Spotlights
Benjamin McKim, Denmark
Having never left the country, traveling to Denmark made me realize that I don't need to just live in the United States. While it is such a privilege to live here, traveling to the happiest city and most livable city in the entire world, Copenhagen, made me realize what we are missing out on. The infrastructure, the transportation, the way people treat each other, the way the culture exists to celebrate hygge and breed healthy relationships and healthy lifestyles is just enthralling. I traveled abroad with over 40 other U.S. students and each one of them had their own story to tell and we still keep in contact and I have already visited many in their respective hometowns across the U.S. My dorm was an old barracks next to a castle which was about a 10-15 minute walk from the city centre where my classes were. Each day I would see soldiers march through the streets and I got to experience the real walkability of what a city should be. I learned about the study of Scandinavian happiness and what it is like to turn a city's concrete jungle into a thriving nature and urban environment through infrastructure changes and social media. I hope one day to move there, but for now I will bring my new knowledge back to GVSU and to all areas of my life!
Ben studied through CIEE in Copenhagen, Denmark. He majored in Advertising and Public Relations and minored in Marketing.
Interest Area(s)
Adv Public Relations, Marketing
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