生日 . 夜

原先想只會單獨渡過這裡的第一個生日, 最後竟有意想不到的熱鬧!

雖然是我的大日子, 但我都不偷懶, 也有一起準備晚餐, 原來要為生栗子去殼都不是一件容易的事情, 食物很豐富, 有蕃茄雞蛋湯, 栗子炆雞脾, 西芹炒紅黃椒, 煎三文魚扒, 其中Twins很利害, 沒有電飯煲, 也能煮到一煲軟綿綿的白飯, 不到大家不佩服.吃完飯, 還有神秘蛋糕, 大家為我唱生日歌, 一起影相, 一起失控地大笑, 雖然外面很凍, 但屋內就感覺很溫暖.

最後最後, 還收到生日禮物, yeah!

Bridget昨天晚上回了英國, 在倫敦再探朋友, 因一月先開學. Twins & Chi 就去了探丹麥朋友, 星期五再回來.

Happy Birthday

又大一歲, 是我!

今天是我的生日, Cherry在香港時間十二點已經跟我說了生日快樂, 還收到她親手製的自家蛋糕, 我也不自私, 立即放在這裡跟大家一起分享, 一看就知味道應該很不錯, 哈哈!

其實真的有點不習慣, 因為我生命中已有很多個生日有她在身邊, 但很快就要見面了, 一想到二十號就吃到她在丹麥煮的菜, 就會感到很興奮.

今天早上, 是我第一次踩單車返工, 由於只一個火車站的距離, 十多分鐘就到達公司, 最特別是我的單車不是用手掣, 而是用腳掣剎車, 很不習慣, 出門時又有點匆忙, 忘了帶重要的頸巾, 全程極速, 雖然有點寒, 但一邊踩一邊聽著歌, 感覺很好.

今晚就在家吃, 不知三個訪客Twins, Chi 和Bridget 會準備什麼大餐呢! 好了, 要開始努力完成今天的工作了!

單車

星期六, 只有一個節目, 就是買單車, 不是在單車鋪, 而是在警察局.

差不多每一個丹麥人都會有一部單車, 像是生活一部份, 這裡有為單車使用者而建的完善道路, 十分安全, 火車上還有專為單車而設的泊位, 所以到處都會見到很多很多單車. 但同時, 單車失竊率亦很高.

從同事口中知道這邊的警察局會定期有單車拍賣, 全都是在街上無人認領或被盜用的, 可以用很低價就買到, 因市面上一部新車最基本都要kr2,000 (hkd3,000), 拍賣早上九時開始, 我就和我一個訪客朋友八時多到達, 見已經好多人, 不要以為好專業, 只是跟街頭一元大拍賣無分別, 一個人在台上主持, 一個在台下收錢, 有二個年青人搬單車, 在一個比課室大少許的空間, 就站著好幾十人, 和上百部單車, 一個早上兩個小時, 全部賣清.

最困難莫過於全程用丹麥文, 都唔清楚講什麼東東, 只能一邊聽一邊周圍問人, 突然又有驚喜, 就是在場見到一位華人, 我用英文, 他不懂, 但原來他能說廣東話, 我就立即請他幫忙翻譯, 他真的很好人, 但混亂中, 竟然在我最需要幫忙的時候, 那位大叔消失了, 就只有靠自己, 幾經辛苦最後買了一部回家. 之後發現後車胎爆了, 還要花kr100換胎, 但部舊車買回來都只是kr340, 有點不開心.



星期日, 有我的第二位訪客從英國過來, 現在我的暫住屋人氣爆棚, 算我自己在內已容立了四個人, 哈哈!

我的第一個訪客

上星期六就開左我在丹麥的第一個X'mas Party, 那天我同幾個同事上午先到機場接從芬蘭, 挪威及瑞典過來的同事, 然後就一架大巴士去到市郊的一個Golf Club Hotel，由於是我大老闆擁有的，所以好好招呼，郊外環境特別舒服, 住的地方像渡假屋多於酒店, 一間House, 大廳在樓下, 四間房在樓上.

