Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Congratulations President Obama, Party On America!
We sat in the quiet of our little front room, watching America celebrate the inauguration of President Obama, the 44th President of the U.S. and the first person of color to hold such position. Nephew Matt Schneider joined us as we watched CNN, our only news channel in English. We hardly began to get that "comm-unity" that Americans felt that day. It is a sad thing to be so far away from the action and experience. But the main thing is that we witnessed the making of one of America's most significant moments in history, with our children. We hope and pray for the best for our new president and our country. I am proud to be an American. I am proud of the millions of people all over the country who united in spirit and hope. It's bigger than life. May it be the medicine we all need to heal and get stronger. Go Obama!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Winter Walk Around Utterslev Mose
Last Sunday I went out on a brisk, cold morning for a walk from our house to Utterslev Mose. A mose is like a pond/lake/marsh/wildlife sanctuary and there are numerous all over Denmark. Almost all have paths around them for pedestrians. Some are named lakes and others are mose, not sure exactly the difference. Thus the name of our street, "Ellemosevej" is broken up into 3 words: Elle (a womans' name) Mose (the stream that runs along our street and connects lakes and Vej ("way").
Utterslev is a 15- 20 minute walk from our house and then we can choose 3 different routes around the lake with each a little longer. It's a great family bike ride on the weekend or a place for walks and runs while taking in nature.
This particular morning, the sun was bright and the sky blue for a change. The temperature was somewhere around 30. We were slowly coming out of 10 days of freezing temperatures so many waterways were frozen over. Folks had even been skating on the "canals" downtown.
I took along my camera just to document a very common occurance: Danes out for exercise in nature. I honestly thought Oregonians were athletic as a whole population but Denmark puts them to shame. At least in the bigger cities. There are more people here who run/walk/play team sports/etc. than go to church in Oregon. It's a way of life. Women bundle up their newborns to go out for a stroll in 25 degrees every day no matter what. People just get out - every day. Lots of dog walkers too, especially those in fur coats - but that's a whole other blog entry.
And they don't just train by themselves. They like to go in packs or clubs. We'll see running groups on the weekends of 20 or 40 people in a group. Europeans have to pay for sports. For example, if you want to play tennis or rock climb or play basketball or handball you must join a club, pay dues and then attend. Danes have every club imagineable. For pay. Some are subsidized by the government and others are private. There are no public tennis courts, basketball courts, skate parks, tracks, etc. The trick is to find what you want to do and then join that club. And then, the times of activities are usually after work - because almost all Danes work. Men and women alike.
Back to the walk: Very few bikes passed me since biking is mainly for commuting. Unless you are mountain bike riding or long road riding, commuter bikes get parked during "off time". Running is the after-hours sport. I continued along, noticing only deciduous trees with a few scraggly brown leaves. There's a common brown/gray tone to everything. It's going to be a long time before life comes back to the trees and bushes here.
But we are getting more daylight - hurray! It's fully light by 8:30 am and not dark until just after 4. Every day gets better so I feel like we are out of the darkest times. I've been feeling much calmer and at peace lately. Perhaps I am finally coming down from the commotion and stress of our move, or just feeling more settled, or both. The girls too. Craig is another story. He's good, but work will continue to be a constant challenge. He's so glad we are here to support him.
comments to thecohen4dk@gmail.com
Utterslev is a 15- 20 minute walk from our house and then we can choose 3 different routes around the lake with each a little longer. It's a great family bike ride on the weekend or a place for walks and runs while taking in nature.
This particular morning, the sun was bright and the sky blue for a change. The temperature was somewhere around 30. We were slowly coming out of 10 days of freezing temperatures so many waterways were frozen over. Folks had even been skating on the "canals" downtown.
I took along my camera just to document a very common occurance: Danes out for exercise in nature. I honestly thought Oregonians were athletic as a whole population but Denmark puts them to shame. At least in the bigger cities. There are more people here who run/walk/play team sports/etc. than go to church in Oregon. It's a way of life. Women bundle up their newborns to go out for a stroll in 25 degrees every day no matter what. People just get out - every day. Lots of dog walkers too, especially those in fur coats - but that's a whole other blog entry.
