The International - June 2020

international

the

ISSN 2596-5220

VIVA MEXICO!

BENEFITS OF SUMMER CAMPS

MOTHERHOOD ABROAD

DANISH ECONOMY RECOVERY

JUNE 2020 - THE-INTL.COM

THE SEAWEED GIRL OF DENMARK

AN INSIGHT INTO THIS FORWARD-THINKING BIOMATERIAL DESIGNER

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

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WE NEED TO BE BETTER WITH EACH OTHER...

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DREAMED OF A WORLD MORE TOLERANT THAN THE ONE HE LIVED IN. IT IS POSSIBLE TO CHANGE HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER - IT BEGINS WITH TOLERANCE.

and I realised how different life was and reflected on what has changed. The simplicity of life, and how I took things for granted has made me look at life in a different way today. With this virus still very much in front of us, dealing with a stressed economy, and now unspeakable acts of human rights violations in the USA - we have to ask ourselves the question, are we really evolving as humans - or are we devolving?

International Day for Tolerance is usually celebrated in November - but I couldn't think of a more critical time to remind ourselves of tolerance at a time where polarisation is becoming the norm across the globe, alongside outright injustice and disregard for individual rights. Tolerance is defined as a positive effort to understand another's beliefs and habits without necessarily agreeing with them.

TRY TO EMPATHISE Empathy is about putting yourself in someone else's shoes. To truly understand where someone else is coming from requires looking at the world from another person's perspective. Actively listen to another person, even if their opinions are on the other end of

LEARN ABOUT OTHER CULTURES As internationals, we have to learn to adapt and "fit in" with our new lives in Denmark, this can be hard - but not impossible. While you might discover new habits and traditions that you have never heard of before, or may even disagree with, this is a big part of what tolerance is about. Embracing the beauty of diversity will perhaps end up surprising you by the number of similarities different cultures share.

LOOKING AT IT FROM BOTH SIDES Challenge your mind. We often get stuck in a certain rhythm or mindset that repeats what we already believe in, or what we think we know. To approach the world with tol-

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erance requires recognising that different opinions, no matter how difficult it is to accept, exist and are allowed to live. Thinking about non-familiar ideas is a great way to practice tolerance.

the spectrum. Ask questions if you don't understand, and keep asking until you can get a better idea. Accept that others' can legitimately hold opinions and empathise with their viewpoint as much as possible.

USE "I" INSTEAD OF "YOU" In everyday conversations, try to use the phrase "I" instead of "you". Language does make a difference! When we speak using "I" statements, we are taking responsibility for our own emotions and opinions. Identifying that our feelings are ours, rather than addressing or assuming what someone else

is feeling or thinking is essential. Perception is reality, meaning that when it comes to non-universal beliefs, there is no "fundamental truth" to be shared and accepted by all. Each and every one of us filter the world through our own lens. So keeping this in mind when we communicate, is core to being tolerant.

KATIE LARSEN ON LOVE, LIFE, SEAWEED AND THE UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE IN DENMARK

ANDERS LORENTZEN

BETSY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY

RARELY DO I MEET A PERSON WHO HAS ACHIEVED SO MUCH IN SUCH A SHORT TIME - 25 YEAR OLD KATIE IS ONE SUCH FIRE CRACKER! SHE HAS BLOWN ME AWAY WITH ALL SHE'S ACHIEVED DURING HER 5 SHORT YEARS IN DENMARK. AFTER BEING NAMED BY MATERIAL SOURCE MAGAZINE IN THE ARTICLE: BIOMATERIAL DESIGNERS: ‘ONES TO WATCH’ 2020, I CAN ONLY SECOND THAT OPINION. SHE VERY KINDLY TOOK TIME TO ZOOM WITH ME DURING THE LOCKDOWN, AND SHARED HER UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE IN DENMARK AND WHAT SHE'S BEEN UP TO.

PHOTOGRAPHS KEL HUDSON / ANDERS LORENTZEN / BETSY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY / JEROEN VAN DER WIELEN

GROWING UP IN the small town of Haddonfield, New Jersey seems so far away from where I am today. The eldest of five, I've always had a lot of responsibilities to balance.

A weird overachieving kid who never quite fit in, I had a lot of energy and passion, but was deeply insecure about my abilities because it set me so far apart from others. My parents always encouraged me academically, though, and tried to secure opportunities for me to travel, and take university classes while I was still in high school.

School was always the most important thing, and then sports. I was always really interested in foreign languages, history, and art, and I ultimately realised in high school that architecture could combine all those interests of mine.

HOW DID YOU END UP IN DENMARK? I took a gap year and went to Japan before university, and then met a Dane. We started dating in Japan, and ended up returning to the US to study at Cornell University. Unfortunately, architecture school in the US was prohibitively expensive, and when it became clear I’d have to take out 68,000$ a year in loans (for a five-year degree), I looked at transferring to be with my boyfriend in Denmark. I ended up finishing my degree in architectural technology here at the Copenhagen School of Design and Technology (KEA) and got married to my boyfriend in 2018. I think to me, Denmark represented a version of the American Dream, because I was able to get my education, had great career promises, healthcare, and of course, love and family. I felt like I had moved to a place where I could have it all.

SO WITH ALL THE POSITIVES, HOW DID YOU FIND ADJUSTING TO LIFE HERE ?

I lived in Japan before and considered myself an expert at living abroad when I moved here at only 20 years old. Unfortunately, all my cultural expectations of Denmark were

TEXT LYNDSAY JENSEN

utterly wrong, and I sunk into the worst culture shock I’ve ever experienced. I was expecting a culture similar to the US and hadn’t realised that Denmark was a lot more like Japan, in that the culture is hugely homogenous and conservative. I dealt with a lot of clashes by appearing overconfident, or egotistical to most Danes, and had to change how I handled most interactions in school, and work. As a whole, my social skills improved momentously here, because I learned how to listen and work a lot better with others.

It took me some time to really settle and feel confident here. I have to give credit where credit is due that my husband Lucas is my biggest chearleader. He has been my solid rock since moving to Denmark, debunking the myths that Danes are cold, and helping me understand his culture. One of the biggest challenges is always the language, but he was so supportive, and I eventually learned enough Danish to be able to handle day-today interactions. This made the most significant difference in my comfort here, and really brought me onto a different platform socially.

SO IF THE CULTURE WAS SO DIFFERENT TO THE US, CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT THE MOST OBVIOUS TO YOU? It might sound terrible, but the environment I grew up in defined your worth by what you achieved. The better your grades, the better the score on your exams, the name of your university, the faster you could run - this is what got you noticed. Even in Japan, I received so much respect from others for getting perfect scores on my kanji exams or being good at sports.

But here, no one places the same importance on achievements (well, not in the way we do in the US). I had to completely reformulate my identity of who I was, what did I want from life, and what makes me truely happy. These are all questions I dealt with for the very first time in my life - which seems to come more naturally to the Danish culture. Happiness is so negligible in the US, and the focus is on survival, and getting that

KEL HUDSEN - WWW.KELLEYHUDSON.COM

I

I LOOK BACK at last years Editors notes,

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

WE ARE MORE ALIKE THEN WE REALISE In the middle of these trying times, a big part of tolerance is reminding ourselves how much we still have in common. No, not just physically, but also in that we are humans striving for a better world, who believe in equality and share common values.

We all love the beautiful natural wonders of our planet - more than ever before. We share a rich history of cultures around the world - how lucky of we! Let's remember our shared humanity and lead our lives accordingly with tolerance.

My top picks for June Pages 3-9 Our top picks of events around Denmark not to be missed.

Pages 10-13 Katie opens up on life, seaweed and the ups and downs of life in Denmark.

With so many public holidays during the summer months, it's sometimes easy to forget important days. 5th June is Constitution day Grundlovsdag, this day commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the Danish Constitution which established Denmark as a constitutional monarchy. Let's not forget our dads either as we celebrate Fathers Day! We wish you another happy long weekend, and remind you to just be that little bit nicer to everyone - a smile costs you nothing.

Page 15 International summer camps - exploring the benefits for your children.

Page 17 Recovery of the Danish economy.

Page 22

Love,

Special summer travel edition:

LYNDSAY JENSEN - EDITOR & FOUNDER

Viva Mexico - Part 1.

THE-INTL.COM

MEET THE TEAM

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

HEAD OF SOCIAL MEDIA DENMARK

Anders Lorentzen

ANNA

NEELAM

MAVI

OLEG

IS OUR SoMe AMBASSADOR FOR ODENSE

MICHAELA

IS OUR SoMe AMBASSADOR FOR ESBJERG

AMELIE

IS OUR SoMe AMBASSADOR FOR ODENSE

OUR SoMe AMBASSADORS AROUND DENMARK

IS OUR SoMe AMBASSADOR FOR BILLUND

KENNETH MACALPINE is a Nordic Financial Manager in the Transport industry.

His degree is in Finance and business obtained in the UK. Born in Norway he moved to Denmark at the age of 22. He is of Danish Scottish ancestry and lives in southern Denmark with his large multi-national family consisting of Danish, Irish and Brazilian heritage. He is always interested in new challenges and loves to live life to the fullest. kenneth@the-intl.com

+45 42676745

IS OUR SoMe AMBASSADOR FOR CPH

LYNDSAY JENSEN has over twenty years' experience in the advertising and publishing industry, and holds degrees in Business and Desktop Publishing (print and repro). Born in the UK, and brought up in South Africa, she has the ability to understand different cultures, and is passionate about networking. She is a wife of twenty three years and mother to two boys aged 22 and 16. She loves travel, photography, music and art. lyndsay@the-intl.com

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.

CATHERINE manages our SoMe team. Originally from DC, she is currently in her honeymoon phase with Copenhagen and loves it here. A passion for traveling, meeting new people, and dabbling in other artistic endeavors outside of social media, like illustration, graphic design and podcasting keeps her busy.

MANAGING DIRECTOR & PARTNER

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please contact: sales@the-intl.com

IS OUR SoMe AMBASSADOR FOR BILLUND

EDITOR & FOUNDER

SALES

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delivery of the printed edition please contact: distribution@the-intl.com The International is published 12 times a year. This issue was published on 2 June, 2020

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EVENTS IN JUNE

As Denmark starts to open up slowly, so too are events.

The International will keep you updated us much as possible through our social media and website. Please note: we still encourage you to follow the governments guidelines and stay safe. Follow us on http://www.the-intl.dk/

FANØ

CLUB FANØ

ZUMBA FUN CLAIRE

ONLINE!

2 JUNE

3 JUNE

ZUMBA AT HOME

SKIMBOARDING

I miss dancing with you, so live stream class it is. I'll be using Zoom so you will get the best sound and we get to see your faces! We cover hosting, so it will be more than 40 minutes. Remember to download zoom to your computer for a bigger picture and connect it to your speaker for great sound. You can choose to turn off your video or show your face, and we leave that up to you. Any small fee to 28922247 is very much appreciated.

Why not take a drive outside the cities and head to the island of Fanø. A beautiful summer destination for some outdoor fun! Book a lesson with a skimboarding instructor; it's a natural progression into water sports like surfing and kitesurfing. Skimboarding in shallow water on a sandy floor is a bit like skateboarding. Once you have learned how to balance on the board, you can practice doing some of the same tricks you can do on a skateboard. Club Fanø offers many activities on the beach, check them out!

TIME: 17:30-18:30 FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK. COM/EVENTS/240221173853066/?EVENT_TIME_ ID=251493556059161

TIME: 11:12/13:14/15:00 FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.KULTUNAUT.DK/PERL/ARRMORE/TYPE-NYNAUT/UK?ARRNR=13851863

International summer school Do you want to practice speaking English? Or have fun?

Or both? Join us for an active and engaging time of learning, exploration and summer fun.

- Activity Camp (age 4-7)

The classes are not continued from

- Art Camp (Age 8-12)

one week to the other, so you can

- Digital Camp (Age 8-12)

sign up for one or two weeks.

- English Camp (Age 8-12)

- Week 1: June 22nd – 26th 2020

- English Camp (Age 12-17)

- Week 2: June 29th – July 3rd

Join us

cis.dk/summer-school

Copenhagen International School, Levantkaj 4-14, 2150 Nordhavn

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BOGENSE

TRÆDREJER JØRN ANDERSON FB PAGE

ONLINE!

UNSPLASH.COM

WORDS WITH FRIENDS 2

COPENHAGEN

10-11 JUNE

ALL OF JUNE

12 JUNE

VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR

WORDS WITH FRIENDS 2

Join this event to meet Danish companies looking for international candidates.

