Copenhagen: 13 June 2008

We met in Christianshavn and then went to Kofoed's School. The day's subject was Greenland, but our first visit was to a center for adults who "are to be socially assisted and helped educationally." Students including immigrants, Danes, and recovering addicts are all given the skills and resources to learn to become confident contributors to society. There is a special section for homeless Greenlanders, many of whom suffer from social exclusion, unemployment, and alcoholism. In the center, they maintain their traditions of weaving and of making kayaks.


Afterwards, we went to one of Denmark's five Greenland Houses, which was located in Nørreport. We were greeted by a Danish eskimologist who specializes in Greenlandic culture and language. After that, a social worker spoke to us about the issues that Greenlanders confront in their daily lives in Copenhagen. Next, a Greenlandic student in the Danish university system spoke to us about a national Greenlandic student organization that provides support and assistance for its members, fighting to change stereotypes. They also talked briefly about the independence movement. Finally, they served us a traditional meal, which consisted of musk ox served like stroganoff.

Next, we went to a former warehouse and dockyard, which now houses the representative base for the home rule government of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, as well as the Icelandic Embassy. One of the officials told us about the debate and discourse on Greenland's home rule, its history as a colony, and its debate over national resources.

We wrapped up one day at former HIA DK Director Camilla Bredholt's house in Hellerup, where our fellow Jessica is also staying. Judy Goldstein reunited with Team Copenhagen for dinner, as did Uffe, the chairman of HIA Denmark's Board. Oliver and Seth manned the barbeque, and we all had a long evening of great food and conversation. Many of us also reunited at a bar later that evening.

-Milena Mastalo and Flora Mendoza