Baffling BFFLS

As you grow up, you consistently hear about how you only need a few tight knit friends who prove to be bread and butter. Throughout college you learn the validity of this statement. You show up the first day freshman year eager to become besties with the rest of the noobs running around the dorm rooms, swap life stories with your new roomie (praying they aren’t one of the nightmare roommates, and either stick with the dorm crew all four years or move on when you move out. The years roll by and you weed out those who don’t necessarily make the “quality” cut. Your schedules load up and you prioritize those who actually boost your wellbeing rather than suck the energy out of you (amuse yourself: Energy Vampires. Harsh? Nah. We all know it’s true. Danes do too.

Danes cut to the chase and frown upon small talk. This particular social preference places them on a pedestal. AND they cherish their quality friendships over the random acquaintance (generalizing, of course). Granted, Danish pregnant women spend time with “mommie” groups to ease the drastic life adjustment of having a child. If your best friend for life just happens to be in the nursery next door you’re set. I admire this governmental socialization tactic.

Senior year rolls by and you keep in touch with the friends who really made a mark on your soul. You know the type. You smile automatically when you see pictures together, jump when you receive an e-mail or a text, and just may hit a natural high after a Skype session. Yes, my friends and family from home, you are not at all forgotten over the deep blue sea! I’ve been cherishing the brief moments we’ve shared together and look forward to reuniting with you before I know it!

DIS buds – we’ve had our heart to hearts and those bonding moments aren’t over J Cheers to another day in Copenhagen!

Rude Awakenings: The Truth behind Studying Abroad

To start, listen to “Jazz for your Mind” by Salvo Larusso. Muy bueno.

Everyone who has previously studied abroad claims it was the best experience of their lives. In truth, the negative experiences are often suppressed or forgotten when they return home. Humans always seek the greener grass on the other side. When we are in the USA we want to be abroad. When we are abroad, sometimes we want to be in the USA.

Here’s the deal. A place, truly, is just a place. An experience is only a worthy and engaging experience when you apply meaning and value. Due to hedonic adaptation, the stimulation from exploring a new location fades over time because of repetitive exposure. Yes. I am psychology nerd analyzing the study abroad phenomenon since I’m immersed in it…

A thought I’ve been sucking the end of my pen caps over lately: you are the same person in one location as you are in another. Or ARE you? Three semesters ago I was inspired to write my doctoral thesis on the notion of exploring oneself by exploring the world (obnoxious planning may be a norm on my end). Of course, how could I write such an individualistic thesis without living it out first? My findings thus far and excuse for why I haven’t posted anything for the past two weeks (forewarning this is a reflective post and not intended to flaunt my ego… or id… in any way, shape, or form):

MIZZOU’s study abroad office warned us, waiting anxiously in anticipation, that there seems to be a common trend among students abroad. A natural high occurs the first 2-3 weeks because the constant stimuli fascinates you and you believe wherever you are is SO MUCH BETTER than home (let’s face it, with American politics nowadays…). Then you chill out a bit and warm up to the foreign country. About 1-2 months after studying abroad a number of students become depressed or homesick or both. I tried to blame the lack of sunshine, but this phenomena proved to be a crude reality for the girl who studied abroad to deepen her understanding of positive psychology. Situational irony, I know.

I’m not going to sugar coat studying abroad. Venturing through Greece last year was, undoubtedly, a life changing experience. Copenhagen is and shall influence my life as well. Nevertheless, every step taken influences the next no matter where you are. The purpose of this reflection is not to tell prospective study abroad-ers they shouldn’t pursue academia in another country. They should. Studying abroad facilitates personal growth if you engage in the experience. However, I’m not one to place it on a pedestal either. Students need a realistic viewpoint.

I thought it was homesickness. I thought it was the lack of vitamin D (Denmark is not exactly sunny in with a high of 75 like St. Louis right now). I thought it was the suppressed frustration behind constantly drinking hard water from the tap that STILL doesn’t make me feel cleansed after downing 8 glasses a day. I thought it was the financial stress (Copenhagen is pricey, people). It wasn’t. I’ve studied resilience. I preach resilience. I firmly BELIEVE resilience can be taught, made a cognitive behavioral habit and lead people towards a flourishing lifestyle by overcoming adversities. WHY on earth was I shutting down?

The big factors I expected to suffocate my personal well-being were not actually triggering my reactions. Hitting real life in the face by applying for “big kid” jobs and setting up Skype interviews for the real world caused intense anxiety. Asking for recommendation letters via e-mail simply isn’t my style. I’m a face-to-face kind of girl. Gotta roll with the punches, I know. Yet, worrying about whether or not my internet connection will pull through during these interviews still flirts with my conscious thoughts. To be fair, that’s not a surprising stressor for anyone my age. Senior year overseas problems. Oops.

The true cause for the shut down, however, was being thrown off the daily routine which laid a foundation for handling stressors and accomplishing one thing after another. Don’t get me wrong, friends and family I do legitimately miss you all. (Here’s where I rant a bit in a “woe is me” fashion). Last semester I lived the luxurious life of having my own room. I used to be able to roll out of bed early in the morning and not feel guilty waking up 3 roommates in the process. I used to enjoy a tune from my wake up playlist as an alarm clock as I stumbled around half awake to get my Asics on and stuff a banana down my throat on the way to 8am Advanced Cycling at MIZZOU’s rec center (ohhhh how I miss those stationary bikes). I used to come home and take my time getting ready, trolling around in my towel wrap and primping not because I’m a girl, but because it felt good. People don’t pamper themselves enough in our rat race society. Not in healthy ways, at least. Take a breather. Enjoy Stonyfield vanilla Greek yogurt with flax seed and honey in the morning with your coffee (that actually includes coffee mate creamer). Make yourself a mozzarella, egg, and fresh basil sandwich for breakfast. You’re lucky if you can find these ingredients at your local Netto, let alone spend less than $30 on those breakfast items.


