Just outside of my classroom is the courtyard of an old fire station where I take art classes for three hours every Friday. In this courtyard there is a bee sanctuary and just before class I sit here to watch them work. These small beings create worlds in front of me and I find their hum cathartic. The air smells of wet earth as the morning sun has only just begun to dry the night’s rain. My body is warm from my commute (I’m usually rushing, even when I’m early), so the brisk air helps to cool me down. Just outside of these courtyard walls is the hustle and bustle of a city waking up. People push past each other on the narrow cobblestone streets making their way to work and storefronts open their doors wafting out the smell of fresh pastries and coffee. I love to sit here and listen to the sounds of the bees and the city – both are simply doing what they know best. 

My time in Copenhagen is flying by. I arrived here about a month ago and have steadily fallen more and more in love with Denmark. Apart from the quaint fairytale villages, Denmark has the perfect balance of city and nature, and does a wonderful job at bringing the two together. This balance is of utmost importance to me, and is part of why I chose to study here. Having access to natural spaces keeps me grounded and reminds me to slow down when things seem overwhelming. This courtyard exemplifies this balance – inside of its walls, I can hide away from the busyness of the city and take time to appreciate the smaller beings doing their work. I feel inspired to seek out more areas of Denmark that bring me this same peace.