Traveling to Copenhagen was really an amazing experience. Although I was concerned about many things surrounding my study abroad and destination, I was ultimately very excited for the coming weeks. It was my first time leaving the United States, and I was looking forward to seeing different people and cultures.
Upon arrival in Denmark, I was overwhelmed with excitement thinking about everything this program has in store for me and my classmates. Although I was super excited, there was one issue: jet lag. I flew in from Pennsylvania, so the flights were very long. You might think that I would have had ample opportunity to sleep; however, the reality of the situation differed. The uncomfortable plane seats made sleep difficult, so I landed in Copenhagen after being up for roughly 24 hours, still with a whole day of activities and sightseeing ahead.
Before leaving the US, I was given plenty of advice from family and friends on how to deal with jet lag. They all suggested not napping, as a seemingly short nap could turn into a full slumber. No one wants to waste a day while traveling! Fortunately, the program specified many activities on my first day, so I had no opportunity to nap and no opportunity to waste the day!
My biggest issue was simply being tired the whole day. Before we even began sightseeing, I was up for over 24 hours. I quickly got tired early in the day, which made me frustrated because I wanted to give my full attention to Copenhagen. A common remedy I turn to for drowsiness is coffee, so I immediately found a coffee shop. The caffeine helped considerably, but I was still a bit tired.
At the end of the day, I reflected on my first hours in Copenhagen and realized that I thoroughly enjoyed the city despite being tired from the jet lag. I toured a historic house, tried some Danish food, and explored the city, all while meeting the other students in my program. I am really happy I didn’t nap!
