Choosing your housing at DIS Copenhagen is one of the most important decisions of your study abroad experience. From my perspective, where a DIS student lives really impacts the way in which they get to experience Denmark. When I was choosing my housing, I had a tough time deciding what I wanted my first choice to be. Initially, I was leaning toward joining the Social Justice Living & Learning Community because I’m passionate about being a just person and building a just society. I thought it would be really fun to live with people who are passionate about the same things I am.
As I considered my housing options more and more, I decided to put homestay as my top choice, and I’m so glad I did. Being part of a homestay means living with a Danish family and sharing your lives with each other. I made the decision to put a homestay as my first choice because I was afraid of feeling lonely, homesick, and isolated being far away from home. I thought that having a family to be a part of and come home to every day would help me feel more comfortable and at-home in Denmark. Thanks to my wonderful host family, this has definitely been the case for me! Here are some of the things that have been unique to my study abroad experience because of my homestay.
Being part of a Danish family has meant greater cultural immersion and connection to locals. Some DIS students don’t get much interaction with actual Danes; for me, it has been enjoyable and enlightening to be able to ask my host family for their perspectives on social, economic, and political issues in Denmark. Whenever I learn about things that are unique to Danish culture in class, I like to bring what I’ve learned to my host family to see what they think. As I recently described to a friend, in my Danish Language & Culture class, I learn about Danish culture in theory while my homestay is Danish culture in practice. Living with a Danish family has given me a more comprehensive and inclusive experience of Denmark. I’ve also been able to
Most homestays are not located in central Copenhagen, so students learn to use the public transportation system to get around different parts of the Greater Copenhagen Area. I rely heavily on the S-train, metro, and buses to make my way around Denmark and I love it! I’ve found that being able to figure out how to get around on my own is empowering and provides me with more independence. I also feel more like a Dane as I become more familiar with the city and how to navigate it. I’ve been able to see a more suburban life that encapsulates a different experience of Denmark; most Danes do not live in central Copenhagen and I’m able to be part of this larger experience.
Living with a Danish family has also been a good decision financially. Out of the various housing options, homestays probably help DIS students save more money as we don’t have to buy groceries. Any food that I spend money on is a conscious choice and not a necessity.
Some students are worried that homestays isolate you from other DIS students. I haven’t found this to be the case at all as it is super easy to get into town. I’m really lucky also because I have great people in my homestay network that I get along with well. A homestay network is a group of students living in homestays close to each other that DIS Housing connects with each other. We’ve done different events together and it’s nice to have people nearby. Most nights when I’ve been in the city pretty late, I’ve been with other homestay network friends who can ride the train back home with me at night. I’ve appreciated these connections so much.
Finally, I cannot emphasize enough how thankful I am for my host family; DIS matched me with a family that has been a really great fit for me. There is nothing that makes me happier than coming home at the end of the day and being able to laugh with my two host brothers. Admittedly, I was nervous about how I would get along with two tween boys, but my host brothers are absolutely wonderful and I love them dearly. Growing up, I always wanted to have a little brother and now I have two! My host family has been so gracious, patient, and welcoming; they’ve made it clear that they care about making sure I have a great experience in Denmark. They’re definitely accomplishing this; choosing to be in a homestay was one of the best decisions I made and it’s shaping my semester abroad to be something very special.
Viaje a Copenhague 