DENMARK

I was an AFS exchange student in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the year 1992-1993. I graduated high school in 1992, but knew I wasn't quite ready to "settle down" in college. I had already been accepted to Middlebury College, so I deferred for a year.

The AFS program believes in learning language through immersion. Students live with host families who may or may not speak English, and attend school with regular students - no special classes. I lived with a wonderful family: Per Gregersen and Anne Christoffersen and their daughter Nina, my Danish "sister." I also had a Danish "brother," Thomas, but he lived in an apartment across town. Per is a doctor and Anne (we called her Sys) is a musician and teacher at the University of Copenhagen.

Copenhagen is probably the most civilized city I have ever seen. People are friendly and unafraid to talk to or smile at strangers. The streets are clean and orderly; bicycles abound. If you are looking for a good vacation spot in Europe, this is one of the best.

Here are a few links for interested folks:

• Explore Denmark   General information about Denmark at Geocities.com
• Copenhagen Now   A good introduction to the Danish capital
• Koebenhavns Universitet   The most prestigious university in Denmark
• AFS   Are you interested in spending a year of high school in a foreign country?
• Det Kongelig Bibliotek   Hvis du snakker dansk og vil gerne oevre sig.