There are lots of little things that make life different in Denmark than in the US. Many of those things I don't care about, some things I like better here, and others I prefer in the US. This is about a couple of things I have been thinking about recently, where deep down, I know that the way here makes more sense, but darn it, I just don't like it.
1. 24-hour clocks. Digital clocks here nearly universally give "military" time. I have to admit this makes a lot of sense. Why should there be two different times during the day both called 7 o'clock? It clears up confusion! If someone tells me their flight leaves at 8, I don't have to ask whether that's a.m. or p.m. If it were p.m., they would have said 20:00. Despite all of that, I just don't like it. Every time I look at a clock, I get a little confused. It's especially confusing when doing time-math, which I'm used to doing modulo 12 (e.g. what time is 5 hours after 11, 4 of course!). For some reason, doing this in 24 hour time becomes very hard, when in fact it should be easier! Plus, I want to go to bed at 11, not 23! It's just wrong, and that's all there is to it.
2. Colored money. The bills here are different colors depending on their value. I know what you're thinking - that sounds awesome! It makes it super-easy to tell the bills apart from one another. That's all true, and it makes great sense. I just can't overcome the feeling that I'm buying stuff with Monopoly money. Real money should all be the same color (preferably a sort of ugly shade of green).
On another topic, Danes are famous for not wanting to boast. One funny place you see this is in advertising, where the goal is to try to say that your product is good without sounding like you are bragging. For example, it is acceptable (but pushing it) to say that your beer is "Probably the best beer in the world" (Carlsberg beer ads). My personal favorite, though, is for a bank called Nykredit. Their ads feature a solid blue background with only these words:
"Nykredit er en bank"
This means "Nykredit is a bank". I love it! Really, what else do you need to know? Come on, it's a bank. You put your money in it. Then later you can take it out. That pretty much says it all.
1. 24-hour clocks. Digital clocks here nearly universally give "military" time. I have to admit this makes a lot of sense. Why should there be two different times during the day both called 7 o'clock? It clears up confusion! If someone tells me their flight leaves at 8, I don't have to ask whether that's a.m. or p.m. If it were p.m., they would have said 20:00. Despite all of that, I just don't like it. Every time I look at a clock, I get a little confused. It's especially confusing when doing time-math, which I'm used to doing modulo 12 (e.g. what time is 5 hours after 11, 4 of course!). For some reason, doing this in 24 hour time becomes very hard, when in fact it should be easier! Plus, I want to go to bed at 11, not 23! It's just wrong, and that's all there is to it.
2. Colored money. The bills here are different colors depending on their value. I know what you're thinking - that sounds awesome! It makes it super-easy to tell the bills apart from one another. That's all true, and it makes great sense. I just can't overcome the feeling that I'm buying stuff with Monopoly money. Real money should all be the same color (preferably a sort of ugly shade of green).
On another topic, Danes are famous for not wanting to boast. One funny place you see this is in advertising, where the goal is to try to say that your product is good without sounding like you are bragging. For example, it is acceptable (but pushing it) to say that your beer is "Probably the best beer in the world" (Carlsberg beer ads). My personal favorite, though, is for a bank called Nykredit. Their ads feature a solid blue background with only these words:
"Nykredit er en bank"
This means "Nykredit is a bank". I love it! Really, what else do you need to know? Come on, it's a bank. You put your money in it. Then later you can take it out. That pretty much says it all.
I love the 24-hr clock! I've only used it since living in England. But I understand about the money - it is convenient, but it just isn't right. Keep those Danish advertisements coming!!
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