The International - September 2020

international

the

ISSN 2596-5220

'SKOVSKYRE' SHORTBREAD

FINDING A JOB IN DENMARK

BIOMETRICS

EVENTS AROUND DENMARK

SEPTEMBER 2020 - THE-INTL.COM

LOVE, STRUGGLES AND A NEW START

WINNIE TANGO SHARES HER STORY OF LIFE IN DENMARK

SEPTEMBER 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

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DENMARK, WHERE NETWORKING IS KEY...

IT CAN RAISE YOUR PROFESSIONAL PROFILE, BROADEN YOUR ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES, GAIN SATISFACTION FROM ASSISTING AND CONNECTING WITH OTHERS IN YOUR NETWORK.

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IT'S TAKEN ME many years of living in Denmark to realise it's not what you know but who you know. Networking is KING in Denmark, and active networking is vital to career growth. Networking is actually about building long-term relationships and a good reputation over time. It involves meeting and getting to know people who you can assist, and who can potentially help you in return.

Networking doesn't only include your career but also friends and family to work colleagues, business connections, your social network and members of groups to which you belong.

#3 ADVANCE YOUR CAREER Being visible and getting noticed is a benefit of networking that's essential in career building. Regularly attending professional and social events will help to get your face known. You can then help to build your reputation as being knowledgeable, reliable and supportive by offering useful information or tips to people who need it.

#4 ACCESS TO JOB OPPORTUNITIES Expanding your contacts can open doors to new opportunities for business, career advancement, personal growth, or

#1 STRENGTHEN BUSINESS CONNECTIONS

#2 GET FRESH IDEAS Your network can be an excellent source of new perspectives and ideas to help you in your role. Exchanging information on challenges, experiences, and goals is a crucial benefit of networking because it allows you to gain new insights that you may not have otherwise thought of. Similarly, offering helpful ideas to a contact is an excellent way to build your reputation as an innovative thinker.

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THE IMPOSSIBLE AND POSSIBLE WINNIE TANGO SHARES HER STORY OF LIFE IN DENMARK

#6 FIND A JOB YOU LOVE Professional networking opens many doors in the form of career advice, lasting relationships, and even landing your dream role. You never know who might be hiring for your ideal job, or know someone who is, and the more people you have in your network, the likelier you are to be the first to know when those dream job opportunities pop up.

A CHARISMATIC WOMAN, A MOTHER OF ONE AND SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR, HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT PAIN, HOPES AND DREAMS. WINNIE TANGO NEVER GIVES UP.

PHOTOGRAPHS RAIMONDA KULIKAUSKIENE

THREE YEARS AGO, Winnie and her family decided to leave their home in Hong Kong and make a fresh start in Denmark. This now successful entrepreneur and loving single

TEXT MARTINA POPADAKOVA

back to Hong Kong and got married in 2011. Two years later, Winnie became pregnant, and when their daughter was born, she stopped working to focus on her new-born. At

mother did not have a typical "falling in love with Denmark" beginning. Here, Winnie

the time, her husband was juggling a stressful job, long working hours, and was unable

talks about love, a failed marriage, work and the constant positive attitude that helped her to get through challenging times.

to spend time with his new family – that's when the cracks in the relationship started to

Winnie was born in what was then British Hong Kong. Growing up back in the 1980s

appear. Winnie explains the reason behind their decision to move to Denmark: "We both

Hong Kong was already very international, and Winnie says this influenced her a lot. "I

tried to save our family and marriage, and when he was offered a position in Billund, we had to make a decision. It felt like the right decision. We hoped that moving to Denmark

could never just sit alone in front of the computer; I always had a passion for working with

would give us a more stable ground and a promising 'work-life balance' environment."

people." She worked in various sectors; financial, airline and tourism industry to being self-employed before she came to Denmark. Her dedication and discipline to learn and master new skills quickly came from her background. She describes her childhood: "Back in Hong Kong, we have a joke about every mother being a 'Tiger Mum', which means that parents teach their children to behave in a certain way. When I was in school, my mom

DISAPPOINTMENT, THREAT, ESCAPE AND SUPPORT FROM THE DANISH COMMUNITY Winnie and her family moved to Denmark in the summer of 2017. Coming from a multicultural big city to sleepy Billund was a bit of a shock. "Moving to the home of LEGO, I imag-

would always push me to be the first one, for example, to get the best grades. Naturally,

ined the city was close to the size of Copenhagen, which I had visited before. I remember

I was under a lot of pressure, I always felt I have to be on top." She considered it very

arriving at Billund airport, and my impression was 'Did we arrive already? Is this Billund airport?' It was amusing because it took us barely five minutes to find the exit." Winnie

normal coming from this kind of background until she moved to Denmark and realised that parents focus primarily on the happiness of their children here. She offered this in-

quickly realised that she needed to adapt to a slow-paced and quiet town with not so many

sight: The children in Denmark are encouraged to be playful and be themselves, whereas, in Hong Kong, I had to do homework every day from an early age." Winnie, mother

opportunities. "This new way of living was not such a big problem for me, because I prioritised my family and I hoped that this was the right environment to create a happier life."

to a 7-year-old girl, wants to give her daughter the best environment and believes that

With an already grown-up stepson and four-year-old daughter, Winnie was ready and

Denmark has a different way of looking at education, it provides various opportunities.

excited to get back to work. "I could not just sit at home, I wanted to do something. But

LOVE, STRUGGLES AND A NEW START IN DENMARK

I, unfortunately, was not supported on this front, he was convinced that I needed to learn the language first to find a job." It is not in Winnie's nature to focus on a problem, but

Winnie met her Danish partner who had a child from a previous relationship back in

preferably on the solution instead, and at that time she believed that "If I cannot get a

Hong Kong in 2006. They would visit Denmark from time to time and lived in Beijing for over a year, where Winnie opened her own café and beauty centre. When Winnie was ready to settle down and start a new family, it was the natural choice. The couple returned

job without speaking Danish, then I will create something of my own." Her focus on getting back to the job market was postponed for another couple of months. The expectations of a more balanced life turned out to be more limiting and unhealthier. "I was not

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SEPTEMBER 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

My top picks for September Pages 12-15 The impossible and possible.

Winnie Tango shares her

SO, HOW DO YOU NETWORK?

Here are some key networking benefits:

Networking is about sharing, not taking.

It is about forming trust and helping one another toward goals. Regularly engaging with your contacts and finding opportunities to assist them helps to strengthen the relationship. By doing this, you sow the seeds for mutual assistance when you need help to achieve your goals.

formed, interconnected contacts means broader access to new and valuable information.

new knowledge. Active networking helps to keep you top of mind when opportunities such as job openings arise and increases your likelihood of receiving introductions to potentially relevant people or even a referral.

#5 INTERCONNECTED BUSINESS CONTACTS = MORE KNOWLEDGE Networking is an excellent opportunity to exchange best practice knowledge, learn about the business techniques of your peers and stay abreast of the latest industry developments. A vast network of in-

story of life in Denmark.

As much as networking is beneficial to your career and even your personal life, the reality is that it doesn't come naturally to many people. In fact, for some, the thought of starting a conversation incites downright dread.

A good rule of thumb is to plan ahead and have a few relevant points of discussion in mind if you know you're going to be in a situation where you'll have the opportunity to meet new people. These conversation points don't have to be all about work – they can even be about topics like hobbies or the event itself. The idea is to get the conversation flowing and leave room for future meetups and discussions.

On that note, don't forget to bring business cards so you can swap details easily.

Pages 19 Volunteering at after-school activities

Page 24 Top tips to finding a job in Denmark

Page 25 Why is it so hard to learn Danish?

Page 27 A long road, and many a throw.

An interview with Thomas Gronnemark

Love,

Page 31 The importance of

LYNDSAY JENSEN - EDITOR & FOUNDER

visible personal branding

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MEET THE TEAM SALES

please contact: sales@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.

+45 42676745

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

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

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

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COVER PICTURE Raimonda Kulikauskiene

HEAD OF SOCIAL MEDIA DENMARK EDITOR & FOUNDER

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THE FEEL-GOOD STORIES OF DENMARK ONE SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS

PIC BELOW COURTESTY OF BANKSY "GAME CHANGER" - INSTAGRAM

Teachers from North Zealand International School draw inspiration from Banksy in teaching, and reassuring their children.

ZACHARY MARX

LYNDSAY JENSEN

this eventually led to them asking how they could thank their real heroes, and they were so excited to make thank you cards. These beautiful hand-crafted cards were sent to hospitals, a fire station and even the zoo to say thank you for all the hard work and care they do for society.

Teacher Zoe had a contact at Hvidovre hospital and got in touch with the children’s ward staff where they sent their cards to.

“We wanted something positive, so we decided to focus on the real heroes in society - in this case, doctors and nurses. We felt this would help the children to feel safe and positive at a challenging time.” Zoe Smith explained.

“It was so important for children to see they can have an impact on others, and to know they are a part of a whole community that is interconnected.” THE-INTL

PICTURES COURTESTY OF NORTH ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

So how do you return to school to teach young impressionable minds during a corona pandemic? The news surrounding corona caused a lot of anxiety throughout the world, and brave teachers and our youngest children across Denmark faced a daunting task of returning to an uncertain future. Zoe Smith, a teacher at North Zealand International School and her colleagues, decided to put a positive spin on the pandemic, and make it fun for the children to return. “All the new rules and regulations for distancing and split classes could also be quite strange and scary for the children coming back, so we took inspiration from Banksy’s famous ‘Game Changer’ artwork.”

Zoe used Banksy’s art (which depicts a child playing with doctor and nurse dolls, with superheroes like Batman behind in a bin), to start a dialogue with the children about what makes someone a hero. “We wanted something positive, so we decided to focus on the real heroes in society – in this case, doctors and nurses. We felt this would help the children to feel safe and positive at a challenging time.” They asked the children to come up with their own ideas to encourage their own thought path, and after the initial idea of heroes began, it soon branched out into other great ideas. One that was suggested was turning themselves into superhero litterpickers around the local area, fighting for the environment as climate-fighters!

The children were so inspired with this project, that

ZACHARY A. MARX is an American with experience living, working, and studying abroad. He is an environmental activist and climate leader with a master’s in International Environmental Law from the University of Eastern Finland.

Staying informed during a pandemic with ‘Corona in Denmark’

The International is on the look out for feel-good stories in our international and Danish communities. If you have a great story, or you'd like to point us in the right direction - send us an email to: lyndsay@the-intl.com

Last month, we reported on The Repat Dane Facebook page, which provides live translations and advice for foreigners during this COVID-19 pandemic. However, we also wanted to recognise the fantastic work of coronaindenmark.dk. Corona in Denmark, founded by Dane Nicki Mathis Møller Just, also provides translations of press conferences and other official government messages about the ongoing pandemic.

Whereas Frej Jensen, founder of The Repat Dane, realised the lack of material for non-Danish speakers because of his experience living through a crisis abroad, Just saw the problem first-hand through the eyes of his foreign girlfriend.

“I have a French girlfriend, whom I was able to help stay updated as we faced the very unsure prospect of potential lockdown, like we saw in France,” Just explained.

“Eventually, it occurred to me that there were actually no offers of help to foreigners in Denmark with news and translations into English. And that’s where I decided to offer this help, as a way to both help people, and use my education and language skills. A win-win, if you want.

“Corona in Denmark is a project that is aimed at helping expats in Denmark staying up-to-date about the various news and developments that happens in Denmark related to the corona crisis.

This mainly comes from offering occasional livetranslations of press conferences through my Facebook-page, as well as daily summaries of events and news related to the corona crisis in Denmark on the website that I own.

“On the side, I also answer people’s questions related to the various rules and restrictions that are in place, mostly related to entry into Denmark during the period where the borders were very much closed or started to reopen again,” Just said.