And they don't just train by themselves. They like to go in packs or clubs. We'll see running groups on the weekends of 20 or 40 people in a group. Europeans have to pay for sports. For example, if you want to play tennis or rock climb or play basketball or handball you must join a club, pay dues and then attend. Danes have every club imagineable. For pay. Some are subsidized by the government and others are private. There are no public tennis courts, basketball courts, skate parks, tracks, etc. The trick is to find what you want to do and then join that club. And then, the times of activities are usually after work - because almost all Danes work. Men and women alike.
Back to the walk: Very few bikes passed me since biking is mainly for commuting. Unless you are mountain bike riding or long road riding, commuter bikes get parked during "off time". Running is the after-hours sport. I continued along, noticing only deciduous trees with a few scraggly brown leaves. There's a common brown/gray tone to everything. It's going to be a long time before life comes back to the trees and bushes here.
But we are getting more daylight - hurray! It's fully light by 8:30 am and not dark until just after 4. Every day gets better so I feel like we are out of the darkest times. I've been feeling much calmer and at peace lately. Perhaps I am finally coming down from the commotion and stress of our move, or just feeling more settled, or both. The girls too. Craig is another story. He's good, but work will continue to be a constant challenge. He's so glad we are here to support him.
comments to thecohen4dk@gmail.com
Sunday, January 4, 2009
New Year's Trip to Switzerland
We are back from our second, big out-of-country adventure. We went to Klosters, Switzerland to stay with our friends, the Auf der Mars. They are a Swiss family we got to know while they lived in Portland years ago. They live in Lucerne now and their family owns a home in Klosters, which is far eastern alps, near the Austrian border. Karin and Elmar have Noah (11) Leon (9) and Emma (1). We saw them 2 1/2 years ago when we took our trip to Switzerland/Italy.
Davos/Klosters is an international winter sport community, famous because Prince Charles and his family stay there when they ski. It lies in a sweet valley surrounded by 8-10,000 ft. peaks and offers every sport imagineable within walking distance. It was my first experience in such a place. We enjoyed it not only for the intricate artwork on the swiss chalets, the glorious sun shining every day, the wide array of sports to choose from (winter and summer) but for the outstanding customer service and friendliness of the people in general. Everybody greets you as you pass by on the street, the x-c trail or on the chairlift. Even the waitress in the raodside cafe thanked us and wished us "farewell". That's what we miss here in Denmark - that common everyday connection with people and eye contact. The Swiss like to "greutzi!" each other. Denmark just doesn't have the "greutzi". And, as Craig explained to me, forcing them to make eye contact and greet me would make them uncomfortable. It's just not their custom. It's like forcing Japanese to shake hands instead of bow.
Anyway, our adventure began with a 4 hour car ride to Hamburg, Germany on Tuesday, the 30th. Craig worked that day while (the girls) and I cleaned and packed the car. We left at 3 pm and drove mostly in the dark, stopping at a German autobahn rest-stop for dinner. They "get" car travel here. Rest stops and restaurants are frequent, clean and offer the most beautiful foods and cleanest bathrooms. Craig drove the equivalent of 100 mph, on the average, and cars were passing us like we were standing still. Amazing. Germans do drive fast.
We arrived in Hamburg to the DB autozug train station and got in line to load our car. The car goes onto a 2 level trailer that the train tows behind. Upfront are all the sleeper cars, arranged by class. We found our wagon and compartments. We had booked two 2-person compartments that connect. During the day they each have a bench seat and at night they become bunk beds with lovely mattresses and down comforters. Each compartment has its own closet and sink. After the purser made our beds we changed into pj's, read a bit and shut off the light at 10 pm. The journey was fairly good with the natural rocking of the train and no station stops. With an arrival time of 7 am, the intercom chimed bells and a wake-up announcement at 5:30 am. the purser came in with coffees and hot chocolates at 6 am along with a typcial German boxed breakfast: hard white roll, butter, jam, liverworst, juice and a packaged croissant. We drank the coffee. All-in-all it was a pretty neat travel experience - the stuff movies are made of. Many families with little children travel this way. It's a good way to make distance, and sleep at the same time.
Arriving in Lorrach, Germany, we loaded up our car and were on the road at 7:30 am, crossing the border immediately into Switzerland, near Basel. With our handy navigation system we had no problem driving through Zurich and up to Klosters, taking 2 1/2 hours. They have a very modern condo, set at the base of Parsenn ski area but a 10 minute walk to city center. We spent the first day getting our bearings, kids playing in the snow, a walk to town and visiting. At 4 pm the ski lift behind their house shuts down and they allow sledders down the hill. So 6 of us hiked up hill with our sleds, stopping at the restaurant at the top of the hill for a boozed-up "house coffee" for the adults and sodas for the kids. The ride down was thrilling to say the least. Sledding is a big sport here. People will take the chairlifts up mountains and then take sled runs that go for miles, even with babies in tow.
That night was New Year's Eve and we celebrated with a real Swiss Cheese Fondue dinner and wine. We provided the "crackers" with hats and jokes in Danish, that no one understood. Unfortunately, the night was cut short because Noah had been really sick and it progressed to the point that we called 911 and an EMT team checked him out. His fever was making him delirious and his lungs hurt. They diagnosed him with a bad virus, but no pneumonia. Regardless, everybody went to bed early that night, all pretty exhausted. Parties set off fireworks all around us but most of slept soundly.
The next morning Noah went to the doctor who did diagnose pneumonia and started him right away on antibiotics. He was so sick he could barely open his eyes, let alone walk or eat. Later that day Craig, Elmar and I skate-skiied along a trail, back into the forest, to the end of the valley. Skate skiing is similar to x-country, however the skis are different and are meant to push off laterally, like skating. You push off in the back with your arms, rather than in front. It takes every muscle in your body and is one of the most aerobic sports that exists. Needless to say, it kicked our butts. I've done it a couple of times over the last 12 years so I'm familiar with the technique. We had almost all uphill the first 1 1/2 hours, then mostly downhill the last 40 minutes. Elmar is about 6 ft. 5 with a strong, lean physique so we worked to keep up with him. it was a beautiful experience though, out in the woods, looking up to extraordinary, sunny peaks.
Another trip sledding trip (minus the "house coffee"), dinner with wine, the chocolate game for dessert and we were all in bed again at 9:30 pm, to prepare for the next adventure: downhill skiing. We rented our gear (not enough room in our car to bring) the night before and got to the base of Madrisa at 8:30 am. We took 4 person gondolas up to the main area. The elevation is so high, they get sun from first light, til sundown. It was a gorgeous day with no wind, views of dozens of snow-covered peaks in every direction and the best powder, both groomed and freshy-fresh on the sides. Madrisa, like many ski areas only has t-bars, which we've never experienced before. You lean back and rest against the bar, you skis simming the ground all the way to the top. We all had our awkward moments getting off and on and Molly and I each fell off once. The runs are wide open, no trees or rocks, and long. Making telemark turns was tiring to say the least.
On the 3rd run Maya fell and twisted her knee. She was in severe pain. We guided her down, Karin holding her between her legs. She made it to the first-aid room so they could check her out. With very little English they exlpained it was bad enough to get her to the doctor for x-rays. So they bundled her onto a board and into the gondola for the ride down and into the ambulance. She was scared and crying. Craig accompanied her while I stayed with Molly. Within an hour Craig called to say it was a medium sprain and no real damage, possible a strained ligament. He got her home and came back to join us. (Nice, being so close to a ski area, huh?) We all skied until we were tired and starting to make mistakes. We rode the gondola down, while Leon and Karin skiied down to the bottom. Except for Maya's incident, it was a fantastic day, including the lunch of brots and pommes frittes in the chalet sundeck, overlooking the Swiss Alps. I had to keep pinching myself that I was actually there.
That night I baked my traditional roast chickens and potatoes, with green salad. We played games and enjoyed Noah's company who was finally perking up from the antibiotics. The last day Elmar and Leon skiied while the rest of us cleaned the house, Noah went back to the doctor and the Cohens attempted a short hike in the valley. The girls were tired. It was cold too, -15 degrees C. We packed up, only after shopping in the local grocery store, stocking up on 12 cans of refried beans that we can't find anywhere in Denmark and some decent sponges. After our good-byes we drove back to Lorrach, had dinner at a fantastic Italian restuarant right by the train station and boarded the train at 7:45 pm.