IMPORTANT: DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS JUNE 2ND AT 23:59 Even though the COVID-19 pandemic is putting most of the world on hold right now, there are still Danish companies looking for talented international candidates within tech, engineering and business! You'll have a chance to meet some of these companies during this online career fair and matchmaking event.

Whether you are a student, graduate or experienced professional, this event is for you. The participating companies all have different needs, and we'll match you with the relevant ones before the event.

The world's most popular social, mobile word game!

Now with more game modes and exciting wordplay, Words With Friends 2 is 'teaming' with new ways to challenge your friends and your brain. Want to boost your word game? Test yourself against fun, fictional personalities in Solo Challenge or exercise your strategic thinking with Daily Word Play puzzles. Got a competitive streak? Go head-to-head in NEW Lightning Duels with high stakes and rewards.

Just another title from Zynga's Games With Friends. A fun way to connect with family and friends.

LUMBERJACK ARTS AND CRAFTS Tree owner Jørn Anderson, together with visual artist Else Friis, opens his workshop and exhibits his crafts and art. Jørn's studio is full of creativity, and here he expresses his love for trees and his love of crafts.

Jørn likes to show the different processes the wood undergoes from the drawing block, felled timber, drying process, wet turning, and polishing to the finished product.

To experience this self-sufficient living, and looking for something different to do this summer season, this is well worth a look. Take a break in a peaceful setting, and enjoy some refreshments and food amongst the trees.

FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://WWW.ZYNGA.COM/GAMES/ WORDS-WITH-FRIENDS-2/

TIME: 10:00-17:00 PRICE: FREE ADMISSION FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://WWW.KULTUNAUT.DK/PERL/ARRMORE/TYPE-NYNAUT/UK?ARRNR=13711219

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WORDS WITH FRIENDS 2

FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://WWW.STATE-OF-DENMARK.COM/ VIRTUAL-CAREER-FAIR-CANDIDATES?FBCLID=IWAR1PNZ K23MMICNTDE8SEZWIPPD_USZZ_XWV9DGALERACRNK2TRNE8SCGODO

TRÆDREJER JØRN ANDERSON FB PAGE

The event stretches across two days: 10TH OF JUNE: For IT/Tech and Engineering Profiles 11TH OF JUNE: For Business profiles Please take a look at the event schedule and participating companies below and sign up if you are interested in joining. The event is free, but there are limited seats available - so hurry up and save yourself a spot.

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 JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

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ODENSE

THYBORØN

JYLLANDSAKVARIET - VISIT DENMARK

ODENSE BYS MUSEER - VISIT ODENSE

TURISTHUS NORD - VISIT NORDJYLLAND

SKAGEN

16 JUNE

ALL OF JUNE

16 JUNE

BUNKER TOUR

THE FUNEN VILLAGE

SEAL SAFARI

You may have noticed the many concrete bunkers scattered along the coast of Skagen. Join a guided tour that takes you through the history of the bunkers. The guide is happy to answer many more questions on this historical walk along the beach You need to register at Skagen Tourist Office no later than 14:00-15:30 the day before a tour.

Discover the living history of Funen. The Funen Village is an authentic open-air experience where the past meets the present at an exhibition that tickles all your senses.

In the 19th century, most Danes lived in half-timbered farmhouses in rural villages. They lived off the land. The farm and the agricultural community were the settings for the lives of self-sufficient people. Families worked together. Environments like these inspired Andersen's many popular fairy tales.

Join us on a seal safari by boat and experience the unique nature by the mouth of the Limfjord. Our experienced guides sail through the labyrinth of channels between the sandbanks and take you close to the seals.

On the trip, we often see two species of seals, and there is a good chance of seeing Denmark's largest carnivore the large grey seal.

TIME: 10:00-12:00 (APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS) PRICE: 125 DKK - PAID UPON REGISTRATION PARTICIPANTS: MAX. 35 / MIN. 2.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.KULTUNAUT.DK/PERL/ARRMORE/TYPE-NYNAUT/UK?ARRNR=13608084

DAYS: TUESDAY-SUNDAY (CLOSED MONDAYS) TIME: 10:00-17:00 FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://DENFYNSKELANDSBY.DK/EN/

TIME: 11:30 / 13:00 PRICE: 219 DKK DURATION: ABOUT AN HOUR FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.KULTUNAUT.DK/PERL/ARRMORE/TYPE-NYNAUT/UK?ARRNR=13587132

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ROSKILDE

VIKINGESKIBSMUSEET I ROSKILDE - VISIT ROSKILDE

FANØ

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TOPPEN AF DANMARK

FREDERIKSHAVN

18 JUNE

19 JUNE

19 JUNE

FREDERIKSHAVN BEERWALK

CREATIVE WORKSHOP

VIKING EVENING CRUISE

When you buy a Frederikshavn Beerwalk ticket, you'll receive a gift box with your beerwalk glass, six beer tickets and the beerwalk folder where you can read more about the nine participating beer places as well as the selected beers you can taste on your way. Pick your gift box at Frederikshavn Tourist Office - check opening hours.

A beer ticket covers payment for a beer of 15 cl. which gets poured into your beerwalk glass when you visit different bars. Visit bars and authentic taverns where you can hear unique stories about the port city, tied together by great flavourful beers.

You can find many things on the beach and in nature that we can use as raw materials in our creative workshop. Only your imagination sets limits on what we can make out of nature's elements.

We can use pinecones to make owls and angels, and Conch shells to make mice.

We will be using glue guns for some of the things we do.

Therefore, it is a good idea that small children have their parents accompanying them.

Sail into the sunset on the beautiful fjord.

The boat is sailed by an experienced sailing instructor, who is happy to share information about working and sailing reconstructed Viking Ships as well as pointing out wildlife and geographical points of interest. Guests onboard are the crew, and you will be actively participating when rowing and setting the sail. Where the trip will take us is dependent on wind and weather. During the evening, the boat will go ashore where you can enjoy food and refreshments brought along. All trips are scheduled to end just before sunset.

TIME: 10:00-12:00 / 12:00-14:00 / 14:00-16:00 PRICE: 100 DKK FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://WWW.KULTUNAUT.DK/PERL/ARRMORE/TYPE-NYNAUT/UK?ARRNR=13699641

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TOPPEN AF DANMARK

FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://WWW.KULTUNAUT.DK/PERL/ARRMORE/TYPE-NYNAUT/UK?ARRNR=13617808

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

TIME: 18:00 PRICE: 415-555 DKK FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://WWW.KULTUNAUT.DK/PERL/ARRMORE/TYPE-NYNAUT/UK?ARRNR=13474800

WERNER KARRASCH, VIKINGESKIBSMUSEET I ROSKILDE - VISIT ROSKILDE

Here are the bars you will visit on the beerwalk: Café Stæhr Farmors Café Frigate Jerry's Restaurant and Brewhouse Scandic Sundeck Bar Tordenskjolds inn John Bull Moby Dick Freddy's

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COPENHAGEN

21 JUNE ENGLISH OPEN MIC (2-FOR-1) Join us at our new English open mic hosted by the hilarious and talented comedian Jacob Taarnhøj. A show with top headliners as well as up and comers.

TIME: 20:00-22:00 PRICE: 50 DKK FOR TWO - SO BUY ONE TICKET AND INVITE A BUDDY FOR FREE ADDRESS: TEATER PLAY; STRANDLODSVEJ 7, 2300 COPENHAGEN FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ EVENTS/459700871366862/?EVENT_TIME_ID=459700878033528

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COPENHAGEN

22 JUNE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA 2020 WITH UN-CITY

A focus on learning I nternational S chool for students ages 3–16

United Nations, Denmark and Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS-DK) have the pleasure of inviting all our friends and family to participate in International Yoga Day-2020 for the Yoga Session.

nis-ngg.dk Phone: +45 45 57 26 16 Email: nis@ngg.dk

Agenda: 13.30 Arrival 13.45 Introduction 14.00 Yoga Session

Cirkelhuset, Christianshusvej 16 DK, 2970 Hørsholm

This is a free event for all age groups can participate, and all are welcome to join with us. Entry is on online registration bases only for the UN-City Protocol and security reasons. Please bring your yoga mat or a large towel, and wear comfortable clothing to do yoga during the event. Fruits will be provided as refreshment.

TIME: 13:30-14:45 VENUE: UN-CITY, MARMORVEJ 51, 2100, COPENHAGEN FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/EVENTS/384984585453547/

Cambridge International School

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

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AARHUS

COPENHAGEN

PAINT YOUR WAGON STILLS

AROS ART MUSEUM FB PAGE

HUNDESTED SANDSKULPTUR FESTIVAL FB PAGE

HUNDESTED

ALL OF JUNE

ALL OF JUNE

24 JUNE

HUNDESTED SAND SCULPTURE FESTIVAL

MYTHOLOGIES THE BEGINNING AND END OF CIVILISATIONS

CINEMATEKET CLINT EASTWOOD'S USA: THE WILD WEST

ARoS Museum seeks, with this exhibition, to persuade the audience to respond to the mythologies that define and create the framework of the society which we are all part of and contribute to. The fact that myths and narratives are the fabric that still manages to unite us all is one of the principal assertions of the exhibition. By highlighting several specific historical points of interest, Mythologies – The Beginning and End of Civilisations will uncover periods where old narratives are discarded, and new ones emerge, often via radical ruptures. In this way, the exhibition bridges the past and the present while also shining a light on social changes that have changed the emphasis on those mythologies and narratives that have been cardinal to sustaining social constructions.

Mythologies – The Beginning and End of Civilisations starts with the early Greek mythologies where the divine assumes human form. From this, the exhibition moves on to the struggle for Christian mythology launched by the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, ending with the revolutionary idiom of neoclassicism where, rather than religion, mythology is now swathed in politics and classical mythology becomes the mirror of revolution.

The exhibition also addresses modern mythologies such as the tales told by nation-states of their past, legitimising the rights of populations to certain areas, the fascist myth of its existence as well as our welfare state which has replaced the mythological communities of former times.

PAINT YOUR WAGON 167 minutes of fascinating fireworks of unpredictability.

The drunkard Ben Rumson (Lee Marvin), along with the sober Pardner (Eastwood), embarks on an ambitious gold digger project. Rumson buys himself a marriage with the towns passing woman, Elizabeth. However, Pardner is also in love with Elizabeth - a crush. The three agree to live together. Eastwood is subdued and charming in an atypical role.

The success continues for the 9th time at the International Sand Sculpture Festival in Hundested. This year's theme is "What a wonderful world" and is a tribute to our globe and all the beauty of life.

Experience the extraordinary cultural attraction of the bustling harbour where sand sculptors, including several world champions, create monumental and transient works of art in the class of golden sand grains.

The festival is both fun and inspiring, and there is ample opportunity to create its sand sculpture. In the festival grounds, children and childish souls can express their creativity with various activities and immerse themselves in the sand. The café offers refreshments while the kids enjoy themselves in the sandbox.

Freshly brewed coffee, delicious cakes, ice cream, beer, wine and water, souvenirs, postcards etc. The festival area has tables, benches and a covered terrace.

HUNDESTED SANDSKULPTUR FESTIVAL FB PAGE

TIME: 10:00-19:00 FOR MORE INFO: HTTP://WWW.SANDFESTIVAL. DK/#CONTACT

Starring: Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, Jean Seberg, Harve Presnell Original title: Paint Your Wagon Director: Joshua Logan USA, 1969 35mm. 164 min.

Norwegian subtitles

DATE AND TIME: 21 JUNE - 19:30 / 24 JUNE - 20:30 FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.DFI.DK/CINEMATEKET/BIOGRAF/ALLE-FILM/FILM/NAR-GULDFEBEREN-RASER

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

PAINT YOUR WAGON STILLS

HUNDESTED SANDSKULPTUR FESTIVAL FB PAGE

DAMIEN HIRST, MERMAID, 2014 (SAMPLE)INSTALLATION PHOTO, AROS

FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.AROS.DK/EN/ART/CURRENT-EXHIBITIONS/MYTHOLOGIES-THE-BEGINNING-ANDEND-OF-CIVILIZATIONS/

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COPENHAGEN

AARHUS

UNSPLASH.COM

UNFORGIVEN STILLS

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY STILLS

COPENHAGEN

26 JUNE

27 JUNE

30 JUNE

CINEMATEKET CLINT EASTWOOD'S USA: THE WILD WEST

CINEMATEKET CLINT EASTWOOD'S USA: THE WILD WEST

SUMMER ART SCHOOL

UNFORGIVEN Eastwood's last western is in many ways, his more mature. The leading men are all seasoned professionals: Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris, in addition to Eastwood himself as the former killer, now pig farmer, William Munny, who, after his wife's death, has to provide for the couple's two children alone.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY A buried gold treasure of a staggering $ 200,000 is the focal point of the last chapter of the "dollar" trilogy - a headblowing adventure that takes place during the American Civil War. Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef), Tuco (a fantastic and gruesome Eli Wallach who makes his entry late in the movie) knows which cemetery it is located in. The final duel between the three hard necks under the setting western sun has often been imitated (think Tarantino), but never surpassed.

