INTERN BLOG

          It is funny to walk through the Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park these days and feel the cold wind on my face, knowing that my great-grandfather probably had the same feeling roughly 130 years ago. His name was Knud Christian Buus, and he left poverty in Denmark to find better work.

He arrived in Chicago in 1892 and settled in South Dakota where he bought a farm of 160 acres. However, harsh winters and bad harvests made it difficult for farmers, and most of his colleagues abandoned the area. He sold the farm and returned to Chicago in 1899.

Luckily, he got a job at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company. He learned a lot about how agricultural machinery worked and soon became a popular salesman. In 1902, he was sent to Argentina to promote the machinery and found that the land in the Pampas had good soil — “whatever you throw out will grow."

He went back to Denmark, got married, returned to Argentina, and in 1904, he settled next to a small town called El Perdido in Argentina. Knud worked for others until he was able to rent land and split the profit with the landowner. It was arduous work—he spent many days working in the middle of the Pampas alone while his wife tried to turn their newly built mud house into a home in a treeless, isolated field. Fortunately, the Danes in the Pampas were quite clever and planted trees that formed shady valleys. They also tended to gardens of fruits and berries that covered many of their basic needs.

Upon immigrating, Danes encountered a different culture while establishing a community in the flat land of Buenos Aires. My great-grandfather thoroughly missed Denmark and was ready to move back when World War I broke out. I wonder what would have happened if there had been no war in 1914. Would I have been fully Dane? What if his work in South Dakota went well and he never had to migrate again? Would I have been an American citizen?

October was eventful! It couldn’t have started out any better, since my family traveled all the way from Denmark to visit me. We started out by exploring the area, and I showed them around Elk Horn, the Danish Windmill, and the museum.

After two days in Elk Horn, we headed towards Keystone, a small town nestled in between the mighty mountains in Black Hills, South Dakota. On the way there, we stopped in De Smet, SD, which is the place where Laura Ingalls Wilder was a teacher and where her parents and sisters are buried. Even though it was only a small detour for an American, for us Danes, who are not used to driving the distances you are, it was a huge detour of 100 miles. It was worth it since it allowed us to see the famed prairie in all its glory and might. Later in the day, we saw the very impressive Badlands, before we finally reached Keystone.

During our time in the Black Hills, we saw Mount Rushmore, which of course had a Danish-American architect Gutzon Borglum. It was indeed a sight to behold. After a couple of wonderful days, we headed south down to Colorado, where we had booked an Airbnb in Estes Park, right next to the famed Rocky Mountains National Park. During our time there we hiked some wonderful routes, and we were lucky enough to spot several elks.

We ended the trip with a one-night stay in the college town of Boulder, where we really enjoyed the youthful vibe and some great Mexican food. Overall, it was a great trip; we got to see a small portion of what this wonderful country that you call home has to offer!

Ahoy!

As my time as the Prairie Intern at the Museum of Danish America ends, I want to reflect on this incredible journey and share my gratitude with all of you who have joined me. These past few months have been enchanting as I've had the privilege of immersing myself in the plants and nature around me.

From the first day, I stepped onto this picturesque prairie, I was welcomed with open arms by a team that is not just colleagues but a true family united by a shared passion for preserving and celebrating Danish American heritage.

Being entrusted with maintaining the prairie's beauty and life has been an honor beyond measure. I've marveled at the resilience of the tenacity of plants and the prairie's natural habitat for native animals.

But as they say, all good things must end, and it's time for me to bid farewell to this chapter of my journey. As I embark on new adventures and challenges, I carry the lessons I've learned, the friendships I've forged, and the stories that will continue to inspire me.

To the Museum of Danish America team, you are more than coworkers; you are mentors, collaborators, and friends. Thank you for guiding, challenging, and sharing your wisdom with me. This experience would not have been the same without every one of you.

So, I say goodbye to this chapter with a heart full of gratitude and memories that will forever warm my soul. As I step away from the prairie, I know I'm stepping into a bright future with possibilities, armed with the knowledge and inspiration that this internship has gifted me.

Until we meet again, Jaz

Here are some of my favorite photos of the prairie.

Ahoy! It's Jaz!

Exploring the prairie and immersing myself in the world of plants has been an exhilarating experience for me. The vastness of the prairie and the enchanting beauty of the flowers have always fascinated me. However, there's one aspect of this natural wonderland that challenges me – bees. Yes, bees! You might be wondering: ‘Jaz, why would you go into plant science and into a flowering prairie if you aren’t okay with insects?’ I don’t know! I have always loved being around plants! 

Well, I must admit that this internship has been a journey of facing my fears. The sight of spiders no longer sends shivers down my spine, and I've grown accustomed to the presence of ants and flies. But when it comes to bees, yeah… no thanks.

Let me tell you what I do to manage the fact that I’m surrounded by a lot of bees on a daily basis: I listen to music. If I can’t hear or see the bee, it's not there right? Music is my weapon against the buzzing bee brigade. Honestly, it works, and I can be out there for hours without panicking about the bees buzzing on the flowers near me.

So here are a few of my favorite songs to listen to:

Hey Runner!  by The Arcadian Wild

The Arcadian Wild is a folk band that incorporated bluegrass into their songs. Hey Runner! has a nice pace to it that keeps you upbeat. The fiddle and guitar blend perfectly with the vocals!

Volare by Gipsy Kings

Volare is a very popular Italian song that Dean Martin popularised. Gipsy Kings are a band formed in southern France that sings primarily in Catalan and Spanish. Their version of Volare adds Flamenco and Salsa into the mix creating a song you just have to dance to. 

Better Than Gold by Justin Hawkes

This song is a mix of country and dubstep. While it is an odd combination, Better Than Gold tickles my ear in just the right way, keeping me both upbeat and hyped.

Rückenwind by Thomas D

This is a German Hip-Hop rap song, with really good instrumentation and flow. The jazzy chords in the background fill the song with a good vibe. The song is about a journey and is very catchy.

For Evigt by Volbeat & Johan Olsen

This song is a collaboration between Danish Rock band Volbeat and the lead singer of Magtens Korridorer. It has a distinct rock feel until a switch up where it turns folk for a minute. Very cool song!

Also, enjoy this photo of wild bergamot and a bee.

Hello!

My name is Jaz Bruns! I am the Prairie intern for the summer of 2023. I am originally from Phoenix, Arizona, but I have spent the last 3 years going to school at the University of Missouri - Columbia, pursuing a Bachelor's in Plant Science: Breeding, Biology, and Biotechnology, as well as a minor in Agribusiness. 

A little about me and my hobbies:

I play guitar, piano, and I sing. I started playing piano when I was 5 and guitar when I was 7. It's crazy to think I turn 21 at the end of next month! Music is one of my biggest passions in my life. I write my own songs, as well as cover many others.

I like to rock climb, or more specifically, boulder. I'm not particularly good at bouldering, to be honest. Still, I got into it about a year ago, and it's really fun! I climb V2 at the most, but I'm looking to get stronger this next year - tendonitis in my wrists makes it a little complicated.

Photography. My father was really into photography, and it rubbed off on me. It is really fun to take odd pictures. I like to take photos of landscapes and anything else I find interesting. Attached are some of the photos I've taken that are a little eccentric.

