Hi everyone! WELCOME BACK. I know what you're thinking: "Kelsey, where have you been?! It's been a year since you last posted on this website!"
Let me tell you, I've been busy. And I promise that I didn't mean to ghost you.
By the time you read this post, I will have lived in Denmark for over three months. And yes, that's right—I'm living in Denmark for a 10-month-long exchange (in case you didn't already know).
For anyone who didn't already know that, let me give you a quick explanation: On August 19th 2023, I officially moved into my dorm in Denmark to attend Aarhus University for a year-long exchange. I've lived in Aarhus' city centre for over 3 months now. I've met so many people, taken so many pictures, and done so many things that I've had a hard time deciding what to post here. Aarhus (a.k.a. 'the city of smiles') is such a fun, beautiful place that I STILL can't believe I live here. If you follow any of my socials, you've probably seen all of the pictures I've been posting, including when I first arrived in Denmark, where I live now, what I've been doing with my time, the university where I study, and the places I've seen so far.
And if you don't follow any of my socials... well, consider my feelings hurt.
Since moving abroad, I've wanted to write about EVERYTHING! I wanted my first blog post about Denmark to explain how I managed to move here, but while writing that, I couldn't help but include information about how it actually felt to move to a new country, and then the entire post spiralled into what I packed, where I stayed, what I love—and don't always love—about Denmark, etc, etc, etc.
But after three months of debating what to write, I was suddenly asked by Brock University (my home university in Canada) to answer some basic questions about my exchange. The next round of exchange students are about to leave Canada for their semester abroad, and I offered to share my experience. Honestly, I think the questions Brock asked me make for the perfect "first post" about Denmark.
So here it is...
WHO I AM...
If you don't know me—or maybe you don't remember—my name is Kelsey Gatis. I'm currently in my third year (a.k.a. fifth semester... some people in Europe count semesters instead of years, which I'm still confused about) of my bachelor's degree. Typically, I study English and Creative Writing with a minor in History, but while abroad, I take mostly literature or Scandinavian culture courses.
WHERE I AM...
In January 2023, I was accepted into Brock University's Outbound Exchange program to attend Aarhus University and live in Aarhus' city centre for two semesters. A typical post-secondary school year in Canada goes from September to April, but in Denmark, it goes from September to June. Aarhus is Denmark's second-biggest city (following Copenhagen, their capital) on the Jutland peninsula's east coast. I've wanted to visit Denmark since I was 13 years old after learning that it was the happiest country in the world (although now I think it's only the second happiest), and it's been a longtime dream of mine to live here. So shoutout to Brock University's international team for all their help!
MY TRANSITION TO LIFE IN A NEW COUNTRY...
Because I've planned on living in Denmark for so many years, I did A LOT of research before actually moving here. I even studied some of the Danish language on Duolingo (which was quite helpful, but I'm still far from fluent). Doing so much research before leaving Canada helped significantly with my transition here. While adjusting to the Danish school system was more challenging (a topic I'll probably dig into in another post), adapting to life in this new country was easier than I thought it would be. Aarhus University hosts many events for international students, and the city is so full of life that I made friends quickly and have always kept myself busy—something I recommend doing to avoid homesickness!
Another thing that made my transition so smooth is that almost everyone here speaks fluent English, which makes life so much easier for an English-speaking foreigner. However, I do often miss Canada. I especially miss my friends, family, Kraft Dinner, and Tim Hortons. But I have also grown to love Denmark, and I feel fortunate to have been able to move to such a great country. Everyone is always kind, the food is excellent, and the beer is cheap.
THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING ON EXCHANGE...
It's hard to pick just one "best part" about being on exchange, but the first thing that comes to mind is your chance to live a new life (sounds cheesy, I know. But it's true so bear with me here). Since moving to Denmark, I've tried so many new things, met so many new people, and gone on so many new adventures that I feel like a completely different person... and it's only been three months. I mean that in the best way, too. Going on an exchange is scary—especially if you've never been outside of North America before—but you learn a lot about yourself and other people. I never realized how different (and, in some cases, better ) life could be until I moved to Denmark and saw how differently Danes lived.
Also, how cheap it is to travel in Europe. I love it.
WHAT SURPRISED ME MOST ABOUT LIFE IN DENMARK...
What surprised me most about life in Denmark is how laid-back everything is here. Everyone minds their own business. You'll always see people sitting outside cafés, knitting or reading or drinking coffee or smoking a cigarette no matter the time or day. It's acceptable to walk around with alcohol in hand (yes, in public!), and there aren't many cars because everyone bikes. If there is a car, it's always electric, so you can barely hear them—Aarhus is probably the quietest city I've ever been to... except on Friday nights. And speaking of bikes, I guess that's another thing that surprised me... EVERYONE BIKES EVERYWHERE. It doesn't matter how bad the weather is or how far you're going; Danes will ALWAYS bike.