Corona in Denmark actually goes a couple of steps beyond merely translating Danish into English by providing audio news summaries in French and Greek as well. This attention to detail and care has helped his site achieve a steady following that has even come as a shock to Just.

“When I began, I told my girlfriend that I would be pleased if just 200 people would watch and read on a daily basis. Now, I can see that there’s usually somewhere between 1.500 and 3.000 people that watch or read. So it has definitely exploded beyond my wildest dreams, and I am just pleased that people have been able to keep track of what was happening during the craziest months in the fall.”

Although the government remains mostly ambivalent toward getting vital information out to Denmark’s many non-Danish speakers, sites like Corona in Denmark and The Repat Dane are helping both to bridge the gap in knowledge, and the gap between Danish and non-Danish speakers.

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EVENTS

COPENHAGEN

COPENHAGEN

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IN SEPTEMBER

2 SEPTEMBER

5 SEPTEMBER

YOUR NAME

TREASURE HUNT

Animated, Japanese adventure about Mitsuha and Taki, who cross tracks while a large comet approaches Japan.

They have never met each other, but in dreams they switch bodies and move into a parallel universe where they communicate via smartphones.

Treasure hunt for the whole family in: A treasure for Denmark.

So, who is the family's greatest treasure hunter? Embark on an interactive treasure hunt in all the treasures of Denmark. You need both your eyes and ears to find your way through the exhibition and singing karaoke. You have to find out who is to blame for getting out of the snow, and what happened the day a group of women with balloons in their bras walked down Strøget with a red flag. You can go exploring together, or you can divide into teams and compete against each other.

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

COPENHAGEN

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SKAGEN

4 SEPTEMBER 2 SEPTEMBER FEMALE FEATURES ARE...

FED UP!

WORLD'S BEST NEWS!

In Fed Up, the comics from Female Features sink their teeth into raw topics like dieting, food and shame.

They hold a funhouse mirror up to their body image, turning guilt and fear into sisterly love and laughter.

Expect nourishing tales of our struggles with the dietary-industrial complex, from playing Godzilla in changing rooms to five-year-olds trying to talk us into a boob job. Plus some butt jokes to round it all out.

Doors open at 18:30

Every year one morning in September, the World's Best News says good morning to all of Denmark with a newspaper that reports on progress and solutions to the challenges of the planet. With the newspaper's distribution, we celebrate the World Goals - and that in many parts of the world things are going better than we think.

We meet at Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen from 07:00, and we hope you will help us spread the good news that we can eradicate poverty and achieve the 17 World Goals for Sustainable Development. Everyone is welcome, the more merrier!

Read more about the campaign at www.verdensbedstenyheder.dk where you can also see where in the country you can join if you live outside of Copenhagen.

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ISTOCK PHOTO

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BISPEBJERG COMEDY CORNER FB PAGE

COPENHAGEN

8 SEPTEMBER SKAGEN'S SCHNAPPS HERBS On the trip, we collect herbs for making real Skagen schnapps, discuss recipes and, among other things, taste the museum's latest spicey schnapps. Along the way, we also look at some characteristic plants. Meeting place: Natural History Museum. Duration approximately 2 hours.

By participating in the event, admission to the museum is free.

Entrance fee: 50 DKK adults

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LØKKEN

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SKAGEN

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AABENRAA

8 SEPTEMBER

10 SEPTEMBER

11 SEPTEMBER

50 DANGEROUS THINGS (ALL CHILDREN SHOULD TRY)

VOLCANIC ROCKS ON THE BEACHES OF SKAGEN

SNORKELING

Have you ever licked a 9 volt battery? Lifted the lid on the popcorn whilst they are popping? What, never done that?

Then this show is for you. The show examines everything that adults usually warn their children against.

For children from 4 - 11 years.

You can watch the content on youtube.com via the following link: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=a21UlOk4Qjk&feature=emb_title

A trip for the whole family. At the museum, an introduction is given to how the rocks are formed from the volcanoes. Once at the beach, we discover the many stones, and collect some for your own stone collection. Duration of the trip is approximately 2 hours. Meeting place: Natural History Museum.

By participating in the event, admission to the museum is free. Entrance fee: 50 DKK adults / 10 DKK children

Join Outnature on an exciting snorkelling trip along the coast.

The coastline is teeming with life below the surface in the form of fish, shellfish and molluscs, which we will experience up close. You will receive basic instruction in safe diving with a snorkel and learn about life below the surface.

Number min / max: 4 - 20 people Instructors: 1 instructor Level: for families.

Entrance fee: 295 DKK per person

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ONLINE

KASTRUP

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INTERNATIONAL CITIZEN DAYS

MOESGAARD MUSEUM FB PAGE

HØJBJERG

12 SEPTEMBER

14-16 SEPTEMBER 16 SEPTEMBER

AFTER THE APOCALYPSE

INTERNATIONAL CITIZEN DAYS OPEN DRAWING AND PAINTING WORKSHOP

“After the Apocalypse” is science as well as science fiction. The exhibition confronts visitors with the past and the future: You begin by going back 13,000 years and learn about the scientific explanation behind the eruption through archaeological findings. Then, in the second part of the exhibition, the eruption takes place as a science fiction-like thought experiment. It is the year 2100 and in a scenario quite similar to our modern society, the exhibition poses the question: How would we be affected by a similar eruption?

FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://WWW.VISITAARHUS.COM/ AARHUS/PLAN-YOUR-TRIP/AFTER-APOCALYPSE-MOESGAARD-MUSEUM-GDK1119715

International Citizen Days 2020 goes virtual, bringing together public authorities, private organisations and local communities in the entire Greater Copenhagen region in a brand-new format with live-streamed talks, chatrooms and experts on 14-16 September – all free of charge, of course.

As the icing on the cake, you are invited to take part in the physical part of the event on 19 September, where you have the chance to try your hand at a sports club, dance studio or language school with fellow internationals. The team from The International will be there too!

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GRÅSTEN

SILKEBORG

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VISIT SØNDERBORG

BOGENSE

ELSE FRIIS FB PAGE

Do you draw or paint with watercolor, oil or acrylic? Then you have the opportunity to create with your pencil or brush in the company of others.

In the painting workshop beginners and experienced artists are welcome. There is room for everyone and the opportunity to get inspiration and share with others.

Bring your own paper, paint and brushes, and the library will provide books for inspiration.

18 SEPTEMBER

21 SEPTEMBER

23 SEPTEMBER

VISUAL ARTIST ELSE FRIIS

GUIDED TOUR OF GRÅSTEN PALACE GARDENS

MAGIC CIRCUS

Visual artist Else Friis lives and works with woodturner Jørn Anderson on their property at Bogense on North Funen. Else draws inspiration from long walks along the beach and through daily dialogue with a wide group of people.

During the open visits, Else likes to talk about the creation process of her paintings and about techniques she uses along the way.

If you are in a group, a light dish is prepared with ingredients from the garden can be served by prior arrangement.

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Visit the lavishly adorned Palace Church and walk through the palace garden, that is beautifully surrounded by lakes and forests. The competent guides will tell you the story of the church, the garden and the castles located here since the 1500s.

Language: Danish There is a limited number of tickets on sale because of Corona virus. We reserve the right to cancel tours in case of changes in restrictions.

Music educator Hanne Højgaard Hede entertains us with magic, lions, horses and whatever else we come up with from the exciting animal kingdom. This event is for 1-3-year-olds who want a fun experience. NOTE! Everyone must have a ticket.

COVID-19: Silkeborg Libraries comply with the current guidelines on distance and hygiene.

Use the hand alcohol set up at the entrance when you arrive and during the break - and remember to keep your distance.

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TOPPEN AF DANMARK

SKAGEN

24 SEPTEMBER MUSHROOM FORAGING In generel the mushroom season has been prolonged during the last couple of years and in August, September and October the mushrooms are turning up everywhere.

This means that right now the forest floor is a treasury for mushroom hunters.

The season normally begins in August and continues well into October.

As it’s been a lovely warm summer, it is already possible to collect edible mushrooms. Normally, the places with many mushrooms are well kept local secrets, but the guides will also show you where to find the mushrooms.

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A focus on learning

SORØ

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I nternational S chool for students ages 3–16 26 SEPTEMBER SORØ BYLØB 2020 Exercise for the whole family.

The running route goes through Sorø Centrum and along the beautiful Sorø Lake.

The route is 2.5 km long and can therefore be repeated up to four times. For each new round, you pass through Sorø's main street, where you can be cheered on by family and friends in the middle of the busy shopping street.

On the Walk & Talk route, you pass several of Sorø's cultural and historical gems.

A map and a culture guide will be handed out.

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nis-ngg.dk Phone: +45 45 57 26 16 Email: nis@ngg.dk Cirkelhuset, Christianshusvej 16 DK, 2970 Hørsholm

Cambridge International School

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AARHUS

DEN GAMLE BY - VISIT AARHUS

HUMLEBÆK

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COPENHAGEN

27 SEPTEMBER

ALL SEPTEMBER

ALL SEPTEMBER

FLEA MARKET

FANTASTIC WOMEN

BRINGING THE 1970S TO LIFE

Copenhagen's nicest flea market. Outdoors every Sunday during the summer time and beyond – closed during July. You can also rent a table and clothes rack it you wish to market your goods. A stall is 3x3 meters and can be shared by several people.

Please comply with the current guidelines on distance and hygiene. Use hand sanitiser, and remember to keep your distance.

Fantastic Women - Surreal Worlds is the first, fascinating and comprehensive presentation of 34 women surrealist artists from Europe, the US and Mexico. The exhibition showcases their diverse approaches to the ideas of the movement, tracing the outline of their oeuvre and highlighting their singular contribution to the Surrealist vocabulary.

Alongside well-known names like Louise Bourgeois, Frida Kahlo, Leonora Carrington and Meret Oppenheim, this will be the first opportunity to experience artists like Kay Sage, Leonor Fini and Toyen in Denmark.

The 1970s neighbourhood reflects a Danish town based on the year 1974. Times changed radically in the mid-1970s, where many Danes wanted to be librated from the norms and the ordinary life. People started to live together in communes, and women became more independent and lived on their own.

Step inside the apartments on Havnegade and see the homes that represents the life of a single mother, a nuclear family, a middel class working couple, a commune and six Tyrkish immigrant workers, amongst others.

Each apartment is recreated from the real people's stories and photos.

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DEN GAMLE BY - VISIT AARHUS

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High Academic Standards Christian Ethos Conveniently located in Hellerup

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HUMLEBÆK

LOUISIANA WEBSITE

HUMLEBÆK

LOUISIANA WEBSITE

CINEMATEKET FB PAGE

COPENHAGEN

ALL SEPTEMBER

ALL SEPTEMBER

ALL SEPTEMBER

LATIN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL

KUSAMA INSTALLATION

PER KIRKEBY BRONZE

Gleaming Lights of the Souls by Yayoi Kusama is one of the most beloved pieces in the museum collection. The installation, dating from 2008, consists of a single space, four by four meters. The walls and ceilings are covered with mirrors; the floor is a reflecting pool; and you stand in the middle of the water on a platform. Gleaming Light of the Souls is only on show when the entire South Wing is open – please note that there will therefore not be access to this installation from 8 November until and including 8 December 2020.

Louisiana's major exhibition is the first ever comprehensive presentation of the bronzes of Per Kirkeby.

Per Kirkeby (1938-2018) is one of the truly great, international Danish artists, having exhibited at museums all over the world. He is also a key figure in Louisiana’s collection, which features works from his earliest beginnings to the very last years of his life. This exhibition allows for Kirkeby’s bronze sculptures to take the center stage, focusing on the artist’s work with figure and space that also occupied his painting in the early 1980s.

FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://LOUISIANA.DK/EN/EXHIBITION/ KUSAMA-INSTALLATION/

FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://LOUISIANA.DK/EN/EXHIBITION/ KIRKEBY-BRONZE/

Cinemateket transports you to Latin America where it introduces you to its culture as well as history. This is the seventh time this festival is being run and organized in collaboration with Casa Latinoamericana, Sonamos Latinoamerica, Festival de Literatura de Copenhague, Golden Days, Alice, Union, as well as several embassies.

Find the program on Cinemateket’s website.

FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://WWW.DFI.DK/CINEMATEKET/BIOGRAF/FILMSERIER/SERIE/LATINAMERIKANSK-FILMFESTIVAL-2020

Speak Hellerup Bernstorffsvej 20C 2900 Hellerup Speak Lyngby Klampenborgvej 221 2800 Kgs. Lyngby

Learning Danish is expanding your horizon

Speak Frederiksberg Lindevangs Alle 8-12 2000 Frederiksberg hello@speakspeak.dk +45 3946 3050

speakspeak.dk

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10

GENTOFTE

RIBE

RIBE FB PAGE

UNSPLASH.COM

ISHØJ TEATER FB PAGE

ISHØJ

28 SEPTEMBER

28 SEPTEMBER

28 SEPTEMBER

YOU SAW THE SOUND

QUILTING FOR EVERYONE

PUBLIC TOWN WALKS IN RIBE

The performance is a musically composed performance based on a story about a grandson's visit to his grandfather. The grandfather lives in a world surrounded by sounds and music but knows nothing of his grandson's world. Through various scenes with songs and music, sound history performed with noise, music history, they come to understand each other's worlds.

Theatre for children.

Age group: 3-9 years.

Duration: 45 min without a break.

Every Monday morning, we meet and quilt together.

Anyone can join, beginners or experienced. We work side by side on projects, and there is plenty of inspiration for new and existing projects. Maud Sandqvist teaches and inspires according to need and desire.

This is a free event. No registration necessary.

Join a guided tour through the medieval town centre of Ribe. The tour includes a visit to Ribe Cathedral or St. Catharinae Church and Cloister Garden. During the tour, you can hear all the good stories about buildings, people, events, legends, etc.

Price: 100 DKK

FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://WWW.KULTUNAUT.DK/PERL/ARRMORE/TYPE-NYNAUT/UK?ARRNR=13973450

FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://WWW.KULTUNAUT.DK/PERL/ARRMORE/TYPE-NYNAUT/UK?ARRNR=12494133

UNSPLASH.COM

ISHØJ TEATER FB PAGE

RIBE FB PAGE

FOR MORE INF0: HTTPS://WWW.KULTUNAUT.DK/PERL/ARRMORE/TYPE-NYNAUT/UK?ARRNR=13799423

Céline M. International Photographer Portrait - Personal Branding - Lifestyle Every photo session includes a Consultation & Natural Signature retouch www.celinephotograph.com - info@celinephotograph.com SEPTEMBER 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

For more events around Denmark, check out the KultuNaut website: https://www.kultunaut.dk/perl/arrlist/type-nynaut/UK?DefaultGenre=turist

11

where can i find a copy?

If you've been missing the feel of paper between your fingers, you can pick up the latest issue at these public pick-up points around Denmark.

 PUBLIC PICK-UP POINTS ON SEALAND INTERNATIONAL HOUSE COPENHAGEN SOCIAL BREW HOOKED SEAFOOD RESTAURANT SPEAK LANGUAGE SCHOOL FREDERIKSBERG LIBRARY SYMBION RIGSHOSPITALET ASIA HOUSE MENY NORDHAVN KULTURHUSET MENY CPH S ROSKILDE UNIVERSITY (LIBRARY) ROSKILDE LIBRARY MENY HØRSHOLM HØRSHOLM LIBRARY NÆSTVED LIBRARY MENY NÆSTVED MENY RØNNEDE

GYLDENLØVESGADE - COPENHAGEN VESTER FARIMAGSGADE 3 - COPENHAGEN THORVALD BINDESBØLLS PL. 36 - COPENHAGEN BERNSTORFFSVEJ 20 - COPENHAGEN SOLBJERGVEJ 25 - COPENHAGEN FRUEBJERGVEJ 3 - COPENHAGEN BLEGDAMSVEJ 9 - COPENHAGEN INDIAKAJ 16 - COPENHAGEN SOUTHAMPTONGADE 2 - COPENHAGEN ISLANDS BRYGGE 18 - COPENHAGEN VERMLANDSGADE 51 - COPENHAGEN ABORETVEJ 1 - ROSKILDE DRONNING MARGRETHES VEJ 14 - ROSKILDE KONGEVEJS-CENTRET 6 - HØRSHOLM BIBLIOTEKSTORVET 1 - HØRSHOLM KVÆGTORVET 4, 6 - NÆSTVED ØSTERGADE 16-18 - NÆSTVED VORDINGBORGVEJ 517 - RØNNEDE

PUBLIC PICK-UP POINT ON FUNEN ODENSE KOMMUNE

SKULKENBORG 1, GROUND FLOOR - ODENSE

PUBLIC PICK-UP POINTS IN JUTLAND DOKK1 LIBRARY TIRNANOG IRISH BAR AARHUS UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL HOUSE NORTH DENMARK AALBORG UNIVERSITY NEWCOMER SERVICE VEJLE KOMMUNE VEJLE LIBRARY BILLUND ERHVERVSFREMME IKAST-BRANDE LIBRARY

HACK KAMPMANNS PLADS 2 - AARHUS FREDERIKSGADE 38-40 - AARHUS TRØJBORGVEJ 82-84 - AARHUS RANTZAUSGADE 4 - AALBORG NIELS JERNES VEJ 12, 1. SAL - AALBORG TORVEGADE 23 - ESBJERG SKOLEGADE 1 - VEJLE WILLY SØRENSENS PL. 1 - VEJLE KLØVERMARKEN 35 - BILLUND GRØNNEGADE 25 - IKAST

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THE IMPOSSIBLE AND POSSIBLE WINNIE TANGO SHARES HER STORY OF LIFE IN DENMARK

A CHARISMATIC WOMAN, A MOTHER OF ONE AND SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR, HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT PAIN, HOPES AND DREAMS. WINNIE TANGO NEVER GIVES UP.

PHOTOGRAPHS RAIMONDA KULIKAUSKIENE / WINNIE TANGO

THREE YEARS AGO, Winnie and her family decided to leave their home in Hong Kong and make a fresh start in Denmark. This now successful entrepreneur and loving single mother did not have a typical "falling in love with Denmark" beginning. Here, Winnie talks about love, a failed marriage, work and the constant positive attitude that helped her to get through challenging times.

Winnie was born in what was then British Hong Kong. Growing up back in the 1980s Hong Kong was already very international, and Winnie says this influenced her a lot. "I could never just sit alone in front of the computer; I always had a passion for working with people." She worked in various sectors; financial, airline and tourism industry to being self-employed before she came to Denmark. Her dedication and discipline to learn and master new skills quickly came from her background. She describes her childhood: "Back in Hong Kong, we have a joke about every mother being a 'Tiger Mum', which means that parents teach their children to behave in a certain way. When I was in school, my mom would always push me to be the first one, for example, to get the best grades. Naturally, I was under a lot of pressure, I always felt I have to be on top." She considered it very normal coming from this kind of background until she moved to Denmark and realised that parents focus primarily on the happiness of their children here. She offered this insight: The children in Denmark are encouraged to be playful and be themselves, whereas, in Hong Kong, I had to do homework every day from an early age." Winnie, mother to a 7-year-old girl, wants to give her daughter the best environment and believes that Denmark has a different way of looking at education, it provides various opportunities.

LOVE, STRUGGLES AND A NEW START IN DENMARK Winnie met her Danish partner who had a child from a previous relationship back in Hong Kong in 2006. They would visit Denmark from time to time and lived in Beijing for over a year, where Winnie opened her own cafĂŠ and beauty centre. When Winnie was ready to settle down and start a new family, it was the natural choice. The couple returned

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TEXT MARTINA POPADAKOVA

back to Hong Kong and got married in 2011. Two years later, Winnie became pregnant, and when their daughter was born, she stopped working to focus on her new-born. At the time, her husband was juggling a stressful job, long working hours, and was unable to spend time with his new family – that's when the cracks in the relationship started to appear. Winnie explains the reason behind their decision to move to Denmark: "We both tried to save our family and marriage, and when he was offered a position in Billund, we had to make a decision. It felt like the right decision. We hoped that moving to Denmark would give us a more stable ground and a promising 'work-life balance' environment."

DISAPPOINTMENT, THREAT, ESCAPE AND SUPPORT FROM THE DANISH COMMUNITY Winnie and her family moved to Denmark in the summer of 2017. Coming from a multicultural big city to sleepy Billund was a bit of a shock. "Moving to the home of LEGO, I imagined the city was close to the size of Copenhagen, which I had visited before. I remember arriving at Billund airport, and my impression was 'Did we arrive already? Is this Billund airport?' It was amusing because it took us barely five minutes to find the exit." Winnie quickly realised that she needed to adapt to a slow-paced and quiet town with not so many opportunities. "This new way of living was not such a big problem for me, because I prioritised my family and I hoped that this was the right environment to create a happier life."

With an already grown-up stepson and four-year-old daughter, Winnie was ready and excited to get back to work. "I could not just sit at home, I wanted to do something. But I, unfortunately, was not supported on this front, he was convinced that I needed to learn the language first to find a job." It is not in Winnie's nature to focus on a problem, but preferably on the solution instead, and at that time she believed that "If I cannot get a job without speaking Danish, then I will create something of my own." Her focus on getting back to the job market was postponed for another couple of months. The expectations of a more balanced life turned out to be more limiting and unhealthier. "I was not

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14

supported to find a job or socialise to extend my network. My husband's circumstances had changed too, with less working hours, less pressure and more free time, instead of spending time with our family, the cracks started to resurface again." Winnie was stuck in a dysfunctional marriage until the point where she started to fear for her and her daughter's safety.

It was the December evening before Christmas Eve that the situation escalated - threats of losing her daughter and freedom. "I had to either accept the reality that I'm in his country or if I try to change things, I might lose my daughter." She made a hard decision that night, fearing that Christmas would turn into disaster; "I packed our things, booked the only Airbnb nearby and left with my daughter early in the morning. I felt relieved that we were safe and free, but the biggest questions started worrying me 'will I lose my daughter? Can I find a place to live? How can I survive without work? How I can stay in Denmark?' We were still a married couple, and my visa was depending on it."

With an uncertain future but safe environment, Winnie would soon figure the way out. It was thanks to generous help and guidance of the Danish Airbnb owner, who felt something was not right. "For the owner, it was very suspicious to have a mom and daughter staying for the night on Christmas." When Winnie asked for an available apartment to rent, a Danish family offered her a place to stay during Christmas, until she would find a new place to start over.

During that time, she needed to make a decision about whether they will stay in Denmark or return back to Hong Kong. "I missed my home, I wanted to go back to Hong Kong, but at this moment, I had to consider the bigger picture. For me, it would be easy to go back to my country, where I speak the language and could start my own business again. But at the same time, I wanted the best for my daughter, and she already had a gap in her Hong Kong education, so I decided the best would be to continue living here in Denmark."

encountered one more challenge. On the recommendation of her Danish connection, she agreed to visit one of many 'Crisis Centres' for Violence and Family to get support, safe ground and guidance. It turned out to be a very painful experience for her. "When I arrived there, I saw a woman around my age holding a girl on one side and a trolley on the other. I will never forget the eyes of the little girl who was around the same age as my daughter. The way she looked and walked; you could feel the sadness in every move. From that day, I kept this picture in my head, but I promised myself at that moment I didn't want my daughter to come across in the same way to other people. I needed to take care of myself and my daughter." She decided to not join the Crisis Centre and move forward on her own. "This was a powerful moment when I made clear what I wanted and what I didn't want – I was not a victim."

