A RICH DANISH-IRISH FAMILY TAPESTRY AND HOW THEY LIVE THEIR BILINGUAL LIFE!
SPRING SIGNALS NEW BEGINNINGS, OPPORTUNITIES, OPTIMISM, VISION, AND FLEXIBILITY –TIME TO ACTIVATE GO-MODE NOW!
EDITOR & FOUNDER
Lyndsay Jensen - lyndsay@the-intl.com
MANAGING DIRECTOR & PARTNER
Kenneth Macalpine - kenneth@the-intl.com
CONSULTING EDITOR
Conrad Egbert
GRAPHIC DESIGN
The International
WRITERS TEAM
Ophelia Wu; Vanessa C Petersen; Alexandra Beck; Mariano Davies; Monika Pedersen; Sara R. Newell; Michaela Medvedova; Shani Bishop; Natasha Liviero; Heather Storgaard; Lasse Frimand Jensen; Jane Elgård Petersen; Natália Šepitková; Luke Hannon
COVER PICTURE
Terumi Mascarenhas - www.fjordfoto.dk
AAS THE HEAVY chill of winter begins to lift, the days become longer, and our activity naturally increases. New shoots sprout from the ground, new buds on trees, and feelings of lightness, freshness, and renewal prevail. The liver and gall bladder are the organs of focus during spring. In oriental medicine, the element is wood, and the liver is seen as the emperor of the body setting the standard for the body to follow. A healthy liver means a healthy reference point for the whole body. Time for spring cleaning inside and out! Focus on detoxifying, cleansing and doing whatever makes you feel light, happier, and flexible.
Problems associated with imbalances in the body:
Joint and muscle tension
Headaches, generally on the side of the head or back of the eyes
Irritability and outbursts of anger
Eye and visual disturbances
Allergies
STEPS TO KEEPING HEALTHY AND JOYFUL DURING SPRING:
Move
You need movement, so get out, take long walks in nature, observe the changes around you, and invite change in. If you’re not into going to the gym, join a yoga classstretching will improve your flexibility and give you that light, open feeling.
Spring clean
Go through your home, office, and car and remove stuff you don’t need. Allow new things into your life. Imagine what you would like to create in your life and make plans to actuate these dreams.
Let go of old resentments and start fresh Grudges and resentments are indigestible and can damage not only the mind but also the body.
Take a risk and try something new. Think of something you’d like to try. Now is the time to do it!
SPRING FOODS
Spring is the time to embrace healthier food choices and flush out the toxins so that the liver can do its job more effectively. Begin by eliminating foods that stress the liver, such as fried or very fatty foods. Sugar and white flour should be eliminated or minimised, and foods with chemical preservatives and food colouring should be avoided. Instead, make stir-fries and steamed vegetables. Try to eat slowly and enjoy the abundance of plant-based foods – fresh leafy greens, sprouts, asian greens, peas, and green beans – that can improve the liver’s overall function. Add lemon slices to your drinking water, and use vinegar, lemon juice and good olive oil for your salad dressing. Garnish your sandwich with a slice of pickle. Try replacing one coffee a week with dandelion tea.
EYE EXERCISES
Although all the organs have some connection to your eye health, the liver is connected to proper eye function. Remember to take breaks when looking at a screen and do eye exercises.
So Spring into Spring, rise early, try something new, revitalise and attune yourself to the energy of this exciting season. ENJOY!
Love,
LYNDSAY JENSENEDITOR & FOUNDER
THE-INTL.COM
Events
Alexandra Curac’
SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM
Head of SoMe
Shivangi Singh - shivangi@the-intl.com
SoMe Intern
Silvia La Rosa
SoMe Ambassadors
Neelam Gahlaut; Michaela Medvedova; Aina Masood; Ane-Sophie Custura; Terumi Mascarenhas; Leslie Noygues; Shelly Pandey; Shivangi Singh; Ritika Jain; Pavlos Tsiakoumis; Sakib Akhter; Rashmi Jadhav; Gemma La Rocca; Isabel Pereira Lima
SALES
sales@the-intl.com
The International is published online 12 times a year. This issue was published on 10 April, 2023.
Notice: The publishers regret that they cannot accept any liability for error or omissions contained in this publication. The opinions and views presented need not necessarily reflect those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek special counsel before acting on any information contained herein. All rights reserved. No part of this publication or contents thereof may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publishers. Published by and © 2021 The International ApS. Registered in Denmark / CVR Number: 39118181
"SPRING: A LOVELY REMINDER OF HOW BEAUTIFUL CHANGE CAN TRULY BE." - OURMINDFULLIFE.COM
Meet your new best friend playing board games! At Monday Matchup in Bastard Café, you might meet your new best friend.
There is plenty of opportunity to meet new friends while playing board games. And every Monday at 16:00, Bastard Café invites you to the event Monday Matchup, where volunteer game gurus will match you and other participants with board games.
Come alone or with friends. Everyone is welcome!
We meet in the 'Winter Garden' at the back of the café and every hour a new game is started and explained by a game guru.
We are looking forward to meeting you!
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://HUSET.KK.DK/EN/EVENTS/MONDAY-MATCHUP#PLACES
“Nói albinói,” (aka “Noi the Albino), directed by Dagur Kári, 2003, 93 minutes
18:30 = CAFÉ OPENS
19:30 = “Nói albinói” (Aka Noi The Albino)
This is a spare and poetic film with a morbidly deadpan sense of humour. The title character is a seventeen-yearold gifted underachiever who lives with his grandmother in a dreary little village on the coast of northern Iceland - a harsh, isolated environment for anyone to grow up in but particularly challenging for a misfit adolescent with few social skills and no real hope for the future. Bored by the school and bereft of friends, this young man drifts through life, dreaming of the day when he will be able to live on a very different kind of island in the South Seas, a location light years removed from this place where the interiors are every bit as stark and forbidding as the whiteon-white world outside. But will he ever get to fulfil his dream? Written and directed by Dagur Kari, with an artist's eye for lyricism and austerity, this is a bleak but intriguing little film that will stay in your mind long past the closing credits.
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://HUSET.KK.DK/EN/EVENTS/ICELANDIC-FILM-NIGHT-NOI-ALBINOI
16-21 APRIL HAPPY ABROAD SUMMIT 2023
6 DAYS, 6 THEMES, GLOBAL EXPERTS AND A UNIQUE COMMUNITY!
When moving to a new country, we are initially super excited. We look forward to unique experiences with our loved ones and exploring new places.
And then reality hits. Actually, living abroad, and establishing a daily life in which we thrive and are happy, becomes more of a challenge than we had initially expected.
The Happy Abroad Summit is a go-to resource for international individuals, couples and families, who feel overwhelmed, frustrated and stuck in their life abroad.
We at Be Happy Abroad are beyond excited to offer this free resource, now in its third edition. So tune in and learn from global experts sharing their knowledge, tips and tricks on creating a happy and fulfilled life abroad.
DAY 1: NAVIGATE AN INTERNATIONAL AND INTERCULTURAL LIFE
When moving abroad, everything seems like an adventure at first. But then reality hits, and we realise this is not the same as a vacation. So how do we feel welcome, at home and happy in this new environment when faced with so many unfamiliar habits and patterns? Maybe we don't even speak the local language? The fantastic contributors on day one share their knowledge and tools for making the international and intercultural lifestyle a success for everyone involved.
DAY 2: STRENGTHEN YOUR HAPPINESS SKILLS Happiness doesn't magically come to some and not to others. It is a choice and requires specific skills. Global experts are sharing their expertise on which skills are required and how to nurture them.
DAY 3: DISCOVER YOUR LIFE PURPOSE AND GROW YOUR CAREER
Losing sight of your personal and professional ambitions is a big challenge in international moves. Especially if your motivation for moving is love. Hear which tips & tools experts in this field have to share on how to get back on track and regain a sense of identity, purpose and goals.
FOR MORE INFO: HAPPY ABROAD SUMMIT 2023
On Monday, 17 April, we are doing a collaboration with Kasouga. Our local super unique shop has also started doing Indian (and South African) food. That evening, the city is already filled with an Indian atmosphere because Spilledåsen organises a fantastic music evening with an authentic Indian band DHOAD. If you haven't managed to buy tickets, there are still places. Buy them via the music box's website. During the evening, you will enjoy Indian music, song, dance, and fakir is not complete without Indian food. So, in collaboration with Kasouga, we offer at Café Bliss an authentic Indian food experience. At 17:00-19:30 (starting sharp at 19:30 as we will be closing the doors), so book your table!
A delicious food experience with a variety of tastes from Indian cuisine.
Table reservation: +45 2244 3482.
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://FB.ME/E/2L0T8O6G9
A group of amazing comedians take on the impossible: making comedy out of the climate crisis.
We talk about the people who are causing it, the people who are fighting it, and the people who are trying not to think about it - and we gently roast them like humanity is roasting the planet.
We answer important questions such as: how vegan do you have to be before you can be a climate activist? And how can we explain climate change with the help of 90s movies? You will also have a chance to test your knowledge and hear more about how to go from climate panic to climate power.
Hosted by: Isabel Arnold
Doors open at 18:00, so join us for a drink and get comfortable before our fantastic comedians allow us to laugh at our own misery!
The entrance is free, but we ask you to reserve your spot through the link.
Organised by Extinction Rebellion Denmark in cooperation with HUSET.
