copenAIDAN

I can’t believe I leave for Copenhagen in two days! I’ve been imagining this study abroad opportunity since my first year at Notre Dame, and now it’s finally about to happen.

A little background about me – I’m a Neuroscience & Behavior major entering my junior year at the University of Notre Dame. I’m minoring in Poverty Studies and Compassionate Care in Medicine, and I’m interested in a career in medicine and healthcare policy reform.

I’m beyond excited for this semester in Copenhagen! I chose to study at DIS because of its unique neuroscience classes and electives (I’m taking Neuroscience of Fear and Neuroscience of Religion), my Danish ancestry (my great-great grandmother emigrated to the U.S. from Copenhagen when she was fifteen), and a desire to explore a completely new part of the world (cycling, hygge, and pastries in one of the happiest countries on Earth). I’m also looking forward to studying Denmark’s healthcare system in my core course “Human Health & Disease” as well through my other electives, including Medical Ethics and Health Economics & Health Policy in Europe.

What I’m most excited for during my time abroad is a combination of personal and cultural growth. I can’t wait to spend cozy evenings with my visiting host family as the smell of Nordic stew fills the air and candlelight dances across the warm walls. To feel the wind and raindrops splatter on my cheeks as I pedal alongside the crowds of Danes each morning on my way to class. To explore nearby countries, making lifelong memories and capturing priceless moments in laughs and photographs. To immerse myself in the culture of hygge, enjoying a coffee and a pastry while writing a blog post and chatting with a small cluster of classmates at Studenterhuset. To get to know Danes in my Kollegium and learn about their experiences growing up in Denmark while sharing about my life in the United States.

In two days, I’ll be getting off the plane to start a semester in Denmark. In preparation, I’ve been packing (somehow going to fit everything into my suitcases!), spending time with friends and family, reading The Little Book of Hygge, and enjoying the beach close to home. I don’t know yet what lies ahead, but I do know that I’m excited to embrace my experience abroad with a ready mind and an open spirit. Hopefully through this blog, you’ll get a glimpse into what I’m studying, living, learning, and experiencing during my time in Europe. I can’t wait for a fantastic semester!