With a new direction, Winnie continued expanding her business idea. "When I suggested my business idea to the business centre, it was taken off the table, and I was instead advised again to learn Danish first before starting a business."

Winnie wanted to work again and could not imagine spending the next 2 years just learning a language, instead, she decided how to go about it another way. "I should not focus on what is impossible, but I should focus on what is possible." Winnie was advised by many to give up on her dreams, but after what seemed like a very long year, things started to change. At the beginning of 2019, her divorce was finalised, she received her visa and most importantly, full custody of her child. This official independence set her on the plan to realise her dreams.

Combining her previous experiences in finance and tourism, she created a new opportunity to start a rental business in the home of LEGO, rich in tourists. "I invested in real estate, cooperated with investors, expanded and thus secured a safe base for my daughter and me. I had no choice, I had to make it happen, I risked it all."

When her business and life stabilised, she started thinking about her next steps. Last winter, Winnie was invited to cater a Christmas event for a group of LEGO employees. "It was a significant moment for me because one year ago, there were people that helped me when I needed, and this time, I wanted to give something back."

She turned it into a charity event and donated profits to the S.O.S Børnebyernes Organisation. The current corona crisis impacted every sphere of life and also Winnie's business. "All businesses felt it, of course, mine too, but overall, I am pleased it has survived the crisis, and I can continue and expand."

One of Winnie biggest steps has been to relocate to Copenhagen.

It was with a heavy heart that Winnie decided to leave her 'lille by' of Billund, the progressive city that has held her and her daughter close to its heart. However, this is not goodbye as she visits often due to her business interests in Billund - so she will still have a foot in Jutland. The main move to Copenhagen is not only to expand her creative side of her business but for her daughter's enrollment in the very popular International School of Hellerup - both are looking forward to the new adventure. While handling her business remotely, it is no surprise, Winnie is full of new ideas. "I really hope that one day I can do more work related to children from families in crisis. Also, to raise awareness for the Crisis Centres here in Denmark, where so

"I MISSED MY HOME, I WA N T E D TO G O B AC K TO HONG KONG, BUT AT THIS MOMENT, I HAD TO CONSIDER THE BIGGER PICTURE."

TAKING BACK INDEPENDENCE, A NEW BEGINNING AND LAUNCHING A BUSINESS When Winnie decided to move things forward at the beginning of 2018, she did not expect it would take so long. "I heard that divorce in Denmark is straightforward, but in the end, it was a long process due to issues with visas and custody. It took one year to figure everything out." In the meantime, she had a natural desire to do something. "I could not sit and wait, I started an education, searched many work websites, attended courses in the business centre. I wanted to understand the rules and build a base for creating my own business."

Winnie utilised her previous experiences; a passion for connecting people and a love for food, by launching her own catering service.

She catered two successful events at the beginning of her court cases, but she felt satisfied that she was doing something meaningful for Danish and international people in Billund. "I catered an event for the Connect Group of internationals under the umbrella of Billund Kommune, followed by the Swimming Cup Organization Event for 30 people." Winnie gained confidence in pursuing her business dream and bringing it to another level.

Before she really believed in her ability to achieve something, she

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15 many women seek a safe space. Unfortunately, many of them do not have enough resources to get back on their feet and start over, as I could and did. Thus, many stay dependent on this kind of support. There is a lot to reconsider the way these families are being helped, many times held back instead of moving forward."

After a challenging and tough 3 years of living in Denmark, Winnie feels that she is moving in the right direction. Through her experiences, we can all feel inspired by Winnie's positive attitude, as she described it: "Focus on what is possible, navigate the way to achieve it. Learn at the same time during the navigation of the process." Her story is inspiring and challenging, but she has always kept a smile on her face. THE-INTL

Winnie shares 3 tips for our international readers on how to feel more at home and stay positive: #1 I realised that the easiest way to connect with Danes is to talk

about food and the weather. Once you make some friends, you

can openly talk about any topics, from politics to personal things.

#2 To make new friends you should join social, cultural, and sports

events. This is the hardest part because you really need to get out

there.

#3 After some time away from home, you really start missing your

local food. Instead of craving the food I can't buy here, I buy a food

similar to the original and recreate my traditional food as a new

one. You would be surprised how many times it tastes much better

than before. Experiment!

"I REALLY HOPE THAT ONE DAY I CAN DO MORE WORK RELATED TO CHILDREN FROM FAMILIES IN CRISIS."

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16

LESSONS FROM A YEAR GONE BY

OPINION

PIECE

CONRAD EGBERT

COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST

I'VE BEEN AN EXPAT PRETTY MUCH ALL MY LIFE AND WHILE I COUNT DENMARK AMONG MY MOST PLEASANT EXPERIENCES, IT HAS ALSO TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING.

Conrad has 20 years’ experience as a journalist and editor.

He is also an aspiring author on the hunt for a suitable publisher. He moved to Copenha-

PHOTOGRAPHS CONRAD EGBERT / CÉLINE MARTIN-PEDERSEN

TEXT CONRAD EGBERT

gen from France in 2019 and loves to schmooze; he believes

L

LAST MONTH MADE it exactly one year since I moved to ‘Hap-

ble. But there’s just that much marketing can do for one’s reppy Copenhagen.’ Most of my time and energy over these past utation. Eventually, Denmark’s going to have to throw open its 12 months has been spent job hunting, acclimatising, listening books and cough up some real stats if it wants to hang on to it’s to and learning from internationals who arrived here before I reputation as progressive and forward-thinking. did, trying to understand the nuances of Nordic culture from On the other hand, 2020 has terrorised the world and those our patient and lovely Danish friends and finally trying to acof us living a Danish life also have a lot to be grateful for. How cept and adapt to all of the above. many of us living here have thought ‘thank goodness we’re livBut after 52 weeks of relentlessly doing my best, day in and ing in Denmark, especially in these times’? day out, including writing countless cover letters and updatLast month a friend of mine took his own life at 41, and while ing numerous résumés, preparing for and then eventually hyit left me emotionally paralysed for a few days, it also slapped perventilating over online psycho-analytical tests and finally me back into a humble state of reality. A state all of us have no tackling a couple of interviews like a mutant ninja turtle, I’m doubt been in at some point in our lives, but easily forget. We still not gainfully employed. I have a moan and complain about how unfair laughable collection of rejection letlife is to us until we see what others ters sitting in my inbox, suffer from don’t have. I also attended the 16th “It's incredible how much battered self-esteem and only recentbirthday celebration of a friend’s son more meaning you can give ly discovered what I’ve been feeling last month, who since birth, has sufto your life when you tweak these past few months, actually has fered from cerebral palsy. While turnyour perspective and see life a name – Imposter Syndrome. Yay! ing sixteen is a right of passage for for what it is - a one-time No doubt times have changed for most of us, it was nothing short of a chance to be your best.” the worse since I began applying for miracle for this beautiful young soul, jobs last year; Covid-19 has definitely who will never have a ‘normal’ life. foiled my chances of landing one, but Perhaps we’d all be better off focusthe honeymoon period is well and truly over and even though I ing on what we already have, for there are those who will nevstill don’t have all the answers, I do have a better understanding er have them. of how this most beautiful and equally bizarre country works.

So armed with this fresh state of mind, I return to university Is everything perfect? Nej. Is everything awful? Of course not. this month. I’ve also started volunteering for the Danish Red Is Copenhagen the happiest city in the world? Perhaps. But, acCross and LGBT+Danmark. Time waits for no one, so I decided cording to whom? If the answer were ethnic Danes, I’d agree I could either mope around at home like a grumpy apartment wholeheartedly. But for anyone else, I’m not quite sure. Almost cat or get out there and do something constructive. For those every non-Dane that I’ve met this past year has not only been of you like me who need to make a difference with your time, I unhappy with his or her life in Denmark but also profoundly urge you to sign up for some volunteer work. It’s incredible how bitter about it. How is it possible that so many people have such much more meaning you can give to your life when you tweak similarly negative experiences, yet Denmark carries on as one your perspective and see life for what it is – a one-time chance of the happiest countries in the world. Good marketing? Possito be your best. THE-INTL

SEPTEMBER 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

a good chat is far more healing than homeopathy. He’s of mixed Indian and English heritage and has worked across the Middle East, India and Europe. Earth is currently home and he considers himself a citizen of it. In winter, he loves coffee, croissants, candles and gin, but come summer, hawkers in Free-town Christiana are reduced to tears with his intrepid bargaining. He’s friendly and funny and cooks a mean curry. You can catch him at embassy parties or stirring up controversy at various hyggelig watering holes around the city. He’ll be your friend if you have a light. egbertconrad@gmail.com @kingegbert @egbertconrad Conrad Egbert www.linkedin.com/in/ conradegbert

17

B e s t BEAUTY BUYS

CLEAN NON-TOXIC BEAUTY TIPS THAT WILL NEVER GO OUT OF TREND Lipstick colours, eyebrow shapes, hairstyles always change each season. However, there are only a handful of beauty trends that are never out of season or trend. This month’s edition will be on clean, non-toxic beauty tips that will serve you good all year round. edge of what is clean and green to what is toxic. Choose products that contain little or no dodgy ingredients that are found surprisingly in leading beauty brands products.

Take time out to read the labels and counter research to see how toxin-free you want to go.

BARBARA MENSAH BEAUTY EDITOR & MAKEUP ARTIST Barbara was born in England, London and relocated to Copenhagen, Denmark in 2017.

She has been a professional International Makeup Art-

WATER IS YOUR BEST FRIEND! We all know the benefits of water, especially on the skin, with 60% of it forming the human body. Well-hydrated skin is the equivalent to the need of milk for a newborn baby. It is vital.

The key to supple, bouncy, fresh skin is simply to drink lots of water. Even more so during the summer season as overheating can lead to dry, dehydrated skin. Drinking water also helps to get rid of toxins which equate to radiant, glowing skin.

MATCH YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE TO THE SEASON In the wintertime, we instinctively switch to thicker, creamier face and body lotions and creams. The same instinct should be used during summer. Be mindful of your skin type and the season you’re currently in.

SOME HELPFUL TIPS AND HINTS  Summer can be humid, make sure you have antioxidants in the products you use. Make sure to look out for ingredients such as AHA’s and BHA’s  Hydration, Hydration, Hydration, look for products that hydrate the skin  Those of you who struggle with oily skin, try to use oil-free products, this goes for mascara, foundations, toners etc.  Always match your skincare routine to the season.

I recommend 100% Pure - Restorative Sea Culture Extra Riche Créme - 386.29 DKK - www.100percent.com

ist for 11 years and a professional Lash Stylist for 3 years.

After moving to Copenhagen,

SPF IS LIFE!

Denmark, Barbara became

To keep skin looking youthful, vibrant and radiant, use SPF! Look out for it in the moisturisers, body lotions and serums. Use daily to protect your skin from prematurely ageing. SPF’s protect the skin from harmful UV rays that cause dullness, loss of firmness and uneven pigmentation, often referred to as sunspots. The best options when choosing non-toxic SPF is to select a mineral-based serum sunscreen, always selecting the highest dose of SPF whenever possible.

A great one to try is SuperGoop - Glowscreen sunscreen SPF40 - 288.31 DKK - www.revolve.com

the owner of Barbara Mensah Beauty Studio. Her stylish, cosy and chic studio provides a welcoming, comfortable space for clients to spend their time getting glammed and pampered for those special moments and occasions.

All bookings for Lash Extension and Makeup can be made via her social media or tel: +45 53564504 barbaramensah. beauty@gmail.com @barbara.mensah.beauty @barbaramensahbeauty

COULD NON- TOXIC PRODUCTS BE THE WAY FORWARD? Not all the latest and popular skincare and makeup products are good for you. It’s essential to get some knowl-

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DESIGNING THE GOOD LIFE IN ESBJERG MEET A FASHION-FORWARD ENTREPRENEUR PUTTING DOWN ROOTS FOR HER FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS CATRIONA TURNER / CÉLINE MARTIN-PEDERSEN / NOBELZ

TEXT CATRIONA TURNER

W

WHEN ITALIAN YVONNE MONTRONE considered the move from glamorous Shanghai to settling in Esbjerg with her Danish husband, Ian, in 2017, it seemed an easy decision for their family of five.