Gardening. I think it's a little ironic that I pull out invasive species and weed the front beds at the Museum, along with many other responsibilities and then come home and water and weed my garden. So much weeding to do! This summer, I am growing: Jalapenos, Roma tomatoes, Cherry tomatoes, Cilantro, Lettuce, Basil, and Bell peppers.

Video games. Yep, I'm a gamer :) My laptop is what I game off of, and I'm telling you, that thing is not meant for gaming. So, for now, I'm sticking to games easier for my laptop, including Minecraft, Stardew Valley, 100% OJ, Mini Motorways, Golf with Friends, and my current addiction - Plate Up.

Monopoly. You are probably thinking, "Hey, Jaz, Monopoly isn't a hobby. Say board games or something else." Well… I have Monopoly, Monopoly 50th Anniversary, Electronic Monopoly, Monopoly - Longest Game Ever, Monopoly Deal, and Monopoly Cheaters Edition. Each has its appeal, and every time I get a new one, my mother groans, and my bf tries to escape the room.

Anyways, I hope you've gotten to know me better, and I look forward to spending the rest of my summer here in the prairie and around Elk Horn.

There are not enough words to describe how I feel right now…

After 6 months here at the Museum of Danish America, my internship is over and I’m headed back to Denmark to finish my degree.

This has been the adventure of a lifetime, and everything I could have ever dreamed of. From arriving in the coldest winter, I have ever experienced (and I have lived on Greenland, so that says a lot) to leaving in some of the hottest weather I can imagine.

This past month has been super busy. In the beginning of June, Diya, Delaney, Julia, and I went to Omaha for a Taylor Swift party (not to be confused with the Eras Tour, which we did not have tickets for). For anyone who is still confused, it was a party at The Slowdown, where they only played music by Taylor Swift! So much fun!

Then, Amelia and I picked up a very special guest from the airport. My sweet, sweet partner Kasper, flew in to help us celebrate the 40th and we are traveling back to Denmark together later this week. I showed him all of my favorite attractions in the area, including Albert the Bull in Audubon, of course.

Last week was so busy, but so much fun! From all of the setting up to talking to celebrating, the DAHS Conference was interesting and I enjoyed listening to the different speakers, and it was nice to have Center for American Studies at the University of Southern Denmark represented through Anders Bo Rasmussen and his book. The Saturday celebration included a bit of rain, but that did not stop us! Everyone was in amazing mood and I got to talk to people from all over the United States (and Denmark!).

Speaking of Albert the Bull, I think I must owe an update to my Iowa bucket list! I’ve done most of the things on the list (and so much more). We never found the time to go to Adventureland, but I have gotten to experience so many other cool things! I also saw a racoon mom and her babies in almost-daylight, so I’m counting that as a win! Tomorrow we will be going to the Henry Doorly Zoo and officially finish off the list!

Leaving the Museum and Elk Horn is not fun – I have so many new friendships from here and I’ve learned so much. I’m looking forward to going home, but I am so sad that I have to leave. To all future interns. Cherish the time you have here, it all goes by so fast.

Thank you to the Museum of Danish America for letting me try out everything I’ve learned and for teaching me even more, thank you to all staff members who I’ve been lucky enough to call me co-workers, thank you to Amelia Juhl for being the best friend one could ever dream of (and to the rest of the Juhl family for being just as amazing). To Shaun from the Windmill for giving me what must be the last Elk Horn fridge magnet in America. To the volunteers and board members that I have met, thank you for being so kind to me, and to the Scan Design Foundation – thank you for making the Danish internship program possible. It is truly life changing.

There are not enough words to describe how grateful I am.

The weather is warmer (well, hot) now and I’m really enjoying it! This last month have been really busy as we are getting ready for all of the summer celebrations and events. I have been crossing a lot of things off my bucket list – The Des Moines Downtown Farmers' Market, Tivoli Fest, and a visit to the Windmill.

The Farmers' Market was as great as I’ve been told. With so many vendors and so much great food, it’s surprising that I got back with only cheese and pickles. Diya, Delaney, and I went early in the morning to avoid the crowds, and even at 7 am, people were up and exploring at the market. Later that day, we picked up the new Prairie Intern (and roomie), Jaz! I’m sure you’ll get to know her much better throughout the summer!

Another important May event was Eurovision. If you are new to the European Song Contest, your first meeting with it might be confusing. It’s a song/music competition for the European countries (and Australia), that happens annually. Typically, each country has their own competition, where the winner goes on to participate in Eurovision. Since there are so many participating countries, there are two qualifiers where some countries get to move on to the “big” competition. Both a jury and the European viewers then vote for a winner! It’s camp, it’s entertaining and such a good time! Jaz, Diya, and Delaney watched the entire 4-hour show with me, and I think we were all singing “cha cha cha” for the next few days.

Tivoli Fest was an eventful weekend! Friday started at Bedstemor’s, and a lot of nice and curious people came by to take a look at the 1908 home. Then, it was time for hotdogs! As someone who describe themselves as a hotdog connoisseur (I did work at a hotdog stand and diner for three years) Elk Horn does know how to make a good hotdog! Saturday started early, with the raising of the flags and a tour of the Windmill and then breakfast at the fire station, which of course was æbleskiver and medister. For any Danes side-eyeing this combination, it is important to remember that traditions evolve and change over time, especially when taken out of the context where it was created, and that the combination of a sweet/savory breakfast meal is typical in many different cultures. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it, it was very good! Next stop was the museum, where I helped man the front desk area. It was lovely to see so many people from near and far who came to celebrate Tivoli Fest and visit the museum. Some had visited the museum before and knew the story, while others stopped in and got to experience it all for the first time.

Amelia, Delaney, and I went down to see the parade and then we were off to see the folk dancers, who all did such a good job! We then went back to the Elk Horn Fire Station for our activity – water pong. Amelia and I had planned this activity of a family-friendly version of beer pong, the game where you throw ping-pong balls at cups of beer, and we had a bunch of people come play with us and we had so much fun! I also got to try deep fried Oreos for the first time – a typical fair-snack and it was as good as you can imagine! (So very good).

For the next four weeks I will be enjoying the museum and Elk Horn area as much as possible! It’s hard to believe that my time here is over soon, but there are still a lot of things happening before my time here is up! In the next intern blog from me, you’ll hopefully get to read about anniversary preparations, a special visitor and maybe even a Taylor Swift Dance Party!

Emmelie, Scan Design Foundation Intern (Communications)

… or maybe more like sleepy in Seattle, I was a little jetlagged coming back from Denmark! But wow, did Seattle turn that right around! Tova Brandt, Terri Johnson and I went to Seattle for our 40th anniversary dinner event at the Swedish Club – You can read more about that wonderful event on our Facebook page. Spoiler: The food was really good!

Even flying over Seattle, I was taken aback by the beautiful nature – the stunning Evergreens and the mountains sprinkled with snow, and since the weather was nice, I could even see Mount Rainier. I did not know that Mount Rainier was an active volcano, and despite having been able to travel to many exciting places all over the world, I had never seen a volcano before.

Flying in over Seattle, it is not surprising that many Nordics chose to settle down here, during immigration periods. The raw nature makes it feel like Norway or Sweden, and the fishing and timber industries must have reminded many of home. Today, the Seattle area is particularly well-known for their coffee and beer – other areas that are beloved by the Nordic countries.