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://HUSET.KK.DK/EN/EVENTS/CLIMATE-CHANGE-ISNT-FUNNY-A-COMEDY-NIGHT
A unique attraction inside Copenhagen Central Station. Explore 17 immersive rooms designed by 8 artists.
THE TUBE Copenhagen showcases unique examples and inspiring possibilities of the immersive travel culture. Start your expedition into a world of time travel, storytelling and instant fame filled with experiences to challenge your senses. Take an immersive walk and enjoy this mindbending journey with disordered perspectives, illusions and reflections. Use your imagination as you take a unique voyage in THE TUBE and discover a dazzling journey.
You are invited to use this environment as a visual studio. You can experiment with the possibilities of the installations and make photos and videos as much as you like, but respect the privacy of other visitors. So get creative, use the Tube photo system, and find your pictures in the gift shop after your Tube trip!
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://THETUBECOPENHAGEN.COM/
Great opportunity to brush up on your Danish with the safety of English subtitles. Cinemateket presents "Danish on a Sunday" with a series of Danish movies on specific Sundays during the week.
The movie on this date is called "A Matter of Trust".
On a perfectly ordinary late summer day, the lives of five unrelated people are turned upside down. A husband, a doctor, a wife, a student, and a young daughter are unsuspectingly put on a collision course with each at their own fateful crossroads. In search of love, identity, and moral gauge, they all risk the most precious aspect of life: Trust. But trust is vulnerable, and the consequences will be irreversible and forbidden.
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.DFI.DK/CINEMATEKET/BIOGRAF/EVENTS/EVENT/DANISH-SUNDAY-MATTER-TRUST
The voice of nature - Council of all beings.
In this special edition Storytelling Cicle, we will use the language of storytelling to get a deeper insight into nature around us, the stories it tells and the challenges it is facing in this modern time. The intention is to connect to other beings, listen and perhaps find an answer to what could be done when nature needs our attention.
We will gather around the fire in the heart of Riis Forest, each connecting with one particular being and asking to speak on behalf of it. Through contemplation and intuitive art, we prepare ourselves to participate in the "Council of All Beings."
The Council of All Beings is a facilitated ritual in which we all step aside from our human identity and speak on behalf of another life form.
Finally, we would offer tea and snacks while sharing our experiences by the warmth of the fire and the magic of a spring evening.
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://FB.ME/E/2RSJ1BHY7
Rygaards has a strong reputation of a rich educational experience with a nurturing atmosphere where students learn to think for themselves, find their own voice, and engage with the world with confidence and curiosity.
The Copenhagen Sakura Festival will return to Langelinje Park under the blossoming cherry trees in 2023! The festival is free for all - no tickets are needed. Just show up at Langelinie Park on the 22nd and 23rd of April between 11:00 and 16:00 to enjoy the festivities, booths, food, entertainment and great vibes.
The Copenhagen Sakura Festival is well known for featuring many Japanese cultural performances. Every year, you will experience traditional and modern Japanese culture through the performances on stage amidst the blossoming Sakura trees.
The Committee of the Copenhagen Sakura Festival was established in February 2008 to arrange the cultural event Copenhagen Sakura Festival with the help of the Japanese Embassy in Denmark, the Municipality of Copenhagen and other Japan-related cultural and private organisations. The original idea came from the noble deed of donation of 200 cherry blossom (Sakura) trees by Mr Seiichi Takaki, President of Andersen Institute of Bread & Life, the holding company of Andersen Group of Hiroshima City, and the employees of the company. The donated trees were planted in Langelinie Park. Mr Takaki is the Honorary Consul of Denmark, and he was appointed to the honourable position of ambassador of H.C. Andersen on the 200th anniversary of H.C. Andersen's birthday in 2005. The donated Sakura trees were planted in Langelinie Park. In Japan, people love and admire Sakura blossom, and almost everybody goes out to enjoy its beauty together with families, friends, lovers, and office-mates, wherever and whenever Sakura bloom. Once a year, Sakura connects people, and people meet people under Sakura trees. It is also the utmost and fundamental goal of the Committee. The Committee is honoured to have H.H. Princess Elizabeth as Patroness and as Honorable Chairperson H.E. the Ambassador of Japan to Denmark and Lord Mayor of the City of Copenhagen. The Committee consists of representatives of Japan-related business, cultural and private organisations, the Municipality of Copenhagen and the Japanese Embassy.
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://FB.ME/E/3RY1EXOLR
What came first? – the dance or the rhythm? Keep your hand on your chest, and you will get the answer. With the heart as a metronome, Recoil Performance Group takes the audience on a polyrhythmic journey where, for once, the dancer controls the composer – and not the other way around. SOUND OF FIVE is razorsharp precision and rhythms that can be seen, felt, and heard. It is a sensory bombardment of the rare when SOUND OF FIVE occupies the brand-new room at DanseTippen in Sydhavn. The dance performance is delivered by eight dancers at the international top level. It is created by the double Reumert winner, choreographer and artistic director Tina Tarpgaard in collaboration with ŠEIKO Dance Company and the award-winning composer and classical percussionist Mathias Friis-Hansen.
With SOUND OF FIVE, a unique team of experienced dancers and the best young talents has been assembled. The artistic vision is to create a symphony of eight bodies in motion, which with infectious energy, leads the audience through a musical and visual experience where the audience can expect an exceptional sensuous performance. The music has been created from the recordings Mathias Friis-Hansen has obtained by processing sounds of the dancers' movements, breath and heartbeat. The close collaboration and almost symbiotic coexistence between steps and sound make music and dance a special sensory experience for both the artists involved and the audience, who, in this performance, sit very close to the dancers. Moving rhythmically is a fundamental element in the development of both language and coordination in the child, and this primordial force is at play in the performance SOUND OF FIVE ", says Tina Tarpgaard. We know that it releases endorphins when we move and dance together. When professional dancers move with choreographic precision to specially composed music, they enter into a symbiosis, and a primordial force arises – and it is this bombardment with the sound of the dance, music, sensuality, and bodies that the audience gets to experience.
FOR MORE INFO: RECOIL PERFORMANCE GROUP
Club Surf Agency is a passionate Stand Up Paddle Club in Aarhus.
An international surfer family that grows every year. Everybody is welcome anytime!
Club Surf Agency was the first SUP Club in Aarhus when we (Surf Agency) started in 2013 with a trailer of SUP boards at Aarhus Fiskerihavn - it totally worked!
We are thrilled to have access (since 2016) to a surfing oasis at Aarhus Harbour with showers, changing facilities, a club room and outdoor wellness.
We meet 2-3 times weekly for SUP Club training, depending on the season and weather.
Weekly training times: Wednesdays: 8:00 – 9:00
Sundays: 13:00 – 15:00
When you are part of SUP CLUB AARHUS, you have the following benefits:
- 2-3 weekly SUP club training (dependent on the season and weather)
- Free usage of the sauna after every Sunday's SUP club training (October - April)
- Usage of SUP boards, paddles, vest
- Access to our location and equipment every day 06:00 – 23:00
- Changing, shower and club room facilities
- Other SUP Club events like Surfer's summer parties, hot tub events, etc.
- You can take a SUP board for a day to another location. If you like to rent a SUP board for more than 1 day, you pay 50% off the standard rental price. ALOHA!
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ GROUPS/1652786208359772
Come to a food mecca and essential comfort when invited to the Næstved Street Food Festival on 27-29 April at Grønnegade Kaserne Culture Center.
The area is transformed into a cosy culinary oasis with street food in all its guises, and we introduce you to a number of the country's absolute best and most exciting food concepts. In addition, it will be possible to buy tasting menus so that several street kitchens can be visited simultaneously.
Stop by for some festive days, and experience many other exciting activities in the cultural centre and Næstved City Centre.
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://FB.ME/E/44ZMBCXTB
A series of house music events in Copenhagen's top locations with carefully selected house music. We aim for the best sound, the best lights, the best performers, and exclusive locations.
Living what we believe
We like our events to speak for themselves. So, once you are ready, dive into the dancing crowd and experience the music with our DJs and guests.
See you on the Gravity CPH dance floor!
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://GRAVITYCPH.DK/THE-FACTORYRAVE-COPENHAGEN/
On 29 April, you can experience Dansens Dag throughout Denmark, and in Esbjerg City - we pull out all the stops for a fantastic dance performance!
Dance Day highlights dance's universal ability to cross all political, cultural and ethnic boundaries and unite people in peace and friendship through a common language: DANCE!
All across Esbjerg City, dance performers, professionals and amateurs have a strong tradition of supporting Dance Day. This is reflected in the programme, which contains various performances and activities. So there is something for everyone, regardless of age and whether you are into ballet, Salsa, HipHop or TikTok.
The activities are located on the dance floor at Torvet. There are displays and shows peppered with plenty of popular appeal. The dance can be experienced from 10:30 – to around 14:30. There is definitely something for you too!
Facts about Dansens Dag:
Dansens Dag is Denmark's largest dance festival. The festival has become an enormous event celebrating dance as an art form. The Nordea Foundation is the sponsor of Dansens Dag.
Dance Day was first celebrated in 1982. It happened after UNESCO had declared the day to be an international day of celebration for dance. The day falls on the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), the French choreographer, ballet master and dance innovator. The event will be continuously updated.
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://FB.ME/E/2WJMGCASO
IRISH ROOTS AND DANISH TRADITIONS, GOING IN AND OUT OF LANGUAGES: HERE'S HOW THE FAMILY OF LIAM HORAN AND KIA LUNDSGAARD HORAN NAVIGATE THEIR DAY-TO-DAY BILINGUAL LIFE.
