celebrating usa independence day in denmark

USA Independence dAy In denmArkcelebrAtIng

4 jUly 2012

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Celebrating USA Independence Day in Denmark 2012

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With the 4th July quickly approaching, The Copenhagen Post met with the Ambassador to talk about her life

here in Denmark, her perceptions as an Ameri-can, and what America’s Independence Day means to her.

The Ambassador’s relationship to Denmark goes back four generations. Her maternal grandfather emigrated to the United States before the First World War and her great- grandfather served in the Danish parliament between 1918 and 1940.

Ambassador Fulton says it was the challenge that the position offered, as well as her strong family ties to Denmark, that led to her asking President Obama to consider her for the position.

Sworn in as US Ambassador to Denmark in 2009, Fulton explained that she was “looking for an op-portunity to be part of the Obama administra-tion in a way that I could add value,” and that it was the position of US Ambassador that pro-vided her with the chance to “bring something to the table”.

With a keen interest in Denmark, both person-ally and politically, Ambassador Fulton knows how important the relationship between Den-mark and the US is. “This is a place I can use my talents and interests to the advantage of the United States, and in the meantime enjoy Den-mark,” she said.

Having lived in Denmark for almost three years, Ambassador Fulton knows a thing or two about being an American in Denmark. While she’s quick to point out that her experience is a privi-leged one, she also thinks this has allowed her to see more of the country than just Copenhagen.When asked about Danes’ perceptions of Ameri-cans, the Ambassador was happy to report

that she thinks Americans are well received by Danes, and that she personally has “loved three years in Denmark”. The Ambassador’s 4th July plans include attend-ing various functions over the days leading up, whilst on the actual day she will be at the Rebild Hills celebrations, where she will read out a let-ter from President Obama.

Apart from its obvious importance, Ambassador Fulton says the 4th July has always been a very special holiday for her because it’s summer and her birthday is on the 2nd. Fulton said that as a child it was often difficult to celebrate her birth-day as people were vacationing “but on the 4th July everyone was around and so it all just kind of went together”.

As a child Ambassador Fulton celebrated the day with family, friends and neighbours, having afternoon picnics and watching fireworks. As an adult, she and her children would sometimes go to Washington DC to see the fireworks or shoot them off at home.

When asked about her favourite 4th July dish, the Ambassador struggled to pick just one. Corn on the cob, watermelon and one of her mother’s dishes however were her top picks. “If you could give me my mother’s potato salad, it was fabu-lous,” she raved.

Whilst there’s no telling what the future may hold for this accomplished American, it’s obvi-ous the Ambassador is clearly enjoying her time here in Denmark.

An American Ambassador with a Danish twistBorn in South Dakota, Laurie Fulton has enjoyed an active and interesting political life, but perhaps her greatest challenge so far has been as the US Ambassador to Denmark. By Jessica O’Sullivan

POST BOXPresident and Publisher: Ejvind SandalChief Executive: Jesper NymarkEditor: Jason HeppenstallSales Director Supplements: Hans HermansenLayout & Production: Lyndsay JensenSales and Advertising: Jeanne Thames, Mark Millen, Lyndsay JensenIf you would like to contact us or leave a com-ment: [email protected]

This supplement is published by The Copenhagen Post, please refer to our disclaimer on page 2 of the newspaper.

1. A view of the garden at Rydhave during the 2011 Independence Day Celebrations.2. Guests mingling and enjoying the food at Ryd-have. Notice the custom made Stars and Stripes grill that we borrowed for the occasion.3. Members of the Marine Security Guard Detach-ment and a representative from the Danish Life Guard are preparing to post the colors, a central part of the Independence Day Celebrations4. Ambassador Fulton and Prime Minister of Denmark, Helle Thorning Schmidt.5. Ambassador Fulton greets guests at the receiv-ing line.6. Guests during the performance of the U.S. national anthem.

All pictures courtesy of Embassy of the United States, Copenhagen. Photographer: Omar Ingerslev


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In 1911 a group of optimistic Danes left the frigid Midwestern US and journeyed southwest to California, founding a new settle-ment which they named Solvang, or “sun valley.” Their dream

had been to set up a traditional Danish folkeskole education while preserving their Danish culture in their new American homeland. Last year the town shared its centennial with the birthday of the visiting prince regent Henrik, and guests included the former US Ambassador to Denmark, James P. Cain, and the mayor of Aalborg, Solvang’s sister city.

Today that vision has transformed into a town with a population of just over 5,000 and reminds visitors of how Denmark used to be. But there is so much more to Solvang than traditional Danish cui-sine and thatched roof buildings. The unique little town has man-aged to deftly weave its proud Danish heritage together with the rolling hills of contemporary Californian rural lifestyle.

