Denmark: Avery Meierdirk (Our global classroom + Vibe check)

Danish Days: A recap of my first week studying abroad

As of right now I have been living and studying in Copenhagen, Denmark for just shy of two weeks and it has been an adventure to be sure. I wanted to take the time to fill all of you in on my experience studying abroad so far with what school is like, Copenhagen life in general, my foodie journey, and so much more.

One of my favorite parts of Studying Abroad is attending getting a perspective outside of the U.S school system. The experience going from UW Madison to Copenhagen University is VERY different in my experience, which stems from the overall culture in Copenhagen which seems a slower and more relaxed pace of life (I will get more into that later). The campus is smaller than Madison and they have a reception in the front of campus making it easy to find and get help finding classrooms which vary in size from 500- person lecture halls to 20-person discussion rooms. One thing to get used to is that the University of Copenhagen has been the “Academic Quarter”. This is where every class has a 15-minute buffer time from the scheduled start time, so the lecturer never starts before 3:15 if the class is scheduled at 3:00! This came in handy when I figured out where my classes were and made it less distracting because no one walks in 15 minutes into the lecture to find a seat. Another big difference is the class schedule structure where classes only meet once a week but lectures last 2-3 hours at a time. With afternoon lectures from 3-6pm, I learned to bring a snack after the first one and was glad for a free campus cafe for a mid-lecture pick me up. The professors schedule multiple breaks throughout this time, which is nice. The breaks also give the class a natural flow as we grow through different lecturing topics, and discussion points.

Along with fewer classes there are also fewer assignments. For my classes, there is only one grade, a final project or exam at the end of the year. In some classes this project is a presentation with the professor who then asks you questions about your presentation on class content or a pass/fail exam at the end of the year. This will change my learned study habits at UW-Madison, and I find I will need to make my own study checkpoints without exams throughout the semester. Other than just the structure of this University, learning about the U.S or topics of psychology in a different light is so interesting. My classes seem to focus more on the biological aspects where I was exposed more to theories and more qualitative lessons at UW-Madison. As the only American in all my classes I find myself as the spokesperson for the U.S even though my experience and knowledge is only one experience from one region and is very different than anyone else in the U.S. This I find I must overcome being quiet when people ask questions of the U.S.A not wanting to get anything wrong or make the wrong impression. It is a lot to have on your shoulders, but I think having this other perspective on learning will be so helpful in the future!

Vibe Check (Overall Thoughts and Feelings)

It has only been a little less than two weeks, but already studying abroad has been a rollercoaster of emotions and what I can already tell is an amazing experience. I was unprepared at first to feel as homesick and overwhelmed as I did when I first arrived. I figured after having traveled internationally alone before and having traveled many times it would not be much of a change from trips I have taken in the past, but I was very wrong in that train of thought. It was like the first day of the first year all over again where you are in a new space only 10x different because you are also thrown into a new culture, country, and far away from what you are comfortable with. I learned you really need to set aside your pride and be comfortable being uncomfortable, asking for help, and leaning on the support of others instead of trying to do everything yourself. However, the best way to overcome these anxious feelings is to really immerse yourself and to get out of the house and just do and see things. This can be very scary at first, but once you find people to explore with you and people in your classes to help navigate school life everything becomes much more exciting, and you can take a breath and enjoy your time. I have found myself settling into a groove and really enjoying the life I am building for myself here. Just know that feelings of all kinds will come and go, and it is not always going to be the picture-perfect life you see on social media, but that is ok it is a very brave thing to step out of your comfort zone and learn from those around you.

Studying abroad is an amazing experience that I do not regret for one second and know that the memories I am creating I will cherish forever. With that said I am excited for the months to come and what I will learn in and out of school. Until next time… Farvel

Avery Meierdirk

Hometown: Pardeeville, Wisconsin

Major: Psychology & Social Welfare

Program: University of Copenhagen Exchange