Denmark: Learning to reflect on the built environment that surrounds us Past Review
By A student (ARCHITECTURE AND RELATED SERVICES., Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/19/2014 to 06/14/2014 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
-I was given the opportunity to see places and things that I might not have otherwise seen. I traveled to Sweden, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Turkey, and Italy. -I also enjoyed about much we stepped out of the classroom and actually got a chance to observe first hand what we had been discussing - eg Urban Design theory on the streets of Copenhagen. "This semester has prompted me to ask questions that will help me to unpackage small pieces of the world around me. Through conversations I shared with other people from all different walks of life, I became intrigued by the role that our social, political, and economic values and structures play in our day-to-day lives. Through drawing, mapping, and diagramming, I learned how to look more closely at my surroundings, analyzing the details, and observing the movement and presence of people; Through these observations I came to understand, in greater depth, how our built environment can affect or reflect the way in which we live our lives; what our social, political, and economic values may be. My observations lead me to further question why and how people and cultures develop as they do; How do art, science, and mathematics etc. help us to make sense of the world around us, and how do they help us construct our identity? " - Excerpt from my Danish language and culture reflection paper
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The rigor and intensity of this program is what you make it - I wanted to challenge myself both in and outside the classroom, so I asked for extra assignments and such. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
I had to cook for myself - I really wish we had more money for food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was difficult to meet danes, and I wish that there had been more opportunities to do so. Everything it seemed though cost money. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was sick 2x through the semester and both times I felt like I was in great hands. Denmark is a social welfare state, and as a student, health care is provided for your during your stay. |
| * Safety: |
Copenhagen is an incredibly safe city, but like all cities you need to keep your wits about you. I did however feel safer in Copenhagen than I do in Boston. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Copenhagen is an expensive city - a coffee can cost you between 4-8 USD depending on what you get. Other things however, are well priced - like Turkish food (A kebab or chicken durüm) which can cost you around $7/8. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | It depended, but I spent about $100 on food/week - |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | -cook family dinners/potlucks. -If you really want to save money - live with a host family |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I am a native spanish speaker, and I had taken French at Wellesley - through level 1. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | If you really want to learn Danish - live with a host family, or in a Kollegium with other international/danish students Go to bars where there are students - Try to meet other Danish people - Practice your Danish that way. Date a Danish Person. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | -I didn't know just how american the program would be, and I wish I had had the opportunity to meet more Danes, but even still I had a wonderful time/wonderful conversations with the Danes I did meet. -(this did not pertain to me but...) if you are planning on bringing a credit card - it must have a pin, otherwise you cannot use it. -I experienced culture shock when I arrived - not with Denmark, but with DIS. I was at first very frustrated with the academic environment - how the students did not actively participate/engage in discussion - instead they sat there in silence. I found ways of stimulating my own academic experience- through reading reading, asking questions, chatting with professor. This experience taught me how to direct my own learning, something that I likely would not have had the time to do at Wellesley. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
