Howdy! Hej from Kobenhavn! My name is Riley McBride and I am the loudest and proudest member of the Fighten’ Texas Aggies Class of 2028, currently living abroad as an international exchange student at Copenhagen Business School (CBS) in Copenhagen, Denmark. AAAAAAAAA! In recognizing that not all classrooms have four walls, studying abroad is my opportunity to learn far beyond textbooks and coursework. For me, this semester is about more than academics, it’s about stepping outside the borders of my small Texas town, experiencing a new country and new culture, and figuring out my place in a much bigger world.
My first impression of Copenhagen is how beautiful it is! The city blends historic architecture with modern Nordic design. Cars are few where bikes are plenty, and the metro has quickly become a necessity with its freezing, windy winter weather. Classes have begun this week and I’ve realized I’m not here traveling, but rather settling in to daily life to live long-term with my courses continuing through the end of June. Preparing for my move abroad meant navigating Denmark’s residency permit requirements, and since being here I’ve met with Citizen Services to complete the necessary steps to receive my temporary residence status.
It’s been an adjustment to living in Copenhagen. Instead of driving everywhere like I did in College Station, I’m now relying on public transportation and I have grown comfortable with the metro and walking a lot. Copenhagen is definitely more expensive than home. So far, I’ve navigated grocery shopping in Danish, sticking to a budget and to save money I’ve bought a monthly metro pass instead of paying per ride. Stating the obvious, the weather couldn’t be more different than Texas.
CBS has definitely made the transition abroad easier. Through the Buddy Program, a current student met me at the airport and helped me get settled into my student housing. I also attended a weeklong Danish crash course. The language was difficult, but I gained friends from around the world through sharing meals and touring the city. Orientation week included social events as well, which has made meeting people so easy while getting accustomed to the campuses and expectations.
Academically, CBS is very different from Texas A&M. All housing is separate from campus, classes are spread across multiple campuses, and courses follow both quarter as well as semester formats. My course schedule changes weekly, class sessions are longer and most grades are based on a single final exam, project or paper, rather than daily assignments, quizzes and multiple exams. Also unlike the large lecture halls in Mays Business School, but similar to class sizes through the Mays Business Honors program, my class sizes seem to be around 40 students or less, which allows for class discussion and learning. I am currently completing corporate finance, corporate governance, as well as two international business management classes.
As I spend my remaining five months studying abroad, I see this as an both an opportunity and a privilege to learn, build global connections and to represent Texas A&M University and Mays Business School abroad. Gig’em!
