Virtual Tour

The new digs on Hovgårds Alle are a far cry from the lifestyle to which I've become accustomed. The luxuries of my former residences peaked at a train tracks adjacent cookie-cutter townhouse (washer/dryer included, patio, nice kitchen) and the seediest place I've ever lived was a roach- and rat-infested 12 foot trailer home on the edge of a mangrove swamp (no running water). Most of the rest have been tolerable 'student income' type rooms. I'd settled into my Seoul apartment, my first post-graduation home, pretty well by the time I left, and I miss the easily cleaned bathroom (toilet, washing machine and shower head in an undivided tile room with a central drain).

My Danish home leaves them all in the dust. A sparsely decorated, dignified Scandinavian 2-floor house with five bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, a huge living room and very modern, well supplied kitchen, it's much more akin to living with my parents than anywhere else I've stayed. Or, my Chilean semester-abroad host family's lovely home.

The mentality is similar, as well: not exactly 'employed,' as my work is that of a domestic servant, though not completely listless either, I feel a lot like I do when I go home to my parents' for holidays or other intervals. TurboDansk, the Danish language school, should help alleviate my restlessness.

I received my CPR (central population registry?) number today, and am now an official member of the community. This has unlocked the majority of my to-do list:

-Get library card

-Get bank account

-Get insured

-Start TurboDansk

The first task is actually half-complete. I've registered with the Royal Library system, but I won't be able to check out material until I get my health insurance card in the mail (10-12 days from January 26th). Incidentally, this will be my second national health insurance card after Korea's. I've checked their resources online- plenty of Vonnegut, Proulx, and the new Krakauer book. They don't have any Tony Millionaire, though. Nobody's perfect.