“It is very exciting for the city which had a slightly old image. Now we can show the young people that Solvang is more than a Danish cliché,” explains Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau Director Karin Gert Nielsen. “It reminds me of Denmark. Solvang offers mod-ern gastronomy, a spectacular wine experience, unbridled nature and the genuine American hospitality and warmth.”

Situated in a lush and fertile valley between the Santa Ynez and the San Rafael Mountains, Solvang’s fresh air provides an ideal arena for outdoors activity and a healthy lifestyle. In an effort to raise awareness of Danish-American relations while raising funds for charities, the Tour Solvang bicycle race was established in 2011 to commemorate the city’s centennial. The five-day bicycle trip, which takes place in September, starts in San Francisco and heads south following the legendary Highway 1 before finishing in Solvang. You can also take wine tours on bicycle, including a route dedicat-ed to the filming locations of the classic film Sideways, where two friends ponder over life, love and the enchantment of wine. Con-tinuing in the rich vein of bicycling, the professional AMGEN Tour of California race, held their individual time trials in Solvang in 2011, a race that included former Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. And the Danish connection in Solvang extends far beyond scrump-tious pastries and Little Mermaid replicas. Danish entrepreneur Pe-

ter Work founded the winery and vineyard Ampelos in 2001 and now produces 3,500 cases of wine per year, as well as growing four different varieties of grape. With average temperatures between 12 and 24 degrees it is no coincidence that the vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley produce some of the best wine in California.

“What a lot of people don’t realize as tourists is that Solvang is located in one of the fastest growing regions for pinot noir, with an explosion of organic and non-commercial winemakers,” said Nielsen. “When the movie ‘Sideways’ became a surprise hit, people turned away from merlot and Napa Valley. Winemakers came to the Santa Ynez Valley, when the cool ocean winds and valley climate was perfect for grapes and farming.”

Starting in August 2012, the Niels Brock Copenhagen Business College, partnering with the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, will offer its top 30 students the opportunity to spend one semes-ter with the international business baccalaureate programme in Solvang.

Furthermore, the Hotel and Restaurant school in Valby has also es-tablished a culinary link with Solvang, allowing students to spend 15 weeks in California learning the art of gastronomy from local restaurants, hotels and wine producers while soaking up the Eng-lish language and resident traditions.

It’s no coincidence that the renowned Danish “Jord til Bord” (Earth to Table) gastronomic philosophy as perfected by legendary Dan-ish restaurant Noma has made its way to Solvang. And the wide range of locally grown fresh produce in the Santa Ynez Valley has made the culinary transition to Californian dishes a smooth one, something the Greenhouse Café in Solvang can deliciously attest to.

”Solvang turned 100 years-old last year and with that it is time for renewal and innovation, which has resulted in two new educations. I am convinced that Solvang can learn something from the excellent Danish students. The Nordic kitchen, for example, has won much distinction in recent years and I am certain that this can inspire the chefs in Solvang to reinvent and modernize Danish cuisine,” Nielsen said.

Culture is never far away in Solvang either. The prestigious Santa

Barbara International Film Festival highlights a number of events

devoted to arts and crafts in the area. Wine and food festivals are in

abundance and particularly unique to the area are the exceptional

and distinctive paintings and craftsmanship created by the local

Chumash Native American tribes.

And to embrace the rural heritage of the area one only needs to

‘cowboy up’ at the Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, nestled in the

majestic Santa Ynez Valley. Whether unwinding in a spa, horseback

riding in breathtaking scenery or fishing in well-stocked lakes, the

wide-open spaces and unspoiled natural beauty of the valley allows

Solvang the perfect platform from which to unleash one’s spirit of

the outdoors.

“The rolling hills and dazzling open spaces look just like one of

those old Western films. You can almost picture the Native Ameri-

cans riding on one ridge and John Wayne standing on the other,”

Nielsen said.

Solvang not only provides a unique encounter in its own right but

it’s also the ideal platform from which to uncork an absolutely crack-

ing California experience. Los Angeles is but a stone’s throw away,

as is the Mojave Desert, Death Valley, Kings Canyon and Yosemite

National Parks. Oh yeah, and the magnificent blue expanse and

crashing surf of the Pacific Ocean is a mere 24 kilometers away, an

easy trip by car … or by bicycle, if you’re feeling Danish.

