DIS is supportive, cozy, thought-provoking fun March 28, 2022

By Breanna W (CAMS/ARTH/CS, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/21/2021 to 12/18/2021 with

DIS Copenhagen: Semester

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned about myself, I learned my growth style, I learned about travel, I learned about interacting with others that were from other countries or colleges from me, I learned about getting out of my comfort zone, I learned about sharing spaces, I learned about just how adventurous and explorative I am, I learned that I LOVE culinary arts and making/exploring food, and much more.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The courses are interesting and engaging, but don't require an excessive number of work hours per week.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	It was very nice, but there were way too many people on my apartment's floor (11) for me to be comfortable! The location and facilities were excellent though, with the exception of the laundry room and whack European showers.
* Food:	I was in the culinary living learning community at DIS, so the food was, of course, 10/10 TOP TIER. We are given grocery stipends as part of the program, and the surrounding stores had superb Danish organic quality.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I felt like one of the locals, I even started ordering my lattes and croissants in Danish (with varying degrees of success).
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I was assigned a counselor by DIS, and the service was superb. The counselor was amazing, FREE, and the program organized it for me well.
* Safety:	Copenhagen is very safe, but keep your wits about you. Some students were robbed during my semester, so it's not perfect (as nowhere is).
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)	Very easy to live on a budget, as Copenhagen has many opportunities for discounted items, like thrifting and Too Good to Go food orders or buying groceries with the grocery card. If you buy things at normal price, Denmark is extremely (!!!) expensive, so if you want to go to restaurants, shop at top tier stores, or go to amusement parks, you'll pay a lot.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	80
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	If you want clothes, go to a less trendy area of Denmark and go thrifting. Avoid Indre By, Nørrebro, and Østerbro for shopping if you're on a budget. Use Too Good to Go to eat out, or go to an ethnic restaurant in Nørrebro to save money. The most expensive restaurants are the trendy looking ones in the popular neighborhoods. DON'T buy coffee at Emmery's (please, just resist), either use your grocery card at Starbucks or get a student discount at Living Room. Wait until DIS has contests or giveaways so you can go to Tivoli for free. Sometimes, professors even take students for free, so just wait it out and save on the expensive admission fee. For super savers: don't eat out except for special occasions, and challenge yourself to cook a lot! But don't buy your groceries at Irma, go for Netto for boxed/canned stuff, and føtex for fresh produce (the produce at Netto isn't great).

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	I took Danish Lang/Culture and the professor encouraged me to use Danish in everyday life out and about. I got pretty comfortable with it. If you don't take that class, you'll be at a disadvantage.
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?	Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	None
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	Make your orders at cafes in Danish, and when you buy things at a store casually, try to slip casual terms in like 'tak' or 'hej hej'. Don't be afraid to slip in words you know when talking to locals; like when you meet someone, you may not be fluent, but you can still greet them with a casual 'hvordan går det'. Gauge their reaction to see if your pronunciation is on point!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?	0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	DIS is super supportive The academics were fun and adventurous We were given chances to truly explore Denmark and Europe
* What could be improved?	DIS should take accessibility more into account, especially with housing DIS should encourage students to explore more than they normally would!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Cultivate your connections!!!

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 Urbanite A 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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Modern Frames: European Art and Cinema
Course Department:	Art History/Cinema and Media Studies
Instructor:	Morten Egholm and Andrea Homann
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course was thought-provoking and covered very new ground for me. It made excellent use of our field studies to Vienna and Prague by letting us explore the hands-on film and art experiences in those areas. The professors are brilliant, and I participated a lot in class. We were assessed based on our papers, participation, and presentations.
Credit Transfer Issues:	N/A