Hej!
So...today was my last full day in Denmark. I can't believe I'm actually saying that. I can't believe how quickly this semester went. To continue my end of the semester reflecting, here are some lists of favorites from my semester abroad: Favorite Sites 1. Kronborg - Otherwise known as Hamlet's castle. There is no way I could come to Denmark and not go to Hamlet's castle, and I'm really glad I did. It's a really nice castle with a gorgeous view of Sweden right across the water. The coolest part was probably going through the tunnels underground. I don't even know why I found it so cool, but it was really fun and I felt like I was in the middle of an adventure movie. Definitely put it on your list of places to go if you're here in Denmark. 2. The Louisiana - Sometimes, a museum looks like every other museum you've ever seen. Other times, you go to ones like The Louisiana and receive an amazing art experience. Whether you're an art lover or you just like seeing things that are cool and different, it's a really great museum. I loved the variety, from photographs to paintings to sculpture to installation art. It can be really inspiring. 3. ARoS - The museum in Aarhus, well known for its Rainbow Room, was one of my favorites. Again, the art was more modern, some really interesting and provoking. I liked it because it was something I'd never seen before. It's definitely a place I could've spent several more hours walking through. Favorite Foods 1. Kanelsnegl - It's not like cinnamon rolls are something that don't exist in the US. Yet somehow now, for me there is something so Danish about eating them for breakfast or a snack when I feel like treating myself. Definitely not the healthiest snack, but hey, sometimes you've got to give yourself a little indulgence. 2. Remoulade - More of a condiment than actual food, I am in love with remoulade. It can go on literally anything, from fish to potatoes to your hot dog. I'm also in love with the Danish version of doing a hot dog. I don't know if I ever want to eat a hot dog again without remoulade and fried onions on top. 3. Aebleskiver - This Christmas dessert is one of my favorite discoveries of Denmark, and similarly to the cinnamon rolls, I've probably had way more than I ought to have. What's even more awesome is that my amazing host parents recognized my love of this Danish treat, and as a goodbye present they actually bought me the special pan that you use to make æbleskiver, so I can make my own when I go back home! I'm super excited, and I'm so glad I got to spend four months with such a sweet and thoughtful family. Favorite Assignments 1. Final Film Project - I love creating films, and the final project for my European Documentary Film class allowed me to work with film in a way that I hadn't before. It was a little frustrating at times, working from a bottom-up approach with these seemingly random shots, but I'm really happy with the final product, and I've received such good feedback on it. It was definitely one of my favorite assignments this semester. 2. Ordering Food in Danish - One of the big assignments I had to do for my Danish class was to go to a cafe and record myself ordering in Danish. It was slightly nervewracking, mostly because I had to record it, but due to speaking Danish a lot with my host siblings, I was pretty comfortable trying out my Danish and did very well. The main reason I liked this project so much was that we got to do it in groups during class time, and our teacher gave us money to buy food or drinks with. It was a very...delicous assignment! 3. Bringing Hamilton to Denmark - Okay, so this was actually part of my Child Development Practicum assignment. As part of practicum, we were supposed to pick a day and do a particular activity of our choice/design with our practicum students. There were no real guidelines for what sort of activity, it just had to have some sort of intentional purpose. Being as obsessed with the musical Hamilton as I am, I decided that I was going to teach the fifth grade class at my site the lyrics to the song "Alexander Hamilton." To help with english language learning and teaching them some about American history. It was really fun, and honestly, it won't be long until this American musical is being seen worldwide. Favorite Danish Words/Phrases 1. "Jeg er færdig" - It just means "I'm done," but my little host sisters both shout this phrase in a sing-song tune to let people know when they are done using the bathroom. It's really cute, and writing it out on a blog can't really demonstrate how amusing it is to me, but this simple sentence is now one of my favorite Danish phrases because of this. 2. "Fødselsdag" - It's the Danish word for birthday. First of all, it's just a fun word to say. Here in Denmark it also means that the birthday person will be woken up with singing and flags, and there will be cake and nice celebration. I'm really glad I got the chance to attend many fødselsdagsfester (birthday parties) this semester. 