Viaje a Copenhague

Week Three: Celebration and Grief

This week my host brother, William, turned 11 years old. Since I arrived in Denmark, I’ve been looking forward to celebrating his birthday so that I could learn more about Danish culture. I had been grilling him with questions about what presents he wanted, what cake we would eat, and who was invited.

The day finally arrived and I woke up early in the morning with the rest of the family to sing to William. Together, we ate bacon, eggs, and croissants— exactly what William had asked for. In the evening, we went into central Copenhagen for an American diner burger. As we were walking through the city, it started to pour. My host family explained to me that in Danish culture there is a joke that if it rains on your birthday it means you must have misbehaved. If this is true, the entire Danish population must be misbehaving as it rains nearly every day!

Over the weekend, we had a party for William where I got to meet the whole family. I spent the morning helping my host parents bake William’s cakes and cleaning the house to get it ready for our guests. I had a wonderful time at the party, chatting with my host mom’s family and eating delicious treats. One of the most interesting parts of celebrations in Denmark is the use of flags. The Danish flag is used on all occasions for celebration; William’s birthday breakfast and birthday cakes were decorated with Danish flags. While in the USA, we would see the use of the flag as a patriotic symbol, my host family explained to me that in these cases the Danish flag isn’t used as a sign of patriotism but is simply a symbol of celebration.

While the week was filled celebrating with singing, laughter, and food, this was also a week that brought about a shift. I caught a cold and had to learn to cope with it the Danish way— no cold medicine, just tea. The weather changed from sunny, warm, and bright to rainy and gray as we move into autumn. The change in season also brought about a change in my disposition as something happened that reminded me just how far from home I am.

When I decided to study abroad, I knew that while I would be gaining so much, there would also be some things I would miss out on. This week, I missed out on a huge part of one of my closest friend’s life; her mother had been battling cancer all year and passed this week. While there is a sense of powerlessness and longing that everybody feels when someone they love is hurting, being so far away amplified these feelings. I would have given anything to hold my friend for just a minute. The distance between Denmark and home felt greater than ever.

I was reminded of the realities of the people I love. Their lives don’t get put on hold just because I’m away; we all keep going, and that means missing out on being there for some of the change. I was glad that DIS offers support services through the DIS Care Team and I made an appointment to talk with someone about what I was feeling and how I could still be a good friend from thousands of miles away. The social worker helped me put into perspective that missing out is a reality of being abroad, but it doesn’t need to define my time in Denmark. Indeed, I am constantly aware of how much I am getting out of this experience and how thankful I am to be here, even when I miss home. Going forward, I know that there will probably be more that I miss out on, but there is also so much to be gained here.

Week Two: Sunshine and Joy

I’m a person who loves perfect little moments. You know, the ones when it feels like time slows down and everything comes to a halt as you take in the fullness of the world around you— the beauty of a flower, the warmth of a ray of sunshine, the laughs of the people you’re with. Whatever they may be, these are the moments that create memories. I chase these moments, continuously searching for the pure joy of everyday life because I know that this is the only time I will be exactly where I am, when I am. I want to remember this moment in its fullness.

Week Two brought about routine. My classes and schedule are solidified. I don’t need to use Google Maps on a daily basis anymore. I’ve found ways to consistently pitch in at my homestay. I’ve formed the friendships that I hope will last during and beyond my time in Copenhagen.

As my daily life in Copenhagen becomes more normal, I’ve been savoring its perfect, fleeting moments. Because feelings of anxiety and novelty have subsided, I’ve been able to focus more on what my life is going to consistently look like for the next four months and where pockets of joy lie. I’ve been able to stop for a second and think about how I really am here and this really is my life and I really get to live it and living is so, so beautiful and the people who are also here and living with me are so, so beautiful.

So, here are some of those people and some of these moments:

On Thursday I tried Thai street food for the first time with a new friend. We sat outside eating for about two hours, sharing personal stories and some of what we’ve been processing in our short time in Denmark. The man sitting at the table next to us heard us speaking in English and started up a friendly conversation. I walked away feeling full of good food and conversation.

Fridays are special everywhere but Fridays are especially special if you are a Danish child. It is traditional in Denmark to take children to a candy store on Fridays to celebrate the weekend. Along with my host brothers, I too was allowed to pick out 15 krones (about $2.20) worth of candy for myself to be eaten that evening.

