2008-01-29

二零零八丹麥一月之三

一月仍處於探索新階段,後悔日記並沒有寫得詳細
且只上過兩堂,仍未會周街滾,故未有太大驚喜
唯獨一開始已在夾飯錢及旅行行程方面有拗撬
迫使我更想脫離群體生活,以防未來不必要的不快

2008-01-25

記Snogebæksvej之二



Snogebæksvej的鎖匙十分之珍奇有趣
因為同一條鎖匙可以作房門,雜物房和兩度大門四用途
即是說,那兒有三十條不同的房門匙是可以開同一度大門
為甚麼這偉大方便的發明不流傳至遙遠的香港呢?
除此之外,原來房內那部打到街外要額外收費的電話還有別的功效
就是若外人從大門前的對講機打進房內的話,接通後只要在電話打個5字就可以開到大門
但亦要靠室外的那個人看準時機,因為一把握不到機會,門就很快會再給鎖上
我在Exchange後期才發現這小秘密,為甚麼沒有正式的途徑去話給我知的呢?

2008-01-24

記ASB之一



ASB,有很多安排都令人感到一頭霧水,非到最後一刻都不能確定要事
先是要在Intro-week之時才會知道自己的上堂時間表
換句話說,要在真正上課天的一星期前才會知道自己可以上甚麼堂和是否得到一個美麗靚仔的時間表
那兒的註冊系統不同,要Exchange學生在電腦填及以電郵傳送張勾了自己想要讀的科目表回丹麥
但有可能因為兩個科目撞時間而被迫放棄其一
又當然會突然告知同學不符合某科的必修科目Prerequisite而又要被迫放棄
若發生以上情況就當是危機處理的真實學習機會吧,因為只有一個星期作出改動和決定
幸好,我很好運地博到了個堪稱完美的時間表
讀四科:International MarketingStartegic ManagementBusiness EnglishAspects of Denmark
全部都是5ECTS,一五完全Day-Off,二四各一堂,星期三則由早到晚堂接堂
但早堂都只不過是維持了四個星期,過了那四堂Startegic Management之後,最早的都只是1350的堂了
除了慶幸有個長周末之外,亦避免了我害怕會在那裡有的天地堂
可知那不是科大,我在丹麥不可以趕回近在咫尺的宿舍小睡一覺再上堂
我真不想來回花去二十分鐘到Snogebæksvej小休再出發
又一件令我充分覺得丹麥是件美好的事

2008-01-23

當年今日Xanga之一


嘗試了一丁友坐長途機   短途機   長途火車
前後後共二十二個鐘
係就係悶左少少   但係成個感覺好型
不枉之前自己決定咁做
--- --- --- --- ---
丹麥好靚   亦冇想像之中咁寒冷
間宿舍好正   獨立廁所雙人床
只係宿舍外多泥沙
只係暖氣唔夠
只係時差方面就嚟整死我   到而家仲未調整好
Anyway, I LOVE DENMARK

