Hello all!
April has officially begun, which sadly means that my study abroad journey is steadily coming to an end. Time has absolutely flown by, but since I have been in Copenhagen for about three months now, there are definitely some major takeaways I have learned from both my living and academic experiences.
The first and most major takeaway I have learned from studying abroad is the importance of growing comfortable in the city you are living and studying in. I’m not sure about you all, but before I came abroad myself, I had a preconceived notion that studying abroad was full of constantly traveling to new cities and exploring new places. So, when I first moved to Copenhagen, I felt so pressured to make plans to travel to other countries and see things outside of Denmark. However, after living here for a couple weeks, I quickly realized that this was not what I wanted; my priority was appreciating the city I chose to live and study in and truly absorbing the culture here. I wanted to find my favorite restaurants and cafes, take walks around the city, and understand what it feels like to have a life in Copenhagen. Though traveling is still a huge aspect of my study abroad experience, I have found joy in knowing the ins and outs of this small, homely city. I have found my favorite places to get groceries, take walks, and get a quick snack, and this has all contributed to my strong feelings of home and comfort in Copenhagen.
Another major takeaway I have learned from studying abroad is the importance of adjusting your expectations before coming to any study abroad program. Before coming to Copenhagen, I had the expectation that while I studied abroad, I was going to meet people that would become my best friends and have incredible experiences. So, when this did not seem to happen within the first two weeks of moving in, I was extremely disappointed and felt as if my time abroad was not going to be enjoyable. However, I then realized that I needed to change my mindset. My reason for coming to study abroad was not to make new friends- it was to gain a wider education and become more independent. As soon as I changed my expectations, I no longer felt disappointed. I eventually did meet some really amazing people, but understanding that my personal self-growth was the most important priority allowed me to experience living abroad in a much more positive mindset.
My third and last takeaway from studying abroad is the importance of having an open mind when it comes to adjusting to a new culture. In any country, any individual is undoubtedly going to notice practices and behaviors that are different from their own culture, whether these are big or small. For example, when I first came to Denmark, I noticed that people in public do not generally say “excuse me” or “sorry” when passing each other in crowds or on the street. This was so surprising to me, as in the U.S., if anyone bumps int to me or I bump into anyone the immediate response is to apologize. Due to this, I originally felt that Danish people were just rude, but I then realized that this was just a mere culture difference and not a reflection of the Danish population. Like this, there are many other differences I have noticed in countries all around Europe, and I have learned that the best way to adapt and learn about other cultures is to keep an open mind and be respectful of people’s actions.
All in all, I am so thankful for the experiences I’ve had while being abroad, and I cannot wait to keep learning more about life outside the United States!
With love,
Kashvi Shah
