Danish; not for the faint hearted

Jeg hedder Gem

My name is Gem

One week has gone by, four lessons, random sounds, quizzical looks, and lots of frowning,  and my mind is crammed with words i cant even pronounce.

And as i so rightly suspected, the immersion method is in full force in my lessons (no english is spoken)

The pronounciation just kills me, i have never contorted my face, neck and whole body for that matter by just trying to speak a language. I truly believe the Danes are so trim and lean because not only do they ride bikes for cars, have fat tax and an excellent genetic pool that seems to be protected by the fact that most Danes live in Denmark and do not venture out, they also use their bodies to speak. Italians also speak with such enthusiasm, hands are in the air, heads are bopping and shoulders are being thrown back but with Danes it is not this type of body language i speak of, Danes speak from their core, they literally use their stomach to pronounce certain sounds, and there are so many.

In order to get pronounciation right its almost as though you have to dig deep in your gut and speak from the shallows. ...Absurd.

My tongue has had a full workout too, in order to say certain words and stress or put emphasis on certain sounds, your tongue has to be behind your teeth or up on your pallette or so far back in your throat you almost gag.

The classes take place three times a week, there are extra classes you can take to perfect pronounciation. We have 18 students in our class, i get the feeling a few will wither away shortly as the course is intensive and moves quickly. You really have to put the hard work in if you want to keep up. There will also be exams, first one will be oral and in order to pass into the next module, you have to complete the first.

Im not sure what i have gotten myself into here

DAnish Genius

Since I have been here, it seeme the Danes are quite passionate about finding new ways of doing things, designing for functionality and end purpose and literally taking the need and converting it into a tangible object. I really appreciate their commitment to Design.

Even when it comes to scaffolding and restoration projects on the street and suburbs; they think of new ways to best use the space and to make it look as attractive as possible, the aesthetic matters here.

Here are just a few examples of some smart designs:

COOKIE CUP

Love this, so simple yet effective. I hate holding things in my hand and when I am in the comforts of my own home I just stuff the whole thing in my mouth but when I am amongst others and trying to be a lady,...well leaning over continously is just annoying and balancing a plate or a cookie alone on your lap is just as frustrating, crumbs everywhere and so...this makes SENSE! if i find one I will buy one

KNOCK KNOCK

Think this one was bound to happen, a door for one person...unfair!. Lets accomodate the little guys too. Three size options allows toddlers, teens, and adults the chance to open up

BABY WALLPAPER

I dont have a baby yet, but when my little munchkin arrives, I'm shopping up a storm for the cutest outfits and that means my baby comes with for opinions sake. Loving this hook a baby to the wall idea, prams are so bulky and in the way and I am yet to see a spacious changing room and if there is one there is only One.

WET BENCH

Wet bench; bound to happen in a European Winter; well this genius decided to invent a rotating bench so you just turn the wet spot away.

STORAGE STAIRCASE

Space is valuable when living in an apartment and this nifty storage idea is ideal

SPRING NOODLES

Love this one, still quite clumsy when i use chopsticks so I would definitley invest in a couple of these, just wish the spring was a little more inconspicious so everyone would thing you were a pro at noodle twirling

GLOBE TYPING

A ball style type writer, don't know how practical this is but it could be fun and it just looks cool

A NEW TAPE OF SOCCER

This is one of my favourites; practical, genius and affordable to do. This tape is designed with a typical football design , take some newspaper and create a ball, use the tape to tighten and wind it all up and voila you gotta a handmade football. I really think this is such a good idea for impoverished communities.

BREAK INTO LAUGHTER

This one just makes me smile quite wide, tired of people asking you what happened? well your sling will tell the story so you don't have too.





Danish afternoon cHRISTMAS tea

Our neighbour from downstairs kindly offered us a traditional afternoon tea at her apartment yesterday, I was so excited for a few reasons, I enjoy walking into other peoples spaces and seeing how they live, what they surround themselves with and so on. I was also excited to try out a Danish afternoon tea, well in this case it was homemade gluhwein and appelskein: Delicious.

Our neighbour had invited another couple with that she will be traveling to France with for December, they own a little villa in Cannes and will be enjoying the Pariesienne way of life for a few days this Christmas.

We started the night with some chit chat and introductions and then got seated around a beautifully red and green decorated table. The night was created by the lighting of the fourth candle.

On the first Sunday before Christmas, one candle is lit, and the most festive and celebrated season of the year begins. On the second Sunday of Advent, the first candle on the wreath and one more candle are lit. The ritual continues Sunday after Sunday until on the last Sunday before Christmas all four candles are lit together. I think this is such a beautiful tradition.

During Winter in Denmark, the light captured and enjoyed is short and so the Danes keep lights on and Christmas lights decorate the streets creating a warmth and coziness.
When you walk the streets at night you will see candles burning in the windows of nearly every danish home.

Interesting fact: Danes light candles, thousands upon thousands of candles. In fact, the Danes burn so many candles that the nation consumes more candles per capita than any other country on earth.

The afternoon dispelled into the night with lots of chatter and laughter. I was honoured to be around a couple and our neighbour who were so well travelled, they really have seen the world. For me; wealth lies in travel and these people were rich.

After mugs of gluhwine and way too many appelskein we rolled back up to our apartment.
Appelskein is a traditional Christmas treat served with icing sugar and blueberry jam.


The hospitality will be reversed in Janauary  and I will be having my neighbour over for something traditionally South African.

Recipe for Gluhwine

To 4 litres of red wine you need:

• Caster sugar (amount proportional to quality of red wine, the worse the wine the more sugar you need, add it to taste, but start with about 2 cups)
• 6 - 8 Cinnamon sticks
• Whole cloves
• 2 Oranges
• Whole allspice
• 2 cups of orange juice
• If you wish to get your friends and yourself tipsy even more quickly, or just to add a little extra kick, add brandy, sweet sherry or port to the mix. (optional but rather tasty)

Method:

1. Pour the red wine into a large pot and put it on the stove on a very low heat – you must not let the wine boil or the world could end… and that is not something you want to risk...
2. I tend to cut the oranges into slices and then put about 4 cloves into each slice, then put them in with the wine.
3. Break the cinnamon sticks in half or thirds and put them in with the wine as well as 10 of the whole all spice.
4. Add in the sherry or port as well as 2 cups of orange juice.
5. Add in 2 cups of sugar and stir.
6. Stir on and off for about 30 mins to give the spices time to infuse with the wine and for the magic to occur, then taste it, and add more sugar as needed (possible up to 4 or 5 cups more in the wine is really bad).
7. Let it cook/infuse/whatever for about 30 mins more (again, not letting it boil).
8. Drink and be happy :)