IMG_0522.jpg picture by andrew1203antmIMG_0538.jpg picture by andrew1203antm

IMG_0611.jpg picture by andrew1203antm

2008-01-22

二零零八丹麥一月之二


隨後由22-01-200825-01-2008Intro-week才是所有東西開始的象徵
其實早在香港收到了個簡單版的節目表後已不禁嚇了一跳:
四晚中有三晚都是在Club裡度過,首次深明丹麥人是酒鬼這道理
我肯定我在此之前並不愛酒,連0.5%酒精成份的Jolly Sandy那陣酒味也不行
誰又料到我會在那短短四日間被薰陶得越飲越多呢?
在那些強勁的音樂節拍下,令人迷迷糊糊的酒精確是不可缺失的
不同的氣氛和環境絕對能令一個人作出和平時不一樣的行為,甚至改變了他,我認我是個例子!
而除了那些杯中物之外,其他的活動都變得不太起眼
包括Lunch喪食令人卻步的凍肉芝士粒三文治
包括所有非EU學生一起到市政廳申請黃咭
包括有數個沒有幾個人會細心聽的Presentations
包括一個要動用成組人力量到處問人搵答案的Quiz
包括一場保齡球賽,螢光球道及球,其實我想試久了
包括到ASB旁的公園拍一幀全體人員大合照〈盛惠50DKK〉,夜晚更遇上落雹
還包括我粉墨登場啜長Lakris鹹甘草糖及跳舞的Sports Day,連累我要躲進更衣室避免再上場
雖然過了Intro-week,但我對校園內部的房間分佈仍未清楚,經常迷路
亦意外地知道了由學校到Snogebæksvej的步行路線
ASB開始一路上只向右轉了一次彎,不太遠又十分易於叫人記得
起碼不用經常爭扎要否買車票,買又貴,不買又心虛
另外叫人意外叫好的是我當時同桌的夥伴
坐在我對面的有Peeter(Estonia),左面的有Heike(Germany)及右面有Vanessa(France)
多得Heike多次打開話匣子才能迫我們開口說話
還記得那次Social Club我總是黏著她
但往後接觸少了,到最後甚至沒有任何機會與她拍照留念,真遺憾!
Peeter是一個開始不太起眼,到第一晚Clubbing才叫人眼前一亮的人
完了Intro-week後上網查,我們竟有三個共同上的科
十分之驚喜,而這些額外的相處時間使我倆熟起來
但他仍是依舊的冷漠,十分不易讓人接近

2008-01-21

二零零八丹麥一月之一

時差原來最令我致命
明明攰得想死,明明仲想訓卻在五六點醒去〈註:正常情況下我不會睡過十二點〉
幸好有網上直播這回事,Made in HK (香港時間1300-1500)與萬世巨星(香港時間1600-1800)才能伴著我
亦靠看看去丹麥時還未播完,到最後我看結局的時間比在香港看還要早的野蠻奶奶大戰戈師奶,
和YouTube中放著的America’s Next Top Model Season 3消磨一下時間
這段生理上的適應期長達兩個星期,真的遲鈍得不行
但說真的,那可能是唯一一段時間感受漆黑清早的寧靜!
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幸好並非在Arrival Week最後一天才到
否則就會錯過了到埗翌日的IKEA日
IKEA真是個偉大的發明,造福了我們這群剛發現新大陸手忙腳亂的人
其小食部亦是焦點所在
一隻熱狗加任添汽水杯〈如沒理解錯的話〉只需10DKK
在丹麥來說可謂極便宜,我當然食個不停
之後自行返到Snogebæksvej旁的超市士多逛逛,好了解一下身旁的設施

2008-01-20

記Snogebæksvej之一



事前對我的Exchange學校一點兒期望都沒有
故我只將所有心血都放在我的旅行計劃上
當然都會不時幻想我將會待上五個月的房間會是一間如何美好的單人房
但同時亦因為資訊的缺乏令我不太敢抱太大期望
免得我再嘗當日得知我要去ASB那種希望越大失望越大的爛感受
謎底直至我真正親身踏足Snogebæksvej時才給揭盅
在外看來是荒蕪之空地一片,目下所見只得枯枝




在內就是一間四四方方四四正正二十平方米大的獨立房



單人房不夠,還要加上私家廁所,可真是我夢寐以求的!
望著我親愛的Vær 6, Snogebæksvej 33,我覺得我有需要改變前人的傢私擺位
例如我覺得床應該放近暖爐
同時我知道我在丹麥平日最想感受的是晨早四點的曙光
我深信我不會因為太早給曬醒而躁狂起來,反而我會愛上如斯奇妙偉大而予我來說是不尋常的自然奇景;
又例如張枱很自然地要依附在電製旁
既然床已完全地遮蓋了其中一個,電線又不夠長繞過張床,枱放在剩下的那一個旁邊很順理成章
問題那就只在於張枱對著已封的窗口或是和五號房相隔的那度牆
反正都看不了甚麼街景,對著牆讓我可以以眼角隱約看到左手邊門口以防有人進內我都不知道
之後的小櫃和咖啡枱就很順勢地分別放放好在書枱旁及床尾
將之前都沒有人用的DIY書架繼續打入冷宮,放在咖啡枱底下便算
到最後在床邊的牆上貼上早已預備好的2008年一至六月月曆便大功告成



