Copenhagen Nov. 6, 1997

Dear Stefan, it’s almost a year since you visited us, it’s terrible how time flies! Are you back from the USA, have you finished your theses? How are you and Sara doing? Hopefully good!?

After your visit with us I went out and bought Musil’s The Man Without Qualities and although it’s a pure pleasure to read him, I haven’t finished the two volumes yet. But I probably will at some point.

I remember talking about a seminar I had attended in Gothenburg. We were a group of four, including my brother Erik. We still managed to develop something on the basis of that seminar. And it’s great. Among other things, the anthropologist Bo Wagner Sørensen will write a text for my exhibition here in Copenhagen, which will be in May 1998. Susanne, my friend whom I have also photographed, has finally gotten over her writer’s block and has reviewed a new film for educational purposes called Mit sprog som menneske (My Language as a Human Being), which deals with the language confusion in Greenland between Greenlandic and Danish, which, in conjunction with an inconsistent colonial policy, has been so politically and emotionally exploited that many adults and children still do not speak Danish, resulting, among other things, in a lack of access to knowledge and education. It’s very similar to the current discussions about second-generation immigrants in Sweden and Denmark. However, there is more consistency here.

This summer I have been to East Greenland in Scoresbysund or Ittoqqortoormiit as it is called in Greenlandic. It means Where the big houses are. Scoresbysund was a Scottish whaler who discovered the fjord in 1822, after which he dedicated the fjord to his father Scoresby the Elder. It was a very overwhelming trip because, in a way, I “came home” after 35 years. The direct reason for my visit was to meet my half-brother Ole, whom I had met last fall. I think we talked about it too. Also, because I had found 5 photo albums at the son of the inventor of Scoresbysund, Ejnar Mikkelsen. I brought the photo albums with me and together with local citizens (including many of my cousins) we identified photos from 1924–32. I’m sending you my latest travel grant application so you can get an idea of what it’s all about.

My mother was also there and it was a very rare experience to be there with her. I stayed with my older brother and his family and most fo the time, I was filled with comfort and fulfillment. It really was like coming home again. Apparently, rocks are not something you just forget.

As you can read, I am planning to travel there again in April 1998, this time to stay a little longer. Hopefully I can take Søren with me so that he can experience what it’s like there.

We are doing well here in Nyelandsvej. Søren started first grade in August and he loves learning new things at school. He has started reading, which has gone incredibly well in such a short time, but he was also very ready for school. In 14 days he will be 7 years old.

I’ve been busy with a lot of things besides the book. This month I’ve been to Helsinki a couple of times; in a week I’m going to Poznan in Poland; and a little later to Jyvaskylä in Finland. All in connection with exhibitions where I will be giving talks. It’s exciting when I’m traveling and wonderfully boring when I’m at home. Then it’s everyday life with all its practical tasks and Søren.

I hope you are well wherever you are and that this letter reaches you.

Best wishes to you both from

Pia and Søren