- 北欧の暮らしのアイデア
- 心を満たす居場所
[Studying in Denmark] The experience of "gathering" in Denmark
Hello. I'm Izuishi, a member of the web store staff.
It's been a long time since it's been difficult to meet people due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I think it has also given us new options, such as reconsidering how we spend our time at home and finding hobbies that we can enjoy alone. More than anything, it has taught us that being able to spend time with family and friends is not something to be taken for granted, but something very precious.
This time in my study abroad diary from Denmark, I will focus on the warm gatherings I experienced there and look back on how people spent their time and the flow of time.
According to Jacob, who came to pick us up at the hotel where we were staying, every Friday he comes to work a little early and everyone has breakfast together.
On this particular Friday, I sat in a chair at FDB Möbler and enjoyed rye bread with ham and cheese.
After being shown around the vast offices and warehouses where the FDB Group works, we all went to the company cafeteria for lunch. The weather was nice that day, so we sat outside and ate.
After the meal, we went back to the office to start working in the afternoon, but we all went outside for a break. I got a bit of a culture shock from seeing Coke and Carlsberg lined up.
The topic of conversation that day was about Uniqlo, which had just opened in Denmark at the time. One female staff member said to me, "Uniqlo is good, but I wish they'd bring MUJI from Japan!" (*It opened in Copenhagen the following year.)
The homely atmosphere that could be felt even on just one visit is the result of an accumulation of small interactions that take place on a daily basis.
Listening to the crackling of the firewood and gazing intently at the erratic flickering of the flames. Everyone was quietly reflecting, or perhaps lost in thought, but either way, it was such a relaxing time that I wondered, "If this isn't Hygge, then what else can I call it?"
At Bonfire, we do everything from chopping wood to starting the fire ourselves. (I had a hard time starting the fire though...) The bread baked over an open fire was crispy and fluffy. It was one of the most memorable and enjoyable dining experiences during my stay.
Bonfire also made me realize that the emotions felt depended on the environment in which they participated. When we first entered the school, we felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety, and when graduation approached, we felt like we had to say goodbye to everyone. Even though we didn't say it out loud, we naturally shared our feelings just by being in the same space.
Prices are high in Denmark, so people tend to eat at home rather than eating out. Also, perhaps because room sharing is common, the hurdle of inviting people over to your home seems much lower than in Japan.
The dining table is covered with a cloth and is paired with vintage chairs of different designs.
There were plants and flowers on display, but none of them were prepared for this occasion; they were just things that always adorn the space. Seeing Kerma and her friends being themselves, surrounded by things they love, helped ease the tension for the guests.
Kerma loves Alabia mugs and has been collecting them little by little at flea markets.
I experienced various gatherings in Denmark. None of them were forced or motivated by a sense of obligation. Rather, people created a comfortable space for themselves, found value in the act of being in the same place, and simply went with the flow. That was very impressive.
Greenwich Izuishi
It's been a long time since it's been difficult to meet people due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I think it has also given us new options, such as reconsidering how we spend our time at home and finding hobbies that we can enjoy alone. More than anything, it has taught us that being able to spend time with family and friends is not something to be taken for granted, but something very precious.
This time in my study abroad diary from Denmark, I will focus on the warm gatherings I experienced there and look back on how people spent their time and the flow of time.
Visit to FDB Möbler's office
During the week before I enrolled at Folkehojskole , I spent time walking around the city and visiting companies in the capital, Copenhagen. One of the companies I visited was FDB Möbler, for which Greenwich is the Japanese distributor. According to Jacob, who came to pick us up at the hotel where we were staying, every Friday he comes to work a little early and everyone has breakfast together. On this particular Friday, I sat in a chair at FDB Möbler and enjoyed rye bread with ham and cheese.
After being shown around the vast offices and warehouses where the FDB Group works, we all went to the company cafeteria for lunch. The weather was nice that day, so we sat outside and ate.
After the meal, we went back to the office to start working in the afternoon, but we all went outside for a break. I got a bit of a culture shock from seeing Coke and Carlsberg lined up.The topic of conversation that day was about Uniqlo, which had just opened in Denmark at the time. One female staff member said to me, "Uniqlo is good, but I wish they'd bring MUJI from Japan!" (*It opened in Copenhagen the following year.)
The homely atmosphere that could be felt even on just one visit is the result of an accumulation of small interactions that take place on a daily basis.
Bonfire
Bonfires are gaining attention in Japan as a result of the boom in camping and outdoor activities. At the school where I studied abroad, we had a time called "Bonfire" where everyone gathered around a bonfire on various occasions. Listening to the crackling of the firewood and gazing intently at the erratic flickering of the flames. Everyone was quietly reflecting, or perhaps lost in thought, but either way, it was such a relaxing time that I wondered, "If this isn't Hygge, then what else can I call it?" At Bonfire, we do everything from chopping wood to starting the fire ourselves. (I had a hard time starting the fire though...) The bread baked over an open fire was crispy and fluffy. It was one of the most memorable and enjoyable dining experiences during my stay.Bonfire also made me realize that the emotions felt depended on the environment in which they participated. When we first entered the school, we felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety, and when graduation approached, we felt like we had to say goodbye to everyone. Even though we didn't say it out loud, we naturally shared our feelings just by being in the same space.
Visit to Kerma's house
One of the things I wanted to do while studying abroad, was to visit the homes of local people, and this was fulfilled sooner than I expected thanks to an invitation from a friend.Prices are high in Denmark, so people tend to eat at home rather than eating out. Also, perhaps because room sharing is common, the hurdle of inviting people over to your home seems much lower than in Japan.
The dining table is covered with a cloth and is paired with vintage chairs of different designs.There were plants and flowers on display, but none of them were prepared for this occasion; they were just things that always adorn the space. Seeing Kerma and her friends being themselves, surrounded by things they love, helped ease the tension for the guests.
Kerma loves Alabia mugs and has been collecting them little by little at flea markets.
I experienced various gatherings in Denmark. None of them were forced or motivated by a sense of obligation. Rather, people created a comfortable space for themselves, found value in the act of being in the same place, and simply went with the flow. That was very impressive.
Greenwich Izuishi
