international
the
ISSN 2596-5220
VALENTINE SURPRISE COOKIES
LOVE IN THE TIME OF COVID
THE YEAR OF THE VACCINE
WOMEN IN THE TECH WORLD
FEBRUARY 2021 - THE-INTL.COM
CARRIENE LEADS THE WAY
FOR INTERNATIONAL ENTREPRENEURS IN DENMARK
ONLINE
PAPER
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CARING FOR OTHERS STARTS WITH CARING FOR NO.1 FIRST LOVING YOURSELF ISN'T A LUXURY; IT'S A NECESSITY, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S CURRENT WORLD PANDEMIC. SO, BEGIN BY TAKING CARE OF YOU FIRST, AND MOST OF ALL, GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK WHEN YOU FALL SHORT. BRUSH YOURSELF OFF AND GET BACK INTO IT AGAIN. LIKE THE LYRICS TO A FAMOUS SONG ONCE SAID: "I GET KNOCKED DOWN, BUT I GET UP AGAIN, YOU ARE NEVER GONNA KEEP ME DOWN."
F
FEBRUARY IS THE month marketing com-
yourself what you need most and then cover yourself with those thoughts.
panies monetise love. If you don't want to buy into the hype of cheesy gifts, and overpriced flowers - why not focus on something different this Valentine's day - YOU! We are often very hard on ourselves - and how do you possibly pass on that love to others if you can't love yourself. So, time to get to work, practise a bit of self-care and much needed ME time. Here are my five best tips for February and beyond:
BECOME THAT SOMEONE WHO LOVES. If you're in a place today where you don't love yourself, it's hard to take a quantum leap and become someone who does. Instead of loving yourself, focus on being someone who loves. Allow love to flow through you as often as possible. Focus on what you love about the people you meet. Focus on what you appreciate while going to the supermarket, sitting in a virtual meeting, or while having a Facetime call with someone. Simply, adjust your body to positive emotions by finding as many things to love and appreciate as possible.
STOP THE COMPARISON GAME. Comparison is a killer to self-acceptance. We aren't usually very nice when it comes to comparisons, right? Instead, we take our most significant flaws and compare them to someone else's success. Realise that you can't compare your life to someone else's because no matter how well you think you know them, you never know how they feel or what is happening behind closed doors. Instead, spend your
ACCEPT WHAT YOU CANNOT LOVE.
time and energy on nourishing and building your own path.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE YOU FEEL GOOD AND ALIGN WITH. Oh, this was one of my biggest lessons. Think about those people you know who inspire, fill you up, and want what's best for you? Just because you've been friends for a long time, doesn't mean you need to keep spending time together. Just because you're taking a break from someone, doesn't mean you won't be close again. Be picky about who you spend your time with. Be there because you want to; otherwise, don't.
BE COMPASSIONATE WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH. So many of us tend to beat ourselves up when we need to show ourselves a little love the most. When we fail or screw up, or someone rejects us, that's the time we often get harder on ourselves. Choose to be most loving and forgiving with yourself when things don't go as planned. Ask
This might have been the greatest gamechanger for me. Because let's face it: It's easy to love what you love about yourself and not so easy to love the things you don't. Instead of aiming to love those parts, which will probably just make your mind go "Yeah right!", focus on accepting them. I've had a hard time accepting certain things, and because at times, and for no real reason, I can get very nervous and anxious. I have a sneaky suspicion it might have reared its ugly head during the lockdown. Simple things, such as going to the supermarket, can feel challenging. Instead of rejecting or trying to love this nervous side of myself, I'm reminding myself to accept it. When it happens, I'll tell myself something along the lines of "It's okay, I can be nervous going to the supermarket today. It's not the end of the world." You don't need to love everything about yourself to achieve this; all you need is acceptance. We hope you enjoy the February issue of The International as it's always made with you the reader in mind. Remember to be fair to each other - but most importantly, be good to yourself.
My top picks for February Pages 10-13 Carriene blazes a trail for female entrepreneurs in Denmark
Page 16 Love in the time of Covid. Exploring how we develop a new normal for love during a pandemic.
Page 19 Women in the tech world. How far have we really come in this predominantly male field?
Page 24 The year of the vaccine. Public health in the post-truth era
Page 25
Love,
Valentine surprise cookies. Who doesn't love a little surprise
LYNDSAY JENSEN - EDITOR & FOUNDER
when it comes in cookie form?
THE-INTL.COM
MEET THE TEAM
EDITOR & FOUNDER LYNDSAY JENSEN has over twenty years' experience in the advertising and publishing industry, and holds degrees in Business and Desktop Publishing (print and repro). Born in the UK, and brought up in South Africa, she has the ability to understand different cultures, and is passionate about networking. She is a wife of twenty three years and mother to two boys aged 22 and 16. She loves travel, photography, music and art. lyndsay@the-intl.com
MANAGING DIRECTOR & PARTNER KENNETH MACALPINE is a Nordic Financial Manager in the Transport industry. His degree is in Finance and business obtained in the UK. Born in Norway he moved to Denmark at the age of 22. He is of Danish Scottish ancestry and lives in southern Denmark with his large multi-national family consisting of Danish, Irish and Brazilian heritage. He is always interested in new challenges and loves to live life to the fullest. kenneth@the-intl.com
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SALES For advertising sales,
CONSULTING EDITOR
SALES MANAGER
CONRAD EGBERT is a journalist and editor with over 20 years of experience across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Apart from writing for The International, he also heads up the newly established Magazines and Supplements division for the company. If you wish to participate in any of our future magazines and supplements, make sure to drop him a line at conrad@theintl.com
CONNOR JENSENis taking a gap year before continuing his studies in education. Born in South Africa and moving to Denmark at a young age, he realtes to internationl life. He enjoys meeting new cultures, music and hanging out with his family and friends.
OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM AROUND DENMARK HEAD OF SOCIAL MEDIA CATHERINE HEFFERAN is originally from DC, and loves living in Copenhagen. A pass i o n f o r t r av e ling, meeting new people, and dabbling in other artistic endeavors outside of social media, like illustration, graphic design and podcasting keeps her busy.
please contact: sales@the-intl.com
CONTACT The International ApS; +45 42407624
COVER PICTURE Søren Hald
DISTRIBUTION The International is available at a range of businesses, institutions, embassies, cafés and public libraries across Denmark
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SUBSCRIPTIONS For home or corporate delivery of the printed edition please contact: distribution@the-intl.com
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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 © 2020 The International ApS. Registered in Denmark / CVR Number: 39118181
The International is published 12 times a year. This issue was published on 5 February, 2021
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THE FEEL-GOOD STORIES OF DENMARK
Warrior Women Championing Female Empowerment
CHRIS JOHNSON
CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST IN DENMARK
Chris Johnson moved to Denmark three months ago from his homeland in the U.K and has already begun to make an impact here through efforts to raise money for charity.
PICTURES COURTESY OF AMAGER VILLAGE
CREATING A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
Living just a few minutes from Amager Bakke (also known as Copenhill), Johnson decided he would climb the hill 114 times, which is equivalent to the height of the world's tallest mountain, Mount Everest. "I chose the charities Bedford Foodbank (U.K.) and the community work of my church here, Copenhagen Vineyard because I have seen firsthand the huge difference they are making in the lives of disadvantaged individuals and families, especially during the lockdown," said Johnson. Working as a web developer from home during the day, Johnson set out to take on the challenge by climbing mostly during evenings throughout the whole month of January. This can be quite a drag as it takes away the view in addition to the freezing temperatures that the Danish winter offers. "It has been a tough job, and my legs ache most of the day before and after climbing now," said
Johnson. "It can become quite monotonous climbing alone. Fortunately, friends and housemates have joined me on occasion, which makes a huge difference and lifts my spirits when it is getting tough!" The motivated Brit is on target to reach his fundraising goals as he nears towards the end of his climb, aiming to send 500 pounds back home to the foodbank, and 2,000 DKK towards his local church in Copenhagen. "It has been great to see how people have come on board to give, even when they might have difficulties of their own. Together we are stronger than alone, and it's in difficult times like these that the strength of community and generosity changes (and even saves) lives," said Johnson. THE-INTL For more information regarding Chris Johnson's charity: htt p s : //w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m /d o nate/130176528913964/
JAKOB WEIZMAN Moving to Denmark can be quite the challenge, especially during a pandemic which renders it difficult to reach out and socialise with other people. In Copenhagen's Amager district, many internationals reside there, including the Amager Village community founder, Amelie Taralle, who lives there with her husband and two sons. With a background in project management, Taralle asked herself how to find an innovative way to bring people from different cultures and backgrounds together. "I thought of creating Amager Village as a way to connect internationals with Danes to discover Amager and live a more sustainable way of life," said Taralle, who is from France. "So far we have organised clean up events, parents meetups, pub meetups, nature reserve brunch, grill meetup and walks."
“Taralle organises events that assemble locals to socialise whilst helping the environment.” Taralle realised the importance of invoking a feeling of closeness in Denmark, where many internationals find it challenging to adapt and settle in. She told The In-
ternational how much a difference it makes to the people in the area, bringing a better sense of belonging. "I met another mother through my son's school, who had been here for 4 years and had never been invited for tea at any other parent's house," said Taralle. "I was shocked when she told me that after I invited her over the first week, I met her." Showcasing how meaningful Amager Village has become, Taralle leads in organising events that assemble local residents to socialise whilst helping the environment. "We organise clean up events, I had them set up every 2 weeks on a Saturday, but sadly they were cancelled earlier this year due to Corona restrictions," said Taralle. "My vision is to get them organised regularly in different areas of Amager simultaneously linking up with local companies (cafes, restaurants etc.), associations and social enterprises to give them exposure but also to help us with supplies for the cleanups," she added. THE-INTL You can find Amager Village on Facebook and Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/groups/amagervillage https://www.instagram.com/amagervillage/?hl=en
JAKOB WEIZMAN is Danish-Colombian. As an international journalist he's covered political and cultural topics in Kosovo, Colombia and Austria. He currently resides in Aalborg, and is achieving his Master's degree. Jakob likes to read, exercise, listen to classic rock, and is a linguist.
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JAKOB WEIZMAN
JAKOB WEIZMAN As the lockdown continues to distance ourselves further apart from one another, it can cause a heavy burden on those looking for support and ways to network. Thankfully, Barbara Mensah, a London girl with Ghanian roots, has been living in Denmark for almost four years now and created a community for women to encourage and assist each other. “Warrior Women - Denmark was created with the help of Melanie Smith in February 2020. lt has grown into what started as a 3 member group to what is now over 600 members,” said Mensah, who runs Barbara Mensah beauty studio in Copenhagen and sells her own products. “The inspiration behind creating the group was simply to create a community, a safe place for women to come together and be there for one another.” Coming to life in February of last year, the group began to plan networking, speaking and pop-up events, however, with the pandemic coming into full effect they were forced to postpone. Hopefully, as the lockdown will end soon, Mensah affirmed that Warrior Women would continue with their initial plans.
“The inspiration behind creating the group was simply to create a community, a safe place for women to come together and be there for one another.” “The mandate was always to help build and uplift women and to create a safe space from which resources can be shared. It leaves members with a sense of empowerment and family from which they can feel strong so they can move forward with knowledge and power,” said Canadian Melanie Smith, who runs and owns Art Escape Studios in Copenhagen. “The group is exactly what international or local women need in Denmark! It is a group for any kind of support and networking, to grow a stronger community for helping each other. Positive vibes from many kind-hearted women” added Claire Tsang, who runs her own Zumba studio and is one of the group’s members. THE-INTL To learn more about Warrior Women, check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/1483393538506168
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ONLINE EVENTS
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COPENHAGEN LIGHT FESTIVAL FB PAGE
As the lockdown continues, The International will keep you updated as much as possible through our social media and website about online and live safe events. We always encourage you to follow the government's guidelines and stay safe. For up to date information on these guidelines and latest news follow: www.coronasmitte.dk
5-27 FEBRUARY
10 FEBRUARY
COPENHAGEN LIGHT FESTIVAL
RESEARCH ROCKSTARS Are you looking for inspiration for your upcoming research project or knowing more about the world-class research conducted in Denmark? Then join our online event "Research Rockstars" on February 10th. The event is focused on the fantastic research and researchers in Denmark, aiming to inspire young talent in their future life science endeavours. We have invited four prominent speakers from academia, representing four different research areas, to shed some light on what they are currently working on.
