Orientation in Chapel Hill-May 3-4

Chapel Hill, NC- ciy-data.com

UNC Center for School Leadership Development

Our e-book with detailed information about our trip. 

Thirty-two teachers from all over North Carolina met in Chapel Hill, NC to learn about our itinerary, passports (I have mine...woo-hoo!), customs in Denmark and were provided time to learn about other teachers.  I am too excited about this trip and this amazing group of educators going on this journey!

Mette Juul Sorensen

One Danish speaker, Mette Juul Sorensen, gave us a good deal of information about our travels.  Here are some of the highlights:

·         Kindergarteners speak/learn English in Denmark.

·         Denmark can be very expensive-small cars essential (55% tax rate)

·         More farming in western Denmark- very different than Copenhagen.

·         Viking helmets don’t have horns!   Having a Viking heritage, Danes very much enjoy traveling abroad.  Danes try to find, “What is out there?”

·         Denmark is in the middle of Scandinavia- perception of being perfect/center of attention. :)

·         Even today, the flag must be taken down before sundown, or others will think you are saluting the devil…whoa!  There is such a strong pride for the flag in Denmark.

·         Enjoy spices and tea in Denmark due to the exploration in India and Africa.

·         Denmark isn’t very proud of their role in the slave trade…people didn’t like to talk about it for centuries.  The slave trade is taught in schools in Denmark today to educate students of Denmark's history.

·         1849-King signs the Constitution of Denmark.  The constitution has only changed four times to date (King-just a figure…Prime Minister real leader of the people)

·         Schools have more vacations in Denmark-February-Ski Vacation.  Christmas-Danes stay home with family.

·         Copenhagen means- trade by harbor…harbor so important –leads to travel and exploration

·         Hans Christian Andersen was a distinguished writer (fairy tales) who wrote: “The Little Mermaid”-her statue is in Copenhagen Harbor.

        Sydney Opera House was designed by Danes.

·         October-March: Danes spend a lot of time inside their homes due to cold temperatures and little daylight.  So, Danes spend a good deal time on architecture to enjoy their homes to the fullest.

·         Danish Companies- Novo Nordisk (pharmaceutical company #10 in the world), LEGO (yes, the ones you build with!), Maersk (trade).  All of these companies are led by families.

·         Denmark is known for amusement parks- Created in Denmark 1843

·         Students call teachers by their first name.

·         Denmark is the number one country in the world to produce organic food. 
After ninth grade, Danes will choose one of the following things to do: Gymnasium high school (not recess at all!), business school, HTX (engineering) or trade school.

In Denmark DON’T:

1.       Ask “How are you?”

2.       Try to speak their language.

3.       Fail to signal in the bike lane-about 18 million bikes in Denmark!

4.       Wear your sweatpants in public.

5.       Smile at their children (or dogs). 

6.       Act like a human at the grocery store- very fast-get what you need and go-no conversation.