Archive for 'Uncategorized'
Denmark and the Bluetooth Connection Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Aug 7, 2015
Did you know that each time you turn on Bluetooth on your computer or mobil [mohBEEL] (cellphone), you’re actually calling the name of a Viking konge (king)? For some reason, the Bluetooth inventors decided to use the øgenavn (nickname) of Harald Blåtand (Harold Bluetooth), who ruled Denmark at the end of the 900s. The Bluetooth…
Mikkeller in Copenhagen, An International Haven for Craft Beer Posted by Tony Kitchen on Jul 31, 2015
Mikkeller microbrewery in Copenhagen is no hidden secret. It remains as one the must stops when traveling through anywhere in Europe, especially Scandinavia. In fact, going to the original just might be worth the trip on its own. It’s a genius collaboration on beer making, a refreshing and high-quality take on a craft that all…
Festival Fun Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jul 19, 2015
Hvilken festival skal du til i år? (Which festival are you going to this year?) For many danskere, Summer is Festival Season. A festival means musik, venskab (friendship), kærlighed (love), god stemning (good atmosphere), hygge and lots of øl. Summer Denmark is peppered with festivals, from tiny island get-togethers such as Tunø Festival, to children-friendly…
Something is brewing in the state of Denmark Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jun 12, 2015
If you’re visiting Danmark these days, you’ll probably notice two things: 1. Vejret er dejligt [vare-eth ar die-leet] (the weather is nice/lovely). 2. Gaderne er fulde af valgplakater. (The streets are full of election posters.) On May 27th, plakatophængerne (the poster ”hangers”) hurried to put up huge photos of politikere (politicians) all over the country. Helle…
How to spot a Danish chicken Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on May 20, 2015
Reklamer (ads) can be a great way of picking up ord og udtryk (words and expressions). Very often, you also learn something about kulturen (the culture). This is particularly true in Danmark, I think. Ads here very often use humor or ironi or ordspil (word-play) – remember the movie about buspassageren (the bus passenger)? The…
Crossing the Border Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Apr 30, 2015
Vil du med til grænsen? (Do you want to [go] with [us] to the border?) When two friends offered me en plads i bilen (a spot in the car), I couldn’t miss the chance to go on my first ever grænsehandel (border trade [trip]). Not that I actually needed to købe (buy) anything on the…
Being Polite in Danish Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Apr 26, 2015
”Two fries and a cheeseburger!” If you hear someone saying this, they might be a forgetful Dane. Danish, you see, has no proper word for please. This has given birth to the idea that Danes are less høflig (courteous, polite) than other people. Well, actually, Danish has various ways of expressing høflighed (courteousness): • tak…