Settling into the Second Semester

By Ellen Sleeuw, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Whilst it took some time, I managed to feel really settled by the end of the first semester. I had made some great friends, I felt like I knew the city I could cycle without having to stop every 2 minutes to check google maps, I was enjoying my classes and had gotten used to new teaching methods. 

However, for many other universities in Europe it is normal to only do 1 semester abroad. This meant that most of the people I had met left at the end of January. This is something that I hadn’t realised, I had just presumed that everyone would be staying for a full year like me. 

Therefore, I thought it would be useful to provide some tips to settling in once again for semester 2. 

1. Go to the welcome lectures and event. Yes, you will have already been to these in semester 1, and you won’t necessarily need information about the faculties and tours of the campuses. However, all of the new exchange students will be attending them, so they provide a great space to meet everyone, as well as to get in the spirit and excitement of starting a new semester.
2. Keep in contact with friends from semester 1. This probably sounds obvious, but the thought of going from seeing friends everyday/week to nothing is quite scary. Therefore, messaging, calling and just keeping in contact can provide a lot of comfort. 
3. Take time for yourself. Make sure to rest and realise that it is ok to take time for yourself every once and a while. I think it is very easy to get caught up in the start of a new semester, wanting to attend all the events and meet lots of people. However, recharging your social battery is also important. Putting time aside to call my family, cook a nice meal, or watch a TV program allowed me to avoid getting overwhelmed at such a busy and changing time. 
4. Try new things and explore new places. Despite the fact that you will have been there for half a year now, I am sure there are still so many things to do. This is a good opportunity to get to know new people too, especially outside of university and the classroom. Additionally, I was part of a beginners CrossFit team, and this was a really great way to meet Danish students who weren’t in my classes or faculty. I appreciate that CrossFit probably isn’t for everyone, but I know that they offer so many other sport societies and classes, as well as more social activities.

Although I found it challenging at first, semester 2 ended up being just as amazing as semester 1 and it even meant that I was able to make more friends and have even more experiences, all whilst coming out of the cold and dark winter months and making the most of Scandinavian summer.