After a well-done event on Thursday, Friday was sightseeing day! After meeting for breakfast with Fidelma and Line from the Scan Design Foundation, Tova, Terri and I went to the National Nordic Museum. This beautiful building and they have both traditional exhibitions and more experimental exhibitions such as FLÓÐ (Flood). FLÓÐ has been created for the National Nordic Museum by Icelandic singer Jónsi (Jón Þór Birgisson), the lead singer of the Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós. This is an exhibition that utilizes lighting, smell and sound to create a unique experience and is definitely worth a visit!

Terri and I then went to see the Space Needle. We had already seen it from a distance, towering over the rest of Seattle, but we of course also needed to see it up close! The history of the Space Needle begins at the 1962 World Fair, where the theme was “The Age of Space”. The tower does look very futuristic, even today, and the goals was to create a tower that could represent the space aspirations of humanity. Today, the tower is more a tourist attraction in itself, and does not have much to do with space. It offers an incredible view over the Seattle area, Lake Union and the surrounding nature, that we of course had to experience for ourselves. Luckily, the Seattle weather was kind to us, so we got a very clear view of everything!

Then we, after several recommendations the night before, went to see the Museum of Pop-Culture, MoPOP! Even if we get to be at a museum most of the week, we do not miss the chance to see another great one, and MoPOP was a lot of fun! With everything from music and games to film and TV, this museum right next to the Space Needle was so much fun and we understand all of the recommendations that we got!

I’d love to visit Seattle again, and it was such a nice city with so many things to do! The 40th anniversary (and thereby the end of my time here in Elk Horn) is coming closer, and we have so many things happening back here at the museum – Victor Borge Legacy Awards, a new prairie intern, Tivoli Fest and so much more is happening in May, and I’m looking forward to share all about it, right here on the blog!

Last week, I was back in Denmark for my little sister’s Confirmation. After being away for over three months (can you believe I’ve been at MoDA for over three months now?), it was a very happy moment when I was greeted by my boyfriend and friend at the airport in Billund.

First stop was a visit to my grandparents, who live on Funen. We had a delicious lunch with rugbrød (almost as good as Deb’s), pickled herring, eggs and frikadeller, and of course for dessert – an ice cream cone from Vaffelhuset in Kerteminde – one of the best in Denmark (In my opinion AND the opinion of numerous votes). Even if it was a bit rainy the first two days, I thoroughly enjoyed the Danish Spring weather.

I had been tasked with doing my sisters hair for her Confirmation on Sunday, so on Saturday we had a little trial to make sure our visions were the same (it was, I had a sigh of relief). We also had time to say hi to both of my boyfriend’s parents and most importantly, their beloved pets!

Sunday was my sister’s confirmation and we got up early to get her ready. Even if the Confirmation is a Christian celebration, most Danes would probably describe themselves as “culturally Christian”, following Christian holidays and traditions because its part of our culture. My family is not particularly Christian either, but the Confirmation is a symbol of children getting older. Boys usually dress in suits and girls traditionally in white dresses, even if it has kind of evolved into white dresses, jumpsuits, and suits (take Princess Isabella’s beautiful, white suit from her confirmation last year). I love how traditions like these can evolve with the times. My sister wore the prettiest white dress with lace detailing. My sister has been taking classes and going to church to prepare for the confirmation, something her whole class in school does, unless they choose not to. In her class they were 27 students, so quite a big group! The day started with church were all the families watch their child get confirmed. Then, some kids get picked up from church in a fun vehicle. Some in fancy cars, some in tractors (this is Southern Jutland after all), and there was even a wheelbarrow and a few horses! This is planned by friends and family, and my sister was picked up in a fun, pink car! 

Then there’s the party where family and friends attend. I held a speech, and I only cried a tiny bit - so I’m very proud of myself. Even if the confirmation isn’t really that significant for the course of my sister’s life, it’s still very special to have a day that was all about her, and I’m so proud of her – she’s smart, curious, and funny – and very loved.

The rest of the time was filled with walks in the sunshine and delicious food and seeing my family and friends. I also had to stock up on a few Danish and European snacks that I want the other MoDA people to try – let me know if you want me to get back to you with their opinions – I only chose delicious snacks! I also had to swing by the yarn store to pick up the single skein of yarn I’m missing to finish the sweater I’ve been working on since January, so that I can finally wear it!

Even though I enjoy Elk Horn and MoDA, I was a little home sick, so being back was much needed and now I’m ready for the last 2,5 months of my internship, that’ll include a LOT of fun things – Tivoli Fest, Sankt Hans, a special guest, a new intern, and more spring and summer weather is coming,

NEXT STOP: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON!

On Easter weekend, Communications Specialist Amelia took me on a trip to Des Moines and Iowa City, to visit her sister, Elise! It was a weekend of many American “firsts” and even though I enjoy being in Elk Horn most of the time, it was fun to have a few days in the city.

I had my first gigantic soda (or “pop”) for the car ride, and I’ve got to admit that it was very enjoyable. It was also my first trip to the Costco food court, where I had a delicious slice of pepperoni pizza AND ice cream. Living in Kolding, which is known as “Slicetown” because of the many pizzerias, I can say with great confidence that the ones in Costco are very good.  

As museum people, we obviously had to check out a few museums in Iowa City, and while Amelia showed me around her old campus, we had fun visiting the new Stanley Museum of Art and the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History. The taxidermy racoons are still the closest I have been to seeing a racoon in daylight, but I have not given up yet! I also had to say hello to Rusty (the big, prehistorical sloth), who apparently is a great celebrity at the University of Iowa and I was not disappointed by his size and, from what I can tell, amazing personality.

We DID also get to see some live animals, when Amelia and Elise took me to the Iowa Raptor Project at Lake MacBride. Here I got to see a bunch of exciting owls and hawks, and even a bald eagle. The Iowa Raptor Project is run by the University of Iowa and takes care of 17 unreleasable birds of prey historically found in Iowa. No trip to the lake without getting your feet wet, so next up we hiked to a waterfall, that we of course, also had to cross for the real waterfall-hiking-experience. It was a great success.

I have also been very interested in visiting thrift stores over here, as I am a frequent thrifter back in Denmark, and luckily, Amelia and Elise were up for thrifting, too. We found some fun things, and I’ll definitely take recommendations on fun thrift stores in the area!

Amelia also took me to the beginning of the Mormon trail in Iowa City. This is where the train tracks ended and the Mormons from countries such as Denmark would assemble handcarts for the 1300-mile-long walk to “Zion” in Utah. As we currently have an exhibition at the museum about the first wave of Danish immigrants, where many were Mormon converts, seeing where many began their long journey and how some ended up in towns such as Elk Horn was very interesting. The exhibition will be on display until May 4 2023, so there’s still time to check it out!

Lastly, we had to watch some movies. I was met with confusion by some of my dear colleagues, when I mentioned that I have never watched The Princess Bride, so that, of course, had to change. A weekend of movies such as A League of Their Own, the original Mathilda movie, 16 Candles, The Lorax, John Tucker Must Die AND Barbie in Princess and the Pauper followed, and I thoroughly enjoyed all of them. I am excited to see what other movies I have missed from my side of the pond.

