Name: Kira Hamilton
Home University: University of Texas at Austin
Summer 2014 Courses at DIS: Health Delivery and Prioritization in Northern Europe, Children in a Multicultural Context, and European Genocides
I have started to fade out of being a tourist this past week. I am starting to feel like I live here and can find my way around, or even give someone directions. I have met several Danes at my kollegium who I have become friends with and frequently eat ‘family dinner’ with during the week.
As I dive deeper into my Danish life, I find myself mentally noting places I want to show my family and friends when I inevitably come back to Copenhagen in the future. But for now, I have used these first three weeks to get my footing in this new city and in my new Danish life.
So far, these are the 10 key things I have learned over the past three weeks are (there are many more, but these are the highlights):
- When in doubt, wear black
- Good walking shoes are a must
- Take time to just sit and take in the experience
- Bring aspects of yourself into this new place (finding your place in the city and at DIS)
- Asking questions is the best way to find things at the grocery store
- The best way to break the ice is trying to pronounce a Danish street name or food
- Don’t be afraid to talk about friends and family back home, people want to share their stories
- Remember that part of the study abroad experience is the ‘study’ part
- Be a tourist at first, but not the whole time. Expand your horizons
- Don’t be afraid to learn and get lost in the experience, it’s a once in a lifetime type of thing
I haven’t quite wrapped my head around the fact that some of the friends I have made here are leaving for the summer while I am staying here until August. Although I will miss the friends I have made who are going back to the States, I am excited to see what these next two sessions at DIS will bring!