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It is my turn this week to pen my thoughts. I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since we landed in Aalborg. My experiences have run a gamut just like the weather here. It was hot and humid the week we landed. Today the weather has turned cool and windy. But the sun is shining and all's well! :)
I feel more at home now. I'm getting familiar with the day-to-day life - now I don't have to peer at the currency coins in my hand to read their denominations. Just their shape and size tells me their value - although I still goof up now and then. I'm getting to know the bus routes as well as the bus drivers. I'm getting to know my way around my neighborhood and the university. I'm getting to know the Danish language, mainly by reading restaurant menus. I doubt if I'll ever learn it - it's way too complicated and as Haema says, you have no clue what to do with your tongue! :)
But, it's still not home. People are friendly if you approach them with request for help or information. But they will not intrude upon you. Danes appear serious and reserved. They work hard although their work week is only 37 hrs. Children are important to Danes. It is not uncommon to see Danish men taking kids on their various errands. Their basic needs such as health and education are met by the government. The government pays 1000 DKK/month ($1=6 DKK) for every child. In effect, you start earning the day you are born. What an empowering feeling!! Danes feel very secure and proud of their socialist democratic system of government. They feel they have managed to blend the best of two worlds - the individual freedom of a capitalist society and individual's responsibility towards one's community, the mainstay of a socialitst system.
This week's album has pictures of my office mates and people who've helped me before and after coming to Aalborg. I've also added some pics of a train journey we took to Randers, a small town south of Aalborg for dinner to a professor's house, Dr. Elsebeth Sorensen, I will be working with her during my stay here. I work in a beautiful office with better amneties than the one in the U.S. The people in my office are wonderful! The picture above shows me in front of my office building. Here, the buildings don't have names. They're known by a number and the street they're located on. My office address is Kroghstraede 3. There's much to write on the design of the building and its interior - that'll have to wait for another day. All I can say for now is the design here is greatly influenced by principles of simplicity and efficiency. More on this later....
For now, enjoy the pics!
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