Day 14
We have been in this wonderful city for two weeks, surrounded by things modern and ancient and even though we don’t understand the language, culture or history, we feel like right now, this is exactly where we should be.
What I like most…
The sunny, blue sky days which I did not expect at all,
The fact that coffee and muesli is much less expensive and much nicer here then at home,
The friendly and colorful people,
Walking down the street with Richard in the snow,
The Danish lifestyle (a little more about it later)
No banking feesJ
No doctors feesJJ
No medical aidJJJ
My new job
What I would have to get use too (but most certainly do not want to)…
Denmark is the most expensive country to live in, in the world (http://www.aneki.com/expensive.html), quite a bit more expensive then Switzerland. Petrol is 20 dkr per liter (R28,57) , a 500ml coke at the supermarket goes for 25 dkr (R35) and rent for an average 2 bedroom apartment outside the city is 10,000 dkr p.m (R14,280) utilities excluded.
The Danish Lifestyle
This is something I cannot yet say that much about, but one thing is for sure, the Danes got a damn good thing going. Fit, healthy, glowing, outdoorsy people everywhere! Two weeks and I have not seen a single over weight person in all this time (I know that its’ difficult to believe, but really, not even one)! The Danes are so active, walking and cycling everywhere. What they call a fitness centre is like no gym I have ever seen (and I have been in almost every Virgin Active in the Cape peninsula). Everything from swimming, bowling, rock climbing, soccer, running, cycling, massive aerobics classes, name it. Explaining it is no use and does not do there indoor havens any justice. Last week Sunday, we went to see a fitness centre. Despite it being Sunday, I have never been in such a social, dynamic, fun indoor place before.
The Danes entertain themselves and each other in these sub-zero temperatures by staying active and taking part in sport activities and the cold do not seem to deter their love of the outdoors even one bit. We have only been here two weeks and already Richard was invited to go fishing from a boat yesterday and then we had fish for supper with our new found friends (3 Danes, a German, a Scot who we cant really ubderstand when he speaks and a Venuazualian). Latest news from a friends’ friend in London is that he picked up 30kgs because of the pub culture. I am extremely happy to be in Copenhagen instead.
So if someone is to ask if I miss home yet, it’s difficult to give a straight answer. I miss my parents, my cat, our car, my best friend and me and Richards’ family and friends. But I don’t miss the heat, the sun (I’ve seen more sun this last two weeks then in any Cape Town winter) and having to run to catch the last bus home after work. So not all that much yet and I don’t think I will.
South Africa will always be home. I have that in the back off my mind at all times and this makes it easy to enjoy and experience this strange very different place to its fullest.
