Yea. One of my jobs was puppy chow. You can see how well that went...for me at least!December 4, 2008
December 1, 2008
Unamerican
Thanksgiving menu for the Danes of Ørresunds B800:
Turkey
Mashed potatoes
Green Beans
Rolls
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie
Texas Trash (Chex mix for those of you who don't know Murdock slang)
Puppy Chow (chocolate/peanut butter Chex)
"Okay, so that is all we need for thanksgiving right," Keeley asked me after creating the menu.
"Well in actuality, we are missing green bean casserole, stuffing, ham, fruit salad, chocolate cherry cheese cake, tiger butter, oaties, fudge, peanut butter treats...Do you really want me to continue?" I answered, without listing the various casseroles and peanut desserts that usually accompany my thanksgiving meal.
"Okay, so we are missing a lot of things, but this is the shortened list that will have to make do," Keeley retorted, sounding a bit irritated.
----->
Later at Netto (the sorry excuse for a super market)....
"So, we still need Karo, Crisco, Pecans, worcestershire, peanut butter, pumpkin, doodads and Chex. ha ha ha, Like we are really going to find all that in DENMARK!"
Before coming to Copenhagen, I assumed that all ingredients could be found anywhere. Brands may be off, but generally all ingredients are on some shelf somewhere. Nej, nej, nej, nej (Danish for absolutely wrong)
Pecans, Chex, Karo, and pumpkin-in-a-can are rare commodities that I, as an American, have come to love. Apparently, even peanut butter is American, but this is easier to find in the stores. I assumed that since America is made up of a bunch of immigrants, everything had to come from somewhere else, right? WRONG! America really does have a culture, despite my preconceived notions.
So we were lacking these key ingredients and had to substitute them with other things. For pecans we used walnuts; for Chex we used cheerios; for Karo I dissolved a TON of sugar in water; and for canned pumpkin we pureed a mini pumpkin in a blender.
Everything turned out great, almost. The Turkey, mashed potatoes, green Beans, rolls, and Texas Trash cooked on without a hitch. The puppy chow turned into "mini dounuts," the pumpkin pie was changed to a pumpkin cheese cake, and the pecan pie was....well we won't discuss that just yet.
About ten Danes attended "Thanksgiving in Denmark," and ate every bit of the meal. Martin ate all of his plate and then started in on Ejnar's. (while Ejnar wasn't looking of course!) There was conversation, laughing, eating, and an all around good time. We took turns around the table telling what we were thankful for. (Of course, everyone was thankful for the Americans cooking the Danes their first Thanksgiving dinner!)
Knowing that we showed Danes what Thanksgiving is all about, Keeley and I went to sleep in peace.
...
I assume you are wondering about the "pecan pie."
Walnuts, fake Karo, and a poorly made crust combined to create a runny walnut pudding. I didn't want the Danes to perceive my favorite dessert as strange and yukky, so I tucked it into our fridge for a personal dessert later on. The next day after some long hard studying, I went to the fridge with a spoon and a glass of milk. I peeled back the foil only to reveal a half eaten runny-walnut pudding. Someone had beat me to the punch. I am still investigating the situation, but the only punishment the Danish perpetrator will receive is the consequence of telling me it was good despite the lack of ingredients.
We were missing a lot of ingredients for Thanksgiving this year, but the ingredient I missed most was not the pecans or karo, although that did break my heart a little. The main ingredient missing was my family: Aunt Nanna's laugh at my Papa's latest student story, Grandma rolling her eyes with a smirk as Aunt Sandra does the turkey gobble, Aunt CeeCee's big grin at Uncle Eddie's jokes, every one cracking up when Cody shouts "Dadburnit!" as he loses at catch phrase, and my Mommy's morning hug after she has her coffee (before the coffee I just get a crooked grin from the bed-head). I never appreciated the kids' table more than I did this year. I missed being able to joke with my little sister and shout "sense you was up..." Even if I didn't ask, Hannah would bring me back an extra roll and some mashed potatoes, because she knows I like them together.
