3 Countries within 24 hours... Check.

While discussing the trip on our train ride to Sweden we realized that we have managed to be in 3 countries within 24 hours. We have jumped from Norway to Denmark and to Sweden in this small timeframe. 

We took the ferry over to Norway on Monday (which is more like a mini cruise) and spent a day wandering around in Oslo. We visited the Royal palace where we watched the very formal changing of the guards, and we made our way to the Vigeland Park (sculpture gardens). The sights were magnificent and beautiful. There were so many statues lining the bridge and then a tower in the middle of the garden. It was a huge beautiful area that most of us got to wander around at. We finished our tour of Oslo just by wandering the streets and taking in observations of the people.

Then we hopped back on the boat and we're off to Denmark. During this bout in Denmark we visited the aquarium. We got to see the beautiful exhibits and the playful sea otters. 

We then hopped on a train to Sweden. There were not very many "tourist" attractions that we could visit so we decided to just wander in the city of Malmö. We came across fun coffee shops and good restaurants. We were trying to figure out our map and which direction we wanted to go and a very friendly man asked us if we needed help finding something. This has been the first time someone has came up to us and offered to help us. This experience made Sweden feel more like home with the more approachable and talkative people. When looking around all of the people in Sweden felt very relaxed and genuine. We then wandered through beautiful parks and made our way to the beach on the Baltic Sea. Sweden in my opinion has felt the most relaxed of the countries we have been in. Each place has a different feel while also still feeling the same. It is hard to put words to explain but each has been a great place to visit. 😊

Little hygge moments

Today began like any other on this trip. We woke up, ate breakfast, and set out on the streets that have become somewhat familiar to us, making our way to the Central Station. We then took a train to a small(ish) seaside Danish town called Roskilde, where we were greeted by bright yellow buildings with clay shingling and cobblestone roads, which were surprisingly well-maintained.
     When we stopped for a cup of coffee (or, in my case, an oversized brownie) at a local café, the true charm of the town- and of this area as a whole- really popped out at me: Everything around us was beautiful, but in a subtle, natural way.  Outside the café, there were three fountains shaped like giant vases. They were incredibly simple, elegant, and unobtrusive. Inside the brick shop, the ceiling was modestly adorned with white wood carvings in its center, and along its edges. Even the lights that hung from it casually resembled tulips, each crafted from six sizeable panes of stained glass. Nothing about the place was regal or indulgent... it was just pleasant.
     When we ventured further into the town, the place started to look like something from a movie. Trees and bushes lined the roads, a breeze from the sea carrying their flowers' scent between the various shops and homes. The roads even catered to the natural curve of the town's hills, it's stones angled slightly downward between the aging Roskilde Cathedral and it's surrounding structures.
     As we walked through the area, I caught myself thinking that maybe *this* is why the Danes are so happy... The architecture, the art, and the abundance of organic beauty. Thinking further, though, I noted that I've felt these feelings before. I've felt Roskilde's comfort and warmth back home, when hiking along Chester Creek, when at work and watching children play, and even when feeding/observing my fish.
     Yesterday, our good friend Holly suggested that Danes are so happy because they experience "hygge" (basically, cosiness derived from the people and/or the environment around us) in small yet frequent doses. I think that there is some truth to this. In Roskilde, for example, hygge was incredibly easy to obtain, given the natural feeling of the place. Even so, the same sense of contentment and comfort can be seen in the most average of places. More than anything, I think it is a matter of personal perspective.
     Danes are raised on the idea of hygge, and because of this, I think they are more active about seeking it out in their everyday lives. I know it isn't fair to generalize, but *in general* it seems like they see the world through rose-colored glasses. They find pleasure in passing moments and simple beauty, a skill our culture as a whole could work on improving.
     In the end, I don't think it is the environment that makes these people so happy (though it certainly doesn't hurt). It is the mindset. In order to enjoy something, we must be able to get past the stressors in our lives and the pain in our ankles and give that 'something' our full attention. A city as beautiful as Roskilde means nothing to someone who lacks the capacity to see past herself.
-EH

Thursday, Kofoeds Skole & UN Visits

Breakfast was a bit earlier for us all today so that we could make our earlier departure time. This morning we toured a school, Kofoeds Skole, that had a very important role in helping develop the functioning society in Copenhagen. This meant that we walked just under 3 miles to get there before it was even 10:30 am. This invigorated some and drained others but we all made it! The school has a lot of programming to improve the lives of those who live there. They also live by two ideas of that they believe all people need 1) humans need interaction to be happy and healthy 2) humans need to make and create things to feel connected and valued. 

