Denmark, the most racist country on Earth Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I was placed in a household with a blatantly racist and abusive Danish host, and every time I requested to change my host, I was told to "talk with my roommate" about our problems. Every time I did so, it made matters much worse, and I complained and complained to the DIS office and emailed the multiple verbally abusive text messages to the housing office, and they simply said that I just need to stop texting him and "talk it out." They did not care about me or my personal safety at all and had the nerve to say that they have no reason to change my household because they see nothing wrong with my roommate.

On-site administration of your program

The DIS office refused to change my housing after I begged to be moved because every day that semester, my roommate would send me verbally abusive texts, say racist things to me, treated me poorly, and yell at me as often as possible.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The DIS office refused to change my housing after I begged to be moved because every day that semester, my roommate would send me verbally abusive texts, say racist things to me, treated me poorly, and yell at me as often as possible.

The food situation was great, but I would have liked to receive less money actually. I received a card with hundreds of dollars on it that could only be used at select grocery stores. I had to spend over a hundred dollars of food every week in order to have my card balance empty by the time I left Denmark. I tried to use my grocery card every single day and I had to buy expensive foods in grocery stores I did not need to get the money to run out because I was not going to be reimbursed for the excess money. Strange problem, I know.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Danish people never interacted with DIS students and there were no avenues for us to do so. As a minority, it was even worse because I was treated much worse than in the U.S. I rarely ever experienced that much racism in the U.S. For example, when most people in the U.S. see a person with all dri-fit clothes running on the street, holding an iphone and wearing headphones, they assume they are exercising. In Denmark, everyone screamed when they saw me running towards them on the sidewalks, and many people ran on the other side of the street to avoid me. When I walked on the sidewalks, people stopped, turned around, looked at me, and had me walk in front of them, most likely because they were afraid I was going to mug them. In Denmark, people tend to stick to their own friends and social groups, so even if I was white, I still think it would be nearly impossible to befriend Danish people.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never used the healthcare, but I imagine it is good.

I felt safe only because everyone in Denmark seemed to think I was a criminal based on the fact that everyone would look at me and have me walk in front of them and avoid being next to me at all times on public streets.

The DIS program did not help me when I begged to be moved to another program even though I was verbally attacked every single day of my time abroad. Denmark itself is an awful country, and I would not recommend any minority to ever go there.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Everything was expensive, and I did not eat at a single restaurant once in Denmark ($40+). I ate at shawarma restaurants and/or Paper Island every week though because it was all I could afford ($3-$20).

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Select all that apply

• Host Family

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• Local Students

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• Americans

• Trips to other European countries/ being away from Denmark
• My courses
• Some of the American students I befriended

• Allowing students to change housing options when they are verbally and physically threatened
• Allowing students to come into the DIS office if there is an emergency despite the student trying to come in around closing time
• Making sure the host families/ Danish roommates are not doing this program for the money