Introduction to Denmark and the Danish language

It was hard to think back of thing’s we did again about ‘Introduction to Denmark and the Danish language’ because we discussed and talked about this in the first couple of weeks of our Erasmus stay. I remember it was one of the most interesting lessons at that time. Because we were (and some still are) really curious about how is Denmark like? How are the people who live here? Is it so much different then were we come from? What habits do they have? And what could make them special?
In the lessons we learned more about Danish storytellers like Karen Blixen and Hans Christian Andersen. And it was really nice because their story was told by a video that was more interesting then when you would just discuss them by word, now we really got to see pictures and movie clips. At first you thought this is it? Aren’t there more important things to talk about but no it is like that. Karen and Hans Christian are the most famous Danish authors.
History was a bit boring to be honest, it was just always about the war and about Germany and it was really hard to find your interest in to what the teacher was saying, but he really tried to make it interesting but it wasns’t always that good.
A really cool thing he did was, he searched for pictures of all the important places or building from the different country’s were we come from and he showed them to us. and then you could react to that like ‘ O that’s in Belgium’ and you could give an explanation about it.
Learning about Danish stereotypes was interesting because we had to talk about the Danish and other cultures. We had to talk about our country, our stereotypes, … but not in a dull way we did it in a game. That was also like that with learning Danish. The teachers made up some games to make sure we learned Danish. Introducing ourselves by a talk round, ‘throwing’ number to each other, shopping for a recipe in advertising leaves, …
And much more but the most interesting was the power point in the beginning of our stay? we all had to make a power point about our home country and I still have the most memories about that.. Like the Norwegian mountains, the Czech Clock, the crazy buildings in Valencia in the video commercial, …
And did my questions get answered? Yes they have been, more then I thought they were.. because at first I thought what do I know about denkmark: hygge, smorrebrod and the jante law. Those are all stereotypes and not really knowledge about a country because you can find this information in a book. But when my family came I was really surprised of all the things I could tell them about Denmark. About their way of living and cultural habits. So yes I personally am glad with the knowledge I have about Denmark. You only realize what you know once you’ve talked about it.
(Module 1: Comparative Studies)

Comparing Danish - Belgian schoolsystem

Differences between the Danish and Belgium pre-school-schoolsystem

Denmark
- Kindergarten starts at 06.30 AM – 5.00 PM
- Parents can bring or come and get their children whenever they like
- Children play most of the time, they are free in everything what they do
- Schoolgroup = preparing the eldest children for normal school
- They eat in the classroom and they all stay in school
- They go outside a lot to play
- They don’t have religion and gymnastics

Belgium
- School starts at 8.30 AM
- All the children have to be in school at 8.30 AM
- Children are free to play aswell, but they have 3 - 4 group activity’s a day
- The group activity’s are for all ages and are a preparation for their own knowledge, yes this is also for children who are 3 years old.
- They eat in one big group in the canteen, they can go home to eat, can bring their lunchboxes or eat a warm meal.
- We only go outside when it is REALLY good weather
- Every morning we have e religion ritual, moment or activity + two times the children have gym class

Practice time at St. Georgs Bornehuset

All of us are having a two week practice time… some are helping in the class, some are observating, others are actually teaching, … We are doing some practice time at the St. Georgs Bornehuset, that is a kindergarten. Children from 3 tot 6 years old come here as a preparation for primary school. The children are divided in groups of +/-20 pupils. So the children are together in a group of different ages and it is nice to see that there is no gap between them because of the age difference.
The kindergarten starts it’s day at 6.30 AM and they finish at 5.00 PM. The parents of the children can bring of or collect their child whenever they like. In the kindergarten the day starts with playing, when the children are hungry the can take something out of their lunchboxes a have a quick snack, around 10.30 AM we go outside to play (at least if the weather Gods agree on that). Between 11.30 AM and 12.00 AM the children are having their lunch in the class. Four to six children sitting together with the teacher on a table. After lunch the children go outside (again) and play. At 2.00 PM they come in to eat a piece of fruit and then they stay inside until their parents come to go home.
This is what a normal day look’s like in the St. Georgs kindergarten. At first you would just think it’s children’s day care and for the youngest children it is a day care, where they can just play and enjoy their day. But in each class there is a ‘schoolgroup’ and that means that this group is being prepared for the school life in primary school. They do some exercises, activity’s were they learn the numbers, letters and important concepts…
They also have a ‘group –moment’ before lunch break, where they get and sit together in a group and were the ‘teacher’ talks about some subjects or things that the children find impotent. It’s really nice to see that each child get’s the chance to say something.