由於天黑得很早, 其實丹麥人正式會叫X'mas lunch, 明乎其實, 是在下午兩點就開始, 大家就先到一個小Hall, 大家拿杯香檳, Social閒聊一下, 還一百四十人一起唱Jingle Bell, 好開心! 之後就再到進餐的地方, 一般程序, 老闆及CEO出來說說感謝員工過去一年做得好好, 下年就再好再創高峰之類, 有同事之前話我知Lucky Draw獎品好唔錯, 真係, 第一份就有Euro1,000, 心想都真係幾唔錯, 就等下一個獎, 點知一直等到散場, 都再無獎抽, 原來就只得是一千零一個. 其實都無所謂啦, 因為都幾得意, 可以同好多好多同事飲住啤酒傾計, 無想過丹麥人習俗會從下午兩點一直飲酒, 傾計, 跳舞, 再飲酒, 再傾計, 再跳舞直到零晨, 我比我的同事先走, 都要一點多. 星期日一早就坐車出返市區, 返酒店休息及收拾行裝

星期一, 終於要同住了24個晚上的酒店說再見, 埋單dkk26,500 (約港幣四萬大元), 由於我租的屋要在十六號才可正式入住, 我找了一個Service Apartment暫住兩星期, 有廚房的日子多好, 至少似個自己地方, 不像酒店, 只是一個有獨立電視的監倉, 但搬屋就頭痛, 一個人, 一對手, 四件行李, 豪坐的士, 雖然只係一樓, 但都要我的腰快斷開, 感覺有點漊涼.星期二, 我在丹麥的第一個訪客到了, 就是和我同機從香港到英國之後轉飛到西班牙的好友, 她和妹妹花了一個月在西, 萄兩國, 現在再戰北歐的第一站, 丹麥. 她們從西班牙帶了禮物給我, 是一個罐頭豆豉鯪魚, 當晚就急不及待食了, 好好味.

星期三, 終於買了第一包米, 吃了第一煲飯, 又是好友下廚, 吃得飽飽的就在sofa睡著了

星期四, 三人行, 在市中心吃了一個Dinner Buffer, 點了白酒, 但價錢不高, 食物尚可

星期五, 雨下得很大, 放工就回了家, 好友都已準備好材料, 又在家吃了大餐

給自己的禮物

出發時雖然匆忙左啲, 但總算樣樣都有帶齊, 在酒店住左差不多一個月, 除左食物同火車飛, 可以話係無買野嘅需要, 衫褲鞋襪個人用品都暫時夠用, 當我新屋入伙後, 我最強大嘅支援隊伍 (我女友) 仲會第一時間安排運送救援物資俾我

但係, 意外總會發生

事源今日都十一月三十號, 好快就到普天同慶嘅聖誕節, 我公司X'mas Party就會在聽日舉行(似乎有啲早), 要坐好耐車去大老闆個Golf Club都開, 仲要住上一個晚上, 唔簡單

就係呢個原因, 我發現我五顏六色+間條+格仔嘅恤衫群裏面, 竟然偏偏就少了一件簡單而隆重嘅純白色, 點完成Party Dress指令呢

唯有決定放工出去買, 尋日我看過H&M, Esprit 及大百貨公司, 都無心水之選, 今日我去到中心區都已經5點半, 一般星期五鋪頭都會比平日夜收, 但都只係到 6 至 7 點, 見時間無多, 我就一支箭衝去Zara, 都花左好耐時間, 最後總算都買到我鍾意嘅款式, 價錢就唔好提喇, 即刻好掛住香港, 不過就當係送俾自己一份小小禮物啦!

