Make Hygge Happen Past Review
By A student (Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin - Madison) - abroad from 01/17/2013 to 05/19/2013 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I became a lot more confident about being independent and exploring on my own. I took classes that were really different from ones that I took at Wisconsin and I loved expanding my education that way. I also loved Scandinavia, which was a part of Europe that I had never experienced before. Talking with my host family, other students and Danish friends I made helped me learn other points of view and also helped me decide about my own beliefs. I still talk about my study abroad semester all the time, and it's been two years!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
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 |
DIS is well organized and people are quick to respond to any questions or concerns. Everybody seems to work together. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was in a host family and I loved it. My family was great and it was just what I wanted. however, I was pretty far outside of Copenhagen, so, although it was nice to see the country and I loved the train, the long commute was restrictive. It was a process to get into the city and took a lot of planning ahead. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Learning about Denmark in classes, using Denmark as a classroom, practicing Danish, and living with a host family all made me feel like a Dane myself, which was just what I wanted. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have any experiences, but as a student there for the semester I was a part of the Danish healthcare system. |
| * Safety: |
In terms of people and feeling safe socially, Denmark is amazing. I never felt threatened and people are very nice and trustworthy. 78% of Danes feel that they can trust most other people, the highest score ever in any country! Just wear your helmet when you bike!! |
| 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) |
Personally, I lived with a host family so food and other living costs were covered, but Denmark is very expensive. For groceries, going out or any extra costs, it could be hard to live on a student's budget. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It's easy to lose track of money spent on essentials like food, so it's easy to cut that cost if you DO think about how you spend money on food. Don't stop at bakeries, cook your own meals and pack a lunch. Other than that, limit your shopping for extra stuff, it's definitely cheaper somewhere else. |
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 |
They encourage taking Danish class, which teaches the language and the culture. Practicing Danish in class and out was encouraged a lot. It's hard to practice the language, though, because Danes speak English so well and can also tell when you speak Danish badly. I tried to practice with my host family. |
| 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? | No Danish. |
| 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? | Try to take a class before you get there, but while you're there definitely try it in stores and cafes. Also, living with a host family helps enormously. You hear it more often and don't have to be afraid to practice with them. |
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? | That Copenhagen is not just cold, but windy! And I should have taken Danish before I went there, but most students didn't or couldn't, so it wasn't a problem comparatively. Other than that, DIS did a great job on informing students about options and classes, and I felt very prepared. |
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.' |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Cross Cultural Communications |
| Course Department: | Communications |
| Instructor: | Helle Rytkønen |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Our class really felt comfortable and everybody asked questions and joined in class conversations. Helle was a wonderful teacher and was also really fun to travel with on our study tours. Even though my class was the first of this course at DIS, it was well organized and we had great activities. I'm sure it is even better now! |
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