Year Abroad 2011/2012 chat thread

130 without anything else, but you can't get it without also buying an extra deal like unlimited texting or something, absolutely sucks

Normally I live in Frederiksberg which is very close to CBS, but I've rented out my apartment so at the moment I live at home 20 minutes outside of Copenhagen :P It's fine, busses and trains go straight to the centre of Copenhagen, so I'll survive since it's not for too long.

The prices are some of the cheaper ones you'll find if you want food that tastes good, and with half price is't just even cheaper. It's a good place to start if you're planning on going out later since it's so central, there are always loads of people on those days though, so be prepared to wait for 20 minutes or something for a table

Awesome; I will put that place in my Denmark blog so I won't forget it Thanks!

I honestly think you're going to find the UK so cheap!

Also, weird question: how should I greet Danes? 'Hej' and a smile? Hand shake? I'm guessing you guys don't go in for hugs and kisses normally?

Can't wait to actually be able to afford a drink when I go out :P No more crazy pre-drinking, wooop!

Hahahaha, not a weird question :P I went to Belgium and apparently they ALL hug and kiss there, I was so confused! A 'hej' and a smile will do unless you're friends with someone, in which case hugs are fine, we never do the cheek-kiss thing though, ever! Handshakes are for more formal settings (like if you have any oral exams you should give a handshake to the examiners) or with older people... though I don't know why you'd hang out with old people xD

Sounds like most places have wellies, that’s great, should be able to find something then



I LOVE IKEA! :P I will definitely be going! And I had basically zero choice in accom.. I could only choose between catered/self-catered and en-suite/shared bathroom. Since I’m only there for a semester they’re just gonna throw me in with the rest of the exchange students only there for a semester. I put self-catered + en-suite as number one though, like everyone else I saw people are starting to get their accommodation now, so I’m excitedly awaiting mine. The one-semester students who have their letter have gotten Crescent Flats or Lawrencefield, so odds are I’ll end up one of those places :P Are they any good?

Hi, I am also doing a year abroad next year. I am going to Kanazawa University in Japan. Is anyone else really nervous or worried about being away from home?!

I'm going to Japan too! But Keio University. Please tell me you don't speak Japanese :P When are you going?

Hi everyone,

I thought I'd make a thread to see who else will be doing an Erasmus exchange/year abroad during the next academic year (2011-2013). This can be a place where we discuss where we're going, how we're preparing to go and everything else related to the year abroad, whether you're ingoing or outgoing from the UK.

I'm currently studying European Legal Studies (Law, basically) at the University of Kent. I found out today that I've been given a place at the University of Copenhagen/Københavns Universitet. I'd been hoping for a place at the University of Vienna, but I'm getting over the initial disappointment and getting excited already!

I look forward to chatting with you

Actually I do speak Japanese - it's part of my Japanese Studies course! I'm going on 2nd October. How about you? Keio is Tokyo, right?

Oh no :P I started learning literally a month ago! So very very beginner haha.

Yep, Tokyo, going out 6 September. Whereabouts is Kanazawa located? Or is that the city as well? I'm clueless hah!

Hey, I'm going to be going to the University of Copenhagen too! only just seen this thread.

Will be flying out a week on friday. When are you setting off? are you looking forward to it? I can't wait though I'm pretty nervous at the same time.

my friend touched down in kansas last night. he said he woke up and thought he was in the uk, got really confused haha!

Good luck guys... I did an ERASMUS year from 08-09 and it was the best, most random year of my life to date. Can't believe it was 3 years ago that I was thinking about leaving now! Hope you all have a great time too

Can't wait to actually be able to afford a drink when I go out :P No more crazy pre-drinking, wooop!

