Elisabeth teaches Danish as well as Greek.
Elisabeth says: ”I have a bachelor’s degree in modern Greek and the DAV qualification from the University of Copenhagen. My father is Greek and comes from Northern Greece. I have spent many years engaging with Greek music in my spare time and I am an enthusiastic interpreter of Greek songs.”
Here is what Elisabeth recommends if you’re learning Greek:
Places:
”The amazing Greek islands, and the sun in Northern Greece with the beautiful mountain landscapes near Pangéon, charming villages and interesting archaelogical areas, including Amphipolis and Philippi in Eastern Macedonia near the town of Kavala. Not to forget Metéora, the monasteries near Kalambaka. This outstanding area is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.”
Music:
”The composer Manos Hadjidakis.”
Food/drink:
”’Gemistá’ (stuffed peppers) and the delicious ’mezédes’ (small dishes) from various regions as well as organic white wine from the vinyard Biblia Chóra in Kokkinochóri. Retsina is much better than its reputation. Try the local version where you’re staying!”
Literature:
”The writer, translator and poet Kostas Tachtsis (1927-1988) as well as the writer Theodoros Grigoriadis (b. 1956). The latter is very occupied with boundaries in his works, such as boundaries of gender and identity, boundaries between good and evil and more. He grew up in Northern Greece, and his collection of short stories, ’Hvorfor jeg har forrådt mit fædreland’, was translated from Greek to Danish by Pia Johansen in 2021.”
Here is what Elisabeth recommends if you’re learning Danish:
Do you have a favourite place outside of Copenhagen?
”I was born and raised in Aalborg, a city that, with its development of the harbour area featuring Utzon Centret and Musikkens Hus, is an exciting example of a different urban space with activities and architectural innovation between city and water. At the same time, the atmosphere is good with cosy pedestrian streets and good eateries.”
Do you have a favourite place in Copenhagen?
”Now I live on Vesterbro and I love the area, the diversity and the atmosphere. I’m very fond of Værnedamsvej and its interesting shops and cosy cafes. I’m particularly fascinated by the fact that people will sit outside with blankets and heat lamps at all times of the year, no matter the weather.”
Who’s your favourite Danish poet?
”I would like to recommend the poet Henrik Nordbrandt, someone who was absolutely not enthusiatic about the changing seasons in Denmark. Because, as he put it, ’You never have time to get comfortable’. He describes this with humour and irony in this poem from 1986:
Året har 16 måneder
Året har 16 måneder: November
december, januar, februar, marts, april
maj, juni, juli, august, september
oktober, november, november, november, november
In his poems, he often writes about love. A love full of longing, melancholy, loneliness, loss and the absence of the loved one. He expresses this so acutely in this simple poem from ’Drømmebroer’ from 1998:
På Israels plads
Jeg ville ønske, du aldrig var kommet
så natten heller aldrig var gået.
Og jeg ville ønske, du ikke var blevet
Så morgenen heller aldrig var kommet.
Jeg ville ønske, det aldrig blev sommer
så sommeren altid var på vej!”