Hello

Andrew Kwong, Copenhagen

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1558516_10152236701588638_46364588_nLego, Hamlet, Vikings, The Little Mermaid, Cheese Danishes, and Obama’s selfie: BC (Before Copenhagen), these were the first words that popped into my mind when I thought of Denmark.

I studied abroad in Copenhagen during the 2014 Spring Semester. I lived in the Kathrine Kollegiet dorm.  It was my first time to Scandinavia.

Living in a country where the primary language is not English can be daunting. The Danish language itself can be very tricky as some words are pronounced much differently than they appear. That being said, I never felt lost in translation anywhere in Denmark. English is spoken by almost everyone (in some cases better than Americans) and the Danes are a very friendly people. The first day I bought my bike, I actually ended up getting lost on my ride home. Feeling extremely scared and alone, I asked a fellow cyclist how to get back to my dorm in the suburb of Frederiksberg. He laughed and said that I was in northern suburb Nørrebro. After this, we pulled off of the bike path where he gave me turn-by-turn directions that got me back on the right path.

Before coming to Copenhagen, I was nervous about riding a bike everywhere. I rarely ride a bike in Boston, and always look to walk or take public transport over anything. Thankfully, Copenhagen is one of the most bike friendly cities in the world. In a city where over half of the residents use bikes to commute to and from work, or even to the clubs on weekends, I never felt nervous on my bike. The bike lanes are smooth and wide. Cyclists are assertive but also courteous. As long as you can control your bike and know when and how to signal, you will be fine.

If I can leave you with one pearl of wisdom, it is to spend time as much time with the locals as possible. I found that my favorite nightlife stories came from bars popular with locals, not those with cheap drink specials that cater to international students. Furthermore, one of my most fun nights was spent at a Danish house party, where I found myself to be the only American.

After Denmark (AD), I can look back and honestly feel overjoyed that I chose to study abroad in the “happiest country on earth.” Now, when I think of København (as the Danes call it), I think of hygge.

I enjoyed every day of my time there and am always in the mood to talk about Copenhagen and Denmark in general.  If you have any questions or concerns about studying abroad, CBS classes, Copenhagen or Denmark in general, I would love to help you out. Feel free to email me at Aykwong@bu.edu

My top 5 experiences of Copenhagen:

  1. Eating at the reigning number one restaurant in the world “Noma”
  2. Learning the true meaning of “hygge”
  3. Spending time with students from all around the world
  4. Exploring the city by bike
  5. Sampling every type of Danish pastry at least once

Skål!

Luisa Colon, Madrid Management Internship

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At a Flamenco Show in GranadaInterned at The Music Word of Mouth Company.

This past spring (Spring 2015) I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, through the Madrid Management Internship Program. I am a native Spanish speaker, and I have always dreamed of studying abroad in Spain, where I knew I could assimilate very easily and strengthen my Spanish-speaking skills. I had done extensive research on Madrid (I bookmarked places to see/things to do months before arriving), so I had an idea of what my time there would be like. After 4.5 months of living, working, and studying in Madrid, my experience exceeded all of my expectations, and I truly felt like I belonged there. I became a Madrileña. Madrid is a beautiful city filled with vibrant people, a deep history, astounding architecture, a great transportation system, awesome nightlife… it has everything! Plus, it’s not that expensive, as opposed to other study abroad locations.

Internship: I was the marketing intern for a small music company called The Music Word of Mouth (MUWOM), which is located in the trendy neighborhood of Chueca. MUWOM works to unite artists and brands through content generation and the use of the Internet and social media. I helped manage the social media accounts of MUWOM’s music artists. I conducted research and prepared reports on MUWOM’s competitors to improve the company’s strategy in generating content and experiences through music. I also contributed to the company’s blog by reporting on current news within the media, music and marketing fields. Overall, I had a pleasant time at my internship, and I was introduced to a couple of well-known and underground Spanish musicians.

I Learned: I gained a better understanding of the financial crisis and how it has affected Europe, and in particular, Spain. From my International Business class, I learned how to view situations from different angles and not just from an American viewpoint. My time abroad solidified my plans to concentrate in International Management and someday work for an international company.

I was Surprised: I was really surprised by how little clothing I actually needed throughout the months. I packed two suitcases, and I thought I had packed too little. However, I learned that I didn’t need all of it. I even donated some of my own clothing before returning to the US, which gave me more space for souvenirs and things I purchased along the way.

I was also surprised by the metro and bus systems in Madrid. They’re awesome: fast, convenient, clean, and reliable – nothing like the MTA or the MBTA.

The Hardest Part: The hardest part of my experience was dealing with a family loss a couple of weeks into the start of the program. I decided not to travel back home because I knew it would be harder to go, then leave my family and return to Madrid, than to just not go home. My family was very understanding, and they, alongside my host family and friends, supported me and helped me through that difficult time. Although I lost someone very special to me, I knew that he would want me to fully enjoy my time in Madrid.

The Best Part: The absolute best part was living with my host family. I lived with a married couple and their sweet and funny twin 15-year old boys. They welcomed me into their home with the biggest hugs and kisses (and a huge plate of paella). I had my own room and bathroom, and I always felt comfortable with them. Plus, my host mom is one of the best cooks ever – she was considerate of the things I did and didn’t like, and always had something new for me to taste.

My tips: 

  • Arrive with an open mind, and embrace the cultural differences.
  • Befriend locals: madrileños are awesome, and they know how to have fun!
  • Plan your travels ahead of time so you can save money.
  • Take advantage of the cultural reimbursements and explore Spain.
  • Enjoy all the tapas, beer and wine your heart desires, ¿vale?

I loved, loved, loved my time in Madrid, and I hope to return very soon. As they say, “de Madrid al cielo, y desde el cielo, un agujerito para verlo.”

Thank you for reading! Contact me at luisamc@bu.edu if have any questions or concerns about studying abroad in Madrid.

Emily Knecht, Auckland Management Internship

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RSCN0875Interned for the Auckland Writers Festival in Spring 2014.

Internship: The Auckland Writers Festival is a five-day event held in May that brings the very best local and international writers of fiction and non-fiction, scientists, economists, poets, journalists, and public intellectuals together with audiences to explore ideas and share stories. I helped the organization with their marketing efforts, the development of their new website, and various small projects in preparation for the festival. I also worked on the production team during the five days of the festival.

I learned: I learned the most about myself. My internship helped teach me about what I want to do with my life. The people I met in New Zealand helped teach me about the type of person I aspire to be. And New Zealand itself taught me how take advantage of every opportunity that life presents and to appreciate all the natural beauties of the world.

I was surprised by: I was most surprised by the person I became: the adventurous, independent, always optimistic, spontaneous Emily Knecht.

The Hardest Part: Honestly, the hardest part of my experience was getting on that plane and having to leave New Zealand, a place that became a second home to me.

The Best Part: There are too many amazing parts from my experience abroad. I loved everything about New Zealand: the activities I participated in, the people I was fortunate enough to meet, and the beautiful country I was able to travel.

My Tips: Push yourself as far outside of your comfort zone as possible, and take the time to meet the people of New Zealand.