Classic Danish Lunch

So I've been falling behind on my blog...but that usually happens when I've been too busy living my life to write about my life!

Hello from Amsterdam!- I just arrived here yesterday! Amsterdam is amazing (post coming soon) but today it's pouring rain and there is a storm danger alert right now, so I thought I would take a few minutes indoors and post this quick update from last week.

Since coming back to Denmark, I've was really looking forward getting some work done at Copenhagen Business School, but when I stopped by CBS, it was a ghost town -.-. I guess summer school just ended or hasn't started yet because the whole building was pretty much ABANDONED. I felt really super weird sitting in there by myself, so as lunch time rolled around I decided to get off campus and joined a friend at Hansens Gamle Familiehave. Hansens Gamle Familiehave is a Danish restaurant serving tradtional food conveniently located a few minutes walk from Copenhagen Business School.

For lunch we decided to go big or go home and got a lunch sampler:
"AFTEN ANRETNING
3 skags sild ned hjemmelavet karrysalat, fersk røget laks med røræg, fiskefilet med remoulade, hønsesalat mad bacon, mørbradbøf med bløde løg, flækesteg med rødkål, brie med druer"
---or according to handy dandy google translate--
"3 skags herring down homemade curry salad, smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, fish fillet with tartar sauce, chicken salad food bacon, pork tenderloin steak with fried onions, flækesteg with red cabbage, brie with grapes"

Lunch was WAY TOO MUCH FOOD, and I think even now, a half week later, I am still suffering from the resulting food coma. All the meat and the fried and smoked fish were amazing, but ohhhh the herring.....I mean I have had herring couple times in the winter time and I thought it was not that bad, dare I say, even kinda good. However this time, maybe it was the sweltering Scandinavian noon sun beating down on us, or the fact that I had already consumed half my body weight in Danish delicacies - but I defilingly wasn't feeling the herring at lunch. It was salty, slippery and worst of all... lukewarm. I tried my best to be polite and managed to get down a nibble or two --- but man, oh man--- it was not easy for me. The waiter noticed me struggling and kindly offered me a glass of schnapps to wash the herring down o.o. 

Overall(minus my herring experience), I must say lunch was awesome- great company, great beer(and schnapps) and great food! 

Hope everyone is having a great summer! "Skål!" - Ran- A Nomad eating her way through Europe

Lunch at Hansens Gamle Familiehave

The cold dishes

The Herring -.-

The hot dishes

Home Sweet Copenhagen

I travel so much and I travel constantly. But it never struck me until today, just how powerful our modern transportation technology is. Less than 20 hours ago, I was going to events SF with friends and living out of a suitcase in my tiny little "bonus" room in Northbeach/Telegraph hill, and now, one international flight later I find myself back in my apartment in Copenhagen.

Arriving in CPH was so strange today. I have been gone for the whole summer- almost 3 months to the day. Yet it was like nothing had changed, but everything had changed at the same time. It felt both comforting yet alien- maybe it is because I am the one that changed. Walking down the street in Copenhagen, I felt like I was living an alternate life, it is just so different here than in San Francisco. I love Scandinavia-I love the order, the cleanliness, the serenity, the beauty, the history, the list goes on and on. I have experienced so much in the last three months and I know I will experience so much more in the upcoming months - on one hand I feel that I have outgrown my beloved CPH, while on the other it feels so soothing to come back to a place where I have amazing friends and memories, and where I actually know the streets and can navigate the public transport without getting lost - it is so peaceful here without constant noise, without ambulances/police cars zipping back and forth and without the general craziness of SF happening all the time. Feels good to recharge in solitude.

Unlocking the door to my flat I felt like I was walking into a museum, all my boxes were still packed from when I moved in three months ago - I have only stayed in this place less than 5 days since I moved in. How did time go by so quickly? When I first arrived in back CPH this afternoon, every fiber in my body screamed, go back, gooooo back to hustle and bustle of SF. I was missing everything and everyone there. But now after a much needed nap(have you ever been so tired you pass out into a dreamless sleep?) in this HUGE BED and in my MASSIVE APARTMENT that I live in ALONE- it kinda feels good to have space and privacy- something I definitely haven't had in the last three months of couchsurfing and something I won't have again for a long while. When you travel as much as I do, you learn not to take the simple pleasures in life for granted. Something as common place as sleeping alone in a large soft bed, in your own fresh sheets and pillows - where you can sprawl out in every which direction and then the icing on the cake is- having your own private bathroom(even if is tiny and designed for midgets?) is just pure magical f&cking bliss.