WWHAT DO YOU get when you combine a man with a name as Irish as they come and a woman whose name shows off her Danish family history?
Well, in the case of Liam Horan and Kia Lundsgaard Horan, it's a beautiful family of four.
Liam has lived in Denmark for over twenty years, but he does not have a bad word to say about his home country. "As a kid and a teenager, Ireland was a great place to grow up. It's a very sociable type of country. At any given time, more than 30 kids were out in the street playing." On his mother's side, they had a big family who lived not more than five kilometres from them, so there was always someone around. "We lived close to the national football stadium, so there was obviously a lot of sports going around. And later on, there was a lot of social life on the weekends. Lots of Irish music, because Ireland is full of music. Many countries talk about their history - in Ireland, we sing about ours."
People often ask Liam whether he'd ever move back to Ireland. "Well, I can't answer the question because I never knew I was moving here," laughs Liam. In 1999, to leave Ireland for a bit, he decided to visit his sister, who already lived in Denmark. He'd been over a few times, so he figured he would stay for a month or two this time. "After that, I started enjoying the country but still had no intention of staying. Then somebody pointed me towards a permanent job in a company that builds ventilation units for companies worldwide. And then I met this woman here, and six months became a year, and it's 22 years later," he smiles at Kia.
But he liked Denmark from the beginning. It offered a slower pace than Ireland, and for the laid-back Liam, that was a good fit. The only problem? Danish language, especially when he started working. "For years, it was a struggle. There were a couple of times when I said that this was not going to work out. I realised I just didn't have an
ear for languages." That attitude changed 16 years ago when Liam and Kia's daughter Mathilde was born, and he decided to get a grasp of the language alongside her - and their son Nicklas who arrived two years later. "That's how I picked up the language and then learned about the culture through my kids."
He now talks English with both of his children, but that wasn't always the case during the first ten years. " Kia suggested I speak English with them, and she would speak Danish. But I wanted to know them and their language. So I made a conscious decision to speak Danish. Well, in the beginning, what Danish I could. But I always spoke English with Kia unless we had guests."
Now, it's a bit of a linguistic mixture at their home with a lot of switching back and forth. "I was the one who was adamant about Liam speaking English," says Kia. "It was about giving them the gift of being bilingual. But he was adamant that he would never be the dad who couldn't understand his kids if they came home and told him a story or a joke. So he knew some basic Danish before, but the humour and the little catchphrases all came with the kids."
Still, bilingualism caught on. Mathilde confirms that she's never had a problem with English classes. "It was a good thing for me because when we started English, I always understood what was happening." With Nicklas, it came a bit slower, and even though he's always understood, it's only recently that he started speaking English. "There's been a bit of a barrier: Why speak English if we all understand Danish?" explains Kia.
While Liam and Kia came from two different countries, she experienced a very similar childhood to Liam. "I grew up in Næstved, where we're also living now. It's an hour away from Copenhagen and a very safe place. My parents still live in the same house, so my childhood home is still there." She attended a school with less than 100 students,
and just like in Liam's case, she spent most of her time outside, playing. "We all knew each other. So it was definitely a safe, happy upbringing."
While a lot of interaction between kids is online now, they also connect through social activities, sports, or music. "Denmark is very famous for having all these group activities where parents also get involved." Kia did that as a child - played handball like Nicklas and went to a music school like Mathilde. Her parents were always very active in her activities, driving her around and organising this and that. "It's crucial for kids to have these activities they like to do and where they can socialise. We were very adamant about it from when the kids were young. Of course, you have to focus on school, but you also have to do something in your spare time that gives you energy and happiness and where you can have friends."
Liam and Kia bought their house partly because the school was nearby, and they wanted Mathilde and Nicklas to be close to their friends. In addition, they wanted to give their kids a similar childhood they experienced.
But the couple doesn't agree on all things. Movies, for example.
"I met Kia in September 1999, when I was just out and socialising. I heard somebody speaking English. It was a chance meeting - just like my move to Denmark. Then we bumped into each other again because it's not a big town, and we got talking. Eventually, I asked her out: Do you want to go see a movie? So we went to see Star Wars, which she hated."
And she still hates it. "Kids love it, and Liam loves it. But I still hate it," Kia shakes her head.
What they did see eye to eye on was music. "Kia was a big Elvis fan, and so was my mother, so I knew much of the music. I actually went to Graceland, so she was impressed," laughs Liam.
But he didn't use his musical skills to impress Kia. "Well, later on, when I started writing more music, she was more impressed."
Liam has been writing music for about 25 years now. He stopped for 15 years, but when his kids got a little older, he took it up again, playing guitar and writing songs for them. "Then I started getting more seriously into writing music again. And Kia said: You might as well do something with it! So I got it professionally recorded in a studio."
He's released a Christmas song on Spotify and has a series of songs coming out every month. He says there's no intention of going on a world tour or something similar. Well, according to Kia - not yet.
"Music just says something to me. It's how I express myself. And it might not even be necessarily about me - it could be from someone else's perspective or something I observed. It's easier for me to pluck a couple of chords on the guitar, and suddenly, a story starts coming in."
The kids inherited this musical talent. Mathilde plays the violin - she prefers classical music and is a trained musician. "I don't think there's any doubt that's a bit of the Irish in her. We've been listening to a lot of Irish music, and as long as I can remember, she's been saying she wanted to play the violin," says Kia.
Nicklas was naturally talented at drums and piano. Liam's dreams of having a family band are not entirely gone, but nowadays, Nicklas is way more active with sports. Kia says that this is the Danish part. "It's all nicely balanced - we have the Irish violin, and handball is pretty much the Danish national sport, and it comes from my side of the family. My mom played, I played, and so did my sister. And Nicklas has been playing for nine years now."
Kia did not follow her handball career. Instead, she's been a teacher for 22 years. "Growing up, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I maybe wanted to be an actress or something in the industry. But then I attended a youth school where you can go for free after-school activities after you've turned 13 and until you were 18. So I entered all sorts of classesand when I turned 18, I got hired as a teacher in the same class where I'd been a student for five years." That's where she learned that, perhaps, teaching is the way to go. She likes the energy she receives in the room where she can see teenagers go: Whoa, I get that!
She's also a published author of both fiction and non-fiction. "I used to teach English as well, and my focus was on literature. I read a lot of books, and Mathilde picked that up from me. She's an author, too, and just recently got a short story about climate changes in Greenland published. It was a book with ten short stories selected from a big competition. She's by far the youngest author - I think the next youngest is over 30."
The short stories are all for young people, and Kia shares that they're already being used in classes. "That's what's great about teaching - inspiring young people to read and
listen. In Denmark, we don't have a set curriculum. We have a freedom of method where we as teachers have set goals at the end of the year of what the students have to learnbut it's up to us to find a way of getting them there." From very early on, Kia has always enjoyed writing her own materials. She started publishing online, and one thing led to another - and her teaching materials have been published by different publishers in the past couple of years. "And I've been asked to do teaching materials for Mathilde's book."
As it seems, the family members are pretty diverse in their hobbies. One thing they like to do together, though? Watching movies together. Both Mathilde and Nicklas agree Toy Story is the family favourite.
"And we watch a lot of Shrek. So much that we can turn off the sound now," laughs
Kia. Interestingly, they've never seen any of those movies in English. "But we've always watched the Harry Potter films in English!"
This is just a single example of how the family handles its bilingual nature. Kia and Liam are asked about how they deal with two languages. But it's never been an issue. "We speak in Danish when the kids are there. Liam and I talk in English, then we say something in Danish and switch back. Even though outsiders might look in and say: What's going on, the kids are very good at switching between the two languages. If there is a word you don't know in one language or if it takes too long to explain in another, the four of us just switch back and forth," explains Kia.
The couple agrees they didn't have to work very hard about bringing the two cultures together in their relationship because Denmark and Ireland aren't very different, after all.
And when the children arrived, Liam had a simple philosophy. "The kids, for all intents and purposes, are Danish, but they have an Irish father. I always thought it's best to live in one world; they can't live in two." THE-INTL
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BUT HE LIKED DENMARK FROM THE BEGINNING. IT OFFERED A SLOWER PACE THAN IRELAND, AND FOR THE LAID-BACK LIAM, THAT WAS A GOOD FIT.
IINTERVIEWS ARE SCARY! There's no way of getting around it. You know it, and I know it. According to a recent study, 93% of people feel nervous going into an interview.
But what if it didn't have to be this way?
What if I told you that all you had to do was follow these simple tactics to interview like a boss? What if I shared the cheat codes to MASSIVELY improve your chances of nailing your interview? Ready? Let's go!
REMEMBER THE 3 P'S
Preparation, preparation and more preparation.
This is the number one takeaway from this article. Find out as much as possible about the interview beforehand. Will it be a video call? Who will you be interviewing with, and what topics will you discuss? A lot of people get shy around asking recruiters about the details of the interview. They really shouldn't!
The more you can find out, the more prepared you will be. Say to the recruiter, "I want to do the best I can in the interview. Can you tell me as much as you can about what to expect?".
Trust me, they'll be glad you did! If you want to nail the interview - BE PREPARED!
NAIL YOUR ELEVATOR PITCH!
"So tell me about yourself…."
If you want to impress the interviewer, you'll need to nail your elevator pitch. The elevator pitch summarises who you are, your experience and (most importantly!) the skills you bring to the table. Want an example?
