Phew. And this is a phew of excitement!
I just had GRS class where a bunch of students presented about their international experiences from last year. Alcina Ginger just presented about her university exchange at the University of Copenhagen, the university I was just accepted to for upcoming January, 2012. Her presentation stirred up a bunch of emotions in me and also made me realize that this is actually happening; I am going to Europe for the first time to study global nutrition.
After Alcina’s presentation with amazing pictures of beautiful Copenhagen, this is what came to mind:
What gets me all giddy inside?
-Meeting new friends from all over the world
-Learning about global nutrition from the Danish perspective
-Experiencing European culture for the first time
-Exploring beautiful historic European countries and visiting family friends
-Taking part in a field study program with a professor and fellow students (If the opportunity arises)
-Purchasing a new bike with a lovely wicker basket
-THE FOOD
-Believe it or not, the snow!
What makes me quiver to my bone?
-A lack of traveling due to a heavy workload :s
-Is one term long enough to fully immerse myself in the culture and get the best out of my time there?
-Can I afford sweets at cafes every weekend? (In Vancouver I take my scooter off campus and study at a cafe every weekend. I always treat myself to a latte or a hearty treat of sorts. This way, I can switch up my routine and my surrounding atmosphere and it also gives me an opportunity to explore new parts of Vancouver).
-Not grasping the Danish language as much as I would like to (I have been told by countless people that it is one of the most difficult languages to learn…not very reassuring as I love to speak the local language to try and converse with the local people)
I have traveled on my own before in South America, so I am really looking forward to escaping North America and starting a new life in a brand new country. It’s taught me about confidence, independence, open-mindedness and what it’s like to step outside of my comfort zone. And I know living in a new country is very different from traveling around but I am always willing to take risks and face new challenges. And by the way, I want to make it clear that I am WAY more excited than scared about this opportunity in 2012. I say, BRING IT ON!!