The International - August 2018 by The International Denmark

international

the

ISSN 2596-5220

SUMMER READING

EXPERIENCE COMMUNAL DINING

CPH PRIDE EVENTS

FLAVOURFUL, COLOURFUL FOODS

AUGUST 2018 - THE-INTL.COM

FULL OF PRIDE

FREE

PAPER

MEGAN MOORE ON COPENHAGEN'S GAYEST DAY! AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

EVERYBODY IS WELCOME IN THE SPIRIT OF PRIDE, THIS MONTH WE CELEBRATE OUR DIFFERENCES AND PROMOTE A COMING TOGETHER OF PEOPLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF A SHARED FUTURE.

DENMARK IS CURRENTLY experiencing the hottest summer that I can recall since moving here! It's sadly taking a toll on our crops and other resources needed for the country, so we hope it levels out soon. But, as the temperatures soar, and for those still enjoying summer holidays before the kids go back to school, take advantage of the sunny days while they last! There are so many events still on during August such as: The Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix; Strøm Festival; Aarhus Festival and Odense Flower Festival to name a few. And we've got you covered with a comprehensive list. This issue we are proud to be media sponsors for Copenhagen Pride Week, happening 13-19 August. When I met up with Lars Henriksen, Chairman of Copenhagen Pride a couple of months ago, we spent a long time talking about the history of the Pride movement in Denmark. We were also lucky enough to catch up with popular drag artist, Megan Moore, who will be a part of the exciting 2018 event line-up (see pages 4-8). In my discussions with Lars and Megan, I started to see similarities between our expat market and theirs. One being how we are

many different cultures moving to Denmark, and we tend to gravitate to each other. Another message behind Copenhagen Pride is "all are welcome".

This feeling of "all are welcome" is reflected in our issue this month. Sometimes it can be hard to feel accepted, and you have to leave your comfort zone behind to do that. This is covered beautifully in a few articles - "Communal dining: where strangers meet" on page 18; "The importance of diversity" on page 20 and "Making friends and fighting isolation on page 22. If you're still lucky enough to be on holiday, see our library section on page 31 where we feature four different books ideal for summer reading. Our resident cook Erin Chapman shares some "Flavourful, colourful and spicy veggies" on page 26 and we feature our favourite "Tech gadgets for the hottest summer", which include the new, super cool Pride Apple band on page 29. Finally, to all the parents out there, best of luck getting everything ready for first day back at school!

“Caring people help others not because they expect a reward, but because it is natural to show kindness.” - Spirit Science

Love,

LYNDSAY JENSEN MANAGING EDITOR AND PARTNER WEBSITE: THE-INTL.COM

MEET THE TEAM MANAGING EDITOR & PARTNER LYNDSAY JENSEN has 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 one years and mother to two boys aged 20 and 14. She loves travel, photography and art. lyndsay@the-intl.com

ADVERTISING SALES JO JENSEN is a married mother of one from Scotland who moved to Denmark a year ago. Jo previously worked as a TV Producer in Singapore making documentaries with many companies including National Geographic, Discovery and MTV Asia. She also has experience in publishing. Jo is a Reiki Master and interested in art, film and the paranormal. jo@the-intl.com

SALES For advertising sales, please contact: sales@the-intl.com ADDRESS

The International ApS, Industrivej 14, 4683 Rønnede; +45 42676745

Provins-Trykkeriet ApS, Vordingborg

COVER PICTURE / MAKEUP ARTIST MANAGING DIRECTOR & PARTNER KENNETH MACALPINE is a Nordic Financial Manager in the Transport industry. His education is in Finance and he has a business degree 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

SUB-EDITOR DAVID NOTHLING-DEMMER is a print and digital writer, communicator and media production manager/ editor. He has several years’ experience in the media and publishing industry, and holds a Master’s degree in media and politics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa). He is passionate about politics, publishing and people-empowerment. He is a husband of almost two years, and has a love affair with good food and wine. david@the-intl.com

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

ADVERTISING SALES HEIDI GREVES is married, and a mother of six boys. She Moved back to Denmark five and a half years ago after 14 years in Kent, England. Born in Copenhagen to a British mother and a Danish father, Heidi has knowledge and language skills of both countries. She has experience in the tourism industry in Denmark, and sales experience in England. She loves to be creative with photography, art and baking, and loves to socialise. heidi@the-intl.com

DISTRIBUTION SATYA PRAPANCA is married, and moved to Denmark one and a half years ago from Indonesia. His previous work experience includes; subtitle translator, documentary films, photographer, and music curator in his spare time! Satya's passion is composing music with his guitar and laptop. He enjoys nothing more than taking in the beauty of Copenhagen while enjoy coffee/tea and cake at a local cafe.

Megan Moore / Megan Moore

DISTRIBUTION

The International is available at a range of businesses, institutions, cafés and public libraries across Denmark

SUBSCRIPTIONS

For home or corporate delivery of the printed edition please contact: distribution@the-intl.com The International is published 12 times a year. This issue was published on July 30, 2018

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IT’S COPENHAGEN PRIDE, AND #YOUAREINCLUDED

Hope is where the heart is. That’s the message behind Copenhagen Pride, Denmark’s largest festival celebrating the lives and rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals – and the man behind the flamboyant festival, Lars Henriksen, says all are welcome… PHOTOGRAPHS WILFRED GACHAU; NADIA HORSTED NAREJO

CELEBRATED IN THE third week of August, Copenhagen Pride is a week-long extravaganza culminating in a huge march through the streets of the city. “Pride has existed in Copenhagen for almost 50 years, but under different names,” says festival director Lars Henriksen, but after Copenhagen hosted Europride in 1996, the “modern” and current pride organisation was founded, which now organises Copenhagen Pride annually. Henriksen says that Copenhagen Pride is first and foremost a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that “works yearround for the improvement of lives and rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Denmark and abroad,” he explains. The NGO organises a large number of events during the year, the most significant of which is Pride Week. “With over 450,000 participants in 2017, Pride Week is the largest festival in Denmark and the largest annual human rights manifestation.” This year, it is expected that the parade will attract as much as 20 per cent more attendees than in 2017, and Henriksen hopes that this will mean that overall numbers will rise also. “It all depends on the weath-

er too - as so much does that is out doors in Denmark,” he smiles. As to what you can expect at the 2018 edition, “hundreds of events during the week,” Henriksen says. “Pride Week in Copenhagen is a very diverse affair, where loads of people, cultural institutions and organisations come together to create a diverse and very political programme, that hopefully highlights both the challenges LGBTQIA+ individuals face, and the contributions we make to the societies we live in, if we are allowed to thrive.” The festival is not only for the LGBTQIA+ community, and Henriksen says that if it’s important to you that all people are treated as equal, you should attend. “If human rights is a priority for you, if you want your children to grow up an a world without bullying and fear, where they are embraced for their talent and character and not for who they love, then what better way to make this known than attending Pride,” he exclaims! “We look forward to greeting you all.” Henriksen has been involved with Copenhagen Pride Week since 2005, first as a volunteer and then in 2013 heading up

