The Barbers Move to Denmark

As I mentioned in my "Catching up" post, Zac and I have started Danish lessons! Since I've been around Danes off and on for more than a decade, I do understand that the Danish language contains sounds that the English language just doesn't have (some weird guttural "r"), and I also am aware of their extra vowels. Æ  Å  Ø That doesn't mean I know anything about actually using those vowels or making those sounds. Although, Zac's colleagues showed him a satire video that suggests Danes don't actually know how to speak their language, either. It's very funny. https://youtu.be/vvtDGSIrsk8?si=vhATSh_xc4tJFqqv Figuring out the sounds is the first struggle. On past work trips, I've tried to give the address of the ALK headquarters to my taxi driver. Here's how it goes EVERY TIME: Me: I need to go to BOE-gay al-LAY one in HER-sholm. Taxi driver: Where? Me: BOO-gay ALLEE one? In HUR-sholm? Taxi driver: ... Me: BUH-GHEE all-AY? One? HER-shul...

I mentioned in a previous post that I was in Spain for four days for work. We had two days of meetings there to talk about house dust mites, and they were totally productive and engaging, but the rest of the time, I got to enjoy my first trip to Spain! Madrid city center is big, bright, and full of life. It's a little loud and a little crowded, but it was nice to experience a new big city. I think it's unlike any other I've seen! Tapas tour We went on a tapas tour that included visits to some of the oldest family-owned restaurants in Madrid. When a restaurant has been owned by the same family in the same location for 100 years, they get a nice plaque engraved and secured into the street in front of the building. It's kind of cool. If you don't know what tapas are, and at this point, you're too afraid to ask, I gotchu. Tapas are small plates of food, kind of like an appetizer or a snack, that are typically served in Spain to accompany some kind of alcoholic bever...