Denmark: Annabelle Majerus (Final Reflections)

Today marks 90 days since I first arrived in Denmark. As with my previous semesters of college, I’m surprised with how quickly time has gone by. With ¾ of my semester over, I want to reflect on what I’ve learned and how my semester abroad has affected me as a person.

Why did I choose Denmark? For me, this has a straightforward answer. My ancestry is primarily Scandinavian, and I wanted a chance to get to engage with the culture that my family comes from on a more intimate level. I would say I was able to achieve this. I was able to visit the other Scandinavian countries and even got to participate in some traditional activities such as sauna-ing and winter-bathing thanks to my program.

What have I learned? This semester has reiterated my belief that it’s important to step outside of your comfort zone occasionally. Although I was scared to enter a new country without knowing anyone, I’ve gotten so many opportunities thanks to being here. I’m part of the Outdoor Learning Community that DIS offers and was able to go on an excursion every week to try out a new activity. This was key for me in building a community while abroad.

What are my final thoughts? There were several times throughout the semester that I was homesick, but I’ve come to appreciate living in the moment while I’m here. The time will come when I will be back in the States with all the familiarity that lies there, but being abroad for so long is a truly unique opportunity. I’m glad that I have been able to make the most of it while I’ve been here.

 

Annabelle Majerus 

Hometown: Rogers, Minnesota

Major: Global Health with a certificate in Environmental Studies

Program: DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia