Summertime Clothes

Some societal differences:

Newspapers are free!  Apparently they are paid for by advertising alone, and when I get off the bus in the morning at the main station people hand them out like hot cakes.  And even more interesting (or surprising) is that these are independent newspapers.  In a country where almost everything is paid for by the state (education, health care, cleaning ladies), I would assume the media would be funded by the government.  I think we are all clear that there would be some serious bias in the direction of reporting in such a scenario.  This is a great system to ensure readership and awareness amongst a population.  Perhaps if there was a larger readership in the United States the funding could be covered by advertising.  Unfortunately too many Americans enjoy soundbytes and USA Today (aka pictorial) papers.

Politics and elections are based on full or near full understanding of the candidates' positions.  In one of my classes we met a young, fit, blond haired 32 year old politician who was elected based on her liberal views from a young up and coming district. She said she went to more town hall style meetings than she can count, but i guess that is easier in a country of 5 million.  Also, she really utilized facebook and myspace, which is genious in the country with the most percentage of the population on these resources (60 percent!!!).  And as a side note, liberal here means free thinking, not pandering to traditionally leftist politics. This came as quite a surprise to me as some of the most conservative members of parliament consider themselves liber, or not pandering to party platforms.

Social code.  There is a specific law (Janteloven) that is followed by all Danes.  You shall not beleive that you are somebody, that you are wiser than others, that you are better than others, you shall not laugh at others, etc.  One is shamed for breaking this, and can even be fired for doing so.  Bragging is considered extremely rude and uncouth, which is direct opposition to the state of affairs in the US, where bragging and self promotion is a way of life.  I just had a conversation with a Dane about this, and it goes hand in hand with Danes not enjoying small talk.  Asking how are you here is pointless.  No one really cares-true in the US as well-but there is a welfare state that should take care of every person.  Therefore, you really are fine (for example, unemployment pay here lasts for years, not weeks) and this is a pointless venture.  In this way it is unfit to brag because everyone should be on an equal footing.  Perhaps bragging is so much more acceptable in the US because it is a (supposedly) self-made country, full of Horatio Alger stories.

Facial piercings are in!  Lip rings, eyebrow rings, chest/cleavage piercings, chin rings, industrials, dimple piercings (really cool!), they are all fair game on guys and girls.  And perhaps the coolest piercing which so may girls sport is the septum piercing.  This is the middle flap of flesh in between one's nostrils, and people look like hot, angry bulls with this.  In the US this would be considered disgusting and unprofessional, ut here it has little effect on people's professional lives.  Sarah Brown, one of the Wes kids here, is thinking about getting one, but really questioning it based on the perception in the US.  Well I'm all for her getting it and letting people judge here after knowing her, but maybe I'm too vocal.

Thats it for now on the commentary front, I'll have to keep on observing.  In any case, this week I hosted a successful dinner party (thanks Neelu for teaching me how to cook indian food!) in my loft, which I hope to repeat many times this semester.  I attended a beer tasting and tasted the best vit bier (wheat beer) of my life.  Apparently one of the ten best breweries of 2008 is a small microbrewery in downtown Copenhagen, so i hope to try all their brews.  And yes I realize that best is very objective, but this was conducted by some international beer panel.  And last night I went to a grunge-rock concert.  I have finally found an alternative music venue here in Copenhagen.  It is actually Studentehuset, the same pub where I bartended a few weeks ago.  Freudian Slip, the band, was clearly influenced by Nirvana, The Clash, and Weezer, and hopefully the venue will continue to have awesome shows.  The place feels/rocks like Eclectic, and everyone also sports the nerd glasses.  Whoo nerds!