Bethany's Exchange to Danish School of Media and Journalism | Denmark

I had never wanted to study abroad, and I had never had any ambition to travel the world. But I think going to Denmark will be one of the best decisions I will ever make. My network is worldwide and I experienced things that I never even thought possible. I have challenged politicians, sat in a BREXIT negotiation facility, spoken to a chief of police and been in contact with a counter terror unit – how many second-year students can say they have done that?  

The people were amazing. They say that the Danes are the happiest people on earth – they’re so right! They may be extremely introvert when you first meet them, but after a brief ‘get to know you’ chat they’re like life long best friends. I was surprised by how much they loved to chat once they got going, and most Danes spoke English, and they were willing to avoid Danish whenever I was around. I have a family away from home.  

I can ride a bike, I mean I am a 19-year-old. 

But oh my I have never been so tired and angry with myself for being so under experienced and nervous to ride a bike. For every person there are about 4 bikes in Denmark, so as you can imagine it is essential you get one and know how to ride it. I was too scared to indicate and take a hand off my handle bars but after about a week I was zooming around and exploring on my bike. I have never really explored before. I have driven around in my car and tried different routes, but I had never felt the wind through my hair like that or taken my feet off the peddles and cruised down steep hills before, nor do I ever think I will do it again. There is nothing like a bike ride through the country side.  

I would just like to share a story with you, whoever you are reading this. 

I remember I was walking back to my room from DMJX one day and it was snowing – so I was trying to keep my head down. I saw something run under my feet and I nearly tripped. I looked up and I saw a little black Cocker Spaniel shivering and hiding under a lamp post. Her name was Bitton and she had gotten out of her garden which was a decent 10-minute car ride away. I rang the number on the shivering dogs name tag and a woman answered, she was crying. I said “hello, I have found your dog”. 

The lady didn’t know English and she was so distressed and screaming saying Danish words and all I could make out was her saying “Bitton”. I said “Yes Yes, Bitton, Borglum. Bitton at Borglum”. She said “Tak. Tak!” and hung up abruptly. The snow had stopped and I sat playing with the dog that reminded me so much of my own fur babies back home. I walked to the main entrance of my flat and sat down again, waiting and hoping that someone was going to show up and take this cold, wet dog home. After about 20 minutes a little car came screeching up the street and started to flash me. I have never seen someone get out of a car so quickly, an old man ran up to me, tears in his eyes. “Bitton, Bitton!” the dog jumped out of my grasp, also crying and leaped into her owner’s arms. He put her in his car and approached me. 

He was smiling and hugged me so tightly, thanking me and crying into my shoulder. I was so taken back and uncomfortable if I am honest. This man was so vulnerable and I didn’t really know what to do or how to comfort him, so I just hugged him back and tapped his shoulder. He gave me is name and number and said “Facebook, add and we will pay you, sweet girl, thank you, thank you!”  

I wasn’t going to take any money but I did look them up, and it turns out that Bitton belonged to the couple’s son, who had very recently died in a horrific car crash, killing him and his baby daughter. It made me realise a few things.  

• I was meant to be in Denmark, even if it was to save that little black dog from the cold and return her to her mourning family, I was meant to be there and I was then determined to do some work that mattered to me.  

• The Danes are just like you or me. They’re just people, from a different part of the world. We all cry, we all mourn, we all feel. That dog has given me a life lesson that I never would have experienced if I was anywhere else at that time. We ARE all the same and EVERYONE has a story, no matter how small or fatal. We may speak different languages, have different opinions or celebrate Christmas in different ways, but we are all people. 

• I want to be the kind of journalist that shares stories about real people. I don’t wanna waste my time on silly political tiffs or mind-numbing roadworks. I want to tell peoples stories from all over the world and give the voiceless the chance to speak and express themselves. 

So, study abroad. Come back with some life experience that you’d never find anywhere else. The world is your oyster and you need to embrace, absorb ad earn everything you can before you need to start adulting properly. Speak to people, learn their stories, and make everything you do count.  

- Bethany studied abroad at DMJX in Denmark 

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