international
the
ISSN 2596-5220
THE ESSENTIAL WEEKEND BREAKFAST
PETS AND THE PANDEMIC
DANISH SUMMER HOUSE RULES
INTERNATIONALS NEEDED IN DENMARK
MAY 2020 - THE-INTL.COM
FOLLOWING HER DREAMS
AS A SUCCESSFUL JOB CONSULTANT IN DENMARK
ONLINE
PAPER
MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
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LEADERSHIP AND MOTHERHOOD...
THIS MONTH I’D LIKE TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO MOMS (MOTHER’S DAY IS 10TH MAY, DON'T FORGET!) AND FEMALE LEADERS. HOW ARE THE TWO SO STRONGLY INTERTWINED? ments. Parents can promote a team mentality in their families by helping their children develop good and caring relationships with each other and providing opportunities to work and play together.
GREAT MOMS AND LEADERS ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE THE BEST IN THEIR CHILDREN OR TEAM A mother is a child's biggest cheerleader, advocate, and most unwavering supporter. In this same way, great business leaders do the same for their teams.
INSPIRATIONAL GREETE ELURI
SHARES HOW SHE'S FULFILLING HER DREAMS AND GOALS IN A COUNTRY SHE NOW CALLS HOME.
PHOTOGRAPHS ZANE HARTMANE - ZANEHARTMANE.COM
to the ‘studying bubble’ for two years. ‘My life triangle’ was home-school-work, cleaning job in the evenings and weekends and then studying at night on weekends. The first culture shock hit me at school: I remember my marketing teacher eating car-
I
GREAT MOMS AND LEADERS ARE PRESENT IN THE MOMENT
GREAT MOMS AND LEADERS BUILD STRONG TEAMS
Love,
Working as a team is vital in business and family life. To get things done, people need to work together well. Effective leaders facilitate teamwork by encouraging cooperation among people and depart-
LYNDSAY JENSEN - EDITOR & FOUNDER
rots during the class – this would’ve never happened in Estonia. Now, it’s funny to think
and was a multiple-time Estonian champion, I was more drawn to singing in the choir, which I began at the age of three.
back about these experiences and laugh about it. I was lucky to find a 10 m2 room to rent from a former Estonian student and also got
After I came back from a high school exchange year in the US, I didn’t have time for both and decided to continue with singing. I was a proud member of one of the best girl
a cleaning job in my first week of Denmark. I didn’t have a plan for how to economically support myself (back then internationals didn’t get SU), but I knew one thing – I
choirs in Estonia, called ‘Ellerhein’ with whom we won a Grammy in 2004. I was lucky to travel the world and represent our country both nationally and internationally. I feel that ‘Ellerhein’ played a huge part in forming me as a person. Strict rehearsals, competitions and numerous concerts taught me commitment, independence and to be goal-focused while juggling high school at the same time. After years of basketball, I’d say nothing shows you more ‘team-spirit’ than a team sport – I love it, and still today I prefer working in a team setting in all aspects of my life. All the long summer vacations (in Estonia it’s almost three months) I spent at our summerhouse, which is surrounded by lots of forests and is close to sea. I have so many amazing memories from there, growing up and hanging out with my three cousins.
wouldn’t ask my parents for money every month. I came here with 2000 DKK in cash my father gave me, and luckily, by the end of the first month, I got my first salary – it felt amazing! I remember the first trip to the city, where I had to buy essentials as a monthly transport card, some kitchen utensils etc. – this is when I realised that this 2000 DKK wouldn’t last very long – Denmark is so expensive! By the way, I still have that colourful bowl and a coffee cup I bought from Søstrene Grene on my first day in the city.
HOW DOES THE CULTURE IN DENMARK COMPARE TO WHERE YOU GREW UP AND OTHER PLACES YOU’VE LIVED AROUND THE WORLD? I would say there are more similarities between Estonia and Denmark. Estonians and
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO DENMARK? I came to Denmark in 2010 to study Marketing management in Aarhus. I planned to stay here for two years, yet ten years later I'm still here.
Danes are both very closed at first, but once you get to know them and ‘peel off the layers’ they’re curious and helpful people. Danes celebrate more public holidays with specific dishes and traditions than we do. Even though we have many of the same holidays in Estonia they’re not celebrated as
WAS IT DIFFICULT TO ADJUST TO A DIFFERENT CULTURE WHEN YOU MOVED HERE?
much – a holiday in Denmark is often a day off (public holiday), where in Estonia it isn’t. My favourite Danish holiday is Christmas and December generally. It starts with mak-
I think back then, being a student, it was more comfortable as I automatically went in-
ing lots of yummy treats like vaniljsekranse, pebernødder and julekonfekt (marzipan cov-
MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
My top picks for May Page 3
To get things done, moms become experts at doing more than one thing at a time. The same can be said for leaders, having to juggle many tasks and deal with stressful situations.
ing in a country with such strong female leadership like Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. It was a popular post that was trending, highlighting successful leaders around the world (all female) that are dealing with the current Covid-19 crisis effectively. I got me thinking about how being a mother. and a leader seem to go hand in hand, as we navigate (albeit not the virus) but crisis mode. So how exactly does leadership tie in with being a mother I bet you're wondering? It's so important to be a leader at home and teach our children these concepts, and you can also apply these lessons in your business. Ask yourself this question: What are a mother's most important roles? The answer can be complicated; often behind-the-scenes, moms are helping to shape the lives and character of their children - their roles as leaders are apparent in doing that. These leadership lessons from moms can be excellent tools to put into practice for people who want to make a difference in their families, communities, or business.
TEXT LYNDSAY JENSEN
TELL ME A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, AND WHERE YOU GREW UP? I’m from Tallinn, Estonia. I grew up in a very sporty family – my mom, sister and myself played basketball, and my father volleyball. They played it at a professional level and were part of the Estonian national team. Even though I played for about ten years
GREAT MOMS AND LEADERS ARE AMAZING MULTI-TASKERS
I RECENTLY SHARED a post on Facebook about being proud of liv-
11
10
Opinion piece on the new social distancing buzzword
Pages 10-13
While both motherhood and leadership require juggling multiple duties and responsibilities, they also demand the ability to shut out distractions and stay focused on a single task or person. Your children can tell when you're not paying attention, and usually call you out on it! Employees are the same, and it shows a lack of respect if you don't take the time to focus on them.
Greete shares her goals in a country she now calls home - and offers other internationals advice.
Page 18
GREAT MOMS AND LEADERS LET THEIR CHILDREN OR TEAM SHINE
Your pets and the pandemic, we
Moms may seem overshadowed or eclipsed by the presence or achievements of their children at times. Leaders may seem to disappear in the bright light of their organisation's accomplishments. The best ones fade to the background willingly, knowing that real success can be found in the influence they make in the lives of others.
tackle the questions of infection.
Page 25 How attracting international talent is crucial for Danish business
Wishing you all a happy mothers day, and hope you get to spend time with your moms through a call, zoom linkup or in person.
and for the future of the country.
Page 26 Coping and dealing with anxiety through the current crisis.
THE-INTL.COM
MEET THE TEAM SALES For advertising sales, please contact: sales@the-intl.com
DISTRIBUTION (SEALAND) CONNOR is 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.
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 two years and mother to two boys aged 21 and 15. She loves travel, photography and art. lyndsay@the-intl.com
MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
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HEAD OF SOCIAL MEDIA DENMARK EDITOR & FOUNDER
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MOVE OVER SOCIAL DISTANCING
WE HAVE A NEW BUZZWORD
OPINION
PIECE
LAST MONTH AT OUR FIRST ONLINE EDITORIAL BRAINSTORM, A COLLEAGUE ASKED WHY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO) USES THE TERM 'SOCIAL DISTANCING'? IT FELT A LITTLE ODD, IF NOT A TAD IRONIC, THAT THERE WE WERE, SOME TEN OF US BEING QUITE SOCIAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHILE DISCUSSING THE RELEVANCE OF THE TERM' SOCIAL DISTANCING.' WE WERE BEING ANYTHING BUT SOCIALLY DISTANT.
CONRAD EGBERT
COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST
Conrad has 20 years’ experience as a journalist and editor. He is also an aspiring author on the hunt for a suitable publisher. He moved to Copenha-
PHOTOGRAPH ISTOCK PHOTO
W
WOULDN'T 'PHYSICAL DISTANCING' be a better term instead, someone asked. After all, we're meant to keep away from each other physically. And so it went on. But while the answer may seem obvious at first, if you go deeper, you'll find there's more to it than meets the aching Covid eye. "Social distancing is the official term the WHO uses for pandemics," explains clinical psychologist Morgwn Paris. "Physical distancing might appear to be a better choice, but in fact, it's only one aspect of social distancing". Paris, who previously lived in Denmark, flew back to Australia in March, where she was quarantined in a hotel for a fortnight before being allowed back home. She believes the WHO's choice of words is deeply rooted in psychology. "It's not just about the physical distance between people, it's a lot more. It says to us: 'we want you to be socially responsible; we want you to think more broadly about your social lifestyle and the daily social activities in your life, we want you to think about the recommended precautionary measures if you happen to be in a social setting. For example, don't drink from the same glass or eat from the same plate, avoid going to parties or unnecessary social gatherings. The term is meant to work like a buzzword that triggers your mind into survival mode during a pandemic." Interestingly prominent clinical psychologist and author Dr. Steven Taylor alludes to the same thing. In his book The Psychology of Pandemics, he says the term social distancing is one of several methods used to communicate perceived risk to people in the hope that they will pay closer attention to their social habits and be more aware of their actions. A relevant excerpt from his book warns, "People may be more likely to contract pathogens from [other] people who are socially close to them because they are more frequently in contact." The term social distancing has been used to fight various pandemics and outbreaks right up until SARS in 2002, but we mustn't forget that this was before the age of social media – a new term, which has changed what the word 'social' means to us. Today we spend most of our waking hours on social media and when we
TEXT CONRAD EGBERT
gen from France in 2019 and loves to schmooze; he believes a good chat is far more healing than homeopathy. He’s of
think 'social' we instinctively reach for our mobile phones. Whether it's sharing pictures and videos on Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat or working from home via Zoom, LinkedIn or Twitter, we're being social. And so the term social distancing might seem a bit regressive today; more so in the future. As the world evolves, so do cultures and languages, and this includes the meanings of words and what they signify – like the word 'social' for example. "Given the times we live in, where the word 'social' is closely associated with the term social media, it's ambiguous to then call for social distancing when you really mean physical distancing – which today mean two very different things," says Associate Professor Martin Ehrensvärd, who specialises in linguistics at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. "We need to socialise, more than ever during lockdowns and a safe and responsible way of doing that is by coming together on the many social media platforms we have out there." As the world cautiously begins to reopen for business, perhaps now is a good time to rethink our communication strategy too. Since the term physical distancing is lacking and social distancing is irrelevant, perhaps a little tweaking could do the trick in forming a new and more positive buzzword for the future – Socialise Distantly – we've been doing it for almost two decades anyway. THE-INTL
mixed Indian and English heritage and has worked across the Middle East, India and Europe. Earth is currently home and he considers himself a citizen of it. In winter, he loves coffee, croissants, candles and gin, but come summer, hawkers in Free-town Christiana are reduced to tears with his intrepid bargaining. He’s friendly and funny and cooks a mean curry. You can catch him at embassy parties or stirring up controversy at various hyggelig watering holes around the city. He’ll be your friend if you have a light.
"Given the times we live in, where the word 'social' is closely associated with the term' social media', it's ambiguous to then call for social distancing when you really mean physical distancing – which today mean two very different things," says Associate Professor Martin Ehrensvärd, who specialises in linguistics at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
egbertconrad@gmail.com @kingegbert @egbertconrad Conrad Egbert www.linkedin.com/in/ conradegbert
MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
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THINGS TO DO ONLINE
ONLINE!
ONLINE!
UNSPLASH.COM
UNSPLASH.COM
IN MAY
As the lockdown period extends into May, here are more online events to keep you occupied safely! You can also follow us on social media and our website for more events - http://www.the-intl.dk/
6 MAY
7 MAY
VIRTUAL JOB CAFE
FOUNDERS FIELDNOTE SESSIONS
ONLINE!
THE FITNESS MARSHALL FACEBOOK PAGE
Are you looking for a job in Esbjerg and need some guidance through the process? The Newcomer Service in Esbjerg invites you to join our Virtual Jobcafé. You will be able to join the Virtual meeting from your home or even from your garden. To sign up send an email to newcomer@esbjergkommune.dk and you will receive a link for the Skype meeting.
Life amid Coronavirus is continually changing for customers and businesses, so how do you make sure your marketing strategy keeps up? We dive into the nitty-gritty with our friendly operational experts in marketing and growth to share notes about the latest trends in this space plus best practice on adjusting strategy, positioning, where to spend budget and how to avoid painful faux pas right now. Join the conversation via Q&A in the live chat.
TIME: 10:00-12:00 FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ EVENTS/546661432929539/
Speakers: Founders partner Simon Sylvest hosts Natasha Lytton (Head of brand and marketing at Seedcamp), May Laursen (Partner T-Bone SaaS Growth Advisory), Nicola Anderson (CMO MyTutor) and Sean Percival (Spring Capital partner and former Whereby CMO).
