Another week and a half has gone by, and Copenhagen is starting to feel more and more like home. I can sense my friendships deepening and/or changing and my comfort levels increasing with every passing day. Getting into a routine has been proven to benefit mental health and sleep patterns, two rewards I am definitely reaping.
These past weeks were filled with long classes, three field studies, and lots of readings. I switched out of Podcast Production and into Digital Media in Marketing. Five students walked out of my Creative Nonfiction Workshop half-way through the first day, myself not included (it’s my favorite class). It seems as though everyone is settling into their schedule and trying to get it right. Many of my peers have Fridays off, which is convenient for weekend traveling (I’m considering dropping a class for this reason), but this makes for a skewed week in terms of workload.
Speaking of weekend traveling, my friends (floormates) and I recently ventured to Belgium! We flew into Brussels on Friday evening and checked into our gigantic Airbnb, which was situated conveniently in Saint-Gilles. We went to Le Bistro for dinner, where we tried some traditional Belgian dishes; I had chicken in a mushroom sauce with french fries and a waffle for dessert (my first of the weekend, but not my last!). Fun fact: there are two types of Belgian waffles: Brussels and Liege. I tried both, and the Liege waffle was the clear winner. It was like eating a very dense, moist, sugary cake.
On Saturday, we got up early and took the train to Brugge. Once there, we were on a mission: find a restaurant that can seat 14 people for brunch. Our efforts were successful; we found a quiet tea room where we enjoyed hot drinks, omelets, and more waffles. Post-meal, we went on a boat tour of the canal, passing by a brewery, hospital, and church, all along the water. By the time it was over, our toes were numb, so we sought warmth in Belgian hot chocolate. I may have burnt my tongue (as usual), but it was so worth it. Then, we learned a little bit about the history of fries at the Friet Museum. Apparently, much of what we know about french fries is completely fictional (like, the French claimed the title for no reason, and fries didn’t really come from Belgium). For a pre-dinner snack, we visited a local pub, where we indulged in Belgian beer and – I hate to say it – more fries. Before we knew it, we were back on the train to Brussels.
Belgian chocolates! 
more Belgian chocolates! 
Brugge, Belgium
Sunday was much more lax, as our check-out wasn’t until 1 o’clock. The group split up for breakfast; some had Le Pain Quotidien, but I opted for a quicker, cheaper option: Paul. I fell in love with Paul in London two summers ago, and then again in Paris. That morning, I bought a ham and cheese croissant and a green smoothie in an attempt to erase the unhealthy amounts of chocolate, fries, and waffles I’d consumed a day earlier (I had all three later that day anyway). At around 12:45, we made our way over to the Atomium, arguably the most touristy attraction in Brussels, and then back to the Grand Place for some light shopping and eating. After another amazing meal, we headed to the airport for our return flight.
Grand Place 
The Atomium
A busy weekend led to an even busier week. Monday night, I had my first meeting with the DIS photography/videography team. I’m looking forward to sharing my study abroad story via visuals and being recognized in official DIS publications! Last night, I met my visiting host family for the first time. My host, Liane, and her 16-year-old son live in Horsholm, which is about 30 minutes north of the city. We had a lovely visit; they made rice and chicken sausage for dinner and fruit and cream for dessert. We talked a lot – mainly about the cultural differences between Denmark and the United States – and they invited me out for a meal at Sticks and Sushi, a restaurant I’ve been wanting to try. Even though I’m not living with a host family, I’m glad I still get to interact with one.
Today, I had two field studies: one at the Agency for Digitisation, the other at the mall. That’s right; my creative nonfiction class met at Frederiksberg Centre. Our assignment was simple: find someone, follow them, and write a nonfictional story about them without ever speaking to them. As a reward, our professor invited us to her apartment for pastries and tea.
While these first few weeks have been both challenging and exhausting, they’ve also been full of new adventures. Next Monday I begin Core Course Week, and soon I’ll be knee-deep into the semester. All I can say is: I’m grateful! And I’m excited for whatever comes next.