My first few days in Denmark seemed to be a blur. Despite severe jet lag, I made as much of an effort as I could to meet as many new people as possible and learn my way around. I live in a Kollegium, the DIS housing option in which students live on a in a building with Danes around our age, sharing a kitchen and other common areas. I have gotten to know my Danes, and am very excited to have them here for advice, to hang out with and to have as some locals to become friends with.
Although I chose the Commuter Card option from DIS, I decided to rent a bike on my own. I knew Copenhagen was an extremely bike friendly city, but I was still shocked when I got here and saw how plentiful the bike lanes were, how many people commuted via bike and how easy it was. The best decision I’ve made since I’ve arrived was renting a bike, which I did two days after arriving. I bike pretty much everywhere (I have literally not used my commuter card one time, and haven’t been on a bus or Metro), which gives me a chance to get to know the city well and get some needed exercise. My Kollegium is about an eight or nine minute bike ride from Vestergade and Frederiksberg, the two streets where DIS has many buildings and where nearly all of my classes are located. It’s a really nice bike ride, over a bridge above the wide canal that stretches through the city.
So far, I have had all but one of my classes, and I have been really impressed with the courses. They are intriguing and challenging, and all of my teachers are genuinely excited to be there and to be teaching us. There are definitely a couple aspects about class that differ from home, though. Teachers here want to be called by their first name, not “Professor” or “Mr.” Also, in most of my classes at Penn State, teachers don’t make an effort to get to know their students. If we reach out, they’re happy to meet or talk, but we very seldom have personal introductions in class. Every single one of my DIS classes has had all the students introduce themselves, and tell a little bit about their background, which I like.
I’ve been in Copenhagen about ten days now, but in some ways it feels like I’ve been here for months. I know the route to the downtown area, where Frederiksberg, Vestergade and popular bars are, and I know the daily routine. However, I am often reminded about how little of Copenhagen I truly know, when I get lost (nearly every day). Getting lost here is really a blessing in many ways, however; it gives me a chance to see all kinds of new areas and new sites as I find my way back, and experience even more of Copenhagen.
As I settle in for the semester, I am looking ahead, to exploring Copenhagen and Denmark, to meeting new people, to my classes, to traveling and to whatever else comes my way. Can’t wait!
From Happy Valley to Scandinavia 