way to Prague, so any pictures I have were taken on my phone (if you know how to transfer phone photos to the computer, PLEASE call me when I return!)
I was only in Prague for two full days, but here were my impressions/favorite things:
-Prague reminded me a lot of Russia. The metro system was very deep and designed like in St. Petersberg, the language sounded like Russian, and when I wasn't surrounded by tourists and travelers, the people seemed to have a similar attitude. It was like a Western version of Russia.
-Visited Prague Castle, where I saw THE very window of the defenestration of Prague, an act that started the Thirty Years War. Can't tell you the exact history, except that "defenestration" is one of my favorite words. Not kidding, after seeing this window my life is MADE.
-Wandered more wings of Prague castle, and found a winding staircase that led to a hall of armour and shields, with one end having a chance to shoot a crossbow like at the Renaissance Faire (something I clearly needed to do in the walls of a castle in the Czech Republic), the other end viewing a room of Medieval torture devices (very very terrifying).
-Prague has a lot of Jewish history, something I forgot about until I arrived. I was very excited to see: the shul where the mythical Golem is supposed to be hidden in the attic, waiting to come to life to protect the Jews of Prague and the Old Jewish cemetary, where the Maharal, a famous rabbi of the 16th century who brought the Golem to life is buried. Also, the beautiful temples, one of which had the names of all the Jews of Czecheslovakia who died in the Holocaust written on the walls.
-A note on visiting Jewish places: I am very used to living in Denmark, where people have their own space, you don't talk to people, people are quiet and in their own world. I am also used to visiting Cathedrals where people are quiet, reverant and reflective. I was NOT prepared to be surrounded by Jews again, where we're loud and in your face and there is no chance of prayer in the old synagogues. *sigh*
-Most meaningful to me, I had an absolutely magical day by myself wandering the city, seeing the aforementioned places, where I realized I was ok with being by myself and doing things on my own.
-And yes, Charles Bridge is beautiful.
As for Berlin, I really had no idea what I wanted to see. Devina flew in from Italy and I had a lovely visit with her, and I also knew someone through a friend currently living there who was more than happy to show us around the city. So, this was mostly a social trip. As for Berlin itself, it felt like San Francisco. Except German. And with a Communist history. It felt like a city to live in, not a city to ogle at its buildings and masterpieces (though if I were there for longer, I most certainly would have visitied all of its museums). And so, live is what I did.
-Matthias took me to his favorite vegetarian restaraunts, and I had a vegan version of curryworst (a Berlin speciality which is basically a hot dog covered in ketchup and curry powder)
-Through Matthias, I met a lot of English speaking expats living in Berlin, as this is apparently the city to go to when you want to leave where you currently live (and it was SO refreshing to hang out with people who were neither travelers or students).
-Berlin has the coolest and most clever memorials. I've seen my share of Holocaust memorials, but the one in Berlin is incredible. In the middle of the city is a square filled with many stones of different heights. (Nothing screams 'Make Jewish babies NOW' like a memorial to dead ones.)
-Seeing the wall. Part of it was still up and left with all of its graffitti. Another section was turned into the East Side Gallery, with paintings by modern artists. (Similar to the Merill moat at Santa Cruz. Except on a very famous wall.)
Being on this particular trip made me appreciate Copenhagen again. Maybe I'm retreating too much into a comfort zone again, but it's nice to see new places, and then have a European city you can call home, whose language you recognize, whose streets you sort of know, and which has a life you can go back to.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
22nd Year
Tomorrow, I turn 21. If I were in Santa Cruz tonight, my friends would follow me around Pacific Avenue, as we go from bar to bar so I can get my free drinks and celebrate the fact that America has the oldest drinking age in the world. This would have followed an epic Halloween weekend, that I know my friends just had.
Alas, I am in Copenhagen. Halloween is not a big deal, though I went to a couple student parties last week. And turning 21 is... turning 21. I did have a lovely weekend, of casual drinking with friends,swanky and cozy bars, and another epic night of traipsing across Copenhagen drunk at 3 am trying to return to my dorm which is an inconvenient distance from anything important. I guess what I'm trying to say is I miss my friends a lot this weekend.
On the other hand, I will go out with some friends tonight, buy my "first" legal drink at midnight, then fly to Prague the next day, and spend the week exploring two more European cities (including seeing Devina in Berlin, where we will celebrate our birthdays again).
As for turning another year older.... well, most of my friends are older than me anyway, and are usually surprised to hear how young I am, so I don't consider myself as being "older"... just as catching up. And American students are younger than others in general... (I'm going to be 21 with a bachelor's degree.)
Maybe turning 21 means I'm one step closer to becoming an adult..... scary thought
Alas, I am in Copenhagen. Halloween is not a big deal, though I went to a couple student parties last week. And turning 21 is... turning 21. I did have a lovely weekend, of casual drinking with friends,swanky and cozy bars, and another epic night of traipsing across Copenhagen drunk at 3 am trying to return to my dorm which is an inconvenient distance from anything important. I guess what I'm trying to say is I miss my friends a lot this weekend.
On the other hand, I will go out with some friends tonight, buy my "first" legal drink at midnight, then fly to Prague the next day, and spend the week exploring two more European cities (including seeing Devina in Berlin, where we will celebrate our birthdays again).
As for turning another year older.... well, most of my friends are older than me anyway, and are usually surprised to hear how young I am, so I don't consider myself as being "older"... just as catching up. And American students are younger than others in general... (I'm going to be 21 with a bachelor's degree.)
Maybe turning 21 means I'm one step closer to becoming an adult..... scary thought
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