A Nomad in Heels

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Impossible is Nothing: Apartment Hunting in Copenhagen

So now that I know I will be living in Copenhagen, Denmark for the next year, I have started in earnest the long and grueling process of apartment hunting. From my previous experience apartment hunting in Stockholm, I know that this process is NOT going to be easy and apartments in the city center are definitely NOT cheap! I was very lucky during my Stockholm apartment search in the fact that I had a "sweet" Swedish friend in Chicago who aided me greatly in my search. After I nearly fell for several scams on Swedish Craigslist, my friend helped me compose an apartment want ad in Swedish and we posted it on Blocket.se. Consequently, I was lucky to find an amazing apartment in central Stockholm, just 15 minutes via the tube to my work! However... I am not sure I will be quite as lucky this time in my Copenhagen apartment search :(

I have several things working against me this time:
1. Time- For Stockholm, I started my search 3 months in advance, while this time I only have 2 months total to find a suitable apartment, obtain a residence permit and pack and ship my belongings(and I have a massive amount of belongings, aka clothes...), and adjust to living in Denmark before school starts.
2. Budget- I am working with a smaller budget this time. In Stockholm I paid 1200 USD/month for an one bedroom apartment and this time, I am working with a smaller budget of 1000 USD. I am not sure that is enough for a furnished one bedroom or studio in central CPH.
3. Everything Danish- Sadly, I don't have any Danish friends living in Chicago, and my Danish language skills are all but non-existent. Additionally, while Stockholms neighborhoods were very distinct because each one was located on a separate island, I am still struggling to understand the unique dynamic of the various neighborhoods of Copenhagen.

My search this time will be further compounded by the fact that I do not know how to ride a bike... and this seems to be a major mode of transportation in Copenhagen. I know what you are thinking, how can I be Chinese and not know how to ride a bike?!(lowers head in shame) But in all seriousness, I am really not sure if I should be living near the tube stop? the bus stop? or .uh..a bike shop!? Also, I want to make sure I focus on the right neighborhoods. Last time in Stockholm, while both my apartment and neighborhood were beautiful, I unwittingly ended up in a very wealthy and very "old" part of Stockholm, and by old, I am not referring to the architecture, but rather to the fact that I was a good half century younger than the majority of my neighbors! So, this time in Copenhagen I would really like to live somewhere young and...dare I say hip!? :D

My apartment hunt has just begun and I already feel like I have gotten myself in over my head. I guess it doesn't help that I keep trolling Danish apartment hunting forums and reading horror stories of scams and fruitless apartment searches(yikes!). So dear friends and readers, any CPH neighborhood advice, transportation knowledge, and magical apartment hunting secrets will be deeply appreciated...anything to help a nomad like me to find an affordable, convenient and fun place to settle down (for a year)!

-Ran- the homeless

København-Can I afford to live here?

I am listening to:

"In Search of"-Mike Snow

**Thank you everyone for the support, here is a growing list of websites that have been recommended to me for apartments in CPH:

http://www.dba.dk/boliger/lejebolig/vaerelser/reg-koebenhavn/

http://www.boligportal.dk/en/

http://erasmusu.com/en/erasmus-copenhagen/student-housing

Monday, June 3, 2013

The Wait is Over: Ready to Leap!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shocked, Ecstatic, Thankful, Overwhelmed... I am not sure there are enough words in the English vocabulary to describe how I feel right now! After months of nerve racking waiting and several curveballs along the way, I finally heard back from both Copenhagen Business School and Stockholm School of Economics.

I am extremely grateful and lucky that I was able to gain entrance into two such prestigious schools in Scandinavia. I have spent many a sleepless night mulling over which offer to accept and it is not a decision I take lightly for it will be sizable investment, both financially and time-wise. Each school has its distinct advantages and both choices will spell major change in my life, but at the end of the day, a very complicated question turned out to have a simple answer: I am going with my gut...

So yes, my friends it is official, I will be moving to beautiful Denmark come fall!

This journey has not been a easy one, because even though I was confident that I was qualifed for the program, I, being a clumsy blundering American, was thoroughly confused by the Danish application system. With that being said, I want to thank my amazing friends and family who have been so supportive the last couple months. Recently, I have made a rapid succession of life-changing decisions and I really truly appreciate the people in my life who seem to possess an unwavering belief in my ability to triumph. Thank you for giving me your strength, especially during the difficult times when I could not help but question myself.

Leap of Faith-Copenhagen, Denmark

This past year has been a year filled with challenging changes but also great adventures, and I am sure there will only be more surprises to come as I continue on my journey to find where I fit in this big world of ours! And while I know I have a lot of questions and loose ends to tie up this summer, I think for today, I will breath easy and...smile. :)

-Ran

I am listening to:
"The Underdog"- Spoon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1hZVDLkJDc

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Coming Soon- My Enlightening Tour of a Stockholm Youth School-Fryshuset

Fryhuset

--coming soon--

Saturday, May 25, 2013

A Funny Life

Funny how things happen. Funny how things begin and funny how things end.

I'm old enough to know that life never happens the way you think it will. Recently, so many unexpected crazy outlandish things keep happening to me. My friends say that I am a magnet for trouble, and I guess must agree. However I think a bit of crazy is just fine by me, because in the words of Van Gogh-" I would rather die of passion than of boredom."

I have been waiting, waiting my life away-hoping to hear back from a certain school. If I get accepted, then I will be leaving USA(forever?), and my life will change in every way.

I don't believe in God, but I do believe things happen for a reason-so I hope there is a very real reason for me to be dreaming of next year...