California dreaming … the Danish wayYou may find yourself strolling leisurely down Copenhagen drive, walking through Hans Christian Andersen Park and munching on smørrebrød and æbleskiver. There may even be replicas of The Little Mermaid, Rundetårn and Dybbøl Mølle Mill. But amazingly, you are not in Denmark. You are in Solvang, a quaint little town located in the lovely Santa Ynez Valley in southwest California.. By Christian Wenande

“it is very exciting for the city which

had a slightly old image. now we

can show the young people that

solvang is more than a Danish

cliché,” Karin Gert nielsen, solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau Director

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Copenhagen Marriott HotelKalvebod Brygge 5, 1560 Copenhagen VFor reservations please call: 88 33 12 31www.midtowngrill.dk


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Ask most people what they think of when they hear the words 4th July or America’s Independence Day and they’ll probably say hotdogs, picnics, fireworks and parades. But there’s actually a lot more to this hard-fought celebration than just that By Jessica O’Sullivan

The battle that led to the birth of American independence wasn’t an easy one. Howev-er they do say that good things are worth

fighting for and that’s exactly what a few men, known as the Founding Fathers did. They fought and they won.

When the initial battles of the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775 few colonists had even considered independence from Great Britain. However as the battle raged on, and hostilities grew, many came to favour the idea of independ-ence. One such man was Thomas Paine, who in 1776 published the best-selling pamphlet ‘Common Sense’, in which he wrote “let none other be heard among us, than those of a good citizen, an open and resolute friend, and a virtuous support-er of the rights of mankind and of the free and independent states of America.”

Inspired by the words and thoughts of Paine, the Continental Congress met and on June 7th 1776 Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced

the motion calling for the colonies’ independ-ence.

Heated discussion followed, but a five-man com-mittee was eventually created. Members includ-ed some of America’s most famous founding fa-thers, such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.

On July 2nd Congress voted in favour of inde-pendence, creating years of speculation over

whether celebrations should actually be held on the second. John Adams was reported to be so sure that the second was the true date of inde-pendence that he would turn down invitations to appear on July 4th in protest.

However despite speculation Americans need not worry. It wasn’t actually until the 4th July that congress formally adopted the ‘Declaration of Independence’ thus creating the day now cel-ebrated as the birth of American Independence.

The 4th July was no picnic to begin with!

‘Land of the Free’ LemonadeWatermelon is the ultimate all-American summer snack and gives a great twist to old-fashioned lemonade.

ingredients:1 ½ cups sugar1/4 teaspoon salt2 cups fresh lemon juice 4 squeezed lemons reserved4 cups chopped watermelon

Preparation:1. Bring 6 cups water, sugar and salt to the boil over a high heat, stirring occasionally. Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the reserved lemons, cover and let stand for 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, puree the chopped water-melon in a blender with 1 cup water.

3. Pour the syrup and watermelon puree through a strainer into a pitcher. Stir in the lemon juice and serve over ice.

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Just south of Aalborg lies the beautiful Rebild National

Park, a place steeped in deep tradition, and the home-

land of a strong relationship between America and Den-

mark By Jessica O’Sullivan

The story behind the hills of Rebild began more than 100 years ago when over 160,000 poverty-stricken Danes emigrated to America in the hope of finding a better life. While many

found a better life, they also found themselves longing for home.

To counteract this, many Danish-Americans from across the US be-gan donating money with the hope that they would one day be able to purchase land in Denmark - a place they could once again call home.

This dream became a reality in 1911 when they bought the hills of Rebild and subsequently created Denmark’s first national park, which was then donated to the Danish government.

The following year they held their first 4th July celebrations and over the years Rebild Hills have become a place for both Danes and Americans to commemorate the link between these two countries, as well as a place to celebrate America’s national Independence Day.

Every year hundreds of people flock to the hills to celebrate the 4th July in what is said to be the largest celebration of America’s national day outside of the USA.

Rebild National Park Society Inc. (the team behind the hills celebra-tions) will this year celebrate 100 years of continuing their mission - “To strengthen and support the friendship and cultural ties be-

tween people in the US and Denmark.”

Their 100 year anniversary is quite an achievement and in true fash-

ion this year’s event promises to be the biggest one yet.

The society is also delighted to have members of the royal family in

attendance this year, in particular the organisation’s patroness Her

Majesty, Queen Margrethe II. Last time the Queen visited the Re-

bild celebrations was in 2002, and she is reported to be very much

“looking forward to participating” in this years celebrations. Her

Royal Highness Princess Benedikte will also be present on the day.

With a packed programme suitable for the whole family, Rebild

Company President, Karl K. Nielsen, promises that there will be

“an exciting and varied programme of events for both children and

adults.”