ALL OF MAY
TIME: 16:00 FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://NORDIC9.COM/EVENTS/FOUNDERS-FIELDNOTE-SESSIONS-1-EVENT5794836849/
THE FITNESS MARSHALL
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://THEFITNESSMARSHALL.ORG/INDEX
UNSPLASH.COM
BOOTIES AT ATTENTION! Get ready to sweat yourself sexy with The Fitness Marshall! All videos are free on YouTube.com/thefitnessmarshall
THE NEWCOMER SERVICE ESBJERG
The Fitness Marshall started posting videos in 2014 to provide a safe space for people to be their most authentic self through fun easy to follow choreography.
H i g h Acad em i c S t an d ar d s C h ri st i an E t ho s C onv en i en t l y l o c at ed i n H el l er u p
rygaards.com MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
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ONLINE!
ONLINE!
UNSPLASH.COM
ICC FACEBOOK PAGE
THE BODY COACH FACEBOOK PAGE
ONLINE!
ALL OF MAY
11 MAY
ALL OF MAY
PE WITH JOE
FREE ICC ONLINE DROP-IN WORKSHOP
INTRODUCTORY PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE
Have fun and meet new people in a supportive online environment - for free! The ICC is now offering a free 2 hours drop-in class open to all levels of improv experience. If you want to donate for the drop-in feel free to do so here: http://www.improvcomedy.eu/product/donate-tosave-icc/ The 2 hours will offer a combination of 2 to 3-person scene work as well as group exercises that fit the online medium. All our teachers have completed online training and are ready to provide you with a fun improv experience online!
What you'll learn: - Everything from the basics of how your camera works and correct technique through to setting your AF mode, AF points, resolution. - My top 10 tips for framing up great photos, covering everything from rule of thirds and leading lines, through to what to look for in a background and more... - What makes your photos come out brighter or darker, how to control exposure with exposure compensation, looks at different metering modes, histogram graphs and more, ending with practical session #1 - Aperture and Depth Of Field, what it is, the easy way to understand and control it...
I started the Body Coach TV to offer free home workouts to everyone, no matter what their fitness levels. It's taken me a long time to grow it, but it now has over 250+ free exercises and reaches millions of people all over the world.
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/USER/THEBODYCOACH1/FEATURED
ONLINE!
Teacher: Gordon Torbet Language: English
BLOGILATES FACEBOOK PAGE
Please note: - The minimum age for all ICC classes is 18. - Classes start on time, and if you are more than 30 minutes late without letting us know, you may not be able to join the course, as you will have missed warm-ups. This is at the teacher’s discretion.
TIME: 17:30-19:30 STREAMING LOCATION: YOU WILL RECEIVE A LINK TO THE STREAMING CHANNEL IN YOUR ORDER CONFIRMATION GET MORE INFO & SIGN UP HERE: HTTPS://WWW.IMPROVCOMEDY.EU/PRODUCT/ONLINE-DROP-INWORKSHOP-%F0%9F%87%AC%F0%9F%87%A711-05/?FBCLID=IWAR2KGNIQ-POZT2NNBMVFJSZ84GO33QRR9PEDZTSTNT7SJRXJWC3UIL4K5RO
ALL OF MAY BLOGILATES
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.BLOGILATES.COM/
Description: I've been running this 1 day photography course around Australia & New Zealand since 2009, helping several thousand people gain more enjoyment from their passion - one small group at a time. However, as we're now busier than ever running our Photography Tours, time has come to throw open the doors and let everyone enjoy it! Divided into sequential sections, each video features plenty of examples, animations and easy-to-understand explanations to guide you right through from basic camera setup and composition, to aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation, ISO, lighting, lenses, histograms, white balance and so much more! The first 5 parts are ready to watch for FREE! Who this course is for: What skill level is needed? This photography courses is aimed at beginners right through to keen-enthusiast photographers. We start at the very basics (you'd be surprised how often even skilled photographers actually lack some of these fundamentals!) and then work up. We're always delighted to hear that even accomplished photographers who've done the course still report that they were surprised how much they still learnt. The main concern our guests seem to have before they do the course is that they might not be advanced enough, but let me assure you that this is never the case! We've had people attend the course pulling their camera out of the plastic-wrap and turning it on for the first time, and they too find the course invaluable and still well-paced.
UNSPLASH.COM
Cassey Ho is an award-winning fitness instructor, entrepreneur and personality based in Los Angeles, CA. She is the creator of Blogilates, the #1 female fitness channel on YouTube, with over 500 million video views and 4 million subscribers. As a certified group fitness instructor and Pilates mat and Reformer teacher (ACE, NESTA, Balanced Body), Cassey has been motivating people to move for nearly a decade. The magic all began when Cassey started breaking the rules. Fusing pop music with her classical Pilates routines, the way Cassey melded the music to the mat was unlike anything the industry had seen before. Students began to crave her innovative choreography because it brought the fun back into working out! She decided to call it POP Pilates®.
Requirements: A camera! That's about it!
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.UDEMY.COM/COURSE/ FREE-PHOTOGRAPHY-COURSE-FOR-BEGINNERS/
MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
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ONLINE!
1420 FACEBOOK PAGE
ONLINE!
GO VISITDENMARK
LOUISIANA CHANNEL FACEBOOK PAGE
ONLINE!
ALL OF MAY
ALL OF MAY
TUESDAY'S IN MAY
LOUISIANA CHANNEL
LIVESTREAMS OF DENMARK
Louisiana Channel is a non-profit website based at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, Denmark. With Louisiana Channel as a platform, Louisiana provides culture to the Internet, extending beyond the museum’s events. The Louisiana team produces videos about art and culture on an ongoing basis. New videos are posted at the site every week. Louisiana Channel contributes to the continual development of the museum as a cultural platform, expressing a desire to sharpen the understanding of the importance of culture and the arts. We see Louisiana Channel as an integral part of a museum for the 21st century, capable of engaging a new generation in our cultural heritage, in a creative present and an ambitious future. It has always been Louisiana’s role to stimulate discussion of society through the insights of art and artists, and the same goes for Louisiana Channel.
With borders closed with the Covid-19 virus ramped all over the world, tourism has taken a back seat. The team over at Denmark gives you a chance to view Denmark virtually with live streams of the most beautiful views around the country! Watch as Denmark wakes up from its winter hibernation, with buds bursting all over the countryside, calm waves washing over its sandy beaches and animals roaming freely. This selection of live streams and videos plugs you directly into Danish nature at its best.
1420'S QUARANTINE QUIZZES From now until the end of lockdown, we go LIVE every Tuesday at 19:00 Copenhagen time (CET) on both our Facebook and Instagram (1420bar) feeds with our Quarantine Quizzes! Fifty brand new questions every time! Our quiz is 100% FREE, but we do appreciate any small donations to our MobilePay (20678) and our PayPal (info@1420bar.com)! From our donations, we'll draw a winner of a 200 DKK gift certificate, that can be used at our bar once all of this is over!
FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://WWW.VISITDENMARK.COM/DENMARK/THINGS-DO/VISIT-DENMARK-HOME/LIVESTREAMS
Grab a beer, relax, and we'll see you for Quarantine Quiz! Every Tuesday, 19:00 CET!
TIME: 19:00-20:30 FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ EVENTS/1176129576052321/?EVENT_TIME_ ID=1176129582718987
MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
1420 FACEBOOK PAGE
GO VISITDENMARK
LOUISIANA CHANNEL FACEBOOK PAGE
FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://CHANNEL.LOUISIANA.DK/
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ZUMBA FUN CLAIRE FACEBOOK PAGE
ONLINE!
DAYS IN MAY ZUMBA FUN CLAIRE - DANCE AT HOME! I miss dancing with you!! So Live stream classes it is! We will be using Zoom for the best sound, and we get to see each other! A couple of things to remember: - Download zoom to your computer for a bigger picture and connect it to your speaker. - If we experience technical problems, we will go back to Facebook and do a live feed. You can choose to turn off your camera or on – that’s up to you. Contact us so we can send you a link to join the class. Any small donation to 28922247 is very much appreciated!
A focus on learning
TIMES AND DATES: CHECK THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR DAYS AND TIMES FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/EVENTS/249870329739825
ONLINE!
SMK'S FACEBOOK PAGE
I nternational S chool for students ages 3–16 ALL OF MAY
nis-ngg.dk Phone: +45 45 57 26 16 Email: nis@ngg.dk
SMK'S NEW ONLINE COLLECTION
Cirkelhuset, Christianshusvej 16 DK, 2970 Hørsholm
Enjoy the National Gallery of Denmark's online collection while the museum is closed. Examine the art in detail and find text, images and 3D scans for use in your project. Here you’ll find information and resources relating to artworks collected by the Danish kings and subsequently the Danish state through centuries. They have made the collection as accessible and multi-faceted as possible, and you’ll be able to explore information in the shape of photos, 3D models, explanatory texts as well as audio and video.
Cambridge International School
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS: HTTPS://WWW.OPEN.SMK.DK/EN/
MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
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ONLINE!
ONLINE!
RAY WEAVER
UNSPLASH.COM
THE NEWCOMER SERVICE ESBJERG
ONLINE!
15 MAY
16 MAY
SUNDAY'S IN MAY
VIRTUAL COOK N TALK MAKING GIN HASS AND FIRE-TRUCK
VIRTUAL NEWCOMER YOGA
RAY AND SAVANNAH WEAVER: LIVE FROM THEIR LIVING ROOM!
Connect, relax and practice yoga with us. We invite you to join our online class on: Mindful yoga is a nurturing and gentle class designed to help you unwind and recharge. * No previous yoga experience is needed. * You will need a yoga mat, a couple of blankets or towels.
Join us at a virtual cook n talk - making the two drinks Gin Hass and fire-truck - and chat while we enjoy the drinks. Email newcomer@esbjergkommune.dk to receive ingredient/grocery list and a Skype login.
Join Newcomer Yoga and relax with us. Send an email to newcomer@esbjergkommune.dk to receive a skype link to join.
TIME: 19:30-21:00 FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ EVENTS/256106692182477/
TIME: 10:000-11:00 FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ EVENTS/1863508423784019/
UNSPLASH.COM
THE NEWCOMER SERVICE ESBJERG
IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR FOR THE CELEBRATED PUB SLINGER AND HIS DAUGHTER The well-known American singer/songwriter Ray Weaver and his daughter Savannah will be continuing their series of Sunday Quarantine Concerts on Sunday, May 10 at 21:00. Ray and Savannah perform an eclectic and fun mix made up of their original tunes and classic songs from just about every genre. From Savannah’s masterful take on Etta James’ ‘At Last’ to Ray’s heartfelt renditions of great songs by artists like Gordon Lightfoot and Bruce Springsteen, the evening truly offers something for everyone Ray has been a staple at pubs throughout Denmark and the rest of Scandinavia for over twenty years, and the addition of Savannah takes his well-loved show to a whole new level.
ONLINE!
ONLINE!
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BRINGING THE PUB TO YOU John Conaty of The Globe in Copenhagen has booked Ray at several different venues he has managed over the years, "I've been bartender and manager at numerous bars and I've made sure book Ray at each bar as often as possible. Unexpendable.” During these lock-in shows, Ray and Savannah try to create the atmosphere of your favourite pub, taking requests and engaging in banter with the folks watching the stream The show is live on Ray’s Facebook page. Admission is free, of course, but donations to the Embolc mental health foundation are much appreciated. The donations help the mothers of children who are suffering from mental illness attend classes and workshops to better help them cope with the challenges they face.
ALL OF MAY
7 CREATIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT DRIVE CHANGE
GROWING FRUIT TREES WITH EASE
What you'll learn: - Create an environment that is conducive to creativity. - Lead others with confidence in the creative process. - Know how to create a more unified and supportive team.
In this course, Urban Orchardist and Fruit Tree Care Educator Susan Poizner will teach you the nine steps to growing organic fruit trees successfully. This course is relevant for growers in both urban and rural environments.
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.UDEMY.COM/COURSE/ LEADERSHIP-SKILLS-TO-IGNITE-CREATIVITY/
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.UDEMY.COM/COURSE/ GROWING-FRUIT-TREES-WITH-EASE/
MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
RAY WEAVER
ALL OF MAY
TIME: 21:00 FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/RAY. WEAVER1
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ONLINE!
ONLINE!
UNSPLASH.COM
THE WATER HEN FACEBOOK PAGE
THE NEWCOMER SERVICE ESBJERG
ONLINE!
28 MAY - 3 JUNE
29 MAY
THURSDAY'S IN MAY
THE WATER HEN PROJECT
VIRTUAL COOK N TALK – MAKING SHOOTING STARS
WINE TASTING AND MUSIC
Make your Friday evening dinner with us. This time we will make shooting star, a famous Danish fish course, which can be enjoyed by both adults and kids. Sign up per email newcomer@esbjergkommune.dk to receive a list of ingredients and skype log in.