Our impression of the kindergarten is that is everything is very open-ended, they just go with atmosphere that is in the group, they do what they feel like doing and there are no rules. This experience is really nice and diverting for me. Certainly because we come from a country where rules and structure is very important in schools. It’s good to see that it can work in another way. But then the Danes also have another culture! We really admire the Danes of the way they are living their life.

Citizenschip and Globalisation

When we think back of this module we have to admit we don’t remember that much of it because it was a very theoretical subject. And although the subjects we’ve discussed during the lessons were quit interesting we would really recommend to make these lessons shorter because you loose your concentration after a while.
But know we are thinking back of all the things we remember that we have seen in citizenship and globalisation.
We remember that we had to sit together in these small groups and make our own government. We had to rule a land and make a stat plan. And so we made this kind op pyramid were we decide what is the most important and what is less important when you are a king, president or prime minister. We really struggled while we were searching for the right solution: heath, money, education, work, …
In another lesson we discussed individualism, collectivism, egoism and atheism.
We talked about what it was and how it could be connected, like atheism + collectivism = socialism. We discussed these words, how we understood them, etc. and then we had to try to fit in some educational situations, habits or rules.
For example the combination egoism + collectivism = nationalism (thinking only about yourself) and it can remind you of a group of bullies in a school.
This was interesting but very difficult because several school situations or facts could go in several groups.
We also learned a lot more about citizenship and globalisation, but it is to much and to complicated to explain it all to you.
(Module 3: Citizenschip and Globalisation)

Special Needs in a European prospect

A few weeks ago we had to prepare a presentation about how the special needs education system is in Belgium. Also the other students had to make a presentation about how they take in children with special needs in schools in the country were they live.
In Belgium we have special (need)schools for pupils who are mentally and physically weaker or disabled, who are blind or deaf, who have problems with learning or in their social behaviour, etc. But now these days we try to reduce the amount of students that are going to these schools, because we feel these students are segregated from the students who have a ‘normal’ (school)life. So now we are trying to include these students with special needs in the ‘normal’ education system. And we can do that by giving these ‘normal’ schools special help and adjustments. But we have to say we are still far away of including all the pupils with special needs in the ordinary school. Inclusion is still growing, it’s processing and we are hoping that it will succeed but therefore we personally think the government will to put more effort in this to make sure that the pressure doesn’t get to big for the teacher and the pupil.
We can also concluded from things we have seen and heard in the presentations of the others (other country’s) that they also have special schools and that they are also working on inclusion. And that we all deal with the same problems: pressure on the teacher, pressure on the child/pupil, will there be enough additional help and do we have the right tools the help the pupils with special needs. Conclusion: do we have the money and the right plan to succeed?
(Module 6: Special Needs)

