Denmark: A Pleasant Surprise for All Past Review
By Christine O (Studio Arts, Wellesley College) for
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I learned a lot about the field of design and art from a different, global perspective, and it widened my horizon in terms of the topics that I want to address in my art career.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Danish Institute for Study Abroad |
| 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. |
My host institution is similar to what I'm used to as it is an institute for study abroad students. However, I found that our professors and courses were much less heavier on academia and focused more on the actual working world out there, which I found very helpful. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I think there's a lack of communication that sometimes causes mistakes |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my host family and was treated as a family member, and overall loved the housing, but the only downside was that it was over an hour away by public transportation to school. |
| * Food: |
Denmark is not famous for their cuisine, partly because everything is so expensive. Quality of meals differ from family to family; I had one that loved pork and potatoes and brown sauce but not necessarily vegetables, so my diet consisted mostly of carbs. My friend on the other hand lived with a very environment and health-sensitive family t |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There were many--town carnivals, flea markets, circuses, Tivoli, etc. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Safe compared to other countries in Europe |
| 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? | I withdrew a little less than $500 a month and found that it was more than enough for my expenses (including snacks, shopping, and other extraneous fees); this was only for my situation as I was in a host family. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Gifts for host family when traveling, $125 if you get fined on public transportation for not having pass or being in the wrong zone (BEWARE.) |
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? | Information Design Studio |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced a little bit with my host family, but not much. Most everyone speaks English. |
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? | Take advantage of every single opportunity you get in Europe, because it won't come again so easily. |
