Today is April 12. In exactly 36 days, my bags will be packed and my host family will bring me to the Copenhagen airport. I will be heading home, and as much as I would like to change that fact, there is nothing I can do. The next 36 days will inevitably fly by faster than any others, so I figure before my final column, I will share some important lessons that might enhance the experience of future Dickinsonians abroad.
1. Make the most of the unexpected: Although I quickly settled into a routine in Copenhagen, I learned that living in a new country requires a certain amount of flexibility and an adventurous spirit. One February afternoon, I set off to find the famous Little Mermaid statue situated somewhere in the harbor with my friend, but we never quite made it there. Instead, we stumbled onto an old military base with burgundy buildings, an old church and an absolutely beautiful trail. We spent hours wandering, sitting, and talking as the sun set. I’d had a clear image of what my day would look like, and had we turned around when we realized that we weren’t heading in the right direction, we’d never have found what is now one of my favorite spots in Copenhagen.
2. Submerge yourself into life and culture: At an American study abroad university, it would be easy to spend most of my time interacting with other Americans. However, by far the richest part of my experience has come from being a member of my wonderful host family and being fully integrated into their lives and routines. One evening, I decided to tag along with them for an evening of dinner and Danish bingo at the local community center, an event to raise money for the youth soccer team. While I did not win any prizes from the actual game, I was brought up to the front of the room, introduced as an American student living in Denmark, invited to play a series of bizarre games with audience participation, and after finally winning one, was presented with a soccer jersey, a scarf and a medal!
3. Change your routine: Once I took note of the cultural differences around me, I tried them out! This has meant going to bed earlier to get up earlier, biking everywhere, being more mindful of my energy use, planning my schedule to allow for extended conversations at the dinner table (often more than an hour) and spending my evenings in the living room with the whole family. My commute takes a lot longer, my stomach is sometimes unsure of how to handle what I eat and I don’t have as much time to myself, but these changes are the result of cultural practices and values that really resonate with me.
4. Think hard about what you can bring home: As I’ve begun the terrifying process of accepting just how soon I return home, I’ve considered why it is that I’m feeling so sad. Looking through the 80-some blog posts I’ve written, I’ve come to realize that I identify with many aspects of Danish life and culture more than American life and culture. Obviously I cannot bring home my host family, the bike lanes, the Danish Welfare System, the city, my new friends, my daily commute or a host of other aspects of life here that I love. However, I’m thinking hard about what practices, values and broader lifestyle changes I can integrate into my life in the States, all of which I’ll discuss further in my final column. Until then, I will begin my mental packing, while soaking up more of the wonders of a city I can (at least for a while longer) call home.