But leaving behind the business, she had poured herself into? That was a tougher transition.

“Ian and I met in Germany, where he was working as a designer, and I was a buyer for the same fashion retailer,” she explains. “We lived in Copenhagen for a while, and our oldest daughter, Zoë, was born there. Then, in 2012, Ian got an offer from a big retailer in Shanghai.”

Life in Shanghai was “an intense period. After 18 months, our second daughter, Cloë, was born, and our third, Nera, came 16 months after that. I was on a rollercoaster ride of life as an expat, and a mom, and with a growing family. But I felt like I wasn’t developing. I had left behind a great career, and I needed a challenge.”

That was when she conceived the jewellery brand, With Love from Zoë. Yvonne had so much success at craft markets that she and Ian opened a boutique selling both clothing and jewellery. “The business was in a really good position when I left, so it was sad, because we had built this great customer base which was almost impossible to keep.”

PULLED BACK TO ESBJERG But they were craving cleaner air and connection to family, so they set their sights on Esbjerg, where Ian grew up.

“Ian really loves Esbjerg” says Yvonne, and he chimes in: “I’ve left Esbjerg many times for a job, but I always end up coming back!”

Yvonne was convinced there was potential to recreate what she had begun in China, so she started with home parties where she sold her With Love From Zoë jewellery. Soon they opened a small shop, adding clothing to the range, and now they have a bigger store, Nobelz, on Skolegade, where they display their own creations as well as unique brands that aren’t

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 available anywhere else in Europe.

They moved to be closer to Ian’s family, But she’s keen to stress that Nobelz and they certainly achieved that – the chilis “more than just a shop.” As well as a dren live right next door to their cousins! growing focus on online customers, she “And I love being close to the beach, for all offers private events, “so that customthat fresh air and outdoor living we needers have the chance ed,” says Yvonne. to get out with Does Esbjerg "LIVING HERE AS A FAMILY, their friends, and feel like home now?

IT 'S BEAUTIFUL. I DON'T FEEL “It became home shop over a glass of wine.” It’s an imbecause I have my SO RESTLESS ANY MORE. portant strategy in family here.” But NOW, I FEEL ROOTED." adapting the busihaving grown up ness to succeed in between Italy and a smaller city. “There is less traffic for Germany, she says, “I have felt a bit restthe shop here, which is one of the biggest less – I feel 100% Italian, but there’s alchallenges. But it’s a positive challenge so part of me in Germany. I can be home because we know there is potential. anywhere in the world where I have my “We strongly believe that we can grow husband and kids. But what I appreciate here, and we can stand out. That’s a great having now is a base for my family.” She part of being in Esbjerg.” exhales deeply, with a sense of calm. “I don’t feel so restless any more. Now, I feel FRESH AIR AND FAMILY rooted.” THE-INTL The other great benefit is the lifestyle.

You can check out the range and order on“Living here as a family, it’s beautiful.” line at nobelz.dk

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

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19

VOLUNTEERING AT

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES MOVING TO A NEW COUNTRY, THERE ARE MANY NEW THINGS TO FIGURE OUT. THIS ISSUE WE FOCUS ON CHILDREN’S AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, AND HOW TO FIND INFORMATION IN YOUR AREA OF DENMARK.

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK

TEXT JOSEPHINE WAN

B

BOTH PARENTS AND children benefit from recreational activities.

While some activities work better with individual participation, others do better with group participation.

CHILDREN’S LEISURE TIME 67 percent of 1,659 ninth grade pupils have regular recreational activities according to a survey https://www.boerneraadet.dk/media/236424/BRD_PIXI_Unges-fritidsliv_tilgaengelig_web.pdf made by the Children’s Council (Børnerådet) in 2018. The survey also shows that these children are happy with having recreational activities because they make new friends, learn new activities, and get into good shape, etc.

JOSEPHINE WAN

CHILDREN DEVELOP VALUABLE QUALITIES

PRODUCT MANAGER

Besides making new friends and becoming good at specific sports/ activities, they also learn and grow their skills in communication, understanding, decision making, cooperation and (co)leadership at a young age. These valuable qualities benefit them later in their teenager and adult life.

CLUBS RUN BY MOSTLY VOLUNTEERS Subsidies can be applied for from the local council (kommune) by the clubs, and most club positions are run by volunteers who are often parents of the children that attend the clubs. It’s typical to see parents take on coaching roles in football teams. Older children can also be co-coaches for younger teams. Danes have this unique volunteering culture, and it really benefits recreational life in Denmark. Volunteering helps minimise the economic expenses of the clubs and the membership fees so that the clubs can optimise their resources, and more children can afford to join.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR PARENTS? Besides happy children, parents also gain something for themselves. As mentioned earlier, most clubs depend on parents’ voluntary participation (some clubs do require it). It means you will be helping from fixed tasks to offering carpooling to training facilities, matches, etc. when necessary. This will bring you new networks, new friendships, and new interests, which are exciting and precious, especially if you are new in Denmark. You can also improve your Danish by interacting with others.

WHERE TO FIND INFORMATION? There are many recreational activities in Denmark to choose from.

These are only a few examples: You can find the clubs (foreninger) around you by typing in your postal code in the search bar on this website: https://www.dgi. dk/foreninger

"BESIDES HAPPY CHILDREN, PARENTS A L S O G A I N S O M ETHING FOR THEMSELVES."

Most sports clubs divide their training teams by a g e g r o u p s . “ U 1 5 ” will be the team for children that are (around) 15 years old.

If you are searching for swimming lessons for your children on the internet, you can type (svømmeklub) and your city name after it.

Swimming classes are usually divided by skills, and they always inform you how deep the water is in the section of the pool you will be swimming.

If you are looking for a choir nearby, you can search on this website: https://korsang.dk/kor-i-danmark Most of the clubs’ websites are only in Danish. If you haven’t mastered the Danish language yet, don’t worry. You can either write them an email in English to ask for more information, or you can simply ask the other parents in your neighbourhood when you meet them on the streets. This can be an icebreaker, and you will start conversations and possibly friendships with them. You can also use your city’s Facebook group page – we are blessed to be in a technology-friendly era, and most people are always happy to help. THE-INTL

Born and raised in international Hong Kong, Josephine developed her interests in languages and culture from an early age. She speaks Cantonese, Mandarin, English, German and Danish, and she has travelled to over 20 countries.

Living in Denmark since 1999, she’s been a Danish citizen for 10 years and speaks fluent Danish, and considers herself fully integrated.

However, she still remembers the challenges when she first moved here: the language barrier, who to ask for help and advice, etc.

She hopes to contribute and share useful insights and positive experiences with other internationals through her articles. https://www.facebook. com/trainofthoughtBYjose phinewan @my_train_of_thought_ by_jj https://dk.linkedin.com/in/ jjyanyanwan

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20

THE ADVENT OF THE EUROPEAN FEDERATION EUROPE’S HAMILTONIAN MOMENT

PHOTOGRAPHS VISITAALBORG / ISTOCK

TEXT NARCIS GEORGE MATACHE

O

OUR FATE AS Europeans, our coming together is marked by situations of crisis and disaster. The bigger the disaster, the closer we got in its aftermath. At the end of the Second World War, the survivors wanted peace more than anything, and that gave birth to the European project. At the end of the Cold War, the west and east Europeans had been reunited, and that gave birth to the European citizen. Now, during a pandemic, the creation of joint European debt will give birth to the European Federation.

As a federalist activist, I celebrated so-called Europe’s Hamiltonian moment. That is because if the name awarded will hold true, then the European Union will evolve into a powerful federation that will lead the fight against climate change and allow us to hope that we actually stand a chance.

The moment is named after Alexander Hamilton because he is the artisan of a deal that led to the creation of federal debt, which allowed the United States to go from a loose confederation of states to a powerful federation that dominated the globe for the past century.

The three Hamiltonian political leaders that made our moment possible are Emmanuel Macron (France), Angela Merkel (Germany) and Ursula Von der Leyen (European Commission). The trio had to overcame the reluctance from the leaders of Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Finland and to compromise with the leaders of Poland and Hungary (the two bad boys of Europe). The final deal is not as powerful as first envisioned, but it is a deal agreed by all the member states of the European Union.

The deal brings a European Recovery Fund in value of 750 billion euro that will be injected into the European economy in the next 2 years, to protect as many jobs as possible. The European Union will acquire common debt at very low interest (interest impossible to be obtained by a member state alone) to fund the post-pandemic recovery, and it will collect direct taxes on plastic waste, carbon trading, financial transactions and a digital levy.

WHERE WILL OUR MONEY GO? With the post-pandemic recovery deal, an agreement over the next 7 years budget has also been made. The budget will reach over 1 billion euro, and it will mean a contribution of 1.4% of the gross domestic product of each member state.

A large part of the budget will go towards cohesion projects (over 202 billion euro) so that less developed regions of the European Union can catch up economically with the well-developed ones. Another large part of the budget is for supporting European agriculture (over 356 billion euro) to make sure we have enough food and for developing the rural areas. Over 87 billion

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NARCIS GEORGE MATACHE POLITICIAN

euro will go towards youth employment, up-skilling and retraining of workers, social inclusion and poverty reduction (which includes child poverty).

Our taxes allow young Europeans to travel and study abroad, give support to our poor neighbouring countries to further develop, protect our external borders, upgrade our existing digital, energy and transport infrastructure, and so on. If you are interested in how our money is spent and what difference it makes in the world, then check the website https://what-europe-does-forme.eu/en/portal Having a European budget allows the EU to have a collective dream, and the larger the budget, the more we all can benefit from it. THE-INTL

"WHEN CRISIS HITS, WE DON' T TURN AGAINST EACH OTHER. NO, WE LISTEN TO EACH OTHER, WE LEAN ON EACH OTHER, BECAUSE WE ARE ALWAYS STRONGER TOGETHER." - MICHELLE OBAMA

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. www.facebook.com/ NarcisGeorge.Matache/

21

THE MAN BEHIND PET CARE In this issue we have a peek behind the scenes of our pet expert Tarek. Veterinarian by education, an adventurer and entrepreneur by heart. He's learnt to reinvent himself in order to adapt to new countries, cultures and whatever life throws his way. Here he shares his journey to Denmark and his upcoming changes in his business.

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK / UNSPLASH.COM / TAREK ABU SHAM

TEXT TAREK ABU SHAM

I

IN 2017, I moved to Denmark with my spouse and our long-haired Persian cat, Marina. I fell head over heels with the country and culture, and I felt so lucky to be living in Copenhagen. Shortly after settling into our new Danish life of smørrebrød and hygge, we were invited to attend a close friend's wedding back in the U.S.; the problem was that we didn't have anyone to look after Marina.

A delicate queen who hates to be moved around, especially after a big overseas transition, Marina was perfectly content to stay behind in Copenhagen. As I was researching pet care options in Copenhagen, surprisingly, there weren't many to choose from. I had to go with a cat shelter outside of Copenhagen based on a friend's recommendation. It was unsettling for me to leave our cat at a shelter.

Despite it being immaculate with an adequate-sized cage, it wasn't the right fit for Marina. She - like many cats – are territorial, and when you take them out of their homes, it stresses them out. Cats are susceptible to stress.

Upon my return from the U.S., I wanted to take things into my own hands and figure out a stress-free fix for pet care when people travel. At the same time, I was asked by a few peers, who knew of my background as a veterinarian, if I could watch over their pets.

I said yes in a heartbeat. The requests continued coming by word of mouth, and this is how The Pet-agrees came to life.

