Orientation Highlights

It's the end of my third day here in Copenhagen and I feel like I've been here for weeks (in a good way). I guess what I mean to say is that I am already feeling at home in a strange sort of way; it's not that everything is totally easy to do and understand or that it even feels natural, but it just feels good.

Over the past three days, DIS has kept us busy with orientation activities in an attempt to get us to know each other and the city. The first morning after my arrival (Monday) we had our opening ceremonies. Lars drove me into the city in the morning so that I could sleep a little later and still make it on time. All the DIS students packed into this music hall to hear a few speeches and even were entertained by the DIS orchestra (see photo).

I actually really loved the director's speech and found it very moving. He asked us to think about our goals for study abroad and when we discussed them later, many of us (myself included) realized that we aren't quite sure of what our goals really are. That will be my blog topic of tomorrow, but for now, let me just catch you up with orientation highlights.

After opening ceremonies we were told to find our way back to the city center. I just followed the crowd along one of the main roads. The sky was grey and it was windy and bitter cold, but still the architecture made up for it and the walk was very pleasant.

When we got to the DIS main buildings we divided into groups based on our housing. As a student doing a homestay in the Glostrup area, I was placed in orientation group C18. While waiting to be let into our classroom, a girl struck up a conversation with me. Turns out her name is also Sarah (well, she has an h) and she lives close by. We had a really fun time talking together throughout the afternoon and decided to hang out again today. 

As an overview, orientation has included the following activities (which have actually been fun and useful):

One of the cafes that we visited to
compare prices... this one as reasonable
and had great atmosphere!

• Opening ceremonies
• Discussions about life with a Danish host family including broaching hard topics of conversation, understanding cultural differences, and creating expectations
• Living on a budget in Copenhagen exercise: We were divided into groups and sent off to run errands and do investigative work. One group went to several main supermarkets to buy lunch for the rest of us, while also noting the differences in prices between them. my group went to a series of cafes to look at the price of coffees, teas, and baked goods. We got to see the area around DIS's campus and even got free pastries at the student union! 
• A talk about how to apply for our residence permits (so we can legally enter and exit the country multiple times during our time abroad)
• Exercises to learn the DIS campus (which is really just five buildings scattered around the same general area)

When Lars picked me up at
4:00pm, it was already dark
outside (ppl are using their
 headlights and bike lights)

At the end of the first day of orientation, Lars came back to the city to pick me up and escort me home (via public transit) so that I would know how to do it myself from then on. We even walked some portions of the journey multiple times because I thought I would get lost. Can you believe it? The man gets up at 4:15am, goes to work, comes back to take me to school by car, drives home, goes back to work, then takes the train to the city AGAIN to come and take me home... it is unreal. We've had such great conversations and I really feel like I am getting to know him well, which makes me really happy. 

We basically just spent a few minutes at home before he left to get Mira and Helle. Since we were going pretty far and it was late/dark/snowing/we needed to get groceries, we took the car. I got to see Mira playing volleyball and then got to see Helle's work, which was SUPER cool!  After dinner, Mira, Kasper and I played Uno (one of the games that I had brought them). They whooped my butt (which shouldn't be possible in Uno!), and we had a really great time. We made a system where I had to say the number on the card aloud in Danish and Mira had to say the number on the card aloud in English. By the end of the night, Mira was attempting to say other words (and even a sentence or two!) in English to me! YAY! 

It was actually this morning on the train to school that I had a major realization that led me to change my courses today. After successfully making it to the bus stop from my house, waiting through 2 cycles of when the bus should have been there, and then getting to the train station and onto the train, I sat down satisfied (although absolutely freezing) that I had actually been able to get where I needed to go. A little girl sat down next to me and said something to me in Danish. I smiled and almost looked away, embarrassed that I didn't understand. 

As I sat there, I began to think about all of the things that my lack-of-Danish prevents me from doing and understanding: I avoid looking my neighbors in the eye because I don't want them to talk to me since I don't know how to respond. I can't read any of the signs in the trains/buses/city.  I can't remember the names of any of the places I go or even the street I live on because the letters are all jumbled in strange ways. I can't even introduce myself, ask for help, say where I live, or anything really. And all that is fine IF I knew that I was going to be working on it while I am here. The problem was that under my old class schedule, I wasn't going to be working on it. I wasn't taking a Danish class. I decided on the train ride that it is only fair to Mira that if I can help her learn English, she (and Kasper and Helle and Lars) should also be able to help me learn Danish to truly be immersed in the culture. So after our orientation activity today, I went to academic advising and put in a request for a course change. I have to wait until tomorrow to find out if I got into the class, but I really hope so! :)

The rest of the day was fun and relaxing. I went with Sarah and her friend Olivia around Copenhagen and we got HOPELESSLY lost for a while, which was fun and perfect for exploring. I even got to meet up and spend time with EVAN! YAY! He's doing great too and it was so nice to finally get to see him and spend quality time exploring the city together. Here are a few snapshots of the rest of the day in the city. 

First stop after our mandatory session: bakery! 

Sarah (right) and Olivia (left) enjoying danishes

My absolute favorite dessert of all time: cinnamon, almond, hazelnut

One of the squares by DIS

We stumbled into this beautiful little area

SO Danish! bikes, colors, snow

Side street

After our explorations, Evan and I bid Sarah farewell and went to the train station. We waited for trains to arrive and then went our separate ways. I made it home successfully (even in the pitch black that comes by 5pm when I headed come)! Yay for Lars' lessons! 

We had another really fun family dinner, although Kasper was at football practice until after we finished. Then, while Mira did homework, Lars, Helle and I watched handball (Denmark's FAVORITE sport) and laughed until our sides hurt comparing Danish and American life and telling funny stories. I love my host family! We also discussed the start of classes... beginning Thursday... and the changes that they will bring to our lives together (i.e. not as much free time to sit and talk). 

Okay, I am going to bed literally 1.5 hours later than I wanted to, but I am FINALLY all caught up to today. Tomorrow is our last day of orientation and my group's turn to do the Copenhagen Amazing Race! Yay! We also have an activities fair in the evening. I'll try to post before bed. 

Much love to everyone at home!