"Hi, I'm Luke, a Talent Acquisition Specialist (and writer) with eight years in technical recruitment. I started my career in finance recruitment in the UK before working in Government recruitment. I've worked in Games for over two years, hiring everyone from cybersecurity specialists to artists. I'm also involved in Employer Branding and have helped grow my company's presence on LinkedIn from 5000 followers to nearly 17,000.
The key thing is to drive home the skills that you bring. Because when all is said and done, that's the single biggest question the interviewer will be asking.
The first part of nailing any interview is nailing your elevator pitch!
KNOW YOUR CV!
Knowing your CV back to front is vital to interview success. You'll almost certainly be asked about your experience, and it's never good to be unable to answer this type of question. It is, of course, YOUR experience. So if you're in marketing, you should be able to tell the interviewer what platforms you used and what budgets you managed. If you're in sales, you should be able to recall your KPIs and performance.
If you want to nail that interview, then know your CV!
Why do you want to work for the company?
It's a simple question but one that I see many people struggle with. So to nail your answer to this question, I recommend a three-pronged answer:
#1 Why does the role interest you? How can you contribute your skills to the job?
#2 How do the company's values resonate with you?
#3 What about the company's products, services or work that attracts you?
Do your research, think deeply and then blow them away with your answer!
Do you have any questions?
It's something that's asked at the end of every interview. This should be the easiest question you receive all day. If you want to impress the interviewer, then it's VITAL that you have a list of questions prepared, not ones you can find in the job description!
Is there anything about the role you would like to know about?
Then ask. Ask about the future goals of the company. With 22% of new employees leaving their position in the first 12 months, showing that you buy into the company's long-term aspirations is crucial. Want to know what the working environment is like at the company? Ask! You want to show the interviewer that you are seriously considering the company as a future place for you. Your job is to make it as EASY as possible for them to imagine you working there as possible.
Do this, and you'll impress any interviewer! THE-INTL
“According to a recent study, 93% of people feel nervous going into an interview. According to a recent study, 93% of people feel nervous going into an interview.”
Luke is a Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at SYBO Games, the company behind the smash-hit game Subway Surfers. Based in Copenhagen (by way of London)!, he has been working to make SYBO grow. He spends his time finding the best talent that the games community has to offer!
He is always keen to build relationships by bringing passion and enthusiasm to the recruitment process. An advocate of Employer Branding, Luke works with the talented people at SYBO to let the world know how great a place it is to work.
When he's not hiring awesome talents for SYBO or cycling (he does live in Copenhagen, after all!), he's busy reading his favourite books and channelling his inner Hemingway as a writer!
@Luke Hannon @ Hannon Recruits @ hannonrecruitsII MET AN international once who was moving to Jutland and shared statistics regarding the population of a town. "Oh, that's the same number as the street I live in back home!". This served as a gentle eye-opener to understanding how small Denmark actually is.
In expats' home cities, they might be used to catching a bus or train, and if they miss it, they can usually just jump on the next one. However, in Denmark, other than the 3-4 main cities, they might have to plan their travels by public transport a little more whilst using the bus or train. To many, this can be stressful, depending on the time schedule and waiting a long time before the next bus or train arrives.
Young people are the most frequent public transport users whilst going to university or work. The statistics say 35% of travel is by bus, train or metro, and 75% is by green transport. However, only 10% of adults use the bus, train and metro daily, while 68% travel by car.
International families might be used to having two cars. They are used to transporting their kids to school and sports activities using a car for security reasons. It can be too risky to allow children to travel to school alone. Here in Denmark, internationals realise quickly that it is safe to let kids travel to school independently on foot, bike or public transport. This freedom allows every family to enjoy a sense of independence, not having to clock watch and ultimately enjoy that sense of work-life balance.
Many internationals find it strange (especially Americans) that we predominantly drive manual cars in Denmark. On the other hand, many are used to driving automatic cars, so for some NonEU internationals having to retake the test to acquire an EU/DK driving license is a great challenge. Over the years, however, we can see the number of automatic cars in Denmark is growing.
If you live out of the main Danish cities in the countryside, for example, there can be challenges to getting around daily. The Danes commonly solve this issue by having a car or maybe even two cars. However, this can be an expensive solution, and cars are some of the most highly taxed in the world. We all love to have the freedom of not being dependent on public transport if it operates well in our area. Unfortunately, the bus network tends to be unreliable in many areas of Denmark, and trains even worse.
So what could be an alternative to one or two cars and public transport? The answer depends on where you live, the distance to work, school, sports activities etc. and your willingness to pay for this.
When guiding expats through the settling-in process, I've noticed they are often surprised by how many cyclists we have, both in the cities and countryside. One good reason to bike in the cities is quite apparent - it is expensive to park IF you can find a spot. Another reason is that getting around by bike is much faster, and good bicycle lanes are everywhere. Finally, also minimising pollution is why changing from a car to a bike whenever possible is best for your wallet, health and the environment. You kill two birds with one stone!
Another alternative to a bike could be an electric scooter. This solution has become very popular in many cities. It is easy, not expensive, and simple to bring in the train or bus. In some places, you can even rent one. Just pick it up, pay, and leave it where you choose. The only concern here is how safe they are. The "driver" can be very exposed and will always be the most vulnerable in traffic. Finally, a more common solution is that people share driving and costs. This can be possible because they work at the same company or travel in the same direction. In addition, you can find groups on social media and reach out to others in a similar area or situation. THE-INTL
Jane is a local and grew up in Denmark, apart from a few long-term stays abroad, whilst travelling extensively. For the last 10 years, her business has supported relocating internationals to Denmark and helping businesses onboard their employees. She loves a challenge and feels there are many different expectations of moving to Denmark, depending on who you are and where you come from.
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When moving to Denmark from a big city like New York, London, Paris, or LA - you might find the Danish capital small and not as crowded as you might be used to. Our cultural detective Jane shares her transport knowledge.PHOTOGRAPHS VISIT DENMARK TEXT JANE ELGÅRD PETERSEN VISIT COPENHAGEN VISIT DENMARK - THOMAS HØYRUP CHRISTENSEN VISIT DENMARK - THOMAS HØYRUP CHRISTENSEN VISIT DENMARK - DANIEL RASMUSSEN
IT SEEMS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY WE SIGNED CONTRACTS WITH OURSELVES TO COMMIT TO A HEALTHIER AND MORE ACTIVE LIFESTYLE IN THE FORM OF RESOLUTIONS - SO, HOW’S IT GOING?
PPLANS ARE GREAT – but life gets busy, and suddenly winter turns into spring, and we are perhaps wondering how our resolutions turned into another to-do list on the fridge door. If that is the case, don’t beat yourself up about it! We all get busy, and it’s never too late to take action.
The Easter bunny is hopping around the corner and teasing us with all the chocolatey treats…but fear not, we have plenty of opportunities to stay or be active during the short break, so enjoy all the family lunches and treats, and if you feel that you need to move, check out these few tips that will get you up from that dining room chair.
TIP #1
Your local gym may have reduced opening hours, but most are open during Easter! So treat yourself to a personalised gym programme that you can perform in your own time at the gym or at home. It needn’t be more than 30 minutes for an effective workout, and who knows, it might be the start of a long-term relationship with the weight room.
TIP #2
Encourage your family to take some long walks together - as they say here in Denmark, there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing! So dress the part and make the most of time together by getting outdoors, in the fresh air and spending quality time with your family. Discover a new beach, forest or nearby village - the steps will clock up faster than you can imagine!
TIP #3
Use your bicycle for leisure and not just as a means of transportation. The great thing about Denmark is that it’s a mostly flat country, so there are no excuses not to take that bike for an adventure! So saddle up and take some Easter leftovers for a picnic en route!
TIP #4
Look for special Easter events in your area - family egg hunts, indoor or outdoor dance and fitness classes. Many instructors love using short breaks to host events to satisfy activity seekers. Facebook and other social media are great resources for looking for cool nearby events.
TIP #5
Grab that friend/family member you have been talking to about your fitness goals and get them to join you in a new activity together. Doing something fun with someone who supports your desire to be more active is one of the most effective ways to get off the couch and put in that little effort. Plus, it may be a chance to get some space away from a lot of easter chaos!
TIP #6
If the weather isn't leaning towards outdoorsy movement, you can try some of the
fabulous online workouts that your gym may offer, or you can try to search for some highly rated Youtube exercise channels that are easily accessible from home. In addition, many family-friendly options can help involve the kiddies if they are keen on having some living room fun!
No matter what, remember this: life will almost always be busy, too busy. But it is solely up to us to make the time for the things that matter. If you strongly wish to be more active, this will only happen if you consistently dedicate time to activities. Prioritising your physical health regardless of the time of year will create sustainable habits for life and help you stay strong, happy and healthy, not for summer or a special occasion, but for a longer lifetime of independence! THE-INTL
Alex is a Swiss/Brit mom and wife who has lived in Copenhagen since 2009. She switched from corporate life in communications to the independent life of an outdoor personal and group fitness trainer. She coaches people of all ages and fitness levels to find fun and consistency in movement through individual and group workouts. Delivering entertainment and spreading group fitness magic is her superpower. Alex encourages you to high-five her if you see her in the capital!