We had a different kind of sleeper car on the way back, since the other kind was all booked. A couchette has bench seats that face each other during the day (picture the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter movies) and fold into bunk beds at night. You can sleep 5 people total in a very small space. Couchettes are the equivalent of coach on airplanes - less frills, less comfort, more noise, more light. What's ironic is the couchette was higher priced, since we were traveling on the weekend, peak time. With another 6 am wak-up call, we slowly arose, got our same boxed breakfast and were ready to disembark at 7:20 am. By the time we got in the car and drove away it was 8 am. Having rested, Craig drove us the last 4 hours home to Copenhagen. We read hans Christian Anderson stories and the girls watched a movie and I read articles from Rolling Stone magazine dedicated to Barack Obama (thanks Joe!)
We like the autozug and look forward to using it again this summer when we travel to France. It's a great way to get to other countries and have your car where you need to go, without having to rent one, or deal with the hassle of airports. Even though driving is cheaper, it's a lot less than flying and is more enjoyable for the whole family, especially Maya who hates to fly.
Now, back at home, Craig left immediately work. He had a nice nap, shower, re-packed and drove 3 hours to Aarhus where he will be for the next 3 nights. He just hired a controller and will work with him as well as dealing with year-end inventory. The girls go back to school on the 7th and I will join them going back to Danish class on the same day. We are experiencing sun and very cold temperatures, 20's F with a wind chill. We may have a little snow this week and then by Friday back to 40's and rain/clouds. Back to the grind. At least for a month, then we have another week off in mid-February. Don't know where we'll go, but it will be without Craig. Then home to Portland the first week of April. Yahoo! 3 months and counting.
Comments to: thecohen4dk@gmail.com
this record-long posting was powered by 2 strong cups of coffee...
Davos/Klosters is an international winter sport community, famous because Prince Charles and his family stay there when they ski. It lies in a sweet valley surrounded by 8-10,000 ft. peaks and offers every sport imagineable within walking distance. It was my first experience in such a place. We enjoyed it not only for the intricate artwork on the swiss chalets, the glorious sun shining every day, the wide array of sports to choose from (winter and summer) but for the outstanding customer service and friendliness of the people in general. Everybody greets you as you pass by on the street, the x-c trail or on the chairlift. Even the waitress in the raodside cafe thanked us and wished us "farewell". That's what we miss here in Denmark - that common everyday connection with people and eye contact. The Swiss like to "greutzi!" each other. Denmark just doesn't have the "greutzi". And, as Craig explained to me, forcing them to make eye contact and greet me would make them uncomfortable. It's just not their custom. It's like forcing Japanese to shake hands instead of bow.
Anyway, our adventure began with a 4 hour car ride to Hamburg, Germany on Tuesday, the 30th. Craig worked that day while (the girls) and I cleaned and packed the car. We left at 3 pm and drove mostly in the dark, stopping at a German autobahn rest-stop for dinner. They "get" car travel here. Rest stops and restaurants are frequent, clean and offer the most beautiful foods and cleanest bathrooms. Craig drove the equivalent of 100 mph, on the average, and cars were passing us like we were standing still. Amazing. Germans do drive fast.
We arrived in Hamburg to the DB autozug train station and got in line to load our car. The car goes onto a 2 level trailer that the train tows behind. Upfront are all the sleeper cars, arranged by class. We found our wagon and compartments. We had booked two 2-person compartments that connect. During the day they each have a bench seat and at night they become bunk beds with lovely mattresses and down comforters. Each compartment has its own closet and sink. After the purser made our beds we changed into pj's, read a bit and shut off the light at 10 pm. The journey was fairly good with the natural rocking of the train and no station stops. With an arrival time of 7 am, the intercom chimed bells and a wake-up announcement at 5:30 am. the purser came in with coffees and hot chocolates at 6 am along with a typcial German boxed breakfast: hard white roll, butter, jam, liverworst, juice and a packaged croissant. We drank the coffee. All-in-all it was a pretty neat travel experience - the stuff movies are made of. Many families with little children travel this way. It's a good way to make distance, and sleep at the same time.
Arriving in Lorrach, Germany, we loaded up our car and were on the road at 7:30 am, crossing the border immediately into Switzerland, near Basel. With our handy navigation system we had no problem driving through Zurich and up to Klosters, taking 2 1/2 hours. They have a very modern condo, set at the base of Parsenn ski area but a 10 minute walk to city center. We spent the first day getting our bearings, kids playing in the snow, a walk to town and visiting. At 4 pm the ski lift behind their house shuts down and they allow sledders down the hill. So 6 of us hiked up hill with our sleds, stopping at the restaurant at the top of the hill for a boozed-up "house coffee" for the adults and sodas for the kids. The ride down was thrilling to say the least. Sledding is a big sport here. People will take the chairlifts up mountains and then take sled runs that go for miles, even with babies in tow.
