Hej! It's the end of my first week in Denmark. While most of this past week has been settling into my new home and getting introduced to DIS through several orientations, I do actually have classes that I guess I'm supposed to attend. Wednesday and Thursday were an introduction to my Core Course. I'm in the Child Development and Diversity (hereby known as CDD) department, taking a course called Children in a Multicultural Context (hereby known as CMC). I'm super excited to look at how child development in the States compares with child development here in Denmark, and how multiculturalism fits into it all. I'm also excited because part of the CDD program is being involved in a practicum, where I'll actually get to work with kids. I'll be spending my Thursday mornings from here on out working at a school, the Danish equivalent to a charter school, that teaches Muslim students from multiple backgrounds. It focuses on giving the children a Danish upbringing and education while helping them to embrace their own and other cultures as well. I'm both excited and nervous to actually start doing my practicum, but I can't wait to see all of the amazing things I'll learn and the ways I'll grow by doing it. So, because I have practicum on Thursdays, I'm not allowed to have any other Monday/Thursday classes besides CMC. I also don't have classes on Wednesdays, because they are reserved for field studies. This means that my Tuesdays/Fridays are pretty busy, and I got a taste of that today as I officially began classes. First I have Danish Language and Culture, which will hopefully help me to be able to have a nice, simple conversation in (correctly pronounced) Danish by the end of the semester. Immediately after I have Developmental Disorders, which I'm also really excited for. In case you wanted to know what happens in a class like this: Immediately after that class I have my last class of the day, European Documentary Film. I'm really excited for this class because it blends the theory of documentary film with production, and because we'll be making our own projects throughout the semester, my classmates and I all got new iPads for the semester! The best part of all my classes, however, is that I really like my classmates and teachers. In my film class, which only has 8 students (much potential to get very close by the end of this semester), another girl brought pizza for lunch and shared with the rest of us. Food is always the best way to bond and meet new people. It was also great because I don't have a lunch break on Tuesdays/Fridays, and sitting down to eat pizza is much better than trying to stuff half a sandwich in my mouth while walking down the hall to class. Overall my first day of classes went pretty well.
I will say one thing about DIS though. The academics are great, the teachers kind, and the students fun and diverse. But I don't think they were thinking of my well being when they put all the classrooms at the fifty-millionth floor of buildings with no elevators. I don't think I've ever climbed so many stairs in all my life. At least I can say with surety that I will have amazing calves by the time I go back home. Well, I'm off to watch a movie with my host family. Can't wait to share more adventures with you soon! Vi ses!
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Hej! Have you ever heard the word hygge before (pronounced like "hoo-gah")? It's a Danish word that doesn't really translate to English, but the best way to explain it is having this sense of coziness. It's a very big part of Danish culture, and definitely one of my favorite things about being here. It's about simply spending time in the company of others, enjoying one another. Since I can't really give you a direct textbook translation, I'll demonstrate this concept by sharing my top five 'hyggeligt' moments so far in Denmark: 1) Making Dinner Together I'm not much of a kitchen person, and honestly when I'm in there the most I'm usually ever doing is chopping up a few vegetables to go along with the meal. But being in the kitchen while dinner is being prepared is so nice, because it's just a time when my host mom and I talk about anything and everything. Since everybody is running around all day, whether school or work, it's really nice to have time to relax and just talk to people. I've also learned about many interesting food items being in the kitchen, including the fact that there is a such thing as purple carrots. So dare to spend some time in the kitchen together, even if you're like me and you don't think of yourself as that great of a chef. 2) Friday Nights Friday nights are very hyggeligt at my homestay. After dinner we usually all cozy up on the couch together, and the kids and I usually have a bowl of snacks and candy (sometimes including licorice, of which I've discovered I am not a fan). We watch TV together, from Disney shows dubbed in Danish to Versus, a sort of game show where both the people on screen and the viewers at home try to guess who will win in all sorts of different wacky competitions. It's really fun, and it's one of those moments where we are all together, which is really nice. A couple of times we've also done things like watch movies or play cards together, but with the lights dimmed and everyone close together, it is definitely very cozy for sure. 3) Weekend Mornings As most people on this planet would probably agree, I think that weekends are the best part of the week. The school and work week is put on pause, I get to sleep in a little bit, and breakfast together on the weekends is one of the best parts. This isn't simply because my host mom makes good food (which she does, and I've got a stomach full of homemade bread and crepes to prove it), but because we can all sit down and it without having to worry about getting ready for the next place we have to go. It's a more relaxed meal. Again, it's simply being around people and talking. Occasionally I get some breakfast entertainment, such as Ingrid playing the piano or something like that. Normally breakfast is a quick thing I do before I start class, so it's nice to come here and have at least a day or two a week to just sit down and eat together in the morning. 