Abroad while Abroad

All DIS students attended short study tours with their core programs this past weekend in different locations. Our Positive Psychology [B] clan bussed out to Harridslevegaard Slot, a castle dating all the way back to the 1200s. It was once home to one of the “tallest and strongest Vikings of the time.” Judging by the tall, and the tiny doors in that castle, I’ll settle on assuming that dude was what we modern humanoids would consider average. It was once known as the “Castle of Robbers” housing pirates during the Middle Ages. Harridslevegaard Slot also set the stage for a royal affair which let to a couple of skulls in their cellar (old school scandal, eh?). Personally, I enjoyed frolicking with peacocks roaming around the snow covered courtyard!

After a meaty lunch at Café Edsberg we got a solid tour of Middlefart Sparekasse, the “happiest” savings bank in Denmark. Why so happy? Everything about this business is based on the employees needs to foster their productivity and well-being. Fascinating, really! Their business cards present six “commandments” stating the values of the company. All employees function off self-management, appealing to the intrinsically motivated. According to our tour guide, they believe it’s easier to earn forgiveness than permission and apply “learn by doing” approach. All new employees complete a profile analysis questionnaire which places them in the department which will utilize their core strengths and interests. If employees become bored of their position, they discuss it with human resources and move to a different department. Only one person has been fired since our guide could remember, and that was solely due to fraud. Honesty and trust have built the foundation of this company. Loyalty from both the employees and the customers have manifested since. They also offer both maternal and paternal leave in Denmark for close to a year. If there are traumatic issues in the family for one of the employees, he or she bring their spouse to a “summer house” to build themselves back up with a therapist. Deaths, cancers, depression, etc… this company encourages people to take the reigns and work out the issue so the stress doesn’t hinder work quality! In fact, Middlefart Sparekasse was given the offer to expand internationally but they declined because they would rather keep quality on the small scale network. As if THAT would ever happen in the United States! The building was beautiful and open with angular windows facing the water. Employees enjoy eating together family style on lunch breaks in their cozy café, meditating in the library on bean bags, and reboosting their energy with hula hoop competitions. The base lesson learned? When you have a business you create a culture, not just a place to earn money. Middelfart Sparekasse successfully uses business to foster well-being for the individuals in their small town. Looks like Pixar and Google have inspired little businesses on a global level. Generation Y, lets continue this trend!

Middelfart Sparekasse

We spent the evening in Odense, the city where Hans Christian Anderson was born. The town has little men with top hats and canes for the pedestrian green lights!

The following morning we trekked out to Arhus University for a talk about the Danish ANIN Group - Denmark. Nina, one of the founders of Women at Work Children at School [WAWCAS], frequently travels to Nepal to check up on the progress of their cooperative based on savings and loans. In a nutshell, this program loans money for very low-income women to start their own businesses as long as the children attend school. WAWCAS teaches the women how to go through this process over a 16 month period. The loans are always paid off, and the women thrive! Social issues are also tackled through the process, such as coping with domestic violence, the gap between social classes in the caste system, and HIV/AIDS education. They use form theatre, cartoons, and group discussions as main methods of education. WAWCA took the opposite approach compared to Middelfart Sparekasse by building businesses out of developing well-being.

Check it out it’s amazing:WAWCAS

After traipsing around Arhus for a cozy little café for lunch we went to KaosPilots to figure out what their education style was all about. Sara, a KaosPilot from Sweden, led our group through team exercises and informed us about the program. Better yet, she made time to set up a flower vase in the center of the room, healthy and sweet snacks, coffee and tea, and lit candles all over the room before we began. It made a huge difference! KaosPilots aim to form students’ creativity and channel it towards productive solutions in society. They offer four disciplines: Creative Business Design, Creative Leadership Design, Creative Process Design, and Creative Project Design. KaosPilots throw you into real world situations selling projects to clients all over the world. They teach adaptability, cultural diversity, dialogue, how to deal with disruptive entrepreneurs… things you don’t learn in your cookie cutter classroom. Our group “Checked In” sharing the reasons why we chose Denmark and our favorite experiences thus far. We “Checked Out” at the end with a hope experience where we envisioned our futures through meditation. Similar to Middelfart Sparekasse, Sara created a culture within a few hours time which induced more meaningful experiences for us throughout the exercises. I’ll admit it. I’m considering this program since I’m graduating from MIZZOU this May! For a deeper explanation check it: kaospilot

We stayed in cozy little cabins at Danhostel Skanerborg Vandrerjhem and made s’mores over a bon fire. Our cabin woke up early the next morning to see the sunrise but we were disappointed because of overcast skies. We made the best of it by walking on the frozen lake and playing in the snow!

Danhostel Skanerborg Vandrerjhem

Interactively non-interactive museum: ARoS Museum in Arhus. This modern museum opens with a massive spiral staircase in white and glass all the way up. Right near the door stood a human statue painted in white. It gave me the eebie jeebies. A famous exhibit called “The Boy” stood at least 20 ft high in a crouched position that reminded me of Golem from Lord of the Rings. He looked incredibly realistic in fiber glass! You could see veins through his skin and the spinal bumps in his back. Another exhibit held 9 rooms from Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy, aka the 9 circles from hell. Ólafur Elíasson’s exhibits were definitely my favorite. “Your Rainbow Panorama” on the roof let you see Arhus in all sorts of colored window panes. “Your Color Atlas” was phenomenal! You walk through misty room and colored lights make it seem like you are actually walking through color. Trippy experience let me tell ya! I hope heaven is that enticing!

The Boy

Your Rainbow Panorama

The best part of this trip was bonding with my new, soon to be too close, friends! Something magical happens when you are out in the middle of nowhere in Denmark, looking out at endless snow, roasting sugar puffs on the ends of sticks and discussing positive psychology. I found “hygge” even away from my home, away from home. Home is who you’re with. Home is within you.