A Semester Spent Learning (in so many ways)! May 23, 2023

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I had a very good educational experience while at DIS for the semester. The courses I took fulfilled some of my distribution and major requirements, but I also loved that they combined field studies across Denmark and outside of the country with the material we were learning in class. I loved my core course because it gave me the opportunity to think about environmental studies in an international realm but also provided me with the opportunity to have active discussions about Danish environmental policy. The course also helped me envision, in a hands-on way, a sustainable urban future, which I found really powerful. I thought the intensity, for the most part, was perfect given that it was a study abroad program and I didn't want to spend my entire time abroad sitting doing homework, though I did also feel challenged in my classes. I enjoyed that DIS was able to merge academics with experience outside of the classroom.

On-site administration of your program

I thought DIS faculty did a really good job providing resources for students, especially when we first got to Copenhagen. They had an activities and volunteer fair, where we could look at opportunities to get involved with the community. There were also a lot of talks hosted by DIS and suggestions for things to do. It was also generally pretty easy to get in touch with DIS regarding specific issues.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing at DIS is a bit of a toss-up, and I wish they would have asked more specific questions on the initial housing questionnaire to better discern where the best fit for people might be. I lived about 20 minutes from the center of Copenhagen, right by a metro station and a 5 minute walk from the beach. In general, I really liked our location, because it was quiet and I loved walking by the beach. Copenhagen is not a big city so it was easy to get most places from where I lived. I was, however, living in a pretty small room for two people, where we had a kitchen and bathroom. I think that is the only thing that I wish was a little bit different. The housing options at DIS are all very drastically different, and while I think I was pretty satisfied by where I was living, I know others were not.

Over the course of my semester, I was able to try Danish food, and while I didn't love it, I'm glad I got to learn about it.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was able to integrate into the local culture through volunteering at a few different organizations for sustainability and food distribution. I also went to some flea markets and dance classes where I was able to talk with some Danes. I signed up for the Visiting Host Program, but due to medical issues with my Visiting Host Mom, we were only able to meet once at the very end of the semester. Overall, I think I had some good interactions with Danes to help me learn about the culture, and I think just by living in Copenhagen and taking the metro and going to museums, etc. , I was able to learn about the culture. However, I do wish I had talked to more Danes or become friends with more Danes while I was there. I was a little hard because we were not attending class with them and I was not living with them.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had any experience with healthcare while I was abroad. We all got a CPR card so that we could get healthcare had we needed to. The benefits of healthcare in Denmark are that it is free. But this also means it is a longer wait to see a doctor (from what I heard while abroad). Also, prescriptions are harder to get than in the US.

I felt extremely safe while I was in Copenhagen. The only times I didn't feel safe were at the beginning of the semester, where there was a gang-related stabbing right outside our housing complex, and at times when I was walking alone at night and some times alone on the metro at night. Overall, though, I did feel very safe in the city, and never had any incidents. It goes without saying, though, that even in a safe city incidents happen and it's important to be alert and stay out of unsafe situations, especially at night.

DIS was the kind of program I was looking for before going abroad. I had never traveled to Europe and really appreciated the support and resources that DIS gave me. I liked the hands-on aspects of my classes and enjoyed the field studies.

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

Copenhagen is an extremely expensive city, and I knew that somewhat coming in, but I don't think I entirely grasped how much money I would spend. We were given a food stipend of $600, and the opportunity to get a commuter card for the metro or a bike. The food stipend lasted me the entire semester, and my commuter card allowed me to spend very little on transportation costs. Regardless, even small occasional expenses add up, so budgeting was extremely important for me.

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

I took Danish Language and Culture while in Copenhagen for the semester. Through this class, I learned a lot of history about. Denmark (less culture) and some language, but it was never really encouraged outright that we use the language while out. I think this also varies from class to class, because I know some Danish classes traveled to schools to talk with Danish students and were required to speak to them in Danish. Since most people spoke English and I wasn't confident in my Danish skills, I only used Danish phrases occasionally, and I wish I had immersed myself more in this respect.

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• Dorm

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• Americans

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• Americans

• Great support system and resources
• Traveling with classes (short/long study tours)
• Field Studies

• Housing
• More opportunities for cultural immersion
• Transparency of what some classes are about/material they cover