Student Spotlight: Sidney Eramil in Denmark

What’s one challenge you’ve already encountered? How are you navigating it so far?

“I have found it challenging to make friends as I found that many people in my program are attending with groups of friends from their schools which makes it challenging to get to know people. Additionally, it can be quite frustrating knowing that 80% of my study abroad program is white people from the US making it hard to identify and relate to many of them. Nevertheless, I have attended many activities and events available in the city and have met people through communal dinners in which I get to interact with locals, mixers hosted by the Student of Color affinity group, and reaching out to individuals for lunch to hopefully spark a connection over topics we may relate to.”

What differences (or unexpected similarities) have you noticed between your culture and your host culture?

“I have noticed that there is a strong sense of community with people in the neighborhoods which is quite similar and enjoyable to my own family and ehtnic culture. Additionally, many traditional foods here are like comfort foods which are simple yet delicious. I honestly did not expect them to be as vegetarian/vegan as they are. Due to the emphasis of sustainability I have found that the bulk of the meals served in danish restaurants are very much so meatless and even have minimal fish options to none. However, I am shocked a bit by how much pork is still eaten as even foods like hot dogs are made of prok and not beef. and they eat of lot of cured meats unsurpringly but hot dogs did catch me off guard.”

Have you stepped outside of your comfort zone yet? What did that feel like?

“I have during the communal dinners as I try to meet locals which felt strange becasue even though there wasn't much of a language barrier, it has been hard for me to understand how they all speak english very well. This is because I feel in the US there is minimal effort to learn the languages of other countries and its even more interesting how many english words are still used in danish to express feelings. Much of english slang is present in Denmark due to globalization.”