As I sit here right now, on the night before the first day of senior year, I can’t help but reflect on how far I’ve come in the last four years. I have been trying to write this blog post for weeks. Its been written and deleted numerous times, but I never felt like I was capturing the true value of my abroad experience. So as I sit here feeling emotional and sappy about starting my last year at Pitt, I finally feel like I can conjure up the words to describe how my abroad experience has impacted me so far and the lessons learned that I will be carrying into senior year with me.
If you had told me even one year ago that I would end up in Copenhagen, Denmark for study abroad I would never have believed you. I don’t even think I could’ve pointed to Copenhagen on a map. However, now I know that tucked away in a small section of Northern Europe is the most perfect city in the world. When people ask me to describe what Copenhagen is like, usually the first thing I say is that it is the happiest city in the world. Living in Copenhagen for a month taught me that prioritizing your happiness doesn’t have to be hard. In Copenhagen, there is an emphasis on simplicity that flows effortlessly into everything from their clothing style to their public transportation system.
Since being back from Copenhagen, I have noticed that what the Danish say about Americans is true, we move too fast and we do so loudly. In Denmark people are encouraged to take a break after college and spend months traveling the world. Their work days are structured around being able to take long lunches and extended breaks to catch up with a friend, read a book, or simply relax by yourself. For them these breaks from work, school, and life are essential, not a luxury. In Copenhagen many people refer to these breaks ash “hygge”. Here in America we don’t prioritize alone or quiet time as part of our day. We find ways to just “push through” our days and tell our selves over and over that there is simply no time for breaks. To me, its no surprise that America is far from the happiest country in the world with this mindset.
Since returning from Copenhagen, I have been trying to create my own concept of “hygge”. For me, this was cooking and going on walks with my dog at home. Every few days I would spend time brainstorming new recipes and making them for my parents. Through doing this I learned that a big part of my personal serenity, or “hygge”, is spending quality time with my loved ones. I worked hard this summer to prioritize making time for family and friends and being present in these moments by putting away my phone and soaking up every conversation completely unplugged. I have noticed that since being back from Copenhagen, my phone screen time is the lowest its ever been and I have felt a positive difference in myself and in my relationships with others.
As important as it is to get-to -know yourself and find your own hygge, going abroad taught me how it is equally important to put yourself out there to talk to and get to know new people. The most valuable thing I took away from Copenhagen was the friendships I made there. To think that just 6 months ago we were all strangers just blows my mind. There is something magical about how people from all over the world end up in the same place at the same time and end up becoming friends for life. In just 4 weeks, you build friendships that last a lifetime and live some of your greatest memories together. As you get older, we start to get more comfortable on our own and with the groups of friends you already have. Going abroad pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone and build new connections. You never know who you are going to meet and by choosing not to put yourself out there you may just be missing out on meeting your future roommate, business partner, or best friend.
In my Senior year here at Pitt I want to challenge myself to continue to develop my “hygge”. I want to start cooking Sunday dinners for my roommates and close friends and prioritize spending quality time with them (with my phone tucked away somewhere). The last 4 years have flown by and I want to soak up every once of the last four years with the same intentionality I learned to practice in Copenhagen. I also want to challenge myself to make even more friends here in my classes. I tend to be quiet in class and try and do it all on my own, but I can see now that might hold me back. I want to try my best in the first couple weeks of classes to introduce myself to those around me and work on building connections.
Thank you Copenhagen for showing me how to grow, find my “hygge”, and encouraging me to leave my comfort zone.