The movers come tomorrow and the craziness will start again. But tonight, just for this one last singular night, my apartment in CPH is still mine, and it's quiet, its comfortable and I am blissfully alone with just my thoughts.

Yes, it's good to be home.

-Ran - A Nomad Home at Last

ps.
Home is where the heart is and Copenhagen is the closest thing I have to home. I moved not knowing anyone or anything and tried to irk out an existence here. Its been a crazy ride and so many unpredictable things have gone wrong along the way- But, still I wouldn't change a thing :) In the space of less than a year I have made life-long friends and learned so much about this beautiful land and about myself. Thank you Copenhagen.

Reason Behind the Madness

And the headache begins---how does one small asian girl move all her worldly possessions from Denmark to USA?

It seems just yesterday(well actually just 10 short months ago) that I made the big leap across the pond from Chicago to Copenhagen, but now I'm leaping again from Copenhagen to San Francisco.

My zigzag journey around the world has been exciting, hectic and unpredictable. Who would have thought that going to business school in Denmark would lead me back to USA in less than a year?

A little under three months ago - I literally canceled my flight to London the day before I was flying and bought a ticket at the airport 2 hours before my flight and flew to San Francisco for Makers Faire San Mateo. I packed one suitcase and thought I was staying only 5 days. Due to the fact that I bought the ticket so last minute, I had the worst ticket possible where I had to transfer in London and then sleep a night in JFK New York Airport(scary o.o) before driving directly to Makerfaire San Mateo with suitcase in tow.

Looking back, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, now its been almost 3 months and Im still in San Francisco and have now put a deposit down on an room in the "lower Nob Hill"(aka the Tender Nob).

Hmmm but was this move so unpredicted? While at first glance- it seems like I am just randomly moving around the world, but digging a bit deeper there is logic in this madness. Denmark is a great place for entrepreneurship, especially for young companies. There is a lot of energy and the ecosystem has been really coming together and gaining momentum. There are many accelerators and office spaces that do not take equity or money from young startups, plus there are many government grants and programs available to startups. So yes, Denmark is a great place to start a business!

So why move to San Francisco? Well as a lesson learned from Kickstarter---network, Network, NETWORK! It goes without saying that the Bay Area is the epicenter of the startup/high tech industry. Where else can you find so many talented, driven and ambitious people and companies all focused on entrepreneurship and the "next big thing". The speed at which things happen here is just mind-boggling, there really are no words to explain this except that you have to live it to understand it. Since finishing up Chicago Tech Week and Makerfaire Kansas City two weeks ago, I have just been getting a preliminary glimpse of the life here in San Francisco- I am seriously learning by doing here, because almost everyone I run into is somehow involved in the tech industry, whether, they be a VC, designer, media, engineer, lawyer, etc. Startups are the norm here- I always knew that was the case, I just didn't realize what that meant until now....and I LOVE it. In two weeks here, I have experienced/learned/done more than I could imagined.

So I guess my decision was made for me- career comes first and I have to follow opportunity. A piece of my heart will always be in Scandinavia, and I know I will find a way to return to this beautiful place. But for now - San Francisco is where I need to be.

My life: Wuhan > Dallas > Baltimore > Chicago > Stockholm > Copenhagen > San Francisco.
Ok, Im ready :)

-Ran - A Nomad on the Move

A Kindred Spirit

Today is the big move day and I am up all night packing like a champ. This is my THIRD apartment in the eight short months since I have moved to Copenhagen - crazy right?!!

Anyways during one of my packing breaks - I browsed some travel blogs and stumbled across one that really resonated with me(http://www.baconismagic.ca/chile/walked-away-from-love/). Even though we are different people and have never met each other, this girl was able to put into words the emotions I felt when I moved from away Chicago - and I quote:

"This trip has been a huge sacrifice for me. I have gained so much but in exchange I had to walk away from love.