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Copenhagen Light Festival is an annual cultural event in February around the harbour and the inner city to create a special atmosphere that displays a mix of different colour and light experiences in unique places suitable for a large and broad audience. Whether you are a tourist, new in town or living in Copenhagen, the Light Festival is a great way to discover some of the city's hidden places, squares and parks where upcoming artists, as well as established ones, have decided to display their arts to the public. Event hosted by Cph LightFestival P.S: Most lights are turned on from 17:00-22:00
For more events around Denmark, check out the KultuNaut website: https://www.kultunaut.dk/perl/arrlist/type-nynaut/UK?DefaultGenre=-Gudstjeneste|-Undervisning|-Film
Programme (includes Q&A sessions): 17:00 - 17:10: Synapse presentation 17:10 - 17:40: Susanne Mandrup on adipocyte signalling 17:40 - 18:10: Hans Wandall on glycomics 18:10 - 18:15: 5-minute break 18:15 - 18:45: Sine Hadrup on T-cells and cancer 18:45 - 19:15: Andreas Laustsen on antivenom
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/CPHLIGHTFEST
Participation is free, but registration is required. Please contact events@synapse-connect.org for any questions regarding the event.
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SYNAPSE. BIOSCIENCECONNECT/
WANT TO JOIN A VIBRANT PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL NETWORK ? Inspiration and motivation Exposure to media and relevant groups of clients Establishing friendships and network Connect with a larger client base!
CONTACT US TODAY : INFO@INTHQ.ORG
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13 FEBRUARY
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14 FEBRUARY
VIRTUAL WHISKY TASTING
CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE WORKSHOP
THE LOCKDOWN LOVE-IN QUIZ!
Treat yourself and your loved ones to a one of a kind chocolate truffle workshop in the comfort of your own kitchens! Spend the afternoon learning how to make 3 types of truffles with me via Zoom. This is going to be fun, don't miss it! The recipe cards and Zoom link will be sent 5 days in advanced of the workshop, and a recording will be shared with the participants 24 hours after the event. See you there!
Join tons of other singles, families, couples and neighbours in a six-round, fun-filled quiz. For just £3 per household, you'll be transported to a fastpaced, frantic forum and find out just how much or little you know about everyone from Harry Potter, to Harry Styles via Harry Truman. Hosted by Venus, the goddess of love is currently furloughed from Tinder and trying her hand at quizmaster.
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An evening not to be missed! Taste some of the Single Cask International Releases that were bottled for specific markets around the world. There are only six each of these bottles! The set costs 300 DKK for 2cl of each whisky. You can order online https://cadenheads.dk/shop/virtualtasting-13-1898p.html if you are interested. They can be collected in the shop or sent to you (cost will depend, of course, on where about in the world you live).
FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/EVENTS/8 36512606922575/?ACONTEXT=%7B%22EVENT_ACTION_ HISTORY%22%3A[%7B%22MECHANISM%22%3A%22SEA RCH_RESULTS%22%2C%22SURFACE%22%3A%22BOOKM ARK%22%7D]%7D
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14 FEBRUARY
17 FEBRUARY
20 FEBRUARY
VALENTINE'S DAY SHUFFLE
BOLLYWOOD MAGIC WORKSHOP
DANCING TO MOTOWN MAGIC
Let's get bouncing and grooving with the sparkle of Bollywood dance. All you need is tons of smiles and energy, and why not wear something colourful or even glittery?! Before registering for this workshop, please read our code of conduct for online workshops This is a live workshop supported by a creative practitioner via Zoom. When you book your free tickets, you will receive an email that will give you information on accessing the workshop between 13–21 February.
The most significant R&B act of all-time—Boyz II Men, performing on our virtual stage. Grammy-winning R&B Diva Thelma Houston singing to fill our hearts. AND MC Lyte, one of the greatest MCs of all time and a quintessential pioneer of female rap, on the decks to make us dance with reckless abandon... This one's a dream come true. And on Saturday, February 20th—from 11am to 1pm Eastern Time—we'll be making history together with a global Livestream dance party to call in A Joy Supreme. To honour Black History Month, we're coming together with AARP for an intergenerational celebration of dance, music, community and more than a half-century of Motown magic—the sound and legacy that changed America. AARP is empowering this experience to make tix free for the community—so snag your RSVP before we hit max Zoom Room capacity. Together, we'll enjoy a little slice of bliss at home with the irreverent, glorious melodies and unforgettable hooks that didn't just define a sound but also a joyous state of mind. It all starts with a 20-minute dance warm-up to introduce Steppin' & Line-Dancing into our movement vocabulary.
AFYP is proud to present an afternoon of Broadway hits featuring Teaching Artists from Showcase, Summer Camp, AFYP@Home, and beyond! The Valentine's Day Shuffle will premiere at 14:00 on Sunday, February 14 and be available on-demand until Sunday, February 21. On the day of the show, you will be sent a link to a private viewing page where you will view the performance. Featuring: Hayley Dandreaux, Tylor Goshorn, Kendall Huheey, Adam Lemos, Vivian Lemons, Ahmad Maaty, Jackie Salvador, Jacquie Smith, Justin Sumblin, Kathleen West, Grayson Yuzon. Created by Ahmad Maaty and Jackie Salvador. Additional direction by Rebecca Wahls.
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24 FEBRUARY
24-25 FEBRUARY
26-27 FEBRUARY
VOGUE BEGINNERS
WINTER SCHOOL 2021: TWELFTH NIGHT
WORLD TØLT ICELANDIC HORSES
Enjoy a rich and varied programme of talks and conversations focusing on the festive comedy Twelfth Night. This is a two-day event and will include a live-streamed showing of Adam Smethurst's film version of the play (starring Sheila Atim as Viola), a 'Cakes and Ale' Shakespeare Quiz, and expert explorations of the play itself from different perspectives: the composer (Bill Barclay), the film-maker (Adam Smethurst), the performer (Emma Fielding), the critic (Dr Ailsa Grant-Ferguson), the editor (Dr Paul Edmondson and Professor Sir Stanley Wells), and the theatre-goer/historian (Professor Carol Chillington Rutter). The event will be hosted by Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's Nick Walton and colleagues Anjna Chouhan and Darren Freebury-Jones.
WORLD Tølt is the world's largest indoor event for Icelandic horses with fiery stallions, magical fair atmosphere and uncomparable equestrians. Enjoy gait competitions, shows and exhibitors on Friday and Saturday in Arena Fyn! The exhibition area offers everything your heart desires, and there is something for every budget when you need a break from the arena excitement. Trailers, saddles, food, and horse care is just a small selection of the weekend's temptations.
Curious about voguing? It's time to serve some lines and pose at our monthly beginners class! Join Jason, Mother of House of Myztique and the North East's very own House of Finesse to serve face and hit that Zoom runway! Vogue, or Voguing, is a highly stylized, modern house dance originating in the late 1980s which evolved out of the Harlem ballroom scene of 1960's America. Developed and performed by LGBTQIA+ people of colour to create and own their own space, it has grown to become a celebration of their culture. Our online Vogue beginners classes will explore the history of vogue techniques and choreography and build your confidence and skills in voguing, whilst having a tonne of fun doing it. Suitable for: Anyone aged 16+ with little or no vogue experience.
VISIT ODENSE - MARIUS MACKENZIE
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A value-driven community that welcomes students ages 4-16. 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. • High academic standards • Christian ethos • Beautiful campus, located in Hellerup • Global community • NEASC accreditation • Cambridge Assessment International Education Bernstorffsvej 54, 2900 Hellerup +45 39 62 10 53
Learn more at rygaards.com
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27 FEBRUARY
27-28 FEBRUARY
27-28 FEBRUARY
PEN TO PRINT: COMIC BOOK WORKSHOP WITH WALLIS EATES
ONLINE CRAFT FAIR LONDON MAKERS MARKET
DISCO INTO YOUR DAY
Please note: There are several dates from February through to June, so there will be more if you miss the February session.
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On Saturday 27th February and Sunday 28th February, we will be hosting an online market via our Instagram stories and website. Discover new brands and products from the comfort of your home! Looking to find gifts for all occasions, unusual Mother's Day gifts, or only interested in having a browse? We will introduce you to 35 different businesses at this virtual event, from art, candles and stationery products, to foodie gifts, jewellery and homewares, there will be something to tempt everyone. To enjoy browsing and shopping unique products from a curated selection of talented makers: Head to www.londonmakersmarket.com to shop the full Market Catalogue from 11am on Saturday 27th February. The six Featured Makers will be live on our website a week beforehand if you want to take a look. Tune in to our Instagram stories between 11:00-15:00 on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th February. We will have 35 different creatives and independent businesses selling their goodies. From jewellery, confectionaries and art, to homewares, stationery and ceramics, discover a varied range of beautiful products, and support small businesses at the same time! At intervals, over the weekend, we will be interviewing and featuring the creatives involved via Instagram TV.
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Join Wallis Eates at this fantastic workshop, whether it's learning new skills or brush up on your talent, Wallis's workshops will give you the confidence to produce some excellent artwork! NB: To make the most of the Comic Book Workshops with Wallis Eates, please ensure that you book your place, there are 10 sessions to book individually. Once you have signed up for the workshop, you will be sent a material list in the confirmation email, to ensure you have the correct equipment to enable you to participate in the session, along with the online link. Booking is essential. Pen to Print and our partners reserve the right to remove participants who are found not to have booked a place for this session. Pen to Print and our partners reserve the right to remove participants who are disruptive to a session. To ensure you don't miss out on the latest updates, please sign up to our e-newsletter.
Join us for an uplifting living room boogie to a fantastic soundtrack covering the last few decades. Festival, party-wear optional but very welcome. This event is suitable for all ages and abilities, you can dance at your own pace. Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-10:00 Saturdays 10:00-11:00 For monthly updates about our work sign up to our enews: https://slidedance.wordpress.com/contact-us/ SLiDE is a registered charity: 1164827 www.slidedance. org
copenhagen photo experience The best way to get to know your city while capturing some unique moments.
For bookings or inquiries: @copenhagenphotoexperience
@copenhagenphotoexperience
cph.photo.experience@gmail.com
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CARRIENE
RENDBO BLAZING A TRAIL FOR FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS IN DENMARK
AFTER A LIFETIME OF DAMAGING HAIR PROCEDURES, CARRIENE RENDBO STARTED TRANSITIONING TO HER NATURALLY CURLY HAIR WHILE TRANSITIONING TO DENMARK. TODAY, I LOVE NATURAL HAIR'S FOUNDER USES HER COMPANY TO ADVOCATE FOR REPRESENTATION AND SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT HAVING NATURAL HAIR - AND LOVING IT.
PHOTOGRAPHS SØREN HALD / SYLVA BOCSA
MOVING TO A new country can stir up deep identity questions. The journey of finding oneself in a new country and culture is, at the same time, a journey of redefining who you are - and sometimes, it works as a wake-up call, or a unique opportunity to show your true self to the world. In the case of entrepreneur Carriene Rendbo, Denmark is where this transformation happened, and where she flourished from within. With a big smile, Carriene disentangles her life through the story of her hair – curly and natural, and relaxer-free for the past eleven years. As we chat, the curls stay hidden under a plastic cap, being nourished by natural products, this is one of Carriene's steps in her hair routine, developed over many years. "As young black girls, you are taught your hair is your crown and glory, and this forms a part of your identity." Hair is an extension of your fashion and is a billion-dollar industry around the world. You can make the transformation from long lushes locks to short bobs, the choices are endless. In 2010, one year after leaving London and moving to Denmark, the stress became noticeable. While struggling to secure a TV production job, the traction alopecia that Carriene was suffering from became worse, it affects the hairline and leads to subsequential hair loss. The leading cause being many years of wearing weaves, artificial hair extensions etc. and not giving the hair time to rest in its natural state. "I didn’t have sufficient
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knowledge to take care of my hair, and I should have given my hair a break in between all these changes and treatments. I struggled to embrace my natural hair and the identity that I had created with my weaves. When I look back, it felt like it was very much a part of my identity, and I had to now learn to embrace my natural hair", muses Carriene.