雖則到Snogebæksvej訓的一開始我十分怕生保地方有鬼
以致每當我用廁所時都不忘望望身後會否有一些不明物體飄過
夜晚更要開房外的燈才能比較放心的睡去,膽小得可以
當然,現在想起來這些都是多餘的
我的六號房好得連其他人沒有的如一大一正常大小枕頭,可照到全身自己拼貼在牆上的鏡,
比別人紙波燈罩弄得更光更省空間的半邊鐵燈罩都有
而且我六號房的位置好得可媲美任何荀盤
首先是難得的非對著第二棟樓的窗口,那不好景之餘又會引起大家對望的尷尬



第二是在反覆實驗之後證實看得到街景之餘又不會讓街外人望到自己,就算要換衫不關簾都可
的確,沒有這間完美的房間,我的生活一定沒如此舒適安穩
沒有嘗試過這要甚麼都要靠自己一手一腳處理的時間,我都不會知道獨居的美好
沒有Snogebæksvej,我都未必那麼愛我在丹麥的156天!
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Bus Directions from Århus Central Station

- Walk out the main entrance of Århus Train station,Banegårdspladsen runs parallel directly in front of the station

- On Banegårdspladsen take Bus 3 Rydevænget

- Get off the bus at Snogebæksvej

- Turn right and walk down the street, make the next left ontoSnogebæksvej and you arrive at Vilhelm Kiers Kollegium on your right (view interactive map)

- Travel time approx 30 min.

Close to:

For grocery shopping, Fakta and Netto are within a 10 min walk of the Kollegium. Storcenter Nord is a 20 min. walk away. It is a large shopping mall including a post office, Føtex for grocery shopping, and various other fashion and home décor stores. For last minute shopping later at night there is a corner store on Paludan Müllers Vej (turn left onto it from Hasle Ringvej). Bazaar Vest, a place to buy affordable ethnic food and products is about 20 min away walking distance. The bus to Århus city center is a 2 min. walk from the Kollegium.

This is a large student neighbourhood including the nearby Kollegiums at Skejby, so it will not be hard to meet other students who live in the same area. It is a half hour walk to the University.

http://www.au.dk/en/is/housing/residences/vilhelmkiers

初到丹麥貴境之二



丹麥人真的很靚很型
光是偷看那數台U型行李輸送帶旁的熱狗小店店員便略知一二
因為我的旅途尚餘一程火車
所以一Cheuk-out,我要做的便是將手頭上500美金兌換成丹麥克朗
〈之前生怕用港元兌不到,預先準備了美金,亦貪其固定匯率,不怕突然貴多了〉
明明售票處就在大堂正中間
或許是其位置實在太意想得到,我偏左撲右撲到處找
若我再花多一點時間於打開掩著我雙眼的鬼手的話,那便要再多呆等一小時,等下一班車
因為在我售票的時候,列車將會於三分鐘後開出
我不理三七二十一,弄清月台後便直奔往扶手電梯
再問一問人確定沒有任何錯誤便直衝上車
花了一段時間找尋到我預訂了的座位後便安頓下來
雖是倒車,但新奇的車外風光及寬闊的庭位令我驚嘆
這程火車亦令我初次感受到這國度開放〈身旁窗口位餵人奶媽媽〉及愛打扮〈那管是老女人〉的人
丹麥確是美好,型得沒有一點令人失望
不知不覺,在1406,我便經已到達Århus H車站
聽著 iPod Nano(RED),我終於來到這個收留我一個學期的城市了!
___________________________________________________________