The irony of me breaking up with my boyfriend to travel is that he was the only one who never questioned why I had to go. He understood and I never needed to explain.

But because human emotions are complicated he was both proud of me for going and resented me for leaving. In return I loved him for encouraging me to go and resenting him for not insisting that I stay."

Wow just wow. Even though my previous relationship did not end because I wanted to travel-there were so many bigger and overarching reasons- the emotions I felt when I was leaving were the same as she wrote. I have found a kindred spirit. We are not so alone afterall :)

This post is for all the beautiful people in my traveling life. Its not "Goodbye", but rather "Until we meet again." Thank you for understanding me, for supporting me, for not trying to change me. Thank you for loving me for the imperfect, passionate and curious soul that I am.

-Ran- 

Kicking A$$ and Taking No Prisoners

Since I have moved to Copenhagen, life has been full of surprises both good and bad. Each day I spend here, I learn more about myself. Distanced from all the things that made me feel safe in USA, I have been forced to learn to become self-reliant here. Its been wonderful here, but its also been so hard here, so incredibly hard. The challenges just keep piling up, one after another- everything goes wrong at once. How can one small person like me handle it all. But I have no choice, do I? I either find a way to solve my problems and persevere, or I give up and this whole journey was for naught.

In USA, the old me would have let my emotions get the best of me, and become reclusive- left tasks undone. But here in Denmark, I know- when it comes down to it -I am the only one responsible for myself. If I don't take care of myself, no one will. Of course I still get sad sometimes, and my insomnia comes back with a vengeance, but unlike before where I would be overwhelmed by my sadness, now I have learned to put it aside(after a bit) and continue to get things done. 

I try my best to keep my priorities in line and invest in myself. Some people may call this cold or say I don't care, but that's exactly opposite the case. Its because I care too much about the people in my life, that I don't want them to have to take care of me. I try to live my life in a way that makes me happy, so others can share in my joy and not have to deal with catching the failing  me. Of course this is still a learning process. But after all these years, I have come to the conclusion that the only one that can make me truly happy is myself and being self-sufficient and independent is not being selfish, but rather the most real way of showing I care about the people in my life. 

Of course I am not perfect, but I like who I am now far more than the me a year ago, or two years ago. Maybe I am a bit more jaded and scarred but I have learned that life goes on. I fight for what I want, and I fight for what makes me happy. As tough as things get, I know I can find a way to make it through, as I always do. I may be one small person - but I am one damn tough person ;)  So now, its back to kicking a$$ and taking no prisoners! Stolen phone, broken computer, downgraded apartment, new challenges and new adventures - I'm not afraid, lets do this!

--Ran- The Warrior Nomad--

Friday at HIVE!

Since I have been traveling so much, its been quite some time since I have gone out in Copenhagen. So this friday night out with the girls was a treat! I can't believe I have never been to HIVE(http://www.hivecph.dk) before, but all I can say was that it was AWESOME!!! Huge place, beautiful people, killer music and free bar- what more could girl ask for?

Hope you guys are having an kickass weekend - pArTy-on! -Ranimal Ma

Pretty in Pink :)

Work hard, play hard

We clean up nice !

It's going down!

Nordic Startup Conference

Yesterday was the Nordic Startup Conference (http://startupconference.org) and this full day event attracted the best and brightest from the Nordic startup ecosystem- It was really nice to meet new faces and also catchup with the people I haven't seen in a while :)

So it was a kewl venue, great people, interesting presentations and an overall awesome time! Great to see CPH startup community growing and coming together. What an exciting time to be living in this city!

VC panel discussions

Birdseye view of pitching battle!

Beer + pizza = best idea ever!

Speaking about failure- very inspiring!

Conference Selfies :P

A big thank you to conference staff! - Job well done!

Pictionaire- startup style! :p

When things get tough, the tough get going!

Bam! Whack! Kapow! Boom!

Do you hear that?! That's me waking up today and Kicking A$$!!