This routine kept me grounded. Introverts thrive off the ability to stop, reflect, and think deeply about the whirlwind of occurances happening around them. In an flat full of 7 women, an opportunity for reflection does not happen very often. We've all been feeling the subtle pressures from living in such a cohesive environment. Alas, I encourage you all to take time for yourself on a frequent basis. Reflect on what you've learned about yourself over the years and escape from reality's distractions ever now and the. Ground yourself within your thoughts and you'll strengthen who you are.

Deprivation from these little blessings will make them that much sweeter when I return home.

Now that I’ve settled into that mindset and realized why my psyche hasn’t been functioning up to par lately, all is well. I can embrace the moments I have, once again, without believing something is truly wrong with me. Funny how reframing concepts to an external perspective brings inner peace. Good thing the University of Pennsylvania’s Resiliency Program is teaching students these life skills to enhance their well-being.

If you’re interested: Resilience Program

It’s all water under the bridge. More fun posts to come on the Scotland experience :D

PS: This TED talk inspired my epiphany. SO good! Power of Introverts

St. Pat’s the Danish Way

Who would’ve thought the Danes would celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day? I mean let’s face it. The Danes take on any excuse to drink heavily. It’s surprising, truly, for the happiest of people to binge drink as often as they do. Scotland made sense with their high suicide and depression rates, but REALLY? No matter. Even if they lack Irish blood (I’ll admit, I don’t own a drop to my knowledge), everybody’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!

The Danes set up a 3-legged race pub crawl in the center of Copenhagen from one Irish Bar to the next. The race consisted of a 3 km course where contestants would down a half pint of beer at each Irish pub before the finish line… IF they made it to the finish line! It was incredibly entertaining to watch drunkards stumbling along the cobblestone streets lost and confused with their upside-down maps!

Instead of galloping all over Copenhagen with duct tape around my leg, I joined my housemates in

Rådhuspladsen Square. We received free Guinness hats with some Irish coffee, meandered around with face painted lollies, listened to Irish bands, watched steppers perform on stage, and giggled at people mistaking the old man dressed as St. Pat for the pope. Let’s just say the Danes are not predominately Catholic, to say the least. Better yet, my Carly and Stephanie were dubbed banner carrying lassies and were thrown into the parade at last minute!

We met a sweet American girl who has lived in Copenhagen for the last 7 years with her family. Her dad works for the American embassy. She’s 18 and heading back to the states for university next year. She used to perform as an Irish stepper but opted to leave the dancing to her younger sisters this year. We also stalked massive Irish hounds (honestly, they looked like miniature ponies) despite the Danes’ hatred for petting their pups.

England’s domination of Ireland’s rugby team completely swamped the Irish bars this evening!  I was bummed because the crowds meant no leek potato soup would be served L Instead, a group of us enjoyed nachos, pasta pesto, and a grilled chicken sandwich at Hoppe’s. I still miss splitting a McDonald’s Shamrock Shake mixed with chocolate with my mom, though. All in all – a good day for the not so Irish!

Deflating Empowerment? I Think Not.

I woke up at Alex’s host family’s home thirsting to grasp life in my fingertips this morning. So what do I do? Run around her scenic neighborhood again. There’s nothing like starting off your day inhaling the fresh Scandinavian air and soothing out travel stressors in a hot shower!

Alex shared the Kony 2012 video with Sim and I after this viral social movement reached her laptop this morning. We watched the video together, tears welled in my eyes, and I felt deeply empowered by the efforts. Jason Russell, you’ve made quite the video. Like all humans, I too want to make something of my life by giving back to the community. Yes, a young woman in her mid twenties still embraces hope she can make a difference in the world. Influential mentors like my cross-cultural professor at University of Missouri, Etti Navah-Benjamin, have only fed those thirsts for meaning and purpose in this world using international connectivity. Hence why I’m studying the effects of meaning in positive psychology… but that isn’t today’s focus.

In a nutshell, the Kony 2012 movement aims to publicize Joseph Kony and raise awareness of his war crimes. He kidnapped Ugandan children for sex slaves and soldiers. Kony revamped an existing rebel group back in 1987 and renamed it the Lord’s Resistance Army which has abducted over 30,000 children over the 26 years. Invisible Children aspires for his arrest. Their method is to globalize Kony’s infamous name from a sociological perspective – the power of internet communication.

Educate yourself: Kony 2012

I’ve been familiar with Invisible Children over the years but I’m sad to admit my personal proactivity on current cultural affairs only dawned during college. Inspired by my emotional response to this provocative PSA I began researching a bit more about the movement. Particularly, I’ve been researching the criticism all morning. As Mashable stated in the “Kony 2012: Is the Viral Campain a Scam?” article:

“Invisible Children has been condemned time and time again. As a registered not-for-profit, its finances are public. Last year, the organization spent $8,676,614. Only 32% went to direct services (page 6), with much of the rest going to staff salaries, travel and transport, and film production. This is far from ideal, and Charity Navigator rates their accountability 2/4 stars because they haven’t had their finances externally audited. But it goes way deeper than that.”