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris Original title: Unforgiven Director: Clint Eastwood USA, 1992 35mm. 135 min.

Danish subtitles Suitable for children over 15 years

Summer art school for creative and curious children and young people.

Four days full of fun questions and artistic thoughts, expressions and reflections - tailored towards children. This year is all about Mythologies.

We need to find out what mythologies are for? Where does mythology come from? How to create mythology? We have to see exhibitions, talk about art and experiment with our own stories through hands and body. We end the week with a show. Friends and family are invited to look at everything we have created during the week.

Note: To prevent the transmission of coronavirus, at this year's summer art school, we have increased awareness of material handling and aim to teach as much as possible outdoors.

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, Aldo Giuffré Original titel: Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo Director: Sergio Leone Italien, Spanien, 1966 35mm, 180 min.

Danish subtitles Suitable for children over 15 years

DATE AND TIME: 8 JUNE - 21:00 / 26 JUNE - 21:30 FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.DFI.DK/CINEMATEKET/BIOGRAF/ALLE-FILM/FILM/DE-NADESLOSE

PRICE FOR 4 DAYS: 800 DKK TIME: 10:99 FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://AROS.SAFETICKET.DK/61151/ SOMMERKUNSTSKOLE_4_-6_KLASSE

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THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY STILLS

UNFORGIVEN STILLS

TIME: 27 JUNE - 17:00 FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.DFI.DK/CINEMATEKET/BIOGRAF/ALLE-FILM/FILM/DEN-GODE-DEN-ONDE-OG-DENGRUSOMME-0

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

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KATIE LARSEN ON LOVE, LIFE, SEAWEED AND THE UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE IN DENMARK

ANDERS LORENTZEN

BETSY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY

RARELY DO I MEET A PERSON WHO HAS ACHIEVED SO MUCH IN SUCH A SHORT TIME - 25-YEAR-OLD KATIE IS ONE SUCH FIRECRACKER! SHE HAS BLOWN ME AWAY WITH ALL SHE'S ACHIEVED DURING HER 5 SHORT YEARS IN DENMARK. AFTER BEING NAMED BY MATERIAL SOURCE MAGAZINE IN THE ARTICLE: BIOMATERIAL DESIGNERS: ‘ONES TO WATCH’ 2020, I CAN ONLY SECOND THAT OPINION. SHE VERY KINDLY TOOK TIME TO ZOOM WITH ME DURING THE LOCKDOWN AND SHARED HER UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE IN DENMARK AND WHAT SHE'S BEEN UP TO.

PHOTOGRAPHS KEL HUDSON / ANDERS LORENTZEN / BETSY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY / JEROEN VAN DER WIELEN

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GROWING UP IN the small town of Haddonfield, New Jersey seems so far away from where I am today. The eldest of five, I've always had a lot of responsibilities to balance.

A weird overachieving kid who never quite fit in, I had a lot of energy and passion, but was deeply insecure about my abilities because it set me so far apart from others. My parents always encouraged me academically, though, and tried to secure opportunities for me to travel, and take university classes while I was still in high school.

School was always the most important thing, and then sports. I was always really interested in foreign languages, history, and art, and I ultimately realised in high school that architecture could combine all those interests of mine.

HOW DID YOU END UP IN DENMARK? Growing up in the small town of Haddonfield, New Jersey seems so far away from where I am today. The eldest of five, I've always had a lot of responsibilities to balance. A weird overachieving kid who never quite fit in, I had a lot of energy and passion but was deeply insecure about my abilities because it set me so far apart from others. My parents always encouraged me academically, though, and tried to secure opportunities for me to travel, and take university classes while I was still in high school.

School was always the most important thing, and then sports. I was always really interested in foreign languages, history, and art, and I ultimately realised in high school that architecture could combine all those interests of mine.

WAS IT TOUGH ADJUSTING TO LIFE IN A NEW COUNTRY? I lived in Japan before and considered myself an expert at living abroad when I moved here at only 20 years old. Unfortunately, all my cultural expectations of Denmark were utterly wrong, and I sunk into the worst culture shock I’ve ever experienced. I was expecting a culture similar to the US and hadn’t realised that Denmark was a lot more like

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TEXT LYNDSAY JENSEN

Japan, in that the culture is hugely homogenous and conservative. I dealt with a lot of clashes by appearing overconfident, or egotistical to most Danes, and had to change how I handled most interactions in school, and work. As a whole, my social skills improved momentously here, because I learned how to listen and work a lot better with others.

It took me some time to really settle and feel confident here. I have to give credit where credit is due that my husband Lucas is my biggest cheerleader. He has been my solid rock since moving to Denmark, debunking the myths that Danes are cold, and helping me understand his culture. One of the biggest challenges is always the language, but he was so supportive, and I eventually learned enough Danish to be able to handle day-today interactions. This made the most significant difference in my comfort here and really brought me onto a different platform socially.

SO IF THE CULTURE WAS SO DIFFERENT FROM THE US, CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT THE MOST OBVIOUS TO YOU? It might sound terrible, but the environment I grew up in defined your worth by what you achieved. The better your grades, the better the score on your exams, the name of your university, the faster you could run - this is what got you noticed. Even in Japan, I received so much respect from others for getting perfect scores on my kanji exams or being good at sports.

But here, no one places the same importance on achievements (well, not in the way we do in the US). I had to completely reformulate my identity of who I was, what did I want from life, and what makes me truly happy. These are all questions I dealt with for the very first time in my life - which seems to come more naturally to the Danish culture. Happiness is so negligible in the US, and the focus is on survival, and getting that job and keeping it. No one cares if you’re happy, that’s a luxury that comes when you don’t need to worry about money or healthcare, and that’s a luxury I’ve enjoyed here.

KEL HUDSEN - WWW.KELLEYHUDSON.COM

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ANDERS LORENTZEN

KEL HUDSEN - WWW.KELLEYHUDSON.COM

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I learned a lot about who I am as a human being in Denmark, and I’m very grateful for that.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE STUDYING HERE, DO YOU THINK IT'S EASIER TO LIVE HERE AS A STUDENT? I do think it's easier as a young student vs someone who is older with a family moving here. It's easier to kick off your career when you're younger as opposed to having to restart it again - so I think that can be a challenge. The school I attended (KEA) has made a tremendous effort lately to help ease the cultural differences, and it’s an excellent start. But there’s so much more work to be done to support international students, especially compared to what other countries contribute. Most people in the education system are aware that things need to change, and are usually really keen to help.

The problem is often budget cuts, or lack of organisation at a high enough level to make meaningful change.

Because of that, I’ve tried to be active in the school’s mentorship programme after graduating. Students actively contact me for help and feedback for their exams, as well as for guidance entering the Danish labour market. But I would have to say that in my time studying here, there’s been a resurgence in negativity surrounding international students. There is an impression now that international

"I'M GOING TO WEAR RED LIPSTICK AND STAND OUT - DENMARK WILL HAVE TO GET USED TO ME." students are lazy, or come here to steal money from the Danish system, which couldn't be further than the truth. As a result, the government cut admissions to English-language programmes in 2018, which has then forced many of the programmes to close, and I've lost many friends. I think it damages the quality and innovation of the Danish higher education system because it increases an already problematic echo chamber in academia here.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WORK WITH UNIVERSITIES AND INDUSTRIES IN DENMARK. WAS IT HARD TO ORGANISE FUNDING AS AN INTERNATIONAL?

JEROEN VAN DER WIELEN

I was fortunate because I worked for a while on campus services at my school. I designed almost all the wayfinding, under architect Astrid Asmussen, while I studied. If you see a toilet sign around the school, I probably either vinyl cut it myself or put it up myself with the janitors.

The head of KEA’s Campus Service, Dan Korsgaard, has always given me a helping hand with everything, even though I’ve been a graduate for some time now. Dan is the man that makes everything happen at KEA and is in charge of the laboratories, and maintenance. He’s the reason why I was able to build my installations with Material Design Lab and helped find me funding for my first one.

The school allows alumni to use the facilities after graduating, so I still use the school as a sort of home base for my team and I. It means that my research is a bit less legitimate at this point because I am technically not affiliated with the school. It also means that I have complete freedom to follow and design my own projects and progress as I wish, and can still ask faculty for feedback or advice should I need it.

I’ve also been securing my own funding from an independent foundation called Boligfondens Spirekasse, since 2019. As a whole, ob-

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taining funding here is much easier than in the US. Fewer people compete for funding, and there are less requirements for applications. I don’t think I could get funding for what I do in the US. I’d have to apply for artist residencies.

One of the things I feel like I’ve struggled with, in general, is organising lectures based on my research, work or knowledge. I seem to have a demand for lectures and talks in the Netherlands or other countries, I was recently invited to speak at the Dutch Design Week which was such an honour and a great experience. Other countries have a more avante-garde design scene, while Denmark seems to be more rooted in established industries and companies, and PhD. candidates lecturing. In the past year, I’ve found that there’s a lot of bureaucracy, which is one of the reasons why I started my youtube channel. I wanted to make lectures on Danish design history and architecture, and pull the veil away from the industry a bit.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR VERY WELL KNOWN SEAWEED THATCH PROJECT. WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM? I’ve always been obsessed with historical architecture, especially Japanese architecture. When I came to Denmark, I felt like this country had such a multitude of craftsmen and specialised trades.

I don’t feel like these skills are valued enough here. People are too afraid to build with traditional techniques because it cost too much money, or is seen as too risky. I started by studying everything from thatching, to Danish fired brick, to half-timber framed construction in my free time and drawing it in my sketchbooks.

In 2016, I read about the Modern Seaweed House by Vandkunsten while trying to come up with a competition concept. I learned about how eelgrass, a type of seagrass, was a fantastic insulation material and became obsessed with the traditional Seaweed Houses of Læsø, where they thatched huge roofs out of it.

I wanted to figure out how you could modernise seaweed thatching and build with it, more practically. The only problem was, there was basically the same article in English copied and pasted around the internet. To understand how to build with seaweed, as well as this obscure part of Danish history, I had to learn more Danish, including lots of specified words. It became a process of learning more Danish and finding more information. Eventually, I started asking people who worked with eelgrass and interviewing them, and I eventually learned even more.

I decided to focus my specialisation report on it for my thesis at school in 2018 but decided to go a step further and begin prototyping and building my ideas. I wanted to combine prefabrication with seaweed thatch, by creating panels you could install easily on roofs and facades. It’s all very experimental so far, but my goal is to help show people the value in reimagining old construction techniques and rediscovering materials that we’ve forgotten about. The benefits of using natural materials, beyond the sustainability aspect, include healthier indoor air quality for us. Many of these natural materials ventilate spaces and regulate moisture far better than what we currently use. Current building regulations often don’t consider these traditional techniques, so I think we need to study them again and work with the authorities to approve them for use in buildings.

I'M ASSUMING YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF JOB OFFERS DUE TO THIS GREAT WORK YOU'VE BEEN DOING? Not at first no, it took me a full year to find a study job in Denmark.

My biggest issues at first were a lack of network and experience in my field. I also realised that there’s a lack of study jobs, especially in my industry, until you’re in the last two semesters.

I got a foot in the door by getting a study-relevant job at school

13 first, while I improved my Danish abilities. Later on, I handed out my CV and dropped off portfolios in person, and approached firms only in Danish. I had about four job offers lined up at one point for a paid summer job before I graduated. The one I took ended up hiring me and sponsoring me for a Positives List visa after graduation. I hadn’t had a single job issue until now when I was, unfortunately, let go due to Covid-19.

My husband will attest that I take networking super seriously, maybe too seriously - but I cannot recommend it strongly enough, network whenever you can, it's key as an international. The architecture and construction industry in Denmark is tiny, everyone knows everybody. I’ve had the best experience by talking one-on-one with people and getting direct contacts to hiring managers. I know this isn’t possible for other fields, though, especially the ones that require multiple personality and IQ tests for jobs.

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN DENMARK. TELL ME ABOUT YOUR TOWN? I live in Slagelse, a small city in West Sealand. I always joke that my neighbours are cows because if you go five minutes outside of where I live, it’s just all farms. But I love living here so much. It reminds me so much of my home town because I’m always bumping into people I know.

