Uge To (Week Two: 02.01.12 - 09.02.01) - Cultural Development

It is hard to believe that I have now been in Denmark for two weeks. Initially I found that time was dragging slightly but that changed whenever we began class at UCC Blaagaard on Wednesday.  I was very nervous about beginning class as I was unsure what to expect from the modules, students and tutors.  I was also quite worried about the language barrier and how easily understood I would be. 

The International class is larger than I expected with 35 of us in total, representing around 10 different countries, but thankfully everyone is lovely.  The tutors too are great and extremely interesting as they are well travelled and have a strong desire to hear and learn about the cultures of others.  I was surprised by how relaxed the classes were and by the laid-back relationships between students and tutors.  All the tutors are referred to on a first name basis throughout the education system; not just university and I noticed that in some of our classes with Danish students, swearing was very commonly used.  In comparison with home this is very different as I could never imagine swearing in front of a lecturer. 

Our first few days of class were based around ice-breakers and mixing activities.  Anyone who knows me well will know I HATE icebreakers but these one’s were actually fun and a great way of getting to know the other students.  During the weekend we travelled to a town called Ishøj, beside the coast.  The university had arranged for the first weekend to be spent in a Youth Hostel as an introduction to our ‘Comparative Education’ module.

 

Working on our silhouette's with Julia from Austria.

On the Saturday Jemma and I began to make our way to the hostel and of course got lost.  After eventually asking about four different people we luckily spotted another student being taken to our destination by a local Dane (another example of how friendly and helpful they are.) The tasks organised for us were interesting and stimulating and I especially enjoyed one where we were matched with a student from another country and had to draw around their body, then interview them to find out about their identity which we had to draw onto their silhouette.  I thought it was a brilliant way of learning about another culture and yourself as you focused on your own identity too.  It is definitely an activity I would consider using at home with either newly arrived children or to help the class get to know each other better.  Throughout the weekend we focused mainly on stereotyping and on the schooling systems in other countries which gave me a great insight into other cultures.  We woke up to heavy snow on the Sunday and took a walk to the beach, where the sea was frozen!

On the beach beside the frozen sea!

On Tuesday I began Danish classes which were very difficult as unlike English, the words aren’t pronounced as they look.  I have had to slow my own speech considerably and reduce the colloquial words I use as many of the other students struggle to understand me.  In comparison to home I find the classes in Denmark more challenging and even after one week the workload is increasing, but I am hoping as I get into a routine and used to a new education environment, things will get easier.

I am really enjoying my classes and meeting so many new people.  I feel it is a good thing for me to experience new situations and step out of my familiar life at home. I am constantly learning about other countries and their cultures, which can only be a benefit, as sometimes you can feel as if the world exists of just that around you, forgetting that there is lots more out there to be seen and heard.

Enjoying getting to know the other Erasmus students.