Photo from Luc Angelini. Iceland, on the ridge that links Skarðsmýrarfjall and Hengill.
This Fall, Luc Angelini (UBC Arts, Philosophy Major) and CENES talked about their experience in the Nordic Program, take-aways, and why students would be interested in our Nordic courses!
How did you find out about NORD courses, and what about them made you enroll?
I found out about them through my best friend because she insisted I come to fika! I needed a literature requirement, and talked to Ann-Kathrine who said I should try her course. I took it, loved it, and met some of my favourite people there. Thereafter it snowballed into another literature course which I didn’t need, NORD 414 which was about Danish culture, and now Danish language classes. I was convinced to take the courses by my best friend and determined to stay because of the content, quality of instruction, and great people I got to meet. Quite simply: they’re just good. If I weren’t graduating, I might actually take the whole catalogue of NORD courses to round out my current roster…
What excites you about the Nordic Program?
I think what I really like about the Nordic program is that it makes that part of the world accessible and able to be studied. I’ve long had a fascination about Nordic countries and just how they work. Unless you commit to doing independent research or can travel there, it’s hard to learn about them—so the program makes it doable and adds a unique flavour to my studies. It’s also nice to be ‘in’ the program without being in the program. I’m a member of the SNSA which undoubtedly helps, but independent of that fact, the courses I’ve taken have always felt welcoming and rewarding to be a part of.
What was your favourite NORD course (or Nordic Language Course)? What are some of the highlights that students would find interesting if they took this course(s)?
My favourite course was NORD 334. The topic list and the readings were, for the most part, some of my favourites in a course! What’s really cool is that we got to explore contemporary Nordic works, like Naja Marie Aidt’s When Death Takes Something From You Give It Back. Though not fictional, it’s one of my favourite books that I’ve ever read. It’s a grief memoir, so it isn’t for everyone—but it’s so fantastically written and distinct from anything else I’ve ever read. I never would’ve come to that book independently, so I’m very glad the class introduced me to both a work and genre I had never known about. This was paired with cross-media study of some of our readings (e.g., TV adaptation vs. book) which made things interesting and fun.
Why should students take the Nordic Minor/ take a NORD course?
I think students should take NORD courses if they’ve got an interest in the geographic area or are just plain curious. I came to these courses on a total whim and am now more involved than I thought I’d ever be. The fact that these courses have been able to retain my interest for this long is a testament to their level of quality and interest. My course interests are pretty limited in the arts (I tend to prefer science courses) but these NORD ones have been one of my best forays into a unique and underrated area of study here at UBC. Honestly, the fact that we have these courses—and that they’re as good as they are—is pretty special; not all institutions can offer experiences like these!