@alexbeck.fit
@alexbeck.fit
@alexbeck.fit
"USE YOUR BICYCLE FOR LEISURE AND NOT JUST AS A MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION."VISIT AARHUS - JESPER MAAGAARD DEN GAMLE BY DESTINATION NORD - KJETIL LØITE VISIT AARHUS - NICLAS JESSEN VISIT COPENHAGENTHOMAS ROUSING
NNORTH JUTLAND HAS been at the forefront of green technologies in recent years. The focus on green energy and circular economies is rising, and the regional, private and public sectors in North Jutland have prioritised ensuring that we are at the forefront of this new development.
The region’s wind energy production is especially impressive, with 970 windmills installed in the area and plans on establishing more offshore wind farms. This has led to many jobs in the energy sector, the biggest companies being, of course, Siemens Gamesa and EuroWind, Bladt Industries and Blaest. All these companies are working on developing and installing the growing need for wind energy solutions, and they are constantly looking for both skilled and unskilled workers to facilitate the growing industry. In addition, the test of wind turbine blades in Aalborg is the largest concentration in the world. North Jutland has therefore developed into an international hub for blade testing, a crucial part of wind turbine production.
North Jutland has had strong ties to the maritime industry for centuries and is currently in a state of transformation. The shining jewel in the current green evolution of North Jutland is the CO2 Vision project. The project aims to make CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage) infrastructure and technology to capture CO2 and either use or store it. CO2Vision aims to test and experiment with CCUS technology and scale it so it can have a real and meaningful impact on both the environment and the economy. The maritime and offshore industries are also changing to be able to ship and store this new energy source. This has led to an influx of new jobs in the industry, and thousands of new workers will be needed to keep this evolution going.
In addition, the Aalborg power and heating plant Norbis Park has been a major player in the region’s green job market. The plant is publicly owned and is, therefore, in a perfect position to facilitate Aalborg’s vision for a greener and more sustainable future. The plant can generate heat from various sources, such as heating pumps, wind energy, solar and much more, and has large areas reserved for green and sustainable energy experiments.
Overall, North Jutland has quickly become one of the fastestgrowing regions in the country for green job opportunities. With its strong wind energy production, maritime industry, and large scalable CCUS projects, the region is well-positioned to impact the future of green energy. This also means that companies will need increasing amounts of skilled labour, especially in engineering, IT and physics. The CCUS industry alone needs thousands of
skilled employees that we simply cannot create locally, so these industries need a competent international workforce.
To support this green development, International House North Denmark supports companies in attracting and retaining these vital international employees. They do this by hosting competence development events and communicating information campaigns, showing these companies the importance and benefits of attracting an international workforce. International House North Denmark also takes a more direct approach in giving specialised advice and guidance on how to reach out to international workers or how to adapt the workplace to ensure international workers can thrive in their workspace. It also aids directly with recruitment and matchmaking, reaching out to its large base of international citizens or guiding citizens in the right direction. All these activities are in place to support a green future for North Jutland. THE-INTL
TEAM MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
Team Manager at International House North Denmark.
City Council member in Aalborg Municipality.
Group chairman for the Social Democratic Party in Aalborg.
Chairman of DANVA and Port of Aalborg.
Father of three kids and married to Kirstine.
Worked and lived in Africa as an expat.
Takes an active part as a volunteer for the international community.
Believes in international solidarity and wants the international community in Aalborg to be more aware of their rights.
lassefj.dk
lassefj.dk
lassefj.dk
NORTHERN JUTLAND IS VERY ADVANCED IN THE FIELD OF ENERGY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, WITH INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR CATCHING, STORING AND USING CO2.PHOTOGRAPHS UNSPLASH TEXT LASSE FRIMAND JENSEN
AAASTED IS A Danish-based, consolidated family-owned company that has developed machines to produce chocolate, bakery sector and confectionery for over 100 years (1917).
After the Second World War, Aasted was the first company to develop belt-driven machinery for chocolate production and quickly became a world leader. Fifty years later, the company added bakery and confectionery machinery to its core competencies.
Since 1917, Aasted has been on a continuous journey to provide its customers with innovation, quality and custom-made solutions for effective chocolate production.
Enrobing is the process of coating a certain product with chocolate, whether it is dark, milk or white chocolate. Enrobing can also be done with caramel, sugar icing and fondant – depending on what final product is sought.
Enrobing of a product starts with a product on a feed band. The Enrober maintains the chocolate at a constant temperature ensuring a homogeneous mass and pumps it into a flow pan. The chocolate then flows from the pan into a chocolate curtain, completely coating the product passing through. These enrobing machines allow the coating of various masses, such as caramel and sugar.
The SuperNova Orbit has been developed for the crystallisation and aeration of fat. It allows for the solid mass in production to be transferred to open hopper wire cutters and extruders without any precooling on conveyor belts.
Consequently, it provides easier handling of product and mass that are pumpable, homogeneous and ready-to-use. In addition, production time is minimised with less waste compared to traditional systems.
The Enrober represents an innovative and effective approach to the challenges of chocolate coating. The machinery is available with revolutionary patented energy-saving technologies that run 24/7 - an energy-saving chocolate coating concept that deviates from traditional methods. It eliminates all the hassle of long changeovers and equipment cleaning. Simply take out the interior unit on air skates, insert a new unit and the machine is ready for a new enrobing process.
TEMPERING CHOCOLATE PRODUCTION
Aasted has developed an Energy Enrobing Concept that deviates from other traditional enrobing methods by having a direct injection of tempered chocolate. The Energy Enrobing Concept enhances the output and extends the shelf life of the products. This
concept also results in significant energy savings compared to traditional tempering machines.
The tempering index and mixture temperature are kept at a constant level to give the enrobed layer a perfect and stable thickness. This results in a beautiful gloss and provides the product with a good break. In other words, combining a Nielsen Energy Enrober with a SuperNova Energy Tempering Machine results in a perfect environment for having the best possible crystallisation while achieving remarkable energy savings.
HIGH-CAPACITY BAKING
Since 2009, Aasted has been developing and continuously innovating bakery tunnel oven solutions with their Conny ovens. Their Conny ovens are sophisticated bakery production lines that result in the finest outcome in an efficient and innovative manner.
The baking tunnel oven series Conny provides the highest quality output - regardless of the heating method. These baking ovens come with indirect forced convection, direct, electrical or hybrid heating technology.
The Conny bakery tunnel ovens make it possible to mass produce any baking products. In addition, they can be combined with many of their machines for optimising, decorating or developing final products.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION
Aasted’s efforts to increase levels of sustainability throughout their production, sales and aftersales services have been recognised and have won them awards – a result of the company strategy “Challenge to Win”. In February 2021, Aasted also announced its UN Global Impact Programme membership. This global Danish family business has an AAA1 credit rating, a DKK 5 billion annual revenue, a 38,5% solvency ratio, office locations on four continents and supplies its machinery to over 230 production companies worldwide. THE-INTL
PRESIDENT & CEO OXFORD BUSINESS SERVICES APS
Mariano has over 40 years global experience as a bus iness executive. He spent ten years with KPMG, so far thirty years with British Chambers of Commerce (while also running Oxford Business Services ApS). He is a British citizen, who grew up in Kent, went to boarding school in Sussex and has a British university education. He has been married to a Dane for over 45 years and has held over 150 official anti-Brexit speeches since 2016. He both speaks and writes Danish without difficulty.
oxford-business.com
OF CALIFORNIAN ORIGIN, THE CHIFFON CAKE’S DELICIOUSLY LIGHT TEXTURE HAS MADE IT A FAVOURITE AMONGST CAKE LOVERS WORLDWIDE. PHOTOGRAPHS & TEXT: NATASHA LIVIERO / UNSPLASH
MAKES 1 CAKE
CAKE INGREDIENTS:
320g cake flour
325g caster sugar
15g baking powder
5g salt
110g neutral oil, i.e.Canola oil
7 XL egg yolks
7 XL egg whites
70g lemon juice
METHOD:
1. Set oven to 1600C.
Zest of 2 large lemons
120g cold water
5g vanilla/lemon extract
2g cream of tartar
LEMON WATER ICING INGREDIENTS:
Icing sugar, sifted
Warm water
Lemon juice
2. Sift the cake flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a large bowl.
3. With a wooden spoon, make a well in the centre of the flour mixture.
4. Mix the oil, egg yolks, lemon juice, zest, cold water and vanilla extract.
5. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour and gently mix with a wooden spoon until a smooth batter forms.
6. Whisk the egg whites until soft peaks. Add the cream of tartar and then continue to whisk until firm.
7. Gently fold the egg whites into the egg yolk batter in three parts until well combined. Be careful of over-folding the batter, or it will deflate.
8. Pour the batter into an ungreased chiffon tin and bake for 60 minutes or until golden brown and the top springs back when gently touched.
9. Remove the cake from the oven, immediately invert the chiffon tin and leave the cake to cool completely.
10. To remove the cake from the tin, gently run a palette knife around the sides, bottom and centre tube of the tin.
11. Place the cake on a wire rack with the level side facing upwards.
12. Prepare the water icing by sifting 400g icing sugar into a bowl. Gently add warm water and lemon juice to taste and mix until you have your desired pouring consistency. If the icing becomes too liquid, simply add more icing sugar.
13. Place a pan or disposable paper under the wire rack and pour the water icing over the top of the chiffon cake, allowing the icing to fall down the sides.
14. Leave the icing to firm up a little before decorating with edible flowers.
15. It lasts up to three days in an airtight container.
NATASHA LIVIERO - PASTRY CHEF
Notes:
* For a more intense lemon flavour, substitute some of the 120g cold water with lemon juice.
* Replace the lemon juice and zest with oranges for an orange chiffon cake.