3. "Hygge" - This is a word that I'd never heard before coming to Denmark, and as I prepare to go back home, it's a word that I want to always be a part of my life. A simple translation of hygge is "cosiness," but it is really more than that. It's lighting candles, sitting with friends and family over a meal or dessert and sharing good conversation. It's curling up together on the couch with a bunch of blankets and a silly show on television. It's all the tension of a long day melting away, because when it comes down to it, all that really matters is being here with people you care about. That is what I've learned "hygge" to be. That's what I want to take back with me from this experience. I am so thankful for this amazing experience, all the moments, good and bad. So Denmark, tak for et fantastisk semester. Det var hyggeligt! Vi ses! <3
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Hej! As a student in the Child Development program here at DIS, a large part of my experience in Denmark is being around children. I’ve got to say, it’s a lot of fun. One thing that’s a big part of this program is the practicum aspect. All Child Development students are assigned to a practicum site which they go to on Thursdays. I remember not having any idea what to expect before I started. At some point towards the end of the summer, I filled out a short survey and listed preferences on the type of site I’d like to go to (and I honestly don’t remember what I put down), but there’s no guarantee of anything. I mentioned in a post a while back that my site is a private Muslim school, with students from Grade 0 to Grade 9. I move between different classes throughout the day, starting with a second grade class, to fourth grade, to fifth grade, and finally to first grade. There have been both good and bad aspects to being at my specific site, but I’ve got to say that the kids there are some of the sweetest kids. From day one they were super excited to have me there. I felt very welcome. Despite the language barrier, they never shied away from talking to me and asking me for help with their work. Of course, many times I had no clue what to tell them, but I was really proud of the instances where I got the question and was able to help them understand whatever was confusing them. They always loved to show me what they could say in English, and some of them were really surprised and excited when I was able to show off the little Danish I do know. I’ve gotten random gifts from the kids, from a drawing (I’m not sure what it was of) to a chestnut from outside. My favorite thing to receive, however, is the unexpected hug. The first graders in particular always seemed especially happy to see me and loved to hug me when I came and before I left. The kids at my practicum site have really big hearts, and I have to say that it was the best part about going every Thursday. Of course, experiencing Danish children doesn’t begin and end with my practicum site. The Child Development program also has this thing called The Children’s Room, which is something put on during the days that kids do not have school, but the DIS teachers still have to come to work. During those days, Child Development students can volunteer to take a shift and watch the children of DIS staff members. The first Children’s Room of the semester happened during Denmark’s Fall Break. This was also the week before Thanksgiving, so we decided this year to take the Thursday of that week and do a little Halloween party for the kids. I worked with a group of other students to help set up trick or treating in a few of the DIS departments, to bake cookies and set up a Halloween cookie decorating station, to set up a pumpkin painting station, and to set up games like Pin the Wart on the Witch (a variation of Pin the Tail on the Donkey). It was a lot of fun, and the kids were absolutely adorable! Several of them dressed up in costumes and got really into it. I think the event was really successful. The kids seemed to be enjoying themselves, and we DIS students were having fun being creative and playing around as well. It was also cool because I got to see some of my professors’ kids, which is always fun for some reason. Hopefully this event continues for future Children’s Rooms. Even outside of things set up by the Child Development program, I still get to enjoy how amazingly adorable Danish children are. My absolute favorite thing is that now that it’s cold outside, I’m now always seeing Danish children in the most adorable, fluffy snowsuits. Seriously, they look like little colorful marshmallows and it makes me so happy every time I see them. If there is any reason at all to come to Denmark in the winter, it is definitely to look at the cute little marshmallow children.