I am so happy that I got to spend such a fun weekend in good company! The next few weeks will special, too. I’m heading to Denmark for my sister’s confirmation, and then to Seattle for one of our 40th anniversary events – so check back soon for more intern adventures!

BONUS INFO: I tried fried pickles. They were great!

Sounds like home....

In an attempt to culture Communications Specialist Amelia a bit about Danish music, she suggested that I make a playlist for the blog – so you, too, can get a bit of a look into some of my favorite Danish songs. Some are new, some are older, but all of them are really good (In my opinion).

I’d say Danish music has a bit of everything, and while we’ve had many great exports (Lukas Graham, Mø, Lars Ulrich), leaning into the Danish language for many genres – from pop to hip hop and to rock and new wave, is something that sounds like home to me, so while I’m an avid listener of many American artists (read: Taylor Swift), some Danish ones will sneak into my playlists too.

I’m very insistent that you can still enjoy music, even if you cannot understand the language, but I have tried to include a little fact or two about each song or artist, just for context, and I swear all off these are mainly non-explicit, so you can sing along with your family!

Here is the link for the playlist on Spotify

Here is the link for the playlist on YouTube

I have added a few more on both, if 12 songs aren’t enough for you!  

Johnny Deluxe & Anna Nordell--- Drømmer jeg?

This one is one of my all-time favorites – and you can sing along with a Swedish friend, too! “Drømmer jeg?” (Am I Dreaming?), from 2004 is a collaboration between the Danish band Johnny Deluxe and Swedish singer Anna Nordell. The song deals with a relationship (or situationship?) between two people on either side of Øresund, between Denmark and Sweden and the I really like how one sings in Danish and one in Swedish

Pauline - Ny og Næ

Pauline is relatively new to me, but this one I really like. “Ny og Næ” (Now and then) has a very catchy chorus and is overall very enjoyable. “You gave me rain when I asked you for shelter”.

Andreas Odbjerg -  Føler Mig Selv 100

Andreas Odbjerg is an artist who have taken over Denmark the last few years. I saw him live at Grøn Koncert in Odense last year – his hometown - and it was such a good experience! This song is about having fun and not caring about what everyone else thinks. It’s so fun and catchy and you definitely want to dance when Andreas is singing “Everyone is watching while I’m dancing by myself”!

Andreas Odbjerg – Hjem fra Fabrikken

I included another one by Andreas Odbjerg, mainly because this song is very sweet and catchy as well. It is about going home from work, excited to see the one you love at home. “Baby, are you missing anything, I’ll bring it to you. It doesn’t matter if it’s heavy or expensive, as long as you’re happy”

Tobias Rahim – Flyvende Faduma

Tobias Rahim is another artist who really exploded in popularity in the last few years. His songs are both deep and pop-heavy, and he definitely has some more explicit songs. This one though, “Flying Faduma”, is very sweet and about young love and friendship. “In a hot air balloon, we’re killing time, when you look at me, I see something new in me”.

Pil – Når Du Går Herfra (Nattely)

Pil is, like Pauline, relatively new to me. This song about heartbreak and dishonesty is not the happiest, but it does tackle the subjects of giving up on another person. I really like it and it has been among my most heard tracks of 2022. “Where do you go when you leave my place? ‘Cuz you’re not going home when you leave my place”

TV2 - De Første Kærester på Månen

This one means a lot to me – when I was young, I lived in Nuuk for about a year, and we would have the TV2 CD in the car, playing and singing this song on our way to and from school. The title directly translates into The First Couple on the Moon, and it deals with growing up, meeting challenges along the way but then overcoming them in the end. “And now we’ve landed here. We have everything we need, and we’re still standing. And no matter what happens on the last day of school, we’ll be the first couple on the moon”.

Minds of 99 – Emil

Minds of 99 has had a very strong position and reputation on the Danish music scene for a long time now. Since 2012, they have made rock and new wave tracks that are timeless and unique. This one, “Emil”, has a sort of nostalgic vibe, that reminds me of summer. The lyrics are quite simple, but I can’t help but listen and whistle whenever the track starts.

Minds of 99 - Hurtige Hænder – Acoustic Version

Another one of my favorites from the band, this acoustic version of their song “Hurtige Hænder” (Quick Hands), is mesmerizing and very good in my opinion. “You are carefree, I love it. I love how you are yourself, I wish I knew you”.

Sys Bjerre – Tabt mit hjerte

This beautiful and kind of sad song is originally by Anne Linnet, but I really adore this cover. The title, “Lost my heart” is, of course, about love and loss.

Benjamin Hav - Spice Up Your Life

I really have no idea why this song is referencing another really good song by the Spice Girls – but that doesn’t take away from how good I think it is. Benjamin Hav’s music is usually a bit more up-beat and he is known for featuring on more party-ish songs, but this one is sort of gloomy in a very interesting way. The music video was also filmed in the area where I grew up, so enjoy the nice images of Southern Jutland! “You think I remember everything you say. The truth is, it's not a lie. I got us a coffee, you got the next one, I said: "I'm all alone at home", You said: "It's funny, that's just life", But you know, maybe we'll meet again.”

Jung – Hun Kommer Tilbage

Jung is another artist I had the pleasure of seeing live last year and this track, “She’s Coming Back”, has definitely been on my summer playlists last year. I have to admit that I’m not always sure what they are singing, but I get the main meanings of their songs.

I hope you liked my little list, and that it gave you a little taste of what Danish music CAN sound like today! There’s a lot more out there, and it’s good!

Last Monday, I was lucky enough to tag along when Cheyenne visited the Danish Sisterhood in Des Moines. Cheyenne, who is a part of the Sisterhood herself, was there to talk about some of the important archival work and structuring the museum has been doing and how we are structuring the very large Sisterhood collection of documents, that have kindly been donated to the museum from many of the Sisterhood lodges throughout the United States.

The collections include ledges, correspondence, panoramic photos and much more that the Sisterhood has collected through the years.

I also got to talk a little bit about myself and how I ended up at the museum, my education background and other fun things about me!

Thank you, Des Moines Danish Sisterhood for having us!

The meeting was set in the beautiful Luther Memorial Church in Des Moines, just across from Grand View University, a university founded by the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In March, we will be hosting one of our 40th anniversary events at the church, an evening of song, featuring mezzo-soprano Megan Moore and Danish pianist Francesco Barfoed. You can read more and buy tickets to the event here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-of-song-to-celebrate-museum-of-danish-americas-40th-anniversary-tickets-529387120127

This little outing also meant I got to taste Culver’s for the first time – and after many recommendations I went with the Mushroom and Swiss burger (Yum). It was a great success, but I’ve got to say that Root Beer is not for me.

Our Communications Intern Emmelie explores different traditions, concepts and phenomena that you might have heard or wondered about – follow along for her thoughts and explorations!

Fastelavn goes a long way back, and Fastelavns-traditions both have origins in Christian and heathen rituals. The term Fastelavn comes from Latin and has something to do with the period of fasting before Easter. This is probably where Fastelavnsboller was born – because people were not allowed to eat meat during the fast, they would have sweet buns with raisins on Sundays.

Fastelavn is similar to Mardi Gras in other cultures and countries, where it was a celebration symbolizing the period before the fasting of Lent – The 40 days Jesus was fasting in the desert.