If that experience wasn't incredible enough, we then walked to a train station to head to our next destination. After hopping on a train and then grabbing lunch, we arrived at the United Nations building in Copenhagen. This building houses many different organizations crucial to making the world a better place. This trip included a tour of the building and a very interesting presentation about measurements of happiness. I think all the students will agree that the nice little nap we took after returning to the hostel this afternoon was one thing that brought each of us happiness. It's bittersweet knowing that after tonight we only have two nights remaining in this bustling city. Although I think we are all looking forward to simple comforts from home, like a soft pillow and clean clothes. 

The photos below are all of the different things around the UN. The first being the building itself from an aerial view although it now contains a water channel along the east perimeter as well. The main staircase we saw was beautiful and made from recycled piano wood; it is sometimes referred to as the piano stairs as well as the Harry Potter Stairs. The next two are about which organizations are housed there as well as their goals. There is a photo with just a small sample of the marvelous desserts we've been sampling (the main dishes are good too.) 

To Be Or Not To Be

After an early start on Friday, I think we were all thankful to get to sleep in Saturday morning.  We started our day a little before noon by catching a train from Central Station, which is just a few blocks from our hostel.  In true style, we arrived on the platform just in time to catch our train to Helsingør.  I would like to say everything went smoothly, but we're not yet pros at navigating the Danish public transportation system.  Let's just say there was a moment when part of our group got left at the wrong station, but we were soon reunited!

We arrived in Helsingør shortly after 1pm and split off to find a quick lunch.  We definitely noticed a huge lack of traffic in Helsingør compared to Copenhagen, and it was a peaceful town to spend time in.  After lunch, many of us headed to Kronborg Castle, a major attraction in the town.  The castle is actually Hamlet's castle from the Shakespeare play, which has been performed at the castle before and will be there again this summer for the 400th anniversary.  I think most of us enjoyed getting to explore a real castle with a moat, dungeons, and everything in between.  One couldn't help but be transported through time while meandering through the halls.  One might even find oneself reciting the classic "To be or not to be" monologue while exploring Kronborg.  The castle was not the only sight to see.  The castle commands The Sound, which is the body of water stretching between Denmark and Sweden where the castle is located.  Essentially this is the opening to the Baltic Sea.  We definitely felt right at home in the cooler, windy weather that reminded us so much of Lake Superior and Duluth.

After concluding our adventures in Helsingør, we hopped back on a train; this ride luckily went much smoother than the previous one.  Our destination was the home of Holly and Lars, good friends of Laurie's who have helped us greatly with our trip.  They hosted us at their lovely home, and I think it's safe to say that we were all excited to meet their 7 month old golden retriever puppy, Bella.  We enjoyed good food and good company, experiencing what the Danes call hygge.  There is not a direct translation of the word, but essentially it means cozy and togetherness; it's the feeling one gets while sitting around the Christmas tree with their family or enjoying a good meal with their friends. Whether we were playing board games, sitting around the fire, catching up with old friends, or just playing in their yard, I think we all had our own experience of hygge.

We arrived back at Central Station in Copenhagen in the late evening.  As a group, the students decided to experience the night life of Copenhagen.  Using suggestions from the high school students we spent time with, our large group was able to get a feel for Copenhagen at night.  Overall, it was another busy but fantastic day in Denmark!

Back to School

At what seemed like the crack of dawn for most of us, we all crawled out of bed and made our way to central station in the midst of rush hour traffic on Friday morning. We then split off and navigated ourselves to four different high schools just outside of Copenhagen where we had the chance to dialogue with local students. Despite not knowing what to expect each of the groups had fruitful conversations with topics ranging from differences in student life, to current American politics (Donald Trump and the upcoming election was a hot topic), to the science of happiness.

After heading back from the schools and some individual exploring of our new favorite city we met back at the hostel with more local high schoolers. We ended our evenings with these students off in small groups, adventuring in the city with locals and learning some of the hotspots of the town.

Bridget 

Copenhagen: The First Days

    Copenhagen is a robust and lively city, especially since we are here. In the past two days, we have        walked the streets, exchanged monies (at least some have), had a canal tour, explored Tivoli, and adventured the city on bikes. 