That night was New Year's Eve and we celebrated with a real Swiss Cheese Fondue dinner and wine. We provided the "crackers" with hats and jokes in Danish, that no one understood. Unfortunately, the night was cut short because Noah had been really sick and it progressed to the point that we called 911 and an EMT team checked him out. His fever was making him delirious and his lungs hurt. They diagnosed him with a bad virus, but no pneumonia. Regardless, everybody went to bed early that night, all pretty exhausted. Parties set off fireworks all around us but most of slept soundly.
The next morning Noah went to the doctor who did diagnose pneumonia and started him right away on antibiotics. He was so sick he could barely open his eyes, let alone walk or eat. Later that day Craig, Elmar and I skate-skiied along a trail, back into the forest, to the end of the valley. Skate skiing is similar to x-country, however the skis are different and are meant to push off laterally, like skating. You push off in the back with your arms, rather than in front. It takes every muscle in your body and is one of the most aerobic sports that exists. Needless to say, it kicked our butts. I've done it a couple of times over the last 12 years so I'm familiar with the technique. We had almost all uphill the first 1 1/2 hours, then mostly downhill the last 40 minutes. Elmar is about 6 ft. 5 with a strong, lean physique so we worked to keep up with him. it was a beautiful experience though, out in the woods, looking up to extraordinary, sunny peaks.
Another trip sledding trip (minus the "house coffee"), dinner with wine, the chocolate game for dessert and we were all in bed again at 9:30 pm, to prepare for the next adventure: downhill skiing. We rented our gear (not enough room in our car to bring) the night before and got to the base of Madrisa at 8:30 am. We took 4 person gondolas up to the main area. The elevation is so high, they get sun from first light, til sundown. It was a gorgeous day with no wind, views of dozens of snow-covered peaks in every direction and the best powder, both groomed and freshy-fresh on the sides. Madrisa, like many ski areas only has t-bars, which we've never experienced before. You lean back and rest against the bar, you skis simming the ground all the way to the top. We all had our awkward moments getting off and on and Molly and I each fell off once. The runs are wide open, no trees or rocks, and long. Making telemark turns was tiring to say the least.
On the 3rd run Maya fell and twisted her knee. She was in severe pain. We guided her down, Karin holding her between her legs. She made it to the first-aid room so they could check her out. With very little English they exlpained it was bad enough to get her to the doctor for x-rays. So they bundled her onto a board and into the gondola for the ride down and into the ambulance. She was scared and crying. Craig accompanied her while I stayed with Molly. Within an hour Craig called to say it was a medium sprain and no real damage, possible a strained ligament. He got her home and came back to join us. (Nice, being so close to a ski area, huh?) We all skied until we were tired and starting to make mistakes. We rode the gondola down, while Leon and Karin skiied down to the bottom. Except for Maya's incident, it was a fantastic day, including the lunch of brots and pommes frittes in the chalet sundeck, overlooking the Swiss Alps. I had to keep pinching myself that I was actually there.
That night I baked my traditional roast chickens and potatoes, with green salad. We played games and enjoyed Noah's company who was finally perking up from the antibiotics. The last day Elmar and Leon skiied while the rest of us cleaned the house, Noah went back to the doctor and the Cohens attempted a short hike in the valley. The girls were tired. It was cold too, -15 degrees C. We packed up, only after shopping in the local grocery store, stocking up on 12 cans of refried beans that we can't find anywhere in Denmark and some decent sponges. After our good-byes we drove back to Lorrach, had dinner at a fantastic Italian restuarant right by the train station and boarded the train at 7:45 pm.