週未

早睡早起, 而家平常都九點幾就訓覺, 五.六點就起身今朝六點幾出去食早餐, 天都未光, 嘩! 見出面橫風橫雪, 實在好驚會變丹麥冰鮮雞, 但都要返工啦, 好彩太陽出來了就靜左啲, 但都十分凍, 個地又濕又滑, 溜冰場一樣, 但見仲有好多人踩單車, 雖然成日都會見人跣倒, 但大部份都似乎風雨不改, 我都要快快有自己嘅單車先!

剛過去嘅週未, 又係四圍走, 星期六上午去左一個丹麥最大嘅藝術展館 - State Museum of Art http://www.smk.dk/, 全無藝術氣質嘅我, 只可以係走馬看花, 但都覺得個展館真係好大, 好有空間感, 身在其中, 好平靜, 好舒服, 下午就去左一個介紹哥本哈根歷史嘅展覽館 - Copenhagen City Museum http://www.bymuseum.dk/


星期日, 天黑黑, 又落雨, 都無地方可以行下, 見有時間就想去剪頭髪, 行左好多好多條街, 都唔見有, 之後搵到又全部無開門, 其實這裡Sunday真係好少鋪頭開門做生意, 真唔明白一個星期只得Saturday先可以shopping, 點夠呀! (特別是女仔呀!)

在無辦法之下, 唯有今日放工再去過, 其實剪一個髪都唔簡單, 好難完全去表達自己心想嘅意思, 就只有強調要剪短少少就好了, 至少有頭髮在, 就仲有得救

我的桌面

我嘅工作枱, 電動可以調較高度, 同事都好喜歡企喺度做野, 我都覺的好正, 唔使坐足成日

這裡工作環境真不錯, 好自由, 無特定lunch時間, 鍾意幾時食都得, 食完就做野, 汽水, 啤酒, 有氣礦泉水任飲, 這邊特色係全部用樽裝, 夠環保, 星期五下午就慣例一齊飲支啤酒, 閒聊10-15分鐘, 公司就在海邊, 好舒服

最驚喜都係星期二, 有個人走過黎介紹自己, 話佢只係每星期黎一日, 主要係幫公司同事做按摩relax下, 問我有無時間試, 當時我已經覺得幾好笑, 我心想喺公司都係好一般幫我按下膊或頭, 但我跟佢去到會議室, 就發現原來都唔簡單

首先見到會議室已經落哂簾, 無開燈, 一入去就有張大按摩床, 再加relaxing music, 第一時間最想就係 - 訓覺. 再問問大師有乜服務, 佢話除身體及足底按摩, 佢重可以針灸, 嘩! 我就試腳仔按摩先, 都唔錯, 一開始就同佢傾下計, 最後真係差d訓著左

按腳都按得多, 今次係丹麥人同我按, 感覺都幾攪笑!

晚餐

酒店附近都無乜野食, 餐廳都唔多間, 要搭火車去市中心, 所以而家我最經常都係去對面間超市買野食, 細細盒, 好似飛機餐, 有薯仔食下

早兩日經過pizza店, 呢邊好多主要都係做外買, 見都未試過, 就買個試下, 見個師父兩三下就搓左個餅, 熱辣辣係個爐出返黎, 好正, 就行返酒店

就只係十多分鐘, 返到去打開, 已經凍左, 小小暖之下, 我依然都將佢完全放哂落肚, 都從未試個自己食咁大個pizza, 好飽

不過實在太熱氣, 第二日起身個喉嚨都幾辛苦, 因為差唔多日日都係食熱氣野, 又無乜機會食菜,唯有記的買生果食啦

My dinner

Weather is being 2°c now.

Last Tuesday, i made the decision not to eat the take away ricebox nor McDonald burger, because my mother and girlfriend just worried i'll die very soon, so i promised myself to eat a little bit better (one day only). After left the office, i walked 20mins and arrived the Chinese restaurant which is my 1st experience in Copenhagen. I feel so warm inside and have a table with myself, then i order the fried rice with Mandarin, yes, it's Mandarin, cool!