Today, the period around Fastelavn includes many traditions, a mix of religious, superstitious and cultural – mostly for kids and they vary greatly around Denmark. Here are some examples of the most common:

Slå katten af tønden / Beating the cat in the barrel.

This one has some dark origins. In the 1500’s it was normal in several European countries to make a sacrifice to keep plagues and epidemics away. This could be done by sacrificing a black cat. In Denmark, at Fastelavn, a black cat would be put into a barrel and the barrel would be hung from the ceiling and young men would beat it with a stick until the barrel came down or broke, and then beat the cat to death. In some places, like Germany, this continues all the way to the 1800’s. Today, this tradition is much more harmless and fun - the barrel is filled with candy, but might have a silhouette of a cat on black paper on the outside. Children will dress up in costumes and beat the barrel until it falls down – the winner will become Cat King.

Fastelavnsris

A “Fastelavnsris” is basically a bouquet of sticks with decorations on them. They date back to 1700’s Germany and Denmark, where young people would “rise” (lightly whip) their friends with the bouquets. It was all about getting up first, otherwise you had to provide sweets, which could be buns and coffee. They were a symbol of fertility – when the dry sticks were put in water and started to sprout, the fertility of the sprouts could be carried on to farm animals. They would be made or bought, and the Danish National Museum has evidence of newspaper advertisements for the bouquets dating back to 1791. Today, this tradition is mostly for kids, and they will decorate their Fastelavnsris, which are mostly for decoration and less for whipping.

Trick or treating

Another thing that have been part of some people’s lives is the “trick or treating” at Fastelavn, dressed up in costumes as on Halloween in the United States. Saying “Slik eller ballade” (trick or treat) gives people the option to provide sweets to the children as they walk around their neighborhood.

Fastelavnsboller

Fastelavnsboller goes a long way back, but right now they are having their renaissance at Danish bakeries. There are several types, but my favorite is the old-fashioned kind in a closed bun – but there are also other kinds with that are more pastry-like and a Swedish version called Semlor that tastes amazing!

Is has to be said, that while some of these traditions sound a little macabre, Fastelavn today is very harmless and way more fun! I have included a picture of myself in my beloved hotdog costume from a few years ago – even “adults” can enjoy these traditions – and yes, we did have candy in the barrel!

Do you celebrate Fastelavn? Or do you have a favorite Fastelavnsbolle? Let me know in the comments!

I like bucket lists – it’s always nice to read about people achieving their greatest dreams – climbing that mountain, bungee-jumping, all sorts of things!

I am, however, not much of an adrenalin-junkie and I have already been privileged enough to cross off a huge entry on my own bucket list – living abroad. So, why not make a bucket list within a bucket list and pursue the smaller and (mostly) achievable dreams I have while I’m here in Iowa? I think it’s a great idea, so read along for my Iowa bucket list!

See a racoon (in daylight). These lovely trash-pandas look so sweet, and while I better keep my hands to myself, I’ve been saying since the day I got here that I want to see one close up. I actually saw one at night in the car, but that feels like cheating.

See Albert the Bull in Audubon. Ever since I saw a picture of Albert the Bull on Google Maps, I knew I had to get there and see him for myself. The world’s biggest bull is made of concrete, and he is SO CUTE! This weekend, I actually went to see him in the snow along with Amelia, and he is even cuter in real life!

Go to a Casey’s. This gas-station phenomenon is really interesting and I’ve already had the pleasure of tasting their breakfast pizza, which was special in the most perfect way. For someone who lives in a city in Denmark that goes by the name “Slicetown”, I do like a good slice of pizza!

Tivoli Fest. I am of course looking forward to Tivoli Fest and the all the celebrations in Elk Horn and Kimballton in May!

Visit the Wind Mill. I have not yet been to the Danish Wind Mill (I have been to their store for marzipan for Fastelavnsboller – stay tuned for that!) as the cold have been a little too threatening for me. But it looks like some lesser cold days are coming, and then I might go by the beautiful wind mill, “imported” from Nørre Snede.

Go hiking. I’m a nature-lover and I do love a beautiful hike! I’ve heard there are some good hiking trails in the area, so I might try some out in the Spring!

Go to Costco. While this isn’t specifically a Midwestern thing, it is, without a doubt, something I’m considering a “must-experience” before I leave!

The Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. Ever since I arrived in Elk Horn, I’ve heard several people talk about The Henry Doorly Zoo and as an animal lover – Sign me up! This zoo is supposedly VERY big and well-known for their conservation and animal care!

Iowa State Capitol. The Iowa Statehouse in Des Moines is especially known for its 275-foot golden dome, but also has a very big law library.

The Des Moines Downtown Farmers’ Market. This farmers’ market is rated among the top in the United States and with more than 250 vendors every Saturday from May to October - COUNT ME IN! I love a good farmers’ market and this is a great way to get a taste of other parts of Iowa!

Adventureland. As I mentioned at the top, I’m not really an adrenaline-junkie, but I can appreciate a good roller-coaster and I’ve been informed that Adventureland should be pretty fun!

Is there anything you would recommend doing while I’m in the area?  I’m definitely taking recommendations! There are some obvious Midwestern / Iowan things I’ve had to cut from my list already – for example I will not be here for the Iowa State Fair – I’ll have to come back for that!

Sometimes you shouldn’t be scared of asking questions – and I have questions. So, I have created this series where I am asking - and (lightly) investigating – those questions that are not life changing, but might be interesting to know about, and in this entry, we are looking at those weird movie title translations… And as a disclaimer, this entry will include direct/non-perfect translations, that are meant to provide context

You may or may not have heard about a movie called Cubic. If you haven’t it is because it’s the Danish title of the movie Equilibrium from 2002 starring Christian Bale. For someone like myself who often consumes both American and Danish media, this can cause confusion – For the longest time, I did not know that The Help (2011) and Niceville was the same movie.

There are many examples of movie title translations that are not necessarily amazing and as good as the original – in this entry, we’re diving into some of these.

Often, the translation can cause more harm than good, and an example of this is The King’s Speech from 2010. This title works really well, because it both covers the grand speech of King George IV and the challenges he faced while writing it, concerning his speech impediment. In Danish, the title is Kongens Store Tale, (The King’s great speech) and fails to capture the double meaning of the original title.

From one English title to another…

Changing one English title to another is a strange concept – for example, Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) is called Die Hard: Mega Hard in Denmark and Cruel Intentions (1999) was translated to Sex Games (Which I found out was actually the original, working title for the film).

From my understanding, the titles have often been changed because there might be difficult words in the original title, that might be tough to understand for a non-native speaker, for example the word “vengeance”. That could be why we don’t see these strange translations as much today – most Danes typically have a good understanding of the English language, even if it includes some difficult words (I, for one, still don’t know what “Tenet” means).

As most Danes, like me, often consume content from multinational platforms such as TikTok, YouTube or Instagram, changing a title into the Danish or an easier-to-understand title, could potentially cause confusion over clarity – like how I was confused about The Help/ Niceville.

Direct translation vs. new title

Without being a professional translator or linguist, I suppose a new title is often made up when the English movie title includes double meanings or phrases, which cannot be translated into Danish – an example of this could be The Money Pit with Tom Hanks which was translated into something along the lines of Love and Hangovers. And this makes sense, as direct translations of phrases often lead to nonsensical sentences or words (You could translate The Money Pit into Pengegraven, but it sounds like a really boring movie).