Hahahaha, not a weird question :P I went to Belgium and apparently they ALL hug and kiss there, I was so confused! A 'hej' and a smile will do unless you're friends with someone, in which case hugs are fine, we never do the cheek-kiss thing though, ever! Handshakes are for more formal settings (like if you have any oral exams you should give a handshake to the examiners) or with older people... though I don't know why you'd hang out with old people xD

I've actually been out here for over a week already! I came out on the 2nd, although it feels like so much longer ago. I'm absolutely loving it; I've met some awesome people from all over the world (as I'm doing the pre-semester language course) and just generally having a good time. Don't be nervous, because you will LOVE it! And if you're worried about the language, don't be; it's unbelievably easy to get around with no knowledge of Danish, because the vast majority of Danes speak perfect English (I seriously believe they speak it better than a lot of native speakers).
If you have any questions about arriving, the city etc then feel free to ask me!
Oh, and if you haven't sent the picture in for your ID card then do it ASAP because it does take a while for them to make your ID kort (I think they said they have something like 10,000) new students starting in September). Also bring some passport photos with you because they're bloody expensive here (100DKK) and you will need one for your residence permit application and you'll need more if you plan to get month passes for public transport.
Do you know where you'll be living? And what will you be studying out here? Are you staying for a semester or the whole year? (sorry about all the questions!)

I made the mistake of asking for a cider (Somersby - apparently it's what the local women drink?) when I was out last friday and it cost 55DKK! I couldn't believe it

Yeah, I know I'll love it, its whats keeping me going ha. Its just nerves cos its the unknown, and that I'm not there yet I think.

I've sent the picture of for my id card, I'm well prepared I should be out there doing the language course with you, but had to pull out as I didn't have everything sorted back here, and needed to earn some more cash, so gutted that I couldn't do it though, would have been helpful in meeting new people. I've got 4 passport photos already, but I'll get some more just in case, cheers for the tip!

Well, I didn't get given accom from the uni, so had to find it myself, which was a pain, but after sending 30+ emails I got a reply from someone and am renting a room in there flat, its in Fiskedamsgade or something, nearish the centre. It should be fine, but it just seems so uncertain since I can't meet the guy yet. Its only till December as well, which I dont mind, as I want to get a shared flat with other students for the second part! I'll be living in a hostel for the first week or so as well, as the contract doesn't start till September, that should be fun ha, hopefully I'll be able to find a couch to crash on for a few days when I'm there tho, save money. I'm staying for the whole year as well, and I'll be taking Maths with possibly some Economics, and plan on taking a fair few Danish culture modules as well

No worries about all the questions! Its good to have someone in the same situation to chat to. Same to you now, where are you staying? what course? and how long for? :P



bloody 'ell, I know its going to be more expensive out there but thats a shocker ha. How much would you say you've spent on average on any nights out so far?

Just looked up your street and it does look to be in a pretty good location! Do you know where you'll be studying?

The culture modules look so good! We had a lecture from the guy who coordinates them and he seems so cool too - kind of like a wacky granddad or something I'm considering carrying on with the language but it's SO FREAKING DIFFICULT.

There are a lot of people in the same position as you; staying in hostels or temporary accommodation and looking for somewhere else. It seems that housing's a big issue here, but you shouldn't have problems once you're here (I don't think, anyway).

I'm living in Keops/Bispebjerg kollegiet...it was called Keops, then they renamed it, but all the locals seem to refer to it as Keops. It's right next to Bispebjerg train station, if you want to look it up. And it's in the heart of the ghetto Someone got shot on my street last thursday! Although, apparently, the crime rate is very low here so that was very unusual... I do law, but all of the law courses in English are Masters level so I'm a little bit...apprehensive, I guess? And I'm out here for the whole year too Most of the people I've met so far are only here for the semester!

Weirdly, there are loads of Americans and Aussies here...can't quite work out why.

Beer's substantially cheaper than cider. And it really depends when/where you go. There was a student night at this place called LA tequila bar on Tuesday....10 kroner tequila shots...my god! Doing my Danish homework after getting in possibly wasn't the best idea (got to class half an hour late the next morning, the teacher had already worked out we'd all been out and just gave me a knowing nod haha).

Thanks! Any tips for making the mot of it? My first week's already been insane and random (I encountered a Danish bachelor party during my first weekened...cue first kiss from a Danish man ) but I want to make sure I don't look back and think 'I wish I'd done that'.