TEXT DAVID NOTHLING -DEMMER

the festival for the first time. “For me, being involved with pride is very personal. When I work to improve things for LGBTQIA+ people, this has a direct effect on my own life,” he says, adding that he’d like to be remembered for contributing to a more inclusive society. Equality for Henriksen means “the right to live, love, dream, plan and do this without the interference of other individuals based on their personal opinions, political beliefs, religious adherence or other such reasons.” He says that Copenhagen Pride strives constantly for a more equal society. He also says that it’s important that those with a political voice get involved with such events that seek to promote a more egalitarian society. “It is important to take a strong stand against hate crimes, and that’s why it’s important for politicians from both sides of the aisle to participate in events such as Copenhagen Pride. “The current government is supportive in the sense that ministers and prime ministers march with us, and also for the last two years the government has hosted an official pride reception. This year one of the keynote speakers on The

Main Stage will be the Prime Minister,” says Henriksen. When it comes to financial support for the work he and his organisation is doing, this is very limited and non-existent when it comes to the government. “It’s important to remember that Copenhagen Pride is a 100 per cent volunteer-driven organisation. Everything we do is done by volunteers – from planning and execution to cleaning the toilets – we cannot afford staff. This means that we spend countless hours during the year fundraising to be able to produce a free event,” explains Henriksen. He also uses the opportunity to urge all The International readers to buy a Copenhagen Pride support wrist band. “It is sold in all 7/11 stores and in a large number of other outlets, and all money received from the sale goes to ensuring our continued activities,” he says. Beyond Copenhagen Pride 2018, Henriksen looks forward to celebrating the 25th anniversary of the organisation in 2021 when Copenhagen will play host city to World Pride. THE-INTL

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

BRING OUT THOSE FEATHER BOAS! IT'S PRIDE WEEK IN COPENHAGEN, AND WE HAVE ALL THE DETAILS.

CLOSENESS

OPENING SHOW

COPENHAGEN PRIDE (OFFICIAL) FB PAGE

TANTRA

14 AUGUST

TANTRA MINI WORKSHOP

WORKSHOP ABOUT INTIMACY OFFICIAL WELCOME & AND CLOSENESS OPENING SHOW

A workshop focused on your own body awareness. The event starts with a brief theoretical overview, followed by exercises during which time you will learn about body awareness through games which contain closeness exercises, touching exercises and massage exercises (non-genital). All exercises will be focused on listening to your own body, daring to explore, drawing boundaries and expressing desires. What happens; for example when a touch is okay and when it isn’t; and what does it do to you, when it feels okay or when it doesn’t feel quite as okay? The workshop is a safe-space open to any LGBTQIA+ person. It's also a closed event, so you will need to sign up via the workshop Facebook page: Pride Week Tantra mini-workshop.

On the LGBTQIA+ scene, many are happy to talk about sex. Casual sex, one-night stands and sex clubs. Sex on drugs and sex when drunk. But maybe we don’t talk quite as much about closeness and intimacy? In the hunt for the right partner, for many it’s hard to keep themselves focused. Are we sometimes willing to forego protection in our eagerness for acknowledgement and physical closeness, because we are scared of rejection. Does chemsex and alcohol become a choice, because we are vulnerable? And does HIV become just one pill a day? That, and much more, is the focus of MSM campaign manager Karoline Barkvoll Holstad and clinical sexologist Tonny Brønløkke Hertz from AIDS-Fondet. The workshop will be a mix of presentations, assignments and debate; and is a safe-space workshop open to all LGBTQIA+ persons.

TIME: 17:00 – 19:00 VENUE: AIDS-FONDET, VESTERGADE 18E, 1456 COPENHAGEN

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

TIME: 19:30 – 21:00 VENUE: AIDS-FONDET, VESTERGADE 18E, 1456 COPENHAGEN

14 AUGUST The chairperson of Copenhagen Pride, Lars Henriksen, kicks off Copenhagen Pride Week with this year’s opening speech. This is followed by the opening show on Pride Stage 2018, as usual, offering swing, jazz, disco and great classics. This year’s host, cultural reporter and theatre reviewer Jakob Steen Olsen, takes the stage to lead you safely through a night full of musical flashbacks and loving blasts from the music past – its Take Me Back Tuesday.

LINE-UP: 18:15 - 18:30: Opening speech 18:30 - 19:10: Big Dipper Big Band 19:10 - 19:30: Pianist Rasmus Kjær with singers Sanne Amanda Sommer and Annemette Vedel Augustesen. 19:30 - 20:15: Big Dipper Big Band 20:30 - 21:30: Me Jane 21:45 - 22:45: Silas Holst & the Flamingo Orchestra

COOKING

ISTOCK PHOTO

WALKING TOUR

GAYTRAVEL

HAMBURG PRIDE

HAMBURG WITH LOVE

15 AUGUST

15-17 AUGUST

15 AUGUST

FROM HAMBURG WITH LOVE

PRIDE WALKING TOUR

COOKING WITH PRIDE

This year, organisers have invited Hamburg Pride to take the stage on Wednesday night, featuring live performances, DJs, high heels and enormous amounts of glitter! On stage will be Leopold and DJ Barry E, and your night’s host, German singer and actor Annie Heder, will introduce you to a number of wunderbar surprises.

Come for a 'hyggelig' (cosy) 90 minute tour of Copenhagen and hear the long and colourful history of queer Denmark, including the evolution of the gay civil rights movement and how it shaped Copenhagen into one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world. The tour also highlights bars, venues and some of the city's best naughty places.

