Hi! I’m Kelly Jones and I study Materials Science and Engineering. I’m studying abroad at Denmark Technical University (DTU) for the winter and spring terms.
Over half of my study abroad in Denmark is completed, and I have tried many new things to either push myself out of my comfort zone or just experience a new culture. One of these events that have become part of my weekly routine is cold dips/plunges. In general, it is normal practice for Scandinavian people to participate in saunas, but specifically, the Danes also include cold dips. My first experience with this was in February, when my friends and I booked a sauna and cold dip experience. Because it was below freezing when we chose to do this, the cold dip was not very enjoyable. Running on a slippery wooden deck from the freezing tub of water to the steaming hot sauna was an interesting experience, but it was a bit more stressful than what I was looking for. However, because the weather is now improving and the daily temperature is rising, it has become much more common for Copenhageners to cold dip right in the canals and rivers in the city. In order to immerse ourselves in the culture and participate in these events, my friends and I have recently participated in weekly cold dips at Nordhavn, where there is easy access to a canal that connects to the Baltic Sea. Each time we go, there are always people lounging and sitting by the water, enjoying their time outside and watching people cold swimming. Although I do enjoy the cold dips and it is an exhilarating experience to jump into freezing water, I really enjoy the events that take place around the cold dip. My friends and I usually plan a meal or day in the city afterwards, which makes the cold dip function as a weekly gathering for me and my friends to meet, catch up, and enjoy each other’s presence. Finding new locations to cold dip has also led me to find Bellevue Beach, which is just a quick bike ride through the Dyrehavn. I hope to take this practice of cold dipping back with me in Philadelphia, but the only challenge is finding a nice spot to gather a group to swim.
Another thing that I have really enjoyed is trying all of the delicious baked goods that Danish bakeries have to offer. Many bakeries have become famous for their pastries, of which I plan to publish a review later on. Similar to the cold dips, the trip and the atmosphere surrounding the bakery trip are a source of such wholesome joy. Usually, I meet up with friends or plan a day in the city by myself, and just enjoy what Copenhagen has to offer. Additionally, I get to taste fantastic pastries such as pistachio croissants, cardamom buns, and sourdough buns. I have even been inspired to try to recreate the Copenhagen bakery experience at home by making my own sourdough buns. I have been growing my own sourdough starter throughout the term and have really enjoyed baking with it. I’ve made sourdough loaves, buns, and bagels over the past few months. I’m excited to take my sourdough back to the US with me and continue to bake and perfect my recipes for the future.
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