When you’re not an Expat
Keri Bloomfield
“You’re not an Expat. We can’t help you.” That was the blunt reply I received before I moved to Denmark after awkwardly reaching out for help as I began to get my head around a life in Denmark. The Danish organisation informed me I wasn’t an Expat because I was in a relationship with a Dane. TEXT: Keri Bloomfield PHOTOS: Deniz Aydemir
Their response stopped me for a long time identifying as an Expat and it meant I missed out on a lot of great sources of information that would have made my move to Denmark a little bit more comfortable. All because of a label.
working out the right balance of belt expanding pastries.
We come in all shapes and forms. Our reasons for living in Denmark and the length of time we plan to live here can vary greatly and as a result, so too does Although it’s a bit of an old conversation our experiences. Yet, for all our isn’t it? The difference between an differences, we’re all the same, aren’t immigrant, an expat and an alien? And we? does it even really matter? I’m just me (a “If I could give advice New Zealander) living with a Dane in Denmark trying to work out who the heck (…), it would be to not be I am in my new environment.
too hard on myself in my journey of learning Danish”
And you’re likely just you [insert nationality here] living with whoever in Denmark trying to make sense and the best of your new environment. We’re all just trying to find our way in this new land Are you a ‘here for a good time, and not of low hanging lamps and ridiculously a long time Expat’? Or are you a ‘here for a long time and hoping it’s going to be a well-designed chairs whilst
In search of hygge, but often distracted by pastries, Keri Bloomfield is a New Zealander who has been living in Denmark with a Dane and their young daughter since 2016. Keri shares her lighthearted views on what it’s like living with a Dane, when you’re nothing like a Dane, in Denmark on her Bilingual Backpack Baby blog. Her book ‘Nothing like a Dane’ is scheduled to be published early 2021.
You can connect with Keri at: Facebook page: Bilingual Backpack Baby
Instagram account: @bilingualbackpackba by
Blog: http://www.bilingualb ackpackbaby.com/
good time’ kind of Expat? Or something else? Do you live with or without a Dane? For those that have been living in Denmark for a few years now, if you could give one piece of advice to a new Expat in Denmark, what would it be? If I could give advice to my former newly arrived self in Denmark, it would be to not be too hard on myself in my journey of learning Danish. I would remind myself that it took my Dane over 10 years of learning English at school before he felt comfortable using it in the real world and to not expect Danish miracles for myself in only three.
“Don’t compare yourself with other students in your class. But do turn up to every class, do your homework and do your best” I would tell myself that learning Danish is a journey and that everyone’s journey is different. Don’t compare yourself with other students in your class. But do turn
up to every class, do your homework and learning Danish, I now understand a hell do your best. of a lot more Danish than what I did when I first arrived, and that’s kind of cool. I’d tell myself that even after three years of studying Danish and passing the all- That said, my 4 year old daughter is now important PD3 exam that I still shouldn’t at the stage where she can help structure be too hard on myself. My Danish isn’t my sentences in Danish (super handy but perfect, I'm not fluent (yet), and my face also slightly weird) as well as still offering regularly scrunches into a ball as my non- her very best rolling of eyes, when for the poker face desperately tries to translate 20th time I still can't prothe Danish sounds into a meaningful nounce ‘rugbrød’ correctly. sentence in my head. But I would remind But you know what? That’s totally okay. myself that after only three years of I’m just not going to put a label on it.
Thank you for sharing your story, Keri!
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