new rules, new letters, and the other end of the alphabet

Having finally learned a bit of Danish (Jeg er i Danmark. Jeg bor hos en familie. Jeg hedder Ariel.), I'm really interested in the phonetics of the language, because they are SO different from English. I though I was pretty on top of all the "a" vowel sounds, but boy was I wrong. Practice makes perfect though, so who knows how many things I'll be able to easily pronounce by the time I leave. The Danish letter Å, which comes after Z and makes an O sound, is creating some problems for me, because it's often typed out as "aa." So instead of being first in alphabetical order, I have all but once been last. Of course, when we line up for things in different alphabetical sections, like today for textbooks, the alphabet only goes to Z. But instead of being in the A-G line, I was supposed to be in the R-Z line. Thanks a lot Denmark. I'm getting married and changing my name before I come back here. I like knowing for certain where to find myself. Or maybe I'll just join the one A Aronsons. But then I wouldn't be first alphabetically anymore. Oh the tragedy.

Everyone keeps telling us that the Danes are often perceived as rude because they don't have a word for "please." I'm kind of disgusted by the emphasis the people who perceive the Danes as such put on that simple little word. Of course the way something is said says more about politeness than the words themselves. Everything I hear about Danish manners and such I like (except their punctuality). They're sarcastic but also really honest and straightforward. So much more genuine. In America, people throw words around too much. Words like please, people don't mean them when they use them. It's just habit and "good manners" and a way of pleading.

The Danes keep to themselves, but I feel comfortable smiling to people I pass in the street. They give off much more welcoming vibes than the New Yorkers I see on the train and subway. I don't know yet how much of København I could walk around in a day, but at least the parts I've explored so far just feel small and cozy. Even though I can't read any of the signs, I'm not overwhelmed.

Unlike Star Island, where nude sunbathing is explicitly forbidden, in Copenhagen it is legal in the parks and on the beaches. I've been doing a lot of Star Island/Copenhagen comparisons, even though they're really not at all alike. For example, at DIS, you can only smoke outside by ashtrays. And the facilities manager has to clean them up, instead of me doing it (imagine Skip Holt emptying butt cans). It's nice to have Laura here to talk about Star Island with. I was wearing my Star sweatshirt when I got here, and another DIS student asked me if I knew Zach Bouricius and Tom McCarran. Small world. And Laura met a friend of Amber's and a friend of Bethy's today. It really is just impossible to escape that place. And I like that. It's nice to live in a place where I can sunbathe topless without having to worry about the politics involved. Not that I would, but it's a matter of principle. The Danes are the happiest people in the world, and Pelicans would be a lot happier if they were left alone to sunbathe at Lovers without having to worry about getting in trouble. That kind of thing is SO good for developing positive body image and comfort with one's body.