離開月台,迅即到票務處旁看地圖
但跟手中ASB小冊子所印的相比似乎Zoom得太遠,令我找不到目標
既然在地圖上找不到巴士站所在,唯有碰碰運氣
定定神後看清楚,左邊是一大片空位,右邊是疑似商場
在火車站內究竟是向左走還是向右走都分不清
更遑論外出後要找到巴士站,更要上對方向的車和在對的車站下車,似乎有點難度
我想大約找了半分鐘之後我便決定用最快的方法到ASB
反正有多輛黃綠色的Benz的士在等候著我
那位貌似亞洲人的的士司機好像很年輕和熱血,滿面笑容
我應該多花些少費以報答他助我將行李搬上搬下
但當然,來到ASB後便已忘掉一切
奈何玻璃自動門關了,要行落行上樓梯到International Office
要先到ASB是因為他會交待所有關於Housing,IKEA及Intro-week的事
只有Nicholas在那兒,他好像很好很幫得手,亦成為我的一大好友
他亦讓我打了一次免費的長途電話回家,絕對意料之外亦省了一筆
十分妙地在那兒巧遇其他兩位浸大港燦,但我其實更想和Nicholas交談
等了一會兒,另外兩位Tutors Anders及Jean來到載我們到Snogebæksvej,我住的地方
我還記得到達時我站在那仍有工程進行中的空地上
心想我可以在那鄉村荒野中做甚麼?那能令我見識甚麼?
為甚麼千里迢迢來到丹麥仍要住在類似屯門的郊區?
尤其是想到首都大城市住的我,那和想像的出入實在太大了
可幸的是一路以來的謎團終於解開:我有獨立大房及廁所
我希望這可掩蓋住在荒蕪之地的不滿;
晚上首次見識到未到六時的漆黑天空,以及丹麥人驚嚇的隨手將手中的袋放在濕淋淋的地上
之後在大家都沒胃口時錯誤地選擇到Downtown大河旁的「龍」食自助餐
雖然很疲累,但仍堅持將所有東西搬好及抹乾淨才洗澡睡覺
但因搬床搬書桌搬櫃時太落力,以及天氣乾燥對腳喪痕
經過第一晚後雙腿又瘀又損

2008-01-19

初到丹麥貴境之一



二零零八年一月十九日晚為我離別香港遠道而去丹麥的日子
同學堆中,我已是最遲走的那幾個之一
他們一個接一個的離開開始地間接令我更焦急想要開始Exchange
我就是這麼矛盾的一個人
縱從未敢抱太大的期望,但壓根兒又未絕對死心
暗地裡仍覺得這將是令我畢生難忘的旅程
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由一開始,我都將是次丹麥Exchange的主題定為「型」
去北歐,係因為型;想去好多旅行,係因為型;
要型,亦少不得要一個人獨個兒上路直達目的地
一個人在途上,多麼像電視劇中憂鬱的男主角!
故不惜一當丑人都要堅持著這計劃,至今仍不悔有這決定
2325晚機,約六小時前在家起行,七點Check-in,約九十點入閘
時間越接近,心情當然越緊張,擔心及怕
怕的除了是適應的問題外
我亦怕未能圓滿地到訪多個「一定要到」的國家
我不否認這是個令人感到莫名其妙的壓力來源
但我那時會說,旅行是唯一一個Exchange的必做事情
拖著一個重32.9公斤的行李箱,手掛著一件羽絨,背上了個一大背囊和纏了個腰包的我
聽著 iPod Nano(RED),十分型的一人遊從踏進禁區一刻正式開始
___________________________________________________________