Natasha is a recently qualified pastry chef who is South African by birth and Croatian by blood. She spent many years working for a wellness publication but did an about-turn at the beginning of 2020 when she joined a culinary school to fulfil a lifelong dream to study patisserie. She’s passionate about European patisserie and loves spending time in the kitchen experimenting with recipes (while quibbling with her feline friends), and is always on the hunt for interesting new cookbooks.
natashaliviero
AS HIBERNATING FLOWER buds are beginning to poke their heads out of the Danish dirt, spring trends are also starting to blossom. I must admit, I type the word 'spring' with a hint of bitterness…seeing as it snowed twice during March. But, despite the 'Fool's Spring', we are experiencing… let's manifest better weather with some fashion trends.
The latest trend attempting an aesthetic chokehold is the 'Indie Sleaze'. "What does Indie Sleaze even mean?!... "Well, that is a great question… let's discover that together." Like the hipster movement, the indie sleaze seems like an outlier to the mainstream. It's all about exploring the fun and freedom of fashion… undefined. In essence, the indie sleaze is composed of no rules and everything coming together at the same time. Unfinished hems and runs in stockings will be sure to make a comeback.
Along with masculine silhouettes taking form on runways…embracing hyperfeminine patterns has also materialised. Romantic textiles, such as lace and sheer layering, are at this movement's crux. "Do you remember that Fresh Prince episode where Aunt Viv turned 40 and enrolled in a dance class? That pink onesie is a staple for balletcore. Scrunched-up leg warmers, delicate workout wear, and the simple ballet flat are back. Regardless of my disdain for the ballet flat… I am looking forward to seeing the modern-day remixing.
This spring, we see the return of two staple accessories and one unexpected arrival. Let's first discuss the return of the arm cuff and the extra large bags. Arm cuffs are back with a vengeance and can add the chef's kiss to any ensemble. I am personally invested in the oversized bag/tote's return…and can now hide the chaos of my life comfortably again. So be prepared to see extra large structures on the streets this spring. Now for the unexpected spring trend…the corsage 'I know…I know... 'the corsage!?' Well, we can thank Harry Styles for the momentum of this trend. Whether you rock it as a necklace, stitching adornment, or a broch…spring will definitely be in the air with this one.
With any seasonal trend, the guarantee of denim being in the mix is usually 99.9%. The Y2K comeback allowed for more oversized structures and cargo fits. However, spring 2023 is packed with even baggier denim. As a mom, I crave non-confining pants, and the baggier, the better. Along with the too-big denim, detailed jeans will also be a frequent play this spring. Noticeable stitching, buckles, and pocket ties will be the front runner in #ootd (outfit of the day) snapshots. Lastly, we can't forget the staple denim maxi and on-the-knee skirts…pretty self-explanatory.
It can be a bit overwhelming with all the spring structures highlighted on the runways. With my best attempt…I will try to cover the most notable ones. The drop waist is back and can either be a hit or miss. However, combining the Danish oversized floral dresses with a drop waist…does intrigue me. Unfinished hems and threading is another styling to gain traction. Which perfectly aligns with my talent for cutting my clothes and not knowing how to sew (yay). The last structure that has caught my attention is draped dressing. This silhouette is very ethereal and goddess-like and can be achieved with any excess fabric. Two runnerups that I want to text link are exaggerated sleeves and cinched blazers (we will save those for a later date.
If you're in Denmark reading this…I already know your answer. 'Just close your eyes…take a deep breath…and envision sunny days with cherry blossoms.' As a matter of fact, I implore you to try out one of these looks and tag me (@thestylefreed). So, now that we have been informed on what spring trends are to come… now let's figure out how to control my fear of bugs (oh, warmer days). THE-INTL
Dubbed the 'Jill Of All Trades', Vanessa hails from the sunshine state of Florida. After visiting Copenhagen several times as a former International Flight Attendant, she permanently settled in Denmark in 2017 with her husband. Currently, Vanessa is the owner of the hand-crafted jewellery brand, the Style Freed. She creates personalised jewellery centred around healing crystals worldwide. Being a creative "mompreneur' has also allowed Vanessa to focus on her son's developmental journey with autism in Denmark.
@stylefreed @thestylefreed @stylefreed
EEASTER BEER IS a seasonal beer produced for the spring that is slightly more alcoholic than regular beer. In recent years, new editions of Easter Beer have included EPAs (Easter Pale Ales) and Easter fusion creations such as Chocolate Beer. Denmark is claimed to be the world's leading beer producer, which certainly sounds impressive! In a bit of a reality check, however, it is essential to remember that this is because the love of seasonal beer is a Danish phenomenon. So, if you enjoy beer, keep an eye out for Easter Beer to add a Danish taste to your Easter celebrations.
THE HISTORY
As is the case with many kinds of beer, Easter Beer originated in Germany. The story goes that monks would drink stronger beer before their fasts for Easter to help them make it through. However, the beer's higher strength has been of concern for some time! Records show that the giving of Easter Beer was banned in part of modern-day Germany in 1385, as authorities considered it a security risk because drunken gatekeepers and lookouts couldn't be trusted under its influence!
Seasonal beer arrived at Danish brewers hundreds of years later, at the turn of the 20th century, Thor Bryggeriet in Randers leading the way, before Carlsberg started releasing Easter Beer in 1904. Since then, Denmark hasn't looked back! By the middle of the 20th century, motifs focusing on Easter themes began to appear on bottles, with rabbits or hares, chicks, eggs, and daffodils (Danish: påskelilje, lit. Easter Lily) representing Easter to consumers.
DANISH
Beer and its importance to Danish culture and society are some things that shocked many internationals when they first move here. Even linguistically, beer plays a prominent role: in English, I would ask people if they wanted a drink, implying many choices, while in Danish, the question is always: would you like to get a beer? No other choice of tipple is to be considered here!
Regarding alcohol, Denmark treads a different path compared to its Nordic neighbours. In Norway, Greenland and Iceland, alcohol advertising is banned, while in Sweden and Finland, it is minimal. Danish-style marketing events and campaigns linking the time of year to the beer and including cute animals on bottles would not be allowed anywhere else in the Nordic region.
Tuborg is synonymous with Danish seasonal beer, available throughout the country and famous for cute packaging and big
marketing campaigns. When I was a student, Tuborg Christmas Beer cans would be strung on strings and hung in our kitchen as low-budget Christmas decorations before being swapped for chicks at the arrival of påskebryg.
Do you have a local brewery? Supporting independent, smallscale breweries is supporting people and communities. My local is Ebeltoft gårdbryggeri, located in the picturesque countryside between Ebeltoft and Grenå. Their beautiful and delicious beers can be found across Denmark.
My father-in-law was so obsessed with Thisted Bryghus's Easter Beer that he kept a crate of it to drink as his beer of choice yearround. Situated in North-West Jutland in a beautiful 1902 building, this was one of the few Danish breweries not to be bought out by giant consortiums in the 1980s, when the alcohol industry across Europe saw significant changes. So it is well worth a visit for a tour. THE-INTL
Heather Storgaard comes from Northern Scotland, grew up in Switzerland, and lived in England and Germany. She met her Danish and soon-tobe British husband back in 2017, and they now split their time between Central Scotland and Helgenæs, a peninsula in rural Eastern Jutland. Languages and cultural studies are a big passion, leading Heather to pursue a degree in Culture and Heritage and a career in photography and translation.
@heatherstorgaard
"Beer and its importance to Danish culture and society are some things that shocked many internationals when they first move here."PHOTOGRAPHS UNSPLASH TEXT HEATHER STORGAARD
PHOTOGRAPHS UNSPLASH TEXT SHANI BISHOP
IIT'S EASY TO think Easter is celebrated similarly around the Christian, English-speaking world. However, I know how different it can be from researching this article and my travels.
GREECE
When I visited Greece for work just before Easter, I was amazed at the intricate chocolate eggs and animals sold at patisseries. As Greece is a Catholic country, traditions are still important in everyday life. For example, during the Holy Week, the churches' chandeliers and icon screens are dressed in black and purple ribbons, enhancing the atmosphere of mourning for the coming crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ.
On Maundy Thursday, Greek home ovens get very busy as traditional tsoureki (a fragrant Easter brioche) is baked, along with lamprokouloura (Easter cookies). Eggs are immersed in red dye – the red colour symbolising the joy of nature's rebirth and the spiritual regeneration that comes with the Resurrection of Jesus.
On Good Friday, a canopy representing the tomb of Christ is festooned with flowers, and after the evening service, there is a procession. On Saturday, there is a festive dinner serving a traditional soup, and before midnight people gather in church holding white candles, which they light with the "Holy Light" offered by the priest. The Resurrection of Christ is celebrated at Midnight with drums and fireworks lighting the skies as the church bells peal out and the hymn 'Christos Anesti' (Christ is Risen) is chanted by everybody. Then people return home to gather around the festive table; they each hold a red egg and crack it with the person next to them, exclaiming at the same time Christos Anesti. The winner is the one whose egg has remained intact! On Easter Sunday, lamb is served, the atmosphere is festive, and people listen and dance to folk music.
Families in the UK gather for church and a traditional lunch at Easter. Easter eggs are given to children, but these days the choices for adults are so good it would be sad not to have one too! This year's innovation is chocolate orange Easter eggs and a Twirl and orange Smarties. Usually, lamb is served, and there's an egg hunt for the children. Many stately houses and parks organise Easter egg hunts, and sometimes there are traditional events like egg rolling down the hills.