It’s a wonderful bonus that the area has some magnificent architecture. There’s lots of religious architecture, like cloisters and brick churches from the middle ages, and there’s also a Viking fortress museum nearby called Trelleborg. My apartment here is a renovated tower from the 1900s, and I feel like I’ve been living my best Danish life here. The best part is that even though I live in a rural area, everything is still wonderfully connected to public transport. There is a swimming hall and a massive forest that I love running in. If I didn’t have to do my research in Copenhagen, I’d probably never leave. Both of the architecture jobs I’ve had after graduating were for local firms in the area.

DID YOU EVER GET THE FEELING THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT ADJUSTING TO LIFE HERE? I always prided myself on my exemplary grades before coming to Denmark. Here, one teacher warned me to avoid putting my grades on my CV, because it would make me look like a “12-talspige”. The connotation here is that girls with good grades have mental breakdowns if they don’t do everything perfectly. I think it’s quite sexist and a negative stereotype that woman that are good students are hysterical, and not “laid back” or “cool”. It was the first time I realised that being too good at something would be seen as something negative here. I learned that I had to dumb down or mask my abilities to an extent, to avoid freaking people out at work or in school.

It was amusing when my work started taking off internationally because I couldn’t talk about it with anyone at work apart from my boss. I felt a bit like I was living this double life, it was very surreal. My colleagues just didn’t understand why I was still working on a research project when I had already graduated and had a job in the industry. To be honest, my boss and husband were the only ones encouraging me to keep going at that point, and I might have quit if it wasn’t for both of them.

Even though I've had to change this aspect of my life, and am happy here I don't feel like I should totally change who I am. So, I'm going to wear red lipstick and stand out - Denmark will have to get used to me!

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE OUR READERS TO KNOW? I’m trying to turn almost five years of my watercolour sketches of Denmark into a little book, that follows my time here. I want to make the book available in pdf format for free on my website so that people can enjoy it in these difficult times. There will also be a print version that people can order online. It’s really my love letter to Denmark, and it’s been an emotional project for me because I’m leaving soon to study in the Netherlands. But I plan on returning after my education is finished and rejoining my life in Denmark.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO OTHER INTERNATIONALS LIVING IN DENMARK - WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TOP THREE TIPS?

#1 Learn some Danish! I think if you learn some Danish, you also will pick up on

some of the cultural nuances, and have an easier time navigating things.

#2 Go out for drinks with your Danish colleagues, if it’s something that happens

regularly. You don’t have to drink alcohol, but just participating in events with your office means that you’ll be included more often in the canteen conversations. #3 Conformity is overrated. Living abroad is tough, and it’s ok to change your expectations while living here. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, and it doesn’t make you a bad immigrant/expat if you do, or don’t do something - as long as you're not breaking the law. Don’t let anyone make you feel like an outsider. You deserve respect and kindness, even if you’re a little bit different - different is good too! THE-INTL

For more information about Katie and all her projects she has on the go, visit: https://kathrynlarsen.com

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CO-WORKING SPACES CHOOSING TO WORK FROM HOME IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE OPTION FOR NEW START-UP’S, BUT FOR SOME, IT CAN SOON BECOME ISOLATING AND PROVE CHALLENGING TO STAY MOTIVATED. PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO / UNSPLASH.COM

TEXT LAURA WINTEMUTE

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IF YOU ARE like I was when I first started my company Homestead, the thought of a private office was out of the question.

I worked from home the first year, simply because I couldn’t afford an office. When I finally moved out of my guest room office and into a co-working space back in August last year, it was the best thing I could ever do for both myself and my company.

The amount of inspiration, motivation and socialisation was just what my company needed to thrive and proved to be worth every penny.

March of this year to save on my company expenses, I considered terminating my lease at my current co-working space, but after weighing the pros and cons, I realised this was a pro and not something I should cut back on.

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND CO-WORKING WITH LIKEMINDED PEOPLE In my opinion, co-working spaces are way better than renting private offices as it offers opportunities for networking.

Meeting new people from different backgrounds is always a great way to grow and gain more knowledge. When many goaloriented and accomplished people share the same space at work, there are chances to meet great thinkers and established entrepreneur ideas.

Socialising with likeminded-people and creative minds is equally important to clear our vision and motivate us to reach our goals. This gives us the chance to be part of a community and interact with others while helping us better understand the importance of engaging with other people and exchanging ideas. There is a good possibility that the people with whom you are sharing the office space may become your clients or in the least provide you with references.

LEARNING NEW SKILLS AND GROWING OUR CUSTOMER BASE My co-working space supports regular community events and programmes, de-

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LAURA WINTEMUTE OWNER, HOMESTEAD

signed and developed to facilitate its members in a way that they get to learn new skills. Be it an event about business development, marketing, SoMe or gaining investors. Often free of charge, these events help other entrepreneurs grow their business, while at the same time, providing proof of concept and future clients for the company holding the event.

INSPIRATION / MENTORSHIP = MORE PRODUCTIVITY At my co-working space, International Headquarters, we are professionals, freelancers, start-ups and entrepreneurs all meeting and collaborating to help each other in growing our businesses. We share a common platform, and many of us have the same goals, ambitions and challeng-

es in entrepreneurial life. We are an inspiration for each other and mentor each other as we grow in our journey together.

By working with each other, we stay focused, increase our talents, skills and productivity.

There are many ways we can save money as self-employed entrepreneurs, ensuring we have enough savings for a rainy day or a global pandemic. Still, in my personal experience, your co-working space is not one of them.

If you are thinking about venturing out of your guest room, we currently have some available desks in our Headquarters. If you are an entrepreneur working with internationals living in Denmark and are interested in joining our colourful collaboration, please reach out to info@inthq.org THE-INTL

"IN THE END, WHAT MATTERS IS GAINING THE SUPPORT AND SPACE YOU NEED TO GROW YOURSELF AND YOUR COMPANY. HAVING A GREAT COMMUNITY AROUND YOU EVERY DAY ALLOWS YOU TO TAP INTO OTHER PEOPLE’S WAYS OF THINKING, LEARN NEW IDEAS, MAKE FRIENDS AND GAIN SUPPORT DURING THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF YOUR START-UP JOURNEY." LAURA WINTEMUTE - FOUNDER OF INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS & HOMESTEAD

Laura is Canadian. After years of living abroad and travelling the world, she moved to Denmark in 2007 and started her new life as an expat living in Denmark.

Laura’s experience working in the Danish relocation industry, encapsulating both her experience as an 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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BENEFITS OF SUMMER CAMPS IN AN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

SUMMER CAMPS ARE GREAT PLACES TO GET FRESH IDEAS, MAKE NEW FRIENDS, AND RECHARGE ON ENERGY FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. WE EXPLORE THIS CONCEPT FROM AN INTERNATIONAL POINT OF VIEW AND THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS.

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT LYNDSAY JENSEN

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SUMMER CAMPS ARE an excellent opportunity for both parents and children to have some fun during the summer holiday. They allow parents to take a well-deserved break and give children an opportunity to embark on new adventures away from daily life at home. The benefits of these camps are endless. From nurturing social skills to encouraging personal growth, summer camps truly help children keep their minds sharp and avoid the summer brain drain.

ENCOURAGING PERSONAL GROWTH Being in a new environment creates character-building challenges. They have the opportunity to make new friends and challenge themselves by trying new activities. The skills they gain from having this experience transfer easily to other challenges they may face in life.

One such school focusing on an international angle is Copenhagen International school, who will be running their camps for two weeks during the summer period.

Aleksandra Achiam, CIS Summer camp co-ordinator explained their concept, "We offer a unique international experience, and are open to all students in Denmark.

With close access to the metro, a choice of fun activity specific camps and Vegan ice-cream every Friday what's not to love and look forward to."

NURTURING SOCIAL SKILLS Camps are a great place for children to meet new friends, and form a wide range of connections, in particular children from varied cultural backgrounds. Engaging activities and team building nurture children's social skills, encouraging them to make connections with their peers in a new setting. Many children return from summer camps with life-long friends, and it is incredible to see how much bonding can happen in just two weeks!

CAMPS FOR ALL AGES Summer camps come in all shapes and sizes, and it's crucial that they have an educational component to help keep young minds active during the summer months. Research shows that students can easily lose critical math, reading, comprehension and spelling skills from an absence of consistent academic enrichment over summer.

What is unique about CIS summer camp is that they have tailor-made camps to suit all ages and interests.

The different camps combine fun and useful knowledge to keep the boredom at bay.

Qualified educators at CIS are passionate about ensur-

"WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER SUCH A VARIETY OF CAMPS, AND HAVE EVERTHING TO SUIT THE DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS AND INTEREST LEVELS." - ALEKSANDRA ACHIAM, SUMMER CAMP CO-ORDINATOR

ing children will have an enjoyable and enriching experience with plenty of opportunities to make new friends, learn new skills, have loads of fun and stay healthy during the first two weeks of the summer holidays.

I spoke to Nick, who heads up the Digital Camp and asked him what he will be covering in his course? "The Scratch course is a game development course. Older students think Scratch is for much younger children, but in reality, Scratch can do some impressive things if you know how to use it. At the summer camp, we have time to look at the processes behind game development, so that we can go from an idea to actual implementation of the game. From something that simply works to something that’s fun to play.”

ACTIVITY CAMP (AGE 4-7) Daily activities are on offer such as crafts, music, movement and educational games that are organised in a child-centred, interest-based setting. With a mix of arts, sports, science experiments, and many more exciting activities on offer, there is plenty to keep you busy.

ART CAMP (AGE 8-12) Under the guidance of professional teachers, young artists can explore a variety of mediums in the visual arts while developing long-lasting friendships and having fun. Students are encouraged to play and experiment as much as possible creating their own style including drawing, painting, pottery, simple printmaking and recycled waste sculptures.

DIGITAL CAMP (AGE 8-12) This camp offers students the opportunity to learn how to use Scratch to develop computer games. They explore how you can develop an idea into a workable game and how to design games to be fun and engaging. If you have a keen interest in computer programming, this camp is for you. They explore Ozobot where children can solve puzzles and automate tasks to master the concepts taught during the course.

ENGLISH CAMP (AGE 8-12) AND (AGE 13-17) What better way to enjoy the English language than through games, songs, conversation, art, reading and writing! Two camps tailored to two different age groups makes this a camp not to be missed. Both camps are designed for those who are not native English speakers, or are new to the English language.

We asked the head of the English camp Julie, what to expect on this course: "Children come and hang out with each other and get to speak English together. It’s a really relaxed, fun environment, where they can experiment with using their English in a social setting, but also a bit academic without the pressure of grades. Last year, we did some fun games with identifying adjectives, articles and verbs, and we did a creative writing task where they had to put a book together."

To find out more about Copenhagen International Summer Camps, visit their website: https://www.copenhageninternational.school/summer-school-2020/

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EXPLORE THE IDYLLIC DANISH

MARGUERITE ROUTE FOR A SUMMER STAYCATION, FOLLOW THE ICONIC DAISY SIGNS FOR A SCENIC ROAD TRIP ALL OVER DENMARK

ERIN GUSTAFSON WRITER & BLOGGER

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PHOTOGRAPHS ERIN GUSTAFSON / LISBET LÜCKE LARSEN

HAVE YOU BEEN watching and wondering how travel and tourism will evolve in the post-lockdown world? And when it all might start up again? While we wait here in Denmark, we’re fortunate that the country has stayed safe and is beginning to open up - at least internally. Until borders reopen for us to travel abroad, we can still get out and about while maintaining a safe physical distance. Wondering where to go? What better place to get some space than exploring outside the more crowded cities and into the Danish countryside.

Take a drive along the Margueritruten, or Marguerite Route, to tour some of Denmark’s most scenic back roads.

The path was ceremoniously opened in 1991 by the reigning Queen Margrethe II herself and wend through 3600 kilometres along smaller Danish tracks. Developed by the Danish Tourism Council at the time, it was intended to share more of the country’s natural attractions, historic places and culturally significant sites.

In 2008, management of the Marguerite Route was given to the Dansk Friluftsrådet or Outdoor Council. Today, the route you can ride now connects and incorporates a plethora of outdoor facilities for hiking and biking, offering a total of 4,218 kilometres if you follow the entire thing.

Look for small square brown signs with the iconic white daisy when you’re out and about. Turn right! Turn left! Follow it that direction for a new Danish destination you didn’t even know that you needed to see.

