Studenterhuset

In the last month, I started volunteering as a bartender/barista at the Studenterhuset (Student House), a café/bar in the heart of downtown Copenhagen.  I take one shift per week in exchange for unlimited free coffee and tea (huge perk considering that black coffee here can be as much as $7!), vouchers for free beers and snacks, and an opportunity to meet non-Americans.   The café is always busy and is a favorite spot for students from the University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Business School, and my program (DIS).  The café turns into a lively bar at night and hosts a number of fun events such trivia nights, swing dancing, a climate seminar series, an indoor flee market and small concerts. 

I’ve been having so much fun at the Studenterhuset and am meeting people from all over Europe (volunteers come from over twenty different countries!).  The café definitely comes with its challenges though.  First off-- the espresso machine.  I’ve only ever been a black coffee drinker so am naturally baffled by all fancy coffee drinks.  And, to be honest, I’m still not sure that I fully understand the difference between a latte and a cappuccino. I put them in different sized glasses though, so maybe nobody notices…

"Coffee, according to the women of Denmark, is to the body what the Word of the Lord is to the soul" 

-Isak Dinesen