It is worth even it costed almost hkd140 for a 'Yuen Chow' fried rice because i can sit in a warm indoor area and enjoy it slowly, no worry it will get cold. I can still hear the 'Low Ben Leung' spoke Cantonese to his husband, so i just say 'my den, ng goil! My words even made her a shock, haha!

Yesterday, i decided to see if any sandwiches is good and i dont need to walk for rice after i back to hotel. Actually, i have a supermarket near my place, luckily i find there is some hot food provided like our Super Park'n, then i took a small box of curry chicken and butter potato as my dinner. As i just arrived over 6pm, there is not much choice for me.

Today, i also arrived the supermarket late and all rice are gone : ( but i can find a half size of grilled chicken, amazing! then i bought the butter potato as well and finished it immediate in the hotel room. That should the most wonderful dinner after i arrived here except the welcome dinner with my colleagues.

It made me quite full and ready to sleep, but the clock just showed 8pm now.

The 7th day

The 7th day in Denmark

Unfortunately, i still stay in hotel and not find a good apartment yet. Living in a hotel without internet service would absolutely be a problem for me. Everyday i have to use PC in the lobby to communicate with Hong Kong and the trouble is that i can't upload any photo and take via skype.

The life is simple, my official working hours would be from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Almost everyone left before 5pm because the sunset is around 4:30pm, so most of my colleagues have to back home to prepare the dinner.

But dinner would be a big issue for me. Since everything is expensive here and i can't afford to eat a dish of fried rice costed HKD150 everyday in Chinese restaurant. I have to take a walk for the central area to have ricebox or mcdonald, 15mins walk in 3°c with strong wind would not be funny, but no choice as i'm not rich. Even it got snow this morning, the temperture dropped, i still have to walk for the rice. Wish i can have my own place and cook for myself soon, although i know how to cook almost nothing.

On the other hand, I still can't adjust my internal clock to fit the new environment. Falling into sleep at 9pm and wake up at 4-5am everyday also is one of the headache of mine.

Tomorrow should be a week passed and wish i could be able to face the challange ahead. Now is 9pm, i feel sleepy and have to sleep now, goodnight.

Cøpenhagen, i'm here

Life is beautiful.

Dream is always just a dream if you never try to make it real. I never think my dream will come true.
But, I’m here in Denmark finally.

When I walked in the dark and cold street last couple of nights with myself, I really feel my life is so real and I know I can absolutely make the change. What I can see, what I can feel now is totally different from my home.

Copenhagen is one of the beautiful city in Scandinavia, or even in Europe, and you could take the nice picture everywhere, even just a shop, a building or a train station. You can’t see much people in the street and every shop closed around 5pm when the sunset in the winter.

My colleague is so nice and helping me to look for my own apartment now, hopefully I could settle down as soon as possible and have my own place to serve you some day if you want to visit me and the Northern Europe as well.

Goodbye

Goodbye, to everyone i love, i will miss you all!

Finally, it came to the day, 5 Nov 2007, a special day.

I don't even finish to pack my luggage at noon and all my family hv to help me together in my home. Actually, it is too much hv to take for 2 years long in a new place, with cold weather.

My flight BA32 departure 23:45, i have one old friend fly with me, she's going to travel Europe with her sister. It is quite strange, she is the one who changed me a lot and let me know we can make the change of our life, eventually we can make us in the same plane for London without any plan in advance, amazing!

After having a traditional Chinese dinner in the terminal 2, we came to the check-in counter. Due to the aviation rule of UK told from the airline staff, there should be some weight problems of the luggage and we have to spend certain time to fix it.

Afterall, we came to the gate and took photos, then i gave a hug to everyone, say goodbye and then stepped into to the restriction area, the whole process just spent about 5mins. But, i know everyone is upset because this is the first time i left them with such a long time.

Especially my love, she would be the strongest one because she have to hide how sad she is for my leave and try to force herself to support my decision - leave everything and work in Denmark. You are the best.

Baba, Mama, Paopao, Fai, Pui, Yee and all my good friends, it's the time to say goodbye!