At present, individual municipalities are responsible for maintaining the darling daisy signage along the length of the route. You can pick a starting point anywhere in Denmark and just follow the flowers for an idyllic day out. Or if you are a planner and want to plot out your journey, you can download the entire map’s GPS to use with the Google Earth app on your phone or plug into your navigation

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 trav-

device. Head to https://naturstyrelsen. dk/naturoplevelser/naturguider/margueritruten/ to find it and download. There are easy to follow directions online for those less tech-savvy. Or explore the incredible interactive map at https://udinaturen.dk/map-page and click on Margueritruten from the key on the right. Choose from the many other map options to find playgrounds for your little people or places where your dog can come along for the day. Infinitely customizable for whatever your crew likes to do - you can track down picnic spots, campsites and pretty places to hike.

The Marguerite Route is divided into eight sections that take you through Zealand, Mon, Falster, Lolland, Aero, Funen and Jutland and never will you traverse the same road twice. It only follows the motorway once across the Great Belt Bridge so that cyclists can join the daisy journey everywhere but there. Designed to share Danish delights and tourist sites both large and small, the path highlights major attractions like Thy National Park, Wadden Sea National Park and Mols Bjerge National Park all in Jutland. On the

eastern side of Denmark, wind through little roads to the impressive chalk cliffs at Stevns Klint, across the gorgeous Queen Alexandrine’s Bridge and on to Møns Klint. Or discover some adorable small Danish villages like Praestø, or Nysted on Lolland; Faaborg and Kerteminde on Fyn; or Grenaa, Ebeltoft and Ribe in Jutland.

With so much see and so many options to see it, add a little daisy chain drive to your Scandinavian exploring this summer. THE-INTL

el choices can have positive impacts for both the traveller and the communities visited. A local in Denmark since 2014, Erin has embraced the green city of Copenhagen and loves to share her insider tips.

For more Scandinavian travel

DID YOU KNOW? QUEEN MARGRE T HE II WAS NAMED AF TER HER GRANDMOTHER CROWN PRINCESS MARGARETA OF SWEDEN. WHEN SHE WAS BORN, T HE DANISH PRINCESS WAS QUICKLY NICKNAMED “DAISY,” AS HER GIVEN NAME SOUNDED LIKE THE MARGUERI TE DAISIES PREVALENT IN SCANDINAVIA. THE NAME STUCK AND THE FLORAL IMAGE IS NOW EMBLEMATIC OF THE POPULAR DANISH QUEEN. THE MARGUERITE DAISY IS THE NATIONAL FLOWER OF DENMARK.

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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THE DANISH ECONOMY AND THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

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PHOTOGRAPHS VISITAALBORG / UBAT VEGGIE / ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT NARCIS GEORGE MATACHE

NOTHING STANDS THE test of time, not even a pandemic. In fact, with the process of re-opening well underway, the epidemic is slowly becoming a distant memory, while the economy is all the buzz now.

No one is going to be hitting the club or attending festivals anytime soon, the inevitable second wave will make sure of that. However, we need to replace fear with hope, for the sake of our minds, our bodies and our pockets.

AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE Denmark is an integrated part of the European Union Single Market, and it depends on the economic activity of all the other member states. It’s a consumer society, and our behaviour on the market affects the economy. We travel less (or not at all), we go out less (or not at all), and we consume less. We are on our way of becoming “a generation of supersavers”, wary of taking any financial risks. This means the travel, tourism, restaurant, bar, hotel, event industries are hit, needing government aid support to stay afloat. Other industries have been affected because it became difficult to produce, and even though we consume less, there are certain products we need more than before. Our current way of life means that our consumption has changed as well.

The recession is expected to be almost twice as costly as the 2009 financial crisis. This translates into a high unemployment rate, lower demand for products and services from the population as their supply of money is reduced.

A depletion of government reserves with far-reaching effects triggering a pension crisis and an increase in irrational behaviour, such as crime, suicide etc. I have been affected personally, and am now part of the statistics, and one of the tens of thousands that make up the recently unemployed. However, there is hope that the recovery period will be faster compared to the past financial recession, given the lower debt for average households and the more moderate growth in house prices in many European states.

We cannot expect to go back in time. The pandemic has made changes in the way we work and live our lives. It has put an end to the fast-paced lives forcing us to be more aware of our surroundings. Working from home is here to stay, travelling to a conference will become a rare event and vacations will be increasingly done locally. We cook more at home, garden more, have more time to read, write and be creative. Our digital presence has become more critical, that leads to us becoming more proficient digitally. This dark event, unfortunate as it might be, has the potential of bringing a beneficial change on a national and European level: the regionalisation of production and sourcing operations, to transfer them closer to the end-user. This would boost the domestic economy to the detriment of outsourcing to Asian countries – the usual tendency for most industries, until now.

NARCIS GEORGE MATACHE POLITICIAN

THE EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL After all, the pandemic is only a prelude to the real monster crisis, the climate change, and somehow, our behaviour during the epidemic has contributed to the fight against climate change. Any plans to restart the economy have to consider the larger looming threat. Luckily, there is a European plan in place called the European Green Deal, that will help us recover our economy back to the 2019 level by the end of 2021.

The transition to a green and digital society is the light at the end of the tunnel. A green and digital world translate into cleaner air and less destructive behaviour towards nature, giving it a chance to regenerate. The transition means investment, substantial investments that will create jobs (millions of them) and new professions. For example, the Danish government wants to spend 30 billion dkk on raising the energy efficiency level for our homes, so that we consume less energy. At the same time, the construction sector will get a serious boost too.

If you are recently unemployed, hope is your strongest ally.

Think what role you would like to play in a green and digital society and act upon it. Before the pandemic hit, there was already a strong demand for digital skills. Now, this demand has been significantly accelerated, so this is the perfect time for reinventing and taking advantage of the copious amount of information, tutorials and courses to develop technology-centric skills that are going to be useful in every job you might have. The new world is digital and full of opportunities. THE-INTL

Born in 1990 in a village in the north-east of Romania, Narcis made Aalborg his new home since 2009. Smitten by the Danish model, he decided to 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.

"WORKING FROM HOME IS HERE TO STAY, TRAVELLING TO A CONFERENCE WILL BECOME A RARE EVENT AND VACATIONS WILL BE INCREASINGLY DONE LOCALLY."

www.facebook.com/ NarcisGeorge.Matache/

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BRINGING A NEW PET HOME Introducing a new pet into the family could go either two ways: Is it going to be a smooth transition, or a bumpy road. Tips and hints to help you through it.

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO / UNSPLASH.COM

TEXT TAREK ABU SHAM

M

MANY PEOPLE ARE bringing home new pets these days, and that's great! When you adopt a pet, there are some steps you need to take, especially if the pet has already been rehomed previously. It doesn't mean there is anything wrong with your newest family member, but understanding the reasons why your pet has been rehomed can help make its adjustment to your home more comfortable.

TAREK ABU SHAM

THE FIRST STEPS When you prepare to bring your newly adopted pet home, you'll want to have everything you need, such as a new leash, collar, litter box, food and water bowls, or even a crate. You'll want to designate a safe space within your home, a place where your pet can retreat to if it gets nervous or overwhelmed. Not being prepared for this can increase the odds of your new pet becoming stressed or anxious.

Introduce family members of the twolegged and four-legged varieties slowly and in a neutral and calm area. Pheromone products such as Adaptil or Feliway can decrease the stress of welcoming new four-legged pets into the fold.

Make sure you ask if your new pet has been introduced to cats, dogs, or children.

For example, adopting a large dog that doesn't get along with kids if you have a couple of little ones is not advisable unless you're experienced with canine behaviour and rehabilitation.

NEXT STEPS Once you introduce your new pet to everyone, it's time to explore the house. Make sure you have pet-proofed your home. Until you know if your pet is a chewer or not, you won't want things like loose wires just lying around.

Make sure everyone in the family is onboard with taking care of your new pet.

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

OWNER, THE PET-AGREES

You'll need to establish a routine, such as who is going to feed and clean up after your pet. Be prepared for difficulties in housebreaking, even if you are bringing home an adult pet. This new environment can be nerve-wracking and stressful, especially if

"MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY IS ON-BOARD WITH TAKING CARE OF YOUR NEW PET." your pet has been in a shelter environment for any length of time.

It's essential to work on training, even if you have a well-mannered pet. Understanding basic commands are vital for every pet, and it'll make your life easier, as well as provide a sense of security to your newest family member.

ENSURING A HEALTHY PET Most shelters will have pets evaluated by

a veterinarian before the pets are adopted. You may have some necessary information about your pet's health status, such as a parasite check, or vaccination status.

Regardless of whether or not your pet has been vet-checked, you need to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to review your new pet's medical and vaccination history. Also, a faecal exam to check for intestinal parasites or blood work to check for health issues, such as kidney disease before it manifests itself in clinical signs, would be recommended.

IN SUMMARY When you bring a new pet home, it's a fascinating time for everyone in the family.

Get as much information about your new pet's history as you can. Help make the transition smooth by setting up safe spaces for your pet and slowly introducing everyone in the family.

If you have any questions or need advice, The Pet-agrees is owned by a trained veterinarian. Send us a message today! THE-INTL

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

19

YOUR WEST JUTLAND STAYCATION FOR TRAVEL WITHIN DENMARK’S BORDERS, THE AREA AROUND ESBJERG HAS LOTS TO OFFER. PHOTOGRAPHS CÉLINE MARTIN-PEDERSEN / VISIT RIBE & ESBJERG / JULI BEHRENDT BEXKENS

TEXT CATRIONA TURNER

est shopping street.

The coastline north and south of Esbjerg is dominated by the natural attractions of the Wadden Sea (Vadehavet) National Park. The shallow wetlands create unique opportunities for birdwatching or seal-spotting. Beaches and forests nearby make it easy to absorb the benefits of nature, and there are the soothing island retreats of Mandø and Rømø.

SOMEWHERE TO SWITCH OFF

A

AS DENMARK EMERGES blinking into the summer, we are starting to venture beyond our neighbourhoods and adjust to a new normal. Large gatherings may still be out of reach, and keeping a vigilant distance still important, but with cautious optimism, we can start to think about holidays and a well-earned break.

Mind you, with the borders still closed at the time of writing, and likely to remain so for a while, summer holidays are going to look very different; jetting off to Spain is no longer an option.

AN UNPREDICTABLE YEAR Meanwhile, there won’t be the usual tourism arriving in Denmark from abroad: no Germans driving across the border for their coastal break; no UK families taking Lego-themed holidays. This is likely to have a significant impact on the Jutland economy. According to Pia de Place, Head of Tourism for VisitRibeEsbjerg, this has the potential to be ‘a huge problem. It’s going to be a strange year. We can’t predict the behaviour of tourists in 2020.’

But, she says, ‘We are ready to welcome all tourism.’ Which is reassuring for those of us who are looking forward to making

the most of a Danish ‘staycation’, and to exploring more of our host country.

Whether you’re based locally and have yet to experience all that brings Danish and German visitors to our doorstep, or you’re a Copenhagener ready to visit ‘the other side’ of Denmark, there are lots of options in West Jutland, for days out or longer stays, and for all interests.

CULTURE AND NATURE Phase three of Denmark’s reopening, taking place this month, will allow cultural attractions to welcome visitors. The art galleries and museums in Ribe, Esbjerg, and Fanø, and around Varde, will be able to open for business, including Ribe’s new Hex! Museum of witch hunts, scheduled to open next month. You can read more about the cultural attractions in the area in my January article: Get a Culture Shot.

Then there’s the town of Ribe itself, the oldest in Scandinavia, with walking tours, panoramic views from the Domkirke tower, and Viking history to discover.

By contrast, Esbjerg is the youngest town in Denmark. Aside from its iconic and dramatic sculpture, Man Meets the Sea, it also offers visitors Denmark’s long-

If it’s a relaxing getaway you’re after, beach resorts around Blåvand and on Fanø can keep everyone in the family active and occupied, or find one of the coastline’s glamorous strand hotels for a luxury retreat. Since hotels have never actually been closed, they’ll be ready to welcome new guests any time.

Meanwhile, the summer houses dotted between the coastal sand dunes are another great option (read Erin’s guide to Danish Summer House Rules from last month), and there are countless campsites with wide-open spaces for pitching tents or motor homes. Days out further afield can take you to Billund, for family entertainment, or perhaps south to the charming village of Møgeltønder and its regal Schackenberg Slot.