Every year this great day out includes keynote speakers, musicians,

food and of course fireworks. Popular singers, the Tivoli Guard, the

swinging Aalborg Police Orchestra and many other noted guests

will also be attendance.

Last year’s keynote speakers included former Danish Prime Minis-

ter Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and the Danish-American US Congress-

man Steny Hoyer.

This year’s Danish keynote speaker will be the Prime Minister, Helle

Thorning-Schmidt, whilst actor Keith Carradine is this year’s Ameri-

can keynote speaker.

He is the grandson of Max Henius, the Danish-born founder of Re-

bild National Park, and has been chosen due to his strong family

ties to Rebild. He has starred in over 60 films and more than 30

TV movies, as well as winning multiple awards for his song writing.

The day will begin early with a wreath laying ceremony at memorial

grove in the Almen Church garden and then later there will be an

open air family church service in Rebild.

There will also be the ‘Little Rebild’ event for the whole family,

where children can dig for gold, meet cowboys and Indians and

much more, as well as a parade from Skørping Station to Rebild

Hills.


GReAT WINe HISTORYCaLiFORnia’s Of all the wine growing regions

of the United States, Califor-nia has the richest history,

though certainly still modest by the standards of Europe. For most of the wine-drinking world, wine is much more than a beverage. It is bound up in history and tradition.

The first plantings of wine vines (the lowly Mission grape) in California came at the hands of Spanish Jesuits in about 1770--some half-dozen years before those 13 colonies on the other side of the continent banded together to de-mand independence from Britain.

It was the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in 1848 that caused grapevine plantings in California to explode as winemakers did their best to satisfy tens of thousands of prospectors in-fected with both gold fever and a pow-erful thirst.

It wasn’t long, however, before trou-bles set in. By the 1890s, a nasty insect (phylloxera) had infested California’s vineyards (and indeed, the vineyards of most of the world) putting a big hurt on the industry. A couple decades later, Prohibition finished the job that phyl-loxera started, killing off the weakened industry almost entirely.

With Prohibition, California winemak-ers were finished. Grape growers often

found ingenious ways to skirt the letter of the law-selling grape juice to indi-viduals along with packets of yeast and explicit instructions on how to keep the two ingredients apart lest combined they turn into wine. Unfortunately, the thick-skinned grapes they planted were designed to endure bouncy train trips East, not to taste particularly good as wine. These sad homemade wines could only tarnish California’s image as a legitimate winemaking state after Prohibition’s repeal in 1933.

Recovery from Prohibition was a long, slow journey. Quality grapes had been replaced by sturdy grapes built for travel, wineries had closed down, equipment was in disrepair. It was a mess. Public tastes were not up to snuff either: wine had become more associated with winos than epicure-ans. As a result, most of the wines in the first decades after Prohibition were sickly sweet or fortified. It wasn’t until the 1970s that Ameri-cans began to catch on to wine as an enjoyable and important mealtime companion. By then, varietals like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot had been planted in California vineyards and wine makers had done away with the unfortunate habit of calling California wines “burgundy” or “chablis” (generic labels designating nothing other than that one was red,

one was white) in favor of varietal la-

beling. Now wines would be labeled

according to the grapes that were in

the bottle.

California knew it had arrived on the

world wine scene in 1976, when Cali-

fornia wines went head to head against

the best French wines in a blind tast-

ing held in Paris. California wines were

judged best in both red and white cat-

egories. With that, California wine was

back on the map.

Since then, quality has continued to improve as grape growers identify the best spots to grow their grapes and winemakers increase their skills in the cellars. Demand for California wine continues to rise as Americans learn of the health benefits increasingly associ-ated with moderate wine drinking.

Today, 9 of every 10 bottles

produced in America come

from California wineries.

And the industry itself

is a major tourist attrac-

tion, drawing some 14.5

million tourists every

year, making it the second

largest tourist attraction in

California, bigger than

Hollywood and second

only to Disneyland.

100 years on and still going strong!

Phot

os: J

ørge

n N

øhr

HERCEGOVINA IN TIVOLI

Enjoy our world famous and assorted grill buffet!

summER IN TIVOLI

E n t e r t a i n m e n t( l i ve m u s i c a n d d a n c e )

S o c i a l gat h e r i n g s

C u l t u r a l e x p e r i e n c e s

C o r p o r at e p a r t i e s

S u m m e r p a r t i e s

P i c n i c

Tel. 33 15 63 63 • Fax. 33 15 37 37 • www.hercegovina.dk • [email protected]

That calls for a ™

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europe Still Matters:

Despite current economic challenges a new study finds that europe remains the most profitable and easiest region to do business in for US companies. By amcham Denmark

TA new study by Joseph Quinlan, Fellow at the Center for

Transatlantic Relations, Johns Hopkins and the German

Marshall Fund shows that despite the Eurozone crisis

the region offers tremendous opportunities for US businesses

and remains the most profitable region in the world for cor-

porate America. The crisis has triggered EU-wide structural re-

forms that will make Europe stronger, not weaker in the longer

term. Meanwhile, the European Union remains the largest and

wealthiest economy in the world.