 
我從來沒有過長途機的概念
只想到當年八小時澳洲悉尼的行程好像並沒有太大辛苦的感覺
這一程到倫敦的不過是多四五小時而已,故相信我是能輕易撐得過去的
可是一上機找尋到我的座位後,我只能默默地認同我是個天真和樂觀的小伙子
想攝進座位中,即使如我般又瘦又薄的身軀都覺得行動困難
坐一坐更加不得之了,雙腿如何擺放都覺得不對勁
無論坐在我左面的婆婆如何友善都覆蓋不對我對「未來」的惶恐
在我左搖右擺仍努力地找尋令自己舒適的姿勢時,奇蹟出現了!
原來我坐後了一行,在隔版後的那一排才是我安身之所
真的謝天謝地!雖仍身處一排之中,但腿前的空間大得多
及後出現的右座年輕媽媽及小寶寶也沒太嘈吵
十二個半鐘的機程中除了少量的睡眠外
就只有Hairspray〈我想我只看了頭小半〉,Sex and the City S6E1,萬世巨星及我其他的飲歌伴著我
當中當然還夾雜著注視航線圖和所有榭程資料,盤算著我將到那裡那裡去
反而之前準備好的Lonely Planet,地圖和夾糖都因怕煩要起身在擺在頭頂上的背囊中左搜右尋而寧願不看不吃
我承認,我是一個懶鬼
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凌晨時分降落在London Heathrow
因要轉Terminal上機,我要乘接駁巴士
這亦造就了我首次踏足歐洲土地和感受歐洲寒意的機會
對!的碓很寒,但因為免麻煩,我決定只拿著我件羽絨
卻不知已埋下待會兒作傷風的禍根
而在巴士上,我也忘記為何我會作出橫坐這叫我吃驚的選擇
但整程車我只是在想坐在我對面的是否陳寶珠
或許是想得太入神了,現在很後悔沒有在凌晨的機場那裡拍下任何相片
到了Terminal 4,時間尚早,仍未有顯示往哥本哈根的班機會停在那個閘口
我就只有從街頭行至街尾
得閒坐坐,得閒又進進舖頭,得閒又細看在推廣的那部跑車
亦遇見當日和我一同Interview IBGM的女生,原來這班中大環球商業學學生和我同一班機
臨上機前決定用信用卡打電話回港,談了三數分鐘
騙人的!可惡的那台公眾電話竟收了我$200.57
食水未免太深了吧!而且很明顯和電話上印著的收費不同,自此亦留下了陰影
----------------------------------------------------------------------



第二班機才兩個半鐘,不長但難捱
感冒菌好像已侵略了我,又流鼻水又眼訓
我可不想Exchange第一日便已病倒了,我要用意志擊退所有難題!
幸好身旁的座位吉了,好讓我可躺下小睡一番掃走病意
令我最終能瀟瀟灑灑及精精神神的抵達
聽著 iPod Nano(RED),我終於到達很型的丹麥了!

2008-01-17

2008-01-15

The World FactBook – Denmark

Introduction

Background

Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.

Flag Description

Red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side; the banner is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is one of the oldest national flags in the world; traditions as to the origin of the flag design vary, but the best known is a legend that the banner fell from the sky during an early-13th century battle; caught up by the Danish king before it ever touched the earth, this heavenly talisman inspired the royal army to victory
Note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
Geography


Location

Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)

Geographic coordinates

56 00 N, 10 00 E

Area

Total: 43,094 sq km
Country comparison to the world: 140
Land: 42,434 sq km
Water: 660 sq km
Note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major islands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland

Land boundaries

Total: 68 km
Border countries: Germany 68 km

Coastline

7,314 km

Climate

Temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers

Elevation extremes

Lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
Highest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 m

Natural resources

Petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand

Land use

Arable land: 52.59%
Permanent crops: 0.19%
Other: 47.22% (2005)

Natural hazards

Flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes


Environment - current issues

Air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides


People


Population

5,500,510 (July 2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 111

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.1% (male 511,882/female 485,782)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 1,817,800/female 1,798,964)
65 years and over: 16.1% (male 387,142/female 498,940) (2009 est.)

Median age

Total: 40.5 years
Male: 39.6 years
Female: 41.3 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate

0.28% (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 174

Birth rate

10.54 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 184

Death rate

10.22 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 60

Net migration rate

2.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 33

Urbanization

Urban population: 87% of total population (2008)
Rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio

At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate

Total: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births
Country comparison to the world: 203
Male: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total population: 78.3 years
Country comparison to the world: 46
Male: 75.96 years
Female: 80.78 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.74 children born/woman (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 165

Nationality

Noun: Dane(s)
Adjective: Danish

Ethnic groups

Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali


Religions

Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Christian (includes Protestant and Roman Catholic) 3%, Muslim 2%

Languages

Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority)
Note: English is the predominant second language


