Clare's Exchange to University of Southern Denmark | Denmark
My name is Clare and I
went on a student exchange to “The University of Southern Denmark” in Odense,
Denmark in Semester 1, 2018.
In 2016, I went on
exchange to Malmö, Sweden. It was an incredible experience and I loved my time
there. During that exchange, I met my Danish boyfriend and decided to go on
exchange to Odense to study, learn Danish and immerse myself in Danish culture.
University and
Student Life
I enjoyed studying at
the university in Odense. The teachers were all very relaxed and supportive,
which I appreciated. The educational system is very relaxed and I received a
lot less assignments and deadlines than I do at home. The university is a
little out of town and but it’s only a 25-minute bike ride from the centre to
the campus.
In Odense, there are
many free/cheap events. I went to film nights, comedy nights, debate nights, outdoor
concerts, a H.C Andersen festival and even a free coding course. Even though
Denmark is generally expensive it is still possible to enjoy the city without
paying a lot (if you keep an eye out).
Danish Traditions
Denmark has many
holidays and traditions, which I have enjoyed participating in.
Here are a few:
- New Year’s Eve: Some of the traditions are to jump off a chair (literally jumping into the new year), watch the queen’s speech and a silly skit, eat cake and set off fireworks.
- Sankt Hans Day: A day with lots of food, a big bonfire (for “burning the witches”) and a sing along.
- The Great Prayer Day: On the eve of this day, Danes eat a particular type of white bread (a tradition that goes way back).
- Birthdays: There is both a traditional Danish birthday cake and a traditional “Fynsk” cake from the island Fyn (that Odense is on). Yum!
Learning Danish
Learning Danish has
been challenging but very rewarding. The local Danish language centre offers
language classes for foreigners. I took night classes which helped me get the
basics down. In Odense, there are a few organisations that hold “Talk in
Danish” cafes, where locals volunteer their time to speak Danish with
foreigners. Danes are very flattered when you attempt to speak Danish and have
been very encouraging. Danish is a difficult language but I would recommend
learning at least some basic conversational skills (even though everyone speaks
perfect English). Speaking Danish has
definitely helped me feel closely connected to this country.
Volunteering
It is common for Danes
to volunteer their time to an organisation or a good cause.
During my exchange
semester, I volunteered at the Danish Red Cross. I served customers in a
second-hand shop (in Danish!) and also helped sort out clothes in a sorting
centre. At first it was a little daunting but it has been great! I have met
many nice people, both young and old. It has also given me the opportunity to
practice my Danish skills, interact with locals and give back to the community.
The people I’ve met have been very encouraging and also curious about
Australia. I definitely recommend volunteering to make the most out of your
exchange semester in Denmark.
- Clare studied abroad at the University of Southern Denmark in Denmark
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