I like our family together. I LOVE our family together. It doesn't happen as often as we would all like, which is why I was so upset to miss it this year. I don't like missing time with family, but time doesn't always cooperate. With such a short amount of time on this earth, we should use every minute, which is why I chose to study abroad in the first place.
I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving and, more importantly, the company of your families. I can't wait to spend time with mine (because I know you will ALL be at my wedding ;•D)
Turkey
Mashed potatoes
Green Beans
Rolls
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie
Texas Trash (Chex mix for those of you who don't know Murdock slang)
Puppy Chow (chocolate/peanut butter Chex)
"Okay, so that is all we need for thanksgiving right," Keeley asked me after creating the menu.
"Well in actuality, we are missing green bean casserole, stuffing, ham, fruit salad, chocolate cherry cheese cake, tiger butter, oaties, fudge, peanut butter treats...Do you really want me to continue?" I answered, without listing the various casseroles and peanut desserts that usually accompany my thanksgiving meal.
"Okay, so we are missing a lot of things, but this is the shortened list that will have to make do," Keeley retorted, sounding a bit irritated.
----->
Later at Netto (the sorry excuse for a super market)....
"So, we still need Karo, Crisco, Pecans, worcestershire, peanut butter, pumpkin, doodads and Chex. ha ha ha, Like we are really going to find all that in DENMARK!"
Before coming to Copenhagen, I assumed that all ingredients could be found anywhere. Brands may be off, but generally all ingredients are on some shelf somewhere. Nej, nej, nej, nej (Danish for absolutely wrong)
Pecans, Chex, Karo, and pumpkin-in-a-can are rare commodities that I, as an American, have come to love. Apparently, even peanut butter is American, but this is easier to find in the stores. I assumed that since America is made up of a bunch of immigrants, everything had to come from somewhere else, right? WRONG! America really does have a culture, despite my preconceived notions.
So we were lacking these key ingredients and had to substitute them with other things. For pecans we used walnuts; for Chex we used cheerios; for Karo I dissolved a TON of sugar in water; and for canned pumpkin we pureed a mini pumpkin in a blender.
Everything turned out great, almost. The Turkey, mashed potatoes, green Beans, rolls, and Texas Trash cooked on without a hitch. The puppy chow turned into "mini dounuts," the pumpkin pie was changed to a pumpkin cheese cake, and the pecan pie was....well we won't discuss that just yet.
About ten Danes attended "Thanksgiving in Denmark," and ate every bit of the meal. Martin ate all of his plate and then started in on Ejnar's. (while Ejnar wasn't looking of course!) There was conversation, laughing, eating, and an all around good time. We took turns around the table telling what we were thankful for. (Of course, everyone was thankful for the Americans cooking the Danes their first Thanksgiving dinner!)
Knowing that we showed Danes what Thanksgiving is all about, Keeley and I went to sleep in peace.
...
I assume you are wondering about the "pecan pie."
Walnuts, fake Karo, and a poorly made crust combined to create a runny walnut pudding. I didn't want the Danes to perceive my favorite dessert as strange and yukky, so I tucked it into our fridge for a personal dessert later on. The next day after some long hard studying, I went to the fridge with a spoon and a glass of milk. I peeled back the foil only to reveal a half eaten runny-walnut pudding. Someone had beat me to the punch. I am still investigating the situation, but the only punishment the Danish perpetrator will receive is the consequence of telling me it was good despite the lack of ingredients.
We were missing a lot of ingredients for Thanksgiving this year, but the ingredient I missed most was not the pecans or karo, although that did break my heart a little. The main ingredient missing was my family: Aunt Nanna's laugh at my Papa's latest student story, Grandma rolling her eyes with a smirk as Aunt Sandra does the turkey gobble, Aunt CeeCee's big grin at Uncle Eddie's jokes, every one cracking up when Cody shouts "Dadburnit!" as he loses at catch phrase, and my Mommy's morning hug after she has her coffee (before the coffee I just get a crooked grin from the bed-head). I never appreciated the kids' table more than I did this year. I missed being able to joke with my little sister and shout "sense you was up..." Even if I didn't ask, Hannah would bring me back an extra roll and some mashed potatoes, because she knows I like them together.