The point of a blog is to be honest right? So there is no sugarcoating here- this week officially sucks. The moment I solve one problem, another unexpected one pops up. My life in Copenhagen is a perpetual cycle of putting out one fire after another >:O

BUT- you know what? I chose to move to Copenhagen, I chose to live this life, so now I have to take all these challenges in stride. I mean- what doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger right?

When you move abroad to a new country where you don't know anyone and have no family or friends, it can be tough to feel like you belong. Of course it is easy to have "drinking buddies"- and I have more than my fair share of those, but it is when things go wrong that you see who your true friends are. The ones that got your back, NO MATTER WHAT. And when you are having a hard time- you don't even have to ask- bc they are already on the way with backup. Those people are true friends and I am lucky to have some steadfast ones in my life -I don't think I would have lasted this long in CPH without them.

Therefore, on days like today when I feel like the world is screwing me over - I still have hope. I know I can find my way because I am not in this alone :) anddddd I have been through worse haven't I?

So I tell myself: Get up, Ran! There is work to be done! You gave up everything to move this new place to do something. To MAKE SOMETHING! So GET UP! and get GOING!



And yes, dem haterz gonna hate :p -Ran

I'm grooving to:
Milky Chance - "Stolen Dance"

A Morning Text

GUESS FREAKING WHAT? Im homeless AGAIN?

Woke up to a text from my landlord that his job offer didn't work out and I need to move out by May 1. Are you kidding me?? I am so busy right now with work and I have several conference trips already prebooked for April and May. How can I manage this?? and finding an apartment in CPH is near to impossible in one month :(

Its really been such a struggle with apartment hunting here. So much time and money spent moving, packing, unpacking and searching.

Ive been living out of boxes and suitcases since I arrived here because I was never sure when I had to move again. You know I am as much a nomad as nomads come, but right now for the next three months- while we are working on our campaign- a bit of stability couldn't hurt. And guess what the irony is, I was just planning to go to IKEA this upcoming weekend to finally get some "real" furniture so I could officially finish unpacking and make my apartment feel like a HOME...

Damn, I really, really liked my current place (but I guess it was never really mine was it?) I was finally starting to feel like I belonged in Copenhagen. And now- yet again- everything is up in the air and I have to start over again.

Yes. I think might cry a bit today. Just a little bit.

Man this sucks.

-Ran

Back to CPH

Shanghai>Copenhagen>Chicago>Copenhagen (whew!)
After a month of whirlwind nonstop traveling, it feels good to be "home". Is Copenhagen home now? o.O

It seems 2014 has just rolled in, but actually almost two full months have passed. How did it go by so fast? Did I not notice because I was so busy and jetlagged? Its been great seeing old friends and making new friends, but something has to be said for falling asleep in my very own new apartment, on my own pillow, wrapped snuggly in my own sheets. Aah- the feeling of pure bliss :)

Now that Im back and somewhat recovered from my jetlag. Its back to work as usual. There is no rest for the weary! Back to networking, back to hustling, back to getting sh*t done. I can admit I haven't been a very good blogger lately- I guess I have been too busy living my life to write about my life. Maybe that is good thing... but one of my resolutions for 2014 is to commit more to my blog. So you, my dear reader will be hearing more from me :)

So much has been happening in my life, per usual. So many changes-new apartment, new internship, new opportunities, new problems, new choices, new people. I don't think I have had time to wrap my head around it all yet. Many good things have happened and some bad along with it too. But I'll tell you what - for every problem there is a solution, and if I work hard, have self-control and becreative, then 2014 is going to be MY year- I can feel it :)

Onwards and forwards! Lets do this ! -Ran

New Years-CPH Style!

I am listening to:

Shirobon-"I Need You"

Online Dating Danish Style

Sometimes, a girl has just gotta do what a girl's gotta do! And today is one of those days !

Dear Danish boys, what's going on? ! Sometimes I think I see you glance at me over your cup of morning coffee, or I see you smiling awkwardly on the train, and I definently see you staring at the bar...! But I have been in Denmark for three months and I have not been on a single date(at least none that I was aware of)- nadda- zero- nothing! I am not the type of girl that sits around idly complaining about her lack of a love life- so today I have offically decided to sign up for online dating in Denmark! Why not?

