So here’s how I chose Copenhagen:
In 2016, my New Year’s resolution was to BE UNCOMFORTABLE. There’s this expression, something like “life begins where your comfort zone ends,” and I decided to try and embrace that by purposefully putting myself in situations that would make me feel insecure and vulnerable.
As a result, 2016 turned out to be a monumental year for me. I auditioned for my school’s sketch comedy group on a whim and made it – now, they are a group of my best friends and sketch practice is the best part of my week. I shaved my head (!!!), something I had been considering doing for years but never had the courage to commit to. I went on a summer service project to Mississippi, which was honestly the most challenging and draining experience of my life.
Every time I tried something new, whether I succeeded or failed, felt good – I had never considered myself to be unadventurous, but I loved the feeling of pursuing life. There were things to learn everyday.
I’ve always wanted to study abroad, but I had never given any real thought to where I would go. When my junior year started to roll around, I just found myself saying “London” when people asked where I was going, because that’s where my friends were going/Fordham has a school there/everyone speaks English, etc etc etc. I was excited by the idea of studying in London, because I had been there before and I loved it. I knew there was nothing to be afraid of; it was already conquered terrain.
Realizing that changed everything. Upon realizing that, that going to London would be fun and adventurous and life-changing, but not deeply and truly CHALLENGING, I knew I needed a new plan.
Copenhagen was the first city that came to mind. I knew that it was gorgeous, that they had an interesting culture surrounding my two main topics of study (Film/TV and Gender Studies), and I’d never been. I did more research and fell in love with DIS’s program, which had everything I wanted in a study abroad experience and more. The rest, as they say, is history.
I know that I’ve made a good choice – I’m yet to meet anyone who has something bad to say about Copenhagen. Everyone I know has a friend/sibling/cousin who has visited/studied/lived in Copenhagen and they ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!!!!!! However, the aggressively positive response I’ve gotten makes me naturally skeptical. I want to absolutely love it there. In many ways I expect to absolutely love it, or else I wouldn’t have applied. But at the same time, I have plenty to be nervous about. I’ve been reading books about Denmark (current read: The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell) and studying Duolingo vocab everyday, but it’s still impossible to visualize exactly what it’s going to be like. I have to pack light and leave the comforts of home behind. I am a notoriously picky eater and I’m unfamiliar with Danish cuisine. I have never been away from home for more than two or three weeks at a time.
As I write this, I am only a week away from departure, and everything I do feels like a panic THIS-COULD-BE-THE-LAST-TIME-I-DO-THIS-THING-FOR-FOUR-MONTHS!!!! moment. Part of me knows that every feeling of anxiety and uncertainty is good, it’s healthy, it prepares me for the future, but also part of me feels like being uncomfortable was 2016’s problem! New year new me! Why am I still doing this to myself!!!!
I am excited/anxious/so ready/unprepared, I definitely need to buy a new pair of winter boots before I leave, and everything is about to change!! It’s going to be chaotic and wonderful!! I can’t wait to read this in four months and say silly Colleen, there was never anything to be worried about!
Happy Hygge 