EMBRACING A NEW CULTURE Arriving in Denmark during 2009, she wasn't prepared for how different it would feel compared to London. Coming from South London, a cultural melting pot - where you are exposed to so much more, Denmark appeared a little more sheltered. Not knowing Copenhagen's community, she didn't feel entirely at ease wearing her natural hair and how it would impact her professionally either. "Unfortuntely, some employers don’t accept certain natural hairstyles on black people, and not knowing this predominantly blonde/blue-eyed society, I wasn't sure how I would be perceived. On top of that, Carriene didn't speak a word of Danish. "I felt like a bit of an outsider. Being British did have its advantages, but I did encounter some awkward situations where people assumed my husband had saved me from poverty, because of my skin colour", she remembers. But as you do in a new community, you learn, discover, and ad-
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just, and not only was this my husband's home, I also wanted to make Denmark my home.
LEARNING TO LOVE NATURAL During her first year of living in Copenhagen, Carriene would still travel back to the UK to get her weaves done. But when the traction alopecia became unmanageable, she couldn't sustain the hairstyles anymore. Denmark proved to be the best place she could have been to go through her hair transition. "It was almost easier to do it here because I didn't really know that many people (that might recognise me in the street). I had to move past my insecurities and realise that my hair didn't make me - I was more than just my hair". In many cases, after years of procedures like weaving and chemical relaxing, it is hard to know what your natural hair looks like. For Carriene, that meant she had to reinvent herself. Following a friend's suggestion, Youtube videos became the first source for her to figure out how to take care of her curls, which took time. Despite Carriene's will to keep searching for a hair routine that worked, in 2010, Denmark didn't have a wide range of options specialising in natural hair. When Carriene first moved to Denmark, many specialised hair shops in Copenhagen usually focused on weaves and extensions, and seldom had natural hair products. Little by little, Carriene adapted the videos she watched online, keeping what she noticed worked for her. Developing her own hair routine and seeing her hairline improving, Carriene started gaining confidence. Her personal struggle with her hair became an opportunity to share her experience with other curly fans, and the idea to start I Love Natural Hair seemed, well‌ only natural. "Because I struggled with it, I knew others were struggling too. Going natural was very liberating!"
hair types, the business was a source filled with empowering content. From finding out your curl type to simple explanations on hair care management, the website is filled with content tailored for people who have just arrived in the natural hair world to the importance of diet and exercise. When asked about the journey of opening a business in Denmark, Carriene highlights the importance of having had assistance from the municipality of Copenhagen: "It was effortless to start a business here. The kommune had free courses on getting started, and I was blessed with a Danish business mentor. I will forever be grateful for his open, welcoming and supportive approach during my initial start-up. This was my first time interacting with the local side of Denmark, and he always made time for me, guided me and cheered me on through every step of the way." Like many entrepreneurs experience, success didn't come right away, and Carriene kept her job as an English teacher on the side as she built up her business. "It has been a tough journey, and at times I would work around 15 hours a day. I thought of giving up, but every time I felt like packing it in, I would get a message from someone who had visited my website saying: "I love natural hair, it has helped me on my hair journey, thank you", explains Carriene. Set up for both English and Danish market, the website has successfully connected Carriene to curly women all over Denmark. One of these connections was with Sari, a Danish girl who realised her fears were unfounded regarding her hair. "I remember the feeling, being so nervous, and I knew that everybody was gonna look at me and think: Wow, that's some crazy hair because all of the other girls had long blonde hair", says Sari on a video on the I Love Natural Hair's website. Her mom found the website and suggested that she tried the techniques. Sceptical initially, Sari attended a workshop where Carriene taught her the routines she should follow to get the best of her hair. On the website, one of the most essential pieces of information is regarding the existing curl types. Type 2 is wavy hair; type 3 is curly hair; type 4 is textured hair. Working with various hair types also led Carriene to understand that one size doesn't always fit all. "There isn't a magic formula that can work for everyone", as the organisation's informative website makes it clear.
"THE WEBSITE WAS CREATED AS A PLATFORM TO EMPOWER PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAD STRUGGLED WITH HAIR ISSUES LIKE ME." - CARRIENE RENDBO
BUILDING A BRAND Carriene started offering workshops, providing scientific and practical information for those who needed guidance with their hair. Part of that knowledge was initially highlighted on her own Youtube channel, which has collected almost one million views. But it was through ilovenaturalhair.dk that she became an entrepreneur. "The website was created as a platform to empower people, especially those who had struggled with hair issues like me", adds Carriene, who officially started her business nine years ago. Besides selling products for the entire range of different curly
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WEBSITE DEMOGRAPHIC With the I Love Natural Hair's page portraying a palette of women, children and men, Carriene stays true to her original goal of
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A focus on learning creating a space for people to reach out that have struggled with their hair for years, just like she did. "I'm sticking to what I know best", she says, adding "I was always trying to find myself in people that didn't look like me. I think representation is vital and also showing positive images of different cultures and their curls". "Me succeeding in my business is not only about providing for my family but also about changing the narrative of how black females can be portrayed in Denmark and I feel I'm on my way with I Love Natural Hair''.
THE ROAD AHEAD Settling in can be a long process, but Carriene is happy to say that Denmark is finally home after eleven years. "Now I'm settled, I've grown more confident, fallen in love with the people of the country, and an added bonus - my hair is now the longest and healthiest it's ever been!" She is also starting to appreciate Denmark's unique worklife balance as a wife, raising two children and being a business owner. She wants to serve as an inspiration for not only her children, but other up and coming start-up businesses, and know that you can have it all! As a tip for newcomers, she suggests you focus on learning the language, she is still on the path of mastering advanced Danish. "You have to focus on the fact that you're not doing it for others around you, but you're doing it for yourself", she suggests. For the future, Carriene plans on working with her new skills as a trichologist and has recently received her education in scalp treatment, hair loss, and other hair related issues - so watch this space. THE-INTL
Early Years setting (3-5 year olds) Primary School (5-11 year olds) Secondary School (11-16 year olds) High School (16-18 year olds)
www.nis-ngg.dk Cirkelhuset, Christianshusvej 16 DK, 2970 Hørsholm
Small classes · Support and guidance from dedicated teachers · Sports College · Music Academy · An international learning environment
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT I LOVE NATURAL HAIR, YOU CAN VISIT THE WEBSITE: www.ilovenaturalhair.com
Cambridge International School
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TACKLE A DANISH TRAIL THIS WINTER GETTING OUTSIDE FOR A LONG WALK DURING LOCKDOWN
PHOTOGRAPHS ERIN GUSTAFSON
TEXT ERIN GUSTAFSON
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YOU MAY LOOK outside your window at the cold and damp and deem winter in Denmark unworthy of outdoor pursuits. But as the old adage goes, there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing. So, bundle up and bring your packed lunch or warm drinks along for a little Danish hiking inspiration. Did you know that Denmark has thousands and thousands of kilometres of walking and trekking paths spanning different parts of the country? Come winter, the Danish landscape affords gorgeous variations with wide-open vistas through farmlands, forests and beaches right along the sea. Many of these routes were designed for multi-day trekking, and when it’s safe to do so, you can book stays along the way. Until then, why not consider tackling a section or two of these nature-filled paths.
ON ZEALAND AMARMINO 27 kilometres - Amager www.naturparkamager.dk/oplevelser/amarminoen One of the newest trails is the Amarmino and is a perfect example of Denmark’s nature right next door to urban settings. Right outside Copenhagen, starting points in Amager are easily accessible by public transportation. Hike through green Amager Fælled, then along the canal and out to the fort at adorable sea village of Dragør. TISVILDEVEJEN 77 kilometres - Esrum to Tisvildeleje www.tisvildevejen.dk Serene scenery starts at the historic Esrum Kloster, and the first two stages take you through one of Denmark’s oldest growth forests – Gribskov. Through the trees, keep an eye out for the huge herd of Fallow Deer and look to the trees to spot the resident Osprey and Sea Eagles. The last two stages take you along the shores of the Arresø and through villages inhabited since Vi-
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ERIN GUSTAFSON WRITER & BLOGGER
king times and then ends straight in the sea at adorable Tisvildeleje on the North Zealand coast. CAMØNOEN 175 kilometres - Islands of Møn, Nyord and Bogo www.camoenoen.dk Less than two hours south of the Danish capital brings you to the beautiful island landscape of Møn. You may know of the stunning limestone cliffs at Møns Klint, but the paths here are only part of the gorgeous Camønoen. Traipse across the small bridge to the little island of Nyord through a marshy refuge to find migrating birds. The tiny carless village of Nyord is a perfect place for a pause. When open, the Møn Museum in Stege is ideal for getting local information and planning your route.
ON FUNEN SOUTH FUNEN ARCHIPELAGO TRAIL | ØHAVSSTIEN 220 kilometres - Southern part of Funen, Tåsinge, Langeland, Ærø
www.visitfyn.dk/fyn/oplevelser/vandringpa-fyn One of the prettiest and most impressive trails takes you along the southern shores of Funen and potentially aboard ferries to the lovely string of islands sitting nearby in the blue Baltic sea. Along the hikers only track, you’ll find bird reserves as you pass castles and villages to get a real Danish island feel. Plan ahead to take part in the Danish Fjällräven Classic – happening this coming July 2021 along a section of the archipelago trail. Tickets and details will be available soon.
ON JUTLAND COAST TO COAST PATH | KYST TIL KYST STIEN www.kyst-kyststien.dk Pick one or more of the twelve sections this winter that takes you from the east coast of Jutland to the west. Begin in Vejle and pass through the hilly moraine countryside that has been shaped by the last ice age. Follow river valleys and past farms to ultimately end at the Blue Flag beach of Blåvandshuk. THE-INTL
Erin is a travel writer and culture hound exploring a life across borders in Copenhagen, Denmark. She is the creator-in-chief at Oregon Girl Around the World, a blog that focuses on sustainable travel for the whole family. With a background in graphic design, photography and art history, Erin has a creative way of seeing a destination and believes that travel choices can have positive impacts for both the traveller and the communities visited. A local in Denmark since 2014, Erin has embraced the green city of Copenhagen and loves to share her insider tips. oregangirlaroundtheworld. com oregongirlaroundtheworld/ oregongirl_aroundtheworld
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MUTUAL COLLABORATIONS THE SUCCESS OF MIT-DENMARK INTERNSHIPS
PHOTOGRAPHS UNSPLASH.COM / MITDENMARK
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PURSUING AN INTERNSHIP while studying at university promotes newfound knowledge, enhances personal and professional aptitude and boosts employability. When supporting my clients with their Higher Education search, a top priority is finding an ideal match based on academic and personal interests. I encourage students to consider internship prospects, offering them the opportunity to learn more about themselves, their future goals, and the industry they are passionate about.
SKYLER BENTLEY HALL
MAKING A SUCCESSFUL MATCH Last year I became aware of a successful regional internship: MIT-Denmark. The programme was searching for sponsors to host MIT students in Denmark. My initial response was to forward this post to my husband, a Danish pharmaceutical company director, who is often searching for interns. The more I learned about this initiative, the more intrigued I became by the sheer scope of organisations willing to participate. Launched with support from The Confederation of Danish Industry (Dansk Industri) and The Danish Industry Foundation (Industriens Fond), MIT-Denmark places students in internships at local companies and research institutions. Internships typically occur over the summer (lasting between 3 to 12 months) within technology, design, life sciences, and engineering fields and more. A key component for a successful collaboration is making a match that meets both parties' needs and interests, the host institution and potential student. Programme Manager for MIT-Denmark, Madeline Smith, highlights a few experiences offered over the last two years: "Students have interned at larger companies in Denmark including Grundfos, Maersk and Novo Nordisk, down to smaller labs and startups, such as Aquaporin, GreenLab and SPACE10. We've also had students work on research projects at several Danish universities, and the opportunity exists for students to combine a university research experience with an internship at an affiliated startup, which creates a really valu-
EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT able collaboration for everyone involved."