The term slacktivism has risen in response to Kony 2012 as well, referencing a “feel-good” method of supporting a cause without personally acting towards a movement’s aims. Rather, “slackers” show support through internet petitions and social media to feel better about themselves since they aren’t the ones venturing to Uganda. Is this really humanity stands in 2012? Well then.

Here’s where I’m at: unification towards a movement creates a sense of purpose and enlightenment among the human race. Empathy and connectivity reign true by giving those a voice who stand in harms way thanks to Kony as a flees. A couple of regular guys went to Africa one day, explored what life has been like for those in Uganda, and truly OWNED their calling be spreading the truth.

 The funding issue is inevitable. In today’s day and age, people don’t even raise their noses from their technical devices when asked for donations unless there is a blatant grab factor to catch their attention. Why? We’re desensitized. We’re all wrapped up in “me” scenarios and blind to recognizing opportunities to truly help others in need. I do believe this movement has potential. Even with negative feedback in addition to positive support, the Kony epidemic has become known and he’s on the run just like Osama Bin Laden. Osama was captured years after he became infamous, but media brought value to the end of not knowing who he would terrorize next. Humanity’s response to his capture? Relief set in for a brief moment knowing one less person will try to massacre the innocent. Fear is daunting and relentless. The power of unified purpose just may be able to overcome such fear.

I admire the movement because it stands for SOMETHING WORTH looking into. Yes, it’s a political and social debate. At the end of the day, imagine standing in the shoes of one of those children abducted and being threatened until you murder your own family members. Would you not go to worlds end to stop that? Russell is merely honing his sources to reach stubborn minds of modern day. Invisible Children remains honest. They are an open book clarifying the criticism they receive. The cause is real. The choice to support is your own. I encourage you to educate yourself on what happens to the rest of humanity while you continue your day to day life.

Bonding through Nostalgia

A week of traveling around Scotland MAY have resulted in culture shock returning to Copenhagen. I’ll admit it, being able to read the ingredients on the back of shampoo bottles in supermarkets that stayed open until midnight was a luxury. So was walking up to people for directions and snickering over Scottish slurs full of “wee bits” and “bampots” (idiots)! Back to forking out 70 DKK for beer instead of the favorable of 2£. Oh, the land of whiskey and kilts, I shall miss thee!

What better way to combat the blasted homesickness than staying in an actual home? Luckily, my dear friend Alex was left alone for a week while her host family is off on vacation. We kept her company for two nights exchanging stories of home and showing pictures of friends, families, and universities back in the States. Three young ladies in their 20s enjoying a day in their pjs? Fits of giggles ensued.

Dedicated to a “well-being weekend,” I ran around her Nordic wood neighborhood while passing scenic horse pastures. Practicing chi qong near a pond proved to be the ideal breather after leaping over horse droppings during the run. We belted out to 90’s tunes while cooking Italian style broccoli stir fry in the wok and Danish apple fritters for dessert. Of course, Alex, Sim and I snuck in One Fine Day with Belgian hot cocoa before snoozing under fluffy comforters. Comfort to the max in candlelight = ideal girls weekend in Denmark!

Perks to studying abroad: diverse friends with fascinating backgrounds. Over dinner, Sim informed us of the Sikh religion and attempted to teach us Punjabi. Alex and I agreed it’s a much easier language compared to Danish! “Sat Sri Akaal” is their core greeting to each other and she described what a day at temple is like. Alex and I gave Sim the load down on a typical Sunday Catholic mass. Apparently all women take up the last name of Kaur and all men own the last name Singh. She keeps a blade under her mattress at home for protection with God symbols engraved on the sheath. Sim also explained her bracelet is called a kara, which all Sikhs wear as a sign of unification.

As for Alex, we learned she despises the color orange above all things. I do believe April Fools day is looming around the corner…

I’ll reveal the details about Scottish ghost tours, bag piping lessons, and my morning at J.K. Rowling’s café next time! 

Outsourcing Opinionated Americans

This morning I embarked on my first DIS Ambassador experience discussing American lifestyle to 8^th grade Danes at the Tinderhoj School. Six other DIS students and I followed Anders Larsen onto the S-Tog (train) like mice trailing the Pied Piper. Tangent: The Pied Piper storyline references WWII Nazis drawing in children to their regime. Interesting stuff!

Tinderhoj School is apparently the 2^nd to lowest nationally ranked school in Denmark, although I wouldn’t have known at first glance. Hand painted murals covered the walls and the teacher’s lounge was absolutely massive! They offered complementary fruit, coffee, and tea – quite nice for an early morning!

One other DIS student and I entered an 8^th grade classroom not knowing what to expect. Although the students were ages 14 and 15 (which I enjoyed since my little brother fits that snarky, angst-filled category), these Danes looked at least 17 or 18 based physical appearance. Danes’ dress in a homogenous fashion and the teenage girls could pass for 20 year-old women. They were all dead silent with pokerfaced stares. In all honesty, I wasn’t intimidated at all. I could see how they may have been hesitant to speak up since they don’t practice English all the time, so I was determined to make the experience more fun for them. I asked them what hobbies and interests they had to find commonalities. Danes and Americans are more similar then most would think!

