Three cheers for Kurdistan

It's completely possible that pretty much everyone driving through Hillerød somewhere between 4:30 and 5pm today thinks I'm slightly crazy - mainly because I was walking through the drizzling rain without an umbrella, but with a huge grin on my face and dürüm kebab in hand.


Danes will be quick to tell you (once you've got them talking, that is) that any diversity you'll find in Denmark is most likely Middle Eastern... and, like many foreigners in the country, unfortunately don't have the greatest reputation. As per the usual, I've found myself flying in the face of that- as in the case of my kebab, a gift from a middle-aged Iraqi Kurdish fellow I met in my favorite pizzeria in town, Piccola Italia Pizzeria (what food words don't translate, you just have to learn. heh). ...Danes may also tell you that it is not uncommon to find Middle Eastern staff in Italian pizzerias. I pass this one walking to and from work every day and have stopped in from time to time, either for food or for shelter from the rain. Today, Amin was standing outside, smiled, and struck up a conversation. Then, randomly, was I hungry? I jokingly answered that I was always hungry- not expecting that he planned to join me in walking up to the corner, where he insisted upon presenting me with the kebab and soda before bidding adieu.


When I learned today that he was from Kurdistan, I was happy to recall two (Iranian) Kurdish friends in DC (and, FYI Denmark, they all come off as far more friendly folks right from the get-go). While the world watches the UN welcome South Sudan as its 193rd member state, with all of the celebration, hope, and concerns that come with that, let's not forget my friends the Kurds.


Two days ago, I spent my birthday visiting Helsingør and Kronborg Slot - perhaps more widely known as Elsinore, home of Hamlet (and Kevin Kline, Mel Gibson, Ethan Hawke, Kenneth Branagh, and all other Hamlets of the world) - then took the ferry over to Helsingborg, Sweden, before returning to Hillerød for dinner with Lars' family. ...but any further news of that will have to wait, as my temporarily becoming a Kurdish charity case was just too great not to share. So again, three cheers for Kurdistan, and a hearty congratulations to South Sudan - plenty of wounds to be healed and obstacles to overcome, but here's hoping for the best.