Life really does begin at the end of your comfort zone. Past Review
By A student (Health And Society, Anthropology, Education Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/18/2014 to 05/18/2014 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
It's hard to sum up in a tiny box what I learned from my experience abroad because I honestly learned more than words could say. Living with a Danish host family was the highlight of my experience. They taught me so much about not only their culture, but also about my own culture and background. My host family welcomed me with open arms and treated me like their own daughter--their love and hospitality meant everything to me. But at the same time, I also had to make an effort to get to know them. It came naturally, but it wasn't easy either. I think my advice to anyone going abroad is that remember that you are here to study ABROAD--so try your best to not just hang out with your American friends all the time. I wish I had tried harder to make Danish friends, but I am still very glad that I came out of this experience with a close friend that I will probably keep in touch with for the rest of my life. But again, it wasn't easy. You really do have to step out of your bubble to make the most out of your study abroad experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I absolutely loved living with a Danish family. I felt like I was truly immersed in Danish culture and that was probably the best part of my study abroad experience. |
| * Food: |
Since I lived with a host family, they provided meals for me. My host mom happened to be a chef--so I lucked out! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Living with a Danish host family definitely helped me feel immersed in the local culture. But if your housing situation didn't force you to be surrounded by Danes, I feel like you would have had to try much harder to integrate yourself with the locals. I wish I joined a club with Danish students or something like that, but I just didn't get to. You have to really choose to integrate yourself within the community or else it becomes very easy to just stick with your fellow American students. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
I was able to live on a student budget pretty well mainly because 1) I received many scholarships for my semester abroad and 2) my host family provided food for me. I would use money on food and hanging out with friends every now and then, which wasn't much money at all. However, living in Copenhagen is very expensive and for my friends that had to buy their own groceries, they struggled quite a bit with finances (DIS does provide a food stipend, but it is not always enough). |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Definitely less than $100 a week. Probably around $80. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make your own lunch! No matter how tired or lazy you are, try to prepare something for school the next day. Buying lunch costs you around 50DKK ($10) every time and it adds up. Also look for places that give student discounts for pastries, coffee, and sandwiches. |
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 |
Since I lived with a Danish host family, I practiced the Danish I learned in class with them. But since most people in Denmark speak English, there wasn't really a need to speak Danish. It is also not mandatory for DIS students to take a Danish class, although it was mandatory for my home university. |
| 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? | None |
| 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? | Live with a host family! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Integrating into the Danish community is not easy. So try harder to make Danish friends and participate in local activities! You may think to yourself "oh I'll do that later," but time flies. So do something everyday that is out of your comfort zone. Talk to strangers. I'm serious. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