I’m looking forward to renting a motor home and taking in a few of these West Jutland spots. What are your Danish staycation plans? THE-INTL

"BY CONTRAST, ESBJERG IS THE YOUNGEST TOWN IN DENMARK. ASIDE FROM ITS ICONIC AND DRAMATIC SCULPTURE, MAN MEETS THE SEA, IT ALSO OFFERS VISITORS DENMARK'S LONGEST SHOPPING STREET."

CATRIONA TURNER WRITER AND BLOGGER Catriona is a writer and blogger currently living in Esbjerg, Denmark. A veteran of six international moves since leaving Scotland just over a decade ago, 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 working on a memoir of international living, and is also a freelance copyeditor and proofreader at thewordbothy.com www.thefrustrated nester.com www.facebook.com/thefrustratednester @thefrustratednester

CREDITS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: JULI BEHRENDT BEXKENS; VISIT RIBE & ESBJERG; ISTOCKPHOTO.COM; VISIT RIBE & ESBJERG

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

20

SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY

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 also busy with Roskilde Hor-

Do you know your spouse? I mean really know your doting husband or loving wife, who had a life before you knew them and might still have a life you don't know anything about. Think about it. Enjoy…

TAUT, TWISTY AND MEAN GONE GIRL

BY GILLIAN FLYNN It is the Dunne's fifth

SUSPENSEFUL, SURPRISING AND INSIGHTFUL SINCE WE FELL

BY DENNIS LEHANE

CHILLING, NASTY NOIR

EERIE, GLEEFUL AND DARK

BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP

BEHIND HER EYES

BY S. J. WATSON

BY SARAH PINBOROUGH

47-year-old Christine

Louise is very attract-

wedding anniversary,

A f t e r a ve r y p u b l i c

wakes up every morn-

ed to David but strikes

but Amy is gone, there

breakdown, journalist

ing with no memory of

up a friendship with

is blood in the living

Rachel lives as a vir-

her life from her early

Adele, D avid's wife.

room, and Nick is not acting as a husband should. As the police are focusing on Nick, the question is; what happens in a marriage behind closed doors?

tual shut-in in a happy marriage. She was never told who her father was and searching for her own identity and stumbling across a se-

twenties onwards. Her husband Ben explains every day who and what she is, but something is not adding up, and he

cret about her husband

might not be telling her

wrecks her world.

everything.

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

ror, a club dedicated to scaring the town.

David seems so controlling, and Adele is fearful of him. What is going on in this relationship and who can you trust to tell the truth.

DID YOU KNOW? Public libraries have gradually opened more, but we are still not back to pre COVID-19 days.

At Roskilde Library, we still don't do events, but we are working on solutions. For any information about the status at your local library, please check their website. You are most welcome to contact us directly if we can help in any way!

21 SPONSORED CONTENT

LEARN DANISH AND EXPERIENCE THE CULTURE

ARE YOU STAYING IN DENMARK THIS SUMMER? JOIN OUR SPECIALISED SUMMER COURSES, MEET AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS, AND LEARN ABOUT YOUR ADOPTED COUNTRY.

PHOTOGRAPHS SPEAK SCHOOL OF DANISH / UNSPLASH.COM

SPEAK – SCHOOL OF DANISH offers intensive Danish language summer courses in July 2020.

No matter if you are new to Denmark or not, the summer courses are an excellent opportunity to boost your Danish skills considerably in only two to three weeks.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR COURSE Teaching is focused around language and vocabulary that you need in Denmark. The first few modules focus primarily on this aspect of the language. Further down the course, we concentrate on written Danish and help you learn proper pronunciation, which is a crucial priority in all course modules.

The summer courses are class-based, and as you meet in class every day, you work extensively with individual challenges and requests that pop up in the class. You’ll be working individually and in smaller groups adjusted to your level of Danish.

The courses are part of the official Danish Language Education System (see graph). This means that you can build on your Danish skills, module by module and conclude your studies with a state-approved examination.

If you participate for three weeks, you will be able to complete module 1 or 2. If you join for two weeks, you will be able to complete half of module 1, 2, 3 or 4.

To complete a module, you have to take the required module exam, and if you pass the module, you can proceed to the next one. If you participate in the first part of a module, you can move to the second part of the module (no test involved). We offer regular language courses at all levels from August in one of our departments in Hellerup, Lyngby Frederiksberg or DTU. The summer courses are more than just classroom

TEXT SPEAK SCHOOL OF DANISH

"LANGUAGE IS NOT A GENETIC GIFT, IT IS A SOCIAL GIFT. LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE IS BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE CLUB – THE COMMUNITY OF SPEAKERS OF THAT LANGUAGE." - FRANK SMITH teaching. Once a week we arrange an excursion for all summer course participants regardless of their level to different places. We might go to Christiania, visit the canals of Copenhagen, or even an exciting museum. Participation is optional but highly recommended to form social connections with your classmates and see a bit of the city at the same time.

lish and have at least 12 years of schooling to attend the summer courses.

Price: If you are eligible for a Danish language education programme, courses are free of charge, except for a once-off deposit of 2000 DKK. *If you are not eligible for a Danish language education programme, the courses cost 3.995 Dkk for two weeks and 4.995 DKK for three weeks.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR MANY DANISH COURSES AT SPEAKSPEAK.DK

HOW DO I SIGN UP? • Before you start, you need to book an interview with a language consultant at Speak. You can book online at speakspeak.dk or call us at 3946 3050.

• We are happy to receive your enrolment until 15 June 2020.

• Courses will be held with a minimum of 12 participants.

SUMMER COURSE DETAILS DURATION: Courses start 1 July. The length is 2 or 3 weeks with classroom teaching every day from 9:0012:15 in Hellerup. The courses are intensive and require daily attendance.

LEVELS: We have courses for beginners and advanced students in Danish Education 3, modules 1, 2, 3 & 4 (see model).

REQUIREMENTS: You must be 18 years of age, speak Eng-

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

22

SUMMER TRAVEL

KITCHEN STYLE PART 1

VIVA MEXICO! PHOTOGRAPHS MICHAEL RYGÅRD

RECIPES AND FOOD STYLING ERIN CHAPMAN

UNFORTUNATELY, CORONAVIRUS HAS PUT THE BREAKS ON ANY SORT

RATION AND A LIVELY EVENING THAT WILL LIFT SPIRITS. I LOVE TO PICK A

OF EXOTIC TRAVEL FOR AWHILE. HOWEVER, ON A POSITIVE NOTE, DEN-

FOOD-THEME AND RUN WITH IT – IT GIVES ME A DIRECTION AND REMINDS

MARK HAS DONE WELL HANDLING THIS NEW OBSTACLE, AND SOCIETY

ME OF THE PLACES I’VE VISITED IN THE PAST FOR MAGICAL GETAWAYS.

IS SLOWLY BEGINNING TO OPEN UP AGAIN. FOR ME, THIS MEANS MINI-

THIS SUMMER, WE’LL TAKE A LITTLE JOURNEY TO DIFFERENT FAR-OFF

PARTIES – GETTING BACK TOGETHER WITH A SMALL GROUP OF FRIENDS

PLACES AND SHARE RECIPES THAT ARE WORTH SHARING WITH YOUR

WHO I’VE MISSED DEARLY, JUST TO CELEBRATE EACH OTHER. SO, HOW

FRIENDS. THINK OF IT AS A BIT OF A FOOD-HUG TO GET US ALL DREAM-

CAN YOU MAKE THIS JUST A WEE BIT MORE FUN FOR ALL? HOLIDAY DES-

ING AND SMILING AGAIN. FIRST STOP? MEXICO. CUE THE MUSIC! CUE THE

TINATIONS OR CULTURAL THEMES ARE PERFECT CUES FOR FOOD INSPI-

MARGARITAS!

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

23

SLOW-COOKED STEAK CARNITAS W/TORTILLAS AND CILANTRO CREAM SERVES 8 TACO PARTY. NEED I SAY MORE? PREP TIME FOR THIS CROWD-PLEASING DISH IS A SNAP AND SUPER EASY, BUT THE MEAT MUST COOK SLOWLY FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, SO

ERIN CHAPMAN

PLAN TO START COOK TIME MIDDAY, TO EN-

CO-OWNER, THE AMERICAN

JOY FOR DINNERTIME. SERVE WITH SOFT,

PIE COMPANY

WARM TORTILLAS AND A SQUEEZE OF LIME.

With over 20 years’ experi-

SPICE RUB: 2 teaspoons chilli powder 1 teaspoon cumin (spiskommen) 1 teaspoon onion powder ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 kg flank steak 1-2 yellow onion, chopped 1½ green bell pepper, chopped 1½ red bell pepper, chopped 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped

ence in the advertising indus-

SERVE WITH:

She moved to Denmark per-

corn or flour tortillas avocado slices cilantro (fresh coriander) your favourite salsa lime wedges

METHOD

#1 Make the spice rub by mixing all the spices together in a small bowl. Generously rub the spices over flank steak, coating it entirely. #2 Place your steak at the bottom of a large soup pot on the stovetop. Cover the spiced steak with the chopped onions, green and red bell peppers, and jalapeno pepper.

Cover with lid and cook on low heat for 6-7 hours. #3 Then, remove meat from pot and shred with a fork. It should be tender and easy to pull apart. You can either place the shredded meat back into the pot for another hour in its juices or serve immediately. #4 To serve, first, heat the tortillas in a skillet on the stove – about 30 seconds on each side over medium-high heat. Scoop the meat into the heated tortillas and top with salsa, avocado, cilantro and a squeeze of lime.

CILANTRO CREAM: 170 g crème fraiche or sour cream a handful of cilantro (fresh coriander) 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice pinch of salt & pepper Puree the ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Drizzle atop your tacos and enjoy!

try, 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 international level.

Erin attended DIS, Denmark’s Study Abroad programme in 1996 and made a connection with Copenhagen.

MARGARITAS FOR A CROWD MAKES 8

manently in 1998 with two suitcases and a pocketful of change. Working in the adver-

WHY MAKE ONE MARGARITA, WHEN YOU CAN MAKE SEV-

tising industry she worked her

ERAL FOR YOUR FRIENDS TO ENJOY WITH CHIPS AND SAL-

way up as a senior creative, as

SA?! BRIGHT, FRESH AND LIVELY, MARGARITAS OOZE THE

well as a voiceover artist, and

FEELING OF BEING ON HOLIDAY WITH SAND IN YOUR FLIP

then began her own brand

FLOPS.

and design business in 2006.

Merging her love for food

INGREDIENTS:

and art direction, she began

450 g sugar

food styling and cookbook de-

475 ml water

sign for other authors, and

475 ml tequila (premium is best)

then proceeded to contin-

475 ml freshly squeezed lime juice (about 20-25 limes!)

ue with recipe development,

225 ml triple sec or Cointreau

publishing two cookbooks in

Crushed ice cubes

Denmark. While living in Los

Coarse salt or sea salt

Angeles, Erin worked with

Lime wedges

several US brands on image

METHOD

#1 Begin by making the simple syrup. In a saucepan,

combine the sugar and water and simmer over medium

heat, occasionally stirring, until the sugar has complete

ly dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool. Refrigerate

until ready to use.

to use.

into a dish of salt to coat.

triple sec or Cointreau. Add the chilled syrup and stir well

to combine. Add ice to chill further and serve

immediately in prepared glasses. *

#2 Juice the limes and refrigerate the lime juice until ready #3 Rub the rims of glasses with lime wedges and dip the rim #4 In a large pitcher, combine the tequila, lime juice and

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”. www.theamericanpieco.com

TIP: YOU CAN USE FANCY MARGARITA GLASSES, BUT I LIKE TO KEEP IT SIMPLE AND USE PLAIN GLASSES OR JARS. PLACE THEM IN THE FREEZER FOR A MINIMUM OF 30 MINUTES BEFORE SERVING TO ADD AN EXTRA FROSTY TOUCH.

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

24

CREDITS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: ALL RUNI PHOTOPOP

MOTHERHOOD ABROAD AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

A MYRIAD OF FACTORS, INCLUDING A SHALLOW SUPPORT SYSTEM AND LANGUAGE BARRIER, CAN COMPOUND A NEW MOTHER’S LIFE WITH POSTPARTUM MOOD DISORDERS. YET STIGMA AND LACK OF AWARENESS KEEPS MOTHERS FROM SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP.

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO / VISITAARHUS

TEXT JUDY WANJIKU JØRGENSEN

A

ABOUT TWO MONTHS after giving birth to her first child, Fatma, a Pakistani living in Denmark, began to experience constant feelings of anxiety, sadness, anger and frustration. She could barely manage her self-care and felt misunderstood by her husband, who one day said out loud that ‘she was not the only one to have a child, and had no reason to behave in ‘that’ manner.” Citing that she only had one child to take care of, and thus he couldn’t understand her mood swings.

