Featured Image is where my roommates, friends and I enjoy meeting at for lunch and studying (Studenterhuset); and, where they offer DIS students discounts on caffeine replenishments and study snacks.
As I have become more acquainted with my home away from home and my new courses, I have been establishing more of a routine that significantly differs from what I am used to back at SLU; and, it has certainly been a challenge to ignore all of my friends’ and classmates’ posts on Snapchat and Instagram about going back to SLU and seeing each other again. I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t want one day to be there with them. Luckily, I have been kept busy with my core course Academic Orientation, my Local Homestay Network jump-start event, and my first week of classes during which I attended a field study for my Core Course.
As a refresher of my previous post, I am enrolled in one of the many sections of Danish Language and Culture, Masculinities in Scandinavia, Positive Psychology (my core course), Photojournalism, and Designing Communications Campaigns.
On Thursday of last week, I attended the first three aforementioned classes (in that respective order). That morning, I rode my bike to the train station by myself and, when I got onto the train towards København/Østerport, I was terrified that I boarded the wrong train (first day nerves were real). (Clearly, I have always been a bit nervous when handling the public transportation systems alone; even in Boston where I rarely use the MBTA system.) I was anxiously texting the host family group chat where David (thankfully) reassured me that I was heading in the right direction and I wouldn’t be missing my first class of the semester. Once I stepped foot on the platform at the station, I was able to search for the classroom with other semi-lost DIS students..
Danish Language and Culture
Walking into my first official class of the semester was a bit nerve-racking of course. But, once I started talking with the people around me, I met some mutual friends of people from Pingree (high school) and even some of whom are fellow Bostonians. The lesson consisted of the professor initiating games of introduction. Rather than learning the alphabet and the essential words (e.g., who, what, when, where, why, how) first as I had anticipated, we went directly into having a conversation in complete Danish, leaving us to figure out what each word meant on our own. It was a challenge and it was funny as we all struggled as a collective group of English speaking individuals. I am very excited for this class as we have a few Field Studies that are spread across the semester as well as assignments that require us to explore the city of København on self-guided tours. I am excited for this class as there is the language learning component in addition to a cultural aspect of the course where we will learn about Danish history.
Masculinities In Scandinavia
Once Danish class was over, I whipped out my phone and opened Google Maps (my new best friend, along with Rejseplanen) to find my next class. Compared to my simple 3 minute (max.) walk across St. Lawrence’s campus, I was speed walking through the busy streets of København filled with people traveling by foot, bike, electric scooter, and cars. Clearly, there is a lot to be aware of, in addition to the occasional construction on the side of the road that makes it that much more tricky to not get run over by a cyclist (it won’t happen, but it’s important to note). What I really like about DIS classes is that I get to see the Local Danes as well as other DIS students which creates a sense of familiarity and comfort. Also, I am in the heart of Denmark and it’s beautiful (even with the occasional rain shower). In Masculinities, I met more students who either knows this or that person, went to this school and played against Pingree or knows someone from St. Lawrence University (because, as small as SLU is, everybody knows a SLU student).In class, we learned more about the professor and each other, as well as the “basics” (as someone who took a gender course last semester) of gender and masculinity. We continued to delve into conversation with the people around us about what masculinity means to us and how it is applied in our lives at home in the States and our experiences at DIS thus far.
Positive Psychology
Positive Psychology is my Core Course, the course with which I go to Western Denmark and London, England with for a week. To start the class, we were welcomed by our professor’s dog named [insert dog’s name here]. He is a cute little white dog that, while we were doing a meditation practice, distracted us all. The only reason why he was distracted was we each had a grape in our hand for a mindfulness eating exercise. For the rest of the day, we discussed some readings that we were assigned for the day regarding a PERMA Model about the essentials needed for a satisfying life and happiness. This is the format of what our classes have been like for the rest of the week, with the exception of Wednesday when we went on a study tour.
Positive Psychology Field Study (08/28/2019)
The study tour consisted of us taking a walk through Botanical Gardens to find a spot (which ended up being right next to the entrance) to sit and do a full body cleanse meditation. Then, we discussed the rest of the field study with Play. Play is a local private business which provides time for local, underprivileged families and children in the local area to use inclusivity and positivity as a way to gain a sense of belonging within their own community. As a class, we were walked through a similar process where we started with introducing ourselves in different ways (representing someone who may be physically impaired or younger than we are), then in four different groups, we figured out which games would be considered fun for an older participant and a younger participant. My group chose the game of Rock, Paper, Scissors; but, we had to put an educational twist on it and make sure it could be used in any subject. Therefore, we chose geometry and changed the words and hand-symbols to “Circle, Square, Triangle”, where Circle beats Square beats Triangle beats Circle. We all paired up and whomever lost their match would have to follow the winner around to their other matches and support them; eventually there were two big groups and one qualifying player from each team. It was a simple game that would be played at Orientation, but it was fitting for this situation as none of us really know each other anyway; and, we have a whole semester together (with a week-long trip to Western Denmark and London).
PhotoJournalism
My first class of Photojournalism made me more excited about my semester here in Denmark, with the exception of it being at 8:30 in the morning and it being nearly 3 hours. In class, we each introduced ourselves and had to present a photo which we found inspiring and one that we took ourselves that we are proud of.
Following that activity, we were paired up with a partner (someone whom we don’t know) and went out with our cameras to take portraits. My partner and I found a bike parking garage (yes, those exist here in København) and a pile of wood (nice light yellow shade, not used). With these photos, we uploaded them to a gallery that the professor projected on the board and we were critiquing some photos. Of course, my photo was critiqued first; however, rather than taking that as a moment of vulnerability and weakness, I used it as a moment to improve on a hobby that I am hoping to grow, especially while I am here in Denmark.
For next week’s class (it’s only one day a week), I am assigned to take portraits of the people I live with so I am very excited to take this assignment on (host parents, two other DIS students and three dogs….what more could I ask for??).
Designing Communication Campaigns
My first time in DCC (easier to type) was eye-opening as I have never had a course completely dedicated to communications and marketing. I am a minor in Communications and my only experience with Communications is my public speaking course last semester (it was so nerve-wracking) and my only experience with marketing/social media is managing SLU’s chapter of the HerCampus online magazine for women. This course is challenging us to take on an actual business as a local Danish client and film an advertisement/campaign video (yes, like the ones you see for big named brands on television). My group is assigned to Mikkeler, a beer company. I am eager to see what my group produces and films.
Homestay / Jump Start Event
As I have mentioned before, I am very much enjoying my time with my host parents, and Allie H., and Lucy.
Last weekend, we attended a jump-start event where we went to Rubjerg via the oldest train that runs in our region and had a picnic in a serene park.
It was a relaxing afternoon and great to see the other families and DIS students.
Traveling
Since this post is being published a bit later than I anticipated, I will preview my next post. I have already traveled outside of Denmark on a day trip and will certainly share that experience with you in the next post!
Until then…
farvel, Allie
Danish Words/Phrases I’ve Learned This Week
- hvad jedder du? – what is your name?/what are you called?
- jeg hedder – I am called/my name is
- hvor kommer du fra? – where do you come from?
- jeg kommer fra – I come from
- hvad læser du? – what do you study?
- jeg læser – I study
- psykologi – Psychology
- kommunication – Communication
- hvordan kommer du til DIS? – how do you get to DIS?
- tagen toget – take the train
- cykler – bicycle
Allie's Study Abroad Adventures 