This summer, my family and I traveled to Berlin, Germany to learn about my Jewish great grandparents’ experience during the Holocaust. After visiting the Topography of Terror, I have become interested in understanding how the Nazis could turn a democracy into a dictatorship. This trip made me question not only government’s actions of the past, but also my government’s actions today. It has made me look at the U.S. 2016 election differently. Most of all, my trip made me want to learn more about Europe in the 20th century. When I got back to the University of Michigan this fall, I changed my schedule to enroll in History 318, Europe in the Era of Total War. It has been absolutely fascinating and my favorite class I have ever taken at Michigan. Not only is the professor engaging and knowledgeable, but also the material excites me. I find myself sitting on the edge of my chair, completely focused and enthralled as my professor explains German nationalism, the Russian Revolution, or the Armenian Genocide. I carefully read each line of Frederick Engel’s “Principles of Communism” and feel for Ernst Jünger in Storm of Steel as he describes his harrowing tale of being a German soldier in World War I. In fact, because of my trip to Germany and History 318, I declared a history major in my sophomore fall. I have finally found my academic passion. DIS Copenhagen would allow me to explore my passion because I could take “Competing Narratives: Modern European History.” Not only would I be able to deepen my understanding of modern European history, but also I would have the opportunity to visit Berlin, Warsaw, Northern Germany and Western Denmark. This summer, I learned how powerful it is to be in the location that I am learning about. I can only imagine how incredible it would be to visit sites with my expert professor and see places that I have studied only in the classroom. I would be so grateful to have Europe as my classroom. In addition to this core class, I would like to take “Enemy Within, The Spies and Espionage in the Cold War.” Visiting the Stazi museum this summer in Berlin provoked my interest in the secrecy of governments and the importance of protecting individual liberties. Both “Competing Narratives: Modern European History” and “Enemy Within, The Spies and Espionage in the Cold War” would count towards my History major and would help me focus on my modern European history concentration. While studying history originally sparked my interest in the DIS Copenhagen program, upon further investigation, DIS’ balance of support and independence appeals to me.
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I have always known that I want to study abroad. My mother grew up in Brazil, Chile, and South Africa because of her father’s job, and I have been taught from a young age the importance of understanding and embracing other cultures. While I have been fortunate enough to travel around Europe, I have never been able to live in Europe for months at a time. To me, living somewhere means fully immersing oneself in the culture and activities of the country. I want to learn to play handball and other sports that Danish teens play. I want to eat Danish food and learn to speak Danish. I want to learn that I can successfully live somewhere different from my Boston home. By gaining this independence, I will be able to look back on my experience with pride. Furthermore, I would like to follow my grandfather’s footsteps and go into International Business, specifically marketing. In order to be successful at my job, I must understand the subtleties of a culture that I can only learn from living there. When I look back at my experience abroad, I hope that I will have learned typical Danish traditions, how to politely order a coffee and understand Danish humor. That being said, I know that there will be challenges that come with studying abroad in Copenhagen, but to me, that is part of the experience. In fact, challenges are crucial to a study abroad experience because I believe I must push myself out of my comfort zone. If I do not ever feel challenged in Copenhagen, then I am doing something wrong. While I feel confident I will adapt to life in Copenhagen, I understand I will not be fully comfortable in the
I have always known that I want to study abroad. My mother grew up in Brazil, Chile, and South Africa because of her father’s job, and I have been taught from a young age the importance of understanding and embracing other cultures. While I have been fortunate enough to travel around Europe, I have never been able to live in Europe for months at a time. To me, living somewhere means fully immersing oneself in the culture and activities of the country. I want to learn to play handball and other sports that Danish teens play. I want to eat Danish food and learn to speak Danish. I want to learn that I can successfully live somewhere different from my Boston home. By gaining this independence, I will be able to look back on my experience with pride. Furthermore, I would like to follow my grandfather’s footsteps and go into International Business, specifically marketing. In order to be successful at my job, I must understand the subtleties of a culture that I can only learn from living there. When I look back at my experience abroad, I hope that I will have learned typical Danish traditions, how to politely order a coffee and understand Danish humor. That being said, I know that there will be challenges that come with studying abroad in Copenhagen, but to me, that is part of the experience. In fact, challenges are crucial to a study abroad experience because I believe I must push myself out of my comfort zone. If I do not ever feel challenged in Copenhagen, then I am doing something wrong. While I feel confident I will adapt to life in Copenhagen, I understand I will not be fully comfortable in the