I like our family together. I LOVE our family together. It doesn't happen as often as we would all like, which is why I was so upset to miss it this year. I don't like missing time with family, but time doesn't always cooperate. With such a short amount of time on this earth, we should use every minute, which is why I chose to study abroad in the first place.
I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving and, more importantly, the company of your families. I can't wait to spend time with mine (because I know you will ALL be at my wedding ;•D)
November 8, 2008
Italy, France, Germany, Australia....Australia? That's not in Europe!
"How are ya'll this mornin'?"
"Hay?"
"What?"
"I'm sorry. I'm a bit confused."
This was a legitimate conversation between me and one Australian girl. Keeley and I traveled through Top Deck Tours. Most of our tour group was made up of Australians, and instead of saying 'what' if they didn't hear you, they said 'hay'. I was unaware of this, and I assume she had never heard of 'ya'll'. I found it crazy that we were both speaking English, but could barely understand each other at times. So I learned about Australia on a trip intended to learn about Europe.
I did learn about Europe. We traveled to the Netherlands first. Tulips and Clogs were everywhere. Apparently Holland is famous for Tulips even though that is not where they originated. Oh, by the way Holland is an area in the Netherlands and everything in Holland is Dutch. It kind of confused me, so I thought I would clarify. This is also where we visited the cheese making factory. Did you know it is alright NOT to refrigerate cheese? It was all just on shelves.
We went to Germany next. The most famous here are the beer halls. These massive buildings house rows and rows of tables. Traditional music is playing (god awful), men are in ledrhosen, and beer steins and clinking in cheers all around. There are places for the regular guests to store their beer stein for later use.
Austria was the next stop. The kings of the past didn't believe in fighting, so they just married in order to gain land. It ended up being the biggest dynasty, but they ran into trouble once Mary Antoinette married the prince of France. Mozart was also born in Austria.
Italy has always been my dream destination. It was most impressive. This country had so much to offer: the Vatican city, pantheon, Colosseum, and the forums in Rome, the sinking city of Venice, and beautiful Florence. Each city was unique and had something new to offer, rather it be a gondola ride through the canals or a tour of St. Peters Cathedral. Italy was famous for lace, glass, masks, wine, and of course FOOD! Pizza, pasta, and gellato filled my four days in Italy.
That is more than I can say for France. I was certainly not a fan of the frog legs and escargo. You can fancy it up all you want...you are still eating SNAILS! We got to see many things, but my favorite was obviously the Eiffel tower. We went to the very top at night. The lights of the city were beautiful.
Nothing I saw here in Europe was as beautiful as the night sky in Texas or the sunset over the fields. However, I did find out that chivalry still lives. I thought it was only in Texas, but it is in England too. They say the french are rude, but one french guy led us to where we needed to be even though it was out of his way. He said he wasn't very good with directions, so he just took us there. They say to watch out for the Italian men, but all they did was sell me jewlery. Everyone was very friendly and kind along the way. I guess you can find good people anywhere you go.
"Hay?"
"What?"
"I'm sorry. I'm a bit confused."
This was a legitimate conversation between me and one Australian girl. Keeley and I traveled through Top Deck Tours. Most of our tour group was made up of Australians, and instead of saying 'what' if they didn't hear you, they said 'hay'. I was unaware of this, and I assume she had never heard of 'ya'll'. I found it crazy that we were both speaking English, but could barely understand each other at times. So I learned about Australia on a trip intended to learn about Europe.
I did learn about Europe. We traveled to the Netherlands first. Tulips and Clogs were everywhere. Apparently Holland is famous for Tulips even though that is not where they originated. Oh, by the way Holland is an area in the Netherlands and everything in Holland is Dutch. It kind of confused me, so I thought I would clarify. This is also where we visited the cheese making factory. Did you know it is alright NOT to refrigerate cheese? It was all just on shelves.
