Saying Goodbye

Just like that, the part of the semester I was dreading the most is almost here. In just 4 days I will be leaving Copenhagen and heading back home to the US. This past week I have been savoring every moment with my host family, biking more, and trying to explore parts of the city I never made it to. There are many mixed emotions when I think about going home. On one side, I miss my family and friends and am excited to be back to my normal life but I will also miss my host family and the friends I made in Copenhagen.

When I look back at my pre-departure post and the goals I had made for myself, I think I can say that I have achieved most of them and that I have learned more about myself than I thought I would. Below, I have listed each of the goals I had set for myself and how they ended up playing out over the course of my time abroad.

Be patient with myself. Give myself grace and time to adapt to an unfamiliar place.

The first week I was in Copenhagen it had felt like an entire month had gone by. I remember feeling rushed to do as many things as possible and had to keep remembering that I still had so much more time ahead of me. There were times where I didn't feel completely adjusted and found myself looking back at this goal and reminding myself that it was okay to not feel totally adjusted yet. As the semester went on, I started to appreciate the city more and made use of my journal when I felt overwhelmed by all of the new things that come with living in a new place.

Spend time getting to know my host family and doing things locally with them!

One of my favorite memories of spending time with my host family was getting to go to Bornholm with them for Easter break. It was something that I never would have done if I was on my own but ended up being one of my favorite trips! I had so much fun talking with my host brother as he would try to ask me questions in English and I would try to respond in Danish. As the weather has gotten a bit warmer, I have also been enjoying spending time in the yard with my host siblings. This past week we have come up with new games to play on the swings and on the trampoline! This was definitely a goal I priortized and one that will make leaving feel much harder. I am so grateful to have had such an amazing host family. I have learned so much from them and have so many fun memories to take home with me.

Get involved! Join clubs, engage in volunteer opportunities, find a rock climbing gym!

While I didn't end up joining any of the DIS clubs, I did find a rock climbing gym and did some volunteer work! Through the DIS homestay perk program, I was able

to get a rock climbing gym membership reimbursed by DIS. This was an amazing perk becuase my host family also rock climbs and I was able to get a gym membership at the same climbing gym as them! A few times throughout the semester, I would join my host dad and brother on their climbing trips and we would cheer each other on as we worked on projecting different routes! As for the volunteering, I ended up reaching out to SpecialSport.dk and they connected me with a local soccer team for children with disabilities. I volunteered as an assistant coach with the team and had so much fun playing with them and helping the coach set up different drills!

Gain a deeper understanding of Danish parenting styles and how outdoor play is

prioritized.

Through my core course, elective courses, and living with a family I have learned so much about Danish parenting! One of the biggest differences in parent and educator mindsets is that in Denmark, children are viewed as being competent and active members of society. Childhood isn't just a stepping stone to adulthood, it is its own meaningful part of the lifespan that shouldn't be rushed. There is a higher level of trust in children which seems to result in higher levels of independence compared to in the US. My host siblings all use the same steak knives at dinner as the adults, they can use the hot glue gun to work on creative projects, and my host brother often cooks on their camping stove in the backyard independently. While there are some cases where the level of trust may seem a bit extreme, I think having a mindset that values children's voices and views them as being capable individuals is something that the US could benefit from.

Slow down to notice and appreciate the small joys and differences of living in another culture.

One of my favorite things about living in Denmark has been getting to learn such a unique language. Whenever I order from a cafe in Danish or am able to have a conversation with my host siblings, I feel a sense of accomplishment and am just so amazed by how much my Danish has improved! It has also been so much fun getting to understand the biking culture. So many people here rely on biking as their main mode of transportation. It is so cool to see all of the family cargo bikes and watching people zip by during rush hour. The picture to the left is of a cross walk I pass every morning on my way to class. Usually before crossing the street as I am watching all of the bikers fly by, I find myself thinking about how cool it is that I have gotten to live in Denmark for an entire semester.

The semeter has gone by so fast and there are still things that I wish I had more time to do and I am sad I won't have an outlet for practicing my Danish at home. I already can't wait to come back to Copenhagen in the future! It will be so cool to see my host siblings grow up and to feel a sense of familiarity in a city so far from home. I hope these blogs have given some insight into what life as a DIS student might be like! It is a great program and I encourage more people to consider living with a host family! This is the end of my time as a DIS blogger but as always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Tak for following along on my study abroad journey! Hej Hej!