Now, if you have read my blog before, you will know that I have already tested the murky waters of online dating in Stockholm, and while I was skeptical at first, I actually had a great time on most of my dates there. In theory, my online dating experience in Denmark should be better than in Stockholm because this time I have elected to try out a paid website which will hopefully filter out some of the rather "strange" messages I recieved on the unpaid Swedish website.

AND now before you eager naysayers interject, we DO live in a digital world and practically do everything online these days, so is it a stretch to think that a little Chinese/American girl could find her very own viking online ? Ha! ...I guess we will have to wait and find out...


- ! :P - Ran-

Finding My Happiness in CPH

How long has it been?
Feels like I have been in Copenhagen forever yet it feels like I just arrived. Sometimes I almost forget I am thousands of miles away from "home".

Am I lonely here?
Sure, sometimes. Today I feel a little down. Its grey and rainy outside my window, and the wind is howling. Its been a tough week with so many unpredictable things happening in rapid succession. So now its finally Sunday and I just want to have a cup of warm tea, and cuddle in bed... I guess I am missing those slow cozy days in Chicago...

However, most days I am busy and my life here is overflowing with events, people and opportunities. I am truely lucky to have such great friends and classmates, who have made my time in Copenhagen an amazing adventure! So I will keep my head up and keep on fighting the good fight. A couple grey days here and there are to be expected, no?

So you ask am I happy?
Long answer short- Yes, I am happy! While I cannot predict the future, I know I am where I am supposed to be right now in my life, and I am doing what I am passionate about. Everyday I am learning something new, meeting someone new, getting crazy ideas and starting to put pieces of the puzzle together. Thank you Copenhagen for inspiring me and for pushing me to do more than I ever imagined I could. Moving here has not been easy, and I have had more than my share of mishaps and mistakes, but I have also had many small victories along the way. I am challenging assumptions and I will change how healthcare is done in our modern world. I know I will create a revolution and that day is sooner than later... :)

-xoxo- R

Keeping it classy with Smørrebrød and Red Wine!

I am listening to:

Essay - CoMa

Stockholm 2.0

I just got back from the Nordic Life Science Days conference in Stockholm, and apparently I am now a "Nordic Young Life Science Entrepreneur"! Wow...so I have been in Copenhagen for 2 months now and my life continues to be crazy. I have been traveling, studying for finals, living with out a bathroom door, trying to track down my boxes that never arrived from Chicago...and OH did I mention I am working on a startup?


....to be continued ...

Should I Be Worried?

Friday night was the first time since I moved to Copenhagen that I got a full nights sleep.
Saturday was the first day I had time I had free time and a chance to spruce up my humble abode. And last night was the first time I actually slept in my bed(now that I finally acquired sheets and real pillows) !

As I have had a warm coffee and some time to think, I realize that my life has been one nonstop chaotic rush forward. I haven't had any personal time, no time to work out, no time to unpack and definitely no social life-(other than school events**at least I love my classmates!)


Should I be worried? Will things get less hectic? ha! I somehow doubt it....

Hey! But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, right?! If I don't work hard and put in the time, how will I ever succeed in this new land, this new field and start my own business? In the words of one of our guest lecturers, I want to "do good while doing well!" Its no secret that I want to create something extraordinary and change the world. However it seems the tradeoff for my ambition is a nonexistent dating life, which unbelievably is even worse than it was in Stockholm- where can girl get a "fika" around here? I can admit that this situation is mostly partially my fault as I've had negative free time lately, but still, if Denmark is the land of the *true* Vikings, then where art thou?! :p

Sighs...well I guess worse case scenario, I can always join a Danish version of HappyPancake.com (See my foray into online Swedish dating here)...  >.<

Or maybe I am just approaching this all wrong: "Dating in Denmark get drunk and find your true love"! << ??!!

A well-spent Saturday at IKEA= Apartment now at maximum "Hyggeligt" level !