We went to Germany next. The most famous here are the beer halls. These massive buildings house rows and rows of tables. Traditional music is playing (god awful), men are in ledrhosen, and beer steins and clinking in cheers all around. There are places for the regular guests to store their beer stein for later use.
Austria was the next stop. The kings of the past didn't believe in fighting, so they just married in order to gain land. It ended up being the biggest dynasty, but they ran into trouble once Mary Antoinette married the prince of France. Mozart was also born in Austria.
Italy has always been my dream destination. It was most impressive. This country had so much to offer: the Vatican city, pantheon, Colosseum, and the forums in Rome, the sinking city of Venice, and beautiful Florence. Each city was unique and had something new to offer, rather it be a gondola ride through the canals or a tour of St. Peters Cathedral. Italy was famous for lace, glass, masks, wine, and of course FOOD! Pizza, pasta, and gellato filled my four days in Italy.
That is more than I can say for France. I was certainly not a fan of the frog legs and escargo. You can fancy it up all you want...you are still eating SNAILS! We got to see many things, but my favorite was obviously the Eiffel tower. We went to the very top at night. The lights of the city were beautiful.
Nothing I saw here in Europe was as beautiful as the night sky in Texas or the sunset over the fields. However, I did find out that chivalry still lives. I thought it was only in Texas, but it is in England too. They say the french are rude, but one french guy led us to where we needed to be even though it was out of his way. He said he wasn't very good with directions, so he just took us there. They say to watch out for the Italian men, but all they did was sell me jewlery. Everyone was very friendly and kind along the way. I guess you can find good people anywhere you go.
November 7, 2008
Top Deck Tour of Europe
Tons of Pictures! This is doing my tour in reverse. Blogger loads pictures weird....but anyways enjoy!
This is certainly not my plate. Daniel got frog legs, and he made me try them.
Frog leg is on the fork! I do not look pleased.
Quasimodo's residence, aka Notre Dame. It is smaller than i expected it to be. The grandeur of the building is much better seen up close.
Mona Lisa is just inside, but I didn't want to stare at the back of some Japanese tourists head trying to get to it. This is now the Louvre, a big art museum, but it used to be where Mary Antoinette used to live and have her grand parties. At least until she got her head chopped off. (This is a very shortened version of the story. If you are interested, email me for more details or you can look it up for a more accurate account.)
Cleopatra's Needle. There are only 4 of these in the world.
Don't mess with me. I will shoot you with my cannon.
It was raining when we got to see the Arc de Triomph. Built in memory of the revolution (Death of Mary Antoinette).
The real Moulin Rouge!
The Eiffel Tower sparkles on the hour. (I sparkle all the time ;)
Me, over the city of Paris.
Raider at the Tower.
This was the first dome ceiling ever built and was the largest....and I guess the smallest too....
The colosseum in Rome. I couldn't help but think of the gladiators and Julius Ceasar.
Rome.
The Roman Forums...Where Ceasar walked around is about 11 meters below the city of Rome today.
Toss one coin if you want to return to Rome. Toss two coins if you want to find love. Toss three coins if you want a divorce. It must be over your left shoulder. I tossed one coin of course!
I am drinkin from the Trevi Fountain. You can drink from all the fountains in Rome. People were filling up buckets and water bottles.
Trevi Fountain.
The Pantheon. I think this dome beat out the first one ever built in size.
Masquerade masks were all over Italy.
Rome from a bridge.
Inside St. Peters Basilica. His remains are actually still here.
School of Athens inside the Vatican City.
This was supposed to be the portrate of the ideal and perfect man. Sorry no length wise pictures...
This monk was walkin around the Vatican City.
Colosseum by night.
Raider in Rome
Trevi Fountains by night
Spanish steps...always this crowded
Venice from inside a Gondola
That is a street in Venice. Want to catch the bus...boat?
