I’ve been contemplating for a while now whether or not I should buy a bike. Biking is the main method of transportation in Denmark but I firmly believe having a bike is like having a child. You have to love it, name it, and make sure it doesn’t get stolen. I don’t know if I can handle that responsibility. Sure, it’s the only way to get the true Denmark experience, but do I really want to suffer the trauma and pain when my bike inevitably gets stolen because I forgot to lock it? I’ll just save the money and buy myself a pair of shoes, for walking purposes. Or at least that’s what I like to tell myself.

Kirsten, my other landlord, took me around the neighborhood to show me all my grocery store options. There’s Irma, a specialty store that is on the more expensive side. Then there’s Netto, Lidl, or Fakta, low end chains that are a good option for students on a budget.  Everything is in small packages and really fresh; bread and pastries are 50% off after 8 PM. There is a large selection of cheese and packaged meats. Junk food is really pricey- I bought a Pringle sized can of chips and a bar of chocolate both for ~6 CAD each.  None of the grocery stores I went to carried North American student essentials like Kraft Dinner, or a large variety of frozen foods. Actually, one of the hugest differences that I’ve noticed between Vancouver and Copenhagen ( besides the amount of bikes) is the lack of fast food restaurants. I have to walk more than a few blocks to bump into a McDonalds or Starbucks.

Earlier, I had mentioned that finding housing was a huge struggle for me. I ran into two exchange students, who are currently living out of a cramped camper car, because they still can’t find accommodation. This was such a crazy concept to me. It was explained to me that under Danish law, the university is not allowed to own private property, and therefore can’t ensure housing for all its students, even their local ones. Meeting these two students gave me a new found appreciation for my current accommodation situation and the family that I am staying with.

After I grocery shopped, Frigga got off school and took me exploring around Copenhagen. We went to Nyhavn ( the cover of all Copenhagen guide books!!) and I actually let out a squeal when I saw it. It looked just as great in real life as all the pictures I had seen, which can be pretty rare in my opinion. We also made our way to the top of the Round Tower, which is a tall building with a large winding ramp in its interior, providing an amazing 360 degree view of Copenhagen at the top, and explored the streets of Stroget. Thanks Frigga, I had the best time!