The last day of fall semester marked an interesting transition for me. Instead of packing up a small duffle and heading home for a month of good cooking, sleep and time with old friends, I found myself stuffing all of my
belongings into bins and reluctantly saying goodbye to campus and all that I’ve come to love here at Barnard. It was time for my semester abroad. In only a few short weeks I’d be flying to Copenhagen, Denmark for four months of studying, eating, traveling, and exploring Europe. I didn’t know what to expect but I predicted that I was going to have a ball. Friends who had just returned from their time studying away in the previous semester had been raving to me about their experiences. I hoped that I too would fall in love with this new city that I would soon call home. But leaving a place like Barnard that is so near and dear to my heart wasn’t easy. Part of me just wanted to bail, stay and enjoy my life in New York. But I knew I had to challenge myself and with a little push and a lot of excitement, I climbed on to that Scandinavian Airline flight and traveled across the ocean for my next adventure.
Upon arriving in Copenhagen I was very jetlagged. It was raining and cold and a part of me definitely wanted to just turn around and head right back to the States. But after a shower, a nap and a good meal, I was a new girl! Ever since day one it’s all completely flown by—a flurry of new people from all around the country and the world. Without a doubt it’s certainly been a more “American” experience than I had previously expected. My friends here all go to Vanderbilt, Tufts, or Lehigh, live in the tri-state area or California, and are all preparing for similar summer internships once we return. At first I was frustrated.
I’m supposed to be a true Dane after all! I had visions of living in Copenhagen surrounded by flocks of Danish friends, exploring the most secret hubs of the city, and miraculously learning the language all within the first few weeks. But I soon came to realize that living abroad is a big challenge and I shouldn’t be too hard on myself. I immersed myself little by little each day, wandering through new neighborhoods, chatting with anyone and everyone, making a point to reach out to Danish family friends living in the city, using the little Danish I knew to order my rye bread, smoked salmon and cheese at the local café, and being as “hygge” as possible in the Scandinavian winter (“hygge” is the Danish word for cozy and my favorite term I’ve learned here so far). Candles, hot coffee with Baileys, long dinners, big blankets and old novels are constant reminders why Copenhagen is supposedly the happiest city in the world.
But as the days grow longer and weather warmer, I am reminded that springtime is almost here. With this change comes a very real awareness of all the time that’s passed. I’ve managed to travel to Paris, Berlin and London, host visitors from home and others studying abroad, found enough time to actually study a bit, and become fully comfortable in this beautiful northern city. While I certainly miss all that’s going on back at Barnard (Obama at graduation—what?!) and I’m excited to return to everything in next September, studying abroad has truly changed the way I look at the world and all that’s important in life. If you’re a sophomore debating the decision, I have one word: go. You won’t regret it!