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The Water Hen by Witkiewicz will be live-streamed from May 28 - June 3 in a thrilling new production. Directed by Andrew Norton Featuring: Hinrik Kanneworff, Sylwia Wanowicz, Bogdan Gorgos, Daniel Neil Ash, Daniela Heimsch, Elitsa Radivoeva, Riina Pitkänen, Sigríður Ásta Olgeirsdóttir and Oona Kare
Every Thursday at 16:00 join Mat from Mats Vineyard and guests LIVE on Facebook! Mats Vineyard is making it their mission to spread some feel-good vibes during this difficult time. Everybody still drinks wine and listens to music, even though you can't go out for a tasting or a concert at this point. Mats Vineyard aims to feature local small businesses from time to time when it fits in with the theme of the programme. Join them for a "hyggelig" and educating half an hour for everyone who wants to escape the confines of their couch. So, join them as they share their knowledge of wine and entertain you with various guests. To get a peek into what to expect during their live events, visit their youtube video: https://youtu.be/4ZRLpVtDPQo
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Faced with the lockdown of theatres, CISPA set up a project to investigate new forms of transmitting live theatre, with exciting results. Using multi live streaming in most unusual and imaginative ways, CISPA has developed an entirely new style of storytelling - one which moves beyond the usual boundaries of live theatre. This graduation performance brought to you by CISPA’s third-year students will prove to be an innovative and memorable experience. The Water Hen is a saga of murder, suicide, money and the pursuit of meaning in a chaotic world set against a backdrop of violent revolution. Witkiewicz' riotously funny and colourful dreamscape is peopled with a femme fatale, a would-be artist, a retired sea captain, an orphaned child, a widowed duchess, a scoundrel, businessmen, detectives, a Russian nurse, and a mysterious lamplighter. Witkiewicz was a daring and innovative playwright who developed his own theory for the theatre which he called "Pure Form", an attempt to bring the theatre the methods and practices of modern art and music. He aimed to create theatre that communicated the existential experience of human existence, the wonder, bafflement, horror, loneliness, fear, and dread. The Water Hen is theatre at its most startling, rule-breaking and vital. In The Water Hen, even the dead come back to life!
ALL OF MAY
Learn to love and accept yourself unconditionally through this course, because you are worthy of it!
FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.UDEMY.COM/COURSE/RADICAL-SELF-ACCEPTANCE/
MATS VINEYARD FACEBOOK PAGE
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RADICAL SELF ACCEPTANCE: REDISCOVER THE JOY OF LIVING
MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
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INSPIRATIONAL GREETE ELURI
SHARES HOW SHE'S FULFILLING HER DREAMS AND GOALS IN A COUNTRY SHE NOW CALLS HOME.
PHOTOGRAPHS ZANE HARTMANE - ZANEHARTMANE.COM
TELL ME A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, AND WHERE YOU GREW UP? I’m from Tallinn, Estonia. I grew up in a very sporty family – my mom, sister and myself played basketball and my father volleyball. They played it at a professional level and were part of the Estonian national team. Even though I played for about ten years and was a multiple-time Estonian champion, I was more drawn to singing in the choir, which I began at the age of three. After I came back from a high school exchange year in the US, I didn’t have time for both and decided to continue with singing. I was a proud member of one of the best girl choirs in Estonia, called ‘Ellerhein’ with whom we won a Grammy in 2004. I was lucky to travel the world and represent our country both nationally and internationally. I feel that ‘Ellerhein’ played a huge part in forming me as a person. Strict rehearsals, competitions and numerous concerts taught me commitment, independence and to be goal-focused while juggling high school at the same time. After years of basketball, I’d say nothing shows you more ‘team-spirit’ than a team sport – I love it, and still today I prefer working in a team setting in all aspects of my life. All the long summer vacations (in Estonia it’s almost three months) I spent at our summerhouse, which is surrounded by lots of forests and is close to the sea. I have so many amazing memories from there, growing up and hanging out with my three cousins.
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO DENMARK? I came to Denmark in 2010 to study Marketing management in Aarhus. I planned to stay here for two years, yet ten years later I'm still here.
WAS IT DIFFICULT TO ADJUST TO A DIFFERENT CULTURE WHEN YOU MOVED HERE? I think back then, being a student, it was more comfortable as I automatically went in-
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TEXT LYNDSAY JENSEN
to the ‘studying bubble’ for two years. ‘My life triangle’ was home-school-work, cleaning job in the evenings and weekends and then studying at night on weekends. The first culture shock hit me at school: I remember my marketing teacher eating carrots during the class – this would’ve never happened in Estonia. Now, it’s funny to think back about these experiences and laugh about it. I was lucky to find a 10 m2 room to rent from a former Estonian student and also got a cleaning job in my first week of Denmark. I didn’t have a plan for how to economically support myself (back then internationals didn’t get SU), but I knew one thing – I wouldn’t ask my parents for money every month. I came here with 2000 DKK in cash my father gave me, and luckily, by the end of the first month, I got my first salary – it felt amazing! I remember the first trip to the city, where I had to buy essentials as a monthly transport card, some kitchen utensils etc. – this is when I realised that this 2000 DKK wouldn’t last very long – Denmark is so expensive! By the way, I still have that colourful bowl and a coffee cup I bought from Søstrene Grene on my first day in the city.
HOW DOES THE CULTURE IN DENMARK COMPARE TO WHERE YOU GREW UP AND OTHER PLACES YOU’VE LIVED AROUND THE WORLD? I would say there are more similarities between Estonia and Denmark. Estonians and Danes are both very closed at first, but once you get to know them and ‘peel off the layers’ they’re curious and helpful people. Danes celebrate more public holidays with specific dishes and traditions than we do. Even though we have many of the same holidays in Estonia they’re not celebrated as much – a holiday in Denmark is often a day off (public holiday), where in Estonia it isn’t. My favourite Danish holiday is Christmas and December generally. It starts with making lots of yummy treats like vaniljsekranse, pebernødder and julekonfekt (marzipan cov-
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" I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT NOT TO LOSE YOURSELF. IT’S CRUCIAL TO ADAPT AND BE FLEXIBLE, YET YOU SHOULDN’T COMPROMISE ON YOUR VALUES AND BELIEFS." ered in chocolate). On Christmas Eve, I enjoy singing and dancing around the tree, and of course all the great food like caramelised potatoes and ris a la mande – it’s hard to control yourself! I’ve lived in the USA, Australia and Tanzania and I’d say without a doubt, Denmark has close similarities to where I grew up. I was surprised though that Denmark has no sauna culture as its also part of the culture in other cold, Scandinavian countries. I often compare it to Danes having bicycles – if every Dane owns one, then almost every Estonian owns a sauna (or knows someone who does) - saturday is a sauna day and there is a saying that all important topics are discussed in the sauna. That’s one thing I miss in Denmark, including proper spa-hotels. I have a Danish partner, and we have a very tight-knit big family and see each other often, I consider them also my family. I think this has also made my integration smoother and more understandable. It was my mother-in-law who pushed me to start speaking Danish which helped me a lot. Ten years later after numerous personal and professional experiences, I’d say I’ve ‘cracked the code’ to Danes and Denmark, and I can now comfortably call Aarhus home.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CAREER AND EXPERIENCE? Last year I changed my career and decided to follow my passion to help people, especially internationals finding a way into the Danish job market. It’s not easy, I’ve been there myself a couple of times and as I discovered many ‘unwritten rules’ and ‘exceptions’ which is why I decided to share my knowledge with others. I always knew that I’d work with people, and this was the time to do it. Since January 2019, I have created weekly content via Linkedin regarding job searching, I organised ‘job walks’, workshops, and am a job facilitator at Linkedin Local Aarhus. All of these experiences have resulted in many invites to present at workshops in Denmark. Recently, I was teaching ‘Employability’ for international students at the Business Academy Aarhus, and have created an en-
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gaged community via Linkedin with more than 2500 supportive followers which I am very grateful for and proud of. I can confidently say that first, there is a huge need for ‘Employability’ courses for students (including Danes) to help prepare them for the job market. Secondly, internationals in Denmark need help on how to get closer to the Danish job market – I get messages from people almost every day asking for help.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN WORKING FOR COMPANIES IN DENMARK, HAS IT BEEN TOUGH AND WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU SHARE? Back in 2014, it was tough to find my first job without having a grasp of the language, a lack of experience, and no network. I found my first job through my network after 15 months of searching, this early experience opened new doors. I’ve worked in many different companies, both large corporations and small start-ups. Danish employers want to know that you understand the culture and how Danish society works. It’s vital to have local experiences – whether it’s volunteering, interning, or a student job - it doesn’t matter. The local employer expects you to take the initiative, ask questions and deliver excellent results on time. Often they won’t tell you how to solve the task, and you have to find the solution, but it’s also okay to ask for help along the way. “Frihed under ansvar” is a very Danish concept, meaning you get ‘freedom while you have the responsibility of delivering highquality results on time”. Be prepared for lots of cake and humorous Christmas parties!
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS GOING FORWARD GREETE? I’ll continue growing my brand and network as a job consultant while creating content, events etc. My dream is to work for an organisation to help people further in their job searching process. I do have some plans in the pipeline, however, it’s too early to talk about it - so watch this space!
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TELL ME ABOUT WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN AARHUS. GIVE US A TOUR AROUND YOUR CITY? Where should I start! Aarhus has it all - beaches, forests, fantastic food, culture and great corporates. I love that the city is compact so you can walk anywhere. In 2018, I lived close to Vejle for ten months, and I missed Aarhus, and I couldn’t wait to get back to the hustle and bustle. The fact that one can go 10-15 minutes from the city and already be outside and enjoy nature is incredible. There are not many places in the world where you can do that. I love my 20-minute bike rides to the city with a view of the sea – this is priceless! My network and friends are in Aarhus, and I’ve lived in Denmark all of my adult life - Aarhus is my home. As Tina Dickow sings “Du kan tage pigen ud af Århus, men du kan ik’ ta’ Århus ud af pigen” which translates to ”You can take the girl out of Aarhus, but you cannot take Aarhus out of the girl.”
CAN YOU SHARE AN EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD HERE THAT MADE YOU FEEL IT WAS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE TO ADJUST TO LIFE IN DENMARK? I think it was back in 2014 when I finished school, and I was eager to start my career. I soon realised it was way more difficult than I thought, I felt that I had some sort of network, and I was reaching out to people, yet it seemed impossible to get started. I thought to myself: “Am I only good enough to be a cleaner?” Now, after everything I have experienced, I know I had a completely wrong approach.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO OTHER INTERNATIONALS LIVING HERE? TOP TIPS ON THE BEST WAY TO FIT IN AND FEEL MORE AT HOME? First, start networking on day one – I kid you not! Network, network, network – I cannot stress it enough how important it is. Jobseeker or not, everyone needs a network, especially as an international here. I think it’s important not to lose yourself. It’s crucial to adapt and be flexible, yet you shouldn’t compromise on your values and beliefs. You should also celebrate and do the things you’re used to from your home country while finding a comfortable way for you to integrate, step by step. The best tip I recently heard from a podcast from another international was to take the first step with Danes. They are curious and interested in other cultures, yet they don’t necessarily make the first move. Back in 2015, I was volunteering at an event where I had a couple of shifts together with a girl named Camilla. We started speaking, and after the event was over, I invited her for coffee. We’ve been friends ever since. Take that first step and see what happens.
TELL ME ABOUT THE LANGUAGE BARRIER, HOW DIFFICULT OR EASY IS THIS TO OVERCOME? DID YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT MAKING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS WITH DANES, AND WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE? I went to Lær Dansk after five years of living here so I already understood a lot, yet I could not speak it fluently – I knew words, but I couldn’t put sentences together. Once I started slowly speaking with my in-laws, it came fast and naturally. I would say, find out what works for you – watching movies, reading or listening to podcasts, or rapping along to Danish songs - experiment! Find a Danish person who is prepared to meet up with you once a week – this can do wonders! For example, Swap Language has helped many of my friends. Start to speak with kids or older Danes, they’ll more likely want to talk to you, and don't fall into the trap of swapping over to English! If that happens (Danes are excellent at English), let them know that you want to practice Danish. Danes are very proud of their language and find it charming when an international makes an effort and speaks to them in their native tongue.
WHAT DIFFERENCES ARE YOU NOTICING IN DENMARK SINCE THE LOCKDOWN, AND HOW CAN YOU REINVENT YOURSELF DURING THESE TIMES? I feel that people have come together to help the more vulnerable in society, and people are also spending more time online. They are using this time at home to develop and grow in different areas, and I can hear and see people talking about changing direction in their careers and finally going after their dreams! I think now is the perfect time to analyse your life, goals and dreams and see what you can do. Are you happy, or do you feel stuck? Think differently and reframe your possibilities. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it – hard work, consistency and persistence can take you far. Go for it! THE-INTL
For more information about Greete, and how to get in touch with her: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greeteeluri/ *Add a small note when connecting in LinkedIn https://www.facebook.com/greete.eluri
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IN CRITICAL TIMES FOCUS ON
WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL It is vital these days to stay mentally and physically active to maintain your well-being. To do that, focus on the things in your life which you can control.
