Photo credit: Peter Bondo Gravesen www.gravesengraphics.dk
Lyndsay Jensen on living in Denmark
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Why did you decide to move to Denmark? I was lucky enough to have two cultures growing up. Being born in the UK, but growing up in South Africa – I really enjoyed the best of both worlds. After a whirlwind romance with my Viking in Denmark, we decided to set up roots in South Africa and settled down to a comfortable life where our eldest son was born. However, when our 2nd son was
born and suffered brain damage at birth, our world was turned upside down. We were at a cross roads with his development and future, and we knew that unfortunately South Africa was not going to give him every opportunity he needed for further development. So we compared special needs services in the UK vs DK. Also, for our eldest son, we
knew that Denmark had far more advantages when it came to education – and who wouldn’t want to grow up in the cultural hub of Europe!
as a team we could support and be a “shoulder to cry on” at times for expats going through the same things we did, and to bridge the gap between Danish culture and their own. So armed with my 20 plus years knowledge in publishing, knowledge of the Danish culture, a whole lot of faith, and a new business minded partner on-board, we started the publication in January 2018, and haven’t looked back since! What is the funniest thing about the Danish culture and the Danes?
When and why did you decide to run a publication for internationals in Denmark? I was working for an English newspaper, but they decided to close towards the end of 2017. I thought, what next? A former colleague and I chatted about starting a new publication as we felt there was a real gap in the market to help expats understand the transition to life in Denmark. As I’d seen so many expat friends leave before 4 years due to not feeling comfortable, and feeling they didn’t fit into the Danish way of life, it made me sad. I knew, with a group of knowledgeable writers with varying experiences and from different cultures,
There are a few that I can think of, but for me the oddest one is the inhale of a breath in the middle of a sentence which still makes me giggle. This ingressive sound occurs in many languages, being frequently associated with Scandinavian languages despite being a common phenomenon. Most words that are subject to ingressive speech are feedback words (“ja”, “nej”). What are the six things you wish you knew before you came to Denmark? 1. How to navigate the job market. I would have looked more into the job market before moving, I came from a strong publishing background – but it’s not easy to get into it here unless you are well connected in the publishing world or have a Danish education. 2. The importance of the bicycle! Cycling is a mode of transport, not just for exercise! I had to really learn to watch out for cyclist when driving a car, something I never gave much thought to before.
3. Just how harsh the winters can be – they are long and dark. I never realised how much I missed the sun until I moved here. It’s not so much the cold that gets to me, but rather the lack of sunshine – it can get really depressing during the winters. 4. Dropping of the “f” bomb. If you come from a conservative country it can be quite a shock hearing a young Danish child dropping the “f” word casually into a conversation. It seems to have become the norm in Denmark to use it on TV, Danish media etc. So don’t get a shock! 5. How to slow down. If you’re from a country that is used to running at a fast pace, be prepared to slow down and smell the roses in Denmark. The work/life balance here is incredible, and if you’ve come from a fast-paced place, you do experience a bit of a shock.
6. Also, prepare to have a lot of Danes (when they hear you’re a foreigner) ask you when you’re going to learn Danish. Learning Danish can be tough, but don’t let it scare you off – whether it takes you 1 year or 11 years, you will get the hang of it! What is your number one tip for newly arrived internationals in Denmark? Moving to Denmark is like starting a new relationship, everything is new, exciting and full of uncertainty. Get to know Denmark, explore and be open to her culture and you will eventually fall in love. It’s not going to always be smooth sailing – so don’t expect to settle in within a month.
Thank you, Lyndsay! Want to read the The International? Go to www.the-intl.com or Find a copy near you! (see the next pages for distribution)
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