Establishing a Routine

About 9 days after getting here, I finally feel as though I'm falling into a sort of routine.

 Pretty flowers for your viewing pleasure

Mondays: Class 8:30am-4:10pm
Tuesdays: No class! Volunteer for a couple of hours at Mødrehjælpen (Mother's Help)
Wednesdays: Field Studies for classes 8:30- 4:30 & Global Action House 6:30-8:30ish
Thursdays: Class 8:30am-4:10pm
Friday/Saturday/Sundays: No class and exploration!

Looking at the calendar of the months ahead makes me realize how CRAZY this semester is going to be:

September 3-7: Core Course week; Three days in Western Denmark followed by 2 days intensive core course (European Trends in Communication) lectures, class, and field studies.
September 27-October 8: Free travel, definitely visiting Caroline in Milan for part of this break

Side note: Dee and Marissa are trying to plan a visit to Europe to see Bri, Marissa's friend Walton, and me for October 12-17. Which would be phenomenal to say the least. It's not finalized yet, but my fingers are crossed SO hard.

October 20- 28: "Long Study Tour": going to London for a week with my class
November 9-18: Parents visit for a week of free travel!
December 15: Flight back to JFK

Yesterday was very productive:

1. Went to the glass market (called Torvehallerne, which I can't say for my life), ate authentic danish Smørrebrød (open faced sandwiches on dense rye bread) for the first time. They aren't just a meal, they're gorgeous! Torvehallerne reminds me of a smaller version of La Boqueria in Barcelona.

Smørrebrød

Smørrebrød

Torvehallerne Attractions

Torvehallerne Attractions

2. Visited (biked!) to Mødrehjælpen, where I'll be volunteering! I met some staff members, got acquainted with the thrift shop I'll be organizing, and chatted with the friendly Danes in the neighborhood. I'm very excited to start volunteering there weekly.

3. Went to "Cafe Night" at a restaurant called Cafe 22 with my entire Danish class! DIS paid for us to all go to dinner together and we ate authentic Danish cuisine at the Cafe in lower Nørrebro.

4. Skyped with Minor Problem's officers for the first officer meeting of the semester! Minor Problem is one of the biggest things I'm missing while abroad, so staying involved is phenomenal for me. :) I'm lucky that they're willing to skype me in to their events/meetings.

One Week Under My Belt

I've officially been in Copenhagen for about one week. This city is beautiful, charming, exciting, and I really am starting to love it. Yesterday was a normal Sunday full of homework. I also went to immigration to complete the first step in obtaining a residence permit to stay in Copenhagen. The process is easy for American students.

Today was another day of 5 classes. It's rough between 8:30 and 16:10 with exactly zero breaks. They'll absolutely be challenging, which I hear is rare for a study abroad program.

After class, Bri and I found a quaint coffee shop called Kaffekunsten. We sat there doing homework (aka fantasizing about the rest of our semester) & we made the decision that before we could really acclimate to everyday Danish life, we have to do all the silly tourist things first. So, shortly after that, we met up with Anna and Vince to do just that. 

Coffee, homework, and a few Danish Kroner on the table

We all rode our bikes (!!) to Copenhagen's Church of Our Savior, famous for it's corkscrew spire with a winding staircase on the exterior. The church is pictured:

Paying only 25 Danish kroner to enter (a little more than $4), we climbed to the very top of the spire. The view of all of Copenhagen below us was incredible to say the least. We could see the Baltic Sea to the North and to the East with incredible, massive windmills on the horizon. We could see center city, the surrounding neighborhoods of Nørrebro, Vestebro, & Oestebro, Freetown Christiania, and all of the landmarks around the city and beyond. 

After climbing the spire, we ventured toward the fabled Freetown Christiania. Christiania is historically most famous for its open cannabis trade, eviction of hard drugs, and "free" mentality. The commune applies it's own rules including: no cars, no stealing, no guns, no bullet-proof vests, etc. The area is crawling with unleashed friendly dogs and you're not allowed to take pictures. I took a few photos, though, on the extreme outskirts of the commune. Generally, Christiania is a novelty to see mostly because of its parks, incredible gardens, and murals, but also because of its strange characters and "free" mindset.

Mural at the entrance to Freetown Christiania

Pond on the outskirts of Christiania

Following our adventures, I cooked dinner for Bri and myself (Honey and soy glazed salmon with steamed broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, onions, and carrots) and we're off to do homework with the rest of my house!

Tomorrow, I'm meeting with the organization I'll be volunteering with for the semester. More on that after it happens! <3

Eventful Days & Nights

I learned a quote today that I really love & is helping me:

"At vove er at tabe fodfaeste en kort stund. Ikke at vove er at miste sig selv." -Kierkegaard

Translation: "To dare to be adventurous is to lose your footing for a short time. Not to dare is to lose oneself."

These first days are so incredibly eventful, I can't seem to remember all of the wonderful things I'm doing.

I only have classes Mondays & Thursdays (8:30am-4:10pm straight, woof) & have field studies for classes Wednesdays. That schedule means I have the privilege of having Tuesdays and Fridays free!

Yesterday, on Friday,  I spent the morning organizing all of my school books & work, all the documents for Global Action House (the DIS Living & Learning Community I'm involved in), my DIS Volunteer Program plans, and trying to contact the Danish visiting family I've been assigned. After that, though, Bri and I went on a little adventure to buy a bike!