VISITAARHUS PHOTOGRAPHER CREDITS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: ALL BY RUNI PHOTOPOP
PHOTOGRAPHS VISITAARHUS / ISTOCK PHOTO
To do list... #1 Take a walk #2 Recharge #3 Find a routine
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YOUR DAILY STRUCTURE, physical and mental health will help you to get through these unknown days, and once Denmark is ‘up and running’ again, you’ll probably be much stronger.
HAVING A DAILY ROUTINE CAN BE CRUCIAL I have spoken about this before, and I think especially in times like these, having a structured, daily routine or a weekly plan, can save you from the worst, for example, going down with stress or depression. Every day, I make sure to have tasks on my to-do list that needs to be done. This includes both professional, but also personal, more practical tasks at home. I also make sure to have time for some physical activity and social interaction. I do this by having walks with friends (we keep a distance of course) out in nature to get the minimum of 10.000 steps a day or biking somewhere I have not been before.
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As a job seeker, there are many things you can and should do – remember to keep your focus on things you can control. Professionals spend more time online, including on Linkedin. I suggest you use this time to the fullest, for example: Update your Linkedin profile (you can find a guide how to do it from my profile), reach out to companies and managers (yes, they are online and will reply to your emails, just have some patience), write unsolicited applications, reach out to people via Linkedin and ask questions about their career and that
"ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF CRISIS, IT IS CRUCIAL TO FOCUS ON THE SMALL THINGS THAT MATTER TO YOU AND MAKE YOU HAPPY."
TEXT GREETE ELURI
interesting company they are working at to get some inside info. Also, if you are willing to invest more time in Linkedin, I suggest you try Premium for a month (for free) – if you are active, reach out to people, engage and perhaps create content, you might see this resulting in more visits to your profile. It is all about using the different functionalities that are there. Another point you might think of if you cannot get your ‘dream job/A job’ right now, could you do something else? Think of companies which you could reach out to and offer your help/skills, which in the end might be a ‘door opener’ for you. In times like these, it is important to think ‘outside of the box’ and being flexible – reframe your possibilities in the job market. Be active, put yourself out there and reach out to companies – now is the time to do it, and you have nothing to lose.
THE WEEKEND IS TIME TO RECHARGE Hopefully, once you have your Monday-Friday plan under control, to some extent at least, then you can relax in the weekend this is very important, especially for your mental health. Being a job seeker, with many ups and downs, it is essential to ‘have breaks’ in the weekends, just like any other person. Especially in times of crisis, it is crucial to focus on the small things that matter to you and make you happy. An idea, for example, baking your favourite chocolate cake, listening to your favourite mindfulness podcast or taking a day trip with your family to a great spot in Denmark. Now is the time to put your big girl/guy pants – to be active and visible online and ‘put yourself out there’. Take time to enjoy the small things, so you do not burn out. And remember – we will get ‘back to normal’ again. THE-INTL
GREETE ELURI JOB CONSULTANT Greete was born in Tallinn, Estonia and has lived in four countries and on four continents. After high school exchange year in the US, Greete caught a ‘travel bug’. Since 2010, Denmark has become her second home. Her background is within international marketing. Greete changed her career to work with her passion - to help international job seekers in Denmark. For the last two years, she has been actively creating content in Linkedin and organising different events for job seekers. Greete believes that with the right mindset, skills and tools you can be successful in the rigid Danish job market. www.linkedin.com/in/ greeteeluri/ greete.eluri@gmail.com
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High Academic Standards Chris tian E thos Con veniently located in Hellerup
rygaards.com
THE IMPORTANCE OF 'DANNELSE' IN STUDENT LEARNING Children attend school for purposes that extend beyond learning how to read and write. At Rygaards School, a private school in Hellerup, hosting both a Danish and an international school, we focus on what we in Danish call 'dannelse.' This word translates into forming or evolving; in other words, it's not just about learning and acquiring new skills but also about developing as a person.
PHOTOGRAPHS RYGAARDS SCHOOL / ISTOCK PHOTOS
AT RYGAARDS THE focus is not only about ensuring high-quality development of both hard and soft skills, but also personal characteristics. It's about helping children learn, develop, and prepare for an ever-changing world. From the very moment they step into the school, to the first moment they raise their hand to engage in class discussions, to the very moment they leave, every day is about taking a step in that direction. There are many school options, some similar, and some different; so, how do you choose the right school for you and your child? That's the question parents ask themselves when considering where their child will start their educational journey. Denmark has a sound education system, but there are some differences in how schools engage their students and thus participate in their learning and overall development. Rygaards has an excellent reputation for its high academic standards but also for its community spirit and values–programme. As the Principal says, "academic standards are high, but we believe it is equally important to offer our students a rich educational experience and a nurturing atmosphere. We want each one of them to feel personally valued and to think of us as their second home. Kindness and mutual respect are key values throughout the school."
VALUES–PROGRAMMES AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE Looking at society, both in Denmark and abroad, it's clear that our children need to prepare for a global, competitive, and ever-changing world. Right now, as we are dealing with the impact of the coronavirus, we all have had to adapt and find new ways to live, work, and contribute – it's in times like these that our community and values play an essential role. The virus is just one example of the challenges we encounter throughout life; we live in an environment that requires critical thinking, creativity, and innovative solutions to problems we don't even know yet. Therefore, pupils should receive an education that not only makes them great students but life-long learners and well-rounded individuals. Inspired by our founders, our history, and Christianity, Rygaards' values– programme aims to do this by strengthening the pupils' emotional intelligence. Each year, we highlight four values, which play a role in student projects and class themes. Among others, these values include trust, thankfulness, hope, courage, responsibili-
TEXT CLAUS OFFERSEN
ty, friendship, and empathy. To give examples of how values are incorporated, when working with courage, students created comics with themselves as superheroes with powers to achieve their goals. When working with thankfulness, the children created game shows about what they are grateful for. By engaging and emerging the children into an environment centred around values, the knowledge from class materials gains a deeper meaning.
A STRONG COMMUNITY - TWO SCHOOLS UNDER ONE ROOF The community at Rygaards is, in many ways, very unique. Rygaards is home to a Danish and an International school. During more normal times, the beautiful park-like campus can often be seen full of children of all ages and nationalities playing together, forming new friendships. Sometimes, they will also work together on school projects, one example being our Lenten Campaign. Lent is a Christian celebration where one either gives up something or adopts something that leads to a positive impact. The Assumption Sisters, who founded Rygaards school in 1909, believed in making a positive impact through education, which is also one of the 17 UN Sustainability Goals. Therefore, this year's Lenten campaign aims to have students working together, raising money to build schools across the globe, and thus helping other communities. A diverse and value-driven community empowers the pupils to grow while making a positive impact - all as part of their overall learning and development. THE-INTL
"CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL FOR PURPOSES BEYOND LEARNING HOW TO READ AND WRITE; THEY ATTEND SCHOOL BECAUSE OF 'DANNELSE' TO BECOME LIFE-LONG LEARNERS AND WELL-ROUNDED INDIVIDUALS."
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OUR VIRTUAL OFFICE PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO / UNSPLASH.COM
TEXT LAURA WINTEMUTE
I
IT'S INCREDIBLE ALL
that I've accomplished by working from home during the last month. I've spent quality time with my family, walked my dog and gone mountain biking. I've also completed all my spring cleaning, both inside my house and outside in my garden! Surprisingly, I've still found time to work. Taking care of these personal tasks has left me feeling clearer and more driven as a business owner. The constraints of a 9-5 office job are gone. I work when I feel motivated and take breaks when I'm not. This results in an increase in my productivity and I accomplish great things at odd hours. I've found I get pumped up after our daughter goes to bed for the night. My night owl seems to have clarity for work tasks I never knew existed. I won't deny that this time has been challenging. During this strange time, small business owners need to be even more positive and conscientious than ever before. We're earning much less, and so we spend much less. I try to see the cup half full in everything these days. Where before this pandemic, my expenses were aplenty, with business luncheons and mileage being a large portion of my daily costs, those have all but disappeared. Companies around the world quickly realise the possibility of alternate workspaces for their employees. Working from home for those who can is becoming a reality. Imagine the decrease in traffic if even 25% of the current workforce stayed home? Increased productivity, employee retention, and cost savings are just a few reasons why working from home benefits both employees and employers. Greater flexibility is going to be a major weapon in winning the talent wars moving forward. More and more companies realise that, that this is now the cost of doing business. I genuinely believe this trend is on an upward swing. As my business specifically deals with Internationals relocating to Denmark, it goes without saying things have slowed right down for me. Using my aforementioned 'cup half full' and 'can-do attitude', I've been focusing on other ways to keep my business humming along. Here are some of the things I've turned my attention to as of late:
UPDATING WEBSITE CONTENT Updating your website will attract search engines to your site, give valuable information to potential clients, and show clients/ potential clients current testimonials or successful projects.
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING I've created numerous posts and scheduled them for a later date. I now have posts for the next month.
THE DREADED PAPERWORK PILE I've cleaned up my all folders and emails. Strangely satisfying.
AND LASTLY, REFERRALS This is the one I've spent most of my time on. I've contacted my
MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
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 workexisting customers and asked for referrals. I've been overwhelmed with how many people are willing to help other business owners. In the beginning, I felt strange doing this, but I was pleasantly surprised by how many wanted to help. Just the simple act of telling them, "I build my business primarily through word-of-mouth recommendations with individuals like yourself. If I did a great job for you, would you be willing to recommend me to friends, family, and colleagues?" Who's going to say no to that?
"WORKING WITH LAURA FROM HOMESTEAD, DENMARK WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE! LAURA IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND PATIENT. SHE HELD MY HAND THROUGH THE ENTIRE RELOCATION PROCESS TO MAKE SURE I WAS COMFORTABLE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HER AND HER COMPANY'S SERVICES." TRACEE UPSHAW - AMERICAN EXPAT IN DENMARK.
MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE! I find many people telling me that they secretly are 'loving' this time of isolation and feel like this 'pause' was needed in our hectic lives. More families are enjoying things like puzzles and cooking together and taking walks, albeit 2 meters apart. Slowing down. Watching the stars at night because hey, we get a few hours of sleep each day not having to wake up before dawn. If we can just maintain a positive attitude, focus on the here and now, and move forward, together, we can get through this. It's how we manage the challenges in life, that define us as people, so take heart and keep moving onwards. Stay safe! THE-INTL
ing in the Danish relocation industry, encapsulating both her experience as an expat 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 You’re Settling in Experts. www.homesteaddenmark.com
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AIR TO WATER HEATING
TECHNOLOGY
A SUSTAINABLE FOSSIL FUEL ALTERNATIVE!
PHOTOGRAPHS UNSPLASH.COM
TEXT MARIANO ANTHONY DAVIES
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WHERE DISTRICT HEATING is not available, many Danish property owners have chosen air to water heating technology as an alternative to fossil fuel heating systems. The ingenuity of an “air-to-water heat pump“ lies in the fact that it makes use of renewable solar energy in outdoor air and transfers it to the waterborne heating system in the property. The heating process begins in the heat pump's outdoor unit, which is placed outside the house. Heat pump water heaters are a perfect example of efficient and renewable energy solutions for domestic hot water supply. The heat pump water heater consists of a heat pump which captures renewable and clean energy contained in air as an energy source to heat water.
HOW DOES IT WORK? Heat pump water heating systems are solutions where the domestic hot water is heated by an integrated heat pump (see diagram below). The heat pump water heater uses the operational principle of a heat pump by absorbing calories in outdoor air and using this energy to ensure water heating. The fan (1) inhales ambient air transferring its energy to the refrigerant agent in the evaporator (2), thus changing from liquid to gas. The gas is further heated by compression (3). In the condenser (4), the gas transfers its accumulated heat to the water tank. As it gets colder, it transforms back to fluid. The pressure of the fluid is further reduced by the expansion valve (5). The electric back-up heating (6) starts only when required during insufficient heat pump working conditions. A compressor pumps the refrigerant between two heat
"GLOBALLY, THE SMART GRID IS SEEN AS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE LOW CARBON TRANSITION OF THE ENERGY SYSTEM."
MARIANO ANTHONY DAVIES PRESIDENT & CEO OXFORD BUSINESS SERVICES Mariano has over 30 years' exchanger coils. In one coil, the refrigerant is evaporated at low pressure and absorbs heat from its surroundings. Since the ground and air outside always contain some heat, a heat pump can supply heat to a house even on cold winter days.