“Predictions by the experts that the future of the world econo-

my lies with emerging markets like China, suggests that Europe

is becoming less and less relevant. Nothing could be further

from the truth,” said Joseph Quinlan. He went on to say “The

report reveals that despite Europe’s economic difficulties in

2011, the region still accounted for over half – 53% – of to-

tal US foreign affiliate income last year. This was 156% larger

than reported income from Asia—a figure that speaks volumes

about Europe’s underlying importance to corporate America.

The European combined economy is larger than that of the US,

and accounts for about 30% of global personal consumption;

greater than the share of the US (27.7%) and more than double

the BRICs combined (13.6%).”

“It’s crucial that American businesses continue to reap the ben-

efits that investing in Europe has to offer. To ignore a combined

market economy larger than the US would be a costly mistake,”

says Stephen Brugger, Executive Director, AmCham Denmark.

The report found many advantages of doing business in Europe.

Europe accounts for 25% of global R&D expenditures and pro-

duces the largest share globally of natural science graduates

– 18%; with a 17% share of engineering degrees (compared to

4% in the US). Europe also comes out on top when it comes to

ease of doing business. According to the World Bank, 12 European econ-

omies ranked in the top 25 most business-friendly; this is in contrast

to some of the emerging markets that did not rank very highly – China

91st, Russia 120th, Brazil 126th, and India 132nd. Specifically, Denmark

is highlighted as one of the leaders in creating innovation and according

to the World Bank, the easiest place to do business.

Additionally the countries on Europe’s periphery, notably the Middle

East, Russia, Turkey and North Africa remain key sources of growth and

consumption. Europe’s trading links to those countries have deepened

over the past decade to the benefit of US companies operating in Eu-

rope.

Foreign investment and shifting production overseas are often thought

of as destroying trade or reducing US profits and job losses, but in reality

the opposite is true. “US affiliates in Europe help create trade, not de-

stroy it. The more profitable US affiliates are in Europe, the more earn-

ings available to the parent firm to hire and invest at home, dole out

higher wages to US workers and pay out dividends to US shareholders.

That’s a win-win for both sides,” states Quinlan.

“I am pleased that AmCham in Europe’s new report supports the fact

that Europe and Denmark are still attractive markets for foreign invest-

ments,“ says Pia Olsen Dyhr, Danish Minister for Trade and Investment.

“At the same time, it underscores the importance of creating optimal

framework conditions for foreign investors. This is why the government

has set up a working group that is looking into how we can work even

more effectively to promote and make it attractive for foreign compa-

nies to establish a presence in Denmark.”

“Last week there was a lot of focus on China and emerging markets,

however, north America is certainly a region that we prioritize. Invest

in Denmark works diligently - through offices in New York, Silicon Valley

and Toronto - to attract more US investment in areas such as IT, green

energy and life science,” adds the minister.

US Firms Should Stay the Course


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On May 31 the US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and the Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt launched Green Partnerships for Growth in Copen-hagen. This bilateral initiative builds on the success of previous Green Partnership events in 2010 and 2011, but takes the initiative further to the two nations’ public sectors as well as private sectors. By amcham Denmark

Green Partnerships for Growth features the US Embassy Copenhagen, the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI) and AmCham Denmark, along with other partners, to facilitate a series of structured events aimed at connecting the public sectors in the US and Denmark - with the

experience, knowledge, products and services of green growth companies in both countries.

The event was held in Landstingssalen at Christiansborg. More than 220 participants, including politi-cians, business leaders and press, gathered to hear the Secretary and the Prime Minister discuss the new initiatives.

Opening the meeting were event partners Karsten Dybvad from DI, as well as Stephen Brugger from AmCham. “Denmark was a first mover. The US is a strong mover. Together we can overcome today’s challenges and together benefit from the enormous market opportunities of tomorrow,” said CEO Karsten Dybvad, DI.

“With sustainable growth at the top of the agenda in the US and Denmark, there is tremendous potential for new public-private partnerships in both countries, and Green Partnerships for Growth is the perfect vehicle to make this happen - and now is the time,” said Stephen Brugger, Executive Director AmCham Denmark.

Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt applauded the Secretary’s work towards a greener future in the US, and talked about the wealth of opportunity for public – private ventures between the two countries. “The US market provides the world’s largest amount of investments in clean energy tech-nologies, she said, noting that the US is also a key driver of development and innovation in the field of green technologies. “Governments strongly rely on the private sector to ensure financing of the green transition, but also as a driver for innovation.”

Secretary Clinton expressed her admiration for Denmark’s leadership in clean energy and energy ef-ficiency, including the commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in 2040. ”And it is for me, personally, inspirational to see government and business working so closely together, because I do think this is a win-win,” she said.

The goals of the initiative are to boost export into the respective countries, as well as for Denmark and the US to partner on exporting green technology globally. All of this “would have mutually ben-eficial, positive effects, including creating jobs” in both countries.

Karsten Dybvad, DI, strongly believes in the potential for bringing the partnerships to a whole new level. “Sustainable growth is not only a great challenge. It is also the biggest business opportunity of this lifetime. If our companies can find and develop solutions to deal with these vast challenges, there is an immense growth potential,” he said.

AmCham Denmark and the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI) are proud to be part of the intensi-fied partnerships between our two nations and applaud the leadership of US Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton and the US Embassy in this important bilateral initiative.

Green PartnershipsA Win-Win for Public and Private Sectors

(From left to right) Stephen Brugger, AmCham; Karsten Dybvad Dansk Industri; Secretary Clinton; PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt

Phot

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”And it is for me, personally, inspirational to see government and business working so closely together, because I do think this is a win-win.”Hillary Clinton - US Secretary of State


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Denmark’s most effective

Danish courses!

www.kiss.dk

We offer everything from big international

artists, performances in opera, ballet and

musicals to revues, classical concerts, pop

and rock concerts to all kinds of meetings, fairs and

exhibitions,” says Director Ernst Trillingsgaard.

The next big concert to take place at the Aalborg Con-

gress and Culture Centre is on the 3rd July. Organised

by the Rebild Society, a Danish-American organisation

set up to celebrate the 4th July in Denmark, they will

hold a 100 year anniversary concert at the centre. The

first Rebild Festival was held in Aalborg back in 1912.

In the main concert auditorium, which features the

largest orchestra pit and revolving stage in Denmark,

the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra will perform a spe-

cial classical concert. The evening will include music

from some of Denmark most famous composers and

songs from some of the most famous American mu-

sicals. The second part of the evening will include the

Czech composer Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9,

From the New World, which was composed in 1893

during Dvorak’s stay in the US.

“We have hired out our main auditorium to the or-

chestra and I think it will be a wonderful concert and

a great way to celebrate 100 years of American and

Danish relations,” says Ernst Trillingsgaard.

After the Independence Day celebrations there will

be more world class performances with the arrival of

legendary Canadian singer Leonard Cohen who will

be performing at the centre on Sunday August 26th

and after that the hit nostalgic musical ‘That’ll be the

Day’. And with over 1,000 events each year, there will

also be many more national and international meet-

ings and congresses taking place here before the year

is over.

“There is always something new and exciting to experi-

ence here at the centre and long may that continue for

many years to come,” concludes Ernst Trillingsgaard.

A Global Meeting PlaceAalborg Congress and Culture Centre is one of Scandinavia’s largest congress and culture cen-tres. Each year, more than half a million people visit the centre for a huge selection of different cultural activities. By Richard Steed

There is always something new and exciting to experience here at the centre and long may that continue for many years to come.Ernst Trillingsgaard, Director

“ “

11

Learn Danish fast and efficiently with

a focus on spoken communication and

conversational skills. Our professional

teachers use modern learning tools

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THE DANISH LANGUAGE IS 1200 YEARS OLD.YOU’LL LEARNIT IN TWO!


12

A LITTLe TASTeOF AMeRICA IN DeNMARkThe fourth of July is America’s biggest holiday celebration. Two Americans living here in Denmark describe how they will be spending the day and what this special holiday means to them. By Richard steed

ChanDRe GiLLiaRD

how long have you lived in Denmark?

Since 2001.

why did you originally come to Denmark?

I had been working for AP Møller-Maersk and was expatriated

from the Netherlands to Denmark. Later, I married a Dane, and

several years ago we had a son.

what is your occupation?

I am a head-hunter with Alumni, the Nordic region’s largest

executive search firm.

how will you celebrate the 4th July here in Denmark?

I will have a two-part celebration. The first will take place at the

end of June, when the American Chamber of Commerce will host

its yearly and highly popular Independence Day celebration at the

American ambassador’s residence.

