Container Arrived

At long last, the truck arrived with our container from America. This has helped ease the transition from "camping" in our house to that of more comfortable surroundings. The overseas shipping companies were phenomenal, contrary to the horror stories we've heard. The container arrived on time, a few days earlier than expected and nothing was damaged or lost. The movers brought everything in, set up the beds and dining room table and were gone in 2 hours. Although it arrived August 29th, we have yet to put everything away, mainly because Danish homes just do not have storage of any means built in to homes. We must purchase all forms of cabinets, shelves, drawers, closets, shoe racks, etc. etc. for every room. This is a process that will take the better part of 6 months or longer.



However, even with our American belongings, we still have bare walls and no familiar affects on the very stark white walls (every home is white interior here). Next purchase is a drill with concrete bits to penetrate the walls. We are looking forward to this weekend where there are numerous "loppemarkeder" flea markets. There we will find many needed household items without shopping at IKEA. Last weekend we dragged the girls through IKEA for a 4 hour experience, where both left screaming and crying. Too much for everybody. Although their meals are good and cheap! That started the beginning of a sour week for us all which now is turning much better. We had a lousy restaurant experience, more furniture building, colds and sicknesses for the girls, scrapes, bumps and bruises from injuries on bikes and in our house, and a tense first week with the girls commuting by bike to school. Watching and instructing them what to do and where to go during rush hour is unnerving as a parent. We will all feel comfortable soon.

This whole biking business is amazing. The city biking system reminds me of SunRiver, but on a much bigger scale. The cities are interconnected like a big spiderweb, and towns are a mere 2 kilometers from each other. Our house is a mere 6 kilometers (3 1/2 miles) from downtown Copenhagen. And there are so many kinds of bike carriers. Children are often carried in 2 person carts on the front of bikes. Women ride in all kinds of footwear and clothing. Dresses and high heels and all. And what is up with all the pregnant women here? My gosh there are a lot! And tons of babies and prams and strollers and bike seats. Little kids are everywhere!

On a personal note, I randomly chose a Danish chiropractor this week and saw her twice. It has helped tremendously and I am feeling much better. The office does NO paperwork, no medical history, no nothing. It is not a litigous society. Cost for a chiropractice visit is less than the cost of a movie and popcorn for 2 people.

We got our citizen cards yesterday. Yoohoo! Now we are officially residents and receive all the services that Danes do. However, we're not sure what they are exactly, since the list came printed in Danish. But it's health and library and community services, etc.

Craig and I are learning the transportation system much better now. We go from train, to bus, to bike and walk, just like everybody else. We save the car for when we really need convenience or when we go somewhere far as a family. I feel as if we're going througha Danish boot camp, to be indoctrinated into civilian life here. We are learning the do's and don'ts but also the mentalities of the culture and the people. I dare say it will take the better part of 2 years to really grasp that, if at all.

We have not gone out of our way to buy newspapers and such in English, nor do we have t.v. yet therefore our news from the states is meager. It doesn't seem to bother us at all. What we don't know won't hurt us.

We are getting to know some neighbors a little. M & M played with kids from across the street on Sunday. Anna (10) and Mads (12). They spoke very little English but played Bocci ball in the back yard and caught frogs and made them a house. Later that day we went to another beautiful beach nearby and Molly was the only brave one to swim in the sound.

We have our internet and t.v. installation date for September 23rd. Hurray! Now we wait. Until then I will continue to grab internet time at the library in Hellerup or at the kids' school or an internet cafe. During these times, I usually don't have a lot of time to write long email passages. I'm taking care of banking or other business. Please forgive my brevity.

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Looking forward to sending more good news when I can.
Love and Light,
Mary Jo