DOES THIS TECHNOLOGY HAVE ANY LIMITATIONS? Air-to-air heat pumps do have their limitations when it comes to heating large areas. The colder the outside air, the less heat each pound of refrigerant picks up as it circulates through the system. Heating capacity, as well as efficiency, decreases as outdoor temperatures fall. This inescapable constraint of thermodynamics often requires air-source heat pumps to be equipped with supplemental heat sources to handle peak loads in cold northern climates. If electric resistance elements provide that supplemental heat, the overall efficiency of the system can be reduced substantially. Air-to-air heat pumps also require a defrost cycle to remove frost from the outdoor heat exchanger during cold weather. Hot refrigerant gas is periodically recirculated in the outdoor coil to melt the frost. The energy used to defrost also lowers overall system efficiency. Globally, the smart grid is seen as an essential part of the low carbon transition of the energy system. In Denmark, this transition mainly entails integrating more wind power into the system and using electricity for heating (heat pumps) and trans-
port (electric cars). Therefore, residential heat pumps are considered essential infrastructure technologies in the smart grid because they are ideal for the flexible consumption of an increasing amount of intermittent wind power and are well-suited to delivering system balance services. In Denmark, interest in heat pumps has resulted in increased research into how flexible heat pumps are regarding energy consumption. In recent years, many R&D projects have been launched that investigate various aspects of their smart grid readiness and flexibility potential. If the definition of the heat pump is so intimately linked to the energy system to which it is a part, there is perhaps a danger in it being linked too firmly to its ability to elicit flexible electricity consumption from individual households. What is the competition, for instance, from individual pellet burners? Or from natural gas and district heating systems where heat pumps function only as a supplement? Indeed, whether flexible electricity consumption from households really presents any real flexibility advantage in the bigger picture is being increasingly debated, and some argue that the heat pump should rather play a central role as large units in district heating systems.
global experience as a business executive. He spent ten years with KPMG, twentyfive years with British Chambers of Commerce (while also running his own companies) and now Oxford Business Services. He is a British citizen, who grew up in Kent, went to boarding school in Sussex and has a British university education. He has been married to a Dane for over 43 years and has held over 100 official anti-Brexit speeches. He both speaks and writes Danish without difficulty.
www.oxford-business.com
Nevertheless, the Danish Energy Association stated in 2010 that it expects 300.000 heat pumps to be installed in Danish homes by 2025 and oil burners to be completely phased out by 2030. THE-INTL
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PETS AND THE PANDEMIC People around the world are living with the fear of the coronavirus. Also referred to as COVID-19, this virus has proven deadly in a portion of the population. But can it affect our pets? Tarek tackles some of these questions.
PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO / UNSPLASH.COM
TEXT TAREK ABU SHAM
D
DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED
time, pet owners around the world are questioning their veterinarians, physicians, and health officials, wondering if they can get the coronavirus from their pets.
THE CORONAVIRUS AND TRANSMISSION Coronavirus can refer to one of many members in a family of viruses, but these days it typically refers to COVID-19. This is considered a respiratory virus, as it causes respiratory systems in people that are affected, including pneumonia. COVID-19 can be spread in a variety of ways, but the most common is getting exposed to respiratory droplets from an infected individual, such as if someone sneezes or coughs on you. It can be spread by breathing air that has viral particles in it, such as entering a room after an infected person. Another possible method of transmission is exposure to fomites, which are objects that may harbour viral particles, such as doorknobs or shopping carts.
CAN YOU CATCH COVID-19 FROM YOUR PET? You are far more likely to catch the coronavirus from another person than your pet. As of April 2020, one tiger tested positive for COVID-19 in the United States, and there are reports of dogs and cats in other countries, but this is still far less than the number of humans with the disease. A group of Canadian researchers led by Xuhia Xia, a professor in the Department of Biology at The University of Ottawa, are testing a hypothesis that dogs may have been an 'intermediary animal' in the spread of COVID-19 from bats to humans, but this recent study has been met with significant criticism citing lack of data. Authorities including the RSPCA's Chief Veterinary Officer, Caroline Allen are quoted in this article as saying that this study, detailed in a paper published Tuesday, April 14, in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution is only theoretical and there is no evidence that dogs and cats have infected humans. While we know that numbers are underreported in all species, there have been no reported cases of people getting COVID-19 from their pets. In fact, it's the other way around: it seems you might be able to give it to your pet. Veterinarians and public health officials recommend staying away from household pets and people if you are infected or may have been infected, to minimize the risk of your pet developing symptoms of COVID-19. Consider your local veterinarian's office. Many of these people are considered essential and are still working day after day.
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TAREK ABU SHAM Most aren't worried about catching the coronavirus from their patients. Instead, they are concerned about catching it from their patients' owners.
THINGS TO REMEMBER During this stressful time, it's important that you hold on to your pets like the valued members of the family that they are. Since you aren't likely to get infected with the coronavirus from your dog or cat, you shouldn't abandon them at a local shelter, as many locations are already inundated with strays. With so many people on lockdown, fewer pets are getting adopted. In fact, some areas have had to go to virtual adoptions to try and increase the number of adoptions. Instead of saying goodbye to Fluffy or Scrappy, consider taking this time to bring a new pet into your life. Even if you can't commit to adopting a pet at this point, you might be able to foster a pet or two, and foster homes are in short supply just about everywhere.
IN SUMMARY While this is a scary time for people around the world, you don't need to fret at home alone. Pets are a great source of stress relief and can be a rock for you during this difficult time. Don't give up your pet due to worries about the coronavirus, as there has been no evidence you can get it from your pet. Instead, consider opening up your home to a new furry family member if you have the means and resources to adopt or foster a pet. We are still open, reach out and let us know how we can help. THE-INTL
"SINCE YOU AREN'T LIKELY TO GET INFECTED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS FROM YOUR DOG OR CAT, YOU SHOULDN'T ABANDON THEM AT A LOCAL SHELTER, AS MANY LOCATIONS ARE ALREADY INUNDATED WITH STRAYS."
OWNER, THE PET-AGREES 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 The Pet-agrees, Tarek has combined his veterinary experience with his entrepreneurial spirit. The Pet-agrees cares for pets in the Copenhagen area, offering services including pet-sitting, walking, and more to come soon. www.thepetagrees.com
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FROM THE MIDDLE
OF THE WORLD TO ESBJERG MEET ELIZABETH ONOFRE, AN ENTREPRENEUR BRINGING STIMULATING LATIN FLAVOURS TO DENMARK PHOTOGRAPHS LINDSEY SCAIFE / CATRIONA TURNER / ELIZABETH ONOFRE
TEXT CATRIONA TURNER
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IF YOU KNOW me, you know I’m a coffee lover. As I write, it’s a nutty Amazonian blend I’m sipping on. That’s thanks to Elizabeth Onofre, an Ecuadorian living in Esbjerg who’s introducing aromatic beans from the middle of the world to the Danish market. I first met Elizabeth in Danish class, where I was instantly drawn to her dazzling smile and friendly enthusiasm. Then I found out about the coffee, and that was all I needed to know. I’m always impressed by those who take on daunting risks by running their own business - especially in a foreign country and a foreign language. So I was keen to learn more about what motivates Elizabeth.
A PASSION FOR HOME
CATRIONA TURNER
Her ambition shines through: “I created my own company, Latitude Zero Aps,” she explains, “and my goal is to bring the best products from Ecuador to Denmark. I focus on products or brands that are fair trade and organic certified, and run by responsible corporate citizens.” The company name is close to her heart. “I love to tell people I come from the middle of the world! Ecuador is, of course, on the equator, hence the name.” Coffee was the driving force behind her plans. “Being born and raised in Ecuador, we are privileged to drink high-quality coffee every day. When I couldn’t find Ecuadorian coffee in Denmark, I contacted a friend to discuss importing her Wild Coffee brand.” While most "WHILE MOST OF US WOULD of us would wait to visit home for the WAIT TO VISIT HOME FOR tastes we miss, inTHE TASTES WE MISS, INstead, Elizabeth STEAD, ELIZABETH SAW AN saw an opportuniOPPORTUNITY AND WORKED ty and worked fast to fill the niche. FAST TO FILL THE NICHE." Exploring that opportunity here in Esbjerg has its advantages. “Esbjerg lets you be a pioneer. We also have the support of Business Esbjerg, which offers counselling and guidance around conducting business in Denmark.”
WRITER AND BLOGGER
HIGH-LEVEL FLAVOURS Elizabeth’s home in Ecuador is the city of Guayaquil, “where part of my heart is.” She’s lived in Esbjerg since March 2017, with mi amor, her Danish husband, Morten. “I enjoy the fact that everything I need is a five-minute cycle or drive away, and the way that people here are friendly and open to helping.” There are challenges too, of course. Like all internationals, she’s learned that “although everyone usually speaks English
in Denmark, to introduce a product to the Danish market, the consumers expect communication to be in Danish.” And she has to convince customers to break old coffee habits and try something new. “I am always working in new ways to introduce Wild Coffee to consumers.”
DETERMINED TO SUCCEED Elizabeth is so determined to build a successful business that she’s begun a Masters, studying innovation and digitalisation to help her seamlessly meet the market. She plans to grow Latitude Zero by adding more products from her home country to the catalogue, starting with Ecuadorian chocolate. While she’s grateful for the word-of-mouth and support of the international community in establishing her early success, what drives her is building her Danish customer base. “I get so excited whenever just one sale comes through; reaching the Danish market motivates me, and I get such a thrill to be able to introduce a coffee-lover in Copenhagen to some Amazonian flavours.” I can’t imagine there’s any more delicious combination to start winning over Danish tastes than coffee and chocolate from the middle of the world. With her cheerful determination, Elizabeth is sure to make it work. Go to latitudezero.dk, or follow @wildcoffeedk on Instagram and Facebook, to order your taste of Ecuador. THE-INTL
Catriona is a writer and blogger currently living in Esbjerg, Denmark. In the decade since leaving Scotland, she’s also lived in France, Uganda and the Republic of Congo. At her blog, The Frustrated Nester, she writes about Danish living, travel and the expat life. Her writing has also been published in the anthology Once Upon an Expat, and its follow-up Life on the Move, published in June 2019. She’s currently working on a memoir of place and home, and is also a freelance copy-editor and proofreader. www.thefrustrated nester.com www.facebook.com/thefrustratednester @thefrustratednester
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THE UNEXPECTED TIMES! PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO
TEXT KATHY BORYS SIDDIQUI
KATHY BORYS SIDDIQUI FOUNDER, ACTIVE ACTION
H
HAS SOCIAL OR physical distancing become the new “normal”? How do we come to terms with what is going on around us? Living global lives means that there are significant numbers of people currently living in their host countries. This means that they are away from close family members and friends. It also means that they need support and understanding. Most of us never imagined the scenario that has become our reality. As global citizens, we continuously navigate from country to country for business, family visits, leisure, and travel is simply a part of our lives. We have now experienced closed borders, voluntary physical distancing, and self-isolation for the greater good of all. Large numbers of Internationals are currently away from their family and friends. Many families have had to rearrange their daily schedules and make “home offices”. It is a vulnerable and challenging time. How can we help ourselves? Defining expectations, being aware of them and using resilience skills may seem just a drop in the ocean but an important one, in my opinion.
EXPECTATIONS - FRIEND OR FOE I am quite sure that currently, there are expectations within all of us. Expectations that pertain to emotions, communication, interactions, and behaviour, to name a few. In situations of crisis or challenge, we often put our expectations on others. Expectations are hopes and beliefs that something will happen, or strong believes about the proper way someone should behave or the way something should happen. (collinsdictionary.com) Once we raise our awareness of expectations, we will be able to recognise them and communicate them in order to feel a bit better. Now, the way to help yourself is to ask yourself the following questions:
What kind of expectations do I currently have? Why do I have them? Can I control their outcome? Often, we put our expectations on others and therefore, we have no control over them.
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"COMMUNITY, UNITY, AND SENSE OF BELONGING ARE SO IMPORTANT IN THESE TRYING TIMES. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! WE NEED ONE ANOTHER MORE THAN EVER, AND ONCE AGAIN, WE ALSO NEED TO BE OPEN AND VOCAL ABOUT OUR NEEDS." We need to remember that we can only control our feelings, thoughts, and reactions. To diminish unnecessary stress, we need to take a moment to assess the situation and to recognise our expectations. Once we do that it is also beneficial to ourselves and those around us to communicate our expectations. It is a way to regain balance and take control.
COME TOGETHER RIGHT NOW Community, unity, and sense of belonging are so important in these trying times. You are not alone! We need one another more than ever, and once again, we also need to be open and vocal about our needs. For some, this may be very uncomfortable. Thankfully, as internationals, we are equipped with great skill. Resilience! Whether we are aware of it or not, we use resilience regularly. It is the ability to deal with significant changes and challenges. We are all different, and so are the ways we cope with change, stress and the unknown. More than ever, resilience will come in handy. Going back to “normal” will be a gradual process, and it will require patience and an open mind. Gradual return to workplaces, schools, meetings, conferences, shops, cafes, or restaurants will require that we practice resilience day in and day out. What positive changes and routines will we implement in our daily and professional lives? We can not deny the importance of emotional well-being, soft skills, stress management and tools that help us enhance and implement them in everyday life. In light of the current circumstances, we have had to face our vulnerability and sensitive topics. I believe that by joining forces, collaborating, helping each other out, being open, aware and willing to adapt, learn and support, we will come out stronger. Remember to be kind to yourselves and others! THE-INTL
Kathy was born in Poznań, Poland and has lived in 4 countries and on 2 continents. Growing up as an immigrant and a cross cultural kid she was able to discover a multicultural world that shaped her into the person she is today. As an adult she experienced life as a re-pat as well as an expat and she is not a stranger to the challenges and opportunities that life abroad offers. Just when she least expected it, she met her Danish husband and once again packed her life in boxes and set off to live the happily ever after in the land of the Vikings and Hygge. Over the span of 10 years she has lived on Fyn, in Jylland and currently in Nordsjælland. Kathy has a background in Cultural Studies and also a degree in American Studies. She has been able to combine her passion and profession as an Intercultural trainer, Personal Branding and Expat Spouse and Partner Specialist at Active Action. A firm believer that if you are lacking something - create it. She is the co-founder of #BeGreatCollaborate, a running enthusiast, speaker, active lifestyle advocate, wife and Mom. www.activeaction.dk kbs@activeaction.dk https://www.linkedin.com/ in/kathybsiddiqui/
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WELCOMING OUR CHILDREN
BACK TO SCHOOL
PHOTOGRAPHS JENNIFER FAGAN SIMONSEN / ANNE-SOFIE SCHOU MUNK / MICHELLE ANIERE BENTSEN / LEO DE MELO
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WITH LOTS OF space, North Zealand International School (NIS) can adapt well to the new normal. Our large classrooms can comfortably accommodate the smaller classes of 12, so our children can return to school safely. By teaching indoors and out, the children get lots of fresh air and play time. Quin from year 5 said, “it was great to be back at school and seeing my friends again”.