These Danish teens hit some impressively BIG issues:

• If you were president, what would you change and why?
• How do you feel about American troops in the Middle East?
• What is the gang culture like?
• How does religion
• Do you like American government?
• How has the EU economic crisis affected America?
• Why is gay marriage not legal in the United States? How do you feel about it?
• To clarify, gay marriage has been legal in the Danish national church since last year. Before that, there were homosexual unions outside the church and receive a blessing.
• How do we feel about Muslims since September 11^th?
• Danes have a major racism issue against Muslims. Their political propaganda for the last election communicated messages such as “Keep Denmark Danish” etc.
• How popular is English football (soccer)? (I enjoyed this question as a St. Louisian)
• What’s cool in America? (My response… Would you prefer hipster or LA pop crazed? HA!)
• What do you do in your spare time?

Overall, the experience was really fun and engaging! We advised them to take advantage of the free Danish education system since student debt creates so much stress in America. We also asked them how they liked learning English. They really do! They feel the English language is completely globalized – not true but it certainly made me wish I was multilingual. 

Set in a Situation: Danish Humor

The most meaningful aspect of DIS is their emphasis on immersing students into the Danish culture. Our house meets “immersion meetings” with our Danish social residence advisor, Nicoline. She’s a Psychology student Kobenhaven University so we’ve bonded quite a bit. During these meetings we share our recent excursions imposing on the Danish lifestyle (jaywalking, traveling in American groups, etc.… how to piss of a Dane – see below), and this time she popped in a Danish film called Sorte Kugler [Black Balls].

This film reflects, dead on, why I enjoy hanging out with Danes – they prefer situational and sarcastic humor Better yet, this movie had a moral storyline which made left you pondering about how you live your own life. The director, Anders Matthesen, is apparently a very famous comedian and played the main role in the film. His character, Alex Klein, is a bitter and stressed middle aged real estate agent who seems too wrapped up in his professional setbacks to be grateful for his blessings. So of course, karma smacks him aside the head and he dies in a car accident. Alex ends up in a purgatory game show where he earns white balls for the good deeds he carried out in his life and black balls for sinful acts. Heavy representation of post-life judgment? Yes. However, frequent references to balls and witnessing awkward events in his life adds comedic relief. Certainly worth checking out because the ending hits you hard. Embrace your life and laugh all the way through J

Strolling iNaCuP

The simplest moments in life are the most fulfilling. This past Saturday, I strolled around a windy Copenhagen with my dear friend Sim. We stumbled upon a phenomenal glass market full of miniature cafés, free samples, families enjoying each other’s company, and a wide array of shopping options! Carts offered everything from Mediterranean cooking oils to meats and veggies to cookware. Yes, cookware. Danes sell cooktops and stainless steel ovens in a farmer’s market set in a glass box. High class? Indeed. Sushi bars, coffee shops, and hot sandwich options sent off mouth watering aromas up our noses. Quite delightful!

WonderiNaCuP

Opting to treat ourselves, Sim and I made our way to iNaCuP, a small frozen yogurt bar. I’ll admit, I didn’t realize how much I missed Red Mango until I tasted the mango covered in peanut bits and shredded chocolate! Delish. The girl behind the counter pulled the “let me pour this crap on top of your dessert acting like I don’t care yet transforming your food into a window display” move quite well. Stylish shop workers run this city with poise, I tell you!

My adorable friend, Sim!

Wandering home down Stroget – the oldest pedestrian street in Copenhagen - we came across a street show by the Bottle Boys. They perform popular tunes by blowing into homemade water filled beer bottle instruments and banging on trash cans. Sim and I jammed out to Michael Jackson and the Office Theme song - made our day! Check them out: The Bottle Boys

The Bottle Boys

Soak in the itty bitty details of your day and ruminate on how they make you feel. Gloomy weather may melt away with frozen yogurt and bonding with a good friend J

Passionate Pursuits

The latest craze among Generation Y: follow your passion and apply it to your career. I initially came to Denmark believing I would find a professional application for positive psychology (other than research) and, to be honest, my confidence has dwindled. It seems a MAPP (Masters in Applied Positive Psychology) works best with previous career experience or an MBA, or well, a game plan. It’s been a little rough on the obsessive compulsive planner. Nevertheless, better things have risen from uncertainty!

If there is one piece of advice I could give incoming college freshman I would encourage them to find a common interest with a professor. Network up the wazoo, kiddos, because research institutions hold countless connections with professionals in practically every field. Nurture partnerships with them and see how your future unfolds. The process is mindboggling!

Our Positive Psychology teacher, Mads, offered a dinner for students inquisitive about applications for the topic over dinner. Through a question and answer session he debunked my ridiculously optimistic view of where the field is headed. No matter, I am still an idealistic realist. Teetering on the edge of hope vs. despair, a few of my peers and I followed Mads to my favorite café thus far: Café Paludan.

You walk in and see hundreds of books lining the walls like a café version of the Beauty and the Beast library. Radiohead’s “Prove Yourself” plays overhead. Inhale scents of dark cocoa and crumbly cakes from the barista’s corner to your left as he sports a chic apron. People are studying and chatting at little tables with mismatched chairs. Then you make the connection between the deep red velvet curtains and the Gryffindor common room… sparking a conversation about Harry Potter that lasts over an hour…

Troll this site and see for yourself: Paludan Cafe

Potternerds united over dark hot chocolates with whipped cream. We raved about how J.K Rowling remains the epitome of resilient individuals pursuing a dream. She created a culture, a social movement, a generational change. Rowling fostered her imagination sitting in a café like we did last night, simply inspired by a thought she had on a train. So what did we do? We related positive psychology to Harry Potter and are sketching a plan with our newfound connections J Mads looked up The Elephant House in Edinburgh where we’re headed in a few weeks for our study tour. I’m retracing my idol’s footsteps. Who says childhood must end with graduation?!

