About Denmark
This is an interesting one. I now have some
really good Danish friends (you know who you are, so if you’re reading this
it’s not about you). I’ve learned that shopping in Denmark is very different
from shopping in the UK. Expect Danes to travel from A to B, through a crowd
with serious commitment. This means that you should expect to be bulldozed by
buggies or pushed out of the way. Just know that it is not personal, they treat
everyone the same. In shops don’t expect people to point out the free
checkouts, they will make their way to them in the said committed way. Also
don’t really expect to queue, at least not in the British way, you have to keep
your eye out for free checkouts, if you snooze, you lose. Also, if you’re in
the way, expect to be pushed or picked up and moved (yes, this happened to
me!). I’ve also learned that British politeness doesn’t really get you anywhere
here. I can stand and hold the door open for many people but very few will
acknowledge my existence let alone thank me for it. It’s not rude it’s just a
different culture.
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| Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen |
Also thanks to my News editor role at
Jutland Station I have now learned a huge amount about both Danish politics and
the Danish media. It’s been a truly worthwhile experience I have been able to
chat with my flatmates and other Danish friends about what is happening in the
Danish news, be it a footballer nearly winning the Danish ‘Strictly Come
Dancing’ or a political scandal involving the Justice Minister and Head of the
Danish Intelligence Service. There’s a bit of a joke that I know more about
Denmark than some Danes.
About friendships
I have learned that I really value loyalty,
in friendships especially. When you strike out on your own and have to go back
to basics to make new friends you learn exactly what you value in friends.
Sometimes I am not too good at this, especially in some recent cases of saying
that I’ll go to things and then changing my mind. All I can say is that I am
working on it.
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| Julefrokost- Christmas lunch |
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| The spaghetti and polo game |
I have also learned that you need to put
yourself out there and get to know people in different contexts. That’s why my
running group has been so good. We had a ‘Julefrokost’ or Christmas lunch the
other weekend and it was a great opportunity to get to know some of my running
mates. The group put a huge amount of effort into organizing fun and games for
the night and it was really fantastic. We ate traditional Danish food, learned
traditional Danish dancing and played team games. One game involved dried
spaghetti and polos! Each person had a piece of dry spaghetti and they had to
put it in their mouth and pass a polo around the whole team, needless to say
the results were truly hilarious! I also got to try the infamous Danish
schnaps, which tasted better than I thought it would but still wouldn’t be my
drink of choice.
About Friends and Family
I’ve also learned a lot about my
long-standing friendships, it’s been great catching up with good friends via
Skype or Google Hang-out and knowing that although I’m living in Denmark I can
keep up to date with their lives. Sunday nights become dedicated to family and
friends with lots of Skype-dates scheduled back to back. I look forward to it
and have found that I can keep up with them all more than I probably did when I
was in the UK.
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| Blue Book party |
I’ve even had two of my good friends Jo and
Bronwen come over to visit me. We had a really lovely time exploring the city,
making food together and drinking cocktails. I took them to a party that I’d
organized to celebrate the launch of the Blue Book on the Friday. Then on
Saturday we visited Aros the art museum and had dinner followed by cocktails.
On Sunday I introduced them to the wonderful ‘Sostrene Grene’ or Sisters Grene,
a cheap and cheerful shop full of fantastic little pieces that make great
gifts. We also visited the deer park and the cake buffet at ‘Globen Flakket’.
It was so nice to catch up properly over a couple of days.
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| At the Deer Park |
My time in Denmark so far has really
heightened my appreciation of my friends and family because I am reminded all
the time, by the many photos bluetacked to my walls, my skype dates and parcels
from my friends and family that I have a fantastic support network. I am so
grateful that so many people support me and I hope that I show them just how
much I appreciate them.
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| Mum and I at the Christmas market |
Normally I’m not one to share personal
details but spending time apart from my boyfriend has obviously taught me a lot
about relationships too. I have learned to be strong and look after myself but
also to talk about any problems that I do have over skype. I am so lucky that
James has really been my rock since I have been here. Every time I’ve doubted
my decision he has sought to remind me why I decided to come here in the first
place and send me the occasional motivational video or funny story. If I’ve
come back late and needed to talk he’s been there. This means that I am
extremely excited to see him this Christmas, it’s the first time that we will
be able to celebrate Christmas together because he was in Austria last year.
The next three weeks are going to fly by but it’s going to be so special to be
home and to tell my stories from the past three and a half months.
I’ve learned a huge amount since I first
moved to Denmark. I’m sure there is much more to learn when I return in
January. But for the meantime I’m going to relax and enjoy the company of my
family and friends.
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