'Drama' in Aabenraa

Drama day’s, what are the first things that pop up when you think about ‘drama’?
Theatre, acting and word. And that it was. But still it was also different. Sometimes it was really nice, sometimes it was a bit dull. A lot of the things we had to do we already had done those once before. If it was not here in Denmark then we had done them in the drama sessions in Belgium. So it wasn’t always that refreshing but it was nice. On Tuesday the main guideline we had to follow was the mystery behind ‘the photo’ (photography). The teacher showed us all a picture of a girl, only her face. We had to imagine a story with the picture and the background music. Then we had to make our own kind of picture (statue-wise) and poem based on the story we had made up. On Friday we had to work with music and masks. The first thing we needed to do was walking on music and while we were walking we had to feel the music. It had to set the tone. Afterwards we beheld the music but added the masks. And it is really crazy what a mask can do with a person. It hides you identity and you become this sort of ‘other’ person. A person that dares, that dares to do things it would not do without the mask.. it gave this kind of protection and certainty. We were all laying down and when the music started we had to move, move on the rhythm and the melody of the music. After warming up we had to divide ourselves into 3 groups. Each group got a CD and had to make a choreography for a song. Some had a song were they felt violence, others felt sadness and we had found joy. It was really intensive and nice, also good to be creative and working together in groups. It was a very good experience for the group, because it showed that we respect each other and it felt like it was right.
(Module 2: Aesthetic Learning Processes)

Climate friendly cooking

A few weeks ago we got together with some Danish students who study Health and Nutrition and they were going to help us make a Climate Friendly Meal. So we parted in little groups and discussed what was typical Danish food and food from our country, we also talked about how we can understand the term Climate Friendly Cooking. We came to the conclusion that using season vegetables, fresh products and products that don’t need to be imported or be transported from another country can also help keeping the environment healthy.
Then we had to split up in groups of four, twee foreign students and two Danish students. We had to talk about what we would like prepare for our group and we decided to make a vegetable lasagne.
Last tuesday our little cooking group got back together and we made a shopping list. Then we went to Fakta to got everything we needed: sun dried tomato’s, milk, butter, onions, …
Wednesday was the big day, THE cooking day. We got together discussed who was going to make what… In less then one hour our vegetable lasagne with spinach sauce, tomato sauce and cheese sauce was in the oven. Because we had so much spare time until our lasagne would be ready we decided to make some pancakes with the leftovers.
After 2 hours of cooking the buffet was ready and we could start eating. It was really delicious, there was so much diversity. We had tagine, vegetable lasagne, Spanish omelette and red berry with cream + pancake dessert. Mmmmmm.. it was a really nice meal and it was nice to get together with some Danish students as well!

The international week

We are going to talk about the most nice things of the week. There were three things that were very nice. On tuesday evening we had a big dinner. Everbody had the job to make something typical form his own country. We baked Belgian waffels! The result of the cooking was amazing. We had Spanish omelet, Polish cookies, Belgian french fries, Spanish chorizo, Danish hotdog, Belgian cookies, Czech salat, Belgian chocolat, Norwegian boller, Belgian meatballs, etc.
It was a very nice result! We had a great and cosy dinner. Everybody ate his stumache full! After the dinner we sang some songs together and we had a great time. On Thursday afternoon we visited Ribe all together. We were lucky, because the sun shane! It was very nice to visit something with the whole group. We went to the Viking museum. In the Viking museum, the exhibition for the kids was amazing! They had a whole room where they could play like real Vikings.
They had clothes to dress up, they had castels, they had a kitchen, etc. It was a real paradise for kids! And for us! After that we went for a walk through the city. The city is very small and has a lot of colorful houses. We walked on a bridge of a beautiful lake. It is a very cousy city. After that we went back to school and had a eurovisionsongcontest! First we ate delicious pizza together. After that the contest begon! Every country went for it and everybody had a great show! The atmosphere was very good! In third place Hongary and Poland ended, in secound place Turky ended and in first place Belgium ended! There were 3 groups from Belgium, but our group won! We won with K3! We did the song ‘Van Afrika tot Amerika’. We won a big Easter basket! After the contest there was some live music and it was a great party!



Thank you Jette and Charlotte for the nice week.
(Module 4: International week)

Cycling to Ørby

Today we took the bikes to the sea! We won the big fight with all the hills and saw the sea. We were hoping for at least 1 bar at the sea, buth there was nothing... Buth we enjoyed our trip! It was a lovely, buth exhausting journey!

