What is in Denmark?! Past Review
By Raissa A (Math, Wellesley College) for
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
YES!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Nothing was too hard to manage. The differences in the educational system made it easier to understand the material and information. There was a lot less pressure on grading and a lot more emphasis on understanding the concepts and theories behind the material you are learning. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
DIS was an amazing program. What I appreciate most about this program is that they take a lot of the burden off the shoulders of the students. It is difficult to move 5,000 miles away, especially when you do not have a support system in the area. DIS arranged our daily traveling, hosted many cooking events for students living on their own, planed excursion trips to experience the cultures, etc. Another great aspect about this program is that every student had the opportunity to visit at least one other country during their visit. Long study tours were wonderfully organized and allowed students to experience other European countries without worrying about flight costs, hotel expenses, and food costs. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
A lot of pork! Should warn non pork eaters or Muslim students. It is very difficult to find meats that are not pork in the Danish diet. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Long study tour to Tallinn, Estonia and Stockholm, Sweden. My core class and I spent an entire week together traveling Scandinavia. I can say it was one of the most memorable moments of my life. It also forged a bond between my class which has since carried over to the US even after we returned to our respective homes. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Denmark is overall a safe country. There were, however, a few cases of pick pocketing. Luckily, Denmark is on a universal healthcare system. As long as you are a resident(all study abroad students), you have access to free healthcare. No vaccines were needed. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Denmark is very expensive. I was living with a host family so my food and personal expenses were a lot less than someone living with a Danish roommate or in a Kollegium. I would say I spent no more than $40 a week. Sometimes more if I decided to go to the bar or a club. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Expect to pay almost double for basic items such as soap, lotion, shampoo, etc. They also have very few discount stores such as Wal-mart and target. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Most people spoke English but signs and transportation officials spoke in Danish. I was living with a host family and was able to practice my Danish with them. We also practiced a lot in class-- at least 75% of the class period was spent speaking in Danish. I definitely used Danish everyday because I had to travel around and understand where I was going and how to get to where I needed to be. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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? | When I told my friends and family that I will be studying abroad in Denmark, they all asked the same question "Why Denmark, What is in Denmark?" At the time, I didn't have an answer because I knew very little about Denmark. I will admit that, at first, it was a little hard to get adjusted to the change in environment but once I stepped out of my comfort zone, I began to have the best time of my life. I would recommend this program to any student that wants a different study abroad experience. |
