Utopia - hope to come back! Past Review
By Arianna P (Sustainability in Northern Europe, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/18/2015 to 05/18/2015 with
DIS Copenhagen: Semester
I gained a greater understanding of what I care about and who I am as a person. I feel more confident in my identity and my beliefs after getting to know so many people, and live in a country where the beliefs I am typically surrounded by are absent!
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. |
A lot of work for a study abroad program, but you get out of it as much as you put in! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
This program was EXTREMELY organized and easy to communicate with. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a homestay and DIS matched me with a perfect family for me that allowed me to get to know Danish culture on another, more intimate level. |
| * Food: |
Danish food is unique! Made me miss some foods from the U.S. Also, eating out is very expensive! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I wish I would have joined a club, team, or had a Buddy Network to get to know more Danes my own age but I did enjoy getting to know my host family and their friends! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I know that I had access to free health care for the duration of my program, though I never had to utilize it. |
| * Safety: |
Very safe city at all times of night. The trains and streets are very clean and safe to be on. |
| 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) |
Most money I have spent in college so far. Copenhagen is a very expensive city. Plus, I did a lot of traveling and therefor was living a different lifestyle than I normally do! |
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 |
Though I did learn a good amount Danish, everyone in the country speaks English and so I never truly got to practice the language outside of my classroom. Wish I had been pushed outside of my comfort zone more! |
| 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? |
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? | Copenhagen is very cloudy a lot of the time and though I knew it would be cold, I would have enjoyed spending time in a place with more sunshine and green space! |
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.' |
