Postcards from Abroad heads back to Copenhagen, Denmark, this time to visit Gabriella Crivelli, a public health major and statistics minor on the Muhlenberg women's lacrosse team.
What classes are you taking while abroad?
This semester I'm studying abroad in Copenhagen through the DIS program. The way that the program is set up requires each student to take one core course along with their elective courses. My core course is my favorite of my four courses and is called Health Delivery and Prioritization. The main focus of the class is comparing health care systems in regards to finance, health inequalities and prioritization of services. Although most of the comparison is between the United States and Denmark, I also had the opportunity to travel to Helsinki, Finland, and Tallinn, Estonia, for a week with my class where we visited four healthcare institutions in order to get a better sense of how they operate their health care systems. I found Tallinn to be extremely interesting as Estonia was once under Soviet control and has only been recognized as an independent country since 1991. Overall, this class, along with the field studies we go on, has given me great insight into the importance of looking at health care from a global perspective.
Have you been able to travel at all during your time abroad?
Besides my academic visits to western Denmark, Estonia and Finland, I have traveled for leisure to Berlin, Germany. I also look forward to traveling to Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland throughout the next two months.
What has been your favorite part about being abroad?
My favorite part about being abroad is having a sense of comfort in a place far from home. Prior to my arrival in Denmark, I saw Copenhagen as an experience that was out of my comfort zone, but after traveling to other European countries I get excited to return to Copenhagen as it has become my new comfort zone. The city has so many great things to offer. Surprisingly, one of my favorite aspects of Copenhagen is my commute in the morning. I live in a neighborhood called Frederiksberg, which is right outside the city, and I have found that the best way to get to my classes is by biking. Biking is a huge part of the culture in Denmark and it is definitely adds a unique value to my time abroad. Also, since I am not living within a homestay, I joined a program that allows me to be paired with a family to meet with throughout the semester. This weekend we visited a castle together as well as carved pumpkins. Being able to interact with them and include me in Danish culture is something that has definitely made Copenhagen feel like my home away from home.
Why did you decide that you wanted to go abroad?
One of the reasons I decided to go abroad was to be able to learn about public health in a different context. The United States applies a very different approach to assessing and implementing health care than many European countries. I felt as though health is universal and cannot only be looked at through an American perspective.
What do you miss most about Muhlenberg?
I decided to go abroad in a country different than any of my close friends so I definitely miss spending time with them as well as my teammates. But, I truly miss the oatmeal raisin cookies.
Any messages for your teammates back home?
I miss you all and can't wait to see you! Feb. 1 will be here before we know it!
Previous "Postcards"
Alison Stouffer, Women's Track and Field (Panama City, Panama)
Michael Rainone, Men's Track and Field (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Joey Goret, Men's Lacrosse (Maastricht, Netherlands)
Alyssa Curtis, Women's Cross Country/Track & Field (Rabat, Morocco)
Madeline Mullett, Women's Lacrosse (Maastricht, Netherlands)