Backstory: A few days ago, a young Danish man heard us complaining to our friend Meghan that we didn't think the bike rental plan that DIS offers was the best deal we could find. He approached us and offered us the name of a bike shop in upper Nørrebro. We walked the 1.5km to the shop and were greeted by two of the nicest men who helped us buy VERY affordable bikes. They also promised they would buy the bikes back from us at the end of the semester. PERFECT!

Having a bike, even for the past 24 hours, has made getting around the city even more fun!

With a bike, my commute to classes is only about 10 minutes or less

Exploring the bar scene in the city has also been a treat. Last night, we found our way to a bar filled with mostly Danes (we tried to branch out of the few bars that all the DIS students frequent) and had a great time. The bar had a 90s theme and was filled with Danes singing/shouting the YMCA and Vengaboys' "Boom Boom Boom Boom". It was hysterical. The city stays up late and is very safe, which makes weekend nights a whole new experience.

I'm loving this city and this adventure, but I'm definitely missing home and Villanova, especially as everyone arrives back at school to start another fabulous semester. I hope you all have a wonderful time and I can't wait to be back at school with you!

Exploring Nyhavn and Classes Day 1

Yesterday, Bri and I spent the day exploring. We played a little hooky from the last day of orientation (shhhh) and went Southeast of city center, where we saw the Old Stock Exchange, Copenhagen's Parliament building, the Royal Palace, and other beautiful sites. The day had perfect weather (which I'm told again and again won't last), and I'm seeing how this city can be so enchanting. On the walk through the city, we came across 5 trampolines built directly into the sidewalk. Naturally, we stopped for some fun before moving on. 

The highlight of the day, though, was Nyhavn. Nyhavn, meaning "New Harbor" is one of the most well-known places in Copenhagen. And I now understand why. To say it's beautiful is an understatement. Located along man-made canals with glittering, clear water are gorgeous colored buildings, shops, schooners, and harbor boats.

Bri & me in Nyhavn

Me, Bri, Alia, Kalli, and Kelsey in Nyhavn

After exploring Nyhavn and its charm, Bri and I ventured one block to Ofelia Beach, which was featuring a sand sculpture contest exhibit. Below is a photograph of one the incredible sculptures. They were truly breathtaking. Across the canal from the exhibit is The Opera, an architecturally impressive building.

Bri & me at the sand sculpture exhibit

Sand sculptures with The Opera in the background

Bri, Alia, Kalli, Kelsey, and I ate lunch on the canal and explored the rest of of Nyhavn before returning to Nørrebro (near my dorm at Ravnsborggade) for the student activities fair.

Today was the first day of classes. I'm blessed and cursed to have all 5 of my classes on Mondays and Thursdays. Yes, that leaves Wednesday for field studies allotted to each class and Tuesdays and Fridays fully free, but on Mondays and Thursdays I'm in class from 8:30am- 4:10pm straight. It was rough. The classes, though some seemingly challenging, seem engaging and well worth my time.

Overall, I'm starting to feel as though I'll be able to call this city "home" for the next four months.

Day 3

Things I have learned today:

1) This is a very safe city. Maybe it has something to do with the small size, but crime rates are relatively low and each of the main neighborhoods are considered safe, young, hip, and friendly.

2) Bikers absolutely WILL hit you if you're in their way. The warnings were true.

3) According to the Danes I'm meeting, the sun we are seeing peek in and out today is some of the only sun I'll be seeing for the entire semester. I'm cherishing it.

4) Brie cheese is aggressively sticky once it semi-melts.

5) There's a lot of value in exploring this city by myself. The (little) alone time I got to explore today was amazing. This fountain and the square (above) are located less than a block from DIS academic buildings. Just some of the sites I'll be seeming on my daily walk/bike to school. :)

Day 2: Jetlag & Exploration

Day 2:

So far, I'm alive. Jet lag is actually as horrible as they say. I've never ben jet-lagged like this before... going through orientation today felt like a blur. We spent the morning with all 600 (700?) DIS students at the beautiful Royal Danish Academy of Music. We were welcomed by the director of DIS, past DIS students, the mayor of integration in Copenhagen. We explored the city for a few hours, getting lost in little side streets. I'm learning a lot already. This city is truly beautiful. And it's small. It's intimate, old, and vibrant. I can definitely see myself living here for the next four months. 


That being said, though, I already miss home and I I hate that I'm not at Villanova with the people (and places) I love. Living so far away is new and it's hard. Not to worry- I'll soon be distracted by 5 courses (European Trends in Communication, Scandinavian Crime Fiction, Women, Art, & Identity, Kierkegaard's Authorship, and Danish Language), volunteering for "Mødrehjælpen" (Mother's Help, which supports single parents with legal and practical aid), possibly joining the DIS choir, and traveling! There are definitely exciting things in store. Until later... 

T-9 hours Until Takeoff

So, here I am 9 hours away from my departure into a new world. At 11:05pm, I'll set flight to London's Heathrow Airport, where I'll transfer (quite quickly... one hour layover EEK) to a flight to Copenhagen, Denmark. In Copenhagen, I'll be living in the heart of Nørrebro, one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen, Northwest of the city's center. Nørrebro is known for being one of the most multi-ethnic areas of the city, having a huge variety of food and bar options, and for unrivaled antique shopping. I'll be studying with the Danish Institute for Study Abroad for the semester (4 months). Check back here for updates as I embark on this adventure!