ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SCANDINAVIA #HogsAbroad in Denmark and Sweden

Hey y’all! My name is Tori Henderson. I’m a kinesiology major in the College of Education and Health Professions (COEHP). This summer I studied abroad for 3 weeks in Copenhagen, Denmark and 3 weeks in Stockholm, Sweden through the DIS program.

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SCANDINAVIA + ADVICE

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen might have been my favorite of the two. It was a larger city than I’m used to, but it had a compact and “homey” feel to it. The colorful buildings and architecture that date back to the 1700-1800’s make you feel safe. The transportation system was incredibly easy and took you just about anywhere you needed to go. The city is extremely walkable- not to mention the beautiful views you see on your walk. The number of bikes constantly moving through the city was a bit overwhelming at first, but it becomes normal after a week or so. There are more bikes than cars and chances are you might almost get hit by one trying to cross the road (I’m mostly joking). I got the metro card since it tends to rain quite often in Copenhagen, but part of me wishes I did the bike pass since it is such a large part of the culture.

I took “Sports Medicine: Performance and Fatigue” and it was a super interesting class. It had a focus on human posture and its effects on growth and performance. My professor was Italian and was very passionate about what he taught, which made it that much easier to come to class every day. He made it very clear that at the end of the day that your grades do not define you, your experiences do, so he always made sure we were doing hands on learning and not stressing about grades. This was an extremely refreshing concept since I tend to hold a large amount of self-worth in my grades. This was one of my favorite parts of studying abroad because as I was learning information relevant to my major, I was also learning how to not be consumed in my studies 24/7. I will definitely be carrying this mindset into my senior year.

With all of that said, I had a lot of free time to explore the city. It’s not always super warm and sunny in Copenhagen, so when it was, everyone gathered and sunbathed. Every free patch of grass would be covered by a picnic blanket and happy humans. I have listed a few of my favorite places and recommendations below, but I recommend finding a friend and just wandering around after class because that is the easiest way to find the best places. Seeing the town from the water is a must if you visit - DIS offers a canal tour that was a beautiful experience. If you’re a sunset person, there isn’t a bad one in Copenhagen. The whole sky bleeds color so it feels as though the sunset is wrapping around you. I recommend watching it from the Nyhavn strip or finding a rooftop.

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  Reffen Street Food (20+ food trucks)
• Wilders Plads Food Trucks
• Nyhavn (Pinterest location)
• Bastard Café (board games + food)
•  Bertels Salon (cheesecake)
• Tivoli
• Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek Museum
• Copenhagen Contemporary Art Museum
• The King’s Garden
• The Round Tower
• Rosenborg Castle
• Christianborg Castle
• National Art Musuem of Denmark
• Fresh Bagels (best bagels by DIS)
• Rumors
• Stereo Bar
• Italiano
• JUMP IN THE CANAL!!!!! 

Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is a very close second to Copenhagen. It is a larger city that is much more spread out. The transportation system can be intimidating at first since it is very complex, but after a few days you will figure it out (Apple/Google maps will save your life). I took my study tour during the second week here and traveled to Dublin, Ireland. I loved getting to visit another country while abroad, but it did make it a bit more difficult to settle into Stockholm.

While in Stockholm, I took “Precision Medicine: Tailored Treatment in Clinical Practice”. This was the perfect course for a pre-medical student. It had a focus on oncology which was super interesting. We also compared the healthcare systems in Sweden and Ireland throughout the course. The best part of the course were the hospital visits. My favorite was a visit to a wing of a hospital that specialized in breast cancer. We got to watch mammograms and ultrasounds being done on patients. We also got to witness a core-needle biopsy. Although it doesn’t count as clinical experience, I am very grateful for the exposure we were given. The course was heavily genetics based but I wouldn’t shy from it if genetics isn’t your favorite (it’s not mine!).

