Pre-departure

It hasn’t really hit me yet that I will be leaving the country for the first time in just four days. In four short days, I will be trecking through JFK airport, passport in hand, over-stuffed backpack hanging from my shoulders and my bright orange carry on suitcase dragging behind me. I’m used to starting over- two different colleges, four different majors… I can’t really say I’m nervous about the unknown. Instead, I’m “nervous” about more “stupid” things- like whether or not I’ll acquire a taste for beer (American beer is gross). Despite all of these jittery nerves, to say I’m excited about this adventure is an understatement. 

Hi, I’m Julia Szczech (pronounced like Shrek without the “r”) and I am going to Copenhagen, Denmark! I am currently a junior studying public health at Syracuse University (go orange)! I’m 20 years old and I have yet to leave the United States, but I LOVE to travel. After my freshman year of high school, I was privileged enough to take a month-long cross country vacation with my family and it was truly an unforgettable experience. Since then, I have longed for more travel experiences and knew that I wanted to make study abroad a part of my undergraduate experience. This semester, I will be continuing my studies of public health at the Danish Institute for Study Abroad (aka DIS). 

The past few weeks, I have ran final errands and gave final goodbyes in preparation for Copenhagen. I have purchases outlet converters, notified my bank of my travels, checked out my housing location on google maps, gone to final doctors appointments, you name it. However, I have yet to start packing. The thought of packing up my life for the next four/five months and fitting it into only one checked bag and a carry-on is stressing me out. How can one possibly fit all of their favorite clothing items into one and a half bags? I am a world-renown over-packer… hopefully, I can figure this one out.  

So why did I chose Copenhagen? After a few too many changes in major, I thought it would be nearly impossible to fit studying abroad into my undergrad experience. DIS, however, made studying abroad possible for me. With a wide variety of classes in public health, I am able to study abroad and fulfill my major requirements- I am ecstatic! I will be taking a whopping five classes- epidemiology, medical ethics, health promotion and disease prevention, health economics and health policy in Europe, and health delivery and prioritization (which is my core course). As a part of DIS, every student takes a core course which includes a week-long study tour to a nearby country where you gain further information relating to the material you are learning in class. For my core course, I will be traveling to Helsinki, Finland, and Tallinn, Estonia.  I cannot wait to broaden my education on global healthcare! I am sure what I will be learning in my classes as well as teaching style will be incorporated into future blog posts! Also look out for my reflection on my study tour with my core course- that will definitely be coming too!

I have decided to start this blog to keep my friends and family from home updated on my adventures abroad. I’ve also spent a ridiculous amount of time reading up on previous DIS blogger’s blogs- so hopefully I can help out future DIS students too! I also love to write and self-reflect. I cannot wait to look back at this blog and reminisce on my abroad experiences and get a good laugh about my first feelings in a country that will soon become my home. 

I truly look forward to sharing my study abroad experiences with anybody reading. My goal is to keep this blog as truthful and real as possible while navigating something so unknown to me. I honestly believe that this trip will be one of the most memorable of my college career. I will share my highs and lows, my most embarrassing moments and obviously, some of my fondest. So, with that being said- to new beginnings, new friends, and finding happiness in the happiest country in the world. I hope you stick around while I learn to cope in Copenhagen. 

Xoxo,

Julia