Visit Favrdalskolen Haderslev

On thursday morning we went to visit the Favrdalskolen here in Haderslev. It is what the headmaster described as a ordinary Danish primary and secondary school. He gave a little introduction about how the school got to were it is now and how important it is that you have to keep a big school small and nice for the pupils. Because the school is spread over more then 5 buildings surrounded by a lot of green and recreation area. Each building features a certain age group, so children from 6 till 8 are in the same building, children from 9 till 12, etc. It is important that the children are surrounded by a recognizable environment and familiar with the same teachers for several years. We got a tour around the school and they showed us their facilities, we went observating in different classes and saw how children with special needs were being helped by other ‘resource teachers’ and the specified tools were present in the classroom. These children were really included in a normal school system provided with some special needs. After we had seen a big part of the school we were divided in groups and went to a ‘special class’. In these special classes are children how seem to have some trouble with all the general courses, like Danish, English, Mathematics, … there they are guided in small groups by this special substitute.

We were really under the impression of what we had seen this morning in the Favrdalskole. We admired the way you handled and coped with the disability’s of some pupils. And we find it very admiring that all the people (teachers, college children/students) have respect for the special needs of this child/student.
We think Belgium is not quit ready yet for this included education system… because not every school has got the right tools and enough resource’ teachers how can support the child/student with special needs, or how can support the teacher.
(Module 6: Special Needs)

How to survive in Denmark...

What we have learned in Danish last week and today:
People here always treat you with respect, the least thing we can do is try to show some respect for their language and culture… so it would be nice if we could do that by trying to have a little conversation with them.. How are they?

Hvordan gar det?
- Det gar skidt.
Hvad for det?
- Jeg er syg.
Hvad fejler du?
- Jeg er forkolet. Jvad med dig?
- Jeg er glad, tak!



This week we had to bring a recepy that describes a typical meal for our home country, Belgium. We choose ‘hutsepot’. Hutsepot is a vegetable stew witch you eat with sausage and mustard. The task we got was looking for al the ingredients in magazines or promotional leaflets. After we got all the ingredients we had to stick them on a large piece of paper and write down the names of each ingredient in Danish. So we would learn what onion, potato, … is in Danish and look it up on the internet. This was a good exercise because when we go out shopping for grocery’s we kind of know what something’s are called in Danish.
(Module 1: Comparative Studies)

Notch conquers Tribunen..

At a local pub in Haderslev there was this little gig planned from a Danish band called Notch. Five local students got together a few years ago and decided to make some good ‘svedig rock musik’. Most of the time they covered songs from Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse, … and they do it quit well too! But in between they played some own Danish songs as well, those were also really good and it was nice to hear. It’s funny because it sounds so different but then it’s also so normal! There was a good atmosphere.. everybody was drinking a beer or had a smoke outside while you could enjoy the music. But I find it a bit striking that singing along is not that common her in Denmark, thank God we Erasmus’ers were there! We had a blast and we are definitely up for more Danish rock/pop music…

Goodbye spring, hello winter... again.

After the snow disappeared we thought that the Spring fanally concerd Haderslev… birds whistling, no more fall down’s, sunbeams fill the perfect sky… but no no no!! That was without the cooperation of the weather Gods! On an almost perfect Friday afternoon it suddenly started snowing again and it kept snow for hours and hours. What once was a perfect green landscape vanished in one big whit carpet! Winter has overcome (again)
The next day everything was white, white, white but there was this marvellous sun and beautiful blue sky that filled the air… it was almost magical! To beautiful to waste this moment. So we got together with some Erasmus students and decided to go sliding of hills. And so we did.. sliding with sac’s and sleighs. We had the most fun, it was so nice, so lovely.. it felt like heaven. To good to be true! Although we were sick and tired of all the snow it was the perfect adventure to close this chapter, chapter Winter!

Check out this slideshow of pictures FUN IN THE SUN.. (special special thanks to METTE!!):
http://slideroll.com/show.php?s=ajc2ngcu

First spring feelings in Haderslev

Fastelavnfest...