SUSTAINABILITY, INNOVATION, BALANCE Besides Denmark being known for its 'hygge' lifestyle and happiness rankings, its sustainability brand is recognised worldwide. In 2020, Denmark ranked number one out of 180 countries, according to the Environmental Performance Index. Students globally are eager to work in Denmark, primarily within technology,
"BY PARTICIPATING IN MIT-DENMARK, I HAVE COME TO APPRECIATE THE STRONG COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY, THE TRUSTWORTHINESS, AND THE EXCELLENT WORK-LIFE BALANCE, WHICH ARE ALL UBIQUITOUS IN DENMARK." MIT INTERN AT GRUNDFOS
sustainability or life sciences. Pursuing a career in a country that embraces innovative projects and values, and work-life balance is highly attractive. University students are keen to gain insights into Danish life while contributing skills as a researcher or intern. "By participating in MIT-Denmark, I have come to appreciate the strong commitment to sustainability, the trustworthiness, and the excellent work-life balance,
which are all ubiquitous in Denmark." MIT intern at Grundfos.
A WIN-WIN EXPERIENCE With multiple industries in Denmark, internships vary considerably. I am impressed with the diverse opportunities available in our unique, maritime country. Danish companies and universities across sectors can foster international talent and fresh ideas while creating a relationship with MIT. Imagine the possibilities. A Mechanical Engineering student interning for GreenLab, a Danish green industrial park startup in Jutland; a Biological Engineering student interning at LEO Pharma, to support a drug metabolism project; a Mechanical Engineering student with a concentration in Product Development, working on Product Design at 3Shape; a Physics and Mathematical Economics student interning at the Cosmic DAWN Center of the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen; or a Computation and Cognition student working as a data science intern with Mindpool, a startup responsible for implementing various natural language processing models. Internships like MIT-Denmark offer a win-win experience. Whether you represent a company or are currently in university, this is a mutually beneficial collaboration. Looking for your own win-win? wTHE-INTL
Skyler is originally from Canada, and after living in Switzerland for several years, she transitioned to Denmark with her husband and son all proud Canadians. Skyler has worked in the education sector for three decades and found her true passion for supporting students with their educational journey. As the Founder of Bentley Hall Educational Consulting, she advises on career and university options globally. Skyler enjoys spending time with family, exploring new cultures, and embracing the hygge lifestyle in beautiful Denmark. bentleyhall.ca instagram.com/skylerbent leyhall/ facebook.com/skyler.bent leyhall
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LOVE IN THE
TIME OF COVID
AS COVID-19 CONTINUES TO BE A THREAT TO SOCIAL LIFE, VALENTINE’S MONTH CAN BE DREADFUL, BUT CAN WE DEVELOP A NEW NORMAL FOR LOVE?
PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK / AINA MASOOD
TEXT AINA MASOOD
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ACROSS THE WORLD, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in February. The day of love is celebrated by exchanging candy, roses, and gifts. To add more romance, you can add in a candle-lit dinner on the eve of February 14. Valentine’s Day has some Christian and ancient Roman history, but the modern-day celebration is more focused on rejoicing love for a partner more than anything else. It brings joy to me to see people wearing red and using the day of love to go on dates and exchange gifts. It is also special to me because my birthday falls on the same day. So, when I see people with beaming smiles on their faces and looking all bright and lit-up, I would secretly think they were, in some way, celebrating my birthday. Sitting side by side, holding hands and sharing a meal, they could enjoy the simple pleasure of each other’s company. Shifting gears to the world after 2020, it has become difficult for so many of us to enjoy these simple pleasures. If you are an expat and have your family with you, you might have options to spend time with your loved one and show love. However, if you are a new expat or have a loved one far away, sharing simple, human interactions might have become strenuous. The two meters distance rule further adds to the complexity of finding love. Here is what I suggest, let’s expand our horizons. Why should Valentine’s Day be limited to a partner/spouse? Why should there be only a single day to celebrate a beautiful emotion? We don’t only feel love towards our partners, right? Add in more people. Take the entire month. Remember that neighbour, who was kind enough to check up on you? Give them a bar of chocolate. Remember that friend who called you when you were down in the dumps? Get flowers delivered to them. Remember that colleague who brought you groceries because you had to quarantine? Get food delivered to their place. We need a reason to celebrate now more than ever. Find that reason and be creative. There are travel restrictions and all sorts of
"SOMETIMES ITS NOT ABOUT BEING TOGETHER... IT'S ABOUT BEING THERE FOR EACH OTHER...
- HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY -
AINA MASOOD PSYCHOLOGIST Aina has completed her Masters in Clinical Psychology in Pakistan. She has lived in the USA for 6 months and has been in Denmark for a little over a year. Passionate about mental health work and destigmatising mental health problems, and is working towards helping individuals and organisations be healthier, happier, and more productive. She accomplishes this by working with internarules keeping us from physically being together, but we are social animals and love-hungry beings. So, we must make space for love and connection.
HERE ARE A FEW IDEAS: Arrange zoom dates and dress up. Have an indoor picnic. Write letters to people who have shown you love and kindness when Covid-19 was stripping us of the very things that are natural and routine to us. Get food delivered to your neighbour. We (humans) are social beings, and are fragile but remember that we always find a way, and we shall do the same and toast to love in the time of Covid. THE-INTL
tional clients via Skype; conducting workshops/webinars with various organisations through research and writing. She is a professional photographer and uses her pictures to reflect on her thoughts and daily life and shares them on her blog on Instagram. She is a psychologist, writer, speaker, mental health advocate, photographer, explorer, volunteer, and a wife making her way through the world and narrating the story of her life. https://www.linkedin.com/ in/ainamasood/ https://www.instagram. com/ayena_reflections/
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COPENHAGEN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SETS HIGH SCHOOL LEARNERS FREE!
PHOTOGRAPHS COPENHAGEN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
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HORMONES, HOMEWORK, AND humdrum teachers…That’s the sum of what many of us remember from high school. Can we offer our own children a more valuable education? Absolutely, say high school teachers Tammy Debets and Lorenz Hindrichsen… A recent poll by CIVIC in the USA revealed that nearly three quarters of that country’s high schoolers are both stressed and bored, and pointed to the fact that students of this age long for a climate that engages, inspires and connects them with their interests. * That resonates strongly with both Debets and Hindrichsen, teachers at the Copenhagen International School (CIS), which offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme. Explains Debets, the IB allows teachers to offer students more than rote learning: “When I started teaching Maths in the state system, I was teaching mainly computation. The syllabus is tight, and if a child falls behind, you must make time outside of the class to help bring them up. Also, I had students whose scores were fabulous, but they didn’t really ‘get it’. In the IB, we’re looking at it more holistically. We’re looking at computation, but we’re also looking at conceptual understanding, real world application and communication.”
THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING How do you get to teaching that conceptual understanding? Debets eyes light up when she talks about the strides made in recent years at understanding how children learn: “Research into Maths and language acquisition has exploded in the last ten to fifteen years, especially due to advances in technology”. Using this sort of research, she says, we can develop more effective teaching methods that facilitate the acquisition of numeracy and language skills – for instance by bringing in more visual, tactile, and contextual learning experiences. “The way we teach needs to adapt, and this is why our teaching guides at CIS are redeveloped every seven years, based on the latest research.” “In fact,” she adds, “our Maths and language guides are now revised every four years, such is the rapid research development in these subject areas.”
THE CONTEXT OF LEARNING Teaching at CIS is teaching students to become critical thinkers – it’s not enough to know the formula, you
TEXT MARIE ROCHER
must understand where it came from, how it works and then how to apply it. “Life is messy,” explains Debets, “it doesn’t come to you with a neatly written programme or problem and asks please solve this. You have to figure out the Math!”. She points out the similarities in the Humanities, where building critical thinking skills in a contextual way is paramount. “If you have nineteen different passports in one class, whose history do you teach, and according to whose perspective? Rather, we must teach children to look at
"We must teach children to look at issues and questions from multiple perspectives, and to wear the shoes of other people." Tammy Debets, High School Teacher
issues and questions from multiple perspectives, and to wear the shoes of other people.” Hindrichsen, a Swiss-born English teacher, takes an opportunity to point to his personal experience in working in a multi-national, multicultural classroom, where that experience has helped him observe how different cultures see the world: “Exposure to different perspectives can be eye-opening and inspiring!” He references the events of this past summer, and how an important sociocultural shift is being accommodated in CIS’ cultural studies programme: “Our students want to see action,” says Hindrichsen, with the formation of a Racial and Social Justice Union challenging teachers to ‘try harder and be better’, for instance in their selection of literature and other texts which are more inclusive. In this way, teachers and students are working together to provide an education experience that is relevant, enriching and rewarding.
THE FREEDOM OF LEARNING Young adults value freedom; and CIS offers a more liberating school environment – for instance, students are free to choose a ‘personal project’ in an area that interests them and that can be outside of their normal field of study. Similarly, teachers are free to participate in defining curricula. However, as in life, at CIS there are no free passes! While teachers need to keep on top of their game – remain fresh, relevant, entertaining and interesting, as Hindrichsen puts it – when it comes to sitting exams and completing tasks like extended essays, for students there are ‘rigorous requirements’. “Students need to know their stuff,’emphasises Hindrichsen, “This really sets you up for university!” Encouraging deep thinking, an analytical mindset, confidence, the ability to articulate ideas and to think in transdisciplinary ways is what sets CIS apart. And acquiring these skills are what sets CIS graduates free – as they use them to establish a meaningful, productive life outside of school and home. Says Debets, it’s connecting with past students who’ve gone on to build careers in both traditional and non-traditional fields that best demonstrates the outcomes: “That’s what I love about IB!”. THE-INTL *Source: https://casel.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ Respected.pdf
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LEFT TO RIGHT: MELLANIE GANDØ; DESTINATION FYN; RUNI PHOTOPOP
GETTING STARTED
OUR RESIDENT ‘SETTLING-IN’ EXPERT, LAURA WINTEMUTE FROM HOMESTEAD DENMARK, HAS DRAWN UP A LIST OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU WILL NEED TO SORT OUT BEFORE AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOUR ARRIVAL IN DENMARK.
PHOTOGRAPHS VISITDENMARK / ISTOCK
S SO, YOU HAVE
Documents needed: Your passport/national ID card Your employment contract (workers) or letter of acceptance from your educational institution (students) Your CPR card
finally landed on Danish soil. How are you doing so far? Just remember to breathe as I help you navigate all the necessary documentation. Follow this step-by-step advice on what documentation you need.
AFTER YOU ARRIVE
Since 2005, Denmark has had a special regulation that requires all those who live or work in Denmark to report a designated bank account known as a Nemkonto to the state. Nemkonto is a bank account, into which payments from your employer and from the state are made (e.g. tax refunds). http://www.nemkonto.dk/
Step 1: Pick up EU/EEA Residence Permit EU/EEA/Swiss citizens need to apply for a Residence Certificate at International Citizen Service in Aalborg, Aarhus, Odense or Copenhagen or at SIRI, the State Administration (Statsforvaltningen). Step 2: Register for your CPR Once your work permit is in order, you will have to make a trip to either an International Citizen Service (Aalborg, Aarhus, Odense or Copenhagen) or at your local municipal Citizen Service Centre (Borgerservice) to finalise the registration for your CPR. You will need this for everything, including opening a bank account, getting a Danish phone number, borrowing books from the library, signing up at the gym and taking out insurance. It’s your magical key to Denmark. Documents needed: Passport/national ID card with photo Passport photo Residence and work permit from the Danish immigration authorities (non-EU/EEA citizens only) Proof of address in Denmark (signed leasing contract) Marriage certificate Birth Certificates of children under 18 Once you’ve successfully registered, the municipality will send you the physical CPR card in the post. This could take up to 2-4 weeks. In connection with your registration, you will be assigned a doctor (GP), which will allow you the same benefits in the Danish Health Care system as other Danish citizens. The name and address of your assigned GP will be written
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TEXT LAURA WINTEMUTE
on your CPR card. Consider your GP as “The Gate Keeper” to anything concerning your medical needs. Everything goes directly through them. Your GP is your child’s paediatrician, optometrist, gynaecologist, and sometimes even your family therapist. If they can’t help you, they will refer you to a specialist. Step 3: Apply for your Danish Tax card When you work in Denmark, you will need to pay income tax, and for this, you will need a tax card. When you visit the International Service Center to register for your CPR, you can also apply for your tax card at the same time, or you can complete the online form 04.063 on www.skat.dk Documents needed: Signed work contract Marriage certificate (if applicable) Passport/national ID card Step 4: Bank Account & Nemkonto To be paid by your employer, you will need a Danish Bank account. There are many banks in Denmark to choose from; however, as with everything else in Denmark, you will need your CPR number first.
