Who I am and Why I’m Studying Abroad

Hello and welcome to my Viaje a Copenhague— my trip to Copenhagen! My name is Suzi and I am a senior Templeton Honors student at Eastern University in St. Davids, PA. In just three days, I will arrive in Copenhagen where I will be studying for the next four months.

I’ve been dreaming of this day for a long time now. Even before I had committed to Eastern University in 2016, the Templeton Honors College’s emphasis on study abroad appealed to me. When I looked at some of the different places I could study, the DIS Copenhagen was one of my top picks because of its expansive class options. Even as my interests and fields of study have changed over the past three and a half years, DIS Copenhagen had me covered. DIS Copenhagen has a comprehensive, interactive curriculum that is enabling me to study abroad and finish both of my majors (Sociology & Political Science), as well as my honors classes, on time.

I’ve been preparing for my adventure for quite a while. Now, as I hope I have everything I need and look toward my new adventure, I’m starting to process the excitement that lies ahead. There is so much I’m looking forward to; I’ve never traveled outside of North America and am excited to explore not only Copenhagen but many European cities I’ve always wanted to see. I’m also looking forward to being immersed in Danish culture through my stay with a host family, a Danish Language & Culture class, and meeting local students. I am interested in Denmark on a social, political, and cultural level and will now have the chance to learn from some Danes firsthand. I also cannot wait for what DIS Copenhagen will offer me academically through courses such as Humanitarian Law & Armed Conflict, Gender Perspectives on Human Rights, and Holocaust & Genocide. Those who know me know that I am fascinated by the study of human rights on both a practical and theoretical level. My time at DIS Copenhagen will allow me to dive deeply into subjects I’m interested in.

Of course, with every new adventure comes some worries, especially as someone who does not consider herself very adventurous. I’m apprehensive yet eager to be stretched in this area as I will be constantly surrounded by the unfamiliar. I’ve never been in a country where I don’t speak the language. While I’m fortunate that most Danes speak English and I’ve been diligent in learning some Danish, I imagine it will be overwhelming to not understand what is happening around me. I am also unsure of how I will be thought of and treated as a Hispanic woman in a new place. Further, I’m worried about losing the sense of rootedness that I’ve worked so hard to develop over the past few years. I grew up in a transient environment in which I was used to starting and ending relationships within a year. Since coming to college, I’ve had a stable environment and friends for the first time in a long time. Uprooting my life for a bit and finding a community abroad is frightening, but a step I want to take as I know my life will be changing even more after I graduate in the spring.

I hope to come out the other side of this semester as a more mature, independent, and courageous woman. Through my college experience, I’ve been able to arrive at a place where I’m comfortable with who I am and where I am. I’m ready to face some discomfort and be challenged to change and grow again. I welcome my study abroad experience with open arms and an unsure spirit, but I know at the end of this, I will have so much to thank my host family, professors, and Denmark for. I am ready for this time of uncomfortable growth into someone who is ready to take on even more adventures in the future.