This past weekend, I booked a very last minute trip to visit my good friend studying abroad in Denmark. I had to admit that I had very high expectations for the country itself, considering that Denmark has traditionally ranked among the happiest countries in the world.
The reason behind Denmark’s consistent happiness is what the Danish call “Hygge,” or a general cozy lifestyle that has come to define their culture. I indeed experienced hygge while stuffing myself with delicious Danish pastries. However, I gained so much more than just excess calories from my short trip; I learned more about friendship, culture, and happiness in one weekend than I had in my entire life.
Reflecting upon my weekend and overall study abroad experience thus far, here is what I have learned:
1.Reaching out to strangers and extending yourself beyond your circle of immediate friends will grow not only your network, but it will also grow your mind and heart. I will forever be grateful to Celine, my Danish friend, who I met over the weekend. She was kind enough to invite me into her home for dinner and share her culture with me. Overall, the people you meet while travelling will often be what you remember most. Therefore, making an effort to get to know natives of the country you’re in can be the best way to familiarize yourself with that place and culture. In the end, you may just be surprised by how similar we all actually are!
2.Happiness itself does not have boundaries. Regardless of the fact that I was in the happiest country in the world, I experienced a lot of very happy moments during the trip just in mundane interactions with other people. For example, I loved sitting and sharing genuine laughs with strangers from Germany, Italy, the UK, Portugal, and even Nebraska, all despite our plethora of differences.
3. Even with the title of the “Happiest Country in the World,” everyone is still going through their own problems. Just because Denmark is supposed to be the happiest country, does not mean that it does not have its gloomy days as well (it actually rains A LOT). For this reason, it goes a long way to be kind and make an effort to listen to others; you never know the impact you can have by simply listening.
4.Sometimes a little perspective can truly change your outlook on life. It is so worth it to make the effort to ask as many questions as you can about every place and person you meet—you never know what you’ll learn. By having challenged myself to ask every person from outside the United States what they thought of Americans, I was able to gain so much perspective about my own life and understanding of the world.
5. It is okay to be a little lost. Sometimes the best way to find your way back is to take the time to explore and make mistakes. At the same time, you don’t need to see or do everything. The most important thing is to make sure YOU are enjoying the experience and getting something meaningful out of it. Free of maps, tours, or plans, we explored a new city of Denmark every day and stumbled upon a mixture of quirky, yet beautiful places. At the end of the day, it was totally worth braving freezing weather to explore and get a little lost, especially while in good company.
6.Taking time out of your day to appreciate what you have goes a long way. Especially during my study abroad experience, I have learned that it is important to slow down to reflect and comprehend what is happening. Even if it may seem tempting to rush to see everything in such a short amount of time, taking the time to actually see and learn about the places you visit and the people you meet is so much more rewarding.
7.Travelling is fulfilling yet exhausting. Take time to do the things you want to do and choose to be around people that won’t make it more exhausting than it already is.
Overall, I did leave Denmark happier than I came. In addition to experiencing Danish hygge, I was able to leave with new friends, knowledge, and appreciation for the power of travelling and the impact it can have on us.