I didn’t have near as much time to explore the city since my course was heavier and we took a 5 day trip to Ireland, but I still have several recommendations. During my session, we were there for midsummer. I HIGHLY recommend scheduling your time in Sweden during midsummer. It was the most beautiful weekend and the easiest way to immerse yourself in Swedish culture. Skansen is the place to be during midsummers weekend or you could find a beach and relax. Stockholm is made up of cluster of islands - it is called the Stockholm Archipelago. With that said, seeing Stockholm from the water is a great idea. There are also many tours and ferries you can take from island to island. Stockholm also doesn’t have a bad sunset, especially if you watch it from Monteliusvagen. It is a bit of a hike up to the top, but the view is well worth it

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  Gastabud (incredible Swedish food)
• Mister French (waterfront restaurant/bar)
• Thaiboat
• La Neta (if you miss Tex-Mex)
• Monteliusvagen (sunset lookout point)
• ABBA museum
• Baras Stalle
• Langholmsbadet (beach)
• Skansen
• Fotografiska
• Gamla Stan (old town)
• Subway art
• Icebar (oldest permanent icebar!)

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, I can’t recommend studying abroad enough. A lot of people joked around with me before I left and even while I was there that I was going to come back a changed person. I didn’t realize completely at the time but studying abroad changed my outlook on life entirely. I met the most incredible people, and I satisfied my desire to travel and explore. I have always wanted to travel but I haven’t had opportunities to. This summer has sparked something inside of me that has been waiting to be lit. I feel like I have a stronger passion for living life rather than just going through the motions. All in all, if you have even been slightly considering studying abroad, do it. The anxiety and nerves that come with going somewhere unknown dissolve as soon as you get there and are encapsulated in the beauty around you. I thought 6 weeks was forever, but now that I’m back home I’m already planning my next trip to Europe. It is 100% worth it.

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Kinesiology major Tori Henderson spent the Summer 2022 term in Copenhagen, Denmark and Stockholm, Sweden with DIS with support from the Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.

You can start planning your adventure abroad today! Dive in to our Explore page at https://studyabroad.uark.edu/explore/index.php, and start your program search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

An Amazing Opportunity #HogsAbroad in Sweden

Hi My name is Kylee Buck and I am a junior majoring in exercise science. This June I studied abroad in Sweden with the Health Teams Abroad program. I loved studying abroad and would be interested in doing it again! 

The first two weeks we stayed in a town called Jonkoping and studied at Jonkoping University. While we were there, we visited many different health facilities and attended a few lectures. It was very interesting to learn how different Sweden's healthcare system is. 

After our school days we got to explore the town at night and it was super fun. The last week, we stayed in Stockholm. Almost every day we visited a museum in the morning then had the rest of the day to ourselves. 

I met so many friends from Arkansas on the trip that I will stay friends with now that we are back. The trip was educational but so much fun and an amazing opportunity at the same time!

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Exercise Science major Kylee Buck spent the Summer 2022 term on the Health Teams Abroad in Sweden program with support from the Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.

You can start planning your adventure abroad today! Dive in to our Explore page at https://studyabroad.uark.edu/explore/index.php, and start your program search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

It was Grand! #HogsAbroad in Ireland

Hi everyone! My name is Madison Trivitt, and I am a senior in the College of Education and Health Professions studying Exercise Science on the pre-Physical Therapy track. I recently participated in a three(ish) week-long faculty lead health professions program in Ireland, and let me be the first to tell you, it was INCREDIBLE!

The group I was travelling with consisted of future health professionals (physical therapists, occupational therapists, doctors, speech pathologists, and social workers). When I initially applied for the program, I was told that we would be in clinics and hospitals as much as possible. The pandemic really threw a wrench in our plans, though, so we ended up spending a lot of time with social workers or with places that worked with different health professionals. Even though I was initially disappointed to find out that I would not be spending much time with a physiotherapist, I think I almost learned more from working with those organizations.

It also rains A LOT in Ireland (for those of you going in the future, pack a raincoat and umbrella, because you will need it), and like many, I HATE rain. One of my favorite excursions, though, happened in the rain. We were in Dublin, and we had scheduled a bike tour of the city. A lot of us were really excited for it, because a lot of locals bike, and we felt like we would get to experience the city more like locals (even though it was a guided bike tour where we would be seeing all of the tourist sites). As the bike tour got closer and closer, our group was watching the forecast, and saw it was supposed to be the coldest it had been since our arrival on top of the full day of rain. One of the things I was initially the most excited about, I slowly began to dread. The day arrived, and it was a warm 45° and raining. All of the students were upset and shivering, but the professors encouraged us and said it would still be fun. Our guide kept saying, “don’t worry, it’ll be grand!” He was right. After initially being a little cold, we all began laughing and really enjoying ourselves. Even with the awful weather, it was still one of my favorite excursions.

