Objects d'Aggie

I am an Animal Science major at UC Davis (BIG AGGIE REFERENCE). I took my last final of my 2nd year today (yay) and despite all the fun that lies ahead, I know I will miss this campus, its people, and the classes. I am from a suburban area very close to San Francisco, and my experience with "the country" was limited to TV shows and stereotypes until I moved out here. Studying animal science means truly being an Aggie, as many of my classes have revolved around herd management and physically working with farm animals.

I have flipped sheep, shaved goats, milked cows, trimmed hooves, examined eggs, and brushed horses. I have reached inside the largest chamber of a fistulated cow's stomach until my arm was shoulder deep.

Who wants a steak?

I get as much exposure to animals as I want. Next quarter I will be taking the Raptor Lab, which is a once-a-week lab where I visit the raptor center and help out with their daily duties.

I have been exposed to things here which have toughened me up. I was never weak or dependent, but you get a good glimpse into your true nature when you're asked to dock the tails and ears of baby pigs that are less than 24 hours old. I am proud to not only go to UC Davis, but to be an Aggie, and I am very happy with the person this school is turning me into.

Fanaticized

As much as I love this country, and I truly do, I am ready to take a break from it. For some reason UC Davis attracts creepy religious fanatics who hold signs proclaiming why everyone is destined to spend eternity in Hell. Usually there is only one fanatic, but last Thursday there were 5, 4 men and 1 woman (she wasn't allowed to talk).


Who is going to Hell?
- Baby Killing Women
- Sports Nuts
- Muslims
- So Called Christians
- Homosexuals
- Porno Freaks
- Drunken Party Animals
- Rebellious Women
- Thieves
- Mormons

The first amendment grants them the right to stand on our quad and shout offensive remarks such as:
- "You don't have to get so emotional just because you're a woman"
- "Black people are more related to monkeys than white people" (I'm not even kidding, they said this)
- "Shut up, you're a woman and you should know your place."

I know there are illogical religious fanatics all over the world, but for some reason they gather in my hometown, and I am happy to get away from them. I don't like strange men suggesting that women and black people are somehow inferior to them.

Study Abroad?

I got an email today from the Animal Science department here at UC Davis (2nd Aggie reference) and it discussed a biology program at the University of Copenhagen (among other things). I realized just how much I would like to do this - I feel like I am missing out on the quintessential college-abroad experience. I'm not complaining about this summer, because obviously it is going to be super amazing, but I wish I had the sort of major that allowed for international study.

The good news is, I still have at least 2 more years as an undergraduate, so there may be hope yet. If I do get the opportunity to study abroad for even a semester that would be awesome. I get the feeling that this summer is going to give me only a taste of living abroad, and I wouldn't want this to be the last time.

mmmmm....Danish

The original purpose of this summer was to work in Denmark in lieu of having a formal study abroad experience. My oh-so-wise mother instructed me that I could not get myself all the way over to Europe without seeing as many places as possible. BUT! I am still going to be spending a significant amount of time in Copenhagen with my mom's friend from college, Nicolaj Caiezza.

Nicolaj with two tennis racquets for some reason

In order to prepare for work in Denmark (crossing my fingers that I get a job), I have been trying to learn Danish. It's hard. I have tried to learn a lot of languages, and this is the hardest one so far. The word order is very different from English, and so many of the sounds are foreign to my mouth. I bought a Berlitz CD called "Danish in 60 Minutes" to learn some basic words, but hearing and repeating a word isn't really the way I learn. I have looked for someone to teach me some of the more basic nuances of Danish, but no one really speaks it, and most translation websites don't even include it. Luckily I have had this translation website to help me understand what the hell the Danish job websites are saying.

But I have learned a few things. Here is a short list (it's short because I haven't learned much):

Hej! = Hi. This one is easy because they're pronounced exactly the same way.
Ja = Yes. This is pronounced "ya" which isn't too bad.
smukt = beautiful. I haven't really learned it, but this may be the ugliest translation for "beautiful" ever. Also it's pronounced "smoagt."
Tak = thanks.
ikke = negative. You add this to the end of a clause to make the meaning negative. Pronounced "ig-ger"

Honestly the most Danish I have absorbed so far has been in pastry form. I'm almost at the point where I give up and become thankful everyone in Europe speaks English. Sometimes it really does pay to be part of a superpower.

Oh yeah! For my honors class at UC Davis (here is the first Aggie reference) we were told to bring a popular international song to class to share with other students. I googled "Danish Top 20 songs" and found this: "Kun for Mig" by Medina, a Danish singer. I actually really like it! Denmark is just full of sweet little surprises. Soon I will make a post about just how great Denmark is, and we can all determine whether or not I will stay forever.

P.S. Without listening to the song, how do you think "Kun for mig" is pronounced? Give me your best guess!