“Where is Copenhagen? Isn’t that in England?”

— Anonymous.

The first question everyone asks me whenever I tell them my study abroad plans is, “Why Copenhagen?” Typically, that’s followed by a sheepish look and a tentative, “Also, where is Copenhagen?” We stan the American education system.

I will admit that I was similarly befuddled when I actually asked myself where Copenhagen was located. So, for anyone like me, Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark, which is located north of Germany and south of Sweden. If you don’t know where Germany is, Google Maps can become your best friend. Anyway, Copenhagen is a “smaller” city, spanning 35 square miles and hosting 600K people. For comparison, Los Angeles stretches 500 square miles and attempts to host 4 million people! Whether LA succeeds is neither here nor there, but I will say that I’m excited to escape the traffic.

Part of the reason that I found Copenhagen instantly appealing was the urban planning. In my research, the city is great at efficient public transportation that is used by the majority of the general population, and creating/maintaining clean public spaces. I have only lived in Los Angeles and New Orleans, both of which honestly suck at this. Los Angeles is famous for our poor public transportation, our massive traffic problem, and our high levels of smog and pollution. Last year, I shadowed a city planner that works for the Mayor’s Office in LA, and I’m intrigued by how good city planning intersects with architecture. I’m also just excited to be able to breath fresh air again. (I joke, but I do love LA and recognize the privilege it takes to live here, pollution problems and traffic included.)

Besides my academic reasons, I was also drawn to Copenhagen as a place that I could see myself creating a routine that would make me happy. Where the other abroad program cities felt overwhelming, Copenhagen feels like a place where I can slow down and assess what keeps Mark Schaupp happy and healthy. So in the vein of self-discovery and remaining sane, I will be intentionally limiting my trips and stay present in the place that I am in. I hope to pour time into my host family, a local soccer team, and, hopefully, a quality coffee shop.

Now, all of this is based on a gut feeling, which is terrifying to me. However, I am seeking to remain positive and recognize that every day can be a great day as long I as choose to remember it as such.

And, it sounds like my host family are amazing people! In my next post, I’ll talk more about them and how they have already made me feel comfortable, even before I’ve left the US!

Hello there! Thanks for stopping by my blog. As you’re reading this, I’m probably in a quiet coffee shop somewhere in Copenhagen reading a quality book. Or I’m aggressively playing video games alone in my bedroom. I have no in-between.

I am an Architecture major turned Construction Design student with hopes to eventually run my own Design-Build firm focused around Adaptive Re-Use projects. Did that sentence mean anything to you? If not, no worries because this blog is focused on my adventure to Copenhagen as a Los Angeles boy who loves weather above 60 degrees. I’m sure you’ll find my stories about avoiding the cold as entertaining as my architecture discourse.

In this journey, I am seeking to create a new routine in a different place and explore what it means for me to become comfortable in an unfamiliar place. I’ll be sure to share the highs and lows of my journey as a half Korean – half White, high maintenance, easily homesick, emotionally dramatic (but determined) Los Angeleno. Have I mentioned that I’m from Los Angeles?

Does that sound interesting to you? If so, please subscribe to my blog to follow me on my epic adventure. I would always appreciate the company!