Sustainable Cee http://sustainablecee.posterous.com Most recent posts at Sustainable Cee posterous.com Sun, 16 Dec 2012 12:31:00 -0800 the first/last time.... http://sustainablecee.posterous.com/the-firstlast-time http://sustainablecee.posterous.com/the-firstlast-time

A brief reflection on cultural re-entry:

 

the last time I'll miss the last bus home and have to walk 
beautiful night though its freezing/can't feel my toes. where is everyone else? (3am) 

the first time I rode a bike 
terror: skinny tires, clip shoes, handlebar brakes only--eep!  

the first time I took a shower
shower/bathtub: what do I do with all this space? 

the first time I did my laundry
hung my wet clothes on every chair and door handle. 

the first time I drove a car
terror: I could definitely die this way.

the first time I went to the store
proud*: brought my own bag for goods 

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/2257380/brygge1.jpg http://posterous.com/users/n5Oy4GGkuElFE Christine cepcph Christine
Sun, 18 Nov 2012 13:46:00 -0800 Preparing for the End http://sustainablecee.posterous.com/preparing-for-the-end http://sustainablecee.posterous.com/preparing-for-the-end

akjshdfkljhasd

 

I spent our final travel break catching up on work, preparing for the spring, and going through my mental list of things to dig deeper into in Copenhagen. 

As I consider my experiences over the last semester- especially in light of the possible future- I find myself in a quandary by their collective implications. 

As I wrote in my post on the value of travel, being in the midst of a different culture has done the work of stripping me of preconceived notions on life --many of which I was totally unaware. It has made me feel like the tiny hold I had found to grab onto in life has shown it's weakness and crumbled--leaving me hanging again by a thread. 

I am reminded of a message from within a sermon at the danish church:

"life is supposed to be hard."

"Being frustrated is normal. Being poor is normal. Having bad relationships with others around us is normal." 

(All of this in the context of a discussion on our fixation with the perfect life, and how it's unreachable. The pastor urges us to accept the imperfections and ask God to give us new expectations. )

 

 

Graduating this spring 

 

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/2257380/brygge1.jpg http://posterous.com/users/n5Oy4GGkuElFE Christine cepcph Christine
Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:17:00 -0700 8 weeks. http://sustainablecee.posterous.com/8-weeks-94959 http://sustainablecee.posterous.com/8-weeks-94959

 

As the wind blows out the candle and fans the bonfire, absence diminishes small loves and increases great ones. -François de La Rochefoucauld

This is the official end of the first half of my stay in Copenhagen. 

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/2257380/brygge1.jpg http://posterous.com/users/n5Oy4GGkuElFE Christine cepcph Christine
Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:27:00 -0700 Studenterhuset: the Volunteer-Run Cafe http://sustainablecee.posterous.com/studenterhuset-the-volunteer-run-cafe http://sustainablecee.posterous.com/studenterhuset-the-volunteer-run-cafe

This week I had my first shift at the volunteer run coffee shop, Studenterhuset ('Student House' in translation). Located in the center of the city, the space was taken over by Kobenhavn University students that wanted a space of their own for socializing.  They've turned it into a two story space with room for events, quiet study, parties and music shows run entirely by volunteers (you have to be a student) and a few paid responsibles. 

They bait volunteers with the promise of 4 free drink tickets per 5-hour shift, free coffee, tea, and entry into all events otherwise, along with the chance to practice tending bar--And for international students like myself, the opportunity to spend time with Danes in a natural, non-creepy way.  

The space is incredibly welcoming and seems to draw patrons beyond the academic crowd, all while apparently making a steady enough profit to expand their activites.  With all issues inherent to food places and volunteerism aside, the venue seems a great success and a no-brainer idea. While they've struggled in the past (see article beneath the cut), this seems like an incredible alternative to the cool-ified cafeteria that is the typical student union (or is that just UTDallas?). 

Just something to think about: A self-sustaining, living space. 

Studenterhuset struggle: http://universitypost.dk/article/studenterhuset-rocky-path-success

Other volunteer-run cafe in Copenhagen: Cafe Retro in Norrebro

A quick search of other volunteer-run cafes rendered:
Struggle: Baltimore, Maryland, USA | San Antonio, Texas, USA (click on 'page 3' )
Startup/hope: Ropesville, Texas, USA
Similar cafe concepts: London, UK

 

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Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:11:00 -0700 Renewable Sweden: Malmo, Lund, & Kristianstad http://sustainablecee.posterous.com/renewable-sweden-malmo-lund-kristianstad http://sustainablecee.posterous.com/renewable-sweden-malmo-lund-kristianstad

Arhusharbor

Harbor in the city of Arhus, home to Absolut Vodka

While sustainable development has evolved to include the many dimensions of human growth and interaction, it's roots rest deeply in the environmental movement--specifically renewable energy. So my core class of my program took our first study trip to Sweden! --Home to cities such as Malmo, emerging international solar city, and Kristianstad, home to a bus fleet powered entirely by biogas. 

We took a private bus over the bridge that links Copenhagen to the Skane Swedish region, which was originally Danish until the mid-1600s, and is so close that remnants of Danish influence are still prominent.  

We hit the ground running, visiting an environmentally-focused afterschool daycare, biogas plant, green roof institute, the original organic restaurant, the western harbor, Lund catherdral, went hiking in the countryside, and took a water safari-- in 3 days!  It was quite a bit to take in, and I find myself only beginning to sort through much of what I experienced.  

Skane history

Solar Region Malmo, Sweden 

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Tue, 14 Aug 2012 09:36:00 -0700 Just a few more days now! http://sustainablecee.posterous.com/just-a-few-more-days-now http://sustainablecee.posterous.com/just-a-few-more-days-now


"There she is!"

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/2257380/brygge1.jpg http://posterous.com/users/n5Oy4GGkuElFE Christine cepcph Christine