Listening to John Denver in Denmark?
Whenever I travel somewhere people from that place always tell me I have to purchase something special. When I went to Egypt I had to purchase papyrus. When I went to Belgium I had to eat a waffle. And when I went to Paris I had to purchase wine. So it was no surprise that when I went to Denmark I had to buy amber. I purchased one amber necklace.
After shopping around and seeing the sites such as the Little Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen and Amalienborg Palace, I thought what else is there to see? I hadn’t studied much about different things in Denmark I just knew that Danish people were tall (which reigned true.)
I suggest for anyone traveling to Denmark it is important to sit with the locals and find out what life for them is like. You will be blown away by how much fun the Danish people are. I never knew I could have so much fun in a bowling alley/bar/night club. Let me enlighten you, the Danish do it all.
Right next to our hotel room was a bowling alley. Our tour guide advised us that we had to go to this place on a Friday night. The place was packed. There were twenty lanes, a bar in the back of the bowling alley and to the side, a disco club. The Danish even drink out of huge cylinders full of beer. They also like to sing.
After we finished bowling I heard a familiar tune that I never thought I would hear in Denmark. It was John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” There must have been fifteen Danish people clapping and clinking beer mugs together to this song. They sang in perfect unison, “Country roads take me home to the place where I belong, West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home country roads.” For a moment I think, have they even been to West Virginia? Why are they singing this song? They didn’t sing it once or twice, it must have been sung five times in a row. Is this the only song they know? I ask myself. My friends seemed to enjoy it while chanting, cheering, and toasting along with them. They took a slight break as the DJ went to get a drink. He set the computer to play European techno, finally something different. When he came back people started shouting, “Country Roads. Country Roads.” And then he played it again.
While traveling in other countries it is important to respect the culture and join in on festivities. I was not however about to sing John Denver in Denmark. Though I have respect for the singer, I don’t think hearing him sing “country roads” over and over again makes me appreciate Danish culture. “Skal” I say as I leave the bowling alley wishing them a happy ‘cheers’ to a night’s end. They do not reply but smile and say,
“Take me home now country roads,” Finishing their tune with a swig of beer.
Whatever you choose to do while traveling respect the culture and if you would like to adapt sometimes you may have to adapt to your own culture.
