Sorry (once again) for not blogging on a regular basis but the last fortnight has been quite eventful and I am pretty sure that I have encountered some the expected ‘lows’ that you are meant to have whilst on exchange. The recent collapse of Sterling airlines which resulted in countless exchange students (myself included) losing money on flights and having to rearrange trips … then again, this inconvenience and financial loss pales in comparison to the poor employees of Sterling who are now unemployed and without an income source – so I guess it’s all about perspective, right? Anyways, I guess the moral of the story is that you should really research whether the airline you booked with is solely financed by an Icelandic financier!!!
But back to the point, another difficulty I have faced is that of housing … now before I begin my rant, let me first of all point out that housing is really a luck of the draw kind of thing and I have heard many different stories/views in regards to other exchange student’s experiences. Essentially, there are 4 different housing situations you can find yourself in once you arrive in Copenhagen:
- Living with landlord/landlady (be it solely the LL or the LL & family)
- Living in a dorm/kollegium
- Living in an apartment (be it through your an agent or one in which the landlord does not reside)
- Living in a hostel searching desperately for accommodation!!!
Of these 4 potential situations you may find yourself, I have found that option 2 (living in a dorm/kollegium) has been the most pleasurable. Unfortunately, having not been able to secure a dorm I can only speak from the experiences of my friends, but generally dorms are great because you have your own room/independence yet you still also get lots of socialising/friendly interaction with students due to the inevitable hall parties, kitchen dinners and kollegium parties that are held. Further, you also can have friends over and not have to worry about whether you have permission or if you are inconveniencing anyone! One downside of a dorm is that in some kollegiums you actually have to buy things that you don’t actually budget for (such as a couch or kitchen utensils etc) but this is only applicable for some kollegiums! – another potential hazard is that some dorms are located very far out and some are in the ‘not so nice’ areas of Copenhagen!
In regards to option 3, I would have to say that this is also a great option but not quite as good as option 2 due to the fact that the apartment you may be living in can be quite isolated and also the fact that there is not as much socialising with like minded exchange students!!! However, the benefits of an apartment are perhaps most pronounced in the fact that you will most likely have a lot more room than a dorm and also more privacy too! Either way, an apartment is still a highly recommendable option!
Option 4 is perhaps the worst case scenario as you have to live in a hostel for an indefinite period of time and the future is clouded in mystery! Mind you, I guess it all depends on the type of person you are and personal preferences (as well as the luck you have!). I have been fortunate enough to hear stories from friends who have arrived in Danmark (with no accommodation) and have been lucky enough to secure housing within the first couple of days. However, I have also met people who have been not so lucky in and have been stranded at hostels for an extended period of time (this is both quite expensive and also inconvenient due to the ‘constraints‘ of hostel life!) and thus I would have to strongly recommend against this option 4 if it is at all possible!!!
Finally, option 1 is fraught with danger yet it can also be quite a good option too – again, it all depends on the luck of the draw! I have many friends who are living with a landlord/lady and they have had no problems whatsoever as their LL’s are either fellow Danish students or young professionals! and thus there are no real dramas and they get along quite well (some even have regular weekly dinners with their LL’s). Alternatively, other exchange students I have spoken to have been placed with LL’s & their families, and they have actually had an enjoyable time (one of my friends were even provided with a free bike, by their host family, to use whilst in Copenhagen!) – mind you, I only know a few students in this type of situation so I can’t claim that this type of situation is ideal!
On the other hand, you can find yourself in the situation where you are placed with a live in LL that is ‘older’. I myself have been placed in such housing and well I can’t say it is ideal. Further, I have spoken with quite a few students who have also been placed in a similar predicament and they too share the same negative view. Admittedly, I have not had the worst experience – some of my fellow students have to abide by borderline ridiculous house rules (ie: specific shower time periods, specific times in which they can use the kitchen and also having their internet connection cut off whenever the LL feels like it etc!!!) and are recipients of ‘daily to do lists’ when they open their doors up every morning! So in that respect, I am not doing too badly!
As for my personal housing situation – I am living with a LL (who is 40 years my senior) and aside from the obvious generation gap, I find that my LL views me as a ‘walking, talking rent payment‘ and only speaks to me when she a) wants something or b) just needs to talk as she is lonely. Other than those two moments, I pretty much don’t exist to her and I can’t help but feel I am inconveniencing her by simply being there (which is not entirely her fault). I think it is partly due to the fact that the older LL’s are so ingrained in their ways of doing things that change is simply not an option and there is no such thing as a better way of doing anything! The other reason would have to be the fact that I have lived out of home prior to arriving in Copenhagen and as such I am used to a household where your opinion matters, diversity is embraced and everyone has equal rights to how the household should run.
I think it is the fact that I am not accustomed to being told (to within an inch of my life) how things are meant to be done and why everything I do is not the ‘proper’ way to do things. Essentially, I think the main problem is the fact that I pay the majority of the entire house’s rent yet I am left with no rights whatsoever and I am left having to agree to everything my LL requests, be it reasonable or unreasonable and I am also confined to my ‘shoe box’ of a room as being anywhere else in the house is usually met with a deathly glare from my LL (despite the fact that I ‘suposedly’ have free access to the tv room and balcony!) – significant unequal footing would perhaps best surmise it – so yes, if you have lived out of home before then I would strongly recommend pursuing option 2 or 3 in order to avoid the potential frustrations/lectures I and other exchange students have experienced for simply being there!
From my experience when applying to come to KU, I know that I had no idea what kollegiums were available and how to apply to them so I thought I would just list a few of them that are pretty good: Tietgen (approx 3200dkk per month), Keops (approx 4000dkk), Handvaerkollegiet (approx ?), Rasmus Nielsen Kollegium (2500dkk) and Egmont (approx 1900dkk). If you simply google these names then you should find it pretty easy to get the information on how to apply to them directly (and if you find that you are having trouble then feel free to post a comment and I can perhaps get some more information directly from the places for you!)
One final point that I wanted to stress was that the international housing office has an epic task and workload and I am very grateful, despite the negatives I have encountered, for the housing offer they provided me. Again, it is pretty much a luck of the draw thing but that doesn’t mean you can’t try to pursue options 2 or 3!!! So all in all, CHEERS TO THE INTERNATIONAL OFFICE for the help they provide 
!!!
!), I ventured back to Fisktorvet for round 2 (my first visit was with a friend and we just ended up eating!). Fisktorvet is basically a large shopping centre/complex located more or less near the Central station … I took the 1A from Kogens Nytorv … for any potentional Queenslanders reading, it is something akin to Indro but not as good. Anyways, as for range of shops offered at Fisktorvet, I must say that it was rather limited and Stroget is a better place to go for shopping needs as the prices between both facilities were comparative but the overall feel of Fisktorvet was actually quite dull (mind you I did go there at 2pm … not traditionally a peak period for shopping!). The one redeeming factor was that at the Fotex within the centre I (finally) found peanut butter!!! (not of the Kraft variety but hopefully still good!). It is kind of suprising how such a little thing can brighten up your day and it is also suprising to realise how much you miss the little everyday kind of things back home!!!
