The story of my abroad experience begins here:
Well, I guess technically it began in the Newark Airport, but that's not quite as exciting or picturesque.
The Cirkus Building in Jernbanegade in Copenhagen was designed by the architect Henrik Vilhelm Brinkopff and built in 1886. On Monday morning it served as the site for our Opening Ceremony. In the lobby of the Cirkus Building I was happy to find a familiar face, Bob (Rob that is, here in CPH) another Haverford classmate and friend of mine.
The ceremony consisted of slideshows and a string ensemble. Along with many introductions came a few cultural cues (the Danes hate tardiness and always wait for the cross-walk signal to turn green) as well as the casual "selfie" to assimilate with Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. The overall message sent by the speeches were that we should immerse ourselves in the culture, be open to new experiences and make Denmark our own- Well welcome to Jenmark!
Our next stop was the Grand Theater where we attended a Student Affairs Session and then headed off to book pickup.
After gathering our class materials, with pounds and pounds of books in tow, Ryn, Rob and I decided to walk around and see the city. We walked. And walked. For just over three hours until we settled at a small restaurant (where I had my first legal beer!) in Amager.
Tuesday we attended academic orientations, a facilities tour, and attempted the Amazing Race. The race put us into groups of six and sent us out to meet DIS staff at a series of monuments and tourist destinations through Copenhagen. Though we originally started in a group of six at Christiansborg Palace...
by the end of the race, Ryn, Rob and I found ourselves alone once again wandering the street of Copenhagen, and finally making it to the Danish Royal Palace.
The night would not be complete if we didn't head over to the Tuesday night hotspot for Americans, Kulørbar. Let's not get into details.
Wednesday we attended housing session and I met a Danish woman to purchase a bike! Check it out:
Later we attended an Immersion fair where I found another friendly face Jesper (Meg Holt's boyfriend and my new field hockey coach)! DIS provided free hot dogs and drinks and once again Ryn, Rob and I walked and walked and walked. When we finally found our way home I was happy to take the night off to curl up and watch Netflix in bed.
Thursday morning we attended our first classes! My professor seem amazing and I can't wait to begin studying with them.
Thursday night I attended an International Business student mixer at Cafe Klaptræet where I met Kurt, the only other guy living in Rob's kollegium, Socialt. Later that night Ryn, Rob and Kurt came to Øresunds to go to the bar here, OEK Cafeen. We met some Danes and even played flip cup with them! The bar attracts a diverse crowd as over 1000 people are living in my kollegium!
On Friday night Ryn and I decided to join some of the girls from my kollegium, including my floor-mates and new friend Lauren and Megan to head to the Meat Packing District. There we went to Jolene a groovy-seventies-wedding-dancing bar.
We continued to walk around and then Ryn and I split from the group to explore the nightlife near DIS. We found ourselves at a club called Penthouse where we danced the night away. Literally the entire night. We got home at 6am, making it quite a lengthy night.
However, I was still able to make it to Frue Plads to hop and a bus with Rob to apply for Danish Residency! Can't wait to be Danish (or at least an official resident)! Tonight my SRAs (social-residential advisors) are hosting a beer pong tournament (how American) and I can't wait to attend! I can't wait to see what week two will bring!
I love you and miss you all! Feel free to Skype or iMessage me whenever!
