My first day in Copenhagen, while filled with meeting amazing new people and exploring bustling cobblestone streets, shaved years off my life. While still mentally on my Scandinavian Airlines flight, it felt like I spawned into this beautiful, fashionable European capital and I worried a bit that maybe I had bitten off more than I could chew. I came to Copenhagen hoping to learn as much as I could about myself, my career, other students, and the city itself, but it was immediately clear to me that this experience was going to be a process.  

However, with the help of a DIS canal tour and a helping of delicious strawberries, I began adjusting to the city that would be home for the next few weeks.  

My first day taking Humanitarian Law and Armed Conflict taught by Alexander Hviid only catalyzed this process. I was lucky to be in a class with only six students and a wonderful professor that quickly provided an energetic, welcoming learning environment. Our class found friends in one another and fostered a classroom where we could participate openly and curiously.  

The class became something I looked forward to every day. As a student studying Economics and Political Science, I have found it important to have an outlet to discuss current events and the shifting world order we are living through. Before I came to Copenhagen, I thought it would be difficult to enter a European political space with an American-made worldview. However, through the type of classroom that Alexander and my classmates created, I have found my time in Copenhagen extremely valuable for not only learning about International Humanitarian Law, but also for learning to be open and curious within a new, grand, and sometimes vulnerable experience.  

My favorite aspect of DIS has been the opportunity to take our lessons beyond Copenhagen. As part of my Session 2 course in International Humanitarian Law, our class traveled on Study Tour to the incredible country of Kosovo. Throughout the course, we learned about Yugoslavia, the Balkan Wars, and how international humanitarian law can be applied to the short, complicated history of Kosovo.  

I never thought I’d ever travel to Kosovo, not only because I didn’t really know where it was, but also because I never thought of it as significant in global politics. However, through my Session 2 course and Study Tour, I came to realize the weight of Kosovo’s history, including war, international interventions, a struggle for independence, and tumultuous internal politics. As part of our tour, we had invaluable meetings with government officials like the Lt. Colonel and Head of International Relations of the Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) as well as two members of the Kosovo National Assembly.  

We were provided the opportunity to hear their personal stories, whether that be their accounts as wartime refugees or their journeys in public service. I also met with Senior Protection Officers from the UNHCR, the UN’s Refugee Agency, to hear about their stories as refugees during the Balkan Wars and how they’ve come to be inspirational public servants for nearly 30 years at the UNHCR. One of the officers, Bujar, even took me and my classmate Isaac out for coffee afterwards! The hospitality in Kosovo is unlike any other.  

For the rest of my life, I will look back on my trip to Kosovo fondly and with gratitude. Not only did I hear nearly every perspective on Kosovar politics and meet with a variety of stakeholders, but I also thoroughly enjoyed the beauty that Kosovo has to offer. From mountains covered by scattered, orange-roofed houses to Prizren’s iconic stone bridge, Kosovo offered us an important lesson in determination and character. Even despite their heavy history, the people we met always cracked jokes and never spared a smile. Going to Kosovo was one of my favorite experiences ever. If you are considering studying with DIS and are interested in political science or law, I would heavily recommend taking Humanitarian Law & Armed Conflict with Alexander Hviid!  

Before coming to Copenhagen, I watched a movie called Sound of Metal. The movie follows a metal rock drummer named Ruben who suddenly loses his hearing. It is a story of his struggle without his hearing, a chaotic romantic relationship, and the self-reflection he was forced to undergo. Through much of the movie, Ruben refuses to come to terms with his new reality, instead receiving subpar surgical repair while rejecting genuine help from those that care for him. By the end of the movie, though, Ruben finally learns to accept his condition and offers us an important lesson in appreciating the stillness of any given moment.  

I don’t just bring this movie up because it’s one of my favorites ever, but I also think I have taken many of its messages with me to Copenhagen. As I live in this new part of the world, I need to open myself up and accept it for what it is.  

One of the centerpieces of Copenhagen is its hygge culture. Hygge is a lifestyle that encourages us to appreciate the simple parts of our lives and find enjoyment in the everyday. For me, that meant playing Spikeball with friends in the King’s Garden and savoring a nice meal at Reffen Food Market. My hygge was found in slowing down to appreciate the beuatiful and quaint, historic buildings that line my walk to class in the early morning.  

When I first arrived in Copenhagen, it was easy to feel pressured to “maximize” my experience and get the most out of every moment. But following that logic, making friends and exploring the city started to feel like a task instead of an opportunity. Thankfully, Copenhagen has a way of pulling you in and offering you whatever you may be looking for. Hygge doesn’t come from tallying the most museums or buying expensive pastries, but instead from spending your evening sitting along the canals watching boats and people pass, or enjoying a picnic and drinks in one of the city’s many parks. Copenhagen has something for everyone, and no matter who you are, it’s easy to feel fulfilled here if you follow the city’s lead.  

DIS Copenhagen has been a blast. This city has anything I’d ever want, from amazing food to amazing views. Having the unique opportunity to learn such focused material in a tight-knit classroom is something I’m so grateful for. Although I’m off to Stockholm for Session 3, I’ll definitely look back at my time in Copenhagen with gratitude for what I learned about myself, my career, and Danish culture. Along with the memories from class, frequent Netto trips, and adventures in the city, I’m excited to bring the feeling of hygge back home with me!