Swiss Alps. It snowed while we were in Switzerland.
This is the cemetary where the family in "Sound of Music" hid from the Nazis. This is in Salzburg, Austria, which is also the place where Mozart was born.
The devils footprint....does your shoe fit?
Town Square in Munich
This is the largest beer stein in the World. The smaller ones are a tradition of Germany. It keeps their huge beers cold for hours. If the lid is closed, everything is good. If the lid is open, the waitress better refill!
Knight in shining armor.
My clogs...boots are much more comfy.
This just seemed like typical holland to me.
This is certainly not my plate. Daniel got frog legs, and he made me try them.
Frog leg is on the fork! I do not look pleased.
Quasimodo's residence, aka Notre Dame. It is smaller than i expected it to be. The grandeur of the building is much better seen up close.
Mona Lisa is just inside, but I didn't want to stare at the back of some Japanese tourists head trying to get to it. This is now the Louvre, a big art museum, but it used to be where Mary Antoinette used to live and have her grand parties. At least until she got her head chopped off. (This is a very shortened version of the story. If you are interested, email me for more details or you can look it up for a more accurate account.)
Cleopatra's Needle. There are only 4 of these in the world.
Don't mess with me. I will shoot you with my cannon.
It was raining when we got to see the Arc de Triomph. Built in memory of the revolution (Death of Mary Antoinette).
The real Moulin Rouge!
The Eiffel Tower sparkles on the hour. (I sparkle all the time ;)
Me, over the city of Paris.
Raider at the Tower.
This was the first dome ceiling ever built and was the largest....and I guess the smallest too....
The colosseum in Rome. I couldn't help but think of the gladiators and Julius Ceasar.
Rome.
The Roman Forums...Where Ceasar walked around is about 11 meters below the city of Rome today.
Toss one coin if you want to return to Rome. Toss two coins if you want to find love. Toss three coins if you want a divorce. It must be over your left shoulder. I tossed one coin of course!
I am drinkin from the Trevi Fountain. You can drink from all the fountains in Rome. People were filling up buckets and water bottles.
Trevi Fountain.
The Pantheon. I think this dome beat out the first one ever built in size.
Masquerade masks were all over Italy.
Rome from a bridge.
Inside St. Peters Basilica. His remains are actually still here.
School of Athens inside the Vatican City.
This was supposed to be the portrate of the ideal and perfect man. Sorry no length wise pictures...
This monk was walkin around the Vatican City.
Colosseum by night.
Raider in Rome
Trevi Fountains by night
Spanish steps...always this crowded
Venice from inside a Gondola
That is a street in Venice. Want to catch the bus...boat?
Swiss Alps. It snowed while we were in Switzerland.
This is the cemetary where the family in "Sound of Music" hid from the Nazis. This is in Salzburg, Austria, which is also the place where Mozart was born.
The devils footprint....does your shoe fit?
Town Square in Munich
This is the largest beer stein in the World. The smaller ones are a tradition of Germany. It keeps their huge beers cold for hours. If the lid is closed, everything is good. If the lid is open, the waitress better refill!
Knight in shining armor.
My clogs...boots are much more comfy.
This just seemed like typical holland to me.
October 18, 2008
London Brussels tour!
For my long study tour, we went to Brussels and London. Here are some of the pictures.
This was inside the Brewers of Europe.
Some famous statue in Brussels. I am not sure why, but people rubbed the statue as they passed for luck.
Inside the European Union Parliament, presidents are usually only allowed to stand here and speak. Could this be an allusion to the future?
This is legitimately the president of the EU!!
This is me and Phuong with Brussels as a backdrop.
Okay, so this is the most famous statue in Brussels. Manequin Pis was built in honor of the guy who saved the city in the war by peeing on the fuses of the cannons.
Chocolate and shoes are two objects of my affection. Here we see chocolate shoes...What could possibly be better?
EU Parliament.
Our tour leader Frank inside the EU parliament.
Phuong and I in the train or eurostar.