-Ran-A Chinese-American Girl Lost in Scandinavia


I am listening to:
The Submarines- You, Me and the Bourgeoisie (Tonetiger Remix)

An Overdue Update

I am officially nearing the one month mark for my stay in beautiful Copenhagen, Denmark and I know I have been getting slower and slower with my posts. However, this is not because I have nothing to write about but rather I have been doing too many things and not sleeping enough to put finger to keyboard! But now after much needed peaceful Friday night's rest, I think I have finally recuperated my strength...

Soooo what have I been doing?

I had a friend visiting from Chicago last week and we enjoyed a wonderful Autumn Moon Festival dinner with some new Chinese friends. We went on a crazy pub-crawl with my classmates(Danes sure know how to party!) and then had a very cozy(maximum hyggliet) International Potluck Dinner with my program.

And on top of that, I along with two fantastic co-hosts organized a "Networking and Pitching Workshop" for our program with guest speakers Michael Bak, Troels Kranker and Aleksander Borkvik! A really interactive and informative event and I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone involved ! Greeeeeeat Success! :D

So I guess in short, this month has been a whirlwind! I have so many projects/readings/papers due for school, my little asian brain just can't seem keep them straight. Additionally I will be attending the Biopeople Nordic Science Days Conference in Stockholm(yay back to Sweden!) in three weeks and I am a bit intimadated as I will be the only student(non-company) person there. But....everyone has to start somewhere right? I am very grateful for this opportunity, and I will try my best! I am sure I will gain some valuable insight and feedback on my entrepreneurship idea.

Now my clock is flashing 10:00am, I think its high time for a quick coffee run(I seriously need to buy an Nespresso machin..) with my favorite little papillon sidekick. The sun is out and the it is looking like a perfect Autumn day in Copenhagen.....I have a million and one things to do so it's time to get started! <3

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! - Ran

Renior being extra stinky

After the rainstorm: View from my balcony

To Matt: This is not "Goodbye", but rather "See you next time..."

I am listening to:

Bedroom Lullaby - "Kisses in the Rain"

Guided by Danes: A walking tour of Copenhagen

--coming --soon

Finally, a fitting end to my Danish housing saga!

Finding housing in Copenhagen, where do I begin?

Yes, it is competitive!
Yes, it is time consuming!
Yes, there are a lot of rules!
Yes, it is much harder for expats!
And of course it is expensive!!!

But if you don't give up, think outside the box and with a bit of luck, I believe everyone can eventually find a place in this city!

So, how exactly did I find my place? Well, if you read my previous blog posts, you know I tried everything I could think of- even paying a hefty subscription to several Danish apartment hunting sites and staying up all hours of the night prowling online listings. However in the end, my Danish apartment lead actually came from the most unlikely of sources...

Back during my final month in Stockholm this winter, I was getting a bit restless so I embarked on an excursion to Lund and Copenhagen via Couchsurfing. I had such a fantastic time with my amazing and musically gifted CS hosts in Copenhagen that I decided I had to repay the CS community in kind. So upon my return to Stockholm, I hosted two sets of CSers during my final week in the city. The schedule was tight, and my apartment was cramped but we made memories and friendships for a lifetime! However, little did I realize, just how pivotal this experience was going to be...

As it turned out one my Couchsurfers actually lived in CPH and when he heard I was moving to town and was struggling to find a place, he generously connected me with one of his friends who just happened to have a fully furnished apartment available. So, long story short, I am now the happy tenant of a comfortable, dog-friendly, and affordable apartment in Østerbro! Not bad, eh?



The takeaway message for the day? The Couchsurfing community is truly amazing and...all hail KARMA!

"Hygge"-licious! A place to call my own in Copenhagen :)

--Ran--

I am listening to:
Cloud-Shake the Ground(Nordic Lounge)

"Hej!" from København!