Another reason could be the movie’s genre – looking back at translations from the 80’s and 90’s, movies with more “bland” English titles have often been translated into something a little more colorful to give an idea of the tone and genre of the film – like how The Associate with Whoopie Goldberg was translated into Halløj pa Wall Street (Hello on Wall Street).  

Lastly, context is also important – The title Sister Act makes sense in English, but I can’t come up with something similar in Danish that makes sense contextually to the movie’s plot – therefore the movie was titled Halløj I Klosteret (Hello in the Monastery). Can you believe they translated both Whoopie Goldberg movies into something with “halløj”? That has got to be the same person behind it!

In countries with strict profanity laws, a new title can often make sense, but this shouldn’t be a problem in Denmark – so let us enjoy the original titles please! And until then, here is a list of some of my “favorite” English-to-Danish movie title translations:

Moana (2016) -> Vaiana

This GREAT Disney film was translated from the name of the main character to the Island nation where the movie takes place, which I think is unnecessary.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)-> Drengen der Druknede I Chokoladesovs

The boy who drowned in chocolate sauce? Spoiler alert I guess!

Tangled (2010) -> To på Flugt

Two on the run, which I don’t think is too bad, but the English title for this Disney movie about Rapunzel and her long hair works better I think!

Beverly Hills Cop 1-3 (1984-1994) -> Frækkere end Politiet Tillader

Naughtier than the police allow. This title I actually think is kind of funny, and it implies that this franchise is a police comedy.

The Party (1968) -> Kom og Vask Min Elefant

Come wash my elephant… This title can be taken into all sorts of directions and I will just leave it at that.

Aaand a bonus list specifically for Arnold Swarzenegger movies:

Red Heat (1988) -> En Russer Rydder op I Chicago (A Russian cleans up Chicago)

Raw Deal (1986)-> Sagen er Bank (the case is something about fighting)

Pumping Iron (1977) -> Sagen er Bøf (The case is steak?)

Have you come across any strange movie translations? Or do you know why this happens? I hope you enjoyed my little look into movie titles and if you have anything you want me to ask and “investigate” in the next entry of Emmelie Asks? Let me know!

Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash

By Anders Tornsø Jørgensen 

Being an intern in a foreign country often means postcards and gifts, but also visits from family and friends. I have been so fortunate that loved ones in my life actually wants to cross the Atlantic in order to visit me. This time my very special lady friend, Laura, came to experience the wonderful Midwest.  Our trip included a visit to Chicago, the most populous city of Illinois and the third-most populous in the United States. Last time I was in Chicago was back in September where I attended the Scandinavian Day Festival in South Elgin, IL. However, Chicago looked very different upon my return, being very affected by the season. This time, Chicago was filled with gorgeous Christmas decorations, the weather was cold, the wind was icy, but as always, the city was vibrant, grand, and majestic. “I adore Chicago. It is the pulse of America.” I wish I came up with that sentence, but that’s how French stage actress Sarah Bernhardt described this goliath of the Great Lakes. 

The main goal of our Chicago-bound trip was to see the musical ‘Wicked’, but also to explore the crown jewel of the Midwest. As a birthday gift, and probably also as way to get Laura to America, I bought two tickets to ‘Wicked’ as Laura is a huge musical aficionado. The Windy City has always had a very special place in my heart, so it was wonderful to experience the city with a very special person because it gave me new a lot of new perspectives on one of my favorite American cities. Anyway, here we go! 

We took the Amtrak train from Omaha, leaving way too early in the morning. However, the early train departure meant that we wouldn’t arrive too late. The train ride was about 10 hours, but luckily, we could sleep along the ride, and we were loaded with delicious snacks, including a bag full of homemade aebleskiver (mange tak, Lisa!). We also spend time watching ‘Hamilton’ – a favorite musical of Laura and I. Normally, I am not a big musical fan, but ‘Hamilton’ ignited an interest the first time I watched the live stage recording version on a streaming service. Mainly I liked its great narrative of early American history and its top-notch lyrics. It always makes me wonder how they come up with these short and sharp sentences of truth. Combined with Laura’s passion for musicals, I couldn’t wait to get to Chicago to see ‘Wicked’ and experience my first live musical. 

Finally, after sitting in front of a bunch of sweet, but very noisy children with parents who, with all the respect, had given up parenting, we arrived to the Chicago metropolitan area, also known as Chicagoland. The last stretch feels like eternity, because the area is so huge and continues on forever. Encompassing 10,286 square miles, the metropolitan area includes the city, its suburbs and hinterland and actually stretches into parts of the neighboring states of Wisconsin and Indiana. After passing through suburb after suburb, we could finally see the magnificent skyline of Chicago and our train stopped at the Union Station, which is located right in the heart of Chicago.  

I recommend, even if you don’t travel with train, to visit Chicago’s Union Station because it’s one of the finest and most iconic train stations in the United States. There are many union stations across the U.S., and it’s usually a name given to stations that were shared by several railroad companies. In 1925, when the present building was finished, the Chicago Tribune wrote the following: “In respect to both architecture and utility, the new station is one of the most impressive in the world.” The architectural part still rings true to me. My favorite feature of the building is the historic Great Hall, which is where people sit and wait for their train to arrive. Enormous wooden benches are placed around the room along with tall majestic columns and interesting statues – together it all forms a room perfect of reflection. The two most interesting statues at the station are named ‘Night’ and ‘Day’, symbolizing the 24-hour operation of the railroads. ‘Night’ holds an owl, while ‘Day’ holds a rooster. Because of the season, a large Christmas tree was placed in the center of the room, beautifully decorated with train signs. It doesn’t really get better for a train fan like me. If you look closely to the photo I have attached, you can see the green-colored statues of ‘Night’ and ‘Day’ behind this Christmas miracle. Also, here’s an exciting note: If you have ever watched the classic gangster film ‘The Untouchables’ from 1987 featuring Kevin Costner, Sean Connery and Robert De Niro, then you may remember a unique shootout scene from this very train station. 

Anyways, we left Chicago’s Union Station and began walking to our hotel, which included a trip around the Loop area and along Michigan Avenue, including the so-called Magnificent Mile, enjoying the beautiful skyscrapers and institutions of Chicago. The Loop area is bounded by elevated tracks, which combined with the cars and skyscrapers, makes the city feel so energetic. Walking is always the best way to experience a city if you ask me, because it gives you time to stop and explore whenever you see something that gets your attention. After checking in at our hotel, we went down to a nearby Giordano’s, a pizzeria chain that specializes in Chicago-style stuffed pizza. While waiting for our food (it usually takes 30-45 minutes to make a Chicago-style pizza), we spent some time looking through our guidebooks, getting lost in all the greatness that Chicago offers. It had been long a day, so we went back to our hotel after indulging in a mozzarella overload of a pizza. Many Chicago-style pizzerias actually ship pizzas across the nation, so you don’t even have to visit Chicago to try it. However, be warned: A small sized pizza is usually enough for two persons. 

