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High School Year

Youth For Understanding International Exchange
High School Year Program Exchange

You will undoubtedly experience many moments of what the Danes call hygge, a special word for comfort that means an all-embracing feeling of warmth and well-being. Perhaps you'll be sitting with your host family on a cold winter night when you look up from your book into a crackling fire and you'll think, hygge. Or you might be out laughing with a group of friends at an ungdomsskole club for young people and feel hygge. Whenever and wherever it happens, your YFU experience is sure to offer you many ways to experience the comfort of Denmark.

The Danish government spends about US $50 per person per year on cultural institutions, such as museums, theatres, and libraries. Additionally, the Danes are avid readers, so much so that their country ranks as one of the leading book - buying nations in the world and as number one in number of books borrowed from public libraries. The Danish love for reading may not be surprising considering that one of the most popular writers in the world, Hans Christian Andersen came from Denmark. The writer of Out of Africa, Karen Blixen, popularly known as Isak Dinesen, also comes from Denmark. More recently, Peter Hoeg's book, Smilla's Sense of Snow enjoyed great popularity in the US. You can also enjoy yourself at Tivoli and Legoland, two world-famous Danish amusement parks. The Danes even celebrate the US Independence Day.

When you meet your Danish host family, you'll probably find yourself joining a close-knit, stable group who enjoy doing things together. Danes think of themselves as thoroughly modern, relaxed, casual, and tolerant. Danish families prize individualism, and children are often brought up under the principle of "freedom under responsibility," which translates into young people being raised to exercise independence, take responsibility for their lives, including school and household duties, and prove trustworthy. Since Danish families generally include two working parents, this principle works out well. As a member of a Danish household, you will be expected to help out with household chores.

While Danish families usually own a car, a bicycle is a more common and popular mode of transportation. You may find yourself using one to get to school or to go out with friends. Also, the excellent, safe and inexpensive system of public transportation eases your individual mobility. Gatherings of young people are generally informal - you may go to the movies, to someone's house, or to an ungdomsskole, disco, or cafe.