4) A Cozy Bible Study On Monday nights I have dinner and a bible study with a group of young adults from the International Church of Copenhagen. First, the fact that dinner and bible study go together demonstrates this value of us being together and spending time with one another before we delve into whatever we're going to discuss. It's really cool for me because we're a group with people from all over the world, all sorts of different backgrounds, and we get to learn so much about each other. It feels so comfortable, like we've known each other a lot longer. We eat a good meal, and then we move into the living room to do a little book/bible study. This past week we even broke out the blankets and it was definitely the coziest I've been there. A relevant side note, I've seen a lot of restaurants that have outdoor seating and put blankets on the chairs for whoever sits out there. Absolutely nothing says hygge like a nice, warm and cozy blanket! 5) Dinner With Friends! If you haven't noticed, food definitely seems to be a recurring theme. I think of food as something that joins us all together. I mean, we all gotta eat, right? Since being in a homestay can be a little isolating from other students, DIS helped some of us to organize hosting dinners at our homes for other students in our general area. I was both a guest and a host for one of these dinners, and both were so much fun. I met some brand new friends and got to talk with some people whom I hadn't seen in a short while. Like many typical dinners at my home here, it is not a meal to just fill your stomach and leave. We sat down and talked, shared stories, relaxed. Coffee and tea were served after the meal. When I hosted, I also brought out one of my favorite card games and we had so much fun playing that for a while. What makes these moments hyggeligt is that they feel like a pause from the business of life, and a chance to be around the people that matter to you. That's what hygge is. And that is why it's my favorite part of being here in Denmark. Vi ses! My first week here in Copenhagen consisted of me getting lost at least once a day, whether I got off at the wrong bus stop or I went down the wrong street. By now I've got all of my daily routes down, but I know that once I start to explore more of Denmark, I will probably take a few more wrong turns. I guess I've just got to embrace this part of the study abroad experience and let myself get completely lost in Copenhagen. Don't worry, I'll always find my way home.
Now, there are several methods of getting around in Denmark. There's the bus (my primary mode of transportation), the metro, the regional train, and the S-tog (another type of train). No matter what you will be able to get where you need to go. There is this lovely app called Rejseplanen (or Journeyplanner) where you simply put in your destination, and it will tell you exactly how you can get there, which buses or trains to take and what time they'll arrive. This app has been a lifesaver. Coming from the city, I'm pretty used to taking public transportation, so it's much more interesting hearing about it from my friends who have lived more in the suburbs or out in the country their entire lives. That's not to say that it isn't still a little confusing for me. There's this whole thing with Denmark being split into zones and certain passes only allowing you through a certain number of zones...or something...I'd explain it but I'm still confused, so I'm just not going to worry about it until it's necessary. While I'm mainly traveling the city by bus, I can't talk about getting around Denmark without talking about bikes. Bikes are everywhere. EVERYWHERE. There is no such thing as street without a bike lane in Denmark, and they are much bigger than the tiny little lanes in the U.S. Not only does everyone bike everywhere, they bike fast. You can't just walk through the street and not pay attention, because you will get hit by a bike. And the bike lanes during rush hour? I've never seen anything like it. It's really cool to see how much biking is really a part of the culture in Denmark. Of course, my host siblings found it amusing that I don't know how to ride a bike, so I had my first bike riding lesson this past week. It was mostly just getting me used to the balance on a bicycle. I'm not at the level of a Danish rider (that level of intensity may take years and much stronger legs), it was a good first lesson. Hopefully I'll be riding a bike in no time. I will say, I do actually like riding the bus. I might still use it as my primary method of travel even if I get really comfortable on a bike. As long as I'm not traveling during rush hour, the bus is really quiet and relaxing. It's a good time to unwind, rest a little, and maybe catch up on some homework if necessary. I'm pretty fond of it at this point. So, this is how I get around Copenhagen. It's a great city, and I can't wait until I can say I know it like the back of my hand. Until then, I'll keep you updated, and hopefully I won't get too lost! Vi ses <3 After eight hours of sitting in the same uncomfortable plane chair and several failed attempts at falling asleep, I was about ready to start kissing the ground the moment we landed in Denmark. Then it hit me. I was in Denmark! I was finally here after months and months of waiting. If my first few days are any indication, then I have no doubt that this will be one of the best semesters of my life! I arrived here on Saturday a little after seven in the morning, and after a short orientation introducing me to Copenhagen, I finally met my host family! My host dad, Frank, came to pick me up with his three kids: Asbjørn is nine, Ingrid is six, and Ellinor is three. Their car can only seat five people, so Franca, my host mom, was waiting for me at home. I only got to explore my new home for a brief second before we were out again, heading to the park for a four-way birthday party for Asbjørn and three of his classmates. It was great because it immediately allowed me to feel like part of the family, and to see a little bit of their normal. Ingrid took a quick liking to me, and the entire time she led me around to all of her favorite playground spots, saying "Faith, kom!" every time we went somewhere different. Near the end of the party a bonfire was built (because unlike the hundred degree weather I left behind in the U.S., the weather was nice and cool here) and the kids roasted marshmallows. They weren't making s'mores exactly, just putting the marshmallow between two cookies without any chocolate, but they really enjoyed them, Ingrid even eating five! It was such a fun afternoon. Afterward we went back home where I had time to unpack and relax. I ate dinner