Literacy

Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 99% (2003 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Total: 17 years
Male: 16 years
Female: 17 years (2006)


Education expenditures

8.3% of GDP (2005)
Country comparison to the world: 12


Government


Country Name

Conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
Conventional short form: Denmark
Local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
Local short form: Danmark


Capital

Name: Copenhagen
Geographic coordinates: 55 40 N, 12 35 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Note: applies to continental Denmark only, not to its North Atlantic components


Administrative divisions

Metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden, Midtjylland, Nordjylland, Sjaelland, Syddanmark
Note: an extensive local government reform merged 271 municipalities into 98 and 13 counties into five regions, effective 1 January 2007


National holiday

None designated; Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) is generally viewed as the National Day


Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal


Economy


Overview

This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, an equitable distribution of income, comfortable living standards, a stable currency, a stable political system, and high dependence on foreign trade. Unemployment is low and capacity constraints limit growth potential. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus. The government has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase (a common European currency) of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), but so far Denmark has decided not to join 16 other EU members in the euro. Nonetheless, the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro. Denmark's fiscal position is among the strongest in the EU. Economic growth gained momentum in 2004 and the upturn continued through 2006. After a long consumption-driven upswing, Denmark's economy began slowing in early 2007 with the end of a housing boom. This cyclical slowdown has been exacerbated by the global financial crisis through increased borrowing costs and lower export demand, consumer confidence, and investment. The slowing global economy cut GDP by 0.6% in 2008. A major long-term issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to retirees.


GDP (purchasing power parity)

$204.9 billion (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 52
$206.2 billion (2007)
$202.9 billion (2006)
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate)

$369.6 billion (2008 est.)


GDP - real growth rate

-0.6% (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 206
1.6% (2007 est.)
3.3% (2006 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP)

$37,400 (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 28
$37,700 (2007 est.)
$37,200 (2006 est.)
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars


GDP - composition by sector

Agriculture: 1.4%
Industry: 25.9%
Services: 72.7% (2008 est.)


Labor force

2.86 million (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 102


Labor force - by occupation

Agriculture: 2.9%
Industry: 23.8%
Services: 72.7% (2005 est.)


Unemployment rate

2% (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 16
2.8% (2007 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share

Lowest 10%: 2%
ighest 10%: 24% (2000 est.)


Distribution of family income - Gini index

24 (2005)
Country comparison to the world: 133


Budget

Revenues: $192 billion
Expenditures: $177.6 billion (2008 est.)


Public debt

21.8% of GDP (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 91


Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.5% (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 46
1.7% (2007 est.)


Agriculture - products

Barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish


Industries

Iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products, shipbuilding and refurbishment, windmills, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment


Industrial production growth rate

0.4% (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 145


Electricity - production

36.99 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 58


Electricity - consumption

34.68 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 57


Electricity - exports

11.38 billion kWh (2007 est.)


Electricity - imports

10.43 billion kWh (2007 est.)


Oil - production

313,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)
ountry comparison to the world: 38


Oil - consumption

190,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 60


Oil - exports

320,000 bbl/day (2006)
ountry comparison to the world: 41


Oil - imports

164,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 53


Oil - proved reserves

1.188 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 38


Natural gas - production

9.223 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 44


Natural gas - consumption

4.555 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 59


Natural gas - exports

4.517 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 27


Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 82


Natural gas - proved reserves

70.51 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 59


Current account balance

$4.333 billion (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 34


Exports

$119.5 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 35


Exports - commodities

Machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills


Exports - partners

Germany 17.4%, Sweden 14.5%, UK 8%, US 6.1%, Norway 5.7%, France 4.8%, Netherlands 4.8% (2007)


Imports

$120.7 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 32


Imports - commodities

Machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods


Imports - partners

Germany 21.6%, Sweden 14.4%, Netherlands 7.1%, Norway 6%, China 5.4%, UK 5.3%, Italy 4.1%, France 4% (2007)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$34.32 billion (2006 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 37


Debt - external

$492.6 billion (30 June 2007)
Country comparison to the world: 17


Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.0236 (2008 est.), 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004)


