The process of becoming a Dane begins

The sun sets at about 9 pm

I've been here for two weeks now and things are beginning to get easier for me. I found it difficult going to school in the first week, being the only exchange student in my school, but people have started warming up to me now. As I like to put it, I'm beginning to fit in. I'm also beginning to get used to some other things; like the driver's seat being on the left side, having no tall buildings, really, really long days (the sun sets at 9:00 pm) and the food, of course. I've started using trains too. I've started understanding some words in the Danish language and sometimes I can read an entire sentence!
The city of Odense celebrated the Hans Christian Anderson festival for the whole week and my school took all the music students (that includes me) to Odense to hear an orchestral music concert. That was the first time I attended an orchestral concert in my life. So you see, through the exchange program, one get's to see things they have never experienced before.
Tomorrow, I leave for my intro camp. Intro camp is where all of us exchange students who have arrived in Denmark meet and are introduced to the rules and regulations of the exchange program. We are also introduced to the language and culture of Denmark. Along with that we have really fun activities light sightseeing, partying and a bonfire. I'm the only exchange student in my club and school so I haven't really met any of the exchange students (I met some on the flight to Denmark). I couldn't be more excited about intro camp. It's great fun being with Danish people, but the feeling of being with other exchange students, the people who can relate to you, seems welcoming.

Special Danish rye-bread

 For the next three weeks, I almost don't have to attend any school because of intro camp and intensive Danish lessons. I'm hoping that when I'm back at school, I will blow everyone's minds with my improved Danish. It's also confirmed, that my host sister will be going for an exchange program next year. I had my first Rotary meeting on Monday. It was great meeting all the members of my host club - the Ringe Rotary Club (https://www.facebook.com/RingeRotaryKlub).
I've been here for only two weeks but it feels like a month. I know by know that the Danes really know how to party! Oh, and for all those who think that the most meat eating country in the world can't cook up a good vegetarian meal, you are mistaken.

The beginning of a long, long year

A display at the Odense Blomsterfest
(flower festival)

Only a week ago, I arrived in the small but extremely beautiful country of Denmark as an exchange student through Rotary. Being an Indian, I almost immediately felt the contrast between the two countries. Back home, I spoke to everyone in English, but I realized that learning Danish is a necessity to stay in Denmark just a couple of days after I arrived. On my first day of school, I faced the shock of not understanding a thing. Everyone spoke in Danish and all the textbooks and lessons were conducting in the same language. There were going to be no other exchange students studying in that school so I was left to try and understand as much as I could during each class. Luckily, I have an amazing host family. They do their best to try and teach me as much Danish as possible before my Danish classes start.
                                                                                                                                 
Another contrasting feature is that I was used to seeing many tall buildings and skyscrapers but here, people had only one or two floor houses. Even my school is of only two levels. There are vast spans of land on either side of the road and people have extremely large gardens that people would die for in Mumbai.

I currently live in a small town in the island of Fyn so it's really quiet here... way too quiet. Coming from Mumbai, I am used to having a certain level of noise in the background. I am also used to seeing many more people on the streets, here I see one or two people when I walk to the bus stop each morning.

It is so different here, compared to Mumbai. But all of this is a part and parcel of being an exchange student; in fact, it is the exact reason why people decide to take part in exchange programs. You don't have it easy - you have chosen the difficult path so you have to live it.

Exchange between India and Denmark

Difficulties faced by exchange students in the beginning of the exchange year

1. English is not the first language in a lot of countries - There is no escaping learning a new language.

2. Living with people you have never met before - It's obviously difficult to start living with a family that you have never met before but you have to remember that they are also having someone they don't know living in their house.

3. New lifestyle - The food is different. The clothes are different. The dining table etiquettes are different. Everything is different.

Of course, there are other small problems, like finding new friends or getting used to a new house but the main problems are up there.

All I can say, right now, is that when they say Denmark is one of the happiest countries in the world, I can see the reason why. It's going to be an amazing experience here, and a long, long year...