Fatma (not her real name) begun to understand that her depression was not a ‘manic evolution’ as she knew depression from her experience with PTSD. Instead, the new sense of imbalance was turning her into an undervalued and anxious mother, thus keeping her from savouring the joys of first-time motherhood.

Elsewhere in Copenhagen, Nancy Njoka, a young Kenyan mother found herself entrapped in the all-consuming and terrifying postnatal motions of anger and crying. Like Fatma, she too felt stuck in the fog of depression, which was compounded by language barriers, cultural shock, winter, and loneliness.

WHAT IS POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION? Postpartum depression (PPD) affects 8-9000 new mother each year, according to the Danish national registries. Further research from the University of Copenhagen cites that PPD affects approx., 5%-15% of women after childbirth.

While this mood disorder is no respecter of persons; age, race, religion or class, immigrant or migrant mothers like Nancy and Fatma, who are already facing challenges of living abroad, are more vulnerable to experiencing PPD. Admittedly, there is limited research available in Denmark to show the percentage of migrant, immigrant, expat mothers with PPD or postpartum related depressive symptoms, vis-à-vis Dan-

JUNE 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

ish-born mothers. Nevertheless, PPD is one of the most common postnatal complications of childbearing, and is more debilitation than sadness or ‘baby blues’. After giving birth, most mothers (and fathers) experience sadness and mood swings, often as a result of changing sleep patterns and hormonal fluctuations. These symptoms last for days – but occasionally made develop into PPD. Signs of PPD include persistent feelings of hopelessness, loss of autonomy, excessive crying, insomnia, lack of bonding with the child, loss of appetite, and suicide ideation.

Symptoms can appear any time between delivery and six months after birth, often peaking around 4 – 6 weeks postnatal and may last up to a year. If left untreated, the disorder can have longterm implications in the mother-child bond. It may harm the child’s cognitive and emotional development as well as prolonged maternal depression.

OVERCOMING STIGMA AND SEEKING HELP International mothers may find themselves navigating the sea of motherhood and life abroad with limited social support. For mother’s coming from collectivist cultures, where it takes a village to raise a child, they may face added loneliness.

Fortunately, if you give birth in Denmark, you are entitled to a home nurse, who makes regular home visits throughout the first year to ensure baby and mother are doing well. The nurse can advise and place the new mother in local mother-baby group, which serves to ease the loneliness and create a sense of community support.

As the nurse makes home visits, he/she may access the new mother’s emotional adjustment to motherhood. If the nurse detects PPD, she/he can refer the mother for further screening, evaluation and psychiatric or psychological intervention, all of which are free in Denmark’s public hospitals.

Creating awareness and education about this once -taboo subject allows mothers to seek help and put everything into perspective. The Danish health care system is well equipped to handle the treatment for depression, which, when administered, is effective and safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Mental vulnerability is nothing to be ashamed of, but the stigma and feelings of inadequacy worsen the problem and leave mother suffering in silence.

Nancy and Fatma ultimately got the help they needed, through a mix of family support, psychological care and personal creative outlets and exercise. THE-INTL

JUDY WANJIKU JØRGENSEN JOURNALIST, WRITER, PHOTOGRAPHER Judy is a journalist and writer, 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

25

PUT SOME SPRING IN YOUR STEP! PHOTOGRAPHS CÉLINE MARTIN-PEDERSEN / ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT KATHY BORYS SIDDIQUI

G

GOOD NEWS, EVERYONE - get moving to manage your stress. Yes, it is true! A bit of movement each day will help ease the level of stress. Who would say no to a brighter and more energized day?

A SURE WAY TO BOOST OUR INTERNATIONAL LIVES

It comes as no surprise that there is a strong connection between the mind and the body. As Internationals, we often face stressful situations. According to mayoclinic.org physical activity boosts endorphins which are “your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters” and takes your mind off daily stress. Many have become familiar with the term “runner’s high - when we experience the rush of endorphins. The truth of the matter is that you do not have to run a half-marathon distance to experience this. All you have to do is something that you enjoy (walking, tennis, running, biking) and take in the abundance that is right outside your front door. Why is movement so effective in taking the stress away? Because we shift the focus, we concentrate on being active and how this activity makes us feel. We are not multitasking or focusing on stress activators; instead, we allow our brains to rest. The mental benefits of physical activity have a neurochemical basis “Exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenalin and cortisol” as stated by health.harvard.edu The result, after being active is an increase in energy and usually a big smile. If mediation is not your cup of tea, then the physical activity is a great way to meditate in motion. Exercise in any form instantly invigorates the mind - it is like popping a spearmint chewing gum in your mouth. Activity not only takes away negative emotions, feeling of sluggishness, and irritability, but it compensates with clarity, creativity, and vitality. Who could say no to that?

A sure way to lift your spirits is to put your trainers on and put some pep in your step.

ADOPT GOOD HABITS AND THRIVE One of the first things I address in the workshops I facilitate is that as Internationals, we need to have balance in our

KATHY BORYS SIDDIQUI FOUNDER, ACTIVE ACTION

"EXERCISE IN ANY FORM INSTANTLY INVIGORATES THE MIND - IT IS LIKE POPPING A SPEARMINT CHEWING GUM IN YOUR MOUTH." lives. This is the framework for a fulfilled life. Good habits are the building blocks.

What does that mean? As a spouse/partner, it is vital that you acknowledge your needs and what gives you joy and then implement those. A morning routine is a great place to start since mornings often set the tone for the rest of the day.

Truthfully, beginnings are always challenging, and setting forth realistic aims usually works best. To successfully get through the beginning stages of implementing new habits structure is strongly recommended. In order to achieve this aim, it is best to choose a time that fits best with our schedule where we know we will not be distracted and then simply doing it.

The more we stick to our good habits, the

more they will become a part of daily life.

The benefits are unquestionable. When we start the day with a series of activities that we enjoy, things are bound to get better. Good habits do not have to take a long time. It can be having a cup of coffee while reading a few pages of a book, journaling, short meditation, and of course, physical activity. Not everyone is a morning person, and including physical activity might happen later in the day. The good habits and especially physical activity, bring about an increase in energy, clarity, a positive mood, as well as creative and result-oriented actions. Some days will be easier than others, but once you give it a try and become friends with perseverance, the results will leave you wanting more. 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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JOB DESCRIPTION WISH LIST IS THERE A PERFECT CANDIDATE?

I have heard from many job seekers that they don't apply for jobs because they do not ‘tick off’ all the boxes in the job advertisement. Stop, this is the wrong approach!

VISITAARHUS PHOTOGRAPHER CREDITS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: RUNI PHOTOPOP; RUNI PHOTOPOP; ROBIN SKJOLDBOR; RUNI PHOTOPOP

PHOTOGRAPHS VISITAARHUS / ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT GREETE ELURI

Y

YOU HAVE TO think of a job advertisement as a ‘wish list’ – it consists of ‘nice to haves’ and ‘need to have’s’. The trick here is that the advertisement itself is often written by someone from HR, not your future manager.

‘NEED TO HAVE’ VS ‘NICE TO HAVE.’ A job advertisement is just a wish list of which the employer thinks would work best for them. While these requirements are what they think would be the right fit, that may not be the truth.

Organisations evolve, and so do different positions. So, what worked a year ago for a job might now not be the same. An employer may not also realise this until the end of the hiring process until they interview the right candidate, even if they do not match all the qualifications.

Typically, a company has a set of ‘need to have’s and ‘nice to have’s’ yet they also can change during the hiring process. For example, once the HR has gathered all the best CV’s, for example, top five, and forwards them to the hiring manager, that person might not agree, because the ‘best candidates’ might be missing the most crucial skill. How can this happen?

You see, often the hiring manager is not involved in creating the job advertisement process. Therefore, what HR thinks has the ‘most weight’ in this position might be very different from the ply for it – always. Otherwise, you will be missing out. Compahiring manager’s point of view. It is the nies are often looking for the ‘perfect hiring managers decision who will join candidate’, but let me tell you a secret – their team. it does not exist. Why? Simply, because "WHAT HR THINKS HAS THE When the hiring manager reviews as I explained earlier, the position and ‘MOST WEIGHT’ IN THIS these ‘top five’ candidates, what often requirements change during the hiring happens is, that, they discover a skill or process. So, the person who gets chosen POSITION MIGHT BE VERY another relevant competence, which is in the end might be another profile from DIFFERENT FROM THE HIRvital for them, yet not mentioned in the which was initially posted. job advertisement. All of a sudden, you ING MANAGER’S POINT OF might have five candidates with quite FEMALE VS MALE JOB SEEKERS VIEW. IT IS THE HIRING MANdifferent skill sets. They all might have There is a reason why there are more AGERS DECISION WHO something that is ‘need to have’ and males in top positions, both in Denmark something, that is ‘nice to have’ as well. and also in other countries. One of the WILL JOIN THEIR TEAM." Now, you have a completely new ‘job dereasons probably is that female candiscription’. Do you know what I mean? dates often downplay their capabilities.

This happened to me once – I sent A male Marketing director once told me: my application, and I was not one of the chosen ones by the HR, “If women can do 40% of the job, they will not apply. If a male yet the manager pulled out my CV, invited me for an interview candidate can do 40%, they will apply and write an application as and I got the job. they are the best fit and can do it all.”

That is precisely why you should always research about the Research to find out what is most important in this job and company, and the employees working there, to understand as what are the ‘nice to have’s’. Do not back down, if you cannot do much as possible about the department and position beforehand. it all – it is completely fine. Write a killer application and take a If you can do 60% of what is asked in the job announcement, apchance. THE-INTL

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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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DIGITAL NATIVES

WILL SHOW US THE WAY DIGITAL CRACKS ARE SHOWING DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS, WITH BABY BOOMERS AND GENERATION X STRUGGLING TO STEP-UP THEIR VIDEO CONFERENCING, ONLINE LEARNING AND SOCIAL MEDIA GAME. BUT THE DIGITAL NATIVES ARE WELL WITHIN THEIR COMFORT ZONE AND POISED TO LEAD THE WAY INTO OUR DIGITAL FUTURE.

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK.COM

TEXT ANITA EHRHARDT

T

THE FUTURE WILL be digital – for all companies, no matter what the sector. And lessons learned from the COVID-19 lockdown will make way for new virtual work structures and online strategies. However, effectively implementing new and relevant digital strategies will require innovative thinking and a deeper understanding of what the digital space can accomplish. And so, to go beyond immediate fixes, real digital transformation will need to tap into the digital natives known as Generation Y and Generation Z.

ANITA EHRHARDT

CAREER ADVISOR

WHO ARE THE DIGITAL NATIVES? Generation Y or Millennials have been in the workforce for 15 years. And Generation Z, also known as “GenTech” is now planning their entry. And as companies face altered work paradigms and increased technological demands, they have an opportunity to reflect on what digital natives like the Millennials have taught us about navigating the age of tech. Millennials did after all remind us that purpose and experiences are far more satisfying and enduring pursuits than money or prestige. Over the last decade, Millennials have also challenged traditional working norms with their embrace of the “gig” economy and remote working.

Similarly, Generation Z is also set to impact the world as the most technologically proficient generation ever in human history. They are acknowledged as being extremely innovative, creative and even entrepreneurial. Furthermore, Gen Z is fiercely independent, resourceful and efficient. And because they are used to adeptly navigating massive amounts of information, they can problem solve quickly.

Finally, Generation Z is the generation most comfortable with online collaborative learning and social media as a means to communicate, build relationships and gather knowledge.

BORN TO DOMINATE DIGITAL There is no doubt that if companies are going to truly embrace digital transformation, they need to harness the talents of digital natives like Gen Y and Gen Z. After all, their expertise comes from literally a lifetime of physical and social dig-

Raised in England, Canada, 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

"WE NEED TO REMEMBER ACROSS GENERATIONS, THAT THERE IS AS MUCH TO LEARN AS THERE IS TO TEACH." - GLORIA STEINEM

Career Coach, has a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management and has spent the last 20 years working as a

ital impact. Studies by Harvard Medical School indicate that in fact, the brains of digital natives are structurally different in the way they interact with the environment, and are better wired to respond to complex visual imagery. Due to their digital skill, Gen Y and Gen Z are also equipped to more effectively manage multiple ongoing online tasks and are more insightful when it comes to strategically connecting with virtual communities. For all these reasons, the digital natives are poised to already start dominating a digital world they have yet to fully inherit.