PS – A teacher called me Hermione. Can life get any better?

PSS – The Danish Potter series kept the majority of the same names and spells. However, names with connotative meanings, such as Mad-Eye Moody, were translated to convey the same quirky character structure.

Abroad while Abroad

All DIS students attended short study tours with their core programs this past weekend in different locations. Our Positive Psychology [B] clan bussed out to Harridslevegaard Slot, a castle dating all the way back to the 1200s. It was once home to one of the “tallest and strongest Vikings of the time.” Judging by the tall, and the tiny doors in that castle, I’ll settle on assuming that dude was what we modern humanoids would consider average. It was once known as the “Castle of Robbers” housing pirates during the Middle Ages. Harridslevegaard Slot also set the stage for a royal affair which let to a couple of skulls in their cellar (old school scandal, eh?). Personally, I enjoyed frolicking with peacocks roaming around the snow covered courtyard!

After a meaty lunch at Café Edsberg we got a solid tour of Middlefart Sparekasse, the “happiest” savings bank in Denmark. Why so happy? Everything about this business is based on the employees needs to foster their productivity and well-being. Fascinating, really! Their business cards present six “commandments” stating the values of the company. All employees function off self-management, appealing to the intrinsically motivated. According to our tour guide, they believe it’s easier to earn forgiveness than permission and apply “learn by doing” approach. All new employees complete a profile analysis questionnaire which places them in the department which will utilize their core strengths and interests. If employees become bored of their position, they discuss it with human resources and move to a different department. Only one person has been fired since our guide could remember, and that was solely due to fraud. Honesty and trust have built the foundation of this company. Loyalty from both the employees and the customers have manifested since. They also offer both maternal and paternal leave in Denmark for close to a year. If there are traumatic issues in the family for one of the employees, he or she bring their spouse to a “summer house” to build themselves back up with a therapist. Deaths, cancers, depression, etc… this company encourages people to take the reigns and work out the issue so the stress doesn’t hinder work quality! In fact, Middlefart Sparekasse was given the offer to expand internationally but they declined because they would rather keep quality on the small scale network. As if THAT would ever happen in the United States! The building was beautiful and open with angular windows facing the water. Employees enjoy eating together family style on lunch breaks in their cozy café, meditating in the library on bean bags, and reboosting their energy with hula hoop competitions. The base lesson learned? When you have a business you create a culture, not just a place to earn money. Middelfart Sparekasse successfully uses business to foster well-being for the individuals in their small town. Looks like Pixar and Google have inspired little businesses on a global level. Generation Y, lets continue this trend!

Middelfart Sparekasse

We spent the evening in Odense, the city where Hans Christian Anderson was born. The town has little men with top hats and canes for the pedestrian green lights!

The following morning we trekked out to Arhus University for a talk about the Danish ANIN Group - Denmark. Nina, one of the founders of Women at Work Children at School [WAWCAS], frequently travels to Nepal to check up on the progress of their cooperative based on savings and loans. In a nutshell, this program loans money for very low-income women to start their own businesses as long as the children attend school. WAWCAS teaches the women how to go through this process over a 16 month period. The loans are always paid off, and the women thrive! Social issues are also tackled through the process, such as coping with domestic violence, the gap between social classes in the caste system, and HIV/AIDS education. They use form theatre, cartoons, and group discussions as main methods of education. WAWCA took the opposite approach compared to Middelfart Sparekasse by building businesses out of developing well-being.

Check it out it’s amazing:WAWCAS

After traipsing around Arhus for a cozy little café for lunch we went to KaosPilots to figure out what their education style was all about. Sara, a KaosPilot from Sweden, led our group through team exercises and informed us about the program. Better yet, she made time to set up a flower vase in the center of the room, healthy and sweet snacks, coffee and tea, and lit candles all over the room before we began. It made a huge difference! KaosPilots aim to form students’ creativity and channel it towards productive solutions in society. They offer four disciplines: Creative Business Design, Creative Leadership Design, Creative Process Design, and Creative Project Design. KaosPilots throw you into real world situations selling projects to clients all over the world. They teach adaptability, cultural diversity, dialogue, how to deal with disruptive entrepreneurs… things you don’t learn in your cookie cutter classroom. Our group “Checked In” sharing the reasons why we chose Denmark and our favorite experiences thus far. We “Checked Out” at the end with a hope experience where we envisioned our futures through meditation. Similar to Middelfart Sparekasse, Sara created a culture within a few hours time which induced more meaningful experiences for us throughout the exercises. I’ll admit it. I’m considering this program since I’m graduating from MIZZOU this May! For a deeper explanation check it: kaospilot

We stayed in cozy little cabins at Danhostel Skanerborg Vandrerjhem and made s’mores over a bon fire. Our cabin woke up early the next morning to see the sunrise but we were disappointed because of overcast skies. We made the best of it by walking on the frozen lake and playing in the snow!