Next day was the big one: We were going to see ‘Wicked’ in the evening! But we still had a whole day in front of us. During the first part of the day, we visited the Art Institute of Chicago.  This national treasure was founded in 1879 and is considered to be one of the oldest and largest art museums in the world. One of the best areas of the museum was, if you ask me, the American Art collection, which contains iconic paintings like Edward Hopper's ‘Nighthawks’, and Grant Wood's ‘American Gothic’. The works of Grant Wood has been growing a lot of me since I arrived in Iowa, which is the native state of Wood, but also because I visited the actual house that inspired this uniquely American painting. It was also really interesting to see Georges Seurat’s ‘A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte’ in-person. If you have ever watched ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ from 1986, then you know what painting I am talking about – and if you haven’t, then you really should watch it because it’s still a pretty great movie. However, my all-time favorite was the ‘Hartwell Memorial Window’, which absolutely took my breath away. It’s a stained-glass panel inspired by the view from the artist’s family home near Mt. Chocorua in New Hampshire. The colors combined with the peaceful landscape create something very monumental and majestic, making the viewer feel so small. This could also be due to the size: it’s 23-foot-high and 16-foot-wide! However, if you want to see something small, but at least as interesting, then you should go down to the basement of the museum. Down there you can enjoy the Thorne Rooms, which is a series of miniature rooms that offers the visitor detailed views of European interiors from the 16th century through the 1930s and of American furnishings from the 17th century to 1940. 

After making our way through the huge Art Institute of Chicago, we went to visit another Chicago landmark: Portillo’s! This place specializes in serving Chicago-styled hotdogs, so we went all in and ordered the following meal: a Chicago dog (topped with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, cartoonish green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges in a puppy seed bun), a Maxwell Street Polish (a Polish sausage topped with grilled onions and yellow mustard), and a chili cheese dog (a hotdog covered in American cheese and topped with chili and chopped onions) along with onion rings. My favorite was the Maxwell Street Polish, but the traditional Chicago-style hot dog was also really interesting because of all the different toppings. Actually, Chicago dogs are sometimes described as having been "dragged through the garden" due to its many different toppings. It feels very fresh. While I do love Portillo’s, my favorite spot to grab a Chicago-styled hotdog is actually a small chain called Devil Dawgs. 

Next stop on our program was the James M. Nederlander Theatre in Chicago's revitalized Loop Theater District, where we were going to see ‘Wicked’. The beautiful neon light outside was fascinating, and the building was even prettier inside with an exciting East Asian theme. Previously known as the Oriental Theatre, it opened in 1926 as a movie palace and vaudeville venue, but presents live Broadway theater today. It’s also located close to the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, the Goodman Theatre, and the Chicago Theatre. 

The musical ‘Wicked’ by legendary musical icon Stephen Schwartz is based on a novel by Gregory Maguire named ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’ from 1995 and puts focus on Elphaba, a.k.a. the Wicked Witch of the West. The plot begins before L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ and its 1939 film adaption with iconic Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale. However, ‘Wicked’ also intervenes with the original work and expands many of the beloved characters’ background stories, such as the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and the Tin Man. Basically, it’s the Land of Oz before and after Dorothy arrives and turns everything upside down.  

I couldn’t be happier with my first American musical experience, and I can guarantee you that it won’t be my last. I enjoyed all the of the amazing chorography, singing, and humor, but I was mostly captivated by the interesting themes. ‘Wicked’ takes the traditional one-dimensional villain, the Wicked Witch of the West, and puts her in a sympathetic light. This makes the audience wonder about the question of the nature of good and evil as we witness her upbringing and transformation. ‘Wicked’ also raises interesting and relevant themes of otherness, discrimination, and racism, which is reflected both by how the protagonist is treated by others due to her green skin color, but also by how the rights of animals are being stripped away and how animals, who were once considered equals in the Land of Oz, are being oppressed by tyrannical forces. These themes are as always relevant in contemporary society, especially in these recent years. 

The next day was spend exploring Museum Campus and Grant Park. We took a bus out to the beautiful Art Deco-styled Adler Planetarium, which was actually the first planetarium in the United States. Its location provides one of the best views of the Chicago skyline along with the powerful Lake Michigan. Chicago is blessed with one of the most glorious skylines of any American city, and to be honest, there’s not a bad view of it. Each perspective offers something different, so it’s always fun to try new spots. In general, the efforts that Chicago have made to beautify itself is remarkable, but also the efforts to preserve their rich legacy of great architecture has been successful. Today, this gives the city an interesting mix of new and old. After the Great Fire of 1871 destroyed one-third of the city, reconstruction began. This gave birth to a new sense of building innovation that would eventually result in a series of new structures that were dubbed skyscrapers. Actually, skyscraper became the popular term for the new high-rise buildings that began to emerge in especially Chicago and New York’s Manhattan during this period. These tall buildings were of a size not previously known. My favorite building is the Carbide & Carbon Building, an Art Deco miracle with its black, dark green, and golden colors. According to rumors, the architects supposedly designed the building to resemble a dark green champagne bottle with gold foil at the top. Another special building is the Wrigley Building, which in honor of Ukraine’s fight for freedom, was displayed their flag along Star and Stripes. 

Anyways, back to our trip: Next stop was the John G. Shedd Aquarium. We were both captivated by our visit to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium the week before, so why not visit one of the nation’s finest aquariums? Also, Laura knows a lot about our water-based friends, so that only improved my experience and knowledge when she passionately shared fact after fact. Also, the building itself is also stunning and reflects Chicago’s strong architectural heritage. I was mostly fascinated by the beautiful jellies, while Laura fell in love with the beluga whales, and I admit, I also developed a weak spot for those majestic creatures. Afterwards we went to Millennium Park, where we saw the official Christmas tree of Chicago. The lights along with the star on the top of the tree matched the flag of Chicago, which was a cool detail. We also enjoyed watching people ice-skating around this winter wonderland. Next, we visited the Christkindlmarket, a German-styled Christmas market, where we could enjoy the smells of German delicacies such as bratwurst and currywurst, but also some creative stands, including a shop with cool lighting stars. Our day ended at Navy Pier, where we went out to the end of the pier and looked into Lake Michigan, seeming so endlessly from our point of view. 

Pursuing my newfound love for animals (Laura always liked animals, so I guess she has influenced me), our final day were spent visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is a free admission zoo located on the North Side of Chicago. The North Side feels very different than the downtown area, and is one of the richest areas of Chicago. Surprisingly, my favorite animal was the beavers, who were playing around when we saw them. Also, I find it fascinating how they build dams, which protects against predators and holds their food during winter. Afterwards we took a walk to the nearby North Avenue Beach where we defied the cold weather and the harsh wind and went out on the pier, giving us another beautiful view of Chicago – I do love those views. However, I finally understand why they call it the Windy City, because Mother Nature sure send some powerful blows our way. Then we took a bus back to the downtown area and went for a walk along the riverside. When we came to the DuSable Bridge, police officers told us that the area was closed. However, when we returned to the street level, many people were gathered, and we decided to go explore what was happening. It turned out that a large Christmas parade was happening, and we decided to stay and enjoy the show, which included Santa Claus riding his sleigh, but also a brilliant firework show. 

After the parade we had one last thing on our bucket list to do before leaving Chicago. Our guide book had mentioned a certain bar called the Signature Room of the John Hancock Tower, where you could enjoy a drink while having a pretty magnificent view of Chicago from the 96th floor. It was a Saturday night, so we thought it would be jam-packed with people, but we walked right into the place and had ourselves a drink, both feeling on top of the world after conquering Chicago. 

