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COPPENHAPPENINGS: A TRAVEL JOURNAL FROM STUDY ABROAD IN DENMARK

By Kalli Sandberg (RPTA '14), Guest Writer

While all you Reccies have been enjoying one of California's warmest winters in recent history, I have been learning what a real winter is like all the way in Copenhagen, Denmark. I had never experienced real cold until arriving here just over a month ago, where wearing leggings and/or tights under jeans is cool and getting ready to go anywhere takes at least 5 minutes. I am studying abroad with an American University called DIS (Danish Institute for Study Abroad) with 800 lucky students...few who actually have heard about Cal Poly or San Luis Obispo. I forget that most people outside California only know about San Francisco and Los Angeles.

I am taking four different classes, but my focus here is Media and Communications. The classes have been interesting and very hands-on in orientation. Just a few weeks ago I was the producer of a student-created news broadcast. Thanks to my experiences with RPTA courses, I kept my cool even when it was stressful. I will be visiting London next week with the same class to learn about the current trends in media. We will be visiting BBC News and maybe even one of the Olympic sites. It is going to be an amazing adventure. I am in the midst of planning my spring break for this semester, and it is crazy to book flights to major cities in Europe instead of making my four-hour drive home to the Bay Area.

I am living in the 'Green House,' which is DIS-sponsored housing, and I am one lucky girl. My building is in the city center. It takes me five minutes to walk to class, the closest metro station, the walking street and so many historical sites. The house itself has been preserved for hundreds of years and it is rumored that a Danish Prime Minister used to live in the building. There are sixteen of us in the building and every week we are given a big bag of food from the local Co-op and are given the chance to cook a family style meal with foods that I had never even heard of. I am now comfortable with Jerusalem Artichoke (looks like an ugly potato), all types of root vegetables, and have enjoyed carrots in my desserts for a few weeks in a row. I am working with other people on my floor to create an event raising awareness during Earth Week in April and am working with a local Copenhagen event company to build inter-continental connections and learn how the Danes plan events.

This semester is already a third of the way done and I know that before I know it I will be on my plane ride back to the states. I am trying to live it up every day I can, while still getting sleep and fitting in homework when I can. Copenhagen is a wonderful city and I hope that you all get a chance to make it here one day. Until next quarter, enjoy the warmth in San Luis Obispo, and I will keep you updated on my 'Copenhappenings' soon!

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