For obvious reasons, I didn’t expect to walk out of my first Holocaust & Genocide class feeling immense joy. However, my professor, Torben Jørgensen, came to class sharing his unique perspective on why he entered this field. He told us that we can only learn about loss if we understand how precious and beautiful life is. He ended class early, telling us to go enjoy the the sunshine outside and be thankful for the gift of life.

On Saturday, my host brother’s fifth grade class had a picnic at the King’s Garden, something that is apparently quintessentially Danish. I chatted with some of the parents a bit but mostly relished in the world around me: blankets laid out on the earth, laughter and chatter in a language I don’t understand, lots of delicious cake, two different bachelorette parties, kids playing soccer, and more sunshine.

These are just some of the many moments of joy that have caused me to pause and reflect over the past week. Denmark is constantly surprising, joyful, and giving. I’m excited to continue to discover more moments of joy in my time here.

Danish Highlights:

Jeg taler ikke dansk – I do not speak Danish. Haven’t had to use this yet but I was adamant about learning to say it.

Jeg tager toget – I take the train

Hvordan går det? – how are you?

fødselsdag – birthday

spansk – Spanish

engelsk – English

Jeg bor hos en dansk familie – I live with a Danish family

Week One: on Arrivals and Belonging

Where to start? I had quite a bit of anxiety about getting to Copenhagen without any complications, but I’m happy to report that I’m here, I’m safe, and I’m thriving. Everything went well with travel; all in all, it didn’t feel as long as it was. I was like a little kid in a candy store during landings, turning to my friend, Caitlyn, and exclaiming, “we’re in Germany!” and a few hours later, “we’re in Copenhagen!”

The same excitement that carried me through my flights has stuck with me my first week here, mixed with a sense of being overwhelmed. I jumped right into the Copenhagen social scene by attending a hip hop concert with my host family my first night here. I hadn’t even been in Copenhagen for eight hours when I found myself jamming to Aretha Franklin, surrounded by hip-hop-loving Danes.

Despite being out with the whole family the night before, I woke up the next morning around seven. My host dad, Morten, showed me around the kitchen a bit so that I could make myself some breakfast. We then chatted over coffee and family photos for about two hours while the rest of the house woke up. I think this is one of those small life moments that sticks itself in one’s heart and memory— waking up early in Copenhagen, the morning sun reflecting around the clean, white house, a cup of warm coffee in my hands. I’m nervous and uncertain, but eager to learn and connect. Somebody’s kindness, generosity, and amiability makes my first morning in a new place one to set me at ease for the mornings to come.

The only way I can describe how I’m feeling about this transition is “natural.” In the span of less than a week, I’ve moved from nervousness to a sense of peace and belonging. Maybe it’s the rootlessness of my past happy to make an appearance once again, but I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Of course, I’m learning every day and I get excited about trying new things (today in the grocery store I kept asking my host brothers about the most Danish way of eating a breakfast meal), but this evening my host mom, Veena, said that she feels like I’ve been here much longer than six days. I hope this is because she believes I have come to occupy a place in the household and not because she can’t wait for me to get out of here.

I’ve done a lot of things this week. I moved in, learned to use the public transportation system, went grocery shopping three times, started classes, saw Rosenborg Castle, ate amazing pizza, visited the King’s Garden, learned my first Danish phrases, took pictures of Amalienborg Palace, made new friends, went swimming in the canal, and so much more. It’s all been fun, tiring, refreshing, and, at times, overwhelming. I’m eager for a sense of naturalness to extend into more of the relationships I form, places I get to know, and words and customs I begin to understand, but I’m thankful to be sitting in peace for now, knowing I am where I’m supposed to be, learning what I’m supposed to be learning.

Danish Highlights:

morgenmad – breakfast

frokost – lunch

aftensmad – dinner

spiser – to eat (why are all these words about food?)

Jeg hedder Suzi – My name is Suzi

Jeg kommer fra Costa Rica – I am from Costa Rica (or Lancaster, or St. Davids, or wherever)

the S train – the train I take to commute between home and school

drengene – boys

tak – thanks

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.