Velkommen

The first evening I was here in Copenhagen I was jet lagged, recovering from a bad cold and ear/sinus infection, very alone and without computer access because of poor planning with the adapter, sore from lugging my luggage around, worried that I would never be able to find food after a disappointing trip to a grocery store, etc etc. But I could also tell that I was really going to like this city(…or maybe that was the next morning). Either way, I was right, and things have been going much better!

I’m here in Copenhagen studying child development psychology through the DIS program, which includes both hands on work at a volunteer site and a field study trip once a week. I am very excited to start! Tomorrow we find out more details about where we’re going to be placed. In addition to the psychology classes, I’m also taking Nordic Mythology, Copenhagen History and Contemporary Issues, and a Danish class, although I may drop one of these classes and pick up a class about Russia so I can participate in a study tour there.

Anyway, a lot has happened since I’ve gotten here; it feels much longer than four days. I’ve met a handful of Danish people, including a group of students in my kollegium (which is like a private dorm), and one thing that has really struck me is the difference in people’s attitudes about life here. For one thing, this country is pretty socialist; taxes are very high and the wealth is equitably distributed. But what is surprising to me is how people think about this. People here aren’t motivated to do what will make them the most money and bring them the most career success (probably b/c everyone ends up making a similar amount anyway), but they just want to find a job they like that will make them enough money to raise a family reasonably comfortably. They are satisfied with being happy rather than always seeking to achieve more, and that’s probably a healthy mindset. They also really don’t mind that their money is taken in taxes and used to help people with less money; they think about it as the duty of the strong to support the weak. Generally people in the United States feel like the money they earn is theirs unless they are extremely wealthy, which I think is a fair mindset too, but that could be because I am from the US. And they are very liberal in general in their ideas, although I’m sure I’ve met a biased sample dealing with students and people who work for a university. But either way, they are a lot more open about topics that are taboo in the US.

I realize that I haven’t taken any pictures since I’ve been here (not surprisingly b/c I’m really bad about that), but just now I took a few of my room so people can see how Danish students live (this is a pretty standard Danish dorm).

This is the view from the door coming in (I definitely didn't pick out the curtains)

.Looking to the left, here is the kitchenette. To the right is a door to the bathroom.

This is the view from the other side of the room (from the window)...not much to see really.

I have been glad to be living in a kollegium because it's provided a good support system with the other DIS students living here as we've figured out what's going on and how to get around here. Hopefully I'll be able to meet more Danish students here, although I've met a few. There are definitely pros and cons to all the living options here though. I would like to be with a family because they look out for the students...and also it would be nice not to have to cook every day.

Comments

[Sharon Stratton]

Hi Hannah! I didn't know you had a blog! Unfortunate that you had to leave when you were sick but that just means things will get better and better. The dorm room actually looks great--very new and modern, pretty roomy, and I like the kitchen.