Copenhagen: A Scandinavian Utopia Past Review
By A student (Psychology, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/19/2015 to 05/15/2015 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I learned a lot about myself while I was abroad. My ability to adapt, make new friends, navigate a foreign country, use public transportation, buy groceries and prepare meals. Book hotels/flights and travel independently. I was so surprised that I had the competencies to do all of these activities. I had no idea that I could live independently in this way, let alone in a foreign country where English is not the first language. I also learned to appreciate cultural differences and how our perceptions of what is normal are all culturally engrained but do not hold universal truth. They can vary depending on the context. I also met many people of different walks of life and realized the vast diversity of human experience. I go to a very unique college and I got the opportunity to interact with students from universities across America--large and small, co-ed, and that was a great experience for me because they were so different from Wellesley women.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Depending on the course, DIS could often be really easy and not rigorous. That was fine with me however because I was so busy just acclimating to the city, traveling and making friends that if I had more intense classes I would have been really stressed out. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Extremely helpful, registering for classes, getting books, finding classrooms and getting student feedback was all superb. They were always ready and available to help with any problem or question |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
lived in one of the nicest neighborhoods of Copenhagen in nice apartment building with other American students. Roomates got along very well and everyone in the apartment was very respectful. Great RA's that invited us to activities and shared Danish culture with us. They also were always available for advice about grocery shopping, how to pay a metro ticket etc |
| * Food: |
I mostly grocery shopped for my food and brought sandwiches to school for lunch. eating out at restaurants in the city was too expensive so we did not eat out often but when we did there were great options, anything you could want--pizza, thai, Chinese, burgers etc |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Because I lived in a DRC with all American students, we mostly hung out with each other because there was no real incentive to go out and meet Danes. Danish people can often be exclusive too and not eager to strike up conversations with strangers. If I lived in a home stay I would have been much more exposed to the local culture or if I lived with a Danish roommate. Our professors tried to integrate Danish culture into our class lessons which was helpful and we did projects where we had to go out and interview Danish people or write papers about cultural differences. These in class assignments helped me feel more aware of the local culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I personally did not have any health issues while abroad but I had a roommate who contracted an ear infection and found it extremely difficult to get prescribed antibiotics because the Danes do not use them as much as we do in the U.S. On the other hand, I had another friend who was able to call a hotline when she wasn't feeling well and they sent a prescription for her to a local pharmacy at midnight and we were able to go pick it up. It just depends on the illness how willing the health system is in giving you meds. We were set up with a medical card and doctor as soon as we arrived in CPH though and everything was free. |
| * Safety: |
Extremely safe city. the most safe I've ever felt in a metropolitan area. was never once cat-called or harassed on the street, crime very low in the Denmark--large part of their culture is the trust factor. |
| 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) |
Copenhagen is a notoriously expensive city. I would not recommend for people on a budget or if you are on a budget just be strict about not eating out or going to bars often. they do give a grocery store stipend that lasted me a good portion of the semester-- up until the end of April. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I probably spent about $100-150 a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | grocery shop for food rather than eating out--pack lunches, make instant coffee at home, look for bars/clubs with no cover or a deal before midnight on drinks, buy alcohol to drink at home rather than getting drinks out. try to attend as many university hosted events(free food) as possible. find student discounts for tours and museums, buy tickets online. plan travel/plane tickets far in advance for cheaper rates. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
the program in general did not encourage use of the language but my Danish class/ instructor always did. she wanted us to speak as much as we can in restaurants or when we are out in public. not every student had to enroll in a Danish course however, Wellesley requires it which I think is a really good idea. I think its crucial to be learning the language at the same time as living in the country because it adds so much to your overall experience and understanding of the culture. |
| 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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I had completed 200 level German classes at my home university |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | try to use it as often as possible. when you order coffee in the morning, when you ask for directions on the bus or metro, or when interacting with a local(at a bar, party, sporting event) practice with them--they'll think its cute and funny. my roomates did not take the Danish language class so I couldn't practice at home with them. if you have a host family definitely speak with them as much as possible and have them teach you additional vocabulary/phrases/pronunciation. |
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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| 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? |
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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? | I definitely wish I had signed up for a host family or gotten involved in local activities where I could meet more Danish people and improve my language skills/ become more immersed in the culture. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
