Uge Ni (Week Nine: 22.03.12 - 29.03.12) - Personal

This week was an exciting week for me as my boyfriend Dean, arrived in Copenhagen.  He was my first visitor and after being apart for eight weeks it was great to see a familiar face.  As he had never visited Copenhagen before we decided to have a very touristy weekend with me as the tour guide. 

Enjoying the view at the top of the Round Tower.

The weather has recently taken a turn for the better and Spring has finally arrived!  It is a welcome arrival as the weather had been extremely cold most of the time since my arrival.  We decided to make use of the clear blue skies and climb the ‘Round Tower’ in Copenhagen which was built by Christian IV and offers a magnificent view over Copenhagen when the skies are clear.  It wasn’t much of a climb though as there are no steps and  it is instead cobbled the entire way up, as the King wanted to ride his horse to the top rather than walk.  Once at the top the view is incredible and you can see many of the sights of the Copenhagen area as well as across to Malmo in Sweden.  We even managed to witness a couple who just got married getting their pictures taken!

Another interesting visit was to the Carlsberg Factory to sample some Danish beers.  Here I learnt about the history of brewing in Denmark and how J.C Jacobsen’s vision and techniques are still of major influence today.  The Jacobsen family have had a huge influence on the architecture of Copenhagen and after visiting the factory I became more aware of their many contributions to the city.  They inspired the construction of the ‘Little Mermaid’ statue as well as founding the Danish Museum of Art and Design among others.



The beer collect inside the Carlsberg Factory.

Sunny Nyhavn.

My favourite part of the weekend was taking a canal tour around Copenhagen.  I have wanted to do this since arriving but it has always been too cold or the lakes have been frozen.  It was so warm we even sat on the deck of the boat and it was a great way to see the city.  Before boarding the boat I was amazed at the vast amount of people in Nyhavn.  I had been told by numerous Danish people that it was a popular area to relax, eat and drink in when the weather was nice but I don’t think I really believed them until I saw it.  Every occupied space was filled with people just relaxing with a few beers, enjoying the sunshine and the bars and restaurants were packed to capacity.  It was really nice to see and there were many jazz bands playing to provide entertainment, so there was a great atmosphere.  I find it surprising how people drink alcohol on the streets as in Northern Ireland this is not tolerated.  However, in Denmark no one seems to mind.  I’m not sure whether this is because they are more relaxed as a nation or because people are not drinking excessively, perhaps it is a combination of both but it is definitely a big difference.

On the canal tour.

Through having Dean here I have realised that I have become a lot more independent and relaxed since leaving home.  I am no longer relying on anyone else to cook, clean, do my washing etc for me, I can take public transport with ease and I have become a lot more active in that I walk everywhere if possible.  These are changes that I hope to take home with me and as I am now officially halfway through it will be interesting to see what else I learn.

Uge Otte (Week 8: 15.03.12 - 22.03.12) - Professional Development

Today I had my first visit to my teaching practice school in Herlev.  It is a large school with approximately 800 students ranging from Kindergarten, Primary and right through until Secondary.  I found it very strange and surprising that all three levels of education were in the same building as in Northern Ireland each different schooling level are normally in different locations.  However, after spending time at the school I think it is a good idea as it provides consistency for the children and there is no fear about entering a new environment.

The teaching style and school atmosphere is completely different to that in Northern Ireland.  Children wear their own clothes and teachers also dress casually.  The children call the teacher by their first name which is a complete opposite to schools at home but I have found that I like this approach as it is more personal and allows the children to view the teacher as more approachable and not someone superior to them.

The crocodiles performing in the school play.

We began the school day at 8am which seemed so early to myself and the other student; Anna, from Ireland.  However, the German and Austrian students placed with us are used to this in their country.  We spent the morning with a 1^st Grade Music class, which was very interesting and I even got to practice my Danish with the children.  The atmosphere in the school can only be summed up as free.  Children are allowed to do what they want whether that is sitting on tables or running around the corridor.  There are positives and negatives to this approach and it is definitely in stark comparison to schools in Northern Ireland.  The teacher explained that some of the children have behavioural problems but as she doesn’t have a Classroom Assistant it is difficult to do much teaching.  The children are very independent and are not afraid to talk or interrupt the teacher where as at home, schools are a lot stricter and the children must raise their hand to speak.  It was a very interesting experience to observe a completely different teaching style and how it worked.  I spent the rest of my time with a 9^th Grade Danish class.  Admittedly I was very nervous about this and preferred to be with a younger class but as there were only ten teenagers it was quite nice.  We all introduced ourselves in English and the class asked us questions in English.  Anna and I had to then explain the difference between the North and South of Ireland; a topic I find we are often questioned on and often don’t know the answer.  Often people either know nothing about our history or only the negative press and trying to explain our history simply in a few minutes is difficult so normally we compare our differences in currency, language/accent etc.  People are usually surprised at the diversity of such a small country!

