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It feels very surreal to me that my time in Copenhagen has come to a close – my mind has definitely still not wrapped itself around the fact that I’m back in the United States. I already miss Denmark (a LOT), but I try to keep reminding myself that it will always be there for me to go back to and that I don’t have to let go of the Danish culture that I so loved during my time there. “Don’t cry because it’s over – smile because it happened.” Here’s a quick recap of my final week in Copenhagen.

Last Saturday, I went with my host mom & sister to the Christmas markets at Kronborg Castle. We enjoyed some hot chocolate and Danish pancakes and got to explore the castle where Shakespeare set Hamlet! I enjoyed the Christmas markets and the cute nisse that they sold there.

At Kronborg, we watched some Danish kids sing and dance around the Christmas tree, and I learned some Danish Christmas songs (they’ve already been added to my Christmas Spotify playlist). Before we left, we looked for the statue of Holger Danske, who legend holds will reawaken to protect Denmark if ever threatened by enemies. However, we ended up getting lost in the basement of the castle, where it was pitch dark and kind of scary (but also cool). Eventually, we found the light and made it to the other side, only to discover that Holger Danske was somewhere else (haha). At least we enjoyed an adventure in the Kronborg Castle basement!

We finished off the day by baking some Christmas cookies at my host family’s house. We made traditional recipes from their family as well as from mine! The cookies were delicious, and I surprisingly loved the Danish licorice ones (I think I’m converting 🙂 ). I also got to help Tilde decorate her room for Christmas, and I learned how to make Danish Christmas paper stars. After that, we all enjoyed dinner together and laughed at Jesper’s hat as well as at all of our dance moves (we’re experts at flossing). I really felt at home that night. 🙂

After that, I pretty much spent the rest of this week studying, taking exams, and soaking up the cosy Christmas atmosphere in Copenhagen. I did lots of Christmas shopping at the cute Christmas stores and Christmas markets around the city center. 🙂

This week felt very strange and sad, because it was a lot of “lasts.” Last time going to all of my classes (our final MPP lecture was oncology, and in our last medical ethics class, our teacher told us the outcome of the case we had discussed on the very first day). Last field study (we went to the Medical Museum again for my Neuro of Religion class). Last time going out with Sam & Nikko (we celebrated our friend Michael’s 21st birthday!). Last time biking through Østerbro and Nørrebro (and last bike ride overall – super weird 😦 ). Last time studying at my favorite kaffebarer (I also tried some new ones including Ø12, At the Counter (founded by the same people as Juno the Bakery!), Social Coffee in Nørrebro, Parterre in Christianshavn, Risteriet near DIS, and Den Lille Gule Kaffebar (the little yellow coffee bar – so cute!)).

Last time at our favorite Indian restaurant next to our kollegium. Last time walking down Vestergade. Last time taking the Metro to my host family. Last home-cooked apartment dinner with Hope (we had pasta again, just like we did on the very first night).

On Thursday, Claire and I climbed to the top of the Church of Our Savior tower, the final thing on my Copenhagen bucket list. Looking out over the whole city made me really sentimental (and I’m already sentimental enough, if you know me). That evening, our Medical Practice & Policy professors took us all out to dinner after our last class. It was so fun to hang out with them! I’m really going to miss MPP and all the friends I made.

Lauren’s family was in town this week, so on Friday evening, they took us out for our final dinner at Mother (a delicious pizza restaurant in the Vesterbro meatpacking district). That really made the semester feel like it was coming full circle, because Mother was where Hope & I first met Lauren & Claire on our very first Friday in Copenhagen (it was even the name of our group chat all semester 🙂 ). After that, Claire & I went to the medical school bar (lots of Danes!) and Rabalder Bar (our favorite spot on Gothersgade) for the final time.

Monday was my last day in Denmark. 😦 I enjoyed a 1-on-1 coffee with my Health Econ professor to chat about the semester. I also had two final exams that day, and in between them, I studied at Den Lille Gule Kaffebar. While I was studying, an elderly woman asked me (in Danish) if I could move down so that she and her friend could eat there. I understood what she was saying, but when she kept speaking to me, I had to tell her that I didn’t speak Danish. She asked where I was from and what I was studying. I told her that it was my last day in Denmark and that I was from the U.S. studying medicine, and she responded saying that she was a doctor and had moved to Denmark 40 years ago when she was 20 years old. “Maybe you’ll be back to Denmark some day,” she said as I left. In that moment, I felt like the old Danish woman was a special sign for me. Leaving Denmark would be difficult, but it would be okay.

That night, I went to my host family’s house for the last time. Tilde, Villads, and I sat on the couch and laughed at childhood pictures of ourselves, and then we enjoyed a yummy home-cooked dinner. After that, we watched that evening’s episode of the daily December julkalender as a family. Each year, one of the Danish TV channels films a Christmas story and releases one short episode a day from December 1-24. This episode was funny to me because it was set at the Forest Tower (where my family and I visited when they came to Denmark)! At the end of the night, we exchanged Christmas gifts and had our last cosy evening together. It was really difficult for me to say goodbye – my host family was the hardest thing for me to leave. Our only solace was that I would be back to Denmark soon, which is absolutely true (and I already can’t wait). On the way home, I swung by Claire’s apartment in Frederiksberg to say a last goodbye. We had gotten so close by the end of the semester, and I’m really going to miss her!

And that was it. Tuesday morning at 7.10am, I took off from Copenhagen. It still doesn’t feel real to me that I’m not there anymore – I hope it doesn’t all start feeling like some sort of dream or fairytale. However, I’m 100% positive that I’ll be back – I’ve already spent hours googling “how to move to Denmark” (lol)!

So, with that, thank you for following along with me these past four months during my time in Copenhagen. It really has been a fantastic journey! While I originally decided to study abroad for traveling, DIS, and my neuroscience classes, I ended up loving it because of Denmark itself – the Danish welfare state, the culture, the people, their mindset, and their way of life. It now makes complete sense to me why Denmark is consistently ranked of the happiest countries in the world. I have left this semester with an overwhelming feeling of contentedness. I’ll sign off now with a final hej hej to Copenhagen, but most importantly, vi ses – see you soon, Denmark.

P.S. Check out the updated page that I’ve added to my website for my top experiences this semester and my recommendations from Copenhagen!