My First 48 Hours in Copenhagen

Monten Kollegium 

On January 10th, at 11:00 a.m., I arrived in Copenhagen. I was so excited about my Scandinavian adventures ahead of me but also a little nervous. I am literally moving my life and studies to Copenhagen for the next semester with a new roommate, at a new college, and in a completely new city. Whenever I felt nervous, I tried to remind myself that the nerves I felt in that uncomfortable or unfamiliar moment were nothing compared to the exciting wonders of studying abroad; the more students I met and conversations I had, the more comfortable I felt. At this moment, I was writing the first page of my Copenhagen story. There were so many DIS students at the airport that day. The bustling airport was filled with DIS staff holding up signs for our arrival. Many students waited for their luggage at arrival conveyor belts and then followed staff to board DIS buses to their residential buildings. It was about a 15-minute drive from CPH airport to my building, Monten Kollegium. I was so excited when I saw my building's sign. Monten had a historical yet modern feel to it. When I walked through the main entrance of Monten, this surreal moment felt so real. Our program director, Megan, and fellow DIS volunteers welcomed us, handed over our room keys, and guided us to our rooms. I then met my roommate, Lilly, and unpacked my belongings.

At 10 am the following day, after rugging up and putting on my stylish Scandinavian trench coat, I walked towards the city center with some friends on a coffee hunt. I got to see some of Copenhagen's true beauty for the first time. We strolled past Stadsgraven Canel on our way to Christianshavn and were greeted by some swans. They swam towards us in a hurry, probably expecting food, but they were disappointed when they saw we had none. I had no doubt their next feeding sessional by a local would not be too far away.

Stadsgraven Canel

Cafe Flottenheimer

After a delicious cinnamon bun latte at Expresso house, I explored the metro and met some new friends to have a late lunch with at Café Flottenheimer. I had a very tasty tomato soup accompanied by freshly made bread; it was my first proper meal in Copenhagen, and it did not disappoint. When the clock struck 4:30 pm, the sun started to set. I witnessed my first Scandinavian sunset on my walk home from the metro station. Seeing that sunset on my walk home in my new city felt unreal. It was beautiful and the perfect way to end my first full day in Copenhagen. I spent my first 48 hours in Copenhagen, seeing some aesthetic scenery, using the city's efficient metro lines, and eating some scrumptious food. I can't wait for what's to come in my next four months abroad!

Copenhagen Sunset