The Japanese love adopting traditions from other countries, Easter, like Halloween, gets bigger yearly. Easter in Japan includes a wide range of Easter chocolate, special events and celebrations aimed at Western visitors. A few years ago, J-pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu released an Easter-themed pop song called 'Easta', which featured dancing eggs! The video is surreal and as far removed from Christianity as possible! Definitely worth seeing.
Many traditions in the US are similar to the UK; eating hot cross buns (the cross signifies the crucifixion) and sim-
nel cake (a fruit cake with 11 balls of marzipan on top representing the disciples minus Judas). However, the vast Easter parades and bunnies at shopping malls make this event much bigger. Egg Rolling was first introduced to Americans by Dolly Madison, the wife of the fourth President, who organised an egg roll in Washington, DC. She had been told that Egyptian children used to roll eggs down the Pyramids, so she invited children to roll eggs down Capitol Hill. The event has grown, and today Easter Monday is the only date in the year that tourists can wander on the White House Lawn.
Gækkebreve, påskefrokost, and påskeferie! Many Easter traditions in Denmark give people a chance to celebrate the arrival of spring. The holiday is one to spend with family and hygge in the warmer weather (if winter is not hanging around).
Gækkebreve, or snowdrop letters, are poems meant to tease the reader and are a widespread tradition throughout Denmark. Following Easter, children will cut paper in intricate shapes and write poems on their decorated papers. School children will send them to their friends and family, and grandparents will often send their grandchildren gækkebreve as well. There are traditional poems that are often used in gækkebreve. The letters are always anonymous but signed with dots corresponding to the number of letters in the sender's name. If the recipient of the letter fails to guess who the sender is before Easter, they owe them a chocolate Easter egg, but if they guess correctly, the sender owes the recipient an Easter egg. Initially, the name came from two factors, the saying at gække, which means to mislead, and the tradition of placing a snowdrop in the letter.
Easter eggs (påskeæg) are everywhere in Denmark around Easter. People decorate their houses with beautifully painted Easter eggs, and chocolate Easter eggs are sold everywhere in stores. The påskehare (Easter bunny) will often bring Danish children a giant chocolate Easter egg on Easter day, or in more recent years, a hollow decorated Easter egg filled with candy. However, throughout the month leading up to Easter, children will receive chocolate Easter eggs from friends and family, so the tradition is not limited to the Easter bunny. In some families, the Easter bunny will hide a bunch of chocolate Easter eggs in the garden for children to find.
So, if you plan to roll an egg down a hill, hide Easter eggs, or spend time with family and friends, have a great Easter! THE-INTL
AAS THE CURTAIN of darkness of the winter months begins to pull back, March and April appear on the horizon and herald the start of Spring. Most of us are ready to abandon hibernation mode and enjoy the new season. Spring heralds the time to set out new aspirations and possibilities to be explored in the forthcoming months.
As we become more active, schools, in contrast, are always busy places and have an array of seasonal activities that need to be rolled out, as the academic year is tightly packed and short.
Divisional leaders organise exam schedules and exam room logistics at the upper levels. Secondary teachers prepare students by working through exam past papers, reviewing complex topics, and advising on successful exam-taking techniques.
In the middle years, students enjoy language trips abroad, skiing trips, and sporting fixtures.
And in the lower primary level, an inspiring event is about to occur. The precise start date depends on the individual school, but it tends to occur in March or April when the pre-school students arrive at school.
Preparations for the exciting day begin as far back as October. Parents looking to enrol their child into an international school start to make applications. Part of the process involves sharing the necessary paperwork, but the more important aspect with children barely 4 years old is their ‘school readiness screening’, determined by an ‘observation day’ spent at school and the recommendation from their nursery or early learning centre.
The ‘screening day’ involves all the prospective new applicants coming together to spend a morning with their pre-school teachers. The two teachers have a unique programme organised for the day, so they can see how the children behave in different situations.
Activities include such things as carpet time to learn names, a creative activity, song singing, unstructured play time, and snack time to see how the little ‘fledglings’ cope alone and away from their parents, how they participate in the activities set out, and how they interact with them, and with their peers?
Checklists are used as a prompt, while observation and pieces produced by a child assist in assessing whether the child can flourish in the school setting or still needs a little more time in an early learning setting. The decision is made by the teachers, school administration, and the parents, with the child’s best interests at the core.
Those children, who indicated they are ready, are scheduled to start in March. From March until June, the pre-school teachers set a schedule to prepare the students for the first class. It is a huge undertaking for the teachers and the little people starting out on an exciting and challenging pathway.
The young students learn through song and ‘hands-on’ activi-
ties. They are taught the days of the week and the calendar, discuss the weather, practice writing their names, learn to count to ten, and start to learn the letters of the alphabet. They are also introduced to very basic phonic learning activities, they are offered many opportunities to speak in complete sentences to a class audience, and they listen to stories. The children also practice drawing and learning some of the names of colours.
The seasoned teachers work on the basic academic aspects and, more importantly, build a class community through structures such as golden rules, which can include bringing a smile to school, including everyone wanting to partner in a game, and sharing compliments and kind words. Actions to model how to connect sensitively and thoughtfully are frequently repeated. Class bonding time is a part of each day. As children come from different cultures and households, a culturally respectful and global-minded approach is set out. This is built upon each year, from primary to secondary school, so a certain mindset is instilled.
An amazing amount of energy is exerted on affirming academic and social competencies, for the teachings received in a child’s formative years provide the fundamental groundwork for a child’s future pathway and destiny. THE-INTL
Sources:
1. Overview of the Danish Education System
2. Assessment Tools for Early Childhood
3. Assessment programmes
Monika comes from the London area of the UK, where she worked in the state system and the international school system, as an English teacher of 11-18 students and then a section leader. She has also worked in Germany and now in Denmark. She has an overview of the British, International, and American educational systems and is currently learning about the Danish system. She has been in education for 32 years and continues to enjoy the profession. She has relocated to Copenhagen as she is married to a Dane. She enjoys jogging, waterside walks, and cooking.
@monikapedersen
@monikapedersen
@monikapedersen
"Spring heralds the time to set out new aspirations and possibilities to be explored in the forthcoming months."PHOTOGRAPHS UNSPLASH TEXT MONIKA PEDERSEN
FORCED STERILISATION, NEGLECT, VIOLENCE, CONFINEMENT AND SEXUAL ABUSE. THIS WAS THE REALITY FOR MANY OF THE DISABLED AND MENTALLY ILL WHO WERE IN THE CARE OF THE DANISH STATE BETWEEN 1933 AND 1980 IN THIS ISSUE, WE HIGHLIGHT A FILM BASED ON A DARK PERIOD IN THE MODERN HISTORY OF DENMARK.
TTHE NEWLY-RELEASED film "Ustyrlig" (Uncontrollable) tells the story of 17-year-old wild and unruly Maren and her 6-year stay at the women's institution Sprogø.
"How can you live with yourself?" asks Sørine, one of the main characters, addressing the words to the primary nurse at Sprogø.
This a sentence that might flash through the viewers' heads several times throughout the newly-released film by Malou Reymann. Especially when they learn that the story is far from fiction and covers a particularly dark period in Denmark's history.
Between 1923 and 1961, Sprogø, a small island along the Great Belt Bridge, was home to the Kellersk Institution. Women were sent to the institution if they were deemed feeble-minded but mostly morally deficient, the symptoms of which were behaviours that broke the established moral code of the era: sexual promiscuity, sexual activity when unmarried, vagrancy, or thieving.
This institution was part of a greater effort in society at that time to make sure that Denmark had a "healthy" population by reducing the number of illegitimate children and children with so-called "degenerate genes", which were mainly blamed on sexually active women. The institution had a dual function as a quarantine for these "morally weak" women and as a deterrent so that other females wouldn't engage in this behaviour.
During its almost 40-year tenure, the Sprogø institute housed around 500 women, usually about 40-50 at a time. In the movie, one of the women is Maren (played with full force at every turn by Emilie Koppel), a 17-year-old girl from Copenhagen who is sent to the institution because of her wild behaviour.
For those unaware of the institution's role in history and the consequences of the stay, its slowly revealed with beautiful contrast. The picturesque house where the women reside is set in an almost unrealistically beautiful setting on a small Danish island. When Maren first arrives at Sprogø, her walk from the harbour is sunlit and leads through a garden filled with beautiful flowers.
The serene atmosphere is, however, very soon contrasted with the hopeless conditions of the institution's inhabitants. The women are used as a source of domestic and agricultural labour to tend to the land on the island (just as they did in the actual Kellersk Institution) - labour was supposed to emulate everyday family life and was meant to "normalise" the women. The lovely house was filled with ever-present rules. The seemingly
MICHAELA MEDVEDOVÁ comes from Slovakia and moved to Denmark 3 years ago to study for her Master's degree. She says living in Odense is the perfect city for her because it's not too large to be intimidating, but still exciting! She works at Umbraco as a Magical Copy Whisperer and started a podcast with her friends - @humans.of.sdu. She loves watching and talking about movies, Harry Potter, karaoke nights (even though she can't sing to save her life), and pub quizzes (winning them, to be specific).
nurturing primary nurse engaged in the frequent infantilisation of the women, constantly addressing them as "girls". And when they became too unruly, they were sent to the "reporting room" (or betænkningsrummet) to calm down - which often took the form of being strapped to the bed. This room still stands in Sprogø, and scratch marks from former inhabitants' nails are still visible on the walls.
