University of Wisconsin–Madison

Denmark: Avery Meierdirk (Daily Life in Copenhagen)

Two pink shoes next to a patch of grass with blooming yellow, white and purple flowers.
Flowers showing the first signs of spring in my favorite park to run through!

Come with me on a day in my life as a student studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark! Living in Copenhagen these past few months, I have a whole new day-to-day routine that aligns more with Danish culture and trends, so I follow along with my day-to-day routine. Local life begins on the early side in Copenhagen, so I wake up earlier in the mornings to eat my new favorite Danish breakfast, which you will find around here listed on menus as the “Morning Plate,” which is sourdough toast, poached eggs, jam, and cheese. After a bit of breakfast cleanup, each day looks a little different from my class schedule, but I always have a good portion of the day that’s free, with my classes only meeting once a week for a few hours at a time.

A plate with a circular pastry and a cup of coffee.
Coffee and a Berliner from Lille Bakery a local favorite

I love to use this time to be a part of the bicycle culture here in Copenhagen, hop on my bike to run errands, or explore new attractions in the city. Much of my knowledge about the city comes from museums and tours, which I explore during the day! This is a great way to learn more about the history of the sites you see daily and how certain customs came to be. Tours and Museums are super accessible to students with student discounts, and clubs often do group tours, which is super sociable. In the afternoon and early evening, I bike to the city campus, where I have class from 3-6 pm. We get little breaks every hour, so It’s a good time to go down to the student cafe, pick up a snack, and talk with the professors who are never afraid to hand out recommendations of things to do around the city or what the differences are between everyone’s home countries and Copenhagen.

A castle with square and round towers has a green, metal roof and sits next to a grassy patch next to a river.
Rosenborg Castle, a great place to walk around on a sunny day!
Plants sit underneath a domed glass ceiling.
The main atrium in a popular art museum the Glyptoteket which show marble sculptures from artists from different parts of the world

Then, after biking home, I love to get in a little run around my neighborhood, which has been a great way to get some exercise in and to find a bunch of excellent cafes, stores, and restaurants I take pictures of to come back later and check out. I know I said life in Denmark starts early, but that also means it winds down earlier. Especially in cold weather, there is a word in Danish, “Hygge,” which in English means the feeling of coziness or hominess inside when it’s dark and cold outside. I feel this when I am winding down from my day, making myself dinner, and turning on a good show before doing it all again tomorrow.

 

 

Avery sits next to a wooden countertop in a dimly lit room.

Avery Meierdirk

Hometown: Pardeeville, Wisconsin

Major: Psychology & Social Welfare

Program: University of Copenhagen Exchange