Coffee talk

 

The saying, 'Time flies when you are having fun' pretty much explains why I haven't posted a blog entry the past few months.  It sounds better to say that rather than admit that I am a procrastinator about certain things. . . blogging being one of them!  However, I would be remiss to not tell you some of our discoveries over the past weeks so I put it off no longer.  Grab a cup of coffee or tea and read on. . .

We have settled into our 'every day' life with the start of a new school semester for Mike at DIS.  The new group of students for the spring semester arrived mid-January and classes started soon after.  He is teaching one new course this semester (Copenhagen Area Survey) along with co-teaching a repeat course from the fall called European Urban Life. 
Last week the European Urban Life class went on a week long study tour to Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary--just as they did with the students from last semester.  They had a once-in-a-lifetime experience with being able to hear the Vienna Boys Choir sing at the cathedral during the Sunday morning church service in Vienna.  It is said they are to be heard and not seen while they sing to truly experience the beautiful music, however, the choir did make an appearance once they finished their concert and the students were awe-struck by how young the boys in the choir were, finding it hard to believe the rich, beautiful tones came from such young boys. 

While visiting the city of Budapest, Hungary the class had the pleasure of taking a candlelit dinner cruise down the Danube River.  Mike said he wished I could've come along.  I couldn't agree more!  On another evening they all went to enjoy a hot springs spa, followed by a late night Hungarian jazz club outing.  Some people have all the fun. 

Oh, but wait, I was having my own kind of fun with the arrival of my best friend, Nancy who came to visit while Mike was away!!  I loved being able to show her around the city, to take her to many of my favourite sights and you can bet we frequented various cafés during her stay here and talked, laughed and caught up with one another over our lattes.  It was a girls week to remember and I know Leah and Sophia enjoyed Nancy's visit too! 

                         Evening tea time!

                                   Girlfriend time at a cozy café near our flat. 


I have been participating in a women's Bible study through our church here in Copenhagen and have come to really look forward to spending my Thursdays with this group of ladies.  Several are ex-pats from the states as well as other women from Uganda, Australia and the Ukraine.  It has been a special time of learning and praying together and getting to know one another! 

Leah continues to take pictures and edit them, and is in the process of making a Copenhagen family movie as a keepsake of our many experiences here.  She gave us a preview of her work so far on the project.  It sure is a fun way to reminisce and caused serious bouts of laughter amongst the four of us as we re-lived the memories all over again.  I can't wait to see the final product!   Leah captured some springtime beauty in the photo below. :)


Over the past month we have seen more and more signs of spring!  The temperature (while it doesn't vary all that much generally) has been hovering in the low 40's and this past week got up to 58 degrees one day!  It has been nice to trade the winter coats for the spring coats and we have been seeing much more of the sun along with blue sky. . something I will never take for granted again.  When we first arrived in Copenhagen last July, we noticed how people would TRY to be in the sun whereas we, coming from Texas were used to trying to stay OUT of the sun's rays.  But now after having gone through the dark and cloudy winter days here in Denmark, when we see the sun, we take a moment to stand and bask in feeling its warmth on our faces.  I recently heard someone say 'Danes are human sunflowers'.  I can totally understand that statement now! 


Sophia has had quite a change of heart since we moved here.  I remember that first month in Copenhagen when she was so sad and having a hard time adjusting to our new surroundings.  She would very often be listening to Michael Buble's song called 'Home'. . where she would sing along with the chorus, 'I just want to go h-o-m-e. . .' :(    Now fast forward 8 months later.  Sophia still likes to spend a lot of time listening to music but I noticed a big difference in her song choice.  One song that I have heard many a time of late is Switchfoot's song called, 'This is Home' (....now I'm finally where I belong)!  I pointed this difference in song choice out to her and she just smiled. :)  

Sophia really enjoys being at Rygaard's International School and is learning so much in all of her classes.  There are many things I like about the teaching style at this school---one being 'in depth' days where they will have one day focused on one subject area.  For example, tomorrow she will spend all day just learning Chemistry.  She feels she learns so much more having a whole day to concentrate on one subject and it is just breaks up the 'regular' school schedule a bit.  Sophie  has made some great friends both at school and at church in the High School life group this year.  The blessings are abundant with many cherished friendships to take with her when it is time to leave this summer.

Sophia helping out at the Grace Café with others from our church.
Made breakfast for homeless men in the community.




Sophia with the High School Life Group from church
having some fun at the ice rink.
 

I recently discovered that the famous Christian philosopher, Soren Kirkkegaard has quite a bit of history right in our 'back yard'!   A little philosophy lesson:  Kirkkegaard was known as the father of Existentialism.  He felt that each individual—not society or religion—is responsible for giving meaning to life, and he held the belief that the state church of Denmark was making Christianity too cultural, too comfortable, too non-offensive, in short, that it made light of the message of Christianity. 

In the 1830's he studied philosophy, theology and literature at the University of Copenhagen (the campus directly behind our flat) and it is said that to help him in his thinking, he would walk the streets around the area of the University every day. . . the very same cobblestone streets we walk, passing by the University daily as we go to the grocery store or to the train station.  

A few favourite Kirkkegaard quotes:
"Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays."
"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."



University of Copenhagen campus near our flat.

 

University of Copenhagen library on the left.
The street we walk each day, usually several times a day!

 



A view of the street from the University of Copenhagen library

Vor Frue Kirke
The church behind our flat, next to
University of Copenhagen.

                                 



Another interesting fact about the block that we live on is that just a few doors down our street is a place called the Tattoo Salonen.  We walk by it every day and while we are not into the whole tattoo scene, often times I wonder what goes on in that place.  One night, we happened to turn on the TV and saw a commercial for a new reality show that was about to start called Tattoo Salonen and realized it is about the very one that we walk by each day!  We recognized the two owners on the show because they are always just hanging outside the entrance.  Michael and I joke that we should get souvenir tats of our time here. . .but maybe I will just stick with asking these guys if I can take their picture! 

We are anticipating more visitors this month, having just hosted friends/colleagues of Michael's from Rice University in Houston, TX and their young daughter this past weekend--we very much enjoyed their stay!  

Currently, there is a film crew here from Houston (actually set up in our flat)!  They are filming for a presentation that will be made at the Kinder Institute's annual luncheon.  (Mike is currently a co-director of the Institute at Rice University.)  They are getting footage on Michael's work in Copenhagen, from teaching at DIS to his collaboration efforts with a university in Gothenberg, Sweden.  The representative from Gothenberg, Sweden is being interviewed in the picture below about the possibility of creating a partnership with the Kinder Institute.   

In just a few days we look forward to welcoming one of my sisters, Lynn and her husband Paul to Copenhagen for a visit!!  We can't wait to show them around this great city of Copenhagen...and beyond. :)   

And now for a few more pictures of life in Copenhagen:



 



Babies all snug and cozy, asleep in their prams while the moms
gather at a café for coffee time.  This is a very common occurrence! 
Denmark is a very trustworthy country. . certainly this proves it. 





Often times Danes will tie up their dogs outside of Netto
(the grocery store) while they go in to shop.  Such cute
well behaved dogs.  I marvel at how their pets are so quiet
and well behaved most of the time.  They just look to the door
waiting anxiously for their owners!! 

So fun to have friends/colleagues of Michael's

from Rice University here for a weekend visit this past weekend!

                                                                                                                 (Below)  Biking our way to church.

 

 
 


(Above)  The 'family car' Copenhagen style!