The City Of Smiles

Have you noticed how Danish power outlets resemble smiling faces? Aarhus is often ranked as one of the happiest cities. Known as “Smilets By” [the City of Smiles]. And here we are, right in the heart of it!

Early in the morning, we head to class, still sleepy. “Morgenfrisk” means fresh in the morning. It's a beautiful word, but it's not about me. I just can’t seem to wake up earlier. We leave at the last minute, with just half an hour to spare.

We walk fast, but I always feel compelled to pause and capture the special morning light, fallen leaves, the fog, the snow, the snowdrops, crocuses… Each time, something holds me back. And it’s not the traffic light. We walk quickly, gradually ascending uphill.

On our route through Rådhus Park, we consistently pass the same woman in a striped scarf, carrying a food container, “madpakke.” We use our meeting point as a measure of punctuality. We’re always happy to see her and exchange smiles along the way.

To our right, a stream of cyclists passes by, signaling their turns—it almost makes you want to high-five them! One cyclist, however, seems frozen in time—a monument on the bridge with wheels transformed into clock hands, symbolizing the wheels of time.

At 10 o’clock, we have a 15-minute break. I usually take a walk to refresh myself, get some air, and fully wake up. Initially, communication doesn’t come easily—most of our group speaks Persian.

Learning to tell time—quarter past, half past, quarter to, and o’clock—is part of our journey. When it’s five minutes to ten, I announce it’s five minutes to break, and everyone laughs!

“Kvart i tolv” [a quarter to twelve]—signals it’s time to return to the Latin Quarter. There, we know the hidden nooks and shortcuts, the city’s unique details, perspectives, and colorful murals. Several months have passed since we first arrived here—the small wheels of our suitcases clattering over the cobblestones of the old street.

Our lessons go beyond grammar and vocabulary—they offer a window into diverse lives. We’ve packed our entire existence—our worlds, memories, and cultures—into the backpacks of our souls and carried them here.

We share stories about food, holidays, childhood memories, and the places we left behind. Sometimes we struggle to find words, but gestures, smiles, and laughter bridge the gaps.