I throughougly enjoyed my first experience of a Danish school and I am looking forward to gaining further insights when I visit next week.  Comparing our school culture with Denmark has proved more interesting and different that I thought it would be and it is definitely provoking my curiosity as to how and why their system differs to our own.

Uge Syv (Week Seven: 08.03.12 - 15.03.12) - Personal Development

Our Erasmus group in Aarhus at the weekend.

Art Museum in Aarhus with the 'rainbow' in the roof.

After a few ups and downs I now feel totally settled in Denmark and immersed in their way of life.  Although I have only been here seven weeks I feel I have learned so much about myself, the cultures of others and this beautiful country.  I always knew that different cultures were important; they make up the world and are something to be celebrated but before coming here I don’t think I had truly experienced this.  I am in a class with students from all around the world and it still amazes me how different we all are.  I have quickly learned how easy it is to offend others (not intentionally) but the language barrier and different humour from countries can cause problems as someone misinterprets what you say.  I think all of the students have felt this though and we have now learned to take what each other says with a pinch of salt.  In particular our Globalisation class contains so many different cultures, beliefs and values that quite often there is confrontation or heated discussion.  This is something I initially found strange as rarely do discussions get this heated in Stranmillis but I have realised that the students are just trying to explain their beliefs to others who disagree.  In this class we have been working on the concept of culture and how we as teachers should deal with it in and out of the classroom.  It has been very interesting and many of the student’s viewpoints have challenged my own.  No one is scared to ask you why you believe something and this makes you deepen in your own reasons and question them.  With so many opinions it is sometimes challenging to work together in a group but we learn a lot and it is great practice in compromising and appreciating the viewpoints of others.  I have begun to question our own culture, specifically that of our early years teaching.  I am completing an individual assignment based upon why we start our children at school in the UK, three years earlier than Denmark and the rest of Europe and I am finding it extremely interesting but also difficult as it is challenging what I know.

Modern Art Exhibition in Aarhus

I am really enjoying the Danish way of life, much more than I thought I would and I am starting to think it will be strange to return to Northern Ireland.  I love the relaxed, Scandinavian attitude and I am surprised that I do so much, as I am not the most relaxed person when at home. My fears regarding the transport system, food and language are gone and I now find myself at ease with all three. I feel very lucky to have been given this experience and I think it will benefit me both professionally and personally.  I came here with very little knowledge about the country and I am enjoying learning about the true Denmark. It has already opened my mind and taught me that preconceptions and stereotypes although natural, are generally wrong.  Denmark is much more than I thought it was, it is not just somewhere with great tourist spots and Danish pastries but somewhere for now, I call home.

The view from the Round Tower

Uge Seks (Week Six: 01.03.12 – 08.03.12) – Cultural Development

This is my sixth week living in Denmark and I have started to notice numerous cultural differences between here and Northern Ireland.  The most obvious one is the University environment and teaching styles.  Lecturers are called by their first names, they openly swear and their attire is a lot more relaxed in comparison with Stranmillis University.  It still surprises me when the students swear at the tutors as I could never imagine myself doing this.  A lot of the students also quite frequently argue with the tutors or tell them that they are wrong and this is something I find very strange because in University at home it is a rare occurrence for a student to question a lecturer or argue with them.  I don’t think it is necessarily a bad thing as students and teachers can learn a lot from each other and I sometimes think the tutors here say certain statements to provoke a reaction and prompt discussion.  It is important to add that the students or lecturers aren’t being rude or ignorant when swearing or arguing, it is simply the culture here.It is definitely true that Danish people are more direct and to the point.  Their city is cleaner, their transport system more efficient and almost everyone seems to own a bike. 

