By ERIC SEO

It has been three weeks since I arrived in Copenhagen as of writing this. I knew for a while that I wanted to write columns for the Round Table while abroad this semester, and I have spent the past few weeks ruminating over what to write about. Thoughts of Danish history or culture entered my mind, but I just got here and am, thus, much too ignorant to write something I would be proud of. Naturally, my heart guides me towards cuisine, my passion for food guiding me to this city originally. But again, I feel I can not adequately discuss the food here after just three weeks. Food is so deeply rooted in history and culture that I cannot do it justice yet.

So, instead of trying to write a fun narrative about life in Denmark and all that I have learned, like I originally thought I’d do, I will simply make an account of some of the things I have been doing. In future installments, it is my intention, however, to have columns with a bit more thoughtful construction behind them. In a way, this haphazardly composed article may symbolize my journey thus far more than I know–happy accident.

My first few days in Copenhagen were the same as any other American tourist in Europe for the first time. My time was spent walking upwards of 10 miles per day exploring the cobbled streets of a city whose history precedes the inception of my own nation. 

Indeed, my first few weeks were essentially an expedition to cross off all of the tasks on the when-in-Copenhagen list found on every major website in the first hundred Google searches for “What to do in Copenhagen”. Certainly, I can acknowledge that this was primarily to feed my mimetic desires built upon the luster of picturesque Tik Tok posts. However, I simply do not care. I figure that if I am here for so long, I might as well splurge on the tourist stuff before committing myself to “live like a local,” as so many have told me to do. So, I went swimming in the canal, visited Tivoli, took Instagram pictures at Nyhavn, ate my first Danish Hotdog, tried smørrebrød, saw a castle, looked at some old stuff that I will probably forget about, saw an FC København match despite my disinterest in the game, rented a boat in the pouring rain, and spent a regrettable amount of money on pastries and coffee. 

All that said, I am having an incredible amount of fun here, enjoying the part that Agnes Callard warns against in a The New Yorker essay, “The Case Against Travel.” As already stated above, however, I simply do not care. I am having carefree fun galavanting around the city without regard for my environmental or societal impact as a tourist. 

Now, however, the time begins where I am less and less of a tourist. I am learning to find my way around, taking the metro on my own without a map open, which, as those who know me would agree, is very impressive. I am discovering lesser known places, cooking budget meals in my dorm, learning Danish phrases and customs, and developing a daily routine. 

To my dear readers, potentially seven of you, I hope to keep you updated with my goings on abroad. Until next time, tusind take.

Featured Image Credit: Eric Seo’25