Im here! Im here! I, along with my luggage and my dog are all safely in beautiful Copenhagen, Denmark! My friends have been anxiously asking, "Well Ran, what is life in Copenhagen like?" Sadly, I am afraid I cannot yet accurately answer this question because my life has pretty much been a nonstop whirlwind since I arrived. After two full days of orientation at Copenhagen Business School, crippling jet lag and going the wrong direction on the train ..(or is it called a metro here?), I have barely had time to sleep, not to mention think. I also need to figure out where to get my CPR(personal identification number), because without it, I pretty much don't exist in Denmark. So after I get a bit more settled in, I will post more in depth about this wonderful city, but in the meantime I will offer some of my first impressions:

Bicycles are everywhere! - Even though I most nearly got run over a couple times by fast-pedaling yet deadly silent cyclists, I must admit it is very refreshing and frankly damn cool that this city is so green! Back home in Chicago, publicly available rental bikes were only just recently added to the city over the summer, and while this is a step in the right direction, there are not enough bike lanes and safety is a very real concern(cyclists are required by law to wear helments). Apparently Chicago is making an effort to learn from the bike culture of Copenhagen:

http://chi.streetsblog.org/2013/08/12/how-does-chicago-infrastructure-compare-to-copenhagen/

http://chi.streetsblog.org/2013/04/08/elevating-the-conversation-raised-bike-lanes-are-coming-to-chicago/

I wonder if there are bike riding schools in Copenhagen because even though I am Chinese, I am ashamed to admit that I cannot ride a bike... :(

Everything is expensive! - Well I think this title pretty much says it all. I mean I just bought a THREE DOLLAR coke the other day! Yikes! And all the electronics, i.e. iphones, macbooks are 1/3 more in price and I have been told that cars are 150% the price of cars in USA. Wow, no wonder there are so many bikes in Copenhagen!

More international than Stockholm! - Even though I have been in Copenhagen for less than a week, just in these short couple of days I can already sense a very international vibe. My class is only 50% Danish, with the rest hailing from all over the world. In the bars, on the train and on the streets- I have definitely encountered my far share of foreigners in Copenhagen, much more than I ever did in Stockholm. I was pretty much the only asian person (other than a few adopted Koreans who were completely Swedified) that I saw out in Stockholm. This international feel in Copenhagen is amazing and I know there will be much for me to learn from this very diverse point of view!

BioBusiness and Innovation Platform

2nd Year Full Degree Students

-A Cycling Challenged Nomad -Ran

I am listening to:

Malk de Koijn-Braget

How to move everything you own and...one little papillon to Denmark

So the time for my move to Denmark has finally come and while I started my apartment search three months in advance, I, for some unknown reason decided to leave the issue of finding movers until my very last week. Urgh! Why?!

Oh man, I f*cked up, f*cked up real bad this time. Not only did I underestimate how MUCH its going to cost to move, I also sorely miscalculated how LONG it is going to take to ship my items to Copenhagen.

I contacted three moving companies, Laser International, Allied and last but not least, UPackWeShip. Each company had its own distinct pros and cons. Allied($3000) was the most expensive and a complete moving service while UPackWeShip($1500) was the cheapest but required the owner to self pack everything and deliver the boxes to the shipping terminal. If the price wasn't bad enough, even with the fastest company-Allied, my boxes would not arrive in Copenhagen for at least TWO MONTHS!!! ah! Everyone knows that I am not the kind of girl who can bear to be separated from her precious clothes and SHOES for such a long time :(. To say the least, I was heartbroken.

After a near melt down and some furious googling, I finally found an unlikely solution. My flight to CPH was through SAS and according to their luggage rules, a passenger is allowed to take up to 5 checked lugguage at 50 lbs each. The first piece is free and each additional is $135. So I decided to bite the bullet and just lug my stuff to Denmark myself. So I single handedly brought 1 carryon, 1 overpacked backpack, 5 huge boxes and...one little papillon from Chicago to Copenhagen?! Whew! and did I mention my apartment in CPH is on the fourth floor and does not have an elevator!? So, yup, I guess I'm pretty much a badass ninja of moving since all this cost me only $665($540 for the boxes and $125 for my dog).

Even though I am beyond exhausted now, everything was worth it because all most of my beloved clothes are safe and sound next to me....well that is except for the 8 additional boxes coming in 2 weeks... :D

-A Nomad and Possible Hoarder -Ran

My trusty little travel companion

1/4 of my beautiful shoe collection-Must bring them all!

I am listening to:
"I Don't Know What I'm Doing" - Brad Sucks