The teaching styles are also very different to that of Stranmillis. Classes last three hours usually with a short ten minute break in between.  This is something I am still struggling with as classes at home usually last for an hour.  Classes are more discussion and activity based, with a lot of tutor and student talk, and in many of them we sit in groups where we are expected to complete tasks or discuss specific points.  I have yet to sit in a formal lecture and have found that the overall teaching style is very relaxed and laid-back.  I actually quite enjoy this teaching method as there is a lot more interaction and it is easier to remember what you are learning about.  I have found that the atmosphere in Denmark is very relaxed and was quite shocked when I noticed young children getting the train home alone from school.  I found it very surprising as you would never see a young child in Northern Ireland travelling unattended and it made me question whether they were allowed to travel alone because it was safer, or whether through the education system here children are more independent and want to do such things by themselves, as their school environment is so different to ours.  Another big cultural difference is the food here.  Although it is similar in regards to what we eat at home, the price isn’t.  The Danish government saw that as a country, their obesity levels where increasing so they decided to add a Fat and Sugar Tax onto products containing high levels of these.  This means that items like meat, fruit juice and chocolate, end up being very expensive.  The tax often isn’t added on until you get to the till which is quite annoying as you end up paying more for what you got. 

Rosenborg Castle

Outside the National Museum

An elk skelton.

This week we also decided to make better use of our days off with some sight-seeing.  We visited ‘The National Museum’ of Denmark to see the ‘Pre-Historic’ exhibition which was very interesting. We also visited ‘Rosenborg Castle and Gardens’ which was beautiful and this weekend we are going to the other part of Denmark with the Erasmus students to visit Aarhus, so I am looking forward to that, although not the 6.30am bus we have to board to get there.

Pre-Historic Fashion.

Uge Fem (Week Five: 23.02.12 – 01.03.12) – Personal Development

This week I celebrated my 21^st birthday in Denmark which was a very different experience.  I wasn’t sure how I would feel as at home it is very much your day and in my family anyway, you are made of fuss of.  However, I was touched by the thoughtfulness and the generosity of the Erasmus students.  They got me a cake, cards, Berlin guidebook (for our visit at Easter) and best of all, some Ribena and a Topshop voucher to cure my cravings!  They made it a lot easier for me to be away from home on such an important birthday and I really appreciated their efforts.  We also had a great night out dressed as ‘Where’s Wally’s’.

I now feel I have made many good friends here which was something I was worried about before arriving as making new friends and stepping out of your comfort zone is daunting.  After five weeks I feel settled and happy with my new way of life.  I think I have adapted extremely well for someone who has never really lived away from home and I have realised that many of my fears and pre-conceptions about coming to Denmark have changed; teaching me that there isn’t any point in getting worried about something new as you will just adapt and it will become normal.

Jemma and I along with a German and Irish student decided to make good use of our day off this week to see some more of the sights of Copenhagen as the cold weather has previously put us off.  Thankfully the weather is now starting to warm up and we can enjoy exploring the city.  We visited ‘Den Lille Havfrue' (The Little Mermaid) statue which was remarkable bigger than everyone described it.  I actually liked it but have noticed that a lot of Danish people don’t like the statue and I have been told many times that it isn’t worth seeing.  Perhaps we feel this way in Northern Ireland about some of our landmarks; you tend to take them for granted when they are in your own country.  Living in Denmark has definitely encouraged me to see more of Northern Ireland and Ireland when I get home.  We finished the day by visiting Christiania, a self-regulated, Freetown within Copenhagen.  It was founded in 1971 by hippies and the hash trade is very popular (there is even a street called ‘Pusher Street’) within the borough. It was larger than I expected with a total of 850 residents.  It was a very surreal experience as at home you would never see people just walking around smoking illegal substances and the smell of these immediately hit you whilst walking around Christiania.  The architecture is amazing as it was all built by the inhabitants so it is very artistic.  During the visit we thought of numerous questions which we weren’t able to answer but we noticed a sign stating that there are weekend tours so we think we will return and see the area with a local guide who can hopefully answer some of our questions.  It was definitely an interesting experience and something you don’t see every day.  

Some of the architecture

Now that March has begun I am excited for our plans to start to take shape with further sight-seeing, a visit from home and also for our class trip to Aarhus next weekend.  It’s going to be a very busy month!

Outside the entrance to Christiania.