Step 5: NemID, Eboks & Digital Post NEMID is a common login solution for Danish Internet banks, government websites and some private companies. NemID is a secure log on to Internet services. e-Boks is your online mailbox for mail from public authorities (tax, pension etc..) You can apply for your NemID at your Citizen Service Center or your bank. E-BOKS is a secure electronic mailbox where you can receive and store documents that you usually receive in the post. e-Boks is free of charge. This can only be set up once you have your NemID. To create an e-Boks account on www.e-boks.com and follow the instructions or download the e-Boks app. DIGITAL POST is for all citizens in Denmark above the age of 15, registered with a CPR number must register for Digital Post. Digital Post includes any letters from hospitals, pension statements, information about state education support (SU), changes to housing benefits, replies to childcare applications, letters from the Danish Tax and Customs Administration (SKAT), etc. Your digital post can be accessed on either of two secure websites – www.lifeindenmark.dk or from your eBoks. THE-INTL
LAURA WINTEMUTE OWNER, HOMESTEAD Laura is Canadian. After years of living abroad and travelling the world, she moved to Denmark in 2007 and started her new life as an expat living in Denmark. Laura’s experience working in the Danish relocation industry, encapsulating both her experience as an ex-pat and her desire for helping people, which is WHY she started Homestead. Homestead offers Settling in Services and Workshops focusing on the day to day challenges of expats, as well as the cultural differences in both their work and daily life. “In House” consultations for International employees are also one of Homestead’s specialties. Customized, personal consultations focusing on the individual employee. Homestead. We Are Your Settling in Experts. homesteaddenmark.com
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WOMEN IN THE TECH WORLD CARMAN CHAN FROM MOVING TALENT SHARES HER NORDIC RECRUITMENT EXPERTISE.
PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK
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AS DIGITALISATION AND automation in the Nordics accelerate, the demand for high tech talent soars. Nonetheless, women are under-represented in this sector, where only 20% of tech positions in Denmark are filled by women1. The phenomenon can be traced back to early educational development. In Denmark, STEM education has the highest gender disparity, with only 33% of female bachelor entrants in 20182. A possible reason is a stereotypical perception that science and technology are suited and favoured by boys, which led to very few girls choosing a STEM degree. Elena Hadzhihristova, Digital Product Owner at Carlsberg, who worked at Altapay, a Fintech company, where Moving Talent placed her, witnessed that the traditional mindset in study choice contributed to the gender imbalance in the industry. Throughout her tech career, she has always been in minority gender-wise. The gender disparity causes work culture problems for women such as isolation, sexism, pay gap and few advancement opportunities3. A Harvard Business Review’s research shows that 52% of women in STEM careers will leave the company if the work environment is hostile to women, and if the culture is not accommodating them4. The blunt reality is that Denmark is facing a talent shortage. The loss of a highly qualified female workforce creates a more significant gender disparity and a wider talent gap. Having a diversified workforce has several benefits. According to Andreea Hutu, a software engineer that we recruited for Persequor, a software development company, “a gender diverse team helps build empathy for the clients and the way a product will be used, since, after all, software is used by a gender-diverse clientele. She noted that different perspectives are beneficial in technological design and testing to make a product widely applicable. Elena adds that the different viewpoints and life experiences of men and women can bring collective intelligence, leading to more innovation, better financial impact and economic return for the company and the society2. Higher participation of women in tech must be encouraged. Firstly, stereotypes and gender bias’s reasoning should be deconstructed. Andreea points out that the image of the lone ranger programmer no longer reflects today’s reality. Most tech roles nowadays require teamwork and customer-facing to find solutions in an agile and innovative manner. For example, teamwork is essential at Persequor, and Andreea finds it satisfying to develop technological solutions with other specialists. On the other hand, Elena perceived women’s soft skills as desirable competencies in many tech positions. There are immense possibilities in tech career development, and opportunities are all around the world. Andreea mentions that “Tech is present everywhere, and there are a magnitude of opportunities for curious IT explorers”. With flexible work hours and financial independence, she considers that a tech career can fit a travelling life and family life. Elena also encourages women to pursue a tech career, as “the tech industry offers a wide range
TEXT CARMAN CHAN
of positions, and not everything requires STEM”. Indeed, Elena does not have a STEM degree but made her way successfully in the tech industry. Lastly, to build a gender-diverse team, a shift in corporate practices and cultures is vital to retain and advance tech women. Leaders should establish and communicate diversity efforts to understand the motives behind their actions and pay an active role in their implementation. An inclusive environment should be created, with flexibility, equal treatment and employee engagement, where everyone’s ideas are heard. THE-INTL
"THE BLUNT REALITY IS THAT DENMARK IS FACING A TALENT SHORTAGE. THE LOSS OF A HIGHLY QUALIFIED FEMALE WORKFORCE CREATES A MORE SIGNIFICANT GENDER DISPARITY AND A WIDER TALENT GAP."
CARMAN CHAN PROJECT MANAGER Carman moved to Denmark from Hong Kong in 2015 for her master’s degree in social en-
1
trepreneurship. Carman has
2
always worked with interna-
https://www.honeypot.io/women-in-tech-2018/ https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Featured%20Insights/Europe/Bridging%20the%20talent%20gap%20in%20Denmark/Bridging-the-talent-gap-in-Denmark-McKinsey-Full-report-October-2018.pdf 3 https://www.nextgeneration.ie/blog/2018/08/why-arent-theremore-women-in-tech 4 https://hbr.org/2008/06/stopping-the-exodus-of-women-in-science
tionals in her career as a youth trainer, event staff manager, business developer, and now as a talent acquisition professional. As a foreigner in Denmark, she understands the struggles of internationals in the Danish job market; thus, she wishes to encourage diversity at the workplace for greater synergy. She enjoys music, travelling, cycling and cooking, and she is interested in social innovation to define a millennial way of living and working. movingtalent.eu www.facebook.com/ movingtalenteu www.linkedin.com/ company/movingtalenteu
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LIFE AIN'T EASY IN THE COUNTRY HOW CHOOSING A LIFE IN RURAL JUTLAND STRIPPED ME OF MY IDENTITY PHOTOGRAPHS VISITDENMARK / UNSPLASH.COM
TEXT KELLY KRISTENSEN
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NO MATTER WHO you
are, you will go through changes when moving abroad. You get a new address, meet new people, learn a new language and even experience some culture shock. Whether the changes be more obvious or unexpected, they are inevitable for every international moving to a new country, and the experiences one person has is often different from another. Some people have tv-worthy experiences living in picturesque towns, drinking their coffee in cafes with stylish and friendly locals. These people get by speaking a language that they already know and have active social lives. Though the idea of a smooth and pleasant transition is great on the tv screen, it is often very unrealistic to how life is for people who move abroad, especially for those who live in remote areas.
KELLY KRISTENSEN WRITER AND BLOGGER
WHY WE CHOSE TO LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN When we moved to Denmark in March of 2016, my husband and I made the tough decision to live in a small town that was closer to his work and at least a half an hour from any other, bigger city. We were looking forward to living a slower life with fewer people, immersed in central Denmark's culture and traditions, where our boys, then ages 3 and 6, could have a very Danish childhood. The only thing that I didn't anticipate was how hard the transition would be for me.
LOSING MY IDENTITY Because my husband was Danish, and my children were learning the language and making friends in a carefree environment, they had much easier transitions. However, knowing only a few basic phrases and words in Danish while living in an area where English was seldom used, I began to feel invisible to many Danes in my town. My difficulties in communicating shielded people from seeing the real me. They didn't know how funny I was or that I loved asking questions. They couldn't tell from my words that I was an intelligent person with many ideas and interests. They didn't know that I was highly educated and had a successful career in my home country because I had no voice to show them who I was. To them, I was someone's wife, someone's mother, a foreigner. Not only did no one know me, but I was slowly becoming unrecognisable to myself.
RECREATING MY IDENTITY With my husband at work and my children in daycare, I started to take language classes in a neighbouring town of 40,000 people.
Kelly is an American teacher
VIGGO LUNDBERG
turned marketer living in rural Jutland. She is the creator of the blog and YouTube channel My New Danish Life, where she reveals her experience
"SOME PEOPLE HAVE T V - WORTHY EXPERIENCES LIVING IN PICTUREQUE TOWNS, DRINKING THEIR COFFEE IN CAFES WITH STYLISH AND FRIENDLY LOCALS."
and tips for exploring and inte-
I was a blank slate, needing to be rewritten. I went from being invisible to being an expat and language learner. I made friends with others like me and began to find my voice again.
happiness in Denmark’s nat-
POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND DETERMINATION
Viborg, Denmark, where she
It has nearly been 5 years since we made the move to Denmark. My language skills are still an issue at times, but I have not let that slow me down from enjoying life in a small town. I have strong connections with my neighbours because of my willingness to speak the language and interest in being more Danish, and I am starting to feel that they see me and care about me as a friend. The real struggle that I hadn't anticipated was within myself. Getting over my own self-doubt was the biggest struggle, and with a positive outlook on life, I see more of the good that my small-town life has to offer. THE-INTL
grating into Denmark as part of an international family. Absorbing her inspiration and ural places, she is often found in the nearby woods around lives with her husband and two sons, ages 10 and 8. mynewdanishlife.com facebook.com/Mynewdan ishlife/ instagram.com/my_new_ danish_life/ youtube.com/mynewdan ishlife
LEFT TO RIGHT: KENNETH STJERNEGAARD – VISITVEJLE; MICHAEL FIUKOWSKI & SARAH MORITZ; LARS ROED
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4 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN AND THEIR SKINCARE ROUTINES This month's edition of the beauty page looks at how four super inspiring, independent, powerful International women do their skincare routines. They are movers and shakers here in Denmark. All of these ladies have a different twist and use products to suit their lifestyles and needs.
THE ECO-FRIENDLY NIGHT ROUTINE
THE MORNING AND EVENING SKINCARE GIRL ROUTINE
CRISTINA FERNÁNDEZ GARCÍA, 29 SPANISH
JACKLYN ROZUL BECK, 37 AMERICAN FILIPINA
ECOLOGY MASTERS DEGREE STUDENT AT KU @crisdelepluges My night beauty routine is simple and easy. I use products from an eco-friendly, plant-based product company called Ringana. Their products feel fresh, are effective and best of all, eco-friendly. First, I use 2-3 pumps of the cleanser milk on a reusable cotton pad. It can be used over the eyes too, so it's perfect for removing make-up and cleaning the skin superficially while getting some hydration. Secondly, I use the tonic pure to clean my facial skin more in-depth and remove impurities. It leaves a very fresh feeling. But this cannot be used on the eyes. For the last step, I apply a night cream all over the clean face, neck and upper chest. I always try to work on these 3 areas.
THE BUSY NO TIME TO WASTE MUM/ENTREPRENEUR ROUTINE VANESSA C PETERSEN, 34 AMERICAN
JEWELLERY DESIGNER @thestylefreed As a busy mum of an active 2 year and running a successful jewellery company, my aim is to have simplicity in a skincare routine, which is quick, effective and takes as little time as possible to dedicate more time to my family and business. Step 1: My main focus is to limit breakouts on my face. I do this by washing my hair; washing pillowcases frequently; decrease Soda/Pepsi and cheese intake; have make-up breaks. Step 2: Wash face with pure lemon soap bar (Movate Lemon Soap) and cool water. Step 3: Air dry or pat dry with a clean paper towel. Step 4: Apply a dab of petroleum jelly (Alpi Fresh Boday Care Vaseline).