This is Grand Place at night
There is a very good reason that the waffles are famous from Belgium.
Do I need to say anything?
Tower Bridge..now in London.
Very random blob with a very random girl!
By the way...the guards DO MOVE!
Buckingham Palace-Phuong and I got to see the changing of the guard by chance.
The famous red telephone booth
Inside Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
They had to write which way to look when crossing the street so the little Americans would stop getting run over!
View of London from Westminster Abbey
Hyde Park beside Buckingham palace
Buckingham Palace
Harrods..huge expensive department store
We got to see a rendition of Monty Python and the holy grail in the royal theater ...HILARIOUS!
A sneak picture inside the theater
I am inside the London eye. It has the largest panoramic view in Europe.
From the top of the eye
Our flight shuttle on the eye
Buckingham Palace
BIG BEN!
The London eye and Me
Big Ben and parliament form on top of the eye
Double Decker of London
Oh just a simple meeting room
The egg in London
There are many stories I could tell you from London and Brussels. Some are embarrassing others are entertaining, but they all play off a difference in culture and the interplay of our American lives and life in Europe. One of our business meetings got canceled because of how affected they are by the Financial crisis in America. On the lighter side, I actually ran into people from Texas while in London. I ate texmex at a restaurant called Chi Chi's in Brussels (trust me not at all texmex...let's just say buffalo wings were on the menu). My experience as an American student in Europe has been amazing thus far, but I guarantee you my experience is completely different than Phuong's, my vietnamese friend, experience or even very different from a Califorian's experience. Each city was completely unique in its language, culture, and sights.
I will post again soon with pictures from Keeley and I's tour of Europe.
This was inside the Brewers of Europe.
Some famous statue in Brussels. I am not sure why, but people rubbed the statue as they passed for luck.
Inside the European Union Parliament, presidents are usually only allowed to stand here and speak. Could this be an allusion to the future?
This is legitimately the president of the EU!!
This is me and Phuong with Brussels as a backdrop.
Okay, so this is the most famous statue in Brussels. Manequin Pis was built in honor of the guy who saved the city in the war by peeing on the fuses of the cannons.
Chocolate and shoes are two objects of my affection. Here we see chocolate shoes...What could possibly be better?
EU Parliament.
Our tour leader Frank inside the EU parliament.
Phuong and I in the train or eurostar.
This is Grand Place at night
There is a very good reason that the waffles are famous from Belgium.
Do I need to say anything?
Tower Bridge..now in London.
Very random blob with a very random girl!
By the way...the guards DO MOVE!
Buckingham Palace-Phuong and I got to see the changing of the guard by chance. 
The famous red telephone booth
Inside Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
They had to write which way to look when crossing the street so the little Americans would stop getting run over!
View of London from Westminster Abbey
Hyde Park beside Buckingham palace
Buckingham Palace
Harrods..huge expensive department store
We got to see a rendition of Monty Python and the holy grail in the royal theater ...HILARIOUS!
A sneak picture inside the theater
I am inside the London eye. It has the largest panoramic view in Europe.
From the top of the eye
Our flight shuttle on the eye
Buckingham Palace
BIG BEN!
The London eye and Me
Big Ben and parliament form on top of the eye
Double Decker of London
Oh just a simple meeting room
The egg in London
There are many stories I could tell you from London and Brussels. Some are embarrassing others are entertaining, but they all play off a difference in culture and the interplay of our American lives and life in Europe. One of our business meetings got canceled because of how affected they are by the Financial crisis in America. On the lighter side, I actually ran into people from Texas while in London. I ate texmex at a restaurant called Chi Chi's in Brussels (trust me not at all texmex...let's just say buffalo wings were on the menu). My experience as an American student in Europe has been amazing thus far, but I guarantee you my experience is completely different than Phuong's, my vietnamese friend, experience or even very different from a Califorian's experience. Each city was completely unique in its language, culture, and sights.
I will post again soon with pictures from Keeley and I's tour of Europe.
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