We had a different kind of sleeper car on the way back, since the other kind was all booked. A couchette has bench seats that face each other during the day (picture the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter movies) and fold into bunk beds at night. You can sleep 5 people total in a very small space. Couchettes are the equivalent of coach on airplanes - less frills, less comfort, more noise, more light. What's ironic is the couchette was higher priced, since we were traveling on the weekend, peak time. With another 6 am wak-up call, we slowly arose, got our same boxed breakfast and were ready to disembark at 7:20 am. By the time we got in the car and drove away it was 8 am. Having rested, Craig drove us the last 4 hours home to Copenhagen. We read hans Christian Anderson stories and the girls watched a movie and I read articles from Rolling Stone magazine dedicated to Barack Obama (thanks Joe!)
We like the autozug and look forward to using it again this summer when we travel to France. It's a great way to get to other countries and have your car where you need to go, without having to rent one, or deal with the hassle of airports. Even though driving is cheaper, it's a lot less than flying and is more enjoyable for the whole family, especially Maya who hates to fly.
Now, back at home, Craig left immediately work. He had a nice nap, shower, re-packed and drove 3 hours to Aarhus where he will be for the next 3 nights. He just hired a controller and will work with him as well as dealing with year-end inventory. The girls go back to school on the 7th and I will join them going back to Danish class on the same day. We are experiencing sun and very cold temperatures, 20's F with a wind chill. We may have a little snow this week and then by Friday back to 40's and rain/clouds. Back to the grind. At least for a month, then we have another week off in mid-February. Don't know where we'll go, but it will be without Craig. Then home to Portland the first week of April. Yahoo! 3 months and counting.
Comments to: thecohen4dk@gmail.com
this record-long posting was powered by 2 strong cups of coffee...
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Molly's 9th Birthday
Molly turned 9 on December 29th. She celebrated with a sleepover party with 6 other friends from school. On Sunday the 28th, the friends arrived around 1 pm. Craig, Maya and mom escorted the 7 girls to our train stop and downtown to the DGI Byen Swim Center. This place is amazing with a play pool surrounded by a circular lap pool and a separate area for diving - with 6 different levels and springboards. Another room as 2 separate hot water pools. They didn't allow pictures inside, due to some rule they couldn't explain. Go figure. So we have a picture outside.
After a train ride home, the girls chowed on pizza, opened presents, then played team pictionary, treasure hunt and white elephant. After home made chocolate cake and ice cream they set up the living room for the sleeping portion. They watched Home Alone 3. Some girls fell asleep around 11 and others stayed up until 1 and later. Molly had a bad cough and threw up her dinner in her parent's bed at midnight. She spent the rest of the night in the guest bed with dad.
The next morning Molly was fine and the girls continued to play, watch Mamma Mia, eat waffles and pack up for a pick-up at 10 am. The rest of the day, her real birthday was spent hanging out around the house while mom cleaned and did laundry, preparing for the Switzerland trip and dad was at work.
Molly is a brilliant, generous and thoughtful young lady who loves to do handstands around the house, over and over, all day long. She likes to read Judy Moody and Amber Brown, plays Webkinz and Club Penguin on the computer, loves gymnastics, dance, soccer, softball and swimming. She loves being busy and would rather go out than stay in. Her favorite foods are pasta and pizza and any kind of fruit except bananas. She still lovs to cuddle and have books read to her. She always brightens up the room and we love her dearly.
After a train ride home, the girls chowed on pizza, opened presents, then played team pictionary, treasure hunt and white elephant. After home made chocolate cake and ice cream they set up the living room for the sleeping portion. They watched Home Alone 3. Some girls fell asleep around 11 and others stayed up until 1 and later. Molly had a bad cough and threw up her dinner in her parent's bed at midnight. She spent the rest of the night in the guest bed with dad.
The next morning Molly was fine and the girls continued to play, watch Mamma Mia, eat waffles and pack up for a pick-up at 10 am. The rest of the day, her real birthday was spent hanging out around the house while mom cleaned and did laundry, preparing for the Switzerland trip and dad was at work.