RADIO HOST (RADIO HOUSE AARHUS) AND PODCAST SHOW HOST (MY KIDS THINK I'M COOL BUT) @mykidsthinkimcoolbut MORNING ROUTINE: 1. Wash face to wake up (Join The organic Future) 2. Eye cream with green tint (Babor) 3. Face lotion (Sothys) 4. BB cream and mascara (Garnier bb cream/Urban Decay Mascara) Night routine: 1. I take my make-up off with coconut oil, moisturise and take all the make-up off quickly (Shea Moisture 100% coconut oil) 2. Wash my face with any cleanser. Pat my face dry with a cloth. (Join The Organic future) 3. User toner all over the face (Nivea) 4. Eye cream is a must. (Join The Organic future) 5. Lastly, drip prickly cactus oil all over my face and massage it in gently (Leven Rose 100% Oil)
THE INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL SKINCARE ROUTINE RITIKA JAIN - INDIAN SAP CONSULTANT @ritika1805 Step 1: Cleanse in the morning - I start by splashing luke-warm water and gently cleaning my face using a natural clay face wash. (The Moms Co) Step 2: Moisturise right after a gentle face cleansing. I apply aloe vera gel as a moisturiser. It is my all-time favourite. I generally use an aloe vera gel (Vilvah) or directly squeeze the juice from an aloe vera plant. This is my everyday routine. Apart from the above routine, I use homemade products once or twice a week: GRAM FLOUR & TURMERIC FACE MASK: Ingredients: 1 tbsp gram flour, 1 tbsp raw milk, 2-3 drops lemon juice and ½ tbsp turmeric powder and honey. Directions: Mix all the ingredients mentioned above and apply to the face. Wait for 1015 min until it's dry and wash off with luke-warm water. Benefits: The gram flour helps to unclog the pores, turmeric contains antioxidants components which help the skin glow, honey moisturises your skin and raw milk plus the exfoliating effects of gram flour act as a moisturiser.
BARBARA MENSAH BEAUTY EDITOR & MAKEUP ARTIST Barbara was born in England, London and relocated to Copenhagen, Denmark in 2017. She has been a professional International Makeup Artist for 11 years and a professional Lash Stylist for 3 years. After moving to Copenhagen, Denmark, Barbara became the owner of Barbara Mensah Beauty Studio. Her stylish, cosy and chic studio provides a welcoming, comfortable space for clients to spend their time getting glammed and pampered for those special moments and occasions. All bookings for Lash Extension and Makeup can be made via her social media or tel: +45 53564504 barbaramensah.dk beauty@gmail.com barbaramensahbeauty/ barbara.mensah. beauty/?hl=en
ORANGE PEEL MASK: Ingredients: 2 tbsp sundried orange peel powder, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp yoghurt Directions: Mix all the above elements, make a paste and apply a thick layer on the face. Wait 15-20 min and wash it off.
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THE BENEFITS OF SMALLER DANISH COMPANIES
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PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK
TEXT JOSEPHINE WAN
MANY INTERNATIONALS TEND to focus on bigger organisations with a global working environment during their job search. It is easier if you live in one of the bigger cities; however, international organisations can be rare in the smaller provinces.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT There is no reason not to apply for jobs at Danish speaking workplaces, even if your Danish is not proficient enough. Apply for jobs by writing an application in non-polished Danish, and let the companies decide whether they would like to give you a chance, it might surprise you. If they hire you, they hire you with the full knowledge that you have level entry Danish, and your colleagues will be considerate when communicating with you. Insist on using Danish in your daily communication with them, even though some prefer to communicate in English. This way, you get to practice and master the language at a corporate level. Colleagues may make fun of your errors or pronunciation occasionally, but don´t take it personally. Danes have a lot of humour, and it is totally harmless.
JOSEPHINE WAN PRODUCT MANAGER Born and raised in international Hong Kong, Josephine developed her interests in languages and culture from an early age. She speaks Canton-
NEW TRADITIONS At most small Danish workplaces, traditions are celebrated very often at work. You will learn about them and how they are marked. Cakes are involved in most celebrations in Denmark. For example, you may have already known that it is the birthday person who treats other colleagues to cake on their birthday. Round birthdays are highly celebrated here in Denmark, and colleagues usually make it a special day for the birthday person. On my 40th birthday, my colleagues raised the Danish flag outside the building for me. This probably would not happen if you worked in a large corporation unless you were one of the directors. This is one of the charms of working in smaller Danish workplaces.
YOUR WORK FAMILY Most employees at smaller firms tend to stay longer, some even for over 20 years as you might experience. Colleagues have to work together and get to know each other. Besides chatting about small things, they also provide support and comfort when you are having a bad day or going through a hard time. In my experience, going to work feels like coming home to your second family.
"THE SO-CALLED SCREW-UP CAKE (KVAJEKAGE) IS INCREDIBLY FAMOUS AND POPULAR AT DANISH WORKPLACES! WITH THE FLAT STRUCTURE, YOU USUALLY DON´T GET “PUNISHED” FOR MAKING A MISTAKE - AND ONE WAY TO MAKE IT RIGHT AGAIN IS TO TREAT OTHERS TO A CAKE!"
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ese, Mandarin, English, German and Danish, and she has travelled to over 20 countries. Living in Denmark since 1999, she’s been a Danish citizen for 10 years and speaks fluent
UNIQUE DANISH WORK CULTURE Apart from the well-known flat structure and casual dressing code at Danish workplaces, you also experience an interesting work culture. A perfect example: the so-called screw-up cake (kvajekage) is incredibly famous and popular at Danish workplaces! With the flat structure, you usually don't get “punished” for making a mistake - and one way to make it right again is to treat others to a cake because you have screwed up. Yes, cake again – it’s throughout the Danish thread!
FUTURE JOB SEARCHES You’ve experienced your first job in a Danish environment and will have gained a lot of cultural insight. Your future job searches no longer limit you to only global organisations. You can also use your own experience to help other internationals in their job search too.
FEEL LIKE HOME IN DENMARK Work does take up a considerable part of our life. If you plan to stay in Denmark for many years or settle permanently, working in a Danish environment, practising the language, experiencing the culture and traditions, and adopting a second work family will make you feel more home in Denmark. THE-INTL
Danish, and considers herself fully integrated. However, she still remembers the challenges when she first moved here: the language barrier, who to ask for help and advice, etc. She hopes to contribute and share useful insights and positive experiences with other internationals through her articles. https://www.facebook. com/trainofthoughtBYjose phinewan @my_train_of_thought_ by_jj https://dk.linkedin.com/in jjyanyanwan
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CHILD WELFARE ASSESSMENT WE EXPLORE THE DANISH WELFARE SYSTEM WITH A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD.
PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK
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AS A PARENT, it can be intimidating if the municipality initiates a child welfare assessment (børnefagligundersøgelse), as it is most common to hear of such an evaluation if a child is to be removed from the home. It is important to emphasise that this is not the case, in the vast majority of child welfare cases involving children with a disability. Instead, the intention is to assess the child's overall situation, for the municipality to evaluate which special support needs the child may have, e.g. relief care for the child, a support contact person, or other support options.
WHY IS A CHILD WELFARE ASSESSMENT NECESSARY? The child welfare assessment forms the basis for the municipality to grant support to a family with a special needs child/young adult. The evaluation should provide an overview of the child's and the family's overall situation, thus giving an overall picture of their support needs. Furthermore, it also aims to provide a comprehensive picture of the child's and the family's resources, support options, and relevant networks. The assessment should include a holistic view of the child/ young adult, including, but not limited to, the following: Development and behaviour Family relationships School conditions Health conditions Freetime activities and friendships Other relevant topics.
WHEN SHOULD THE CHILD WELFARE ASSESSMENT BE INITIATED? The requirements for carrying out the child welfare assessment are described in section 50 of the Danish Social Service Law. We emphasise that it is essential to be familiar with these conditions, as it, unfortunately, is not always the case, that the municipality (caseworker) follows all of the required conditions.
TEXT MARTINA POPADAKOVA / SARA R. NEWELL
The municipality is required by law to initiate a child welfare investigation, as soon as the municipality becomes aware that a child/young adult is not thriving may need special assistance. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for municipalities not to comply with these legal requirements. Other options for getting the municipality to initiate a child welfare assessment, are upon a request from: The family, the child/young adult seeking assistance or special support Official letters of concern from external parties. E.g. the child's school, doctor, psychologist, amongst others, can contact the municipality if they are concerned for the child's welfare or that the child's special needs are not being met. The municipality itself can become aware of the child's special needs by assessing the child's siblings.
CONSENT According to Danish law, the child welfare assessment does not require parental consent. However, as much as possible, the evaluation should be carried out in collaboration with the parent or guardian who has custody and the child if the child is 15 years old or older.
HOW IS THE CHILD WELFARE ASSESSMENT CARRIED OUT? The child welfare assessment should be as thorough as possible, but should not be more extensive than necessary. For this purpose, several types of information are collected and included in the assessment. Existing information: the caseworker can obtain the necessary information that has already been collected regarding the family, the child's daycare/school, information from the hospital or other relevant authorities who have been in contact with the child/young adult. To ensure that your case's handling is sufficiently thorough, to ensure a correct outcome, you have the right to
MARTINA POPADAKOVA is Slovak by blood and a Global Citizen by heart. She has completed an MSc in International Security & Law at the University of Southern Denmark in 2018. Over the last 2 years, she has worked as a facilitator and project coordinator in various NGOs. She is multifaceted and committed with an unwavering passion for human rights. Martina is a creator of Empowerment Journey. www.empowerment-journey.com / www.linkedin.com/in/martina-popadakova / www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1107008696 / @martinapopadakova
obtain new statements from, e.g. daycare staff, doctors, psychologists, private individuals and others who have knowledge about your child and your child's wellbeing. Child Welfare Interview: It is essential that the child, regardless of age, is involved in the assessment. Therefore, a child welfare interview must be carried out, where the caseworker will interview your child. The fact that the child has a disability is not a reason for the interview not to be carried out. The municipality is required to ensure that: The interview takes place in a safe environment The child has the right to have a support person during the interview: e.g. parents, educator or a teacher It is also possible to contact Børns Wilkår, who can provide a professional support person to give your child moral support during the interview.
WHEN SHOULD THE EXAMINATION BE COMPLETED? Once all relevant information has been obtained, the caseworker must make an overall assessment and ruling, regarding whether your child is entitled to special assistance. The family must review the comprehensive evaluation and give their opinion of the ruling before the final decision is made. The family's opinion does not impact the final ruling, but must be included in the case files. According to social service law, the assessment must be completed no later than 4 months after the municipality has become aware that the child/young person may need assistance. It is not uncommon for municipalities to surpass the legal deadline of 4 months, and unfortunately, in some cases, the assessment can take several months, or even over a year. THE-INTL FURTHER INFORMATION: Read more about børnefagligundersøgelse in §50 of Social Service Law (Serviceloven) at www.retsinformation.dk www.ast.dk / www.dukh.dk
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
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THE YEAR OF THE VACCINE PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE POST-TRUTH ERA
PHOTOGRAPHS VISITAALBORG / ISTOCK
TEXT NARCIS GEORGE MATACHE
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HUMANITY HAS ALWAYS
feared the unknown. Since the beginning, we huddled around the fire and warned those who might desire to wander into the dark. "Stay away from the darkness, you don't know what might be hidden there". While most would heed the warning, some would always succumb to curiosity. Thanks to their courage, we've achieved progress as humans. The known has slowly become larger than the fire pit area, and the wanderers led humanity to master the unknown. Yet, neigh sayers and power of the internet, can seed distrust into the hearts of the many about the wanderers. As a child, I hated pain and needles. Each time, there was vaccination time at school, I would run away, forcing my aunt (who happened to be a nurse) and my mom into the game of "catching Narcis before the disease". With me, the game would usually end up being cornered into a wardrobe, my hands tied, and the shot being dully administered. Back then, I couldn't understand why vaccinations were necessary. I might have learned something in biology during secondary school about viruses, but the knowledge went over my head. The pandemic caught me with a very basic understanding of what words like virus and vaccine meant. All I knew was that "virus was bad and the vaccine was good". Then 2020 made sure to give me and everyone else, a crash course on virology. Unfortunately, the origin of the "crash course" differed for everyone. Some prophets took advantage of the fear of the unknown to create fake narratives, that would create mistrust in the public authorities, scientists, vaccination and even the virus itself. Masters of the "simple language" and connoisseurs of the social media networks, managed to reach further than any official source. This resulted in strong anti-restrictions and anti-vaccination protests around the globe. While being
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NARCIS GEORGE MATACHE POLITICIAN Born in 1990 in a village in the north-east of Romania, Narcis made Aalborg his new home since 2009. Smitten by the Danish model, he decided to a blessing, the internet has shown its dark side and the dangers it can bring to society.