We gather at the Polish and Czech residence before we leave for the biggest costume party UC Syd has once a year! Vampires, hippie people, a nurse, a gymnast, a star, a mouse, a ladybird, a Chinese, Amy Winehouses and Lady Gaga… entre the room all dressed up. We have some wine and little snacks to get in to the mood an around 10.00 p.m. we leave for the party. Before you go in you get a ‘welcoming gift’, a little shot of Fisk (fish). That would seal the deal! So we got on to the dancefloor and got the party started, danced all night long.. around 01.00 a.m. the party finished in the big dancehall but we went on partying at the Fridaycafé. At the café there was no table or chair safe for the dancing skills of the Erasmus students, the party went on until the early hours and we danced ourselves into our bed completely tired but very satisfied!

Belgium and Hungary are proud to introduce…

Every Wednesday we meet with all the people from Erasmus downstairs at the Fridaycafé. This week Belgium and Hungary had to introduce themselves. Belgium started of with a little quiz and tested to knowledge of the others Erasmus’ers! How good did they know Belgium and our habits. Afterwards, we drank some Belgian beer and had a taste of real Belgian Chocolate! After all that drinking and thinking it was time to stretch those legs, Viki from Hungary showed us how we could dance a typical Hungarian folk dance! It was really nice!
Everybody had a great time, once you get on the dancefloor you don’t get of the dancefloor and the party went on … for the whole evening! Well done Belgium, well done Hungary!

What did Ine liked the most...

I liked the visit to the little mermaid the most! On that day it was so cold en horrible weather. The little mermaid is near the ocean. So the wind was even stronger! Everybody was freezing. We all crawled under or had and scarf.
When we found the little mermaid it was a kind of a magical atmosphere. We saw the froozen ocean covered with snow, the little mermaid surrounded with snow and a big view. Everbody wanted a picture with the little mermaid. So we all went down and smiled for the picture. We ware lucky, because the little mermaid soon moves to China for an exhibition!

What did Loes liked the most…

I liked our little trip to Christiania with one other Begian girl, the Spanish and Polish girls! We got there in the city centre of Christiania and didn’t see anything that looked real hippie style. Would this really be it? Maria took on here “filthy boots” and asked a lady ‘if this was it?’ ‘No no no’, she said ‘it’s just to the left and then on the right… maybe a 5minute walk’! So we walked and walked and finally saw the first paintings on the wall! We got true the gate and walked past the first shops, hmmmm but still it was very silent. A bit further we heard some noises a lot of people were standing outside having a drink or a smoke and we walk through the little crowd, all eyes on us. Slowly and silent we passed the people, I kind of felt this little tensity hanging around us, … but it was an amazing feeling to be there at once! To be uncertain and feel also very enthusiastic about the way they live their life, about the atmosphere hanging around the place!! It was the most unforgettable memory I collected on my trip to CPH!
Next to Christiania I also liked the children’s museum whitch was also very nice and exciting. Kids/children could do and learn so much about other cultures (Turkish, sailors, old school system, …) just while they were experimenting/playing!! All the right materials, framing and cultural things were there… not to look at but to be played with!
Well done National Museum.

