A Great Semester Past Review
By Anni K (PSYCHOLOGY., Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/16/2014 to 12/14/2014 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
Iintercultural communication, planning and management of time and money
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. |
DIS professors are very reasonable about their assignments. They're flexible with due dates since they understand that you want to travel while you study. There are computer labs all over DIS and they give you a stipend to print. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
DIS is located right in the city, so there's a lot going on at all times. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a kollegium in the area Bronshoj. Many Danes were surprised that we were placed there (30 minute commute), especially since other students had a 10-15 minute walk to class. Out of the 49 American students that started there, 9-10 students moved out for various reasons including mold in their room and harassment from non- American neighbors. Moreover, our kollegium was different than most of the others because families, married couples, and non- students were allowed to live there. |
| * Food: |
We have to cook our own food, but get a $600 stipend for groceries. Our kitchen consists of 2 electric stoves and a mini fridge. It would have been nice to have an oven in the room. On the other hand, I tried out many restaurants that were pricey but amazing! |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Even after 4 months, I still felt like a tourist in Denmark. I knew how transportation worked, the social norms, etc., but since it is such a homogenous society I never felt like I fit in. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Other than coming home to Bronshoj late at night, I felt completely safe in Denmark. |
| 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) |
Denmark is VERY expensive. Coffee is around $5. A meal can be from $20-$50. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
|
| 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 |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If I could do it again, I would definitely try out being in a host family |
