Alex Berger – Page 39 – VirtualWayfarer

BackpackingOctober 16, 2011October 16, 2011

Etiquette Be Damned. Stop Asking, “Do you speak X language?” It’s Rude and Pointless.

In a previous post Learning Danish – Surprising Realizations I discussed my evolving relationship with Danish. One of the things I didn’t discuss was the surprising advice I received from Danish friends regarding one of the cornerstones of a traveler's phrase book; the oft used opening inquiry, “…

BackpackingOctober 11, 2011October 11, 2011

How “Howdy” Has Made Me A Better Traveler – Considering Cultural Identifiers and Their Value

Each time we interact with a stranger there’s a significant amount of uncertainty. When that interaction occurs between people from different backgrounds, cultures, and languages that level of unknown is magnified sign…

BackpackingOctober 3, 2011October 29, 2013

Lugging Luggage, The Quandary: Backpacks, Suitcases, Duffle Bags and Broken Wheels

While the question of what and how to pack comes up quite often, there's another question that is equally significant: what to use to transport what you finally decide upon. My recent move to Copenhagen offered several…

EuropeSeptember 24, 2011September 24, 2011

Learning Danish – Surprising Realizations

When I first arrived in Denmark I was gung ho about learning Danish. I felt that as an incoming resident who would be spending two years in the country it was the least I could do to learn Danish during my stay. To m…

EuropeSeptember 20, 2011September 20, 2011

Students Only: Partying in the Black Diamond Library in Copenhagen

While Copenhagen is famous for its architectural flare, one of the city's famous landmarks is the "Black Diamond". Built as an extension to the city's ancient Royal Danish Library, the Black Diamond is a neo-modern 7-s…

TravelSeptember 18, 2011September 18, 2011

Existing in Denmark – the Surprising Need for a CPR Number

When preparing for my 2 year stint in Denmark I made sure to set aside an extra month before classes were set to start. During this time I moved to Copenhagen, and hoped to get all of the logistical issues resolved and set up. This included dealing with any issues with my visa that might come up,…

BackpackingSeptember 11, 2011

Beer, Subways and Hedgehogs

A quick update - things have been pretty hectic here. I started classes last week and was delighted to find that most of the reading was engaging, relevant, and genuinely interesting. Both of my professors seem to be f…

BackpackingAugust 25, 2011

The Danish Animal House! Photos From A Day at the Copenhagen Zoo

In my effort to round out my Copenhagen introductory experience I quickly realized that the Copenhagen Zoo was a must visit. With a reputation for being one of the best zoos in Europe it boasted stellar review after s…

EuropeAugust 18, 2011

Five Major Differences Between Long-Term and Short-Term Study Abroad Programs

It sounds simple but if you're like me, you probably view all study abroad programs as essentially the same, and you probably view most international students similarly as a result. Hold your horses! The two are actu…

BackpackingAugust 15, 2011August 16, 2011

The World is Beautiful and I Want to Say Thank You! Enter to Win My High Quality Travel Photo Books

The world is a spectacular place. It's natural beauty is absolutely captivating and has left me breathless on countless occasions. Luckily, I've managed to pause long enough here and there to capture those moments and …