with the family outside, then before bed Asbjørn taught me his favorite card game, Casino. It took me a minute to pick it up, but I ended up winning the last round, and it was really fun. All in all, it was an amazing first day in Denmark. Deciding to live with a host family can be really daunting. It was always my first choice for housing, but even then I was still really nervous about it. I wondered if I would fit in with the family, if they'd like me and if I'd like them. I was wondering about little Danish siblings who don't speak much English. These are normal concerns. But I encourage anyone who is traveling, study abroad or otherwise, if you get the opportunity to stay with locals, do it! You'll get to see the country from a different perspective rather than as a tourist. For example, on Sunday morning after breakfast I got to go with the whole family to a neighborhood flea market, and I got to see how the neighbors interacted with each other and what community was really like in this area. Eating meals with the family ensures that I don't just stick to my comfort zone with food, but that I actually try new things. For lunch we had traditional Danish open sandwiches, called smørrebrød, which is basically a slice of Danish rye bread with whatever toppings you want piled on it. I even tried liver paste, which to me sounded iffy but ended up tasting pretty good. Danes are pretty healthy in general, and my host family definitely tries to eat organic and sustainable meals. Lots of fruits and vegetables. It's perfect because I can feel less guilty if I eat a lot because it's all healthy! :) It's comforting to know that basically everyone speaks English in Denmark, so communication isn't much of a problem. This is not true, however, with young Danish children. They start learning English in school around second grade, but my host siblings are all really young, so they don't know much. They do know a few phrases and are always excited to share with me what they do know, but sometimes I have to guess at what they're trying to say to me. Luckily, play is a universal language, so it's not actually that much of a problem. The other day Asbjørn and Ingrid took me on a walk to show me their school, and then we went to the park, where we ran around and played hide and seek among other things. Even though they usually have ten times more energy than me, they are so sweet and so fun to be around. Ellinor took a little bit of time to be okay around me, but we bonded over her extreme interest in my long hair, which she likes to play with and "style" so that I look like Elsa or Anna (because there's no escaping Frozen around a three year old). I love it though. It feels great to be a big sister here, especially since my own younger siblings have all passed the age of cuteness and have entered the stage of doing everything they possibly can to annoy me. I'm loving it here, and I can't wait to have many more little adventures with my new family. Also, if you were wondering about the title, it's an ode to the three hens that live in the backyard. They generally mind their own business, although one seemed to think that my foot was food at one point and kept trying to peck it. My favorite meal time entertainment is when they climb onto the deck when we are eating outside, and Ellinor starts shouting at them and chasing them to make them go away. It's really cute. And it's a great reminder of Life Lesson #341: If you ever lose you way, just remember that home is where the chickens are! Vi ses! Hej! I'm leaving the country today!!!! This is insane! Before I go I'll share a few quick pre-travel reflections: Things I'm excited/hopeful for: 1) My Host Family! This semester I'm living with Frank and Franca Zeller and their family. I've exchanged a few emails with them, and they seem really sweet. I'm really excited to meet their three kids. I'll definitely do a post about them later once I've settled in and gotten to spend a little bit of time with them 2) My Core Course! I'm in the Child Development and Diversity program at DIS, taking a course called Children in a Multicultural Context. Between the syllabus and word from former students, I know I'm going to love this course. I also get to work with kids as part of a practicum, and the idea of working with little Danish children is making too happy for words! 3) New Friends! Facebook is a wonderful thing, and because of the DIS Facebook page, I feel like I'm already friends with the people embarking on this journey with me. I can't wait to actually meet them all in person! Things I'm a little nervous about: 1) My Host Family. I have never done anything like this, and it's a little bit terrifying. I'm basically moving in with a bunch of strangers, and I keep wondering if I'll really be able to fit in. I'm a little bit shy when I first meet people, so I'll have to work a little harder to get to know them and try to become a real part of their family. 2) Diversity. I've been told that being African-American in Denmark won't be the same as being African-American in the United States. Maybe that's a good thing. Denmark is a pretty homogeneous country, but I've heard it's also an open and welcoming one. DIS also has good support networks, so I'm hopeful that everything will be good on that front. 3) Food. I'm not an extremely picky eater, but I can be a little picky with certain things. I'm always open to trying most things at least once, but I have no idea what Danish food will actually be like in comparison to what I'm used to. I'm both excited and terrified to try it. On the plus side, my host mom assured me that the rumor that there is no peanut butter in Denmark is about as true as that there are polar bears walking around in the street. At least I have that to look forward to! By the way, can we just take a moment to appreciate this phenomenal packing job? I mean, that is gorgeous right there. People live to see a packing job like this one. I actually managed to get everything I need into one checked suitcase, a small carry on, and a laptop bag! And my checked bag hadn't even reached the 50 allotted pounds yet! I'm definitely ready to go! Well, Copenhagen, here I come! Vi ses! |
AuthorOn ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. Part of my heart I'm leaving behind in the United States. Join me as I take the rest on an amazing adventure to Copenhagen, Denmark! ArchivesCategories
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