The second part will be a much more personal affair and will

include family members travelling to Denmark from the States.

Since the rest of the world tends to overlook this special day, I

typically enjoy the company of my American friends and family -

and our respective Danish loved ones.

Ironically, it is my Danish husband who aims to impress me with his delicious BBQ ribs (complete with a killer homemade sauce) baked beans and corn on the cob.

how would you have celebrated back home?Independence Day signals the start of vacation time. Many fami-lies make a long weekend out of July 4th. I come from Atlanta and so the weather is hot and humid (easily over 30 degrees C). Even in that oppressive heat, I would still have enjoyed a big grill feast with lots of friends and family. why is the 4th July so important to americans?My pride is almost instinctive, some would say it is brainwashing, others would claim heavy propaganda as the reasoning. It’s one of the few days of the year when Americans from all so-cio-economic backgrounds can celebrate without many barriers or prejudices. Over 300 million people are bond-ed by the symbolic music and lyrics of the national anthem “the star spangled banner”. On that one day, we sing the anthem a little bit louder and allow ourselves to feel just a little more emotion.

sKyLeR ROwLanD

how long have you lived

in Denmark?

Just over six years.

why did you originally

come to Denmark?I met my partner on the in-

ternet. We started with

emails, then phone calls, and

then he asked me to come

and visit. We had fallen in

love with one another in the

virtual world, and now it was time to see what would happen

in the real world! We fell in love, and I moved to Denmark ten

days later, after giving away my car, apartment, and all of my

personal belongings.

what is your occupation?I have two jobs. I am a personal fitness trainer working one-

on-one with private clients as well as managing a coffee bar at

Oasen on Pusher Street in Christiania.

how will you celebrate the 4th July here in Denmark?The 4th of July for me now is the same as the 3rd of July or the

5th of July - just another day in July. For my first 4th of July here

in Denmark, we made a special effort to celebrate the holiday,

but since then it’s been much more low-key. This year we may

grill if the weather is good - with the 4th of July in the back of

our minds. I will talk to my parents back in the States, as I will

be a little curious to find out what they are up to.

how would you have celebrated back home?Back in Los Angeles I would be together with my friends and

family. We probably would have had a ‘potluck’. If we were

lucky, maybe we would get our hands on some fireworks (as

they are illegal). I remember as a child we would often cele-

brate at the beach with a BBQ. My even earlier memories are of

4th of July parades in the city. I can still recall my sisters dress-

ing up in stars and stripes outfits and decorating their bikes be-

fore heading downtown. why is the 4th July so important to americans?It is important because it’s a celebration of our independence.

Sadly, I think most Americans have lost sight of the importance

of this holiday. In today’s world, it seems that people in most

countries look at a holiday as a day off work, and an excuse to

have a party. Of course there’s nothing wrong with a day off

and a party, but I think it’s important to remember what it is

we are celebrating!

13

+ Book your flight at www.icelandair.dk

THE BEST PART OF A TRIP TO THE USA IS ICELANDSTOPOVER IN ICELAND WITHOUT ADDITIONAL AIRFARE COSTS


14

One local language school goes above

and beyond to give you the tools you

need to succeed By Tom Schad

Adjusting to life in Copenhagen can be

hard for many reasons, but learning

Danish is at the top of the list. Native

English speakers lament that nothing is spoken

like it is read, random letters are sometimes left

silent and pronouncing the vowels makes you

sound like you’ve got a sore throat. Despite all

that, it is a language that can be picked up quickly

and painlessly; all it takes is the right environ-

ment, methods and staff to lead the way.

Københavns Sprogcenter gives students these

tools. Nestled in the old meatpacking district of

Vesterbro, the school spans two large buildings

and boasts a newly renovated computer lab,

language lab, library and cafeteria. A surprise

perhaps to those who imagine language schools

consisting of nothing more than a few rundown

classrooms, this language centre has taken extra

steps to modernise its space and add a level of

comfort to the often uncomfortable experience

of learning a new language.

Newcomers are interviewed by one of the school’s

five counsellors and placed into courses less than

a month later. They are then immersed in Dan-

ish from day one by Københavns Sprogcenter’s

renowned faculty, which includes more than 10

authors of Danish language textbooks. Teachers

understand exactly what their students are going

through and can help them navigate textbooks

that, in many cases, they wrote themselves.

“They’re not only [good teachers], but they’re professionals in their field,” department manager Julie Henriques

explains. “This also means that the teachers who haven’t written textbooks are working with the authors, so they understand and

are constantly learning as well.”