ADJUSTING TO A DANISH EDUCATION SYSTEM...
As for academics, even that is laid-back. Here, you call professors (or "instructors") by their first name. There is very little hierarchy between teacher and student. Lectures are optional... but I HIGHLY recommend that you attend them. Not just because it'll help you stay on top of work but also because it's an excellent way for exchange students to meet other students and adjust to the culture. Danish universities often incorporate more group work and discussion in their lectures, which also helps make classes more engaging. Typically, you don't have any assignments during the semester, just one giant exam at the end of the course worth 100% of your grade... which feels great until you get to the end of the semester and you're suddenly hit with the realization of how easy it is to fail. There also isn't a difference between university and college (or, at least, not that I know of). So basically, school here is the complete opposite as it is in Canada.
Oh yeah, I also forgot to mention that post-secondary education is free for Danish citizens. I'm still jealous.
ADVICE TO ANYONE CONSIDERING AN EXCHANGE (ANYWHERE)...
I have three BIG pieces of advice to give students thinking about going on exchange—stuff that I don't think anyone really told me before I went abroad...
DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!
I can't stress this enough. If you're considering doing an exchange, the FIRST thing you should do is research the country you're considering moving to. But I'm not just talking about learning some key phrases in the native language or Googling the fashion so you know what to wear (although I am guilty of that)... I'm talking about how much rent typically costs in specific areas, grocery prices, how to get around the city (do people take the bus? How do you get bus tickets? You can't buy them from the bus driver in Denmark—typically only by an app. Do people drive? Walk? Do they have Uber? I learned the hard way that Uber is illegal in most Scandinavian countries), what is popular to eat, what brands they do/don't carry, what social media they use (in Scandinavian countries, they really only use Facebook or WhatsApp), laws regarding alcohol, vaping, and weed, religious beliefs, dating culture, weather, etc. Honestly, that list goes on forever! Doing your research not only keeps you out of trouble but also makes adjusting to life in a new country much more manageable.
MAKE FRIENDS BEFORE YOU MOVE ABROAD
You're probably wondering how a person makes friends abroad before they've even left their home country. The answer: SOCIAL MEDIA! Research what communication apps are most popular in your host country. As I briefly mentioned, Facebook and WhatsApp are the two most popular in Denmark. They use Instagram or Snapchat sparingly, but in Canada, that's what everyone uses every day. You can't rely on apps to help you communicate/meet friends if no one else uses them. Once you've done your research... you need to become a stalker! Follow every. single. one. of your host university's social media pages or accounts. Reach out to people. Learn who else from your home university is going on exchange. Even if they're not going to the same country as you, they might be going to one close by, and they'll undoubtedly be going through the same process. Most importantly, ALWAYS READ EMAILS FROM YOUR HOST UNIVERSITY! For Aarhus University specifically, they set you up on an app called Goin', where you can meet other international students in Denmark. They also pair you up with a "buddy" or a "buddy group" so that you at least have one person you know when you arrive in Aarhus.
AN EXCHANGE ISN'T ALWAYS FOR EVERYONE
During my process of applying for exchange and moving abroad, I was often told by people, "Just do it," or "Imagine all the fun you'll have," or "You'll meet so many great people," or "You're going to have a blast. You'll never want to come home!" I hate to say it, but that's not always true. Moving abroad is extremely hard, and while it IS an experience I think everyone should try, it's important not to romanticize it or have extremely high expectations. Going on an exchange is simply attending university in a different country. Just like studying at home, you'll have ups and downs. You'll get stressed and overwhelmed—except now you're in a new country, so those feelings are magnified. Moving abroad shouldn't always be thought of solely as a "super fun" adventure because it isn't always. A friend of mine (also on exchange here) compared studying abroad to being on the reality show "Survivor." To paraphrase what he said: So basically, you're stranded on a beach and forced to complete horrific challenges every day, and you need to make allies even though you know you'll have to leave them one day, and not everyone makes it to the end of the game, and you wake up missing your couch at home... but for some reason, you keep going because it's actually pretty fun and then you win a million bucks at the end and go home a hero. And now you wish you'd signed up for Season 2 because you're back on your couch at home looking back on the best moments of your life.
That's pretty accurate.
I think that covers all the basics you need to know about my exchange. Hopefully, you found this helpful... or interesting, at least. I'll be posting more to go further into depth on some topics, so if you have any questions or want to know something, feel free to message me (especially if you're a soon-to-be student abroad!). And if you want to see what I get up to during my time in Denmark, I recommend you follow my Instagram account @kelseygatis.photography. I post my daily activities and adventures quite frequently, so check it out!
(Danes love their beer)
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