Howdy!! fra K?benhavn (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Study Abroad? what an awesome opportunity.? I am studying at Copenhagen Business School in Denmark, and so far, the semester has flown by.? The entire experience of exiting my comfort zone in the form of entering a new country has proven to be the best decision of my academic career.? For those viewing this blog while trying to decide on which school to attend abroad, allow me to provide some information on the Copenhagen program on two different levels: Host University & Host City.? But first, allow me to preface:
If you think that one program is more beneficial than the other (i.e. The Netherlands vs. Germany, Spain vs. Norway, etc.), don?t kid yourself.? Simply going somewhere you haven?t been before offers more significant academic-growth than the marginal differences between programs.? I can honestly admit that I have learned more outside of the classroom than inside (and I have only missed?2 lectures).? In truth, like most international exchange students, school is one of the last things on my mind during this adventure.? Sure, I get it done and learn a ton, but as an international student, I didn?t come to Europe to read books I could have bought cheaper in the States. I came to gain perspective and knowledge about other cultures. And thanks to Katy Lane, the CIBS office, Mays Business School, TAMU, etc. – I am harvesting those most valuable fruits that travelling provides.
University:
Here at Copenhagen Business School (CBS), each academic semester is broken up into two Quarters.? Most classes are scheduled to host lecture for a full semester (2 quarters) in which they will meet once a week for 2.5-hour lecture.? Those courses that are only a quarter long normally meet twice each week for 2.5 hours each lecture in order to cover the material in shorter time.? Attendance is not mandatory, nor are there any grades besides whatever form of final exam presented by each course (oral exam, written exam, or writing assignment).
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Of the approximate 20,000 students enrolled at CBS, more than 4,500 are international exchange students.? For these students (me), the school has assigned a team of local students to coordinate the ?Buddy Team? and Exchange Social Program (ESP).? The Buddy Team matches you with a local student as a resource.? The ESP offers a few different opportunities before and during the semester to not only network you with other internationals from all over the world, but to also optimize your cultural experience while abroad.? I commend this team for organizing such an effective program, and I would highly recommend incoming exchange students to take advantage of all the opportunities that they provide, for the ones that do cost money are well worth it.
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City:
Copenhagen, like many European cities, is a beautiful concoction of urban ancestry and modern ecology.? It offers pretty sights and amazing culture, but most every product is more expensive than what Americans are accustomed to so grocery shopping to replace most eating-out is key (even though restaurants like Halifax Burgers and K?dbyens Fiskebar make this discipline tough to hold).
As the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen is a dense city and housing is particularly tough to achieve.? I was planning on flying from the States to Copenhagen without yet a place to stay like many of the exchange students did thinking they would just find some much easier here than online at home.? Luckily, for me, I found a ?private-housing? opportunity with a local the day before my flight.? Unfortunate for some other students, however, is the unexpected expenses they paid for Hostels because finding housing turned out to be the most difficult task of the culture adaptation.
I stay with a local woman, age 66, named Hanne.? Hanne is a thoughtful Scandinavian woman who welcomed me into her home with a dinner of chicken and bacon.? It has been so beneficial to live with a local for she has taught me so much about Danish culture from the history of Viking invasions and Danish foreign involvement in the World Wars.? She took me to the symphony house for classical music and to her summer house for a different taste of Danish living.? In return, I have changed a light bulb and done some man-work around the house.? Essentially we are an old adorable couple on the outskirts of town whom drink wine and watch the Danish News together.? Needless to say, I highly recommend living with a host family or local whenever studying abroad.? On a more serious note though, I have thus been able to put together so many pieces to the global puzzle my curiosity has created just by listening and seeing things from a Dane?s point of view.
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The past 6 weeks have been impactful and humbling.? I look forward to more perspective-building and stimulating experiences.
-Colby