Submitted by Zachary Shulman on the 2019 fall semester DIS program in Copenhagen, Denmark…
My third week in Copenhagen felt profoundly different than the two weeks before it, and after reflecting on it, I realized that I am in the final stages of a crucial transition; from tourist to local. I had a series of experiences this week that alerted me to the level of comfort and familiarity I associate with my homestay, the commute to the city, and Copenhagen itself. This transition is a unique experience for every student and can take a different amount of time depending on a variety of factors. It is, however, inevitable.
My first indication that I was beginning to become truly in sync with the city was during a boating trip through Copenhagen’s main harbor district with other students from my homestay network. We rented a small, battery-powered boat and took it for a spin in and out of the canals of the harbor, stocking up on picnic food for the two-hour excursion. Throughout our adventure, we interacted with other sailors, people on the streets along the canals, and had a genuinely relaxing and peaceful time together. It was one of my first experiences that I would confidently describe as “hygge”, the Danish cultural tradition that can best be described as a feeling of contentedness or coziness, typically in the company of good friends or family.
The second major experience I had that solidified my assimilation into the rhythm of the city came at a time of great stress, as many life-changing events tend to do. After a trip to Bakken (the oldest amusement park in the world) and the neighboring Deer Park (a large deer reservation connected to it), I ended up to returning to Copenhagen alone. I had a commitment to meet up with some friends from UD, but the rest of my party was spending the day in Bakken to experience the attractions. With a single-digit phone battery and a broken ticket machine, I traveled from the town of Klampenborg back to Copenhagen, and then navigated through Copenhagen to the harbor district. By the time my meeting was finished, my phone was dead and I was forced to return to Køge with my limited knowledge of the city’s public transportation system. I did, however, manage to find my way back to the central station, from which I typically return to Køge without the use of my phone.
Let it be known that I am not condoning the use of public transportation alone, especially without reliable access to technological resources. Only in extreme situations have I ever traveled alone, and typically I was still able to stay in touch with friends close by. Nonetheless, this forced familiarization with Copenhagen’s bustling public transport, my confidence in navigating it, and the success I eventually found all helped me transition into a local resident. Combined with my boating expedition, I am truly starting to view Copenhagen, and Denmark as a whole, as a second home.
