Denmark is fantastic - I have been just once in 2013, but I agree with everything you saw. What struck me at the time was the friendliness and overall happiness I saw around me. Because it was part business trip, I wasn't able to get out of Copenhagen, but what a livable, walkable, bike-friendly city! And mind you, I was there in early November, when the sun doesn't rise until after 8 am and is setting by 4 pm. If I felt I could manage becoming moderately fluent in Danish, I would consider relocating.
Ah, masked men, the sure sign of a free nation in precipitous decline. When these cowards come out and beat their chests, you know we are tipping over into the abyss.
Glad you got to escape the US for a bit! Haven't been to Denmark, but I felt similarly when I went to Paris earlier this year. Naturally, I ended up quizzing the locals on what they thought of our country, and most thought what's happening now is a warning for Europe. I'd love to hear what the Danes think.
I encourage every American willing to criticize other countries while endlessly spewing 'Murica is the best to travel abroad if possible. Not an all inclusive resort segregated from the local population and social climate (where they inevitably return amusing how "nice" the local employees paid to cater to their American entitlement, supremacy and overcomsumption were and how their English (in their own country mind you" was surprisingly good. Not a cruise. Real travel of going to a foreign city, figuring out their money, communication (bc we know very few can hold a real convo where they travel, myself included), the laws and norms of the particular society they chose to enter for fun. Its eye opening to say the least. I'll never forget the concurrent anxiety and embarrassment i felt at a Paris casual restaurant by myself and knowing i didn't know more than 2.5 ill pronounced French words and not wanting to assume the waiter just knew and spoke English. So as i stuttered and pointed at the menu turning more red than my ginger hair, the waiter who didn't have the time or duty to spend a little extra time communicating with me and helping ease my panic as he asked if i was American. I sheepishly replied yes and he immediately gave me the kindest smile and spoke to me as a human being just trying to feed .myself. Yes he happened to know English. But who was i to assume that in France at a casual restaurant, the staff would show empathy and the ability and willingness to communicate with me. If that were to happen in Missouri or Louisiana, the outrage would be placed on the "foreigner" and their lack of knowledge on American law, norms, society, and language nuances. They would be "othered," ridiculed and told to speak "American " here and to go back where they came from especially if their country happened to have a leader who also led a nationalist death cult out to get the "others." My long winded point is the effects of Americans general lack of international education/awareness, self awareness, and empathy spreads worldwide when we interact in this manner. In that cafe i was shown that perfection wasn't expected or required. I was told how much the French hated "us" especially in the post Dubya era in which i was traveling in. I felt shame and embarrassment on so many levels. I believe that entitlement and indignation and punching down has replaced any semblance of self awareness, empathy and simply admitting what we do not know but have a willingness to learn.
Let's see how long a post-Denmark holiday high will endure, once returning to trumpian corruption and sleaze, David.
His dirty hands now extend to the WC, intervening with Infantino to lift a red-card one-game suspension of a US team's key player, much to the chagrin of tonight's opponent, Belgium.
Denmark is fantastic - I have been just once in 2013, but I agree with everything you saw. What struck me at the time was the friendliness and overall happiness I saw around me. Because it was part business trip, I wasn't able to get out of Copenhagen, but what a livable, walkable, bike-friendly city! And mind you, I was there in early November, when the sun doesn't rise until after 8 am and is setting by 4 pm. If I felt I could manage becoming moderately fluent in Danish, I would consider relocating.
Today’s post’s headline is completely wrong. In a fit of mercy, I’ll pass on explaining why. I’ll get to inevitably.
And yes, Sarah’s run was fine. Couldn’t have had a better fill-in.
Ah, masked men, the sure sign of a free nation in precipitous decline. When these cowards come out and beat their chests, you know we are tipping over into the abyss.
Thanks for sharing your trip. Like a mini mental vacation and a reminder of positive possibilities.
Glad you got to escape the US for a bit! Haven't been to Denmark, but I felt similarly when I went to Paris earlier this year. Naturally, I ended up quizzing the locals on what they thought of our country, and most thought what's happening now is a warning for Europe. I'd love to hear what the Danes think.
It's always good to see what life is like in other countries.
I encourage every American willing to criticize other countries while endlessly spewing 'Murica is the best to travel abroad if possible. Not an all inclusive resort segregated from the local population and social climate (where they inevitably return amusing how "nice" the local employees paid to cater to their American entitlement, supremacy and overcomsumption were and how their English (in their own country mind you" was surprisingly good. Not a cruise. Real travel of going to a foreign city, figuring out their money, communication (bc we know very few can hold a real convo where they travel, myself included), the laws and norms of the particular society they chose to enter for fun. Its eye opening to say the least. I'll never forget the concurrent anxiety and embarrassment i felt at a Paris casual restaurant by myself and knowing i didn't know more than 2.5 ill pronounced French words and not wanting to assume the waiter just knew and spoke English. So as i stuttered and pointed at the menu turning more red than my ginger hair, the waiter who didn't have the time or duty to spend a little extra time communicating with me and helping ease my panic as he asked if i was American. I sheepishly replied yes and he immediately gave me the kindest smile and spoke to me as a human being just trying to feed .myself. Yes he happened to know English. But who was i to assume that in France at a casual restaurant, the staff would show empathy and the ability and willingness to communicate with me. If that were to happen in Missouri or Louisiana, the outrage would be placed on the "foreigner" and their lack of knowledge on American law, norms, society, and language nuances. They would be "othered," ridiculed and told to speak "American " here and to go back where they came from especially if their country happened to have a leader who also led a nationalist death cult out to get the "others." My long winded point is the effects of Americans general lack of international education/awareness, self awareness, and empathy spreads worldwide when we interact in this manner. In that cafe i was shown that perfection wasn't expected or required. I was told how much the French hated "us" especially in the post Dubya era in which i was traveling in. I felt shame and embarrassment on so many levels. I believe that entitlement and indignation and punching down has replaced any semblance of self awareness, empathy and simply admitting what we do not know but have a willingness to learn.
Let's see how long a post-Denmark holiday high will endure, once returning to trumpian corruption and sleaze, David.
His dirty hands now extend to the WC, intervening with Infantino to lift a red-card one-game suspension of a US team's key player, much to the chagrin of tonight's opponent, Belgium.