WE LOVE CPH

On Wednesday we left for Copenhagen, 27 females and 3 males. After a long trip on the bus and the train we arrived at the Danhostel in the city heart of Copenhagen. After unpacking our things we left to see the Round Tower. After a run upwards we enjoyed a wonderful view over the marvellous Copenhagen. After the Round Tower we walked true Stroget (the longest shopping street op Europe) until the Town Hall Square from there we left for a delicious meal at a Chinese Restaurant near the square. We enjoyed an amazing buffet with all sorts of pasta/rice, meat, vegetables, … Afterwards we just went back to the hostel for a ‘slaapmutsje’ en jumped into our beds around 11 P.M..
It was an early morning and at 8 A.M. we were all having some toast, cornflakes, tea or coffee to feel a bit more awake.
Totally prepared for the bad and windy weather outside we got on track. We walked to the Black Diamond (new library) and further on to the little mermaid. But on our way we saw Nyhavn (the new harbour), Amalienborg (Castle of the Queen, we would later on come back to this lovely “house”), the new opera house, the Viking museum, … until we had found the Litlle Mermaid herself! Because she’s near the ocean, makes the wind even worser, so everybody jumped up and down to get a quick photo with the (literally) little girl with fins. Of we go back to Amalienborg to visit the museum about the Royal Family (Denmark is very proud of his monarchy, and they should be it’s very beautiful). For those who were patient enough could wait and see the changing of the guards (this ceremony takes about a small three quarters). Then we had a two our break, were we enjoyed a lovely and fresh pasta salade! We meet again at Rosenborg Castle, the Castle of Christian IV! While we are walking towards the castle true their gardens we get covered by snow, by the time we arrive we were all little and tall snowmen/women. After a tour around in the castle we went to see the crown jewels, they were so gorgeous! Again we get a break before we gather to have meal at RizRaz a Mediterranean restaurant! There we enjoy a very southern and exotic (not for people who don’t appreciate spicy things, then you better stay away!) buffet! Still full of energy we go into the Copenhagen nightlife and try to find ourselves a cheap and nice bar (not easy to find at all)… but we luckily land in an Australian bar were a beer costs you only 12 DK (That wasn’t much at all)! We didn’t make it that late because the next morning we needed to go the National Museum! What I’m about to say is TRUE: free entrance + amazing exhibitions: Danish show how they have lived for the last 200 years, there is a very modern exhibition about the Rainforests in Venezuela and a lovely, fun and not to educated children’s museum! (Belgium, maybe you could really learn something about the Danes and their way of approaching curious people). We again were free to do what ever we liked to do… some off us went shopping, others visited the Carlsberg brewery or went to Christiana! But at 3.30 P.M. we were already back on the train, on our way back home! We got home, really tired, exhausted but very satisfied about the trip we had in Copenhagen! We admit: CPH, we love!!!

Caroline, Ine and Loes

Danish and Belgian stereotypes

I'm belgian because...
-I like chocolat
-I like fries
-I like beer
-I'm a hard worker
-I know a lot of languages
-I saw manneke Pis in real

They are Danish because...
-They are tall
-They are blond
-They have blue eyes
-They like red hotdogs
-They are closed
-They can't speak English

(Module 1: Comparative Studies)
(Module 3: Citizenship and Globalisation)

Walking on sunday

Shopping in Germany

On Saturday Caroline and Loes went shopping for grocery´s with the three Norwegian girls: Mette, Kari and Siv Hege to Germany, to Plensburg to be correct. There they have a big shopping centre were food and drinks are much cheaper then here in Scandinavia. (For Belgian-blog-readers, it’s a bit like Auchan in Lille/Rijsel)
No bigger paradise for us poor students on Erasmus. So we shopped and shopped and shopped for more then 3 hours. With a full loaded carriage packed with cheese, milk, cereal, meat, vegetables, fruit, yoghurt, cookies, candy and cans/bottles of soda we could satisfied but exhausted return our journey back home, to Groftholtvaenget.
P.S.: Special thanks to toyota, highway gasstation and to Mette, Kari and Siv Hege!

Talking about being independent

After paying a visit to Jette and calling up several internet operators we still had no solution for our internetless apartments. Jette told us she would work on it or that we could look for other possibilities. And so we did, we got in to town and searched for a reliable shop who could offer us internet.. that was TDC. The cheapest offer he could give us was a 6 month wireless connection from YouSee. Therefore we needed a cable connection so that will cost even more. But after lot’s of chitchatting we wondered how much will this all cost us… so the guy calculated it all out and it would be around 70 euro’s for 6 months for each person. That wasn’t that bad and even when he maid the bill it got even cheaper BUT it could take ten days before the YouSee-guy comes around to activate the router. But we didn’t give a damn as long we could have internet!
But know 6 days later we are still waiting for the YouSeeguy to come and activate the system… but still no sign of Pedro!

Visiting practise

On thursday we went to visit some Danish schools.