Communications


Telephones - main lines in use

2.824 million (2007)
Country comparison to the world: 52


Telephones - mobile cellular

6.243 million (2007)
Country comparison to the world: 70


Telephone system

General assessment: excellent telephone and telegraph services
Domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network, 4 cellular mobile communications systems
International: country code - 45; a series of fiber-optic submarine cables link Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and UK; satellite earth stations - 18 (6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East)); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for worldwide Inmarsat access


Television broadcast stations

172 (2008)


Internet country code

.dk


Internet users

3.5 million (2007)
Country comparison to the world: 52


Transportation


Airports

92 (2008)
Country comparison to the world: 65


Pipelines

Gas 2,858 km; oil 107 km (2008)


Railways

Total: 2,644 km
Country comparison to the world: 64
Standard gauge: 2,644 km 1.435-m gauge (636 km electrified) (2007)


Roadways

Total: 72,362 km
Country comparison to the world: 65
Paved: 72,362 km (includes 1,032 km of expressways) (2006)


Waterways

400 km (2008)
Country comparison to the world: 89


Ports and terminals

Aalborg, Aarhus, Copenhagen, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Kalundborg


Disputes - international

Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; Faroese continue to study proposals for full independence; sovereignty dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland

2008-01-11

Exchange前言之四

那種不滿情緒一直沒有隨時間消散褪去
相反地,我被隨後所得知的消息更重重地打擊起來
一.    根本沒有甚麼科可以讀,甚至沒有任何Equivalent
        即是說,我要逐科逐個Department遞紙作Pre-approve,這已經是件極其麻煩的事了
        再加上正如我之前所說,我沒有,是完全沒有想象會去ASB
        粗略的Research根本不足以令我事前知道沒有甚麼科可以揀這事實
        但幸好我首三個學期已讀了102當中的62 Credits
        不用靠Exchange Transfer得太多,但仍心有不甘只得一個Marketing Course
        幸好我想Transfer到的那三科,International MarketingBusiness EnglishAspects of Denmark亦順利完成
        只是同樣想讀的International Management因佔其他科兩倍的ECTS而被迫放棄
        就當讀得少,多點時間去旅行吧
        舒舒服服四個Course搞掂
二.     ASB在香港的ExchangePartners真是要了我的命
        浸大,以及之後新增的理太和城大〈遑論其他國家不知名的大學〉
        仲夠膽死同我講ASB只和最好的大學做Partner
        真心認為一個GBUS不應委屈去ASB,但奈何庸官當道,迫GBUS走上絕路任其沒落
        我真的很灰心很失望,對Exchange的幻想幻滅
        我甚至沒有著緊去預備些甚麼
        我的熱情,我心中那團Exchange之火迅間被冷卻

2008-01-08

Exchange前言之三


其後六月尾的Interview中,我自問表現良好
沒有問我難答問題,沒有留難我,沒有針對我
我亦理直氣壯地說明我愛北歐的原因及掛序邏輯
一切似乎很美好順利,心暗想即使成績未足以引領我去CBS,至少也有BI吧!
GBUS喎!唔係送我去非頭一二個Choice嘅大學吓嘩!?
不知為何,一路以來都出奇地老定,沉醉在這自家的假設中
12-07-2007結果公佈日,放工即匆匆趕回家
心喪跳手喪震地在房內按著滑鼠
看到我的名字在BI旁,覺得十分之合理和在意料之內的興奮
但往往,劇情在隨後兩日急轉
先是翌日收到不知所謂商學院的計錯分通知,要將結果收回
再於14-07-2007晚驚慌地看到我的名字突然出現在ASB旁,眼即突!
絕對沒有想過有這個可能性,絕對不能接受!
之後獨自盤算,在交Acceptance Form中寫BI,希望扮作不知情,希望還我BI
最後低莊的SBM只會焗我於六樓某一雜物房中
二對一以層壓推銷方式騙我入局,硬要我接受
我不知道我已找經紀著手找機票的藉口有多假,我七情上面的演技有多流
但那是我最後一擊,我怎也不能夠鬆懈及作好人
作為一個沒有後台的伶仃學生,我又可以做甚麼?
我覺得我期待已久的Exchange會被這所不知名的野雞大學催毀
這打擊實在太太太令人受不了!

