December 2016 – Emma On Exchange

Glædelig Jul from Denmark

Denmark celebrates Christmas on the 24th. They do a lot of other things a little differently. Last night my family and I were lucky enough to be able to celebrate Christmas here with my friend Marcia’s family! Danes put so much time and preparation into their Christmas celebrations and that extra effort makes ‘Jul’ in Denmark one of the most wonderful experiences you can have in a lifetime.

Here are some of the highlights from my Danish Christmas experience this year:

Christmas Tree (Juletræ) – Danes don’t pack on the decorations as much as we do in North America but instead decorate their trees with real candles, beautiful woven paper hearts (julehjerter) and simple ornaments. The result is simple but charming.
Dancing around the Juletræ – After dinner (before presents), everyone holds hands and circles the Christmas tree singing traditional hymns. This is such a beautiful tradition and brings home the feeling of ‘togetherness.’
Food – caramelized potatoes, pickled red cabbage, roasted duck, pork, the best gravy you’ve had in your life, pickled cucumbers…’hearty’ is the best way to describe Danish Christmas food but it’s fantastic.
Desserts – I already talked about food but Danish desserts really deserve their own section. Whether it be the many types of shortbread and ginger cookies, the marzipan, the incredible chocolate, the æbleskiver (ball-shaped pancakes with powdered sugar and jam) or the very famous gløgg (essentially mulled wine), Danes definitely do desserts right.
Rice Pudding (Risengrød) – Not only does dessert deserve its own section but so does this particular dessert. One of the most iconic desserts, this also comes with its own game attached; a peeled almond is hidden in the pudding and whoever finds the almond in their personal dish gets a special gift! The competition can get fierce!
Tuborg Julebryg – This is a special Christmas beer by Tuborg that has an official holiday named after it (J-dag) where they give out free beer and sing ‘Jingle Bells’ on the street. What more could you ask for?
Christmas Markets (Julemarked) – Christmas markets are the best places to find traditional crafts, Christmas foods, and friendly people all in one place. They can’t be beat!

And finally…. HYGGE. Hygge means “creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people” or “families and friends getting together for a meal, with the lighting dimmed” or “time spent on your own reading a good book” (http://ind.pn/2eCVfc0). Whatever hygge means to you, it is the perfect feeling to describe Christmas in Denmark!

Traveling By Hostel: 10 Pros & Cons

To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries – Aldous Huxley

To hostel or not to hostel? Throughout my various travels during my exchange experience, I have had the opportunity to stay in many different hostels (read: I had no other choice due to budget constraints).

I now feel fairly confident in identifying some of the best parts of the hostel experience (and some of the worst). For anyone considering traveling by hostel, here is a quick PRO/CON overview for you to check out so that you know what you’re getting yourself into!

1. PRO: Inexpensive
Hostels are probably the cheapest accommodations you can find – in several places I paid less than $10/ a night! This is ideal for the budget-traveler such as myself. Additionally, many hostels offer inexpensive food and drink options. For me, this is one of the best benefits; if you spend less money on accommodation and certain meals (such as breakfast), you have more money to spend sightseeing!

2. CON: Sleeping Conditions
If, like me, you opt for the less expensive group rooms (some sleep up to 20 people), prepare yourself. Hostel rooms are host to bad snorers galore as well as people with different sleep habits (getting up too early or staying up too late). Additionally, a room filled with the body heat of many people can tend to get pretty stuffy. Prep yourself with a sleep playlist (I had a thunderstorm playlist ready for nights with heavy snorers), earplugs and a sleep mask.

3. PRO: Best Locations in the City
I don’t know how they do it but if you’re staying in a hostel, chances are you’re in a far superior location than some of the more posh hotels you might otherwise stay in. I have been able to find multiple hostel options in the beating heart of every city. This is by far one of the best benefits of staying in a hostel.

4. CON: Potentially Subpar Facilities
Not all hostels are created equal. Expect to encounter creaky beds, dirty showers, dirty floors, weird smells and so much more. What you see in the picture is not always what you get and sometimes being in a hostel just means having a place to sleep that night.

5. PRO: Meeting Cool People
Hostels host an eclectic range of people from around the world. You’ll meet people on weekend trips, casual backpackers, and serious backpackers (you’ll know who they are) to name a few. Most people you’ll come across are more than happy to trade travel notes, tell you their life story, or even grab a beer with you. I love this aspect of hostels (and group rooms) – it opens you up to all sorts of new adventures!

6. CON: There are Creepy People Too
On the flip side, you can’t live life without meeting a few creepers and these also exist in the context of hostels. My advice? Travel with a friend, trust your instincts and book larger group rooms (that way there will be witnesses if you’re murdered).

