It wouldn't have been amazing without my host family. Past Review
By Susan L (International and Global Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/18/2014 to 05/18/2014 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I learned how to make abroad become home and everyday since I've left Denmark, I feel a great loss in my heart. I miss my host family like I would miss my own family. I also love them like my own. It's crazy how four months abroad can change your view of yourself because I had to spend so much time reflecting as an Asian American in a predominantly white homogenous country. I spent so much time trying to understand what conforming met and I was so lucky to have been matched with a host family who genuinely cared about me and my history as an individual. You're not abroad to become the people of the country you're visiting. You're abroad to learn, to understand, to ask questions, to appreciate, to fall in love, and to take a piece of all of that and and formulate it into your own being. And if in the process you feel more like the people of that country, that's amazing.
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. |
Definitely more challenging than what other abroad students went through but worth the experience. The requirement to take Danish is an important one so be further immersed in the culture since many people can speak English, some Danish learning shows initiative. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I never really had a problem with my program to direct any questions luckily. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Staying with a host family made me go outside Copenhagen and explore the smaller towns of Denmark. I fell in love with my family and I learned so much about Danish culture and life. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Because I stayed with a Danish family, I felt like local culture was my everyday life. I had to adapt to their lifestyles and I always had someone to ask questions about the Danish culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
My host mom was a nurse so the one time I got sick, she was amazing and directed me to what options were available. Plus, DIS signs you up with everything so you're prepared for an medical emergency and you know what local doctors you can visit. |
| * Safety: |
The city is very safe but I did get my phone pickpocketed less than a week before leaving which I know I could have been more careful about. Always be aware. The city is safe but you have to know that there are dangers out there no matter where you are. |
| 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) |
Staying with a host family left me not worrying about food expenses whatsoever. This left me with a lot of money I had saved up during the summer to be used on traveling or other personal expenses. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Staying with a host family really does bring down the amount of money you're spending and doesn't defer from your time to travel. DIS gives you a lot of travel breaks to explore the world and utilize that time to travel and spend all the money you save and you still have the rest of the time abroad to connect with you host family. Plus, if you were fortunate like myself, I even went on vacation with my host family to Sweden and we went kayaking and had a wonderful time together. |
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 Brandeis requires you take a language abroad, I had to take Danish even though all the courses were in English. It was there more to supplement the cultural aspect which I think was important because the class also taught about Danish culture and history. |
| 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 |
| 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? | Find a Dane and practice. I lived in a household full of Danish people and I feel bad that I didn't take the opportunity to practice more with them. But anytime I did, I can tell they were excited to see me trying to learn. They took genuine interest in my coursework. |
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 wish I had known about more events that mingled the students with regular Danes. I didn't realize that being with a host family didn't limit me in taking part in the Buddy network. |
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.' |
