Submitted by Samantha Jennings on the 2024 Spring program in Copenhagen, Denmark…
One of my favorite things about studying abroad is the experiential learning component to the experience. Studying abroad is a unique way to see the world as your classroom. Not only can you travel and explore new places, but you can observe ways of life and experience history in a new light. The DIS Copenhagen program offers numerous opportunities for students to embark on a journey and explore Copenhagen as their own classroom. In one of my class sessions this week, we did just that. We took a classroom field trip to a small public park near the harbor called Churchillparken. Named after Winston Churchill, this park and its statues serve to memorialize the role that Denmark played during the Second World War. As a class, we were instructed to analyze each statue present in the park as a primary source and begin to construct an argument regarding how Denmark has chosen to memorialize WWII. It was very interesting to see firsthand how the Danes chose to remember their liberation story compared to the true history of this event. Exploring Copenhagen through the lens of its history has been extremely eye-opening and I can’t wait to see what else I may uncover with the city as my classroom! (Submitted on January 26, 2024)