    Walking the streets provided many insights of the city. Like in Amsterdam, we struggled not to be in the way. Additionally, the street lights changed so fast that our group was sent scrambling like ants from a crushed ant hill. 

• 
  
• Amsterdam, but street lights change so fast

    Many students were appalled by the high prices. One hotdog could cost 50 Kroner! However, 1 American dollar is equal to roughly 6 Kroner. Even after the conversation to the American dollar, things are pricey, but tax is included in the price listed instead of adding it at the till (like America). Many of the items cost so much because of the high taxes and the high minimum wage.

    The canal tour had a plethora of historical facts about Copenhagen. Listening to the the guide give the tour in three languages was a reminder that "we aren't in Kansas anymore." Riding in the boats we wait for the English tidbit, giving us time to look at the city and feel incompetent since most people here are bi- or even tri- lingual.

    Tivoli, the 2nd oldest amusement park in the world, provided many entertainment opportunities, including ballet performances, music, a light show, carnival games, food vendors, and rides. 

    Finally, we got to tour the city on bikes with Lars, our Danish friend. Despite blocking traffic and a couple minor incidences, we managed to see a large portion of the city in all of its glory. Royalty is a central theme here with castles and gardens. The security was much lower than many expected. No security was noticeable at their parliament, and traditional guards with big furry hats with guns marched slowly and robotically at the mansions that host the royal families. 

      We have explored much of Copenhagen, but more fun is to be had as we explore the city farther and seek a deeper understanding of the culture.

Until We Meet Again

Today was our last day of exploration in Amsterdam. We began at the Van Gogh museum. The museum consisted of 3 levels of Vincent's entire life which he dedicated to practicing different methods of painting and drawing. His gallery consisted of self portraits, peasant life, and nature. Many people were there from all ages to view his amazing work.

We then ventured on the tram over to the NEMO children's science museum. There was 3 floors of innovating and thrilling mechanisms for children to play with for hours (and yes we were there playing also). Something that surprised us was the openness of sex education they give their children. There was a station in the teen section of the museum that had sex education videos and visuals for children 12 and older. Talking about sex is often thought of as taboo in the US, however that is not the case here. 

To continue on the topic of what we as Americans stay quiet about, our next walk was through the red light district. If you were not paying attention to the signs and windows around you, you would not notice the difference of the area. It is not run down or full of avoidant people. The area blends in with the rest of the city. Almost as if the people of Amsterdam have made it a part of their culture. It is definitely a style of life that we Americans would need a little getting used to. However, experiencing it gave us a little different viewpoint.

Now we are off to explore the culture of Copenhagen!

-your psych friends 

Bikes, boats, and a book case

Throughout the day on Monday, we frequently encountered near-death experiences (exaggeration) dodging the bikes that cruise through the streets of Amsterdam daily.  We started our day by walking to the Anne Frank House where the Frank family hid during World War II.  Touring the house was an incredibly humbling moment. Seeing the heights of the Frank children marked on the wall and the pages of Anne's actual diary made the devastation of the Holocaust chillingly real.  One piece that stood out was that the original moveable book case that hides the entrance to the Secret Annexe is still in place with all the original books on the shelves.
The afternoon consisted if chocolate-covered waffles and Greek-American style lunch.  After getting our I Amsterdam city passes at Central Station, we took the tram back toward our hostel and hopped on a canal boat tour.  We were able to relax and learn interesting facts about the city and the architecture.  Now, onto more adventures!!

-Emily Hanson & friends 

We made it to Amsterdam after a mostly sleepless, but otherwise uneventful, flight from MSP. After about 8 hours in the air, we got our luggage (First we had to find a lost passport - long story) and boarded a bus to  Keukenhoff. Despite nearing the end of the season, it truly was magnificent! Tulips as big as my hand were there, of every color you could imagine. We were able to spend a couple hours stretching our legs and taking in the beauty before bussing it back to the airport. Once there, we boarded yet another bus for the roughly 30 minute trip to our Stayokay Vondelpark hostel. We got here just in time to get settled and have dinner - lots of good veggies and rich dessert. Not sure what the meat was :). The students have had a full day - they have mastered public transportation and been exposed to so many different languages and cultures already! Hoping for a good sleep and looking forward to really diving into Amsterdam tomorrow! 

Welcome to the College of St. Scholastica's Science of Happiness blog! We will be traveling from Duluth, MN to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Oslo as we learn about the world's "happiest" people. Please check back for daily updates on our trip from our student bloggers.