It has been a rewarding experience to continue working with animals and hear from satisfied pet parents in return. I started this company because I knew what other worried pet parents felt like when they had to leave their pets behind. And as a veterinarian, I devoted myself to studying animals so I can better understand them and help them.

With passing time, the company grew, as did the team, the responsibilities, and the challenges. One of our biggest challenges and a shock - was when we received a cease and desist letter from a huge corporation asking us to shut down because our name was too close to theirs. With over a year of weighing our options and talking to lawyers, I have finally come to peace with the fact that our name will no longer be The Pet-agrees, despite all the positive feedback we received from our community.

Since we were going to push the restart button, we made sure to put some thought and effort into the new name to ensure that it

TAREK ABU SHAM OWNER, THE PET-AGREES

"I STARTED THIS COMPANY BECAUSE I KNEW WHAT OTHER WORRIED PET PARENTS FELT LIKE WHEN THEY HAD TO LEAVE THEIR PETS BEHIND, AND AS A VETERINARIAN, I DEVOTED MYSELF TO STUDYING ANIMALS SO I CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THEM AND HELP THEM." wouldn't bring us another unwelcome legal bump. We also wanted a name that would be descriptive and self-explanatory, describing what we do in an easy and understandable way. So, we decided to rename the company to My Peterinarian. We thought this would be a great new name since our team comes with a background in veterinary education.

The change of the company name won't affect us or the type of services we offer. On the contrary, we are moving on and heading in the direction we have always aimed for. We still provide the same stress and fuss-free experience for our pet parent community.

We are still committed to our vision of creating a world where quality pet care is a priority, and to our mission of providing the best professional pet services out there.

So make sure to keep an eye on our website and social media platforms as we will keep you updated with all our new and exciting developments. 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

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22

PARENT'PRENEURS

IF YOU'RE A PARENT, YOU KNOW THAT RAISING A CHILD IS A FULL-TIME JOB, AND BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR IS MUCH MORE THAN A FULL-TIME JOB. BOTH ARE INCREDIBLY HIGH-STRESS ENDEAVOURS WITH IRREGULAR HOURS. NOW IMAGINE DOING BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. WHO WOULD WANT TO DO THAT? PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK / UNSPLASH.COM

TEXT LAURA WINTEMUTE

B

BEING YOUR OWN boss is great, and the typical "Danish working week of Monday - Friday, 08:30-16:30" is now a thing of the past. But all of a sudden you have a whole new set of demands – balancing kids, family, and your business (sometimes all under the same roof). The standard 08:30-16:30 suddenly becomes 06:0020:00 and even pushing into late evening and weekends!

WHEN YOU WORK, YOU WORK. WHEN YOU'RE THE PARENT, BE THE PARENT. When I started my company here in Denmark back in 2017, my daughter had just turned seven years old. Wonderful age but still very dependent on us, her parents. We needed to pick her up and drop her off from school and after school activities. Plus all the obligations like parent-teacher meetings at the school and social gatherings make parenthood very time-consuming. In the beginning, I found it a little difficult scheduling around my daughters riding lessons, swimming lessons and playdates. Juggling schedules with my husband to see who could pick up was a daily discussion.

LAURA WINTEMUTE OWNER, HOMESTEAD

SHUT OFF! Being self-employed typically means we never "really" take time off. At least I didn't believe I could in the beginning, but now I do.

It was so important to me to still be there for my daughter, whenever she needed me, not just physically but mentally as well. During our summer holidays this year, we spent time up at a family summer house up in Northern Jutland. No internet, no cable. It was bliss. We played games, we went for walks and bike rides. We even went horseback riding. I completely shut off - until I found Wi-Fi. My Danish husband is continually reminding me to set my out of office reply and telling me that nothing is so crucial that it can't wait until we return. No Dane would expect a response late in the evening, especially when they know you are on vacation, and you don't find too many Danes checking work emails when on vacation. That's why they are world-renowned for worklife balance. After being self-employed for over three years, I can proudly say I have created my own work-life balance.

Here are some of the things I do in order to reach my own work-life balance as an entrepreneur.  Delegate tasks when possible  Turn emails off when you are off  Never reply to emails after hours  Don't be afraid to say no Work-life balance is critical for entrepreneurs. Why? Because being an entrepreneur is hard work. If your life is out of balance, you won't be able to excel in any area. I know I personally have a hard time just shutting off. I find myself checking emails and

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SoMe more and more often, sometimes hiding in the bathroom or in bed just before falling asleep. We must find a way to integrate the things that are important to us, like family time, while still growing our business.

We all need to learn to shut off. Don't let being a parent stop you from taking the chance of becoming or staying self-employed, but don't let your business take away from what really matters in your life, having that crucial time with your family. THE-INTL

"IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ME TO STILL BE THERE FOR MY DAUGHTER, WHENEVER SHE NEEDED ME, NOT JUST PHYSICALLY BUT MENTALLY AS WELL."

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 Your Settling in Experts. www.homesteaddenmark.com

23

JUTL AND

AARHUS SUPPORTING

INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP AARHUS AND EASTERN JUTLAND IS HOME TO MANY INTERNATIONALLY-MINDED COMPANIES AND ORGANISATIONS THAT ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF THE AREA. INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL TAKE YOU BY THE HAND AND SHOW YOU THE DIVERSE SCENE ON WHICH INTERNATIONALISATION IS BUILT. THIS MONTH WE GIVE THE FLOOR TO ONE OF OUR OWN NETWORKS – THE INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP FORUM.

PHOTOGRAPHS VISITAARHUS / VARIOUS

TEXT INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AARHUS

E RUNI PHOTOPOP

ERHVERV AARHUS AND International Community interviewed executives in 2018 and identified the ability to attract and retain foreign international executives as one of their significant challenges. International executives are in high demand in Danish companies and boards.

The International Leadership Forum was founded to address precisely that issue; how to create an environment in Business Region Aarhus that helped put the region on the map not only for Internationals but international leaders and executives.

The charter for The International Leadership Forum is to support the needs of international executives in the Aarhus region and the unique challenges that come along with their roles. The International Leadership Forum provides a network for those senior international leaders and executives to share experience, inspiration and learn from each other in the challenges and opportunities leading in Denmark. The forum welcomes both executives coming to Denmark for the first time as well as returning Danish executives after a period abroad. Events are held exclusively in English and often at noteworthy cultural venues and inspiring companies in and around Aarhus.

"Being a member of The International Leadership Forum has benefited me both on a professional and social level. It has helped me feel more connected to not only Aarhus but a group of likeminded people to discuss cross-cultural modern leadership issues." - Tanya Hené, Vice President Operations, Arla Foods Ingredients

"The International Leadership forum is unique in Denmark.

We have identified a gap in the internationalisation of the area and are seeking to fill it.

Our members are more engaged and feel more strongly connected to Aarhus. In time we hope to offer input and advice on international policy that affects the International Community here in Aarhus." - Ken Cordes, International Leadership Committee Chair and Managing Director, Emerson

Aarhus Municipality was supportive from the start. Erhverv Aarhus and International Community formed a steering committee that is focused on the growth of the group and the needs of the members. Formed in 2019 the group has over 45 members and meets every quarter. The International leadership Forum provides a network for senior leaders and executives to help them feel more integrated into the area. It is often difficult for internationals to settle and establish connections – this forum provides that connection.

Internationalisation is a key initiative for the Aarhus Municipality and the broader Business Region Aarhus. This network also provides hiring companies with an advantage by offering an independent network that helps newly-arrived international leaders and executives a forum to connect and grow. THE-INTL

Erhverv Aarhus (Business Network Aarhus) founded The International Leadership Forum (ILF) in 2018 with the support of the City of Aarhus to nourish the potential, experience and opportunities that international leaders bring to the Aarhus area. The forum aims to make Danish business, political and cultural life more accessible and understandable for internationally-minded leaders.

The steering committee is made up of Arnold Boon (Aarhus University), Tanya Hene (Arla), Brian Woodward (BOA Consult) and Ken Cordes (Emerson / Erhverv Aarhus).

Membership is by invitation only. ILF holds open events regularly that give interested executives and developing leaders chance to meet current members and experience an ILF event firsthand.

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

www.erhvervaarhus.dk www.international community.dk

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24

TOP TIPS TO FINDING A JOB IN DENMARK Job searching can be challenging and tiring, so it is important to know and accept that it is a process.

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

PHOTOGRAPHS VISITAARHUS / ISTOCK

TEXT GREETE ELURI

T

THERE ARE DAYS, where you go forward and days, where you sit still. Do not give up and keep going - you will find your spot.

THESE ARE THE SEVEN STEPS WHICH CAN HELP YOU GET CLOSER TO YOUR GOAL. USE YOUR NETWORK - ACTIVELY USE IT. Reach out to people, let them know what and where you are searching. Ask interesting and relevant people out for coffee meetings. Remember, the idea with coffee meetings is to get to know someone and exchange knowledge, not to get a job.

GREETE ELURI JOB CONSULTANT

BE SOCIAL AND GET OUT THERE - LITERALLY. Back in 2015, I made the mistake of only looking for a job online - this is a nogo. Over 50% of employment in Denmark do not even make it online, so there is a lot of ‘action’ going on behind the scenes. If you do not know people and people do not know you, you are missing out, big time.

Find interesting events via Linkedin, Facebook and Eventbrite to attend. You never know who you can meet. Once you have met someone face-to-face, they are more likely to share their network and help you further.

CALL THE HIRING MANAGER, IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT ABOUT A POSITION. Yes, it is common practice in Denmark. Prepare the questions, for example: “Which skills are most important in this role?

What do you weight the most as a hiring manager?” Only call, if you are prepared and know what to ask - you do not want to ask a question, which you can already find in a job ad. This would not be a good start and might ruin your chances.

APPLY EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT 100% QUALIFIED - THIS APPLIES ESPECIALLY FOR FEMALE CANDIDATES. If you can do

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50% of the job, apply. The hiring process can be long, complicated, and the final decisions are often made once the company has gathered all the CV’s. You probably have something else to offer, which other candidates do not. Many skills can be taught, and it is also essential that you are a good fit for the team - this is more difficult to change, compared to learning a new skill. Be as specific as possible and let the company know what you can do for them, how can you solve their problems.

BE CONSISTENT AND PERSISTENT KEEP TRACK OF WHO YOU HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH. If you are talking to people, remember to follow up, it is your job, people will not do that. If someone said: “I might have something for you in two months” then mark it in your calendar and reach out again in two months. Take notes, in excel or calendar, of whom you have been in contact with, what they said, and what is the next step.

DANSK - LET ME MAKE THIS SHORT. If you plan to stay and work in Denmark, I

IF SOMEONE SAID: "I MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU IN TWO MONTHS" THEN MARK IT IN YOUR CALENDAR AND REACH OUT AGAIN IN TWO MONTHS.

strongly recommend you to learn the language.

SAY “THANK YOU”. I personally think that it is important to recognise the help you have gotten in your journey. The emails, calls, shared contacts and coffee meetings - it all counts. Sometimes a nice small message can make your day and make a huge difference, so say ‘Thank you’ to those people.

If you are interested in more job-seeking content, you are welcome to connect with me https://www.linkedin.com/in/greeteeluri/ THE-INTL

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. greete.eluri@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/ in/greeteeluri/

25

WHY IS IT SO HARD

TO LEARN DANISH? COMPASSION, PATIENCE AND SUPPORT MAY BE THE KEY.

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK

H

“HOW LONG HAVE you been in Denmark? You should already speak Danish!” “Do you have a Danish partner? Why don't you already speak the language?” Does this kind of feedback resemble your own experience? Then you are not the only one. Internationals in Denmark face many challenges while learning Danish.

As a result of “why it takes so long” is a frustration of many - for some, it takes two, five or even ten years – and still, the battle is evident to understand and speak it at a local level.

