You’ve heard it here first folks: Birkerød (and the “ø” sound more generally) is not going well for me pronunciation wise, but being in Denmark has more than made up for this! It’s true that it’s only my fourth official day in Copenhagen, and I’m still getting over pretty serious jet lag. But there’s a dog curled up in my bed as I write this, my room has views of a beautiful lake, and public transit (even taking the bus to the train) has been pretty manageable. I’m typically a fairly anxious person, but so far, I feel peaceful here. And this has surprised me a great deal: I’m in a city where I don’t speak the language (ordering coffee thus far has been interesting), adjusting to life with a whole new family, and yet, I think I’m managing to take my host mom’s mantra: “take things as they come” to heart.
It’s truly shocking to me how smoothly adjusting to my homestay has gone thus far. I am usually the type of person who has a hard time even sleeping in another person’s house because it just doesn’t feel like home. I think a combination of setting clear expectations with my host family, making a big effort to engage with them, as well as simply being so supported and well taken care of by a wonderful family has really put me at ease.
I think my biggest concern with the homestay has been thinking about just how difficult it will be to strike a balance between socializing with my peers and contributing to my family. My host family has assured me that this is something that they’ll follow my lead on. So now it’s just a matter of me figuring out this balance for myself! I’m also really eager to start building my social life in Copenhagen, but I also know that having a comfortable place to call home is a really important foundation to build first.
Because I’m living in a homestay, I was a little stressed to meet new people. But I’ve found that having the home space to recharge has helped me be able to put more of myself into my interactions when I am at DIS. Everyone is definitely still in the process of making friends, but so far, I’ve been surrounding myself with some pretty great new (and one or two old) people.
Even though I absolutely love my homestay so far, I will admit that I’m still homesick. I feel it every once in a while–not typically during the day, but often at night, when I get a chance to just breathe and reflect. My day-to-day is filled with so many new people and experiences that it’s difficult not to get swept away in things, but still, the moments of breath are helpful reminders that I’m still finding home in a brand new city. That I’m still adjusting.
But Denmark truly is enchanting–that’s the only way I really know how to put it. The rural areas feel like something out of a fairytale (did I mention being able to see the sunrise by the lake in my yard?). And Copenhagen is just beautiful–quaint, the way I described it in my last post, is the best way I can think of to describe it now. The cobblestone streets and blend of old and new architecture just give it a surreal feeling.
I’ve also been slightly surprised by how badly I want to learn Danish! I figured because the Danes all speak English that I would be able to speak English around Denmark without shame, but even in the couple of days I’ve been here, absorbing Danish (and realizing that, contrary to what I’d believed, it’s actually quite a unique but beautiful language), I’ve realized that it’s such a barrier to not be able to speak Danish. I don’t simply want to be an American guest in Denmark for the next couple of months: I genuinely want to understand the culture of Denmark. I don’t feel like I can do that without being able to eavesdrop on the couples sitting by me on the train, or refusing to let the barista switch languages when they take my coffee order.
But I think what I am most struck by is how content the Danes are thus far with what they have. The culture to me seems to be one of contentment–of looking around, assessing the world with a stark honesty, and being mindful of and satisfied with where you’re at. “Everything is smaller in Denmark,” my host mom says with a shrug and a complete lack of judgement. The antithesis of “everything is bigger in Texas.” The same sentiment also trickled into a conversation with my host dad and his friend over coffee last night, as they tried to teach me some Danish. We talked over how frequently I tend to say things like “amazing” or “cool!” while my host dad is much more likely to say “nice” or “OK.” When I ask my family about their days, I get bombarded with a lengthy response, startled by their frankness, and stunned by the genuineness in their desire to know about me. Danes seem willing to embrace when things are “nice” or “OK.” Communication to them isn’t embellishment–it’s sincere, honest, and made without judgement. I’m so excited to work toward being more honest and content here in Denmark.
So in short: of course I am slightly homesick. If I think too much about it, I absolutely am missing the familiarity of my friends back home, and my family in the US (who never makes fun of how I eat my pizza–because apparently there’s a “wrong” way!). But Denmark is beautiful, there is so much to see in Copenhagen (and Europe!!), my host family is welcoming and kind, and the sun is staying out longer and longer each day. That’s enough for me to start building a home in this magical little place.
Hej from Denmark! 