THIS IS YOUR MOMENT If you are a digital native, now is your opportunity to shine. As technology adoption accelerates to support post-COVID business strategies, so too will intergenerational clashes related to its implementation and usage. Companies need to hear your voice when it comes to plotting their digital road maps and managing the global explosion of digital activity. As the physical world becomes a digital world,

it’s vital to maintain healthy human relations and community connection, and as a digital native – you already got this!

TV Producer, Advertising Ex-

DIGITAL MATURITY ATTRACTS TALENT

area of talent management.

Digital natives, particularly Gen Z, are attracted to technologically mature companies. In a study by MIT’s Sloan Management Review, 83 percent of participants aged 21 years and younger, said that it’s “very important or extreme ly important to work for an organization that is digitally enabled or is a digital leader” - further emphasizing the fact that this is the age of the digital natives, and to successfully transform to digital, companies must increase their engagement of cross-generational working teams. In this way, young professional Millennials and their up and coming sibling rivals from “GenTech”, are the opportunity that companies should be looking for to drive their future growth and lead them through the fourth industrial revolution. THE-INTL

has focused on internation-

ecutive, Communication and HR Specialist and within the For the last 10 years, Anita al 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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JUTL AND

RECRUITING AND RETAINING INTERNATIONALS IN JUTLAND

AARHUS AND EASTERN JUTLAND IS HOME TO MANY INTERNATIONAL-MINDED COMPANIES AND ORGANISATIONS THAT ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF THIS AREA. INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL TAKE YOU BY THE HAND AND SHOW YOU THE DIVERSE SCENE ON WHICH INTERNATIONALISATION IS BUILT. THIS ISSUE WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING WAKEUPDATA.

PHOTOGRAPHS WAKEUPDATA / UNSPLASH.COM / VISITAARHUS

W

WHEN YOU REALISE that WakeupData is a Danish SME with 12 employees from 10 different nationalities, including a Spanish CEO, you understand that internationalisation is a thing for us. It's funny, we never aimed or chose to hire international employees. It happened organically. We seem to be attracting a talented international task force, who often face difficulties trying to gain experience in the local job market in Aarhus. Undoubtedly, our decision to communicate in English has resonated in the community of recent graduates and international job seekers.

WakeupData has been expanding operations to the Nordic Market, UK and Ireland.

In our industry of e-commerce and IT, we use English as a vehicular language as a general rule. We have ultimately grown an international task force by ensuring that the competences, the company culture and the person applying, are a match. It is also important to mention that 70% of the current employees at WakeupData went through an internship as a proof of concept, including me, the CEO. Having different mindsets, educational backgrounds, and a range of international professional experiences makes us stronger and more resilient to changes in the market. Lately, there is a consensus in Denmark as well as the EU that economic development cannot sustain itself without international talent available in the local job market, that includes EU mobility but also remote hiring.

OPENING UP THE INTERNATIONAL TALENT POOL From high qualified and specialised jobs

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to hospitality and services roles, internationalisation is here to stay. Yet, it is worth mentioning that job opportunities for internationals are more scarce in Aarhus than in Copenhagen. Many of the recent international graduates end up moving from Aarhus to Copenhagen or back home. This happens mostly due to SMEs in Aarhus being less open to hiring internationals.

An example of that is visible when you type a search in Job portals or LinkedIn. You will notice that a significant percentage of the search results have Danish Job descriptions only. While this is understandable - we are in Denmark after all - posting the job listing in English may open up a wider talent pool for employers.

WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL QUESTIONS • Are SMEs less inclined to hire internationals?

• What type of talent is required in the local context of Aarhus that cannot be fulfilled?

• How can we build bridges between the international pool of talent and the companies that are hiring?

TEXT JUAN JOSE KEENA - CEO WAKEUPDATA

Retention of international talent is a fundamental key strategy that will play a significant part in the economic growth of Aarhus, even more so than attracting talent. It is also much more cost-effective in the long run.

Keeping international talent at play in the local job market requires a commitment from companies to offer opportunities to international students, spouses and job seekers eager to prove themselves.

Internships and part-time jobs are excellent tools that facilitate "pilots", good opportunities to bring down pre-conceptions, find common ground and understand whether your international candidate may fit and exceed expectations by bringing something novel to your organisation.

On the other hand, long term solutions may require more international civic representatives seated in the decision-making committees, along with companies and public institutions. Collectively, we can build better and more diverse job market opportunities that will benefit us all. THE-INTL

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY We offer a wide range of events, seminars and online activities that help internationals get settled in Denmark.

Learn more on our website or follow us on: @internationalcommunityAarhus @internationalcommunityaarhus

ABOUT WAKEUPDATA WakeupData ApS is an IT business

www.erhvervaarhus.dk

from Aarhus, founded in 2014. Our

www.international community.dk

mission is to empower e-commerce professionals with software solutions that transform big data into actionable outcomes. WakeupData offers user-friendly software to online stores and media agencies to help them sell more throughout their omnichannel strategies. www.wakeupdata.com

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B e s t BEAUTY BUYS

BEAUTY PRODUCTS YOU SHOULD BE ADDING TO YOUR SHOPPING CART 2020 has not been cancelled just yet. The shops are slowly opening up again, which means we need to up our beauty game.

Yes, this will involve some shopping, shopping for all the latest beauty products out this month. Beauty lovers are in for a treat as I have a handful of goodies for you to go out sample and buy. #1 CHANTECAILLE RADIANCE ELIXIR A RICH ILLUMINATING SERUM INFUSED WITH GLOWBOOSTING INTELLIGENT BOTANICALS. IT'S VEGANFRIENDLY, GLUTEN-FREE AND SOY-FREE. THIS SERUM GIVES A FABULOUS GLOW TO THE SKIN AS WELL AS HYDRATING AND REPLENISHING. 1,763.00 DKK / WWW.LOOKFANTASTICK.DK

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EUROPE'S LEADER IN DRONE AND ROBOTICS TECHNOLOGY SUCCESS THROUGH A CROSS-POLLINATION TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY! PHOTOGRAPHS UNSPLASH.COM

TEXT MARIANO ANTHONY DAVIES

D

DENMARK IS THE world's best test market for robots and drones. Its drone and robotics cluster have everything you need for enhanced product development with easy access to the entire European Union.

There is no better place to test, develop and market next-generation drones and robotics than in Denmark and its full-scale test facilities. There is a long tradition for end-user collaboration that has a proven track record when it comes to developing innovative solutions for complex processes.

Both the end-users, who work with drones and robots, and the decision-makers who buy them and support research have a reputation for their openness to new technology. These skills make Denmark the most natural point of entry to the European market.

Denmark hosts a range of test sites for drone and robot applications in healthcare, agriculture and production, including opportunities for running tests with real end-users and in full-scale environments.

MARIANO ANTHONY DAVIES PRESIDENT & CEO OXFORD BUSINESS SERVICES Mariano has over 30 years' global experience as a busi-

DRONE DEVELOPMENT Drone technology has gone through significant development during the last couple of years. From being a field that was only dealt with at universities and in the defence industry, drones have now almost become a common household item. For a small sum, you can buy a drone and take pictures from places that used to be inaccessible.

The perspectives in this technology are vast and they offer access to a three-dimensional world where a bird's eye view is also available as a natural part of the solution.

It requires a new way of thinking to recognize the true potential of the technology current drone applications are only the tip of the iceberg compared to what they will be used for in the future.

A lot of technical issues related to flying have now been solved for the drones. Therefore, it is the application of the drones - and the related technology that is installed on the drones – that is the challenge.

One of the obstacles for an even broader application of drones is their limited flight time. Therefore, the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) has explored an alternative approach where the drone is tethered via a lightweight cable to a ground base which serves as a power supply and also provides a safe, highspeed communication line. This opens up several new applications that aren't possible today.

ness executive. He spent ten years with KPMG, twentyfive years with British Chambers of Commerce (while also try. Denmark's robot exports are now larger than countries such as the U.S., Sweden and Holland.

A new analysis examines exports of industrial robots from the world's nine leading robot nations. The analysis compares Denmark's exports with countries such as South Korea, Japan, the United States, Germany, Holland and Sweden. It shows that Denmark's growth in exports far exceeds other robot nations.

Denmark's exports of industrial robots have reached the same level as China's and exceed countries such as the U.S, Sweden and Holland. Denmark's explosive growth can be contributed to a large extent to the country's unique and specialist stronghold within collaborative robots - a global market that is expected to grow to as much as €10.5 billion in 2027.

"DENMARK IS THE WORLD'S FASTEST GROWING ROBOT NATION WITHIN INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS IN TERMS OF EXPORTS."

ROBOTICS CLUSTER Denmark is the world's fastest growing robot nation within industrial robots in terms of exports, according to a new analysis that compares the Danish robotics industry with the world's other leading robot nations.

From 2014 to 2018, Denmark's exports of industrial robots have increased six-fold – a growth rate that far outstrips any other coun-

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FRONT RUNNER IN RESEARCH Denmark has taken a quantum leap in recent years when it comes to producing drone and robotics research and knowledge, which can be applied to create innovative commercial solutions.

The University of Southern Denmark and Aalborg University are the Institutions that have invested most in drone and robotics research in Denmark. Since 2013, the number of scientific articles has increased almost four times, and in 2018, Denmark produced more scientific research articles than Sweden and Holland for the first time. What is more, the quality of Danish research is above average with a high rate of referencing in other publications. THE-INTL

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

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DIGGING DANISH ROOTS ROOTS ATTACH TO THE GROUND TO SUPPORT, CONVEYING NOURISHMENT TO THE REST OF THE PLANT WHICH ALLOWS IT TO BLOOM FULLY. IT’S THE FUNDAMENTAL ORIGIN OF SOMETHING AND A FIXED STARTING POINT. LIVING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY AS AN EXPATRIATE, YOU DEVELOP NEW ROOTS AND GROUNDING. COMING UP ON SEVEN YEARS IN DENMARK, I AM REFLECTING ON DIGGING DANISH ROOTS AND HOW TO INTEGRATE IN DENMARK.

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTOS

TEXT BAILEY JENSEN

C

CULTURE INTEGRATION IS a form of cultural exchange where a person assumes the beliefs, practices and rituals of another group without sacrificing their own culture. If only I learned that last bit of “without sacrificing your own culture” sooner.

When I first got to know Denmark during my year abroad as an exchange student, I felt like a mere observer of Danish culture.

I knew I would be here for a good time… not a long time, so I did not see the necessity of deep-diving into Danish culture or taking on the language.

BAILEY JENSEN

EYES WIDE OPEN After my Danish husband Rune and I did long distance between the United States and Denmark for a year, I then came back to Denmark as a spouse of a native Dane and naturally had more attachments to Denmark. However, there was a constant resistance to learning Danish and absorbing the Danish culture because I deep down thought that if I were to embrace the culture completely, then I would be giving up a small part of my culture and myself.

It wasn’t until I opened my mind and realised that integrating into another culture didn’t mean giving up my own.

DRINKING IN THE CULTURE To allow yourself to get to know the culture and grow roots in a new country, start drinking in the culture. Begin by learning the language by taking classes either in person or online. Learning a language comes from practice and training, not just observation. As you get to know more Danish, start listening to Danish podcasts, and radio. Try watching Danish Netflix series such as Rita, which give an inside look into a modern Danish family and humour. You can easily pick up on typical mannerisms of Danes and general outlooks by drinking in these small details, which prove to be the key to understanding the culture

BLOGGER & STUDENT 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 Danand integrating into it. Danes are generally profoundly amused and impressed if you can understand certain Danish expressions or show knowledge about who they are. This starts to break down some of those tall walls Danish people can outwardly have. Showing an interest in their culture is a compliment to them and an immediate common ground.

DO AS THE NATIVES DO Integration requires immersion. One way to immerse yourself into the culture is to celebrate Danish holidays. Over time, you will form emotional attachments and memories with them – by slowly digging those Danish roots. Along with drinking in the local culture to integrate, try doing as the natives do. This starts with the smallest thing, such as recycling. Danes are ex-

"IT WASN’T UNTIL I OPENED MY MIND AND REALISED THAT INTEGRATING INTO ANOTHER CULTURE DIDN’T MEAN GIVING UP MY OWN." tremely environmentally conscious and recycle everything. There are usually several recycling containers outside of each apartment complexes. Even if you go to a Danish party, there are always designated areas for beer bottles and aluminium, which are reserved for “pant” - a recycling initiative where you get money back for each item recycled. Absorbing environmentally friendly behaviours shows respect for one of their highly held values. I can speak from experience that you don’t want to be “that girl” at the party who crushes the aluminium can and put it in the trash! 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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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 JUNE 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