TIME: 19:00 – 23:00

TIME: 17:00 - 18:30 VENUE: THE STEPS IN FRONT OF THE CITY HALL, 1599 COPENHAGEN (LOOK FOR THE RAINBOW UMBRELLA). PRICE: 50 DKK.

CPH Cooking Class invites you to be part of their most colourful and embracing event, Cooking with Pride 2018. For the first time they join the Pride party with an exquisite cooking and dining event, and you’re invited. Your evening will be hosted by the amazing queens Di Di and Harley, who add a dash of glamour, humour, wild antics and joy to your night. This event is divided into two parts; 15 places on the kitchen team for those who want to learn some culinary skills and 29 seats available for a three course New Nordic Pride Dining Experience (created by the kitchen team). For more, vist www.cphcookingclass.com.

TIME: 17:00 - 22:30 VENUE: HERLUF TROLLES GADE 9, 1ST FLOOR, 1052 COPENHAGEN PRICE: 525 DKK - 875 DKK VIA BILLETTO.DK.

“Opening a Danish textbook could be your next big career move”

Alejandro, engineer from Cordoba.

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

UNDER THE RAINBOW

DEBATE

MILLE STENGARD - CPH PRIDE FB PAGE

DEBATE

16 AUGUST

17 AUGUST

DEBATE: GLOBAL WINS IN THE STRUGGLE FOR LGBT+ RIGHTS

UNDER THE RAINBOW 2018

LGBTQIA INCLUSIVE UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENTS

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY STARBUCKS

Under the Rainbow is the major concert night of Pride Week, focused on live music. Copenhagen Pride is proud to present as this year’s main draw, the uncrowned queen of Danish pop music, Anne Linnet. Together with a talented line-up of up-and-coming artists on stage, Pride 2018 presents a sensation concert in all the colours of the rainbow. This year’s musical host is Karen Sangvin.

In over 70 countries, it is illegal to be LGBT+. Even so, we see huge progress in many places thanks to a strong civic society fighting a tireless struggle. In this debate, orgnisers zoom in on the methods used by these civic societies. What works in different places around the world? And, how that progress leaves the LGBT+ communities feeling.

LINE-UP: 19:00 - 19:30: Sigmund 19:30 - 20:00: Feel Freeze 20:00 - 20:30: Theo X 20:30 - 21:00: Jeanett Albeck, Ramona Macho & Rosa Lux 21:00 - 22:15: Anne Linnet + band 22:15 - 23:00: DJ Wonderboy Cph

COPENHAGEN PRIDE (OFFICIAL) FB PAGE

TIME: 18:00 - 18:45 VENUE: DEBATE TENT ON REGNBUEPLADSEN

COPENHAGEN PRIDE (OFFICIAL) FB PAGE

CPH PRIDE FB PAGE

IMPOSE MAGAZINE

CPH PRIDE FB PAGE

BILLEDBLADET.DK

TIME: 15:00 - 15:45 VENUE: DEBATE TENT ON REGNBUEPLADSEN

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

Universities are spaces of learning and socialisation; they form a large part of students’ life and are central to their identity building. Universities must, therefore, create safe environments for young LGBTQIA people in Denmark. From the first promotion material through the intro week to daily teaching and student life – questions of sexuality and gender identity run through everything, and addressing such questions is, for many LGBTQIA persons, paramount to their personal well-being and success as students. This debate will problematise the university environment as a (hetero)sexual space and discuss how to make this environment more LGBTQIA inclusive.

DRAG NIGHT

THEATRE

LEFTFIELD THEATRE

MANIFEST.EU

CPH PRIDE FB PAGE

FETISH

17 AUGUST

17-19 AUGUST

FETISH 101

DRAG NIGHT 2018 QUEENS OF POP

QUEERS

PROUDLY AND LOUDLY SUPPORTED BY 7-ELEVEN DENMARK

What is a fetish? What does it mean to be a fetishist? How do you practice it? Where do you buy fetish gear? What happens at a fetish party? Can I practice a fetish without having sex? Is there a difference between straight and gay fetishism? What is the history of fetishism in Denmark? These and many more questions Sanne and Mads will try to answer during Fetish 101. The workshop is a safe-space workshop, where all LGBTQ-people are welcome to participate.

Queers celebrates a century of evolving social attitudes and political milestones in British LGBT+ history, told by eight characters in a series of monologues and performed in the intimate confines of Galathea Kroen – an art deco-themed pub located just a five-minute walk from Pride Square. Written by eight new and established writers including Mark Gatiss (Sherlock) and Brian Fillis (An Englishman in New York), Leftfield Theatre is extremely proud to challenge the medium of traditional storytelling and presents a wonderfully unapologetic spectacle of characters emerging from the dark to tell the extraordinary stories of queer Britons from the last 100 years.

This year’s Drag Night is dedicated to the undisputed queen of Pop: Madonna! Organisers have invited a Gang Bang of drag queens on stage to give their ‘Next Best Things of Madonna’ acts in a 4-hour long drag show. The line-up includes Megan Moore, Harley Queen, Tinus and We Do Madonna, and once again you can expect to see one of Europe’s absolutely biggest and most amazing drag shows. The complete line-up is available on the event’s Facebook page. The day before this year’s Drag Night is Madonna’s 60th birthday, and few superstars have meant so much for both gay culture and drag culture since the 1980s than Madonna. With hits including Vogue and Express Yourself, Madonna has been in the lead with messages about the freedom to be yourself and the right to express yourself. At this year’s Drag Night, Pride celebrates her by turning up the volume! Expect large numbers of Madonna hits, loving mixed in with other of pop’s greatest queens, all served by some of Denmark’s most skilled queens.