Danhostel Skanerborg Vandrerjhem

Interactively non-interactive museum: ARoS Museum in Arhus. This modern museum opens with a massive spiral staircase in white and glass all the way up. Right near the door stood a human statue painted in white. It gave me the eebie jeebies. A famous exhibit called “The Boy” stood at least 20 ft high in a crouched position that reminded me of Golem from Lord of the Rings. He looked incredibly realistic in fiber glass! You could see veins through his skin and the spinal bumps in his back. Another exhibit held 9 rooms from Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy, aka the 9 circles from hell. Ólafur Elíasson’s exhibits were definitely my favorite. “Your Rainbow Panorama” on the roof let you see Arhus in all sorts of colored window panes. “Your Color Atlas” was phenomenal! You walk through misty room and colored lights make it seem like you are actually walking through color. Trippy experience let me tell ya! I hope heaven is that enticing!

The Boy

Your Rainbow Panorama

The best part of this trip was bonding with my new, soon to be too close, friends! Something magical happens when you are out in the middle of nowhere in Denmark, looking out at endless snow, roasting sugar puffs on the ends of sticks and discussing positive psychology. I found “hygge” even away from my home, away from home. Home is who you’re with. Home is within you. 

Børn to Play

Børn = Danish for “children.”

I am truly blessed with the opportunity to work at Pakhuset, a “mega-integrated kindergarten and after school program” with Danish kids 3-10 years old for my Positive Psychology practicum. Typically these kiddos are divided by age into a viggestue (nursery), a børnehave (kindergarden), or an SFO (after school program), so luckily I’m immersed in the chaos of all 3! All Danish, all the time… a tad bit difficult considering I’m not even taking Danish language courses but this is honestly the most motivating way to learn!

Best way to describe the experience: fostering creativity through independent learning. Kids learn by doing. This means they climb trees on the playground, use scissors at age 3, and help cut and peel carrots for snack. What if they get hurt? The teachers soothe the boo-boo and encourage the kiddos to learn their lesson. If they are intelligent the kids don’t do it again. Seems a bit too self-explanatory for the American education… oh, hey there reality check. We shelter the crap out of our kids. Thank goodness I came here before hitting the parenting stage of life!

Walking in, a little blonde hair, icy blue eyed tot hopped up and down enthusiastically wanting me to join in on their play! The language barrier was quite difficult considering Danes are less expressive than Americans, but I made it through. Best part? They practice my personal childhood pastimes in the classroom! First I helped a girl craft a house out of an old shoe box for her Polly Pocket fairies, decked out in sequins and all. Then we crafted masks and decorations for their Fastelavn props. Fastelavn is a holiday mixed between the American version Mardi gras and Halloween. Kids go to school dressed in costume and go door-to-door for sweets. It occurs 7 weeks before Easter. My children at the Pakhuset will be smacking down a piñata cat… I haven’t quite worked out the cat factor in the holiday yet…

I witnessed numerous instances that simply would not fly in the American school system. I liked it. Bathrooms were actually co-ed. As in a little boy would be using the restroom while a girl waltzes in to wash a paint brush. Scandal or merely preventing the American taboo over sexuality? I prefer the latter. Granted, the kids over 9 would shut and lock the door for privacy. Children walked in and out of the classrooms as they pleased. Focus remained on their tasks, not the teachers. If they had a question, they asked and were accommodated. If they were doing something incorrectly, they would be given constructive criticism. The atmosphere was incredibly casual. If kids were building a house on a table and there wasn’t enough room, they sat on the table… problem solved. They climbed up furniture and if they fell they learned their lesson. Bullies were still scolded, but the victims were encouraged to constructively handle the situation without violence. Snacks were apples, bananas, and carrots not Hostess cakes and Coke. Lunch was eaten family style with the teachers. Equality across the board. Teachers constantly had conversations with the children about interests, hobbies, current events… similar to the relationships cultivated between mentors and pupils among college aged Americans… if we are lucky enough discover a mentor.

Oh, and I learned the Danish colors while helping a little girl paint a bird mask for her play (not affiliated with school). She giggled at my mispronunciations and it warmed my heart.

Student of life met the students of well-being. It was a great day J

Following the Arrow

Ever have those moments where you feel like the world has aligned and rolled out a red carpet right in front of you with flashing light arrows indicating THIS WAY!!! That has been the entirety of my experiences in Denmark thus far. The oh too common “what am I doing with my life” early 20s crisis (or non-crisis) has passed, and I am eternally grateful!

Over a year ago I sat in a massive Social Psychology lecture taught by Ken Sheldon, listening to his spiel on studying happiness while he handed out assessment forms for us guinea pigs. Like all state psychology programs, the undergraduates serve as the measured population. Woop-de-do. However, that lecture was branded in my mind considering I witnessed the exact same presentation at that year’s Griffith’s Leadership conference. Being one to make meaningful connections out of mere happenstances in life, I took it as a sign and moseyed on over to his office disappointed to hear it was mainly a topic of research. At the time, I saw research as a dead end. The notion of sitting at a desk all day analyzing data in a windowless office was certainly not appealing. Observing my rather obvious disappointment, Ken Sheldon sent me to Joe Johnston who wound up serving as my academic/career mentor for the rest of my undergraduate years at MIZZOU. Again, I followed the arrow until Positive Psychology grew into my favorite conversation topic and passionate career path.

