Day 274 - Counting by the week / Kartoffelferie

When I started at Novo, one thing that required some getting used to was the use of "week numbers" when discussing anything involving a future date in the calendar.

It's as you probably imagine it. We start each year with week one and we end with week fifty-two. Would you say, "I'll be out of the office from October 1st through the 11th"? Of course you wouldn't. You would say "I'll be out of the office in week 40 through 41".

Which brings us to Potato Week. Potato Week generally happens in Week 42. What, may you ask, is Potato Week? I'm glad you asked.

Danes like potatoes. Like is far too weak. Love. Danes love potatoes. Example. Once, at the Novo canteen, there were THREE DIFFERENT POTATO DISHES. Ireland weeps in shame.

Anyway, back in the day, country-type Danes needed extra help around the farm come fall potato harvest time. As everyone knows, potato trumps book-learning, and so it goes without question that Danish country kids quit on school for the week and happily labored in the potato fields.

Today, potato week continues! Sadly, most kids no longer have to dig up potatoes. It's fall break or Kartoffelferie. Kids get a week off from school but Danish farmers have to harvest potatoes on their own without the aid of any tiny potato digging hands. Poor potato farmers.