The next day, early in the morning, I followed Laura to the Midway International Airport. It was a bit difficult to say goodbye, but at least I know we’ll soon meet again back home. She flew back home to Denmark, while I spend my last day around Chicago’s South Side, mainly just visiting the Museum of Science and Industry and enjoying the gilded bronze ‘Statue of The Republic’ in Jackson Park before going to O’Hare International Airport in order to return home. However, I always try to stop at Margie’s Candies, an old school ice cream place, located along the subway route to O’Hare. And what a perfect way to end this adventure with a big bowl of ice cream covered in hot fudge.   

It was quite special to explore Chicago with Laura. It's my favorite American city with my favorite person. Despite being a good travel companion, I truly enjoyed spending time with Laura, but also to introducing her to my MoDA Family. Our 10 hour Amtrak trip flew by, and so did our 10 days together. I'm a pretty lucky guy for having such a special lady friend, who would come all the way to visit me. I know it's not Christmas yet, but that was the biggest gift I could ever wish for.

By Anders Tornsø Jørgensen

Dear readers of this blog,

Thank you for following my American journey over the last six months. You have been great cheerleaders, encouraging me to explore this mighty nation in ways that I never imagined possible. Writing these blogposts has been quite an honor and a unique way to promote and strengthen the ties between our two countries.

In some way, these six months have felt long. Yet, somehow, it also feels like I just arrived yesterday. Time is fascinating, and so has this internship been. I saw, I came, and I pushed it to the limit. From enjoying the skyscrapers of great urban wonders to exploring the majestic national parks, I have truly enjoyed every moment of this odyssey. It feels so strange to finally write this last entry. I still remember arriving in late June, having all the time in the world in front of me. And now it’s about to end. However, this is only the beginning of my American journey. In fact, I’m already planning my next American adventure with my beloved Amtrak.

I have been an intern at one of the most dedicated and generous institutions, which is only made possible because of the Scan Design Foundation. Here’s goes a list of thanks to the wonderful people of the Museum of Danish America – their support has been tremendous:

To Deb for the music, the laughs, and for teaching me how to use an air fryer. To Terri J. for the morning conversations over a cup of coffee and for taking me to my first basketball game (go Cyclones!). To Tim P. for great times at the food trucks and for teaching me how to pick sweet corn. To Diya for introducing me to so many delicious cuisines, presenting me to ice hockey, and for always bringing homemade treats to the office. To Julia for great times at various museum-related events, excursions to various institutions across Iowa, but also for showing my family the behind-the-scenes operations of a museum. To Terri A. for always spreading great energy at the museum, thus always leaving me happier. To Nan for inviting me to the Rose Theater in Audubon, Iowa, but also for always giving me a good discount on my beloved MoDA socks. To Tova for showing me Iowa’s best hidden secret, Decorah, with its beautiful nature, thriving small-town atmosphere, and a rich Norwegian-American culture. To Shelli and Jeff for introducing me to bratwurst and tailgating, but also for bringing homemade cookies when my family visited the museum. To Phil for the jokes and for the mouthwatering scotcheroos. To Tim F. for the stories about Elk Horn back in the day. To Cheyenne for our trip to Chicago, which included a hilarious day in the rain and some pretty aggressive acorns. To Kelsey for being such a wonderful roommate. To Don for the Diet Cokes and Marian for all the great meals and times. And finally, a big thanks to the United States Embassy in Denmark, who posted these blogs. I actually felt kind of famous when I was recently recognized at a Scandinavian-American event as ‘that guy from the blog.’ I hope it won't go to my head.

Also, a huge shout-out to Erik, who somehow knew I was huge Jimmy Carter fan, and then decided to give me an authentic 50-pound bag from the old Carter family peanut farm. And to Pixie, who knew how much I appreciate and admire the National Park System, and gave me a calendar filled with photos of national parks. I also loved every second spent with volunteers like Rosa and Annette. I hope I have their energy and might whenever I reach their age. Southwest Iowa is truly the land of the kind and home of the generous. I may leave Iowa, but you can’t take Iowa out of me. And of course, thanks to the many Americans I met along my way. What I admire most about Americans are probably how effortlessly nice they are when meeting strangers.

During the last six months, I have experienced American culture in a way that is only possible when you actually live here. I consider my myself a Midwesterner by heart now. When they’ll do my autopsy someday, they'll probably still be able to find the remains of ranch dressing and cheese curds from Culver’s. While I have learned much about the complex fabric that constitutes the United States, I actually feel that I also learned a lot about Denmark in the process.

Exchange stays and internships provides individuals with opportunities that impacts a lifetime. That’s why I am so grateful for the opportunities provided by the Scan Design Foundation and the Museum of Danish America. The wonderful thing about cultural exchange is how it broadens your horizon, build bridges, and inspire; I have never lived rurally, yet I have enjoyed developing friendships with people with whom I would never had met back home.

I also appreciate the freedom I have been granted and trusted with during my internship, where I have been solving a lot of different challenges, growing professionally, academically, and personally along the way.

Sometimes people have asked me what my favorite state is. I usually answer that I find beauty and uniqueness in each state, so it is hard to highlight one particular state. However, I do have a weak spot for North Dakota’s vastness, Wyoming’s natural wonders, and Minnesota’s many lakes. Other times people have asked me what my favorite experience have been, and that’s also difficult to answer, because there have been so many great memories.

But I’ll mention a few. I’ll include my time at the Danebod Folk Meeting in Tyler, Minnesota. The people I met there was the definition of Midwestern hospitality, and the days spent there reminded me so much about my time at Baunehøj Efterskole. I have also cherished celebrating different American holidays, including Fourth of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Each holiday is filled with long enduring memories. I’ll probably keep celebrating Thanksgiving when I return home and introduce that tradition to my friends. I also had the chance to enjoy the Iowa State Fair during my internship. It is based in the state capital Des Moines and takes place over an 11-day period in August with 1,118,763 visitors in 2022. It is the only fair listed in The New York Times best-selling travel book, “1,000 Places to See Before You Die,” so I am glad I can cross it of my list.

There’s also been some hard times. Adjusting to living in rural Elk Horn was harder than I imagined, but my walks around Elk Horn helped a lot. Those walks made me appreciate the beauty of the prairie with its rolling hills, its wide-open spaces, and its stunning sunsets, always making me think that perhaps heaven is a place on earth. There was also the time when the intern car broke down in Denver. Luckily, I was saved by my Karen and Mark, two friends of mine. It’s that unique American friendliness that keeps me so fascinated. I actually named the intern car Roxie because we developed quite a friendship during our long drives across the endless land of prairie and sea of cornfields. It was pure happiness when I one day saw her at the museum’s parking lot and we were once again united.

And then there was all the eating, including countless runzas, pork tenderloins, and cheese curds, all served with something we Midwesterners hold dear: ranch. There was also the time when a buffalo, the most majestic animal I have ever seen, walked right up to Roxie and me while we were visiting Yellowstone. When I was a child, my family had a tradition of visiting Legoland back home. I remember being deeply fascinated by a LEGO replica of Mount Rushmore whenever we visited. During my internship I made the dream a reality when I visited Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, another unique moment of this American odyssey. However, the biggest highlight of my internship was when my special lady friend, Laura, crossed the Atlantic to see me. That was truly breathtaking.