VACCINE 2.0 – THE MRNA TECHNOLOGY In the face of extinction-level danger, humanity has been able to come together and find a solution in record time. Thanks to the scientists' collaboration and the massive amounts poured into research, we discovered a new usage of an already existing technology, mRNA. Unlike the conventional vaccines which use inactivated viruses, the mRNA vaccine contains a code which tricks the organism to immunize. Despite concerns that it might change our DNA, the vaccine will not reach the cell's nucleus where it resides. The vaccine 2.0 represents a breakthrough for public health.
VACCINATION IN DENMARK The vaccination campaign in Denmark has caught the eyes of the entire European continent. Less than two weeks since the
"VACCINES ARE ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT TOOLS FOR PREVENTING OUTBREAKS AND KEEPING THE WORLD SAFE." Dr Tedros Adhanom
get involved in the local com-
Ghebreyesus, Director-General World Health Organization
rights by the internationals. In
campaign officially started on 27 December 2020, 2% of the population has already been vaccinated. The highest vaccination rate in the European Union. The ambition is to get everyone vaccinated (that wants to) by summer. The collaboration between the national government and the 5 regional governments have produced impressive results showing what competent governance can do and made others want to follow suit. As an inhabitant of Denmark (regardless of citizenship), you will receive an e-Boks invitation to get the vaccine according to a calendar already made public. The vaccine is free (and paid for by the European Union). THE-INTL
munity leading to him becoming a strong voice on the topic of usage of the local political 2017, he became the first nonDanish citizen to run for regional elections and to represent Denmark in the Council of Europe. He holds or held leadership positions in European Youth Denmark, Europabevægelsen, Socialdemokratiet Nørresundby, DSU Aalborg, and Frit Forum International. www.facebook.com/Narcis George.Matache/ https://www.linkedin.com/ in/narcisgmatache/
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FOOD ART
VALENTINE SURPRISE COOKIES
Who doesn't love a little surprise when it comes in cookie form? These rich chocolate sugar cookies are decorated to look like a love letter, and reveal a sprinkle surprise when broken! Easy to make and fun to do with kids and loved ones this Valentine's Day! PHOTOGRAPHS CLAIRE BOGUSZ
VALENTINE SURPRISE CHOCOLATE COOKIES (MAKES 3-4 LARGE COOKIES)
INGREDIENTS FOR THE COOKIE DOUGH: 175 g softened butter 200 g granulated sugar 1 egg, room temperature 1 tsp vanilla flavouring (vanilje aroma) 188 g flour (hvedemel) 63 g cocoa powder (kakaopulver) 1 tsp baking powder 1 /8 tsp salt INGREDIENTS FOR THE ROYAL ICING: 30 g liquid pasteurised egg whites (æggehvider) 250 g powdered sugar (flormelis) 1 tsp vanilla flavouring (vanilje aroma) METHOD FOR THE CAKES: #1 In a large bowl using an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter for 1 minute on medium speed until completely smooth. #2 Add granulated sugar and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. #3 Beat in egg and vanilla. Scrape down sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. #4 Sift flour and cocoa together in a medium bowl. Whisk in baking powder and salt until combined. #5 On low speed, mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined. #6 Divide dough into two equal parts. Roll each portion onto a piece of baking paper until the dough is about 6 mm thick. Stack rolled out portions of dough (baking paper in between) onto a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. #7 Once chilled, preheat oven to 176°C. Line baking sheet with baking paper. #8 Remove dough from refrigerator and cut rectangles out of the dough.
TEXT CLAIRE BOGUSZ
Each cookie will consist of three pieces you need to cut out a bottom solid rectangular layer, a middle rectangular layer with a 'window' cutout (see picture), and another solid rectangular layer. #9 Transfer cut pieces of dough onto a lined baking sheet. #10 Bake cookies for 10 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. METHOD FOR THE ROYAL ICING: #1 Pour egg whites and vanilla flavour into a large bowl. Using an electric or stand mixer, mix on low while gradually adding powdered sugar. #2 Once all powdered sugar is incorporated, beat mixture on high for 3 minutes. #3 Pour royal icing from the bowl into a pastry bag and tie off the opening. METHOD TO ASSEMBLE COOKIES: #1 Place one solid rectangular cookie on a flat surface. Make a very small cut on the pointed end of your pastry bag, and pipe icing around the outer edge of your cookie. #2 Place the rectangular cookie with a 'window' cutout on top of the bottom layer, and press down gently to "glue" the two layers together. Fill the rectangular window with sprinkles. You can also include a little love note written on a small piece of baking paper! #3 Pipe icing around the outer edge of the second cookie. #4 Place third solid rectangular cookie on top of the second cookie, pressing down gently to glue the three cookie layers together. #5 Pipe royal icing to completely cover the top cookie layer. #6 Allow several hours (or overnight) for the royal icing to dry and harden completely. Once it's dry, you can decorate your rectangular cookie to look like an envelope use edible markers or a paintbrush dipped in a tiny bit of food colouring! #7 Once your decorative touches have had time to dry, have fun "opening up" your envelope break the cookies in half to reveal a colourful sprinkle surprise!
CLAIRE BOGUSZ BAKER AND BLOGGER Claire grew up moving around frequently, never imagining she’d have the opportunity to experience raising her own children as expats one day. In 2018, her husband’s job relocated the family from the USA to Copenhagen. Living in the capital city, they’ve loved biking, travelling, and the ability to immerse their three children in a foreign language. Donuts to Danish was born out of Claire’s passion for creating art and her love of baking. She finds great joy in helping others celebrate special moments with custom-made cakes and cookies. For order inquiries, email claire@donutstodanish.com www.donutstodanish.com @donutstodanish
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REVIEWS YOU CAN TRUST THE GLOBAL BUSINESS PORTAL
PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK
TEXT MARIANO ANTHONY DAVIES
T
TRUSTPILOT IS A review platform started by a Danish university graduate in 2007. It has gained the same global status for the business sector as Trip Advisor and Booking.com have done for the travel industry. The Founder and CEO, Peter Holten Mühlmann, writes on their website that he started Trustpilot to give all consumers a powerful voice and all companies a way to listen, respond and continually improve. He claims that the site is a transparent environment with no pre-moderation or censorship.
INDUSTRY STANDARD As a business and product review platform, Trustpilot has become a recognised place for consumer opinions about companies and their products. Today, it is a global organisation with 8 global offices, over 700 employees, and it is available to 47 different nationalities. It has become a recognised global standard.
MARIANO ANTHONY DAVIES
PROFITABILITY CHALLENGES To get to this position has been a challenging financial journey that has cost the company annual losses that have amounted to over DKK 1 billion since its 2007 launch. Although its revenues seem to increase every year, they have not been able to turn that growth into positive results. In 2020, although revenues continued to increase to DKK 542 million, their result shows a loss of DKK 146 million – explained by the CEO as a strategic focus on global growth and product development.
VALIDATION Trustpilot uses considerable resources to protect its platform from misuse, including a combination of fake detection technology, review monitoring algorithms, robots and over 50 highly trained experts. Although their systems work exceptionally well, they are not fool proof. They are continually looking at new preventative measures, including additional penalties and actions, that will be used against anyone trying to manipulate reviews. All companies on Trustpilot must abide by the same rules when they use the Trustpilot platform. Most companies use the platform free of charge and a small percentage pay for additional services such as automated sending of invitations and consumer insight gathering. Whether a company is a paying customer or not has no bearing whatsoever on how reviews are treated. A consumer review (whether positive or negative) may not be edited – if it follows the platform's rules.
PLATFORM CHALLENGES Trustpilot has got over 114 million individual reviews and says on its website that behind every one of them is an experience that matters. As is not unexpected, there are more negative reviews than positive as dissatisfied consumers are more likely to write a review than satisfied consumers. BBC Watchdog research has shown that the site left some wondering if the reviews on Trustpilot can always be trusted. The problem is that as long as consumers follow the basic publishing rules, they are free to write subjectively, and collectively these consumer reviews make up the "value judgement" statistics about a company or its products. In order words, there is a danger that these reviews can be used to mean more than what could be claimed to be statistically valid. There is no guarantee of accuracy. However, if one does not lose sight of the inevitable subjectiv-
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PRESIDENT & CEO OXFORD BUSINESS SERVICES APS Mariano has over 35 years ity level, a review platform like Trustpilot nevertheless tells you what other people think – for better or worse. The pandemic's challenges exacerbated the financial problems facing Trustpilot with the result that ten percent of the staff were fired (approx. 80 full time positions) during 2020. Despite these challenges, Trustpilot has always attracted capital and continues to operate with a solid capital base from its offices in Copenhagen, New York, Denver, London, Vilnius, Berlin and Melbourne.
global experience as a busi-
SECURING REVIEW INTEGRITY
in Sussex and has a British
The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant rise in the use of digital financial tools, both in banking services as well as at merchants, who saw an increase within e-commerce and mobile commerce. The rise was as high as 55% and in most countries at least 15%. In many countries, ordering groceries online increased significantly as many more consumers began to pay digitally by card or smartphone and above all “contactless” – especially in countries such as in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), where cash has been the predominant method of payment to date. Due to the Corona pandemic, politicians and retailers have promoted cashless and contactless payment to minimise the risk of infection. Consumers have understood that this form of payment is more hygienic than using cash and “REVIEW PLATFORMS MAKE GREAT have complied. In EFFORTS TO SECURE REVIEW INTEGgeneral, the p andemic has pushed RITY. TRUSTPILOT COMBINES CUTus further towards TING EDGE TECHNOLOGY WITH THEIR a digital era, accelerTEAM OF CONTENT INTEGRITY EXating the uptake of PERTS. COLLECTIVELY, BOTH THEIR digital services and tools - speeding up TECHNOLOGY AND PEOPLE USE DAthe European tranTA TO ASSESS BEHAVIOURAL PATsition to digital comTERNS.” merce. THE-INTL
ness executive. He spent ten years with KPMG, thirty years with British Chambers of Commerce (while also running his own companies). He is a British citizen, who grew up in Kent, went to boarding school university education. He has been married to a Dane for over 44 years and has held over 100 official anti-Brexit speeches since 2016. He both speaks and writes Danish without difficulty. oxford-business.com
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CANINE DISTEMPER When you bring your dog to the veterinarian, one of the preventative care measures generally recommended is a vaccination against a complex of viruses that includes the canine distemper virus. Many veterinary hospitals worldwide utilise a vaccine that also protects against canine parvovirus, another similarly dangerous viral infection.
PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK / UNSPLASH.COM
TEXT TAREK ABU SHAM
C
CANINE DISTEMPER IS a viral disthat survive initial infection are ofease that affects multiple systems ten placed on anti-seizure mediin animals. While dogs are the most cation long-term to control sympcommonly affected species, othtoms. er animals can also be infected, including raccoons, which often serve VACCINATING AGAINST as carriers for infecting other aniCANINE DISTEMPER AND mals. The virus can affect the gasPREVENTING INFECTION trointestinal tract, the respiratoWhile canine distemper is a devry system, the nervous system, and astating disease found throughout even the skin. the world, there are highly effective Symptoms of canine distemper vaccines available on the market. vary. Many animals have respiratoMany of these also protect against ry symptoms, such as sneezing or other highly infectious diseases, nasal discharge, while some have such as canine parvovirus. vomiting or diarrhoea. Some aniIn most cases, puppies start remals have seizures when the nervceiving canine distemper vaccines ous system has been affected. One between 6 and 8 weeks of age. The hallmark of infection with the cavaccine boosters are traditionally nine distemper virus is hyperkeragiven every 3 to 4 weeks until puptosis or thickening of the paw pads. pies are at least 16 weeks old. In Animals can spread canine dismost cases, a series of at least 3 vactemper through several mechacines are used. Depending on your nisms. Usually, the virus is spread dog's risk factors, the area you live, through direct contact, but respirand the vaccine your veterinarian atory secretions can also spread the uses, you should boost your dog's virus, such as when a dog sneezes. canine distemper vaccine every 1 Unfortunately, many animals that or 3 years. "OTHER MEDICATIONS MAY BE USED TO TREAT get infected with canine distemper Vaccinating is the most imporCANINE DISTEMPER INFECTION SYMPTOMS, end up dying from complications. tant thing you can do to prevent inIn pets that recover from the initial fection in domesticated dogs. BeSUCH AS ANTI-DIARRHEAL MEDICATIONS OR viral infection, lifelong neurologcause wildlife and stray dogs may ANTI-NAUSEA MEDICATIONS, SUCH AS MAROic conditions, such as recurrent seialso be carriers for infection, dogs PITANT OR CERENIA." zures, may occur. should be supervised, and contact Diagnosis of canine distemper ofwith potentially infected animals ten requires a specialised test performed to be hospitalised and receive IV fluids should be minimised. at a veterinary diagnostic laboratory. and care. While antibiotics are not effecWhile canine distemper was a relatively When multiple body systems are affected, tive against viral infections, they may help common viral infection in dogs, the wideor hyperkeratosis is found upon physical treat or prevent secondary bacterial infecspread use of vaccines has significantly exam, your pet's veterinarian may suspect tions, which are especially common in anhelped diminish infection in many areas. canine distemper. imals with canine distemper. Your veterinarian can help you determine Other medications may be used to treat how often your dog needs to receive the TREATMENT FOR CANINE canine distemper infection symptoms, vaccination based on risk factors such as DISTEMPER such as anti-diarrheal medications or anpossible exposure. If your veterinarian Unfortunately, as with many viral infecti-nausea medications, such as Maropitant suspects infection with canine distemper, tions, there are no direct treatments for or Cerenia. In dogs with neurologic signs, intensive supportive care will likely be redogs with canine distemper. Instead, supsuch as seizures, anti-seizure medication quired to give your dog the best chance at portive care is utilised. Many dogs need is also employed, such as Diazepam. Dogs recovery. THE-INTL
TAREK ABU SHAM OWNER, MYPETERINARIAN Tarek was born in Amman, Jordan and from an early age has had a love for animals. He met his spouse in Amman and then soon embarked on an expat lifestyle that took him to Dubai, Prague, and now Copenhagen. Originally a veterinarian, Tarek reinvented himself professionally and decided to launch his own company. With mypeterinarian, Tarek has combined his veterinary experience with his entrepreneurial spirit. Mypeterinarian cares for pets in the Copenhagen area, offering services including pet-sitting, walking, and more to come soon. www.mypeterinarian.com
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JUTL AND
NEW HORIZONS AARHUS AND EASTERN JUTLAND IS HOME TO MANY INTERNATIONALLY-MINDED COMPANIES AND ORGANISATIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS AREA'S INTERNATIONALISATION. THIS MONTH INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY GIVES THE FLOOR TO CEO AND FOUNDER OF PEDDIGO LENE-LOUISE STEENFAT.
PHOTOGRAPHS INGE LYNGGARD HANSEN
TEXT LENE-LOUISE STEENFAT
T
THERE ARE THREE reasons why people voluntarily move to another country: #1 Love. #2 Work. #3 A desire to shift the scenery and explore new horizons. I moved to Berlin because of #3. I was a seasoned HR Exec and wondered if I could transfer my skills from a well-known and comfortable Danish setting to an entirely new environment? Moving to Berlin without having a job, I had no idea if it would happen for me? I spent 4 months going to Sprachschule, biking around, reading books, exploring beautiful Berlin and acting like a tourist before I started in my first position as HR Lead in Europe, which introduced me to the Tech Start-Up scene in Berlin. The experience of working in the Tech Hub of Europe and in the Tech space taught me too many things to list. Still, I definitely learned that although the cultural barriers between Denmark and Germany are not massive, working within a multicultural environment, in the craziness of Tech Start-Ups with exponential growth and too many 25-year-old, caucasian, male CEO Founders that got funded too much and too soon for their sanity makes for a considerable challenge with people and culture. I've had more 60 hour work weeks, than the 40-hour norm, and I've been tasked with reducing the workforce with 25% because of changes in the strategic direction. I've dealt with mental and emotional health issues among team members not coping well with the pressures of a hyper-growth culture. I've dealt with OfficeVibe employee satisfaction scores of minus 65 (on a scale from +100 to -100), and I've dealt with the consequences of a sexual predatory and fraudulent CEO that needed to be removed. In short, I'm exhausted! But I would do it all again, as there are no regrets and a LOT of learning, and it got me started on my own journey as a Tech Founder!
BACK TO AARHUS In Autumn 2019, I decided to leave my well-paid (and comfortable!) position as VP People & Culture to build my own Pet Tech business. The business plan for PeddiGo had been in my desk drawer for a long time at this point, and I decided it was time to do my own thing - and that there is really never going to be a "good time". I had seen what you can do with a tech business if you genuinely care about your users - and I had seen how (not) to build the team to make it happen! I teamed up with a very competent and experienced Co-Founder who was as excited as I was about the opportunity to create meaningful opportunities for pet lovers to connect when there is a need for trusting and caring pet sitting in home-like surroundings. We wanted to establish PeddiGo in Denmark as we have domain expertise and knowledge of the DK market - and that's why I am back.
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"There are no regrets and a LOT of learning, and it got me started on my own journey as a Tech Founder!" - Lene-Louise Steenfat
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF AARHUS We of fe r a w ide ra ng e of events, seminars and online activities that help inter-
A PIECE OF ADVICE On the topic of employment, I know from my experience working within Search & Selection in Denmark, before moving to Berlin, that language is very often a deal-breaker in the job hunting process, and I learned from my time as a Director in HR that prejudice and concerns about cultural diversity and internationalisation is still a massive barrier within some organisations. I do, however, see trends shifting. And in a weird, backward way the Covid-19 Pandemic has progressed this shift with more companies becoming Remote First which makes it possible to live in Aarhus but work with a company based anywhere in the world. Doing a random search on LinkedIn with a "Communication" job title and workplace "Remote", I got 76,776 results. THE-INTL
nationals get settled in Denmark. Learn more on our website or follow us on: www.erhvervaarhus.dk www.internationalcommu nity.dk @internationalcommunity Aarhus @internationalcommunity aarhus
PeddiGo is an online platform where pet lovers connect when there is a need for high-trust, caring and committed pet sitting in home-like surroundings. You can signup as a pet owner or pet sitter on www.peddigo.com
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ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE
SUSAN JESSEN SPIELE LIBRARIAN Susan is a librarian at Roskil-
With books you can go anywhere and not just to another place, but another time. And you can find unlimited new exciting people to hang out with, whether "real" or fictional – and you decide when they leave! Enjoy.
A DEVILISH SEA SAGA THE DEVIL AND THE DARK WATER BY STUART TURTON In 1634 a detective is sailing to Amsterdam in chains. He is to be executed for a crime he may not have committed. His bodyguard is with him, hoping to prove him innocent. But at sea strange and horrible things start to happen.
CLASSIC DIABOLICALLY TWISTED CRIME THE INUGAMI CURSE BY SEISHI YOKOMIZO The 1940s in Japan. Private detective Kindaichi receives a letter from the attorney of the now-dead king of silk, Inugami, wanting to hire him to prevent "events soaked in blood". Then the attorney is murdered, and a hunt for a ruthless killer begins.
BEAUTIFULLY PACED, EMOTIONALLY PACKED CONJURE WOMEN BY AFIA ATAKORA A remote plantation in the South before, during and after the civil war is home to Rue, her mother May Belle and the disap peared owner's daughter. May Belle teaches her daughter healing and curses and helps fellow slaves, especially the women.
TRULY MAGICAL ALTERNATE HISTORY
de Library, and in charge of the English section. She does English events all year; everything from expat dinners and pub quizzes, to karaoke nights and book talks. She is also busy with Roskilde Horror, a club dedicated to scaring the town.
THE ONCE AND FUTURE WITCHES BY ALIX E. HARROW In 1893, there is no such thing as witches anymore. But when three sisters join New Salem's suffragists, they might turn the wome n ' s m ove m e nt i nt o the witch's movement. If they trust the right people and live long enough.
DID YOU KNOW?
Even if the libraries are closed for business, as usual we are still alive and kicking! Our brilliant online services are always open, and we are still available for help and inspiration. You can email and call us, and if you're not registered yet, we can do that as well. Just contact us and get access to a whole World.
FEBRUARY 2021 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
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ASIAN COOKING
LUNAR NEW YEAR NOODLES
PHOTOGRAPHS WINNIE TANGO / ISTOCK
TEXT WINNIE TANGO
The Lunar New Year is a festival typically celebrated in Asian countries that begins with the Lunar calendar's first new moon. There are many traditions to follow as it is important to carry good fortune into the following year. In Asian culture, long noodles symbolise long life. This is a simple dish that you can include in your next Lunar New Year feast!
LUNAR NEW YEAR NOODLES PREPARATION & COOKING TIME: 20 MIN
WINNIE TANGO
INGREDIENTS:
ENTREPENEUR
200g egg noodle ½ cup cooked Urimi steak cut into slices
Growing up in Hong Kong, she set her sights on becoming a successful entrepreneur. After moving to Denmark in 2017, and with her previous experiences in finance, tourism, and food created a new opportunity by starting a real estate rental business. Not forgetting her passion for food, she has also started a new Facebook page - Winnie Tango Foodie - God mad, and Foodie in Denmark. Not just a successful entrepreneur but loves being a single mom to her young daughter. Winnie lives by this quote by William Arthur Ward: "If you can imagine it, you can create it, and if you dream it, you can become it.
1 cup of cooked spinach ½ cup of cooked shrimp ½ cup of caviar
DRESSING INGREDIENTS: 2 tbsp tahini or peanut butter 2½ tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp honey 2 tbsp sesame oil 100ml water ½ tbsp minced garlic chilli paste (optional) Mix all these ingredients above to form the dressing.
METHOD: #1 Cook noodles in boiling water according to the
package directions (I usually cook for 1 minute
less, as I'm not too fond of soft noodles). Drain and
rinse the noodles with cold water and add one
tablespoon of sesame oil and mix together. Place
on a large plate.
#2 Place the cooked steak, spinach, shrimp and
caviar on top of the noodles.
#3 Pour the dressing over all the ingredients, let your
guests grab some chopsticks and serve themselves.
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TIP: YOU CAN USE ANY KIND OF EGG NOODLE. USING FRESH SPAGHETTI IS A GOOD ALTERNATIVE.
https://www.facebook. com/winnietangofood https://www.instagram. com/winnie.tango.foodie
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Face masks must be worn
coronasmitte.dk
sst.dk/en/English FEBRUARY 2021 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
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Our students cultivate a danish and global perspective THE CITY COUNCIL OF LOLLAND MUNICIPALITY HAS DECIDED TO ESTABLISH THE COUNTRY’S FIRST FREE PUBLIC, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL IS THE FIRST OF IT'S KIND AND IS A MAJOR POLITICAL-STRATEGIC INITIATIVE THAT WILL HELP REALISE THE FEHMARNBELT LINK’S OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOLLAND CITIZENS.
THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
BENEFITS OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION
Located at Maribo Gymnasium, the school will open in
Strong linguistic skills.
August 2021.
Global perspectives.
The new international school is for children between 6-15
An increased cultural understanding.
and will focus on Danish and global perspectives.
A dynamic learning environment.
The school will have a capacity of 100 students from
Opportunity to continue education in Denmark or
grades 0-9.
abroad.
The school is designed for children of foreign workers in Denmark but also open to Danish families looking for an international education.
For more information:
FEBRUARY 2021 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
SUMMER SCHOOL
PROGRAMME COMING SOON!
WWW.LOLLANDINTERNATIONALSCHOOL.DK