7. PRO: Really Unique Hostels
There are some really unique hostels out there that afford you the option of staying in a castle, prison, etc. Why book a hotel when you could spend the night in a centuries old castle?! Trying to be a princess here…

8. CON: Lack of Security
While the buildings of the hostels I’ve stayed in have been very secure (key cards just to enter the building, key cards for hallways and rooms), once you’re in a group room, you’re fairly reliant on the goodness of the people staying in the room with you. While I’ve never experienced it, theft can be quite common. Be sure to bring a lock with you and to keep valuables on you.

9. PRO: Organized Group Activities
Are you looking to meet new people when you travel? Hostels are great for that since most offer daily tours, pub crawls, etc. (as well as having their own bars). While I prefer to avoid tours and explore a city on my own, these activities are fairly unique to hostels and you’ll find like-minded people within a similar age demographic which is always a plus! It’s also a great way to connect with cool people you may run into in your hostel room.

10. CON: Less Standardized Info
Like I said previously, you never know what you’re going to get when you show up at a hostel. Despite now being able to book and find pictures online, hostels tend to ‘surprise’ (negatively) more than traditional hotels do so mentally prepare yourself.

A FEW FINAL TIPS for anyone looking to take the plunge!
– Reliable Hostel Chains: Generator Hostels, Plus Hostels (ex. Berlin Plus, Prague Plus)
– Make an account and book through Hostelworld! They often offer deals and have the best selection of hostel offerings in one place. Best part is they show important details such as facilities, proximity to city, and reviews.
– I’ve used Hostelling International less than Hostelworld but it is very very reliable!
– READ THE REVIEWS! I’ve avoided many a sketchy hostel (that looks fine at first glance) by perusing reviews. Not only will this save you much travel angst but it will also afford you endless amusement.

**I am not sponsored or paid to promote any of these companies (I wish!)
A special thanks to my friends Haley & Laura who contributed thoughts/suggestions to this list!

The Big Smoke – London!

“Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” – Samuel Johnson

I’m sure people will argue with me but for me, London wasn’t anywhere close to being the most aesthetically beautiful city I’ve been to in Europe. Nevertheless, this was one of the few cities I would seriously consider living in and definitely one of my favourites.

London is so vibrant. It’s full of eclectic, multicultural, wonderful people. It’s got amazing food from around the world and there’s always something to do. It’s gritty and real. It’s perennially busy – everyone always seems to have somewhere to be. It’s hard to be in London and not get caught up in the flow of this fantastic city.

What I really love about London is how well the “old” is integrated with the “new.” On any given block you could find a cathedral, a ramen shop and a fancy apartment. The city is a seamless blend of thousands of years of history and I found that incredibly fascinating and alluring. I spent most of the time walking around the city (logging almost 60 miles over the course of the ~4 days!) and I felt this really helped me get a feel for the city. I felt totally at home among the fast-moving, trench-coat clad population – I will definitely be back in the near future.

Queen Victoria (in front of Buckingham Palace)

My favourite parts of the trip:

Fantastic Beasts Midnight Movie Release – this was the real reason I planned by London trip for the weekend I did. It was very nostalgic arriving a couple hours before midnight and seeing other Harry Potter fans dressed up in their house colours (some in some really fantastic costumes). It made me wish I brought some stuff with me!
Westminster Abbey – so much British history is tied up in this beautiful cathedral!! I especially enjoyed seeing the grave of Elizabeth I and walking around the Poet’s corner. I almost felt like the spirits of Chaucer, Dickens, Kipling, Tennyson and so many other great literary masters were walking with me.
Museums – there are not many places in the world where there are so many museums with such important collections of art accessible to the public. In exploring some of the many museums in London, I felt like I was traveling back in time.
Mamma Mia – what can be more fun than singing and dancing along to one of the best musicals of all time while surrounded by the women who are doing the exact same thing?!

Sweet:

– Most museums around the city are free!
– Food! Everyone says that Brits don’t know how to cook but I found that London has a much more diverse range of food offerings than most European cities and this was such a blessing.
– People – I’d heard that Brits weren’t necessarily the most talkative people but I had such pleasant / helpful interactions with everyone I met!
– Christmas decorations – from festive shop fronts to towering Christmas trees, London was absolutely magical this Christmas season.

Salty:

– Although museums are free, historic monuments (Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London) easily cost between £15 and £25. This was very difficult to stomach – especially as a ‘starving student.’
– Traffic – drivers are aggressive!

Itinerary:
**my favourites

Day 1:
– SoHo
– Fantastic Beasts Midnight Showing **

Day 2:
– Buckingham Palace
– Westminster Abbey**
– Palace of Westminster (Parliament)
– Big Ben
– National Gallery**
– Mamma Mia!**

Day 3:
– Hyde Park
– Kensington Gardens
– Victoria and Albert Museum

Day 4:
– St. Paul’s Cathedral
– Millennium Bridge
– Tower Bridge
– Tate Modern**

Day 5:
– British Museum**
– British Library**
– King’s Cross