Back in DK

HELLO ALL! I decided to make a blog - mostly, actually, because one of my professors suggested I do so as we were saying farewell on graduation day. If you know me than you certainly know that I went to Denmark for a fellowship last summer and had a shockingly good time. It was a human rights fellowship with Humanity in Action (HIA - http://www.humanityinaction.org/) focused on immigration, integration, and minority rights in Denmark. I went ahead and tried to learn Danish and wrote my politics senior thesis about anti-immigration politics in Denmark. I'm sure I'll talk about it more later...

My first 24 hours back in Denmark have been fabulous. I'm being hosted by my good friend Thomas from the program last year and his girlfriend Sarah. They really couldn't be kinder. Thomas prepared homemade bread and a hummus and all sorts of other things for me right upon my arrival. They then tucked me in for a nap... during which I apparently laughed for a really long time, really loudly. They were slightly concerned about me and checked in but I was dead asleep. When I woke up a couple hours later we headed to Christiania (if you don't know about it.... http://www.christianiaooo.dk/) to meet up with half a dozen other HIA friends for a concert by Thomas' favorite Danish band, I Got You On Tape (IGYOT).

Much more to say but first - my plans in the near future: I am here now as an assistant on the same fellowship I did last summer. The program focus will be very different so I'll be challenged not just with new responsibilities but with new material as well. Last summer we looked at the post 9/11 political landscape and this summer will be all about the interface between Danish civil society and the state. I'll be leading discussions, coordinating with speakers, and generally helping to make the program run. The fellowship ends with a conference in Sarajevo after which I'm traveling in the Balkans for a bit with some friends. THEN (and here's where it gets confusing) I'm going home for the rest of the summer to meet my brother's newborn baby (!!!), earn a little money, and be with my family. THEN I'm back in Denmark for graduate school in September.

I'll be studying at Aalborg Universitet, Copenhagen Campus in the International Relations and Development Studies program, under the Global Refugee Studies masters program. I'm so excited! The masters program was recommended to me by one of the Directors of HIA. Finally, the name of the blog: My mom's absolute favorite Danish sentence that I've tried out on her is, "Jeg kan ikke snakke dansk". "I cannot speak Danish". I WILL speak Danish by the end of my time here, that's a goal I will commit to publicly - so hold me to it, please! Vi ses! Alice