Molly is a brilliant, generous and thoughtful young lady who loves to do handstands around the house, over and over, all day long. She likes to read Judy Moody and Amber Brown, plays Webkinz and Club Penguin on the computer, loves gymnastics, dance, soccer, softball and swimming. She loves being busy and would rather go out than stay in. Her favorite foods are pasta and pizza and any kind of fruit except bananas. She still lovs to cuddle and have books read to her. She always brightens up the room and we love her dearly.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
God Jul - Merry Christmas
It is after 10 pm on Christmas Eve as I write this. Just tucked the girls into bed, Craig is asleep on the couch and we are waiting for Santa to arrive. We had a nice day including a walk through Dyrrehaven Park and the girls and Craig played games while I made Hungarian Mushroom Soup. We went over to the Wendelt's house for a Christmas Even celebration at 4 pm. They are American and have a daughter in 3rd grade with Molly. There were 4 other American families and 1 Scottish there, all with children in primary years and mostly young boys. Quite a scene. After drinks and delicious American type foods (including my soup) we played 3 rounds of "white elephant" with each family deciding on keeping on giving away. We drove home on absolutely desolate streets. Most, if not all Danes are celebrating really big tonight. Christmas Eve is their big night when they light the tree, dance and sing around it, feast, drink heavily and give presents. Many go home to their parents in the other islands.
Tomorrow, Christmas Day, we will wake and see what Santa brought, hopefully not before 6 am. We'll have a nice breakfast at home, then visit a Catholic Church that has an English mass and back home for games, family time, movies and a roast pork dinner. We're going traditional Danish dinner: roast pork with the "crackle back", potatoes au gratin, braised red cabbage, and rice pudding with cherry sauce for dessert.
We're all feeling a little out of sorts about Christmas. Even though we have all the necessary decor and all, it's just very strange being in a new place and trying to recreate traditions. Craig and I are o.k. because we know that a place doesn't necesarily make the holiday, but the spirit. But children dont' quite get that. They just want what they are used to. That makes them feel comfortable. It is not the same as being home, that's for sure. We are so far from it. Often, the less communication makes it easier on us. That way we don't know what we're missing.
We had a Hannukah dinner party with some new Dutch friends on Sunday night, the first night of Hannukah. We made and ate too many latkes, as usual.
Our holiday will be a combination of highlights, shopping and relaxing: jsut the right amount of activity mixed with pleasure and laying around. We'll celebrate Molly's birthday on Sunday/Monday 28th/29th then leave for Switzerland on the 30th for 5 days.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and a Blessed New Year.
Love and Light,
Mary Jo, Maya, Molly and Craig
Tomorrow, Christmas Day, we will wake and see what Santa brought, hopefully not before 6 am. We'll have a nice breakfast at home, then visit a Catholic Church that has an English mass and back home for games, family time, movies and a roast pork dinner. We're going traditional Danish dinner: roast pork with the "crackle back", potatoes au gratin, braised red cabbage, and rice pudding with cherry sauce for dessert.
We're all feeling a little out of sorts about Christmas. Even though we have all the necessary decor and all, it's just very strange being in a new place and trying to recreate traditions. Craig and I are o.k. because we know that a place doesn't necesarily make the holiday, but the spirit. But children dont' quite get that. They just want what they are used to. That makes them feel comfortable. It is not the same as being home, that's for sure. We are so far from it. Often, the less communication makes it easier on us. That way we don't know what we're missing.
We had a Hannukah dinner party with some new Dutch friends on Sunday night, the first night of Hannukah. We made and ate too many latkes, as usual.
Our holiday will be a combination of highlights, shopping and relaxing: jsut the right amount of activity mixed with pleasure and laying around. We'll celebrate Molly's birthday on Sunday/Monday 28th/29th then leave for Switzerland on the 30th for 5 days.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and a Blessed New Year.
Love and Light,
Mary Jo, Maya, Molly and Craig
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Maya turns 11
Our daughter Maya turned 11 on December 4th and carried on the same kind of birthday celebration that has been successful for the last 4 years: good friends, bowling, burgers, ice cream, movies and sleep over. Maya had a fun 4-day run of events. The 4th was her actual birthday - school, pizza with the family and presents (a new lego challenge). The 5th was an all-school music recital at a concert hall away from campus, then the bowling party with 3 classmates. They stayed up til 12:30 am giggling and talking like teens. Awoke the next morning and hug out, played "Dance Dance" Revolution on Wii, watched a movie and ate chocolate chip pancakes. Later that day we all attended the Copenhagen International School Holiday Fair (where mom was in charge of the menorah craft table). Sunday we had friends for brunch and Maya went to the Nokia company Christmas party with her friend Maddie. That was probably our busiest weekend for the entire holiday season.