So, that’s a brief look into what it’s like being around lots of children in Denmark. And after all that I get to come home and be around three more crazy but amazingly sweet kids. Of course, doing so much with kids can be very tiring. There are days where I have the energy to nothing but pass out on my bed. But for me personally it’s very rewarding, and it makes me happy. Being in the Child Development program does not mean you need to be around kids 24/7, but if you’re super kid crazy, you will definitely have plenty of opportunities to play and let your inner child out with the children of Denmark! Vi ses! Hej! So after a month of really amazing weather, something that many Danes have told me is unusual for this time of year, it is officially cold in Denmark. Of course, it probably feels worse to me than it does to all of the natives. This morning my Danish teacher commented on what nice weather we were having today (it was not nice weather, it was cold). But the good part about this time of year is that it's Fall, my favorite season! I can already see the leaves starting to change colors, and warm, delicious soups have started cropping up as part of dinner. It's wonderful! It also means that I get to see some of the Danes' Fall traditions, and my host family introduced me to a fun little one this past weekend. Here Ingrid and I are sifting through fallen leaves to find chestnuts. During the Fall kids will go out collecting them to make little animals with matches and/or toothpicks. My favorite part was probably just stepping on crunchy leaves, because who doesn't love to do that? We went back home to make several giraffes, spiders, and other fun little creations. They're beautiful, no? I'm sure this is only the beginning of the fun traditions my host family will introduce me too. I'm excited to see what a Danish Halloween will look like. How similar or different will it be to what I'm used to back home? I don't have any super special Fall or Halloween traditions that I do every year, but if anyone has any ideas for American Fall traditions I should introduce my host family too, let me know! Vi ses! Hej, This week in Copenhagen definitely hasn't been the easiest. I wouldn't necessarily call it a bad week, because I had plenty of really good moments too. It was definitely a realization that studying abroad isn't a fairy-tale break from reality. I'm still living real life, and sometimes that means there are going to be moments that suck. Sometimes it was just the build-up of small little things, like leaving my cellphone, which had my DIS card (that nice little card that lets me into the buildings) in it, at home or getting lost when it was really important for me to get to my destination on time. Sometimes it was an intense feeling of loneliness, or this idea running through my head that I'm not doing study abroad "right" because my experience isn't looking like someone else's. Self-doubt is something that I've really been struggling with this week, but I'll share with you guys a couple of the things that helped me pull through: 1. My mother I may be far away from home, but the great thing about living in 2016 is that I can call my mother with ease whenever I need her. Just because you're abroad and focusing on experiencing where you are doesn't mean that it's not important to keep in touch with those back home. There are people here who I know will listen if I say I want to talk, and DIS has good resources if students are stressed or need to talk. But nothing beats talking to my mom, and nobody can quite understand me like she can. Sometimes you just have to break down and cry or vent to your mom, and hopefully it helps you like it did me. My study abroad advice is to definitely keep close the people who are most important to you, even if they cannot be right there beside you. 2. My faith Having a relationship with God is so important for me, especially in these moments of self-doubt. I've been so lucky that I've found a church here that has really been a blessing, especially today. It was exactly what I needed, to take this hour long pause in the middle of all of my mess and to be reminded that God is still here with me, and will be no matter what I'm going through. If faith is a part of your life, it is not something you have to give up when going abroad. God doesn't just exist solely in America. Coming here and becoming part of a faith community has not only given me a moment of pause, but also a great new group of friends from all over the world, bonded by our shared faith. It's really amazing and so helpful during tough moments (it's also a great way to break the American bubble of being a DIS student). 3. The Good Moments Just because there are bad moments doesn't mean they aren't sitting there right beside really great ones. I called this week a roller coaster of emotions because there were high points, and holding onto those moments are what's going to help me look towards the light at the end of the tunnel. So, I'll just share a few of my favorite good moments this week:
So, that's been my week in Copenhagen. Maybe not the best week, but that's okay. I'm still having an awesome time, and I'm still looking forward to so many more adventures further on. Can't wait for the next week in Copenhagen! Vi ses! Hej!
This past month in Denmark has truly been amazing. A lot of the time it doesn't even register that I'm so far away from home. I'm so busy taking amazing classes, meeting new people, and exploring new things. I'm creating a new home here. Sometimes though, homesickness can hit you unexpectedly, and I'm now learning how to deal with that. Early on I had this assumption that homesickness wasn't something I'd experience or deal with. It's not like I haven't been away from home before, and I never experienced homesickness when I went away to college. Of course, silly me should have realized that going to university two and a half hours away from home is not the same as being an entire ocean away. I don't know if homesickness feels the same for everyone. For me, it's not like I spend the whole day moping or crying or anything like that. It's more of these small moments where the differences between here and home become really stark, and I miss things that are more familiar. The feeling really hit me a couple of nights ago when I went to make a small sandwich for a late dinner. I truly enjoy the food here, and I actually enjoy eating rugbrød, but I just really wanted a normal PB&J sandwich with Skippy peanut butter and Welch's Concord Grape Jelly on normal American sandwich bread, with a glass of milk. I was surprised at how strongly the wave of sadness hit at that moment, but the feeling also felt normal. Of course I'm going to get homesick every now and then. I'm thousands of miles away from home with a six hour time difference between me and my mom. It's not like Denmark is some weird other planet, but living here is not the same as living in the US. I don't think I realized how much being an American shaped my identity until I wasn't in America anymore. I love being in Denmark. Four months already feels way too short, and I know that leaving at the end of the semester will be difficult. At the same time, I do miss home, and that's normal. The good thing is that I definitely feel like I have a support system here in Copenhagen. I have people to lean on when those moments hit, and I have an awesome mom who, when I really need her, is never more than a phone call away I'm happy to say that I now have two homes. I can't wait to share more adventures from the one here in Denmark! 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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