Why is this relevant? DIS has only solidified the fact that I am on the right track over and over again in a single week. Reading the first page of my Positive Psychology: Theory, Research and Applications textbook for my core course, I smiled knowingly at the APA citations for the field’s definition, “the aim to understand, test, discover, and promote factors that allow individuals and communities to thrive” (K. Sheldon et al., 2000). Checking out the references I found no less than 11 publications by my very own professor, more than Martin Seligman (father of Positive Psychology)! Five of Sheldon’s publications were partnered with none other than Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness which also changed my mindset on life. Props to you, ol’ professor!

No, I am not naïve enough to believe my career path has been determined by mere recognition of a few research publications. The first day of my Positive Psychology practicum, our professor, Mads, insisted we stand up and mingle with those around us. Rather than introducing ourselves with where we are from or go to school in the States, we should explain what we are passionate about. Why? Because discussing your passion with another human automatically connects the two of you on a deeper level. Yes, my make-or-break question during sorority recruitment back home. Yes, the question that sparks my curiosity in understanding others lives. Mads then rambled through his personal bio about earning his Masters in Positive Psychology in London. LONDON. Why settle for Penn State next year? Not wasting a moment, I introduced myself explaining my situation as a senior abroad seeking a path for my next few educational years and I find it on my first day of class. He opened up opportunities to network with a few Biofeedback Heartmath firms here in Denmark in addition to clarifying I could earn my Masters in Positive Psychology here as well! As if that wasn’t enough, Mads is from the town my fellow MIZZOU Theta is currently studying abroad in Aarhus. Little signs lead to big ones!

Then Mads announced the option of being a class representative, who would meet with him periodically over free meals to discuss the successes and downfalls of our class’s progression throughout the semester. Opportunity to network and nerd of over psych? Heck yes, I’ll take it! Out of over 30 of us students, at least 20 wrote their names on little pieces of paper and two were picked at random. Indeed, my name was chosen. Before this week I was a skeptic on the Law of Attraction. Now I just may need to look into it a tad bit more…

Alice in Wonderland views arrows under her feet in the animated film, yet those are painted by the Cheshire Cat. I’m not sure if my kitty is God, fate, energy, or what… but thank you for all of these opportunities! May good things come forward! J

Forewarning: most of this blog shall be dedicated to why Denmark flourishes the most amongst European countries. How does their society thrive on a policy level? Why does it seem America fails to do so… or are we, really?

I simply cannot wait to see what opportunities this program brings, but I assure you, its one quality program my friends! 

Adventure before the Adventure

I firmly believe in the self-fulfilling prophecy. You should too.

For instance, before I actually carried out the process of applying to DIS I posted a googled image of the Copenhagen harbor. Every time I opened my laptop I looked at the destination I hoped and prayed I’d witness in person some day. Today I took my very own picture of the colorful historical harbor! For those of you who are not familiar with Denmark, Copenhagen literally translates to “merchant’s harbor.”

Now for a little backtracking actually related to the title:

I wanted an adventurous travel experience to Copenhagen. Thank you self-fulfilling prophecy, you taught be to be careful what sort of energetic vibes I send out into the universe because I CERTAINLY received my wish. When I arrived at St. Louis Lambert Airport I found out my initial flight to Dallas was delayed due to snow storms in Chicago (how that directly affected my flight I have yet to understand). I sat at the desk making small talk with the woman rescheduling my flight for about 30 minutes. I was blessed with a very pleasant woman with a son in the Marines so I commented on her pin supporting our troops informing her that I was an Air Force brat. Note to self: find a commonality with workers you need patience from. It works. Of course, small talk masked the lurching drop in my stomach aware that if I didn’t arrive in Copenhagen on time I would have to find my own means to my future home in an unknown city. She found me a hop over to Chicago and a direct flight to Copenhagen. Enjoying the relief, I looked at the situation as an opportunity to have lunch with my parents before leaving them for 4 months. Anyone would sacrifice more long hours exploring airports and endless people watching for a safe arrival to a cozy bed. Just my luck, I arrived to my gate in Chicago 5 hours early and joined 3 other DIS students. Little did I know the 3 DIS students quickly grew to at least 80 by the time we took off! 7 hours before I never imagined I’d land in Chicago and make friends before I even arrived. Things happen the way they were meant to. Always keep that in mind.

You never know what can happen while sitting in a plane for over 8 hours. I was crammed in the middle aisle between two middle aged men that certainly were not DIS students, let alone American. Luckily, the man to my left was a kind Norwegian named Bob. Small talks led to deep discussions about politics, mindsets about life, his career as a computer programmer with IBM in the 80’s to his fulfilling role as a loving father and husband.  Instead of spending the hours on my laptop like I anticipated, I actually slept between conversations with Bob!

He highly recommended reading The Island by Victoria Hislop and mixing honey and blue cheese atop bread.

Interestingly enough, when I asked about his career he automatically jumped to the values of IBM. The founder stressed the significance behind focusing on employees, customers, and stock holders. IBM sought to understand the valuable aspects of their employees’ lives through their spouses and family. Thus, the customer population would naturally grow through word of mouth and satisfaction of the product via employees. Stockholders would eventually give back to the company if value was embedded in the entire process of natural marketing. Brilliant, a company with value back in the 80’s. Show me more of that, America!

I also received cultural and historical lesions about the Scandinavian region from Bob. Apparently Norway is known for their salmon exports. Their staple foods include potatoes, cheese, and bread which are all my core comfort foods! Norway also employs fish sniffers who are actually paid to sniff fish with an expert nose determining freshness. More importantly, he gave me little tidbits about Copenhagen and the rest of Denmark. Denmark ruled Norway for a while in history, for example. He also informed me of a variety of ski methods, hunting birds and shooting guns as a hobby rather than killing living creatures. Bob also introduced the Scandinavian phrase “only bad clothes, not bad weather.” Danes repeated this phrase a few times the past few days!

