French Madame in Copenhagen: Day 2

Godaften! (good evening in Danish)

Some more observations made of the Danes on Day 2 here in Copenhagen.
I find it really amusing writing all of my observations down!


#5 Danish children do now have to learn Chinese in school. Starting from age 8 till 18. This is all part of the Danish government trying to ensure a wealthy future for Danes, since China has a booming economy. Not a bad idea. Danes are also taught English, and French or German in school. This is all informed to me by my Danish friend who's mother is a English/French/Danish teacher.

#6 Danes speak perfect English. We in the Netherlands are known for speaking at least 2 other languages other than Dutch (though I must confess that after high school, my German has plummeted). We learn English at age 10 in school, but pick up the language even earlier because of the American tv-shows shown in Holland. We speak English pretty well. But Danes speak it even better, and, with no accent. In a store, my Danish fails me after Hej! and Tack! So when I start speaking English, the salespersons speak it back elaborately and without even blinking an eye.

#7 Danes wear helmets when riding their bikes. This might not be strange to most people. Especially when you know how fond Danes are of riding bikes to get from point A to B. But the Netherlands is a bike-loving-riding country as well, an no one EVER wears a helmet. EVER. If you insist that your Dutch son or daughter wears a helmet when riding his/her bike, then you're a hermit secluded from society and have lost touch of reality. It's not even brought up in parenting books in Holland. It might be safer, and it doesn't give you that bad of hair, but we just don't wear them. Black helmets that cover the ears are very popular in Copenhagen.

Speaking of hair...

#8 Danish women wear their hair in an ultra-high bun. I'm talking a bun that's just 5 centimeters away from their foreheads. No buns that are close to the neck. I sometimes wonder if it's even gravitationally possible for the bun to stay up straight. I caught my Danish friend making her bun. She bends over as far as she can, and then sweeps all of her hair close to her forehead, makes a bun and ties it with an elastic. And she never looks in the mirror when making it; if there are chunks showing or hair falling out of the bun, Danes don't care. Unless you're a guy. See my next observation:

#9 Danish men have the most 'fashion-forward' hair styles. I use ' ' signs in the word 'fashion-forward' because it might not be everyone's cup of tea. It isn't mine. Don't worry, Danish men have plenty of other great attributes; they're super tall, naturally ripped, well-dressed, gorgeous faces and have nice legs. Oh and they're good with children. Danish men look like they spend a minimum of 5 hours doing their hair. The more spikes and unnatural swoops, the better.

And yes...

#10 All Danes are blond. By birth or bottle. There are also quite a few of natural redheads in Denmark. And ALL Danes have blue eyes. There is no exception on this. On the very rare occassion when you meet a Dane with brown hair, he or she will still have blue eyes. I get asked occasionally "where I'm from" since I'm obviously not Danish (brown/redish hair with dark brown eyes). When I respond with "the Netherlands", they immediately know that's only half the truth and say "The Netherlands? You don't look Dutch. You don't have blond hair or blue eyes". When I tell them I'm also half African-American, they say "Yeah, I could tell you have some exotic blood in you." No one EVER recognises that I'm bi-racial in the Netherlands. But we don't all have peroxide-blond hair in Holland.


Again, I took some really cool pictures with my iPhone
but I've got no wifi so I can't upload them here.

I'm getting too lazy to take all of my pics with my camera.
I will share all of my pictures in a day-to-day post once I get home :)

Godnat, (good night in Danish)