Either we aren’t trying hard enough, or Denmark’s language is really one of the hardest to learn in terms of the amount of time (years) invested in learning. Surprisingly, none of this is true.

TEXT MARTINA POPADAKOVA

Å Ø

Æ

IS DANISH REALLY AS DIFFICULT AS ITS REPUTATION SUGGESTS? According to The Foreign Service Institute, the Danish language is a “category 1” in terms of the amount of time needed to learn it. It is not generally harder than languages like German, French or English. There are challenging and easy elements in all languages – grammar can be complicated, while sounds are easy, or vice versa. Therefore, the idea that it is not possible to rank the languages in terms of difficulty makes sense.

The perception of difficulty depends on a particular linguistic background and a person’s first language. Kasper Boye, associate professor at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Nordic Studies and linguistics, described to The Local: “For a Norwegian or Swede, for example, with all else being equal, Danish will be easier than learning English, German or French, because Danish resembles Swedish or Norwegian far more than English, German or French do.”

WHAT IS THE REAL STRUGGLE? It is a high number of vowels that makes it challenging to get our tongues around. Boye explains that Danish has 20 vowels by conservative analysis and 30 by a less-than conservative analysis.

While approximately 50% of the world’s existing languages have five vowels and English has around ten vowels, which is already a lot. To produce such a disproportionately high number of ‘click’ sounds is not for the faint-hearted. It is quite an effort to pronounce these vowels correctly, which thus makes the whole process of learning longer and harder.

Furthermore, it is difficult to understand this fast-spoken language. Danish is a combination of flat, monotonous and softly spoken sounds. It almost sounds to someone who just arrived in Denmark as “mumbling”, but it is just the way the language sounds.

Once we get on board with the basic understanding, it gets easier to recognise words.

MARTINA POPADAKOVA BLOGGER - CREATOR OF EMPOWERMENT JOURNEY Martina is Slovak by blood and a Global Citizen by heart. She has completed an MSc in International Security & Law at the University of Southern Denso depends on education and working environment. If English is the primary speaking language, then the need and motivation to master Danish declines. All circumstances together make it hard to practice Danish daily.

mark in 2018. Over the last 2

MORE PATIENCE AND SUPPORT

tifaceted and committed with

Attending Sprogskole (language school) for a couple of hours a week is simply not quick enough. If we want to master our Danish faster, it is necessary to ask and to expect the patience and support from Danes. Many of us don’t feel comfortable using our Danish in everyday life, because we have not mastered the pronunciation yet. Every day chit-chat is the key to practice the sounds that are so challenging to many of us. Be proud of your level of Danish, order your coffee and beer in Danish, answer the cashier in the supermarket in Danish, talk to your friends in Danish and make them listen, soon you will be speaking like the locals. THE-INTL

an unwavering passion for hu-

ALMOST EVERYBODY SPEAKS ENGLISH Danes are really good at English, and the slightest detection of a foreign accent will push the conversation back to English. It al-

cilitator and project coordinator in various NGOs. She is mul-

man rights. Martina is a creator of Empowerment Journey, aiming to raise awareness about SDG5- Gender Equality, and to promote personal growth and continuous learning. “Empower yourself to empower others.”

Sources: https://omnibus.au.dk/en/archive/show/artikel/mord-eller-morderfor-er-det-saa-svaert-at-laere-dansk/ https://www.thelocal.dk/

DANES ARE PERFECTIONISTS The problem arises when it comes to speaking the language by internationals. English, as such, is understandable even with a thick accent. Danes will struggle to understand if the accent is off, a phrase mispronounced, or a word missing.

years, she has worked as a fa-

CHINESE PROVERB

“To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.”

www.empowermentjourney.com www.linkedin.com/in/ martina-popadakova/ www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=1107008696 @martinapopadakova

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26

KEEPING THE SUMMER GLOW

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-

Films and books are an amazing way of feeling the warmth of summers past, especially if they are combined. Here are some of my favourites that have stood the test of time, for me. Enjoy!

BEST BEACH COMPANION EVER!

BEAUTIFUL, ENGAGING AND HARSH

JAWS (1975)

STAND BY ME (1986)

When a killer shark

Four boys on the edge

unleashes mayhem on

of manhood have a last

a little coast town de-

summer outing; ru-

p e n d i n g o n h o l i d ay

mour has it that a body

tourists to survive, it is

has been discovered in

up to a local sheriff, a

the woods. They are

marine biologist and an

not the only ones look-

old seaman to overrule

ing though, and during

the mayor and hunt

the trip, both enemies

the beast down. But it

and a loss of innocence

comes at a cost.

occur.

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BRILLIANT, ROMANTIC AND HEARTWARMING SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (2008) Jamal is a penniless orphan from the slums of Mumbai and one question away from winning a fortune in television’s biggest quiz show. He is arrested on suspicion of cheating, because how can an eighteenyear- old uneducated man know so many answers?

ror, a club dedicated to scaring the town.

WONDERFUL, FUNNY AND WISE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL (2011) Seven elderly brits are going to India to spend their autumn years in a palace. The reality is quite different, and their individual reactions force them all to go outside their everyday routines and behaviour. Maybe the end can be a new beginning.

DID YOU KNOW? Pub quizzes are a staple of pubs everywhere and if you can have quizzes at your public house, so you can at your public library! Set your team and join us, if you are coming alone we will help you find a team. There will a reasonably priced bar.

Thursday 17th of September 19-22, pick up free tickets here: https://www.place2book.com/sw2/sales/ hotwpizjhq

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A LONG ROAD, AND MANY A THROW AN INTERVIEW WITH THOMAS GRONNEMARK

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK

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EXPATS, ALMOST BY definition, are the type of people with big dreams, who come from unusual backgrounds, who think outside of the box. Although not an expat, this also perfectly describes Thomas Gronnemark. Gronnemark is a professional throw-in coach from Denmark. He was also an Olympic bobsledder and held the Guinness world record for the longest throw-in. Despite all odds, he’s now coaching some of the top clubs in Europe, most notably Liverpool FC. “It’s totally OK that you’re laughing,” Gronnemark said “I’m laughing myself, and sometimes I say it’s the weirdest job in the world. But the fact that we are laughing about my job says it all.”

What does it say? Simply, we would not be laughing about it if he were not succeeding. And like the long and bumpy road that many expats face when moving to a new country, including Denmark, Gronnemark’s path to success was not so straight forward.

He started coaching throw-ins for Viborg in 2004, before moving on to FC Midtjylland a few years later. However, these clubs were only interested in his long throws. In Midtjylland’s case, they used long throw-ins to devastating effect, scoring 35 goals in 4 seasons and winning two Superliga titles while Gronnemark

TEXT ZACHARY A. MARX

was involved with the club.

However, Gronnemark thought he had much more to offer. He wanted to offer what he calls “The whole package: cleaver, fast, and long throw-ins.”

“As the years went by, I got more and more frustrated, because the clubs – even though I had a lot of success – the clubs only wanted my knowledge around the long throw-in. Like ‘how can we take as many long throw-ins as possible, how can you develop the players with the long throw-ins?’” Gronnemark explained.

“So it was successful, but I was frustrated because you can only take a few long throw-ins in a match and there are all the other throw-ins around the pitch. I just wanted to give that knowledge to clubs because they were losing the ball nearly every time they had a throw-in.”

In 2018, after 14 years of coaching mostly long throw-ins for Danish clubs, he got his chance from an unlikely place. Liverpool Football Club, one the most storied clubs in England and Europe, fresh off of a defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League Final, came calling for him. Indeed, it was world-famous manager Jurgen Klopp who called Gronnemark directly.

The results speak for themselves. Since Gronnemark started working with Liverpool in the summer of 2018, they have won the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. And this year, Liverpool ended their 30-year English title drought.

When Gronnemark first came to Liverpool, there were segments of the media who were openly mocking him. Who needs a throw-in coach? But it was precisely this outside of the box thinking that helped Liverpool – and Gronnemark – succeed.

“I’m not a football coach. I don’t have any football education.

I’m totally sure that if I had taken youth coaching education, then [coaching certifications] UEFA C, B, A, and then Pro, I’d never be a throw-in coach, because when you’re in an environment and not developing a lot, or doing things that they did 5 or 10 or 30 years ago, then it’s really hard to be innovative.”

According to Gronnemark, his success in this one area of specialisation is because of, not despite his unique background.

His story is also one that gives me hope as an expat. It is the story of a dreamer who had a passion and skill set they wished to share with the world, and just needed the right opportunity to prove themselves. It is fair to say that Thomas Gronnemark got the last laugh. THE-INTL

ZACHARY A. MARX ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT, WRITER, AND RESEARCHER Zachary A. Marx is an American with experience living, working, and studying abroad in Japan, Korea, Germany, Finland, and Denmark. He is an environmental activist and climate leader with a master’s in International Environmental Law from the University of Eastern Finland. He lives in Herning, Denmark with his wife and daughter. www.80couches.com www.twitter. com/80couches www.linkedin.com/in/ zachary-a-marx/

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EMBRACING THE NEW

NORMAL IN TRAVEL EMBRACE SLOW TRAVEL AND EXPLORING LOCAL TO MAKE TOURISM SUSTAINABLE

ERIN GUSTAFSON WRITER & BLOGGER

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PHOTOGRAPHS ERIN GUSTAFSON

TEXT ERIN GUSTAFSON Erin is a travel writer and culture hound exploring a life

HOW MUCH OF Denmark did you discover this summer? With

government-supported incentives to explore more locally - many making a life here took advantage to see more of this pretty little country this season. While some braved boarding planes for flights abroad, lots more took to the road and toured nearer to home this year. As it turns out, this trend towards “slow travel’ has positive impacts for both people and the planet. In the wake of a lockeddown world, destinations have been able to reset and reimagine what tourism could look like. And we, as travellers, can help.

“Sustainability must no longer be a niche part of tourism but must be the new norm for every part of our sector. This is one of the central elements of our Global Guidelines to Restart Tourism.

It is in our hands to transform tourism, and that emerging from COVID-19 becomes a turning point for sustainability.” – Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization.

Living in Denmark, it is easy to make sustainable choices in our everyday. We bike to work and school or take the train on our commutes. We live in sustainable cities run on clean energy and support local farmers, especially in summer. Who doesn’t love a ripe Danish strawberry? But what about when we travel abroad?

What does sustainable travel even mean? Distilled down, sustainable tourism is simply about making choices that lessen our personal environmental burden and afford positive impacts to the economies and communities that we choose to visit.

across borders in Copenha-

Here are three ways to look at travel a little differently.

2014, Erin has embraced the

#1 PRACTICE “SLOW TRAVEL”

green city of Copenhagen and

Instead of an itinerary that attempts to tick off everything on a top-10 type bucket list, slow travel is a more measured and immersive way to discover a destination. Pick a place to stay put and peruse from there. Support local producers and makers and eat in regional restaurants. Your travel monies go to local economies, and you experience a bit more about the place that you’ve planted.

#2 EMBRACE EXPLORING LOCAL Maybe the idea of taking a “staycation” lacks the allure of somewhere distant and unknown. But playing tourist in your own backyard can give you a different perspective on the place you call home. Pick a neighbouring village or even a nearby neighbourhood. While you might be able to travel, these communities are missing tourists themselves. You can fill a gap for those businesses as you learn more of your region.

#3 CONSIDER YOUR LOGISTICS How you get to your destination is usually the least sustainable

gen, Denmark. She is the creator-in-chief at Oregon Girl Around the World, a blog that focuses on sustainable travel for the whole family.

With a background in graphic design, photography and art history, Erin has a creative way of seeing a destination and believes that travel choices can have positive impacts for both the traveller and the communities visited. A local in Denmark since

part of your journey. Where you choose to stay comes second. Can you take the train? Or bring your bicycle aboard that ferry? A carfull of family or friends that takes to the road still a greener option than four long-haul flights to far off destinations. As for your stay, find a hotel or accommodation that supports local labour and has a commitment to green practices. Switch your search to sustainable sites like Bookdifferent.com or Greenpearls.com to find such spots.