-R

Ice Bar Stockholm-Nordic Sea Hotel

I am listening to:

"You, Me and the Bourgeois"- The Submarines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYvt0boSRXQ

Friday, May 24, 2013

Yellow Fever? ASIAN AMERICAN SHOWCASE-Chicago

"Hear ye, Hear ye!" The 18th Annual Asian American Showcase has arrived in Chicago from May17th to May 30th!

All the movies playing at this event were either produced by Asian Americans or star Asian Americans. This was my first time hearing about an event that focused on Asian American films, let alone attending one. It is no secret that Asians are generally portrayed as ninjas, concubines, geeks, restaurant owners, manicurists and other assorted stereotypical characters in American films. I cannot recall watching a documentary or film-that did NOT involve kungfu, or geishas-where the lead character was Asian. I guess the recently released film, Cloud Altas, starred a female Asian lead, but even then I could not help but be irked some of her...forms(watch the movie and you'll see what I mean).

Of the 8 films showcased this year, there were two in particular I was very interested in watching: "Seeking Asian Female" and "Xmas Without China". From the Showcase website-

"Seeking Asian Female, directed by Debbie Lum, could be called a documentary about Yellow Fever or even an unlikely love match, but it’s so much more and it more like unlearning stereotypes and the judgments that stem from them. Debbie’s work has been seen in our Showcase multiple times, not just as a director, but as an editor too, and now in her feature length debut she also becomes a character in the film having to translate for subjects in this complicated relationship. Don’t miss this movie… everyone will have something to say about it afterwards."

"Another timely film is Xmas Without China, directed by Alicia Dwyer. China seems to be in the news almost every other day. Whether it’s about politics, finance or manufacturing, China is so misunderstood in American media. These misunderstanding are further explored when a Chinese immigrant challenge his neighbors to celebrate the Christmas season without any Chinese Products. What sounds like a consumer mission-impossible soon becomes a deeper journey to understand the complexities of the divided loyalties between the US and China."

Since there were no mention of dragons, martial arts or General Tsao(who the h*ll was General Tsao anyways, and when did he make chicken??), I pushed my skepticism aside and watched the first film, "Seeking Asian Female". I am happy to admit I was blown away! The documentary was intimate, hilarious, and painfully honest at times. Two facets really stuck out to me about this film. First, in response to the question, why do American guys "love" Asian girls? I truly think these poor boys have their facts all wrong. Speaking as a Asian American girl, I can personally attest to the fact that we are NOT all "obedient", "skinny", "quiet" and "look the same". Sorry boys, but we were NOT put on this Earth to serve you. And I admit most of the time it is pretty damn awesome being an Asian girl, but when Yellow Fever takes center stage, things can all too easily cross the fine line between flattery and just down right creepy! Like any girl, I want a guy to adore me for who I am, and not for the subtle yellow sheen of my skin...urgh!

The other part of the film that really resonated with me is difficult transition of the new Asian immigrant in the film. Even though I have lived in America since the tender age of 5, watching the young Chinese bride's(Sandy) awkward attempt to integrate into modern American life-I could more than empathize. During the multitude of onscreen cultural clashes, I laughed so hard that I could feel tears in my eyes. I thought back to when I first learned English and how weird the slippery sounds felt on my flat Chinese tongue. I also remember being so suspicious of cRaZy American foodstuffs like mashed potatoes, and the ever-confusing string cheese. I was also totally bewildered but eventually entralled by Halloween. I really rooted for Sandy to succeed and to find her happiness in USA. But as her disillusionment with her life in America grew, I could sense her overwhelming loneliness emanating off the big screen. Just like me, she is and will most likely always be a long way from home...However we Chinese, are nothing if not resilient. So I guess you have just have to watch the movie to find out happens! :) And me, you ask? Well... I guess I am still a production in progress...

Unfortunately I was unable to make it to the showtimes for "Xmas Without China", but I hope I will be able to watch it sometime, somehow. I have been focused on China's rapid economic growth for a while now and I am fascinated by what these tremendous changes spell for the future of not only China but the World. All and all, I am so glad that I attended the Asian American Showcase in Chicago and was exposed to films depicting Asian Americans in realistic scenarios and non stereotypical roles. The films highlight the complexities of being Asian American, and they do so in a honest and endearing way. I genuinely hope my friends and readers(anyone?) will also take the time and opportunity to view some of the amazing work at the Asian American Showcase!

-Ran-A Nostalgic Nomad...

Yangtze Gorges, China-2004

I am listening to:
"Naoki"- Guitar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWLxoQClag

(Almost) Summertime In Chicago

For the past two months, the weather has been very unpredictable here: rain, sun, SNOW?!, sun, wind, fog...when is summer going to officially arrive in Chicago??!

Growing up in Dallas, the Texas summers stretched on endlessly. Bikini season was from March to October, and snow seemed like something far-off and magical....that is until I faced the harsh reality of a four month long blustering, bone-chilling winter in Chicago. I guess I had to learn the hard way-why Chicago is called the "Windy City". Maybe I never gave this town a fair chance, because ever since I almost froze to death during one of Chicago's worst weathers in history, which coincidentally was my very first winter here, I have spent almost 3-6 months out of the year traveling(aka avoiding Chicago). However, seeing that this could very well be my last summer in Chi-town, I want to see everything, eat everything and try everything that Chicago has to offer!!

With a population nearing 4 million, Chicago is the third largest city in America. Often referred to as the "Second City", Chicago has the luxurious trappings of a cosmopolitain metropolis while retaining the relaxed atmosphere of a true Midwestern town. I am not sure exactly how much longer I will be in this town, but I do know that I will try my best to enjoy whatever time I have left. So wish me luck as I set off to explore the Windy City!

-Ran- A Temporarily Non-nomadic?..Nomad

PS. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the weather will finally get hot enough for me to take a dip in the lake! yeeeah~!

Some pictures from my recent adventures in Chi-Town: