Hygge, Smørrebrød, and New Nordic: Diving headfirst into Danish Cultre Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Although not academically challenging in the same way as Middlebury, DIS provided a unique opportunity to apply learning in diverse, novel, and international contexts that are simply not available at Middlebury.

On-site administration of your program

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a home stay, which I was initially tentative about, but it was ultimately one of the most amazing aspects of the program. My family was fantastic and my appreciation and understanding of the Danish culture was constantly and positively driven by their generosity and desire to incorporate me into their lives.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Living in a home stay provided the ideal opportunity to interact with Danes on an incredibly personal level. In addition, due to my personal effort to meet local Danes, I formed several close friendships with Danes living in my town, which greatly enhanced my experience of the Danish culture.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Once you received your CPR number to access the healthcare system, care was easily to access and served me well. Healthcare prior to receiving the CPR number was sufficiently acceptable, but covered by DIS' insurance, which, four months after my visit, has not yet processed my refund.

Be aware of differences between American culture and the culture of your country of study. Cultural misunderstandings and what defines culturally appropriate behavior can serve as a significant source of safety issues.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

I loved learning Danish and took a lot of my own initiative to facilitate my own learning of it and practice it as frequently as possible

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Americans

• My host family
• Travel trips and engaged/interactive learning with core course
• Location - could not get closer to the center of Copenhagen

• Communication about cultural opportunities/events
• More mandatory cultural engagement and language practice
• Support services prior to receiving a CPR number (and subsequent state healthcare, support, etc.)

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer