about me


Hello! I am Karen and welcome to my blog. There have been a number of events happening in the last little while including graduating with my Masters and moving to Copenhagen, Denmark and I thought starting a new blog would be the best way to document this new season of my life.  

A quick rundown of the last few years of my life may help make sense of what I'm doing and how I got here. I was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada and I stayed at home to complete my Bachelor's degree in Communication and Political Science. During those four years of my undergrad, I went on exchange for one semester to Hong Kong and met some of the most incredible people, who continue to be some of my best friends today. Most of my friends from exchange are from Europe and as I was getting closer and closer to graduation, I thought about applying to some Master's programs abroad so that I could travel and see more of the world while furthering my education. And that's how I landed in Lund, Sweden in August of 2010. I lived in Malmö and Lund for almost two years studying towards my Master's in Applied Cultural Analysis. During that time I started dating a Dane (who I actually met at home in Vancouver), spent many weekends in Copenhagen, and now I've moved to Denmark!

I am currently job hunting and searching for positions to start my career, taking Danish classes, and planning a wedding with my then boyfriend and now fiance! 

I am an avid cupcake and macaron eater, I use washi tape on everything I possibly can, and bringing happiness and a smile to someone's face is all I want to do at the end of the day. I hope you enjoy visiting my blog! 

Med kærlig hilsen,

Karen

18 comments:

  1. Dear Karen

    My name is Meri and I work for the language portal http://bab.la.

    True to our five year long tradition, we at bab.la Gmbh are hosting the IX-competition to find the 100 most exciting, inspiring, open-minded bloggers write about international exchange and experience. It would make us very happy if you decide to participate in "IX13" (International eXchange and eXperience 2013)

    Please email me if you are interested in the competition under meri[at]bab.la ; and I will send you an email with more information about nomination and voting.

    All the best!
    Meri

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  2. Hi Karen,

    Great to hear of another Vancouverite in Denmark! Did you go to UBC? Such a small world!! Hope to meet one day! :) Good luck with your new life in Denmark!

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    1. Hi Anna,

      I hope we do get to meet one day! I've been scrolling through your blog and am really enjoying it :)

      Looking forward to reading about your adventures in Denmark!

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  3. Hi Karen, I LOVE your blog! The beautiful photos and exciting posts of your cute daily life in Denmark really motivated me to take my blog to the next level! I am a French girl living in Johannesburg South Africa and I thank you for lifting my spirits up today and inspiring me! Best of luck and take care. :) Camille

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    1. Hi Camille! Thank you for your sweet words :) I would love to read more about your life in Johannesburg as well! I hope you are having a lovely summer!

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  4. Just came across your blog, and I have to say I can't wait to trawl through all of it! I've already come across two cake places I want to try out! I'm Irish, but living in Copenhagen too, and trying to work out if I can find a job and stay, or go elsewhere. Lovely reading, and the pictures are so nice :)

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    1. Aww, you are too nice Amy!

      And how cool is it that you are living in Copenhagen too! Maybe we will run into each other in the city one day :) I hope the cake place you want to try out is Strangas because they really are the best!

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  5. Hi Karen! I recently made the new york style bagels you also made that was from Sophisticated Gourmet and found them incredibly yummy but i have a few questions for you if that is fine.

    First, i found the interior of my bagel too airy for a bagel, like if you slice it, there's a crumbs shot similar to what you'd fine in crusty bread. Im not a NY style bagele xpert but arent NY bagels or bagels in general supposed to be a bit on the tight crumb (but still chewy) in terms of appearance? Does it mean I let them rise too much before boiling? A friend of mine said maybe I didnt deflate it too much when I punched it down befpre shaping or didn't tightly shape them into balls 1 creating the holes.

    At the same time, how do you manage to transfer them from the greased sheet to the pot filled with simmering water? Whether im using my hand or a slotted spoon, theyre so delicate to handle that by the time it reaches the pot, theyre either deformed circles, ovals or their holes close up already.

    Pls help, thank you!!

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    1. Hi Meghan!

      I wish I could help you with the texture of your bagels but I'm not really sure what you could do to get a tighter crumb/chewier texture. I haven't run into this problem, have you tried commenting on the Sophisticated Gourmet's post on the bagels?

      It is also difficult for me to transfer my shaped bagels into the pot. I try to work as quickly as possible but they still end up stretching out a bit more than I would like. To prevent the holes from closing up, maybe try making the whole bigger than you would like when you are shaping them so when you do move them the holes don't close up completely.

      I hope this helps! :)

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  6. Hi Karen,
    I am a French girl living in Frederiksberg, opposite værnedamsvej (the 'temptation street')! I love cooking and trying new cafes in CPH! If you fancy cooking afternoons with degustation right after... Let me know!
    All the best

    Lise

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    1. I love Værnedamsvej! What a lovely area you live in :) Perhaps we will bump into each other one day! :)

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  7. What a lovely blog you have - or should I say: Sikke en FIN blog, du har! I found you when I looked for a place in Copenhagen to buy moshi ice cream, and I stuck around. All the best from a new reader who will most def. come back; me Maria.

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    1. tusind tak maria! and if you ever find mochi ice cream in Copenhagen, do let me know! ;)

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  8. Hi Karen
    Love the title of your blog. Hope you enjoy Denmark:)

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  9. Hi Karen, how are you? I hope well! I stumbled upon your blog as I was searching for a seamstress in Copenhagen, I am getting married in a few months to a Dane (like you)! I have enjoyed reading your posts and learning about your life in Copenhagen. I am an American, 2nd year law student in Florida and my fiance is working on his Masters in political science at KU. Once I finish my 3rd and final year I will move to DK so that we will be in the same place. I will be in Copenhagen for two weeks (27th of February to the 14th of March) so if you would like to meet in the city for a coffee or a tasty treat at Kalaset (I noticed you had recommended it and I also like it!) please let me know. My name is Alexandra and my email is aechsner@gmail.com. Again, I think your blog is really nice and I look forward to hearing from you soon! Have a great Saturday :)

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    1. hi alexandra! how exciting and congratulations on your engagement! those danes! they're something special and somehow magically draw us into their country ;) it would be super fun to meet for coffee! i will send you an email :)

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  10. Hi Karen, I really enjoy reading your blog as a fellow expat here in Copenhagen. I've nominated you for a Liebster Award; you can find out more here: http://thecopenhagentales.com/2014/06/01/my-liebster-award-nominations/
    Best, Laura

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