Submitted by Margaret McCaughey on the 2015 spring semester DIS (Denmark’s International Study Program) program in Copenhagen, Denmark…
My first day in Copenhagen running on about 1.5 hours of sleep could not have been more incredible. I was so lucky to have been placed in a family that communicated with me a lot even before I got there through email and even Facetime! But, I must say they are even greater in person. My host mother Vibeke (V) is A TALKER, but I do not mind at all. I love hearing all about how they do things in Denmark and in their household. She is an excellent cook and we discussed everything from the differences in the U.S. and Denmark in terms of grocery stores (we visited one to pick up some stuff for dinner- traditional Danish meatballs and sausages with gravy and a red cabbage salad with figs and pomegranate seeds), learning languages, the education system, healthcare, the social welfare system, and go green incentives. My host father has been incredibly helpful with anything whether that be a Danish phone, the wifi, or renting bikes. I also enjoy his view on the Danish way! Sebastian my 9 year old host brother is so cute and energetic.
This semester I will be taking 5 classes. My core course which includes a short study tour to Western Denmark and a long study tour to Budapest is Positive Psychology. For my electives, I am taking Epidemiology, Public Health, Human Trafficking, and Migrant & Refugee Children. After the first days, they all seem like they will be interesting. All of the professors are very relaxed and approachable. They ask us to call them by their first names and state that they want the class to be an open dialogue. Participation is 15-30% of the grade in all of the classes.
The pictures I have included are from a scavenger hunt around the city that all the DIS students participated in on the third day of orientation. In groups of five, we visited the royal palace (Amalienborg), Church of Our Lady (Vor Frue kirke), the Danish Parliament (Christiansborg), and the Playhouse (Skuespilhuset). At each place we met a DIS faculty member and they gave us a little sch-peal about the area with some added history bonus. I never thought I would be as comfortable as I am around my family and in the city after only a few days. They’re great and I feel like I could ask them anything. All in all, it’s been a great couple of days. I can’t believe a week has already flown by!
