Copenhagen: Perfect balance of Cultural Immersion, Independance, and FUN!!! Past Review

By (Architectural History and Criticism., Middlebury College) for

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
absolutely. so much more independent. learned how to loosen up and have fun. great break from middlebury programs which force immersion down your throat (according to friends). i just enjoy life more and am a lot happier as a person after the experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Courses at DIS are run very similarly to those at Middlebury. They are small and discussion based with a high teacher to student ratio. The grading system and the expectations for participation and engagement are equally similar.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

strengths: program facilitated meeting new friends. visiting family program. very organized. support system. travel opportunities. study tours are well organized, fun, engaging, eye-opening (you do SO much more than you could if you organized the trip on your own. very worth the money) weaknesses: program holds your hand (strength and weakness)

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in Norrebro. culturally stimulating, close to the inner-city. Great bars and restaurants. Very fun and comfortable to live with other Americans. Horrible kitchen space (unsanitary. 25 Americans. one kitchen. no dishwasher...) If I hadnt lived in a dorm with other americans, my experience would not have been nearly as positive.

* Food:

Copenhagen is no Rome. Dont go there for fine dining. It is super expensive and not very special.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

all study tours (Berlin and Istanbul in particular)

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

totally safe. i am a small girl and i walked around by myself at night all the time without concern. No concern.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

I thought the language components of the class were relatively useless (mostly because I had no interest and little motivation. Everyone in Denmark speaks english and doesnt understand americans when they attempt to pronounce Danish). The cultural lessons I learned in teh class (holidays. politics, leadership, traditions, etc.) were much more relevant. I always spoke english.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Study Tours
  • organization
  • DRC
* What could be improved?
  • cleaner kitchen in Ravsborggade 11
  • Home Stays sounds difficult (too far away)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? live in the DRC (DIS Residential Community). It was so important (for me) to have fellow Americans around me. The cultural immersion is easy to find and create from there.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

European Memory and Identity: Germany

Course Department: European Culture and History
Instructor: Thorsten Wagner
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Yes, very challenging. Field trips to Hamburg, Lubeck, Flensberg, Berlin, and Sachsenhausen. Thorsten was extremely knowledgable and brought understanding of the urban landscape/german memory/identity into context of WWII and Cold War. I participated just as frequently as I would at my home institution. N
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A