Caroline and Ine went to a kindergarten in Haderslev. We went to Bornehuset Sct. Georgs Garden. We went together with Siv Hege and Mette. 2 girls from Norway. We found the school pretty easy. First we saw the groups of little childeren. There were two groups with childeren from 0 until 3 years old. When we came in the groups the children were taking their breakfast and it was very cousy. There were three teachers for each group. The children slept outside in a babycarriage. Then we saw a playroom and than we walked to the groups with the oldest childeren. There were two groups with children from 3 until 6 years old. Each group has 25 children. The children have two or three teachers. The group looks very much like a house. The people are all very close and there is this kind of cousy atmosfere. It’s totaly different than a pre-school in Belgium. Here in Denmark the children can do whatever they want and play with whatever they want. If they want to play outside in the snow they can, if they want to play inside it’s also good. The teachers don’t give that many activities as in Belgium. Their filosophy is that the children learn more when they are playing. The children are welcome in the groups from 6.30 AM until 5.30 PM. The children and parents walk in and out the group whenever they want. The parents put the food of the children in the fridge and say goodbye to their child. The children can take their breakfast in the group when they are hungry. But when it’s lunchtime they eat all together in the group. The children don’t wear shoes in the group, they wear slippers. The children don’t understand English, but we had the profit that the Norwegian girls could translate the things that the children said to us. It was a very strange and shocking experience to be in a kindergarten in Haderslev. The difference with Belgium can’t be bigger!

Loes and Marie went to a Primary school. It was are first meeting with the schoolsystem here in Denmark and I was really surprised by the way they teach and work here. We visited a 1st grade class. You can compare it to the 1ste leerjaar in Belgium. We joined the dancing session. At first the two dancers gave a little introduction dance, the kids were all very excited and entertained. The next thing that was happening was doing all sorts of things with the children like hanging on to each other when they both lean backwards, the children had to move like a statue, … Marie, Kari (a Norwegian student) and I helped the children out with some moves. At first they liked it but after an hour they really got bored of it. They just didn’t do what they were asked to do, some just sat down,… But the two dancers just kept going even if it didn’t work anymore. Very strange. After two hours and a half it was time to play outside. When they came in back in class we got introduced to the children, they learned how to introduce themselves in English that was very sweet. Marie, Kari and I introduced ourselves in Danish, and the children thought it was really cool. Then every child had to write a card to a person who lives somewhere in Denmark. The children new what was expected of them to do. The atmosphere was so relaxed, so loose, kids could walk around,… They don’t have to call the teacher miss, they just say her first name. At the end of the class some children prepared to sing the song ‘Brother Jacob’ for us in Turkish, Polish,…
After the visit I was a bit confused.. It is so different then in Belgium. At first I couldn’t really find peace with it, but then after talking to my friends about I learned that you have to see it in his culture, in their way of living and being.
(Module 5: School Experience)

Voor de mama"s

Aan onze lieve mammies; Martine, Grietje en Sophie
wij missen jullie.
liefs

Denmark, first impression

Hello.

Flew from Brussels 7 o'clock in the morning to Copenhagen: We arrived here in Denmark around 9 o'clock. Then we still had a long journey ahead of us, train, bus and taxi Tina. Tina, is our Buddie (she's a local and she helps us out while we are staying here): She brought us to our appartement. Our adventure could continue packing things out, getting all settled and shopping for food. We were completly exhausted, so no exploring the city for that night. After a goodnightsleep we had breakfast together and left for the city. After a 30 minute walk ze finaly reached the centre of the city. The city centre is very charming.
All little shops, a small movie house and a lake were people were ice skating. But after walking so long, our feet got really cold. We really underrestimated the temperatures here but luckly there was the sun who kept us 'warm'.
Sunday was a bit of a lazy day. We didn't do anything except cleaning the appartement, decorating our rooms and making delicious spaghetti.
Happy and fullfilled ze got to bed because tomorow was our first day, our first day of our Erasmus Adventure... meeting the other students!