The best part about conversing with Bob for hours on end was that he confirmed my gut instincts that I was heading to a cultural region with similar values to my own. We discussed how a good life should not be defined by a job but rather discovering meaning through relationships you gain through impacting their lives. His passions changed once he became a father. Bob’s facial expression changed when he spoke about his family and his love for them proved undeniable. With every negative topic we discussed, Bob brought up the positive aspect. As for the recurring theme in our conversation: balance. Beautiful application of positive psychology in everyday conversation!

The real surprise happened when I received an e-mail titled “43-E?” from no other than my new friend from Norway! He simply asked if he e-mailed the right person and assured him with hope he made it safely to his family at home. I was inquisitive about how he tracked me down and asked him his research method. I should have known a computer programmer could find me by a simple google search! He even print-screened images of the search [see below] and found me through this blog. Bob also stated:

“The world is a funny place - sometimes a witty, funny and enjoyable encounter make an imprint. Just wanted to give you a good hug when we separated at Copenhagen airport, but wisely controlled myself not to embarrass you :-) Therefore - you get a virtual hug now instead. Hope you don't feel offended. Take good care of yourself, enjoy Denmark, become a fantastic psychologist and stay vivid as you are now. The future is bright and thanks for the flight! Bob ;-)”

Scandanavians are big on smiley faces and don’t have any taboo meaning behind adding you on Facebook or e-mailing you. He was very sweet, made my day, and served as a reminder that there truly are kind people out there in the world!

Dreaming in Anticipation

Many young girls dream up a pretend life as a princess. They have pet unicorns and live in castles with secret passageways. A knight in shinning armor rescues them from an evil dragon, or they befriend the dragon and have the knight join in on a group picnic. While I've enjoyed the opportunity to babysit such "girlie girls" over the years, I always found myself amused but couldn't quite relate to their obsessions over the color pink or Barbie and Ken's wedding day.

Instead, I was the five year-old frolicking in our Virginia back woods. Soon after watching Pocahontas for the first time I often sang "Just around the River Bend,” pretending to talk with an imaginary hummingbird or listening in for advice from old willows.  I once promised myself I'd never be one of those 90's babies with a soft spot for a particular Disney princess... However, this animated version of the famous Native American historical figurehead made a significant impression early on (although I personally identify with Meg from Hercules... a story for another day). Pocahontas proved to be courageous during adventures, stood true to her convictions and followed her heart. Bravo to Disney for conveying a female role model who did not always swoon over prince charming while simultaneously illustrating a fairytale-like effect on U.S. History!

Side note: http://thoughtcatalog.com/2012/10-disney-princes-and-whether-or-not-you-should-marry-them/

Embracing my immense amount of curiosity and interest in the world as an avid traveler, my heart leads me to Denmark. Of course, venturing a bit off the beaten path with this lesser known country (no offense to Pocahontas and her British explorations), I too have been pulled by passion. My passions lie in the captivating concepts of positive psychology. The Danish Institute for Study Abroad [DIS] offers a practicum program covering this newer psychological field. Alas, rather than graduating early I shall close the University of Missouri chapter and roam where the Danes live!

As I wait in anticipation to scurry along with the “hurry up and wait” airport norm, I have come to the realization that Copenhagen may very well be the place I was meant to thrive! Trolling over Denmark.dk, I’m surprised my eyes haven’t permanently popped out of my skull. I’m simply fascinated over the fact that women are dominating the Danish pop music industry… girls manage stilettos while riding bikes all over the Copenhagen… a Dane invented the “RoboCluster” lawn mower which is controlled by a Nintendo Wii remote! Talk about geeking out over international enthrallment! I am officially sold!

My dream castle has transformed into a quaint brick building covered in ivy known as St. Kannikestræde 13. It shall house thirty-one DIS students, although I’m not positive if everyone is a part of the Culinary House program. Regardless, it shall be a piece of cake compared to a sorority house hosting seventy-seven. This holds especially true considering there are three social and residential advisors compared to one house mother (loved my experiences all the same). Yet, the areas surrounding my temporary home sound even better than the dwelling itself! The location of DIS is a mere five minute walk away (closer than half my classes at MIZZOU). The Copenhagen Jazzhouse shall satisfy my artistic cravings for an evening with my sketchpad, and it converts into a night club! Finally an ideal entertainment venue within walking distance! Little cafés trickle all over the surrounding streets up to the Kongens Have (The Kings Garden). This public park sits next door to the University of Copenhagen’s Botanical Garden as well! A Fitness DK stands ten minutes away with a small club fee with spinning classes so I can continue my exercise routine. While all these compelling attractions overwhelm me before I even arrive, I can’t forget the whole reason for pursuing the program: academics. In denial of my winter break coming to an end, I find relief knowing the Copenhagen public library is located RIGHT behind our house! Toodles, Columbia public library… I will miss you but it seems I am upgrading to a palace of countless knowledge in a foreign language. People watching may, of course, continue as a major distraction but at least I’ll remain ignorant of fellow book seekers’ conversations! If I get restless from researching psychology I can simply pop over to the museums near by…. the perks just keep coming! I am not even there yet!