Core Course Week has come and gone, and I’m here to share all the fabulous adventures my core class, The European Game of Politics, got up to. One of the greatest things about DIS is the emphasis placed on first-hand learning experiences and Core Course Week is a perfect example of this initiative. Each Core Course is given the opportunity to explore course themes on a deeper level through a carefully curated itinerary of activities such as museum visits, visiting and talking with professionals, attending lectures, and much more. The three-day travel period takes place outside of Copenhagen, giving us the chance to see other areas of beautiful Denmark that we might have missed during our semester here!
Our day started on an overcast Thursday morning. Getting comfy in our seats on the bus, we settled in, preparing ourselves for the long five-hour bus ride ahead of us. We were headed towards the Denmark/Germany border, specifically to the town of Sønderborg. There, we were able to explore the long history between Denmark and Germany, and how the development of their relationship has affected the social and political tensions at the border.
The Museum of Sønderborg Castle was our first stop. Here we were given an in-depth tour through the exhibits featured in the museum. Our guide, Carsten Rasmussen, began our tour with a history lesson entitled: Schleswig -an ancient borderland. Understanding the finer details and events that occurred at the border of Germany and Denmark allowed me to grasp the current relations at the border, and even helped in my understanding of Danish identity and culture. The exhibits throughout the museum included collections from moments in history where Denmark and Germany interacted, both peaceful and violent.
After our visit, we were given some free time to roam around Sønderborg. My friends and I grabbed some gelato and enjoyed it by the water. For dinner, our class dined together at Skaal. We sampled a variety of beers and ales, learning about the brewing process. Dinner was a delicious meal of burgers and fries.
The next day we once again boarded the bus, this time headed to Flensburg, Germany. The German streets were beautiful, buildings standing out with their bright colors and deliciously ornate crown moldings framing their windows – similar to Copenhagen, and yet so different.
A bit before noon we arrived at our location: a meeting with the General Secretary Jens Christianses of the SSF, the Danish Minority Cultural Organization. Flensburg, Germany has experienced and been victim to the several changes to the Danish/Germany border that have occurred throughout history. At times it was a part of Denmark, and at other parts of time, it belonged to Germany. As a result, a large Danish population resides in Flensburg, evidence of the generations of Danes affected by the border’s turbulent history. We spoke to the General Secretary about the importance of preserving Danish language and culture in an area like Flensburg and the policies ratified by the SSF to ensure its survival.
Later in the day we headed towards the Frøslev Camp, a German internment camp built during World War II during Germany’s occupation of Denmark. I had no prior knowledge of this camp, so I felt grateful to be introduced to its history through a guided tour. This camp stands as a quasi-testament to Denmark and Germany’s long history and relationship built on respect as this camp was built to avoid the deportation of Danes to the concentration camps in Germany. Although better than most German war camps, those held at Frøslev experienced a number of hardships. Close to 2,000 Danish soldiers were eventually deported to concentration camps in Germany.
The following day we had a final stop at the battlefields near the border, where we discussed the methods and tools of war used by the Danish army. This was my first time discussing war strategy and military history in depth and being on the actual battlefield made the experience so much more immersive.
After a fabulous lunch provided by DIS, we settled into the bus for the last time, this time headed home. My CCW was something I’ll never forget. The level of detail and care put into our weekend amazed me, reminding me of how grateful I am to be here with DIS. The ability to learn in locations specific to your studies adds a level of understanding that cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom.
where sophia is 