2008-01-05

Exchange前言之二


大學一年級令我感到十分之痛苦,更加加深我對Exchange的期待
07 Spring Semester展開叫人Apply Exchange的程序即刻令我十分興奮
一路以來從偷偷看師兄師姐的Xanga及不時流出的傳言中得知
想努力讀書增加書本上的知識?去美國啦!
想周遊列國並過著寫意的人生?去歐洲啦!
懶鬼如我當然在潛移默化後只會選擇後者!
及後又得知丹麥的CBS好呀!揀它!挪威的BI都幾好呀!揀它!
兩者都是位於北歐,北歐好野呀,人靚景又靚,同香港十分不同,又因沒太多人去的關係而令我覺得特別型
絕對係地球上的烏托邦同最合我心水的目的地!
久而久之我便生了一個非北歐不去的念頭
十分粗略看過各北歐院校所提供的科目後
沒有任何Marketing科的兩間瑞典大學已自動在我的Priority List中消失
剩下可選的兩間北歐學院分別是芬蘭的HSE及丹麥ÅrhusASB
求鬼其,見HSE在首都,Århus又不太知名便分別放了它們在第三第四位
仲好!又係丹麥可以顯示我想去丹麥的決心!
GBUS喎!唔係送我去非頭一二個Choice嘅大學吓嘩!?
之後再揀其他大學都只為填滿剩下的六個吉位,我根本沒想過去任何一間
然後我又覺得要有策略
唔好忽然歐洲忽然又美國〈其實我想揀USC,證明我非100%懶鬼〉
反正頭兩個Choice都經已係想去的CBSBI
所以其他都冇所謂,即使揀不下手亦求其放滿歐洲大學
GBUS喎!唔係送我去非頭一二個Choice嘅大學吓嘩!?
*現在再看我的選擇真的替我抹一把汗
除了第五位的德國WHU上課期間很短,可有較多時間旅行之外,送我到任何一間都想死

2008-01-01

Exchange前言之一



Exchange Exchange Exchange!!!
打從中六中七要作大學選科決定時開始
我已矢志要考進香港科技大學的工商管理學士(環球商業管理)學系 5921 HKUST BBA (Global Business)
原因有二,一為當時天真的以為我真的喜愛從商
但每年都實在有千千萬萬個商科大學畢業生
要突出這個愛出名,愛上位及鍾情於吸引別人羨慕目光的自己
亦靠手上「會考高分」的籌碼給我信心,當然我一定要考進最好的
科大的環球商業管理或港大同類的國際商業及環球管理順理成章地成為我不二之選;
二是「我愛科大」
若從膚淺的層面解釋,那是因為個新淨摩登美麗及擁有勞斯萊斯級設備的校園搶分
令我於預科時時時刻刻都幻想每天於宿舍〈當然是New Hall〉開始
逐層逐層由LG5的電梯登上Atrium再到Concourse那頭上堂,和同學於午飯時拿著教科書討論課堂內容
以及做Project至深夜才回到宿舍和友善的宿友一同吃喝玩樂等的畫面
那會是一件多麼富書卷味及令人嚮往的大學生活啊!〈事實當然並非如此〉
若然讓我微微地深入探討科大令我嚮往的特質
的確,憑著這短短的十五年歷史〈當年選科時計〉已進身全港三大,其實力和進取心路人皆見
而且科大的環球商業這個商學院皇牌毫無疑問十分令我心動
這些埋藏在我心深處的理由逐步逐步加強我進GBUS的決心
縱然A-Level成績非預期般好,但幸運地通過那改制前只得一次定生死的面試
我亦能最終順利地考進這高傲得叫人卻步的學系〈感謝主!〉
我亦終能安心地踏上這條已定的出國交流之路
〈記得我在電腦螢幕上看到 06186272  5921 之後的第一句話為「2008頭半年出國讀書!」〉