HOW NIS APPROACHED HOME LEARNING NIS responded quickly to the change; within days, there were new timetables and clear guidelines for parents. Each week brought enhancements as teachers and parents learned together what worked best. To support our parents during this challenging time, our school counsellor provided a helpline for parents who needed to talk, while our children were asked to post photos of things which made them happy on our Happiness Wall.
TEXT
SHANI BISHOP
When home learning landed on us, we were utterly unprepared. For my son, the adaptation was fast. NIS really helped with continuous information and guidelines on how to learn at a distance. I confess we leave it very much up to him to live up to the challenge because I have to get down to my work, as well as overseeing my other children’s home learning. The constant online contact with his teachers and classmates has helped massively, and I was impressed to see that he has managed to develop both group and individual projects online, as well as present them to his teachers successfully. This experience is pushing him to grow and mature. THE-INTL
"When the schools shut down, I was impressed with how quickly and efficiently NIS organised a comprehensive and wide-ranging home learning experience for the children." - Mum Rachel
TEACHING OUR PRIMARY CHILDREN Rachel, with a son in Year 1, explains how it was for her and her son. When the schools shut down, I was impressed with how quickly and efficiently NIS organised a comprehensive and wide-ranging home learning experience for the children. I really appreciated the mixture of methods used such as YouTube videos explaining a new task or zoom sessions to discuss learning and help with any difficulties. There was always a range of tasks in each subject to accommodate my child’s level. Teachers gave detailed and timely feedback on home learning tasks which motivated my children and helped them review their work. My children particularly liked how positive their teachers were about the work they had done, and it made them feel proud. What I particularly appreciated was that the specialist subjects were still represented and we had lots of fun engaging in the art, music and PE challenges. Throughout the whole experience, teachers were positive, encouraging and responsive. And most importantly, they continually helped parents not to feel guilty if we couldn’t support our children to complete all the work. Tasks were given priorities, so parents with less time could focus on those specific tasks. I was incredibly impressed with the whole experience and thought it was a fantastic example of the adaptability and resilience that is such a focus in our school.
FOCUSING ON OUR SECONDARY STUDENTS As secondary teaching continues at home, we asked one of our students, Sebastião in Year 9, to share his experience. “Studying at home gives me more freedom and independence. The teachers set the tasks, and I decide the timetable and how to do them. I’ve definitely seen my organisational skills improve”. Astrid, Sebastião’s mum, explains how NIS’s approach has helped her.
SO PROUD OF OUR HAPPINESS WALL
"Studying at home gives me more freedom and independence." - Year 9 student Sebastião
NIS HOME LEARNING BY NUMBERS NIS children receiving lessons: 250 Teachers: 33 Weeks of home learning: 3.2 Zoom sessions: 450 Blogs sent: 208 Subject lessons: 795
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THE ESSENTIAL WEEKEND
BREAKFAST ROUTINE For most of us here in Denmark and around the globe, the last two months have been a whirlwind of insecurity and upheaval of our regular day-to-day routines. Juggling the new stresses of home-schooling, working from home, not seeing (or hugging) your dearest friends or family, and continuously questioning If? When? How? What? can take a toll on anyone. During these times, it’s essential to hold on to our old routines of “weekend”.
PHOTOGRAPHS ERIN CHAPMAN
TEXT ERIN CHAPMAN
WEEKENDS, OR “SLOW DAYS” ARE A NECESSITY TO OUR MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH. THEY ALLOW US TO RELAX AND RENEW, CREATING SPACE AND SEPARATION FROM WORK-TIME AND OFF-TIME. DURING THIS NEW ERA OF BLURRED LINES BETWEEN WORK, SCHOOL, AND STAYING HOME, IT HELPS TO DESIGNATE WEEKEND ROUTINES. IN MY FAMILY, THE WEEKEND ROUTINE IS CENTERED AROUND A SLOW BREAKFAST THAT IS ALWAYS A BIT MORE DECADENT THAN THE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY BREAKFAST ROUTINE. IT HELPS US TO ACKNOWLEDGE “NOW THE WEEKEND HAS BEGUN”, AND SINCE WE CAN’T (YET) GO OUT TO ENJOY BRUNCH AT OUR LOCAL CAFES, WE CAN CREATE THAT RELAXED BRUNCHY SLOW FEELING AT HOME. HERE’S ONE OF MY GO-TO WEEKEND FAVOURITES.
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BLUEBERRY CORNMEAL PANCAKES MAKES 10-12 PANCAKES ADDING CORNMEAL TO PANCAKES GIVES AN EXTRA NUTTY, UNEXPECTED SWEET FLAVOUR, PLUS A SLIGHTLY HEARTIER TEXTURE. IN MY FAMILY, WE ARE WILD ABOUT BLUEBERRIES IN OUR PANCAKES, BUT WE
ERIN CHAPMAN
HAVE ALSO MADE THIS RECIPE WITH OTH-
CO-OWNER, THE AMERICAN
ER FRUITS. SEE SOME ALTERNATIVE RECIPE
PIE COMPANY
IDEAS BELOW!
With over 20 years’ experi-
INGREDIENTS 200 g cornmeal 225 g flour 2 tablespoons muscovado sugar (dark brown sugar) 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 500 ml buttermilk* (kærnemælk) 2 eggs 60 g butter, melted 1 teaspoon vanilla essence or extract 200-300 g fresh blueberries, rinsed and dried butter or oil to grease the skillet
METHOD
#1 In a mixing bowl, whisk together the corn
meal, flour, muscovado sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. #2 In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla.
#3 Pour the wet ingredients into the dry
ingredients and whisk just until the dry ingredients are mixed in – the pancake batter should be slightly lumpy. #4 At this point, you can gently fold in the blueberries**, or you can wait and add the blueberries to the pancake once you’ve poured the batter onto the pan. #5 Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Grease the pan with butter or oil. Using a small measuring cup or scoop, pour small rounds of batter onto the pan. Allow to cook for a few minutes until bubbles start to appear on top of the pancake. Flip the pancake and cook for a couple of minutes more until done. Remove and repeat!*** #6 Enjoy with maple syrup and extra blueberries!
ence in the advertising industry, working both in Denmark and USA, Erin has specialised in brand building and image development for lifestyle, food and fashion clientele at both national and internation-
TIP #1 THIS RECIPE USES BUTTERMILK. IF YOU DON’T HAVE BUTTERMILK, SIMPLY TAKE 500 ML OF REGULAR MILK, AND ADD 2 TABLESPOONS OF LEMON JUICE. WHISK TOGETHER AND ALLOW TO CURDLE A BIT. VOILA! YOU’VE MADE A PERFECT SUBSTITUTE FOR BUTTERMILK!
al level. Erin attended DIS, Denmark’s Study Abroad programme in 1996 and made a connection with Copenhagen. She moved to Denmark permanently in 1998 with two
TIP #2
THERE ARE DIFFERENT CAMPS OF THOUGHT ON WHETHER ONE SHOULD STIR IN BLUEBERRIES/FRUIT TO THE BATTER, OR ADD THEM ONCE YOU’VE POURED YOUR BATTER ONTO THE SKILLET. THIS CAN BE YOUR CHOICE, HOWEVER, ADDING THE BERRIES WHILE THE PANCAKE IS COOKING ON THE PAN WILL SIMPLY MEAN THAT THE BLUEBERRIES ARE EXPOSED ONCE FLIPPED. THIS WILL CAUSE THE BLUEBERRIES TO SOFTEN AND RELEASE JUICE ON THE PAN, MAKING THINGS A BIT MESSIER DURING COOKING TIME.
suitcases and a pocketful of
TIP #3 I LIKE TO KEEP MY FINISHED PANCAKES WARM WHILE
food styling and cookbook de-
I MAKE SEVERAL BATCHES ON THE PAN. HEAT YOUR OVEN TO A LOW HEAT 100-125 C, AND PLACE THE FINISHED PANCAKES ON A PLATTER IN THE OVEN TO STAY WARM WHILE YOU COOK THE OTHERS.
change. Working in the advertising industry she worked her way up as a senior creative, as well as a voiceover artist, and then began her own brand and design business in 2006. Merging her love for food and art direction, she began sign for other authors, and then proceeded to continue with recipe development, publishing two cookbooks in Denmark. While living in Los Angeles, Erin worked with several US brands on image and recipe development and upon returning to Denmark, she partnered with Dorte Prip in 2015 to introduce The American Pie Company in Copenhagen. Erin is happily married to her Danish husband and is the mother of a sassy seven year old daughter who speaks fluent “Danglish”.
ALTERNATIVE FLAVOUR COMBINATIONS: PEACH GINGER CORNMEAL PANCAKES
APPLE CINNAMON CORNMEAL PANCAKES
BANANA NUTMEG CORNMEAL PANCAKES
SUBSTITUTE BERRIES WITH THINLY
SUBSTITUTE BERRIES WITH BANANA
SLICED APPLES, AND ADD A ½ TEA-
SLICES, AND ADD A 1TEASPOON OF
SPOON OF CINNAMON TO THE BAT-
NUTMEG TO THE BATTER. CONTINUE
GROUND GINGER TO THE BATTER.
TER. CONTINUE AS DIRECTED.
AS DIRECTED.
CONTINUE AS DIRECTED.
www.theamericanpieco.com
SUBSTITUTE BERRIES WITH THIN SLICES OF FRESH PEACH OR NECTARINE, AND ADD 1 TEASPOON OF
MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
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B e s t BEAUTY BUYS
BARBARA’S PERFECT HOME MANICURE IN 11 EASY STEPS Having a regular manicure for me is the equivalent of some of you going for a jog, massage or yoga session. There's a lot of comforts and feel-good-factor from having your nail salon ready, giving you the perfect manicure and colour.
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11 BARBARA MENSAH
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BEAUTY EDITOR & MAKEUP ARTIST
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Barbara was born in England,
8 TRY THESE SIMPLE STEPS AND SURPRISE YOURSELF AT HOW EASY AND SATISFYING IT IS TO DO YOUR OWN NAILS FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME. 1. CLEAN THOSE NAILS Find yourself a nail polish remover and attack what's left of all the patches of polish leftover from your last manicure. Use a nail polish remover even if you don't have polish on the nail beds, as this will get rid of all excess oil and dirt residue. Cute Nail Polish Remover - 38.95 DKK www.matas.dk
2. CLIP AND FILE Check the nails to see if they need clipping. Afterwards with a nail file, gently in one direction only shape the nails in the shape you like, round tip, square, oval. If you're not sure which is best for you, simply mirror the shape of your cuticles. Tweezerman mini emergency manicure set - 219.00 DKK www.zonlando.dk
3. SOAK THE NAILS
London and relocated to Co-
6. TIME TO MOISTURISE The trick is to moisturise your hands and cuticles. This avoids the dreaded accidents of smudging almost dry nail polish. Take this time also to give yourself a gentle mini hand massage. Once done, wipe each of your nail beds with nail polish remover as this will remove any excess oil and prep nail bed for good coverage when you're ready to apply base coat and polish. Organic shea Butter - 150 DKK www.barbaramensah.dk/shop
7. APPLY A BASE COAT A good quality base coat helps to prevent chipping of the polish and allows nail colour to last longer. Sally Hansen Base and Top coat - 69.95 DKK www.matas.dk
penhagen, 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
8. APPLY THE FIRST LAYER OF COLOUR
their time getting glammed
The moment you have been waiting for! Don't overdo it with the polish. Nice thin, consistent strokes will do the trick - a stroke in the middle of the nail bed and two thin strokes to either side.
and pampered for those special moments and occasions. All bookings for Lash Ex-
Apply a rich cream along the cuticles. Grab a bowl with warm soapy water and soak the nails for 5-8 minutes each hand, this will help soften cuticles.
9. SECOND COAT
4. PUSH BACK THE CUTICLES
10. APPLY TOP COAT
Gently push back the cuticles with a cuticle stick. Trim any hangnails, but DO NOT clip off your cuticles as they are there to protect your nails from infections.