Travel as we knew it might feel like it’s hibernating right now while we watch borders re-open and constrict as restrictions and requirements change on the regular. But instead of being devastated about the end of easy, cheap flights to far off corners of the planet - maybe we consider that the industry is just in a cocoon, all wrapped up and waiting. Evolving into something better. Better for the environment, better for individual destinations and better for the visitors themselves. Transitioning your travel thinking towards making more mindful choices is a great place to start. THE-INTL

loves to share her insider tips.

For more Scandinavian travel inspiration and Copenhagen culture, follow Erin around the world here: oregongirl aroundtheworld.com @oregongirl_ aroundtheworld @oregongirlworld www.facebook. com/oregongirl roundtheworld/ www.pinterest.dk/ oregongirlworld/

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BIOMETRICS NEW STRIDES IN DIGITAL SECURITY PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK

TEXT MARIANO ANTHONY DAVIES

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MODERN CYBER SECURITY IS focused on reducing the risks for powerful security solutions as traditional passwords have long been a point of weakness for security systems. Biometrics aim to overcome this challenge by linking proof-of-identity to our bodies and behavioural patterns.

WHAT IS BIOMETRICS?

Biometrics are biological measurements (or physical characteristics) that can be used to identify individuals. For example, fingerprint mapping, facial recognition and retina scans are all forms of biometric technology, but these are just the most recognized options. Scientists are discovering new unique individual identification features.

Some of this research includes looking at the shape of an ear, the way someone sits and walks, unique body odours, the veins in one’s hands and even facial contortions are other unique identifiers. These traits further define biometrics.

BIOMETRICS SECURITY Data theft is an everyday global challenge that has given biometric identification a growing role in our daily security. Physical characteristics are relatively fixed and individualized — even in the case of twins. Each person’s unique biometric identity can be used to replace or at least to augment password systems for computers, phones, restricted access rooms and buildings.

Once biometric data is obtained and mapped, it is then saved to be matched with future attempts at access. Most of the time, this data is encrypted and stored within the device or on a remote server.

Biometrics scanners are hardware used to capture the biometric for verification of identity. These scans match against the saved database to approve or deny access to the system. In other words, biometric security means your body becomes the “key” to unlock your access.

BIOMETRICS GIVE US TWO MAJOR BENEFITS:  Convenience of use.  Difficult to steal or impersonate.

QUARDCARD - THINKING DIFFERENTLY The QuardCard system is an alternative to traditional identification methods and can create significant value to enterprises and national systems as it works as a

biometric authentication gateway to any system connected to the authentication system via an API or installed directly with the client (such as a ‘National Trusted Authentication Partner’). This means that all your critical systems can be protected by one single system.

The global pandemic has also taught us to think alternatively to protect people’s health and to stop the spread of COVID-19.

For example:  Who wants to put their hands or fingers on a fingerprint reader that has been touched by thousands without being sanitized between each individual use?  Central readers are not only a hacking risk but are also a health risk.  A more secure solution would be a reader on a card that only you touch.

From a sustainability perspective, it makes sense to introduce the advanced cards as they provide the following benefits:  They protect against infectious diseases spreading via use of a central fingerprint and hand readers.  They lower the environmental foot print as they replace the need for many cards (“All in One” solution).  They reduce the cost of cyber-crime due to the unique combination between User Identification and User Rights.  They reduce the cost of protecting bio metric data that is now only stored in the “All ion One” card.  The technology allows for instant issuance of cards through an App

solution that is verified by biometric authentication.  This technology is vital protection against fraudulent activity, and it makes money laundering without detection exceedingly difficult.

The future needs to bring the use of a distributed security technology like the QuardCard system by using offline biometric verification, to stop the rising trend of cyber-criminal activities and provide citizens with a more secure physical and digital life.

Today, this is also possible with the end-to-end solution provided by CardLab Innovation (Danish world leader) and its Partners, where extensive tests have shown that Users find the new innovative technology efficient, safe and the secure way to protect your data.

For the sake of cost, some PC manufacturers are starting to use the same fingerprint sensors as the ones found in many smartphones around the world. However, most smartphones are sealed devices with little or no encryption going from the fingerprint sensor to the host controller. While this is a risk on smartphones, the complexity of teardown and difficulty of access makes this a less likely point of attack on a PC, which you can take apart and insert a device between the fingerprint sensor and host controller that is completely invisible to the User or Operating System. THE-INTL

MARIANO ANTHONY DAVIES PRESIDENT & CEO OXFORD BUSINESS SERVICES APS

Mariano has over 35 years global experience as a business executive. He spent ten years with KPMG, thirty years with British Chambers of Commerce (while also running his own companies). He is a British citizen, who grew up in Kent, went to boarding school in Sussex and has a British university education. He has been married to a Dane for over 44 years and has held over 100 official anti-Brexit speeches since 2016. He both speaks and writes Danish without difficulty.

www.oxford-business.com

"THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC HAS ALSO TAUGHT US TO THINK ALTERNATIVELY TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19."

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FOOD ART

'SKOVSKYRE' SHORTBREAD “Skovskyre” or “forest acid” is an edible clover that grows in forests throughout Denmark. Its heartshaped leaves are a popular ingredient in New Nordic dishes including salads, dressings, and cold sauces. This recipe for lemon shortbread uses pressed skovskyre as a lovely adornment atop each cookie. The red variety (or “rød skovskyre”) featured here has a beautiful, deep purple hue on the underside of its leaves. The melt-in-your-mouth citrusy shortbread pairs perfectly with the fresh, slightly sour flavour of the skovskyre. These cookies are simple to make yet have such a pretty impact.

PHOTOGRAPHS CLAIRE BOGUSZ / ISTOCK

SKOVSKYRE SHORTBREAD MAKES 24 COOKIES

COOKIES: 200 g flour (hvedemel) 50 g potato starch (kartoffelmel) 1.5 tsps baking powder (bagepulver) 130 g softened butter 100 g caster or fine sugar (bagesukker) 1 lemon, washed 2 egg yolks Coarse sugar (perlesukker) for garnish Optional: food colouring to dye cookie dough

FLOWERS: To press flowers (or leaves), arrange flowers gently on a piece of parchment paper, facing down. Put another piece of parchment paper on top. Top with a stack of heavy books to flatten the flowers. Leave for at least 30 minutes before using.

TEXT CLAIRE BOGUSZ

METHOD #1 Whisk together flour, potato starch and baking powder in a medium bowl. Set aside. #2 Using an electric mixer and large bowl, cream together butter and caster sugar (bagesukker) for 3 minutes. Zest the lemon, and squeeze the juice. Add zest and juice to the butter mixture. #3 While mixing on low speed, add egg yolks one at a time and fully incorporate. Add flour mixture and mix until combined. #4 At this point, if you’d like to dye the dough, add a few drops of food colouring and knead the dough together to incorporate dye until you have your desired shade. Transfer dough to a plastic bag or plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours. #5 Roll out the dough and cut cookies (using a cookie cutter or small inverted drinking glass). Put coarse sugar (perlesukker) in a shallow dish and roll edges of each cookie until coated in sugar. Place your cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in a preheated, 180°C oven for approximately 10 minutes. #6 As soon as you have removed the cookies from the oven and while they are still hot, gently press flowers into the tops of the cookies using your fingers. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack and allow cookies to cool completely before serving.

HELPFUL

TIPS AND HINTS If you don’t have your own garden, skovskyre is a readily accessible plant found in most flower shops. Alternatively, you can use any edible flowers to adorn your cookies; just make sure they are non-toxic and aren’t treated with any chemicals.  You can store leftover pressed flowers in an airtight container for future use!

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CLAIRE BOGUSZ BAKER AND BLOGGER Claire grew up moving around frequently, never imagining she’d have the opportunity to experience raising her own children as expats one day. In 2018, her husband’s job relocated the family from the USA to Copenhagen. Living in the capital city, they’ve loved biking, travelling, and the ability to immerse their three children in a foreign language.

Donuts to Danish was born out of Claire’s passion for creating art and her love of baking. She finds great joy in helping others celebrate special moments with custom-made cakes and cookies. For order inquiries, email claire@donutstodanish.com www.donutstodanish.com @donutstodanish

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THE IMPORTANCE OF VISIBLE PERSONAL BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK / CÉLINE MARTIN-PEDERSEN

TEXT KATHY BORYS SIDDIQUI

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HOW TO DEFINE personal branding, and why is it so important?

Let us take a closer look at personal branding and how it can make a significant difference in our careers. For Internationals looking to boost or re-shape their careers abroad, personal branding awareness and knowledge is a necessity.

Here is how LinkedIn writes about themselves (about.linkedin.com) “Welcome to LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network with 706+ million users…” As a professional trying to make yourself stand out from this flood of talent, you have to do something significant. Creating and showcasing your brand is the CORRECT answer! Each one of us is a brand. It is not only the famous actors, athletes, authors, singers, and other talented individuals. In the online/virtual world, we live in today, we all have a tool - the personal brand. Now, whether or not we choose to activate it is another question.

KATHY BORYS SIDDIQUI FOUNDER, ACTIVE ACTION

THE UNSOLVED PB MYSTERY Let us be clear on what exactly a personal brand is? It is your reputation, it sends a message to people why you do what you do, it provides information to people about what you want to accomplish and how you can provide value and support to them. Your brand should reflect that what you say and what you do is aligned.

If you want to build your brand according to Simon Sinek, you have to have a “WHY”.

The WHY, according to Sinek, is: “your purpose, cause or belief. Why does your company exist? Why did you get out of bed this morning? And why should anyone care?”

A personal brand is just that - it is personal and reflects your Why. You have to dig deep and be honest with your“A personal brand self and others to showcase that works is not what your calling is. It is imjust a flashy webportant to allow people to understand why you have a site and attentionbusiness, what it stands for, grabbing words.” who you are, and what your values are. A personal brand that works is not just a flashy website and attention-grabbing words. A good personal brand reflects what kind of individual you are and why others would want to engage with you.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE Why should I create and promote my brand? People do business with people! In this case, it does not matter if you are a business owner or employee. We all like to feel that we relate to one another, that we have something in common, share the same values, or have a similar outlook on life. A personal brand provides your potential clients or employers with that top-secret information. The brand answers a fundamental question “Is this person a good match for our business/company?”

I will not sugar coat it: Building and sustaining a good person-

al brand is hard work, it takes time, consistency, clarity, and authenticity. Your brand has to reflect you - your image, your mission, your values, and your vision. So, how do you go about it?

A FEW BASIC QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF WHEN YOU BEGIN TO CREATE A PERSONAL BRAND: ➤ ➤ ➤ ➤ ➤ ➤

What is my expertise? What am I passionate about?

What are my values?

Who am I, and what is my position in the industry?

Who is my audience?

What will my brand stand for?

What type of content will I post?

Once you answer these questions, you will most likely get closer to a clearer vision of what your brand will showcase. If not, you may need some assistance and a bit more soul searching. It may feel very challenging to answer these and other branding questions, but it is a good sign. It means you are on the right path. We all have the opportunity to show who we are and what we stand for professionally - we all have a brand. It is a fantastic tool, and once you get the ball rolling (remember it has to keep going), you will see the benefits that a strong, personal brand provides. 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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Stay at home if you are feeling ill

Dry cough

High temperature

Difficulty breathing

Headache

Muscle aches

Sore throat

You must also stay at home if you are not sure if you are ill.

Self-isolate and arrange to be tested. You must stay at home until you have been completely symptom-free for 48 hours.

31.07.2020

coronasmitte.dk SEPTEMBER 2020 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

sst.dk/corona-eng