While the film unveils the unsettling conditions slowly through the eyes of Maren as she attempts to settle into her new life, it's not long until the movie pulls out the first reveal as if out of a horror movie: even though the women aren't inmates, per se, they are sent to the institution for an indefinite period of time. As Maren, with growing despair, goes around the room and asks the other women how long they've been at Sprogø, she learns that the others have been there for two, five, six, or even twelve years. Maren starts to think that she might never get to leave the island.
In an interesting juxtaposition, the film pits the two main heroines - a "newbie" Maren and a veteran, Sørine - against each other before ultimately coming together and changing each other's lives. The film shows two distinct ways of approaching the system: fighting against it to keep your character - or playing the part of the obedient girl on the slim chance of an early release.
These differences, however, amount to very little when coming to the most upsetting reveal: the introduction of the Sterilization Law of 1934, making the sterilisation of people deemed mentally ill possible. Between 1929 and 1967, 11 thousand people were sterilised - many of which were women from the Sprogø island. The film shows this horrific reality in two examples. After her child is taken away, Maren is sterilised entirely against her will and without her knowledge. Sørine gives her consent, but under duress - undergoing sterilisation was the only option that allowed her to be released from the island.
While, on the surface, the film offers a happy ending, in reality, it's bittersweet at best. It merely highlights how much the system and the laws stole from these women: their motherhood, time, and lives.
Not because they were unruly. But because they lived in disturbing times for which they, to this day, still have received no official apology. It remains to be seen if the Danish government will ever give an official apology and if the government has the will to ensure that this dark period in history can never be repeated. THE-INTL
SARA R. NEWELL is from Canada, went to high-school in Costa Rica, and has worked and studied in Iceland and Denmark. She is a disability rights activist and has a master's degree in Technological Business Development and Biomedical Engineering from Aarhus University. Sara has lived in Denmark since 2003, and lives with her husband and daughter. She hopes to contribute and share insights with others who have children with disabilities. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sararose-newell-b1904726 / https://m.facebook.com/groups/bakopomdepaarorende
LLAST MONTH I wrote about a mini checkin and stock-taking three months into the new year. After a little inventory check, what about a little reset and regroup?
The word 're' has been given a rather bad reputation. Redo, rework, revisit, revise, rejection; but there are also some good ones such as receive, recharge, and recover. Every 're' comes with a new chance to rebuild something, to make it better and perfect it. For example, have you tried to look at some decorations at home and suddenly decided to rearrange them into something else, and are you satisfied with the new outcome? That's precisely what it is about, only that you take a step back and look at the bigger picture of your life, rearrange and remove some of the people, things, situations, and thoughts as it fits to make a satisfying outcome.
Resetting might sound very stressful and heavy but think of resetting your laptop or mobile - sometimes it just needs a little boost, and restarting it, it's all fresh again. We receive an overwhelmingly massive amount of information, emotions and stimulation. It's so easy to take them all in unconsciously and store them in our minds and body. But, like the phone, we also get to a point where it can overload and freeze, especially near total capacity. What do you do then? You go into your phone's storage and clear or offload any old, unnecessary, irrelevant files to clear up space. Why don't you do the same to your mind, body and soul? Resetting just a little gives you room for feeling and thinking clearly. We are quickly on auto-pilot mode without even noticing it, so this is an excellent chance to pause and redirect to where we want to be. Make good use of this, and as much as you need, it is totally ok to pause a little, put things on hold, drop some irrelevant thoughts/ people/emotions, and leave circles and situa-
tions that do not serve you anymore. Only by doing so you're keeping yourself on track to allow chances to pivot.
After you've cleared out everything that is no longer relevant to your life, you have fewer issues to look after. Now is an excellent time to look at different areas in life and see what needs to be re-arranged and regrouped. Perhaps your current role is not allowing you to fully develop your potential, so start looking into opportunities that can let you shine better. Maybe your current diet is a bit imbalanced due to stress - resetting and redirecting will
allow you to try something new to rectify it. This can give more clarity and perspective into many things, clearing out what is unnecessary and irrelevant. Doing so is going to bring more focus. With this sense of clarity and focus, not only do you approach things differently, but you will also be able to come up with some creative solutions that weren't easily reached before because it was simply too chaotic.
After all, we just want some clarity and focus, have some guidance towards the direction in life to get to where we want. Only when you own that clarity and focus in life can you stay centred and hold that vision for the future. With that confidence and inner knowing, you can be more open to whatever changes and surprises might be thrown at you and won't throw you off balance. This is where the fun beginsyour clarity and focus are your strongest anchors. THE-INTL
Like her hometown Hong Kong, Ophelia has a diverse background and upbringing. She moved to Copenhagen in 2019 after 10 years of living in London. Her fashion and journalism career began in 2007 at ELLE Hong Kong magazine, and later on as an online stylist at Net-A-Porter.com in the UK; she has worked with all sorts of creatives, brands and celebrities globally. She now works on everything fashion and communicationrelated. With her love of travelling and places her work brought her to, people she met from all walks of life inspired her to start her own business M for Minimal: a place to raise the awareness of going back to basics through conscious consumption and mindfulness with a touch of spirituality - something she has been practising since her teenage years.
@mforminimal.com
@mforminimal.mfm
@opheliawu
"AFTER YOU'VE CLEARED OUT EVERYTHING THAT IS NO LONGER RELEVANT TO YOUR LIFE, YOU HAVE FEWER ISSUES TO LOOK AFTER."
DECIDING TO LEAVE HOME AND MOVE ABROAD IS NOT EASY, BUT IT CAN BRING YOU A FANTASTIC LIFE EXPERIENCE. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO BE PREPARED. IF YOUR CHOICE IS DENMARK, YOU SHOULD KNOW THESE FACTS.
TTTHE CULTURE SHOCK is bigger for nonEuropeans than Europeans, but Denmark can surprise anybody. The smallest and happiest Scandinavian country is the favourite destination for a high-income, welfare state and high level of equality. Not to mention the tuition-free access to highquality education, no-fee public health care or the relative lack of crime and corruption. For these reasons, people worldwide come to Denmark and settle here. But what is life actually like in this Nordic country?
To start a new life in Denmark, let's start with the practicalities. First, it means finding a job and accommodation before moving to Denmark. Danish law states that you should apply for a residence permit to work, study, seek family reunification, or stay in Denmark longer than 90 days. If you are not an EU citizen, you must apply for a visa too. Most visa types in Denmark require a work contract or a promise of one. EU citizens don't need a visa to enter the country. So for Nordic citizens (Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, or Finnish), relocating to Denmark, it's even easier.
The good news is that there is no language barrier in Denmark. Most Danes speak fluent English, which is also the language of communication in many international companies. Of course, at least a basic knowledge of Danish will help you integrate quicker into Danish society and give you more opportunities to find a job, but it's not a necessity. However, you will need Danish if you decide to study in Denmark. Many universities and schools for higher education require a certain level of Danish. But don't worry! After getting a residence permit, you can apply for free Danish courses in language centres nationwide.
Life in Denmark can be disappointing - the weather, for one. The Danish weather is sometimes terrible, and it can be depress-
ing – especially for our southern internationals. Winter can be challenging when there are short days in Denmark due to darkness. Hygge appears to ease this, but the combination of rain, wind, cold and dark can make it difficult. On the other hand, Danish summers are amazing! Although the temperatures aren't as warm as in other countries, there's something magical about the sun setting at midnight.
Unfortunately, Denmark is a challenging country if you want to make new friends. Danes are pretty reserved, and it takes time for them to accept you in their friendship circle immediately. Of course, they are always polite and kind but don't expect a deep friendship after the first meeting. Many newcomer families worry about feeling isolated without the social networks they relied on back home - but everything is just a matter of time. You need a little more time in Denmark to become part of the community. For example, leisure activities where you can find like-minded people, meet parents of school-aged children, or even Danish courses can help you. Local or church communities are also suitable for getting to know your new neighbourhood.
If you are still interested in living in Denmark, you can look forward to a future in a modern and sustainable country where most of the population cycles, uses public transportation and takes care of their environment. You're unlikely to find trash on the streets (this usually happens after city festivals but is cleaned up the next day) or empty plastic bottles in a forest. Danes recycle, so if you're not used to that, expect to have many different rubbish bins in your home. Plastic and glass bottles and beverage cans are collected at home and taken into supermarkets, where you get money back for recycling – this is called pant
Denmark is a child-friendly country, as seen by the creative playgrounds and children's corners in public spaces. The wellbeing of the child is always first and foremost. Danes care about children's safety and support them to grow into independent adults. Raising your voice or hitting a child is unimaginable and inadmissible in Denmark. As a mother, I appreciate that. Will Denmark be your new home? I'm curious to see what impression this small Scandinavian country will have on you.
THE-INTL
Natalia is a Slovak journalist based in Aalborg, Denmark. She has around 15 years of experience in journalism. Her experiences as an editor and a reporter were founded in Slovak magazines and newspapers. She was also working as a TV reporter, a TV moderator and a host in radio broadcasting. Part of her career included working with PR and marketing. Natália is also a content creator on her social media. Follow her blog www.mamavdansku.com , where she writes about life in Denmark.
@Natália Šepitková
@Mama v Dánsku
@Mum in Denmark
"DENMARK IS A CHILDFRIENDLY COUNTRY, AS SEEN BY THE CREATIVE PLAYGROUNDS AND CHILDREN'S CORNERS IN PUBLIC SPACES."