Maya has taken her time to adjust to the school and home life here. She misses her trusty, reliable, true-blue friends from home terribly, and is seeking out quality people to connect with. So far, we love her choices. Her friends sang "happy birthday" to her in dutch, chinese and spanish! Now she is playing basketball and bonding with teammates as well. Maya is really evolving into an independent, responsible, thinking and caring person. Being here has been good for her development and challenged her comfort level in a good way. We are so proud of her.
Maya has taken her time to adjust to the school and home life here. She misses her trusty, reliable, true-blue friends from home terribly, and is seeking out quality people to connect with. So far, we love her choices. Her friends sang "happy birthday" to her in dutch, chinese and spanish! Now she is playing basketball and bonding with teammates as well. Maya is really evolving into an independent, responsible, thinking and caring person. Being here has been good for her development and challenged her comfort level in a good way. We are so proud of her.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Jesus has been replaced by Nissa
Well folks, christmas has arrived in Denmark and with it the onslaught of the gnomes - "nissa" people. Nissa is everywhere, ornaments, cartoons, t.v. shows, crafts, decoration, wreaths, cards, wrapping paper, yard statues. And, along with lights, candles and greenery is the standard holiday decor in this country. Trees only come into the homes the week of Christmas, but many people buy them earlier and keep them in their backyard.
However, I keep looking for some sign of baby Jesus and any form of Christianity here and it's as missing as OJ's glove in his first trial. While this is a Lutheran Country and all Danes profess to be Lutheran, very few if any at all actually go to church, except on Christmas and maybe Easter. I have only seen one nativity scene for sale. Granted, I am not a practicing Christian in the church sense, but still I try and demonstrate with family what the meaning of Christmas is.
In Denmark, it has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus, but rather the significance of lights, the derision from darkness and work life, joyous times of merriment with family and friends and gift giving. It is a timeless tradition that, like all countries, has become more materialistic and a chance for overworked parents to dote on their children. I have asked countless people their impression of this and everyone, Dane and non-Dane answer the same way, "Denmark's not a religious country".
So now we know what it's like to live in a country where everybody celebrates in the same nationalistic/ethnic way. Even though we are connected to an international school, we are surrounded by almost pure Danish culture and it's noticeable that everybody joins in, because that is what is done and will always be done. Every shop, business, doctors' office, grocery store decorate for Christmas. It's an unspoken rule that you must. Every desk in every office or table at home has an advent candle that burns down a number from 1 - 24 days. Lights and greenery in every window. Yes, it is beautiful. Try and get that spirit in America where disjointed religions and beliefs mix with the pervasive political correctness. Sheesh. There's a lot of "hum bug-ness" that goes on in America. And even though it's not in the name of religion, at least the Danes haul off and go with the festiveness of it all. It's all very interesting.
Now, go out and light your Christmas spirits.
Comments to thecohen4dk@gmail.com
However, I keep looking for some sign of baby Jesus and any form of Christianity here and it's as missing as OJ's glove in his first trial. While this is a Lutheran Country and all Danes profess to be Lutheran, very few if any at all actually go to church, except on Christmas and maybe Easter. I have only seen one nativity scene for sale. Granted, I am not a practicing Christian in the church sense, but still I try and demonstrate with family what the meaning of Christmas is.
In Denmark, it has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus, but rather the significance of lights, the derision from darkness and work life, joyous times of merriment with family and friends and gift giving. It is a timeless tradition that, like all countries, has become more materialistic and a chance for overworked parents to dote on their children. I have asked countless people their impression of this and everyone, Dane and non-Dane answer the same way, "Denmark's not a religious country".
So now we know what it's like to live in a country where everybody celebrates in the same nationalistic/ethnic way. Even though we are connected to an international school, we are surrounded by almost pure Danish culture and it's noticeable that everybody joins in, because that is what is done and will always be done. Every shop, business, doctors' office, grocery store decorate for Christmas. It's an unspoken rule that you must. Every desk in every office or table at home has an advent candle that burns down a number from 1 - 24 days. Lights and greenery in every window. Yes, it is beautiful. Try and get that spirit in America where disjointed religions and beliefs mix with the pervasive political correctness. Sheesh. There's a lot of "hum bug-ness" that goes on in America. And even though it's not in the name of religion, at least the Danes haul off and go with the festiveness of it all. It's all very interesting.
Now, go out and light your Christmas spirits.
Comments to thecohen4dk@gmail.com
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