The topcoat protects the nails polish from chipping and adds a fabulous gloss, giving you that fresh, classy finish.
barbaramensah. beauty@gmail.com @barbara.mensah.beauty
5. EXFOLIATE YOUR HANDS
11. CLEAN UP THE MISTAKES By cleaning up any mistakes, excess nail polish on the sides, a little file here and there, you will get the effect of a salon-style finish to the nails. Let the nails dry, and voila, you're ready for the world again!
@barbaramensahbeauty
Either use a body or face scrub you already have in your cupboard or make a quick homemade scrub by mixing some granulated sugar, a few drops of water and a few drops of essential oils of your choice. (Lavender and tea tree are often the most popular for this purpose). Make enough to use on your forearms, hands and wrists. This will help eliminate dead skin cells leaving your hands feeling silky smooth.
MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
Be patient, let the last coat of colour dry, there's no rush. Wait a good 5- 6 minutes before applying the second coat.
tension and Makeup can be made via her social media or tel: +45 53564504
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DENMARK WANTS INTERNATIONAL
TALENT TO STAY DENMARK HAS GAINED A GLOBAL REPUTATION FOR HAPPINESS AND WORK-LIFE BALANCE. AS A RESULT, ATTRACTING TALENT MAY HAVE BECOME EASIER, BUT RETAINING TALENT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE CHALLENGING. LEARN WHAT’S BEING DONE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AMIDST A GROWING NATIONAL TALENT POOL.
T
PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK.COM
THE EMPLOYMENT LANDSCAPE has changed drastically in Denmark over the last decade. As membership in the EU expanded, a more significant number of students from abroad came here to work and study. And, as Denmark’s reputation as the happiest nation in the world started to spread, more and more international talent started paying attention to what Denmark has to offer. Denmark welcomed interest from professionals and university students eager to contribute to the Danish economy. However, as global interest in Denmark increased and the economy grew, competition and cost of living skyrocketed, making it increasingly difficult for unemployed international professionals and graduates to secure jobs before money and visas ran out.
TEXT ANITA EHRHARDT
"Attracting international talent is crucial for Danish business and for the future of Denmark, and at Copenhagen Capacity we look forward to realizing the great initiatives in this project together with our partners. With the Talent to Denmark project, we will work towards a coordinated WELCOME to internationals who choose Denmark as their career destination." - Nikolaj Lubanski, Director of Talent Attraction & Retention, Copenhagen Capacity
ANITA EHRHARDT
CAREER ADVISOR
PUTTING DENMARK ON THE TALENT MAP Although programmes to support internationals in Denmark have existed for some time, never before has the push to retain professional talent been so organized, strategic and well-funded as it is under a new initiative called, the Talent to Denmark Project. Currently planned for the next three years, the project, spearheaded by Copenhagen Capacity, is a collaborative effort supported by a wide range of national partners, to showcase Denmark as an attractive career destination and establish the country on the global talent map.
Raised in England, Canada,
A NATIONAL EFFORT
Management and has spent
As Danish companies struggle to attract and retain highly educated talent, particularly in areas of STEM, Copenhagen Capacity is working on a national scale and with numerous organizations, to coordinate programmes and activities to support and inform companies so they can more effectively embrace diverse international talent. Copenhagen Capacity is also gathering input from its existing Young Professionals in Denmark (YPD) network comprised of international university students and alumni, to enable international professionals to gain skills, networks and knowledge which will help them secure a job in Denmark after graduation. The programme consists of events as well as virtual tools and solutions which promote community building and contact to Danish businesses. It also offers continued education and courses to ease the transition into Danish working culture and life.
SUPPORTING DANISH COMPANIES Copenhagen Capacity has worked with investment promotion and business development since 1994, and for the past ten years has included a focus on international talent attraction and retention. It has built a strong national business, and student network around the country and globally and the Talent to Denmark project will bring even greater opportunity to expand and intensify its reach and programmes, particularly in support of campaigns which strengthen hiring practices and cultural awareness throughout Danish business sectors. Since a surprisingly large amount of Danish companies re-
the Caribbean, and the United States, Anita takes pride in a heritage that spans a multiplex of religions, cultures and continents. Anita is a certified Career Coach, has a Master’s degree in Human Resource the last 20 years working as a main ill-prepared for or simply avoid hiring internationals primarily due to misconceptions about costs and challenges associated with onboarding and integrating foreign labour, Talent to Denmark will also be aggressively promoting information courses, guidance and advisory services, as well as testing mentoring programmes for Danish companies who want to learn more about the enormous benefits of having internationals on their teams and who are looking to strengthen their onboarding of international employees. In these unpredictable and changing times, the Danish Business Authority with co-financing from 33 partners, and a steering committee of six partners - including the Confederation of Danish Industry, is demonstrating, through the Talent to Denmark initiative, readiness and commitment to providing necessary conditions for attracting, integrating and retaining global talent. If you are an international student and would like to learn more about what the Talent to Denmark project can offer, you can visit ‘Young Professionals in Denmark’ on Facebook. There will also be an opportunity to join the next career programme in September. If you are not a student but want to find out about upcoming events, you can inquire at your local International Citizen Center or contact Dagmar Irgang, Talent Attraction Manager via e-mail: dir@copcap.com for more information. THE-INTL
TV Producer, Advertising Executive, Communication and HR Specialist and within the area of talent management. For the last 10 years, Anita has focused on international recruitment and career development. Her company, Career Explorations, is noted for its work with helping millennials manage the “Quarterlife” journey. www.careerexplore.dk anita@careerexplore.dk @quarterlifers @careerexplore
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TAKING CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC HUMAN BEINGS ARE GENERALLY AVERSE TO UNCERTAINTY. WE ARE HARD-WIRED TO WANT TO BE IN CONTROL, AND WHEN THINGS FEEL UNCERTAIN LIKE THEY DO NOW, IT IS REASONABLE TO FEEL STRESSED, ANXIOUS AND FEARFUL.
PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO
TEXT JUDY WANJIKU JØRGENSEN
I
IT IS DAY 28 of the COVID-19-coronavirus pandemic lockdown in Denmark. I can feel my head spacing out. My palms are sweaty, and my breath is quickening. I close my eyes and take deep breathes. Beside me is my six-year-old, calling, nagging me for the umpteenth time. We take a 10-minute break from the homeschooling project of the day. When homeschooling in quarantine isolation, sanity takes precedence. The global gloom spread by coronavirus is fodder for panic and anxiety. I am aware of how the cognitive distortion of catastrophizing thinking works. Ruminating on the fear of catching coronavirus is both rational and irrational.
JUDY WANJIKU JØRGENSEN
CATASTROPHIZING CORONAVIRUS LEADS TO MORE PANIC Before the lockdown in Denmark, most of us thought COVID 19-coronavirus was a distant novelty. Unbeknownst to us, the pandemic would soon bring our lives to a stand-still. Despite the information of rising coronavirus infections around the world, life before the Danish lockdown continued unabated. To some extent, one might say that there was a collective sense of compassion fatigue: A coping mechanism of sorts. And yet here we are, dealing with the ramifications of the global pandemic. Without catastrophizing the future outcome, we can navigate through the current uncertainty without exacerbating more fear. We can assuage fear by looking at this pandemic as a moment to rewrite history. In the grand schemes of things, when we do get through this challenging time, I hope we will have a newfound appreciation for our planet. May this become an opportunity to think outside ourselves, instead embrace more empathy and compassion.
DECIDE WHAT YOU FEED TO YOUR FEARS By validating your fears and worries, you can go about doing what’s healthy for you, your family and your mental health. That means you can feed my fears the daily dose of need to know nonalarmist information by sticking to facts and steering away from fake news and conspiracy theories. To feel less anxious, choose to focus on rational worries. Like making sure everyone has enough mental and physical stimulation. Meeting proper nutritional needs and keeping in contact with friends and family.
"BY VALIDATING YOUR FEARS AND WORRIES, YOU CAN GO ABOUT DOING WHAT ’S HEALTHY FOR YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR MENTAL HEALTH."
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JOURNALIST, WRITER, PHOTOGRAPHER Judy is a journalist and writer, Fear can be healthy. Fear is a gift that makes us takes self-quarantine seriously and only venture outside only when necessary.
IT ALWAYS GETS WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER Trust is a cornerstone of the Danish culture. So far, people are willing to adhere to self-isolation and social distancing. While the COVID-19 pandemic is causing unfathomable uncertainty and fear, it is our response that will determine how fast the virus will keep spreading or die out. We all need to be rational and not buy into the fear. If I do my part, and you do yours, the statistics might be different, and the curve might have fallen by summer. Please adhere to personal and respiratory hygiene. Stay at home as much as you can. Coronavirus is not a respecter of persons. It doesn’t care about your race, religion, wealth or health. With this in mind, it is crucial to follow all the precautions set up to help stall the virus. Think outside yourself, and be considerate of others. So, as we face another week of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, we have a choice to face uncertainty with faith and hope that all will turn out well. There will be discomfort and readjustment. But this is also an opportunity to reconnect, ground ourselves, and be present. We can’t control the future, but we can control the present and how we respond to these unpredictable times. Instead, surviving this pandemic and helping others survive may be the one thing we can control and help preserve our sanity. THE-INTL
fuelled by a passion for bringing words to life. She has also been a photographer for 11 years. Her hunger for knowledge first led her to Denmark on a scholarship for an MA in Journalism at Aarhus University. Love made her stay. She is now a mother of two AfroViking boys. She is currently working as a freelance journalist and photographer and is always interested in a challenge. Reach out on judysimon2002@yahoo.com www.judywanderi.net
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WAR, WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?
SUSAN JESSEN SPIELE LIBRARIAN Susan is a librarian at Roskilde 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
World War II in Europe ended 75 years ago this month. There are countless books and films inspired by that war and what might have been. Here are some of my favourites. Enjoy.
MOVING, TENSE AND HUMAN
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT NOIR
QUIET, SUBTLE AND POWERFUL
THE AFTERMATH BY RHIDIAN BROOK
MARCH VIOLETS BY PHILIP KERR
RESISTANCE BY OWEN SHEERS
H a mb u r g i n 1 9 4 6 i s devastated. Overseeing the rebuilding and the de-Nazification Colonel Morgan is requisitioned a house with his wife and only remaining son. Unusually he has decided that the original owners of the house can stay which brings enmity and solace.
B ernie Gunther is a
In 1944, Russia fell
former soldier and po-
and a German coun-
liceman in Berlin. Now, in 1936, he is a disillusioned, world-weary PI navigating in Nazi-Germany with the Olympics coming and a nasty case that will see him bumping into some very notorious people.
ter-attack sees German troops on English soil. In a small Welsh town, the women wake up alone, as all the men have vanished into the resistance. What happens when you are forced to live with the enemy?
also busy with Roskilde Horror, a club dedicated to scaring the town.
COMPLEX, FAST AND INTRIGUING RATLINES BY STUART NEVILLE Ireland in 1963 is preparing for President Kennedy’s visit when three Germans die w i t h i n d ays o f e a c h other. The Minister of Justice is desperate to hide that they were all former Nazis granted asylum and tasks Ryan from Intelligence to find the murderer.
DID YOU KNOW? Due to the COVID-19, all events are cancelled, and all physical libraries are closed until the 10th of May. However, the librarians are still working from home, and all the online services are up and running! You can get help and free access to online films, e- and audiobooks, comics and more through your local library. Find inspiration here: https:// www.roskildebib.dk/sektion/welcome-library
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DANISH SUMMER
HOUSE RULES
LEARN FROM THE DANES. GET OUT OF THE CITY, SLOW DOWN AND CONNECT WITH NATURE AND FAMILY.
