Antiquity but with responsibility

I’ve always said that old is not a bad word. People can be old too; not only furniture or Greek temples have that right. And being and old tenant in a dorm is an experience. No, promise that this not about newbies, veterans and merciless punishments. In a Danish dorm or kollegium, as they say, being old, in terms of for how long one’s been living there, gives to one the possibility of behaving as Papa Smurf.

For sure, you can take a Kim Jong-il leading the dorm and imposing respect to the freshmen or even being as bitchy as Angela Channing in Falcon Crest but it won’t work. Danish dorms have an especial environment. So big and with so few activities to mingle that nobody gives a shit about the neighbor does.

There are some parties or some people get jealous because others do but that’s all. However, if you’re the veteran doesn’t mean that the rest are going to show respect to you but at least interest in your knowledge. “Where can I buy a bike?” or “Is there any place to scan?”.

God knows how much I would like to be like a TV-series character saying “you rock, you’re a pussy” but that’s not the Korallen style. Here in Denmark is still very present Janteloven or Law of Jante, which in basics tells society to be humble. Otherwise, you’ll be marginalized. It seems Roskilde University and Denmark in general still constructs their dorms and other residential places in the image and likeness of pretexts of the Law of Jante.

Why I love and hate Fakta at the same time: A sociological study of Danish society through analysis of supermarkets

I always thought that there’s nothing more representative of the culture of a country than its supermarkets. Well, maybe it’s not the most representative but it’s still good enough. And among all the supermarkets in Denmark (which most of them are under the same company), there is one on concrete. We could define it by its appearance, by its prices or even by the quality but that would be easy. Let’s name it: Fakta.

Faktas forsiden: www.fakta.dk

What we like: Atmosphere. Fast, kitsch and from the neighborhood. No time to talk, no compromise. Just get your products and go back to the ghetto, or the kollegium in case you live there. But that’s good because when one of the cashiers tried starting a conversation with you all your life seems to be fulfilled.

What we don’t like: Awkward range of products. If you suffer of alcoholism today is your lucky day, unless you don’t drink wine. So, I must say you’d better be a classy alcoholic because Fakta counts with a big corridor of this reddish gold. From South Africa to Spain, including cherry wine (is that wine?). But Fakta runs out of pasta, tuna or everything else.

What we like: Varieté. Visiting once a week is an adventure. You never know what to expect. Today may be protein whey powder, tomorrow a sewing-machine and the next day a costume-set. There so kitsch small treasures that when you see them you understand the Stendhal’s syndrome. Sometimes clothes. I don’t need them at all but I need all of them at the same time.

What we don’t like: Varieté II. Yes, it’s funny to have all these small things which increase your frivolous shopping mind but it’s not that good when the product you’re looking for, and you saw yesterday, today it’s not in Fakta anymore. Mouthwash which comes and easy goes, rubber gloves seeming to vanish or no rice when last week there were plenty. As Larra said once, “come back tomorrow”.

What we like: Child-friendly. I’m not a child anymore but I still envy when I see those infants pulling a small trolley with a Fakta flag on the top. Don’t misunderstand me, I don’t like children, actually I hate them, but I think all the supermarkets must have these kind of entertainment things. I would use them if society wasn’t so conservative.

What we don’t like:  PAN system. I know, it’s something common to most of the supermarkets in Denmark. But I still can’t pass around without smell a mix of wine and beer. I want to do my grocery shopping in a store, not in a highway bar taken from a cheap film. Now I understand Denmark has a problem of alcoholism. Kids accompanying their parents to buy sniff that since their childhood.

From a sociological point of view, a research about population’s tastes, lifestyles and consume can be taken in a supermarket. Read this before coming to Denmark.

PS. Be careful with the expiring date. Sometimes out of date.

PS2. Pay attention to two words that can save your life or at least your shopping: Bazar and tilbud.