Life is Lived in Moments
In my first day of class in my core course of Positive Psychology, my professor said that live is lived in moments. I feel that this first week in Copenhagen has been a whirlwind of moments- beautiful, stressful, exciting, tiring, exhilarating, special moments. In my first week I have met lots of new people, moved in to the most beautiful flat that already feels like home, gotten lost on a 3 minute walk to the grocery store, gone to the free living town of Christiania with my music llc and professional musical advisor, found the infamous Copenhagen street trampolines, attended the DIS orientation, cooked dinner for my flat mates, attended talks hosted by DIS on how to live like a local, went out to a local bar with recommended by a friendly Danish woman on the street, meet my visiting host family (a wonderful couple who live in Frederiksberg and got married last weekend!), and had my first day of classes. Like I said, a whirlwind!
Copenhagen is such a beautiful city, it didn’t take me long to realize how special the place, people, culture, and school are. Although it’s a little jarring to wake up at 7:30 and for it to still be dark out, you can see the sunrise while you’re out and starting your day! Here was the sunrise when I was walking to the DIS Orientation at a really cool old circus venue.
My flat is on the third floor of a building that is older than the United States of America! While the location couldn’t be more ideal for city living, the architecture is also incredible, the flat is surprisingly spacious, and the eight other students who live there I can already call my friends. I cooked dinner for them on Tuesday night and had a blast cooking as well as sharing our first home cooked meal together.
My health app has been very impressed with the amount of steps I have taken this week, but I have to say there’s no better way to explore Copenhagen than on foot! I have only taken the metro once, and although I was terrified at first to attempt it on my own in a new place with a a language I don’t know, it was surprisingly simple! Here are some highlights from my walking adventures!
I was a little nervous for my first day of class, and although I have only had three today (since we start on a Thursday), my nerves are already calmed by my excitement to learn from the incredible professor and in immersive and experiential ways. I can’t wait to write about my classes, more city adventures, and yummy food in my next post. See you all in a week, tak!
Counting Down the Days
It’s been my dream for seven years to go abroad. When I was 13 my mom went out of town for a week so my older brother’s girlfriend at the time, Amanda, stayed with me. She went to the University of Colorado, Boulder and had just done a summer semester abroad in Copenhagen. The way she talked about her experience was tantalizing; biking everywhere, colorful buildings, unique and immersive classes, weekend trips to Paris, Berlin, Budapest, learning new and unique languages, incredible friends (which have proved to be life long), and some of the most influential self-discoveries she had ever had. Something inside of me clicked and I knew I wanted to study abroad. I wasn’t set at the time on Copenhagen, but as I attended the study abroad fair my freshman year at the University of Puget Sound, I saw the DIS table and was immediately impressed and wanted to learn more. I met two seniors in my sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, that had just done a semester in Copenhagen with DIS and had nothing but glowing remarks about the program and exciting stories about their adventures in the city. As I declared my major in Psychology the first semester of my Sophomore year, DIS quickly became the front runner of abroad programs. The variety of high caliper classes that they offered in Psychology (and most all other academic departments) with their unparalleled study tours and experiential learning opportunities, made it a clear choice that DIS was the program I wanted to do and Copenhagen was where I wanted to be. I applied over a year and a half ago now and have since been counting down the days until the adventure of a lifetime begins.
As I write this, I am three days away from leaving for Copenhagen. Denver to Boston, Boston to Reykjavík, Reykjavík to Copenhagen (that’s my upcoming itinerary). I can’t believe it is so close (well, maybe I can, seven years is a long time to wait for something ;)). Over this semester I’ve been busy getting everything in order, like medical prescriptions, renewing my passport, banking, phone plans, ensuring I have some seriously warm winter clothes, etc, but now I’m in the final step. Pack it all and say my goodbyes for the next 4 months, of which the most difficult with be to my sweet golden doodle, Maggie.
I recently found out that I am living in music exploration the living-learning community (llc), in a building that is truly in the heart of the city and a 4-minute walk from DIS. I also have been in correspondence with my visiting host family, a wonderful Danish couple that have already demonstrated such kindness, I can not wait to meet them! All the pieces of the puzzle are coming into place now. I have been so incredibly impressed with the organization of DIS in every way. They’re so well organized, easy to contact and provide so much important information before you go from what class expectations will be, to how to ride a bike in Copenhagen, to how consent looks different in Denmark versus other places, and what to bring and not to bring.
If you’re thinking about studying abroad with DIS, I have nothing but good things to say and promise you that they prepare you so well for your time abroad. They take so much of the unknown nervousness out of the process and help you every set of the way (all of which I was very grateful for). I’ll provide more information about my classes, arrival experience, and living situation in my next post during my first week abroad. I can’t wait to experience it and then tell you all about it!
People ask me if I’m excited or nervous and I feel both, but they’re really one and the same at this point. I think I mostly feel ready. It’s time to zip up my suitcases, step on the plane, and start my study abroad journey in the wonderful wonderful city of Copenhagen.
Meet Me in Copenhagen ♥ Michelle 