My bike tour group at Grand Canal Square!

Everywhere we went, the locals used the phrase, “it’ll be grand.” They used it when things were going exactly as planned and things were amazing, but they also used it when things didn’t turn out as planned and worked out anyway. It seemed like they were always upbeat and positive about anything and everything. Everything was always “grand.” I tell you that to tell you this—things will not always go as planned (I’m certain everyone knows that), and it is easy to get bummed or have a bad attitude when plans change on short notice. Anytime those things happen, though, it is an opportunity to learn. I learned more about the Irish healthcare system than I could have ever imagined, and I never stepped foot into a doctor’s office. And when those things don’t go as planned, take a lesson from the locals, because no matter how it turns out, with a positive attitude, it’ll be grand!

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Exercise Science major Madison Trivitt spent the Summer 2022 term on the Social Sciences and Health Professions in Ireland program with support from the Office of Study Abroad Scholarship and the College of Education & Health Professions. 

You can start planning your adventure abroad today! Dive in to our Explore page at https://studyabroad.uark.edu/explore/index.php, and start your program search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Tips to Prepare for Study Abroad #HogsAbroad in Ireland

Hi! My name is Fareed Farah. I’m a College of health education and professions student who is studying Exercise Science with a pre med concentration. This past month, I participated in the Social Science and Health promotion study abroad program in Ireland!

This was my first time studying abroad and also my first time ever stepping foot in Europe. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. In this Blog, I’m going to touch on some things I wish I knew before studying abroad and what I did to prepare for this trip. 

As the date of the departure came closer, I made sure to prepare myself overall starting out with my job. I did let them know a month before my trip of the dates I would be leaving. This ensures professionalism and trust between you and the employer. 

As the days kept coming closer to the trip, I made sure I had a proper suitcase ready, and if I needed any online shopping I would do it. I would recommend buying a plug adapter if you are going anywhere in Europe or Asia, but don’t worry if you forgot as they tend to be way cheaper in foreign countries. 

When it comes to what to bring with you, necessities like a toothbrush, facial care, deodorant, electronic devices, etc… varies from person to person. Make sure to not bring any liquids as the airport won’t allow them through. Also make sure you get a mini size of those necessities. 

When it comes to clothes, don’t try to pack too much, I promise you’ll be fine. Leave extra room in that suitcase because it will be very tempting to go shopping. I regretted that I packed too much clothes because I ended up buying another suitcase in Ireland just to fit in all the shopping I did. Not recommended. 

Plus if you can get an international phone plan, DO IT. It’s definitely worth the money because WIFI is not provided everywhere and it’s a good way to stay in touch with your peers and family 24/7. You can find affordable plans with good research depending on your phone service company. 

These were all my tips for what to prepare before leaving to study abroad. One last thing I would advise the student travelling abroad, is to be extra cautious but also curious. Curiosity is what will make your experience from good to incredible. Don’t be afraid to try new things, meet new people and make friends with everyone. 

Good Luck!

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Exercise Science major Fareed Farah Summer 2022 term on the Social Sciences and Health Professions in Ireland program with support from the Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.

You can start planning your adventure abroad today! Dive in to our Explore page at https://studyabroad.uark.edu/explore/index.php, and start your program search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Frenklyn's Study Abroad Story #WanderlustWednesday

Meet our peer advisor Frenklyn! Frenklyn is double-majoring in Kinesiology Exercise Science and Spanish. He studied abroad in Valencia, Spain with USAC in Spring 2019, and was able to complete coursework toward his degree. Frenklyn tells us why his study abroad experience was meaningful, from language learning to forming lasting relationships.

Learn more about Frenklyn's study abroad program in Valencia with University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC).

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/