VICTORIA: I LIVE IN DENMARK!

Another in our series of features about CC readers all around the world... we talk to Victoria who lives near Copenhagen in Denmark!

Victoria says:
I live about twenty minutes outside the Danish capital, Denmark, so it is kind of countryside-ish. Our house is made of yellow brick and dates from 1980, and I live with my mum, dad and older brother. In Denmark we have snowy winters and warm summers, which is great! My school is quite laid back - we don't wear a uniform and don't get detention unless we've done something really bad like smashing a window. It's an international school, so there are children from many different countries; students from the UK think our school is paradise, while others find it challenging. My favourite subject is history, but I also go to a drama school close to where I live and dream of being an actress one day.

Danish food is not too different from food in the UK, but we don't like cakes and sweets quite as much. We do have a traditional dessert which people often bring to school when it's their birthday - it's called Flodebolde and is very creamy and sweet. Smorrebrod is a typical Danish lunch (smor = butter, brod = bread). Everyone likes a sandwich, but the Danish LOVE them! Smorrebrod is rye bread with a topping of butter, cheese or sausage. In the Uk you have a cake called 'Danish pastry' but here we call it Weinerbrod, which means Austrian bread! I really love the cinnamon or chocolate versions.

We have many traditions and festivals and our way of celebrating Christmas is very different too. We celebrate on the 24th so we open presents and eat a huge dinner on Christmas Eve. The 25th is much quieter! Denmark is a small country, about 5.5 million people, and I think that's good. Denmark was one of the first countries to legalise gay marriage, which I am proud about as I feel this is fair. We also help refugees from troubled countries and once a year, some of these families are invited to meet the Danish queen and the politicians to talk about their issues and experiences. I can understand why the EU has named Denmark as the happiest country on earth.

Perhaps you've guessed, but I am not Danish - my dad is Polish but has lived in Denmark since he was a child and my mum comes from the Soviet Union, with family from Russia and Ukraine. As you can imagine, I worry a great deal about the unrest in Ukraine at the moment. I've visited Poland many times but it is rarer for me to go to Russia. Even so, I got upset recently when the Russian entry for the Eurovision song contest were booed and one of my teachers makes harsh comments about Russia to me which I do find upsetting. My biggest fear is a third world war - I would love the world to learn how to get along together. If I don't become an actress,  I would like to do something that works towards world peace, as this is something I think about a lot lately.

Cathy says:
Victoria's description of life in Denmark makes it really come alive - and I love that we get a real insight into Victoria's life too! COMMENT BELOW if you've ever visited Denmark, or email me HERE if you'd like to write about YOUR country for DREAMCATCHER!