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.