ERIN GUSTAFSON WRITER & BLOGGER
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PHOTOGRAPHS ERIN GUSTAFSON
COME MAY, THE light here stays on later, and there are many ways to take advantage of the longer days in Denmark. Most involve water and scenic swaths of sea. Nowhere in Denmark – even on Jutland, where the country connects to the mainland of Europe – is there a point that is further than 52 kilometres from the water. With 2020’s summer travel plans put on pause for the bulk of us, many would still like to getaway. Take a break. Just have somewhere to relax. Refill the buckets. Somewhere under a two hour’s drive, or even less. Danes have the answer. Enter. The sommerhus. The summer house. Here in Denmark, there are roughly 200,000 summer houses, most zoned against primary residency with intentions of promoting tourism. And Danes do second homes well. I’m here to tell you there is something special about the Danish sommerhus. And if you own one, you know. If you’ve experienced one, you do too. And if you haven’t yet – you can. And you should. Unfortunately for foreigners, there are rules regulating the purchase of one’s own. Only those internationals with permanent residency, or who have lived in Denmark at least five years are afforded the possibility to apply for permission of purchasing a specific summer house. But even if you can’t buy one, you can try one. For a weekend or better, a week, maybe two. This year, check with the latest government recommendations about how far afield you should go to keep everyone safe. The Danish summer house is usually simple. And cosy. Not lavish or large. A cottage. A home. Near the sea. But not too close. Special coastal zone laws were set in place in the 70s to protect the pretty and pristine beaches and natural dunes. No homes were to be built less than 300 meters from the edge of the beach, which is why you’ll find many rental cottages a bit inland. But almost all offer a spot to unplug near nature. With one in five Danish owners renting their second homes, there are between 40,000-50,000 available to let. Rules are set in place on how many weeks a year, each house can be rented. During the summer season, from March 1 to October 31, each owner is allowed to let for unlimited sessions. Winter season from November 1 to the end of February is restricted to a maximum of nine weeks. The exception being for pensioners over 60 who are allowed to reside in their cottages year-round. On an average year, summer houses fill up fast, with mostly German, Swedish, Norwegian and Dutch tourists making plans well in advance. With border closures and travel bans, late planners may be pleasantly surprised with greater availability this season. 75% of Danish owners rent their sweet summer spots through agencies; the most popular being Feriepartner, Novasol, Sol og Strand and Dancenter. Once you’ve found the right spot, keep in mind many
TEXT ERIN GUSTAFSON
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
WI T H ONE IN FI VE DANISH OWNERS REN T ING T HEIR SECOND HOMES, T HERE ARE BE T WEEN 40,000-50,000 AVAILABLE TO LE T. only rent by the week. Make sure to check if you need to bring your own linens including sheets, duvets and towels. Most agencies offer a linen package as an extra to add on, but if renting privately best to clarify upfront. And don’t be surprised when you are expected to pay for your electricity, water and gas consumption at the end of your stay. Bring some extra candles and turn the lights down low, it all helps with the hygge. The summer house hygge. You can have it. Slow down. Get comfortable. Be casual. No drama. Play games. Go swimming. Eat good local food. Turn off the phone. Set aside some time each day to consciously be together. It’s easy to do. In a Danish summer house. THE-INTL
loves to share her insider tips. For more Scandinavian travel inspiration and Copenhagen culture, follow Erin around the world here: oregongirl aroundtheworld.com @oregongirl_ aroundtheworld @oregongirlworld www.facebook. com/oregongirl roundtheworld/ www.pinterest.dk/ oregongirlworld/
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HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ADJUSTING TO OUR NEW NORMAL DURING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC CAN BE CHALLENGING BECAUSE IT IS A TIME MARKED WITH UNCERTAINTY. TO MOVE FORWARD IN CORONA TIMES, TRY INSTEAD TO EMBRACE THE NEW NORMAL, KEEP WORKING TOWARDS YOUR GOALS, STAY PRESENT AND CONNECT WITH OTHERS.
PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTOS
TEXT BAILEY JENSEN
N
NOW THAT YOU find yourself working or studying from home try to continue life as if you were still getting up each day to go to the office. Yes, some days it will feel particularly satisfying to take a virtual work meeting in your pj’s (your colleagues will never know!) But it is essential to feel a sense of normalcy and accomplishment, so continue to get ready for each day. Set up an organized work environment that is both cosy and effective.
EMBRACING OUR NEW NORMAL Instead of your regular gym workout and daily movement, try an at-home exercise. Luckily in Denmark, we are still allowed to go outside. Take advantage of this while remaining socially distant. Schedule a break to get some fresh air and exercise while listening to your favourite podcast. These moments will quickly become some of your favourite times of the day and something to look forward to in the face of our new normal.
BAILEY JENSEN BLOGGER & STUDENT
ONWARD To maintain forward momentum in your life, keep working towards your goals. For example, during the past six months, I have been dedicated to studying for my Danish Citizenship Exam this June. While I have been studying for the exam for a few months, gaining dual citizenship it is something I have been actively working towards for nearly seven years. Despite the high likelihood that the citizenship exam will likely be cancelled and postponed, I am still proceeding onward in studying for it as if it is happening. I encourage you to do the same with your goals and plans. More than ever, it is a great time to make new goals for yourself.
STAY PRESENT Take each day one day at a time and resist the temptation to succumb to the uncertainty. Being an expatriate in Denmark does add another layer of insecurity during this uncertain time. Once the United States and Denmark both closed their borders, I found myself in a panic. I began frantically wondering when I would be able to see my family again. The best thing to do about these feelings of uncertainty is to open up, in order to process this. True vulnerability and openness will help you connect with yourself and others. I found the second I said things out loud, their hold on me quickly dissipated.
"SPENDING TIME WITH ONE ANOTHER IN TIMES OF SOCIAL DISTANCING MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE ARE USED TO, BUT THE ESSENCE OF CONNECTION REMAINS THE SAME."
Bailey Ann Jensen is an American expat in Aarhus, Denmark since 2013 and is from Helena, Montana. She originally came to Denmark as an exchange student at Aarhus University for one year, where she met her DanLike many other people, important events and things we have been looking forward to are now cancelled. It is okay to mourn the losses of a missed graduation, birthday party, big trip, or a wedding. But after you have properly acknowledged your disappointment, be sure to pick yourself up, dust yourself, and move forward! This will all help you to stay present and take it one moment at a time.
CONNECT Take time each day to connect with yourself. Take a walk by yourself, journal in the sunshine, meditate or do some yoga. There are likely many more thoughts and things to think through than before. Take the time to process this and take care of yourself. Along with connecting with yourself, be sure to stay close to your friends and family. Connect with your friends through a watch party, do trivia night with your family, or make a virtual playdate with your niece or nephew. Spending time with one another in times of social distancing may be different than what we are used to, but the essence of connection remains the same. THE-INTL
ish husband. Now living in Denmark permanently, Bailey is getting her bachelor’s degree in political science and is an international nanny for families in Aarhus. In her free time, she makes sense of her multicultural life around her with her blog about becoming a Dane: Dane in Training. For frequent new blog posts, check out her website and daily pictures on Instagram www.daneintraining.com @daneintraining
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UNITED IN HEALTH
CHAOS AND SILVER LININGS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
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PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO
TEXT NARCIS GEORGE MATACHE
THE ORGANISATION AND financing of the health system have always been in the competence of the member state. The member states never considered integrating the health systems into the European Union mechanisms. Yet, when the pandemic hit Europe, everyone looked at the European Union for answers. At the same time, the member states scrambled to find the medical supplies, engaging into a race in which there was no more friends or allies, just the national interest. As expected, chaos emerged, with even the best healthcare systems in Europe struggling to survive, while even the most wealthy and strong member states finding it challenging to compete for medical supplies against giants like the United States. However, the chaos pushed the European Union to progress bringing silver linings to the European citizens. Working into the cabinet of a member of the European Parliament, I had the chance to witness first-hand how the pandemic affected the European Union. It started with disbelief that it will indeed affect us. While China was being ravaged, our team developed a tool to strengthen the role of the European Union during cross-border medical emergencies. However, due to the expected reticence from member states to pool together in matters of health, we failed to pass it through the legislative process. It was February, and I was telling my housemates, brace yourselves for the near future. My housemates thought I was exaggerating, like the boy who cried wolf. Similarly, our colleagues from the European Parliament refused to understand the magnitude of the problem. They remained locked into the perspective that healthcare is a national competence, and that is all there is to it. What followed was a lot of sleepless nights as I was closely following how my prediction was becoming a reality. The pandemic did arrive, and it proved too strong for any member state to handle alone. The first weeks of the pandemic are hard to describe in words, as human tragedy usually is. European solidarity has been rocked to its core. While Italy was asking for help,
MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
NARCIS GEORGE MATACHE POLITICIAN Born in 1990 in a village in the north-east of Romania, Narcis made Aalborg his new home
" THE PANDEMIC DID ARRIVE, AND IT PROVED TOO STRONG FOR ANY MEMBER STATE TO HANDLE ALONE." the other member states first thought has been, their own national interest. To put salt on the wound, the first responders to the Italian call for help, have been China, Russia and Cuba. Yes, malfunctioning medical equipment from China and pretend-soldier-doctors from Russia. Yet, the strong PR machines of China and Russia turned them into the eyes of the European citizens as the true heroes in this crisis. As member states realised that a standalone stance would not lead to a decrease in the level of tragedy, they finally have seen the light and started to work together. Solidarity wasn’t anymore just a word, as medical personnel and supplies began to be dispatched to Italy. The European Commission saw this as a sign to be more daring, and surprise, the tool we tried to put into existence one month earlier, became a reality through an implemented act.
EUROPEAN UNION STRATEGIC STOCKPILES The tool I keep referring to is the Strategic
European Union Stockpile of medical supplies, mobile laboratories and vaccines. An emergency reserve that will be able to cover the needs of any hospital in the European Union promptly. An emergency reserve that will be able to procure the medical supplies in the name of the European Union giant, thus abhorring us of the sad spectacle of member states competing for supplies. An emergency reserve that will have supply lines already established and blueprints for industry reconversion to cover huge demand. There is a clear mandate from the European citizens for more progress in the healthcare department. The strategic stockpile is a step forward, yet more needs to be done. If we are to stand firm against any cross-border medical emergencies and ensure the same quality of healthcare to the European citizen no matter which piece of the Union land it calls home. The road is paved for a European Health Union, the silver lining in this chaos. THE-INTL
since 2009. Smitten by the Danish model, he decided to get involved in the local community leading to him becoming a strong voice on the topic of usage of the local political rights by the internationals. In 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/ NarcisGeorge.Matache/
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JUTL AND
GOING GLOBAL CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL CAPABILITIES
AARHUS AND EASTERN JUTLAND IS HOME TO MANY INTERNATIONALLY-MINDED COMPANIES AND ORGANISATIONS THAT ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THE AREA. OUR COMMUNITY WILL TAKE YOU BY THE HAND AND SHOW YOU THE DIVERSE SCENE ON WHICH INTERNATIONALISATION IS BUILT. THIS MONTH WE GIVE THE FLOOR TO VESTAS.
PHOTOGRAPHS VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S / NETE BECHMANN
O
OVER THE PAST 40 years, Vestas has continuously pioneered new technologies and solutions. This has allowed us - together with our customers, to be the first to bring reliable wind energy solutions to the market. In short, we planted the seeds of the modern wind industry. Vestas is the industry market leader with more than 71,000 turbines installed and 96 GW of wind turbines under service in 81 countries. To stay ahead of the competition, we need a workforce with a global mindset and international skills. As competition is growing, our workforce must match the global context. Therefore, we are competing on a global level. A global mindset is a differentiating factor - as well as the foundation, and thus international capabilities are directly linked to the bottom line. With a vision to be the global leader in sustainable energy solutions, we need to attract a highly-skilled, motivated workforce with global work orientation, who are passionate about renewables and strive to deliver best-in-class energy solutions for the benefit of Vestas’ customer and the planet. Vestas is a global company with Danish roots and numerous nationalities. Our company culture is based on accountability, simplicity, collaboration and passion, and a unique drive to succeed. In January and February 2020, Vestas announced a new company-wide Sustainability Strategy - “Sustainability in everything we do”. With this strategy, we are taking the next steps on our sustainability journey. As we work towards becoming the global leader in sustainable energy solutions, we are ramping up our efforts to integrate sustainability - not only across the business but throughout its operations and value chain.
TEXT VESTAS, BY NETE BECHMANN, EXECUTIVE HR BUSINESS PARTNER
Vestas will not just make products that build a more sustainable planet, but it will do so in the most sustainable way possible. There are four ambitions in the sustainability strategy. However, the ambition most relevant to diversity and inclusion at Vestas is: “Becoming the safest, most inclusive and socially-responsible workplace in the energy industry”. Initiatives will be launched to help us to attract a deeper and more diverse talent pool at Vestas. Diversity enriches your culture, the mix of ideas and perspectives and derived a positive employer brand - attracting talent. Vestas will, going forward, still be needing a strong partner, who can help us create the best possible integration of our employees entering from all over the world.
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY We offer a wide range of events, seminars and online activities that help internationals get settled in Denmark.
VESTAS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNIT Y Vestas has partnered up with International Community since 2007. We are still focused on attracting diverse, talented employees; hence we need to give all our international employees and their families the best starting point for living and working in Denmark. The collaboration with International Community provides Vestas with a significant advantage as to our current and future need for capabilities. We require knowledgable workers, and we need a partner that focuses and supports us in making Aarhus a career destination and a great place to live. Someone that addresses and works with developing society around us. International Community allows our international employees to network with other international employees in the region. As the family can be the reason to leave,
Learn more on our website or follow us on: we need to ensure that the whole family is well integrated into Danish society. International Community has many offers and services for the family, e.g. including a spouse network. Our membership helps to attract new international employees, create advantageous conditions for them and their families and in the end also retain them in their jobs. The work done over the last ten years by the International Community is tremendous and of enormous value to our employees, our company and Aarhus. We continue to believe that we have found a strong, passionate partner who can guide international employees and their families coming to Aarhus and Denmark. THE-INTL
@internationalcommunityAarhus @internationalcommunityaarhus
www.erhvervaarhus.dk www.international community.dk
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HOW TO PREVENT INFECTION The new coronavirus typically spreads in places with many people. Either via hand shakes and small droplets from coughing and sneezing. Protect yourself and other with these great tips.
Wash your hands frequently or use antibacterial hand spray or gel
Avoid shaking hands, kissing or hugging limit physical contact
coronasmitte.dk MAY 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM
Cough or sneeze into your sleeve never your hands
Double your efforts on cleaning - both at home and at your workplace
If you are elderly or have a chronic illness - avoid contact with others, and ask them to do the same
sst.dk/corona