To Travel is To Live

An Update

The travelling didn't stop when I got back from Denmark:

San Francisco - January 2007

Chicago - March 2007

Atlanta - May 2007

Next stop... Toronto - July 2007

I'm Home...

... and couldn't be happier.

“If we fancy (think of) some strong emotion and then try to abstract from our consciousness of it all the feelings of its bodily symptoms, we find we have nothing left behind- no “mind-stuff” out of which the emotion can be constituted, and that a cold and neutral state of intellectual perception is all that remains…..” - William James

Close to my Heart

My Host Mom & Me at Julefrokost 2006

It is hard to believe that 7 days from now… well… I’ll be back in Columbus. The process of re-entry will be a culture shock in its own right. The American lifestyle has become foreign to me.

I’m going to miss my host family. They have accepted me into their home, fed me, listened to my many stories, shared, taught, laughed and learned. My host mom is an incredible woman. I’ve learned a lot from her—from how to properly put on a duvet cover to being the best parent. I will miss her dearly. But as she said over dinner the other night, I will always have Denmark in my memories.

I’m going to miss the friends I’ve made here and all of the little things we’ve discovered about Copenhagen, about Denmark, and about ourselves.

I going to miss Denmark. I’m going to miss the hygge, the blonde hair & blue eyes, the bikes, buses, and trains, the rugbrød, Molly (the guinea pig), coffee breaks, rainy weather, the Danish language, and people who understand when I say, tak.

I’m going to miss the 9 hour dinner parties, wienerbrød, cute Danish children in snow suits, heart decorations at Christmas time, and Strøget.

Denmark will always be a special place. My second home. I’ve lived here. I’ve had my great days, my good days, and some not so good days—and that is life. I’ve immersed myself in another culture and adapted. To use the buzz word, I’ve had a true cross-cultural experience. I will forever be more aware of my own culture, and the culture of others.

But Denmark will always be with me… close to my heart…

And years from now, I can say…

I remember one time, in Copenhagen…

Until then...I’ll be home for Christmas…

Anna

Malmö!

Yes, that is right my friends! I went to Malmö! And for those of you who are wondering where Malmö is, let me help. Malmö is a cute little city in Sweden which is a 35 minute train ride from Copenhagen. This town was full of wonderful charms around each corner. Only about 20 minutes of being in the city, I found the highlight... the Apoteket Lejonet. Built in the 1890s, this is one of Sweden's oldest pharmacies. The entire inside of this modern pharmacy is preserved in turn of the 20th century style. Simply fabulous....

And be sure to check out more pictures of Malmö here!

Enjoy...

Anna

Regimentation at the cost of individualism?

The topic of public health is one that comes up often in my Impact of Epidemic Disease in European History class. In particular preventative public health, for example vaccination, has been discussed often. Many times my professor has talked about the responsibility of a government to provide basic health to its citizens.

But he also mentions that the result of this: regimentation, lack of choice. In order for a government to provide health to its citizens, the citizens are at the mercy of the government. You do what the state tells you to, and you really have no choice.

I’ve spent the last months living in a country that is completely based on social welfare. Everything is subsidized by the government. The tax rate is high (50-60% income tax). The government is a daily part of life in Denmark. I don’t often hear Danes complaining about the taxes, mostly my fellow students complaining about the 25% sales tax.

The Danes are happy people- the happiest in the world as one study shows. But it is my opinion this has come at the cost of individualism and choice. Perhaps why this country is so cute at times is that everything is the same, regimentized. The basis of Danish society is that everyone is at the same level. No one should have more or be better.

These ideas fall on the complete opposite of the American society- where individualism is encouraged, and many strive to have more and be better.

Is there a middle ground? Can we have a society with choice and individualism, which is also equal and orderly?

As I have learned while here in Denmark, it is ok to simply say...

I don’t know.

My analysis is purely anecdotal. I have no sociological background. I simply have lived in two drastically different cultures. I have also studied the American & Danish medical systems, and have had personal experiences with both.

There is a lot to learn from Denmark, after all it claims to be the worlds oldest monarchy. But I think that Denmark can also learn a bit from the States.

Anyways, I was just thinking….

Anna

What a day...

I was thinking last night about the day ahead, and I came to the conclusion, today had the potential to be really good or really bad.

I'm pleased to report that today, despite many things, turned out to be fabulous. And to top it all off, this is what I get to come home to:

This note was on my door:

So, I'm thinking, just your normal Danish cake.... ni,ni,ni! Look what I found in the frig!!!!

And it tastes even better than it looks!

A Home Away From Home

Today is Thanksgiving in the States. A day of family and friends, a day of reflection, a day of thankfulness.

Riding the train this morning, I got to thinking… At first I was dwelling on the fact that I wasn’t in the States. Today isn’t a day off (actually quite the opposite, I already had an exam this morning) to spend with my family, friends, and loved ones. I began to become sad, wishing to be at least be back in the States—where you walk into a grocery store and nearly trip over all Thanksgivin’ fixn’s. I wanted to be home.

But then I thought… wait, I am at home. In Denmark I have found my second home. A place to go back to, a place of memories and comfort, a place you share with those you love—is that not a definition of home?

Yes, I still wish I were in the Sates today to celebrate the holiday with those I love. But I can still celebrate the holiday here in my second home. And this year, more than ever, I have much in which to be thankful.

So, here’s a Happy Thanksgiving to all…

And if you do nothing else today, answer this question: what are you thankful for?

Gobble, gobble,

Anna

It may not have been...

...OSU vs Michigan, but it was one good time. Today my host mom and I went to FCK vs Midtjylland -- aka the #1 vs #2 football teams (by football, I mean soccer) in Denmark. It was such a great time. Being away for the OSU/Michigan is hard, but what perfect timing for today's game. It was great to cheer and shout, and leave it all on the field. The final score was a tie, 2-2. So, enough with all of the chatter, and on with the pictures! (more pictures can be seen through the picture link to the right)

Me at the Game

Anna and Ann before the game

Pharmacies from around the world…

I won’t lie. I am a bit of geek, perhaps pharmacy geek to be more specific. And apparently everyone knows this, because classmates are taking pictures of pharmacies from their travels and sending them to me.

I thought it would be neat to post a collection of pharmacy pictures. To me it represents a lot of what pharmacy is about—we are visible, active parts of the community. And we are everywhere! This aspect of pharmacy I cherish… helping those around me feel better everyday! What a wonderful feeling…

But enough with the talk, on with the pictures!