Københavns Sprogcenter aims to help newcom-

ers pass the Danish language test required by

immigration laws, but it also understands that

there’s more to a language than that.

“We look at it in a broader sense – what do you

need to do with the language? Why do you need

to make it your own?” Henriques elaborates. “It’s

not just about passing the test; it’s about how to

live - how to buy a pack of cigarettes, how to ask

someone out on a date - that’s not on the test.”

To achieve this understanding, the school offers

both fulltime day courses and night classes that

give students flexibility to work around their own

schedules. Those who want an intensive learn-

ing experience can find it here, but so can those

with other jobs or schoolwork who can only fit in

a couple of nights a week. Traditional lectures and

in-class activities are supplemented with practice

in the language lab, where students can pro-

nounce words into a microphone and receive in-

dividual critiques from staff. Priority is placed on

active learning (speaking and writing) rather than

passive learning (reading and listening).

Above all else, Københavns Sprogcenter has cre-

ated an environment where people from around

the world can work to overcome a similar chal-

lenge. With 1,400 students currently enrolled

from over 90 countries, the language centre pro-

vides expats with a group of people who can un-

derstand their situation.

“It’s a whole new network,” Henriques says. “Really strong friendships are made in

classes, crossing religious, political, social or whatever borders they live with normally.”

Danish will always be a tough language to grasp,

but the resources at Københavns Sprogcenter can

make this process both quicker and easier. With

a comfortable environment and informed facul-

ty, you can finally join the real Copenhagen and

discover what’s so special about that so-called

“throat disease.”

For more information about Københavns

Sprogcenter see their website :

www.kbh-sprogcenter.dk

Say “Hej” to the Danish Language

Every single night over 400,000 travellers

worldwide experience a Best Western hotel

and today this global hotel brand is synony-

mous with staying at a quality hotel. That’s pretty im-

pressive when you consider this independent hotel

chain started its humble beginnings along the west

side of the Mississippi River.

Best Western hotels offer a unique approach when it

comes to offering guests a room for the night. Unlike

other international hotel chains, which offer a stand-

ardized experience, wherever you are in the world

Best Western encourages and promotes their hotels

to keep a unique and independent identity, as long as

they fulfil and maintain clean and comfortable rooms.

Each year, over 90 per cent of the 4,195 hotels pass

this Best Western criteria.

In Denmark the Best Western brand has been around

for nearly thirty-five years and one of their first inter-

national hotels opened here back in 1983. Today there

are twenty-two Danish Best Western hotels that are

now part of the global Best Western family.

“Each Best Western hotel offers our guests a unique

experience and atmosphere,” says Country Manager

Peter Laigaard Jensen, head of the hotel chain in Den-

mark.

In Denmark, guests can enjoy everything from the cen-

trally located Best Western Hotel Scheelsminde in the

bustling city of Aalborg, to the Best Western Golf Hotel

in Viborg, a modern conference hotel with fantastic

facilities.

While in the heart of Copenhagen, there is the up-

market city hotel, the Best Western Hotel Hebron, a

bed and breakfast style hotel which offers a wonderful

morning meal and cosy atmosphere.

“The wonderful thing about staying at a Best West-

ern is that travellers are always guaranteed a unique

experience and dedicated employees who strive for

genuine care, great service, clean and comfortable

and well-maintained guest rooms at affordable prices,”

says Peter Laigaard Jensen.

BeST WeSTeRnThe world’s biggest hotel family

Best Western International, the world’s largest hotel chain was established in 1946 in the US. Today there are more than 4,000 Best Western hotels in more

than 100 countries worldwide By Richard Steed

Each Best Western hotel offers our guests a unique

experience and atmosphere.Country Manager, Peter Laigaard Jensen

“ “

Leonard Cohen

kl. 18 i MølleparkenSøndag 26. auguSt

Arr.: Musikkens Venner

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Ståplads 770,- Tribunesiddeplads 1.095,- Ekstra tribunesiddepladser 970,- Billettlf. 9935 5566 hverdage kl. 12-17 · akkc.dk · BILLETnet.dkudSoLgt

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*Child 12 years or younger. Extra bed can be booked for only DKK 150,- per night including

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Join Best Western Rewards and earn Rewards points – every time!

When on the go, spend the night at one of our 22 Best Western hotels – or bring your family and experience all the great Danish sights and attractions.

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795,-including delicious Scandinavian breakfast buffet, free Internet access, double Reward points and

great service

celebrating usa independence day in denmark

Documents

child ambassador fulton

position of us ambassador

little piece of denmark

usa independence day

actual day

americas independence

danish nostalgia

danish parliament