9th Feb Danish culture and our cultures

On Monday the 9th we had a Culture lesson with Jette. Each of us had prepared some statements: I am Czech/Polish/Spanish etc. because... It was very interesting to think more about our identity and differences and uniguenesses in our cultures. I wrote for example:
I am Czech because:

• I can play a musical instrument. (It is said that "every Czech is a musician.")
• I like beer. (The Czech consume the biggest amount of beer per capita a year - 156,9 litres (including babies :) ), did you know that? )
• I live in the heart of Europe.
  
• I have a "clever pair of hands". (Czech people are said to be very handy, skilfull)
• I like cream sauces and unhealthy, fat food.
• unfortunately I have to keep an eye out for my things in the streets. (There are many pick-pockets and thefts).
• I send a lot of SMS.

I learnt a lot about my classmates´cultures - e.g.:
The Hungarians
love spicy food (I noticed during our common dinners, Mate and Noemi :D)
and kissing in the streets. ;) (I noticed too :D)

The Polish love Vodka ;)

The Turkish
drink Turkish tea in a traditional glass. (red tea, isn´t it, Zep? :))
and coffee (and then they foretell the future from the cup)
they kiss their relatives
the put money in the bra (Save, isn´t it?;) )
clean the bottom with water (Zep misses a water-closet a lot! First of all she thought that the toilet is broken. However, when she saw a couple of "broken toilets, she realised that maybe that´s like that in Europe.;) )

The Belgians eat a Belgium chocolate.

and the Spanish like sleeping (we noticed it right the first day when Carlos overslept :D)
wine and oranges. And parties, of course! :)

Than we spoke more about cultural awareness theory -e.g. Geert Holfsteed "Triangle": Human nature, Culture and Personality (s. the portfolio). And also about an "onion diagram" - what culture consists of: Values, Rituals, Heroes and Symbols. It was very interesting for me to deepen, to think more about culture.
I must confess that the longer I stay abroad and the more I learn about the others - the more I learn about MY CULTURE AND MY IDENTITY.

We also went through a questionare about Denmark and the text called "Xenophobe´s guide to the Danes". We are getting to know the country more and more... And some specialities about Danish culture?
For example:

• the Danes dance around the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. Did you know it?
• the Danes are always on time (it means even that if they are too early in front of the house in which they are invited for the dinner, they will stay outside in the rain until the right time!)
• A typical Danish conversation opener is: "Bad weather, huh?" :D
• The Danes put the flag on the dinning table when somebody has a birthday
• The national animal is Swan
• Denmark became the first European country to legalise same-sex marriages (in 1989!)
• one of the most important values is the freedom of speech, Denmark is very liberal country
• The Danes queue by a number system (we experienced it the first week - we hadn´t know about the system and we waited in a very small phone-shop (only 3 customers were there). And when we thought it was our turn (after very long 10 minutes), we found out that we didn´t have a number. OK, once again!... Therefore we learnt;) )
• And of course - one of the most important things in Danish culture is "HYGGE"
  

(to cite from the original text: "To have a hyggelig time is social nirvana in Denmark. It is not only cosiness related to physical surrounding...it is connected with people´s behaviour towards each other. It is the art of crating intimacy: A sense of comradeship, convivality and contentment rolled into one. Achieving hygge generally involves being with friends and family, and eating and drinking. Candlelight is used to encourage a hyggelig atmosphere...")

It´s is quite difficult to explain it, but if you experience it (hygge is really everywhere, especially when you walk in the old town in the evening), you love it! And as I said at the beginning - our beautiful house is really hyggelig.
If I should compare hygge to the Czech language, I would say "teplo domova" (the warmth of home).

I think that it is very connected with the geography of Denmark. Very often it is cold and dark weather, you can´t see many people in the streets. Everyone prefers a warmth home or a café together with his family or friends. People also don´t close curtains and light candles on the window-sills as well as switch on some table-lamp...
That is Denmark ;)