DATES & TIMES: 19:30 - 21:00 VENUE: AIDS-FONDET, VESTERGADE 18E, 1456 COPENHAGEN

DATES & TIMES: 19:00 - 21:30 VENUE: GALATHEA KROEN, RÅDHUSSTRÆDE 9, 1466 COPENHAGEN TICKETS: 140 DKK / 300 DKK WITH DINNER, AVAILABLE AT GALATHEA KROEN OR AT VIA SCENEN.DK

GALATHEA KROEN LEFTFIELD THEATRE

CPH PRIDE FB PAGE

FETISH 101 FB PAGE

CPH PRIDE FB PAGE

DATES & TIMES: 19:45 - 23:45

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

SHOW

PARTY

CPH PRIDE FB PAGE

MILLE STENGARD - CPH PRIDE FB PAGE

PARADE

18 AUGUST

18-19 AUGUST

COPENHAGEN PRIDE PARADE 2018

PRIDE SHOW 2018

THE OFFICIAL COPENHAGEN PRIDE PARTY 2018

True to tradition, Copenhagen Pride lights up the enormous Pride Show at Town Hall Square/Pride Square on Saturday afternoon and evening. This year’s official host is journalist, debater and author Abdel Aziz Mahmoud, and he will undoubtedly spread love all over Pride Square and tie up the show on stage in all the colours of the rainbow. The show will also have a very special surprise, celebrating the 30th anniversary of one of Denmark’s most famous and most important pop songs. Speakers include Danish Prime Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Copenhagen Mayor for Culture and Leisure, Niko Grünfeld, Alexandr Agapov of the Russian LGBT Sports Federation and more.

11:00 - 13:00: Parade Warm-up DJ Wonderboy Cph warms up for the parade, serving you all the best pride anthems and rainbow classics.

VENUE: FREDERIKSBERG TOWN HALL SQUARE, 2000 FREDERIKSBERG 13:00 - 15:30: Copenhagen Pride Parade 2018 The parade takes off from Frederiksberg Town Hall Square at 13:00 and proceeds via Allégade, Frederiksberg Allé, Vesterbrogade, Hammerichsgade, Jarmers Plads and Vester Voldgade before finishing at Copenhagen City Hall Square (Pride Square).

As you know it and love it, Copenhagen Pride hosts the official Pride Party in Pumpehuset, where everyone is welcome to party, dance and celebrate love in all the rainbow colours until the morning sun rises. Organisers have brought DJs Cihan Akar and Mark Hartmann to Copenhagen to light up this year’s Pride Party, recommending that you buy tickets in advance at billeto.dk.

TIME: 23:00 - 05:00 VENUE: PUMPEHUSET, STUDIESTRÆDE 52, 1554 KØBENHAVN TICKETS: ADVANCE PURCHASE DKK 120 / AT THE DOOR DKK 140.

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

CPH PRIDE FB PAGE

ISTOCK PHOTO

CPH PRIDE FB PAGE

TIME: 14:00 - 23:45

TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR GLAM! With gay pride descending on Denmark, Barbara Mensah celebrates the season with bright colours and glitter – think rainbows and unicorns.

IT ’S THAT TIME OF YEAR IN COPENHAGEN WHEN MUSIC SOUNDS FROM THE STREETS, AS THEY COME ALIVE WITH COLOUR AND

LET YOUR BEARD SPARKLE WITH PRIDE

ORIGINALITY , OUT FOR ALL TO SEE. A GREAT

Yes, this is the ultimate way to stand out from all the oth-

WAY TO SHOW SUPPORT TO THE LGBTQIA+

ter is the way forward, and come Pride week in Copenha-

COMMUNITY IS BY EMBRACING PLAYFULL COLOURS FOR PRIDE.

er boys (or girls) with beards. Dousing those beards in glitgen you will certainly be the belle

BARBARA MENSAH

of the ball with this super unique and bold statement. Be warned, the glitter will get

KISS ME GLITTER Let your lips do the talking this Pride Week, and express yourself with all the glitter you can find.

BEAUTY EDITOR & MAKEUP ARTIST

everywhere and will be found in places unimaginable, long after.

Barbara was born in

The key is not to be afraid of be-

England, London with

ing literally glitter-bombed.

her origins in Ghana.

■ MODEL CHRISTIAN MATYI SHOWS US HIS CREATIVE TAKE ON THE GLITTER BOMB EFFECT.

She has been a makeup artist for over 10 years. She moved to

Make-up artist and Photographer, Marta Platkowska explains how to create this sparkling look:

#1 Start by applying foundation

all over the lips to create a good base so that you can

apply bright eye shadows on top.

#2 Choose five bright rainbow colours from your

UNICORN HAIR

Copenhagen in 2017

■ IF YOU’RE FEELING BRAVE AND DARE TO GO THE EXTRA MILE, WHY NOT TRY OUT THESE STUNNING UNICORN/ RAINBOW HAIRSTYLES. HURRY AND BOOK APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR HAIRSTYLIST AND SHOW THEM THESE AMAZING PICTURES OF HAIR CREATED BY @TARANICOLESTYLEZ. THIS WILL CERTAINLY GET YOU NOTICED, AND WILL HAVE YOU STAND OUT IN THE CROWD OF PRIDE SUPPORTERS.

living in Stockholm,

chosen palette.

#3 Take a blending brush and apply each colour next

to the other, no precision needed in this case.

#4 Apply clear lip-gloss, gently making sure not to remove

too much of the shadows from the lips.

#5 Place your chosen glitter onto a flat surface and

kiss to cover the lips.

AN EASY, FUN AND SUPER GLAM WAY TO GET YOURSELF PRIDE-READY!

with her Danish husband and son after Sweden. Barbara is currently working as a freelance makeup artist, and is travelling between the UK and Denmark for make-up bookings. You can follow Barbara’s life here in Denmark on YouTube – Barbara Mensah Vlogs. Facebook: www. facebook.com/ barbaramensahvlogs Instagram: @itsbarbaramensah

RAINBOW NAILS!

Bookings: barbaramensahvlogs@gmail.com

■ IT’S NOT EVERY DAY WE SEE RAINBOWS. IN-FACT ONLY ON RARE OC-

CASIONS DO WE GET TO SEE THE REAL THING. AND THAT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT RAINS AND THE SUNS IS OUT AT THE SAME TIME! HAVING IT ON YOUR NAILS MEANS YOU GET TO KEEP THE RAINBOW WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES, HAPPY DAYS!

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

INTRODUCING THE FABULOUS

MEGAN MOORE BIG HAIR, BIGGER BOOBS AND A SENSE OF HUMOUR THAT WILL HAVE YOU LAUGHING FOR HOURS, MEGAN MOORE IS COPENHAGEN’S PREMIER DRAG QUEEN. THE INTERNATIONAL CAUGHT UP WITH THIS COLOURFUL CHARACTER AHEAD OF COPENHAGEN PRIDE 2018 TO FIND OUT WHAT INSPIRES HER PERFORMANCES, THE PLACE OF DRAG IN DANISH SOCIETY AND WHY EVERYBODY LOVES A GOOD SHOW.

PHOTOGRAPHS SHANNA MCAFEE; NICK LEVIN; MEGAN MOORE MAKE-UP AND HAIR MEGAN MOORE TEXT DAVID NOTHLING -DEMMER

AT THE AGE of 16 Megan Moore, aka Thomas, made her debut at Copenhagen Pride’s Drag Night. That was some six years ago, and since then her career has taken off, and Moore is considered one of Denmark's best and most entertaining Drag Queens. She’s back again in 2018, and this time she’ll be hosting, saying that all those in attendance can expect something “very different” as she joins Copenhagen’s drag community to “celebrate the love for drag”! Moore has performed all over the world, and for the past five years, she has been touring the United States at least once a year, inspired by American Drag Queens, adopting their high level of professionalism and fabulous-ness. “I’m inspired by stars including Michael Jackson and Dolly Parton,” says Moore who adds that she first saw a Michael Jackson concert on TV when she was 2-years-old, and started dancing around the house dressed up as him. This, she says was when her love for impersonation developed. In later years this would evolve into a fascination for anonymous performances as a women by night, and life as a man during the day. “When I was 13, I saw a clip online of a man impersonating Britney Spears and I fell in love – everything clicked,” she says.

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

Growing up in Lyngby, just outside of Copenhagen, Thomas says that he has three siblings and two loving parents who never looked at him strangely when he “came to them trying to become a Magician, Ventriloquist, ride my unicycle to school and lots of other weird things,” he says. His family is his biggest supporter. “Ever since I came out as a homosexual man my parents have really been there for me. They respect and trust me through it all, the same goes for my siblings.” Being a drag queen has nothing to do with his sexuality Thomas says. “Yes, I am a gay man, but doing drag is being an actor. To some men putting on a bald cap to play a male character is enough – I like to take the illusion to another level,” he says. He wants to also set the record straight, “a lot of people who are not exposed to drag or gay culture can’t tell the difference between a drag queen and a crossdresser or a transvestite – I understand that, but I think it’s important that people know the difference. I'm a man who enjoys performing on stage as a woman – that's it. The drag star recalls her first performance at Copenhagen Pride in 2012, saying that she was “extremely nervous”, sitting backstage thinking "I can’t do this!", but she did, and

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

"I'M INSPIRED BY STARS INCLUDING MICHAEL JACKSON AND DOLLY PARTON."

thanks to the support of her family who were all in the audience, had a successful first show. “This made me realise that this was my calling.” So why Megan Moore? At the time of her first performance she had to pick a name, “I wanted to be a sexy stripper drag queen, so thought to myself ‘who’s sexy?’ Megan Fox!” The last name she does however admit to finding on a porn star name list, and so Miss Megan Moore was born. “Today I just say Megan Moore, because I’m well… I’m not a sexy drag queen anymore,” she laughs. Over the years her ambition and high level of professionalism has brought Megan Moore a great deal of success with notable performances at the popular Draghouse in Vega. If you are looking for a truly fabulous shows, less intimate atmospheres and celebrity look-alikes, where her specialty includes Dolly Parton, Cher, Sia, Liza Minelli, Bette Midler, Katy Perry, Britney Spears and, not forgetting Beyoncè, then a Megan Moore drag experience is calling your name. “When I perform I usually impersonate Dolly Parton. I perform a mix of her hits while changing costumes and playing the banjo, guitar and violin,” explains Moore. And when not impersonating one of her favourite divas, she hosts as Megan Moore, “I try to be a little funny. I’m not a stand-up comedian or even close, but I think it’s important to entertain the audience and cross some boundaries.”

"I WANTED TO BE A SEXY STRIPPER DRAG QUEEN, SO THOUGHT TO MYSELF 'WHO'S SEXY?' MEGAN FOX!"

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

When she hosts a show she speaks in English. “When Draghouse started a couple of years back I hosted in Danish, but since 25 per cent of our audience were foreign and Danish people understand English so well, we changed it – and we haven’t had any complains,” she says. Moore also says that it’s important to make drag more public, and that having events such as Pride in English helps a great deal. Moore is of the belief that many Danes are open to drag. “Thanks to shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race, it’s now become more mainstream and therefore a lot more acceptable to do drag,” she explains. Although she does admit that when she first began her professional career she had a hard time dating, “because people were so afraid of drag queens”. Now, it’s not so much of a problem she says. “To me doing drag is fun, and a way for me to entertain, and to express my feminine self and still be able to maintain my male self. It’s not so serious for me,” says Moore who adds that her audience shouldn’t take her too seriously either. “Thanks to my upbringing and the love and support from my family, I don’t need the same acceptance that others may do,” she says. The majority of the drag scene is made up of those who have been kicked out for being gay or been through a horrible upbringing, and for Moore she says this is their form of escape – but not for her. “I’m extremely humble and thankful that I’ve never had to suffer like that. It came so naturally with no adversity. I’m so happy that here in Denmark all drag queens are so different with different stories, because that’s really what makes us a family.” You can catch Megan Moore at this year’s Copenhagen Pride taking place from August 13-19, 2018. For more details and exciting events, check out pages 4-8. THE-INTL

"TO ME DOING DRAG IS FUN, AND A WAY FOR ME TO ENTERTAIN, AND TO EXPRESS MY FEMININE SELF AND STILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN MY MALE SELF."

www.cis.dk

Before long, you’ll belong Settling into a new country can be challenging – especially for the nonworking spouse. We know, from studies and from experience, that a successful posting depends on the happiness of the entire family – and our school is home to a very active, warm and welcoming community. Our PTA offers a wide range of opportunities: newcomers network, Spring Fair, Halloween, Yoga, Activities Fair, Wine and Cheese Evening, Dads’ Club and Ladies’ Night Out. Dedicated parents coach our sports teams, run our boy scouts and serve on the school Board. At CIS the whole family finds a place to grow roots and make friends. So to quote one of our parents: “I came for the job, but we stayed for the school.”

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IT'S ALL ON IN

AUGUST

SUMMER IS CERTAINLY NOT WINDING DOWN ANYTIME SOON. GOOD NEWS IS THAT THERE IS STILL SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO AROUND THE COUNTRY IN AUGUST, INCLUDING AN ARRAY OF CULTURAL FESTIVALS THAT WILL HAVE YOU ENTHRALLED FOR HOURS.

AALBORG

AALBORG OPERA FESTIVAL

COPENHAGEN

STØM FACEBOOK PAGE

COPENHAGEN HISTORIC GRAND PRIX FB PAGE

COPENHAGEN

4-5 AUGUST

8-11 AUGUST

10-13 AUGUST

COPENHAGEN HISTORIC GRAND PRIX

STRØM FESTIVAL

AALBORG OPERA FESTIVAL

With the purpose of celebrating Denmark’s electronic music culture, Strøm Festival is about positioning Copenhagen regionally, nationally and internationally as home to a significant and leading electronic music culture. Various workshops and events, including the likes of concerts and raves, in locations both well-known and new to electronic music culture, are all part of this raging festival.

Each year for ten days during spring, Aalborg dedicates itself completely to opera, as the entire city – together with Aalborg Congress and Culture Centre – provides the frame for the Aalborg Opera Festival. During the festival you can experience opera performances, concerts, movies and workshops across the pretty city in the north.

ADMISSION: SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS. LOCATION: VARIOUS LOCATIONS – WWW.STROMCPH.DK

ADMISSION: SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS. LOCATION: VARIOUS LOCATIONS – WWW.AALBORGOPERA.DK

Don’t miss this classic car race in Copenhagen with action, drama and entertainment at full speed for the whole family. CHGP is staged over a summer weekend every year, where historic race cars and famous race drivers, many Danish icons, but also international stars, are celebrated.

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AALBORG OPERA FESTIVAL

COPENHAGEN HISTORIC GRAND PRIX FB PAGE

FLEMMING BO JENSEN - STRØM FACEBOOK PAGE

COPENHAGEN HISTORIC GRAND PRIX FB PAGE

ADMISSION: SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS. LOCATION: SEE MAP AT WWW.CHGP.DK

ODENSE

AARHUS

AARHUS FESTUGE

TV2 FYN

COPENHAGEN COOKING FACEBOOK PAGE

COPENHAGEN

16-19 AUGUST

24 AUG – 2 SEP

31 AUG – 9 SEP

ODENSE FLOWER FESTIVAL

COPENHAGEN COOKING & FOOD FESTIVAL

AARHUS FESTIVAL

Experience four fantastic days in the city of Odense on Funen. Fabulous flower decorations will surprise and impress the thousands of guests expected to visit Odense’s annual flower festival.

The week-long Aarhus Festival is among the largest cultural events in Scandinavia, and showcases local, national and international artists across various locations. It is highly esteemed, and recognised both in Denmark and abroad.

Look forward to one of the biggest food festivals in Northern Europe, and an open-source festival that profiles Danish gastronomy at its best. The various festival events, chefs and restaurants pay homage to the country’s food culture, Nordic cuisine and key players on the gastronomic stage.

ADMISSION: SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS. LOCATION: VARIOUS LOCATIONS – WWW.BLOMSTERFESTIVAL.DK

ADMISSION: SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS. LOCATION: VARIOUS LOCATIONS – WWW.AARHUSFESTUGE.DK/EN

AARHUS FESTUGE AARHUS FESTUGE

COPENHAGEN COOKING FACEBOOK PAGE

ODENSE BLOMSTERFESTIVAL

ADMISSION: SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS. LOCATION: VARIOUS LOCATIONS – WWW.COPENHAGENCOOKING.CO

H i g h Acad em i c S t an d ar d s C h ri s t i an E t ho s C onv e n i en t l y l o c at ed i n H el l er u p

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SPONSORED CONTENT

THE LEARNING MUST GO ON

COPENHAGEN EDUCATION INSTITUTION, IA SPROG, EMBARKS ON A NEW CHAPTER AS IT OPENS A PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR EXPATS WANTING TO LEARN DANISH.

PHOTOGRAPHS IA SPROG

TEXT DAVID NOTHLING-DEMMER

DOES THE SOUND of Danish lessons whenever you have the time appeal to you – in the evening hours or over the weekend – if yes, then IA Sprog is for you. The language education centre offers Danish courses delivered in a way that works for you and is adapted to your needs as a student. The school has developed its own methods, and its teachers are deeply involved in academic research about Danish as a foreign language. “We offer intensive courses for people who want to learn fast, as well as specialised courses for Scandinavians, Germans and Polish speakers,” says IA Sprog Business and Learning Consultant, Louise Sand. “We have to realise that we are living in a fast-paced world. Our learners are busy people and they need a flexible way of learning that will fit in well with their busy lifestyles. We believe that blended learning with the right balance of digital learning and classroom training is the answer here,” explains Sand who goes on to caution students that it still takes a lot of effort to learn a language. In addition to the language education centres’ offerings at Danish universities, and at various companies. IA Sprog offers Danish for medical doctors with a focus on medical terms and patient communication. “We offer Danish courses preparing our learners to take the national exam also known as Dansk Prøve,” explains Sand. The language education institution has been educating immigrant workers living in Denmark since the 1970s, offering preparatory adult education, also known as FVU. “With FVU you can study Danish (written and spoken) as well as math. FVU serves as a great supplement to the Danish Language Education but cannot replace it,” Sand says. IA Sprog aims to make the learning experience more convenient and improve the learning pace, this despite the cut back on funding for expats wanting to learn Danish. IA Sprog did not win the contract with the municipality of Copenhagen covering the period 2018-2022. This means that the language education centre has had to cut back on their Danish language learning offering. “The municipality can no longer send people to learn Danish with us. But since we have lots of learners who have expressed a wish to continue their learning here, we have decided to open up a private school on a smaller scale,” Sand says. She is also thrilled that so many of their skilled teachers are staying with them on this new journey. Students should be aware, that as of August all classes are going

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to take place at Hejrevej. IA Sprog is closing down all activities on Vibevej. She does however note that FVU courses are not affected by the changes in the Danish Language Education, and that they continue to be offered free of charge. Sand believes that by learning Danish, expats are not only able to better 'fit in' to Denmark, but that it affords them the opportunity to create “the life they want to live in Denmark”. Learning Danish is about giving yourself and your children the best foundation to build their future, “speaking Danish is the key to all of this”, she says. She backs this up with testimony from one of IA Sprog’s students: “I learn Danish in order to build relationships.” This is so true. In the community. In the workplace. Everywhere. THE-INTL

THOMAS HØYRUP CHRISTENSEN

MARTIN GREGERS JENSEN

TIVOLI - PETER NØRBY

A CANADIAN CANUCK OR GREAT DANE… OR BOTH? Laura Wintemute shares her personal experience of trying to become a dual citizen in Denmark, and some of the things you should look out for if you are wanting to take the citizenships test. PHOTOGRAPHS COPENHAGEN MEDIA CENTER & MARTIN GREGERS JENSEN

IN JUNE OF this year I took the indfødsretsprøven (citizenships test). I failed. I had extensively studied the reading material provided. I pretty much memorised the sample questions, all 2700 of them! But I still failed. It could be due to the fact that I’m not a history buff, I don’t follow sports, and I rarely watch Danish Prime Time TV, but in order to pass the Danish citizens test, you need to know about these things. In my opinion, these shouldn’t be the deciding factors if I am worthy or not to become a Danish citizen. But unfortunately, they are. In addition to the test itself, in order to be considered for citizenship, you must fulfill a number of other requirements. For example, you must have lived here for a minimum of six years (if you're married, nine if you’re not); need to have a clear criminal record; successfully passed the Danish Language test, Prøvedansk; worked consecutively for over four and a half years; have never received monetary assistance from the state; have no outstanding debts – and of course pay your fair share of “Skat” (taxes). I have worked consecutively since a week after my arrival in 2007, I pay my taxes, I’ve never received money from the Danish social welfare sys-

tem, I have a clean police record, and I passed Prøvedansk 3. I’m a member of our Grundejersforeningen (Home owners association), a member of the Pædagogisk udvalg (Educational committee) at my daughter’s school, I even voted in our Municipality Election in September 2017. I dream in Danish, I often find it difficult to find my words in English, I eat pickled herring on ryebread every day, and I even started taking a breath in when I say “ja” (yes). You can’t get much more Danish – unless of course if you are born here. On top of all that, I’ve started my own company which helps other international expats with the practical things connected with their relocation to Denmark.

PERSONALLY, I DON’T THINK I COULD BE MORE INTEGRATED. I understand that Danish citizenship is a great privilege and I completely understand why the Danish immigration department demands certain requirements be fulfilled. I also understand why they want us to have knowledge about basic elements, such as the culture and history of Danish society. This being the case, I find it interesting that after the test was published, most of Danes I know have also failed it.

TEXT LAURA WINTEMUTE

THE DANES I KNOW: Love ice cream with marshmellow and a flødebøller (chocolate puff). Always talk about the weather. Appreciate beautiful views like forests, oceans and lakes. Are crazy about Christmas. They even dance around the Christmas tree on Christmas eve. Enjoy celebrations in general, like anniversaries or birthdays for example. Especially round ones. Wr it e ‘ sin g - a - l o n g s’ a n d hold speeches. Enjoy Fredagsøl (Friday’s beer) Often eat hotdogs for dessert when they have a BBQ. Are crazy about slik (candy), especially black licorice. Often drink a little too much at work functions. Travel south in the summer and north in the winter. Adore children. Appreciate quality Danish design, especially lamps and chairs. Love to talk about house prices and home renovations. Always bring a værtindegave (gift) when invited for dinner. Are always on time. I wish these were some of the topic questions on the integration citizen test. Then, I would have passed. I have already signed up for the test in November. This time I WILL know which country Denmark gave away after the Napoleons war, or which Danish Prime Time series is in its fourth season, or what you call the regime group that ruled Denmark in 1661. Wish me luck! THE-INTL

LAURA WINTEMUTE OWNER, HOMESTEAD Laura was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. At a very young age she knew that she wanted to travel. At the age of 22, she packed her bags and moved to the tropical Cayman Islands. This launched her journey as an expat. In the Cayman Islands she learned how to interact with people from all walks of life, all nationalities and all cultures. She worked in the hotel concierge service, hotel management and, eventually, opened her own restaurants. In her eighth year of living in the Cayman’s, she met her Danish husband-tobe. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Whistler, Canada, where Laura managed a 5-star restaurant. One year later they settled in Denmark where she married and had a daughter. In 2012, she started working for a relocation company. It was a job that encapsulated both Laura’s experience as an expat and her love of helping people. She learned everything there was to know about relocation to Denmark and built a good network. After six years’ experience in relocation, she wanted to take her expertise to the next level and started Homestead – welcoming international working expats and their families to Denmark.

www.homesteaddenmark.com

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

COMMUNAL DINING: WHERE STRANGERS MEET Fællesspisning, a 'shared' Danish dining experience, has become increasingly popular over the past few years. A unique way to share a meal that welcomes everybody, the notion of shared dining is creating colourful dining rooms all over the country.

PHOTOGRAPHS KERI BLOOMFIELD / ENIGMA – MUSEUM OF COMMUNICATION, ARI ZELENKO

TEXT KERI BLOOMFIELD

‘THERE ARE NO strangers, only friends you haven’t met yet’ is a nice little saying which captures the essence of the Danish tradition of fællesspisning. With its typically long tables of strangers sharing meals from shared plates, you never know who you’ll be dining with, and if you might leave a little richer for making a new friend. It’s a format which continues to grow in popularity with various restaurants, venues and organisations throughout Denmark, each offering their slightly different take on the concept.

BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER One of the most popular venues to enjoy fællesspisning in Copenhagen is Absalon. A venue with a large heart created for everyone by Lennart Lejboschitz, the founder of the international chain of Tiger stores. He has created a space which recognises that it’s the social bonds between people that gives meaning to life. Seated at long tables, much like you would at a family dinner, guests are asked to collect their food from the kitchen. A process which gives you the opportunity to begin connecting with your fellow diners in a more natural way. A small, but clever gesture that creates openness and helps to begin building a sense of community between the guests. Although, it's no ordinary meal you’ll be served. Absalon’s values also seems to attract a number of topquality staff who consistently deliver food to rival many neighbouring restaurants. All at the fraction of the cost. To achieve their mission of creating a space in which social interactions occur naturally, Absalon offers a wide range of events. But it’s the Absalon fællesspisning experience with its incredibly affordable price of 50 DKK per person, that consistently pulls in the crowds with around 200 people arriving for dinner every night. Popular with locals, internationals as well as tourists, it’s one of the most colourful and warm dining rooms you’re likely to find in the country serving up great food every night of the week.

ENCOURAGING CONVERSATIONS The faellesspisning experience at ENIGMA - Museum of Communication is all about the conversation. Director of the Museum Jane Sandberg explains: “As a society we

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"AS A SOCIETY WE NEED DIALOGUE AND CONVERSATION MORE THAN EVER AND IT’S OUR MISSION AS A MUSEUM OF COMMUNICATION TO FACILITATE AS MANY CONVERSATIONS AS WE CAN BETWEEN AS MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE THAT WE CAN" - JANE SANDBERG - MUSEUM DIRECTOR AT ENIGMA need dialogue and conversation more than ever, and it’s our mission as a museum of communication to facilitate as many conversations as we can between as many different types of people that we can.” Which is why every month you’ll also find rows of strangers eating together at her Museum in Østerbro, Copenhagen. Not known for their small talk, Sandberg is also aware that Danes sometimes need a little help connecting with strangers. It’s why the Museum also provides guests with conversation starter cards, on it a list of possible questions to ask their new ‘neighbour’. There is also a special set of questions for children, teaching them the art of connecting in real time, and teaching all how to

connect across generations and cultures. At 125 DKK for adults (half price for children 3-12 years old) this is also a great opportunity to experience delicious food from the famous Danish chef, Claus Meyers, and his team. Get more details on their Facebook page ‘Enigma Museum for post, tele & kommunikation’.

WISDOM MEETS YOUTH On the first Monday of every month in Aarhus, the doors are opened wide at a local community centre to welcome the ‘kommune’ for a shared meal. Christian Bøjlund, owner of Aarhus restaurant Frederiksgade42 is passionate about connecting people

through food, and came up with the idea of a monthly fællesspisning event after working with the Lokalcentret (Community Centre) in 2016 on an event focussing on loneliness. The overwhelming success of that event inspired Bøjlund to make it a regular occurrence, and one that he is still involved with today. He recognises that the seemingly small things such as sharing a meal can make the biggest difference to some people. “It is important to me to create a space where the experience of life and the energy of youth can meet,” he says. The event now attracts on average 200-250 people every month, and there is a strong focus on not sitting next to the people you arrived with. Instead, people are encouraged to sit next to someone new and to be open to connecting. The success of the event is a joint result of Bøjlund’s passion and the wider community of volunteers and helpers that come together every month to organise the event. You’ll pay 85 DKK per person (or 75 DKK per person if there are four or more of you), for a tasty meal made under the direction of chefs from Frederiksgade 42. Guests can arrive anytime between 5pm and 7pm making it accessible to all, from young families to the elderly being able to arrive at a time that suits their schedule. Although, you must book a place first either on their Facebook page @Fællesspisningaarhus or telephone 29 20 97 51.

created a special week every year to encourage both big and small communal eating events throughout Denmark. Held in week 17 which is around the end of April or beginning of May, they welcome all, including internationals warmly. Their focus is on bringing people together. You can find out more, and follow their updates for the 2019 event at danmarkspisersammen.dk. If you haven’t cracked the Danish code of meeting your neighbours yet, then be brave and make it your priority to find a local fællesspisning near you. A Danish tradition dedicated to breaking down social barriers, it’s the perfect antidote to a world full of online connections often lacking in real-time connections. You never know, you might even make a new friend. THE-INTL

JOIN THE MOVEMENT Folkebevægelsen mod Ensomhed (The People’s Movement against Loneliness) have

D E T I LE B LSPIAM A CES AVAIL

KERI BLOOMFIELD BLOGGER Keri Bloomfield is a connector, writer, event manager and blogger currently living in Copenhagen. Originally from New Zealand she was recently employed by her daughter (Bilingual Backpack Baby) as editor, writer, photographer and social media manager to document their adventures living in Denmark. Prior to this job posting, Keri navigated a corporate life in New Zealand and England working in the field of event management and people management. She is strongly passionate about healthy workplaces (and pastries).

Now based in Denmark Keri is on her way to becoming bilingual (she hopes) and is the co-organiser of ‘Post A Letter Copenhagen’. A monthly event held at ENIGMA Museum of Post & Communication in Østerbro. Entry is by donation and in return attendees are able to write letters to anywhere in the world for free. She recently initiated a project for volunteer writers to write to lonely elderly people all over the world. This is part of Keri’s greater goal to encourage more thoughtful and meaningful communication in the world. You can read and follow Keri’s adventures in Copenhagen with her Danish partner and daughter, and learn more about Post A Letter Copenhagen, by visiting: www.bilingualbackpackbaby.com www.postalettercopenhagen.com

ROSKILDE

TER REGISW NO !

Building Character At Skt. Josef ’s International School, we strive to have happy, knowledgable children skilled with the right character so that each child learns how to learn. Skt. Josef ’s International School, provides quality international education for children aged 5 to 16 (Year 1 to Year 11).

sktjosefs.com Skt. Josef ’s International School

Frederiksborgvej 10, Roskilde

+45 4635 2526

info@sjs-roskilde.dk

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

RASMUS FLINDT PEDERSEN

LIOR ZILBERSTEIN

TUALA HJARNØ

CHRISTIAN LINDGREN

THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY Diversity values and respects difference, while encouraging contribution and enabling empowerment. Embracing diversity can lead to new insight, knowledge and ways of thinking, but requires courage and hope. Is Denmark ready to step outside of it's comfort zone? PHOTOGRAPHS COPENHAGEN MEDIA CENTER; ISTOCK PHOTO

DENMARK’S DEMOGRAPHY IS changing. Educational institutions, workplaces, and the Danish society, are increasingly becoming a greater mix of cultural, racial and ethnic groups. Understanding diversity supports the recognition and respect of different ways of being in the world, which enable interactions where crosscultural trust, respect, and understanding can develop. Diversity, whether in the workplace or society as a whole, has significant importance. In the spirit of Pride, let us explore why diversity matters. Diversity can be defined in a number of different ways. For our purposes, diversity can be understood as something both inherent and acquired. Inherent diversity refers to traits one is born with; such as gender, ethnicity, and so on. On the other hand, acquired diversity refers to traits gained from lived experiences; such as generational differences or living abroad, whereby one can gain insight into cultural differences. The promotion of diversity speaks to an inclusive orientation that values, respects and celebrates difference, while encouraging contribution and enabling empowerment for all members of an organisation or society as a whole. But what does diversity require from an individual, organisation or society, and what benefits does diversity afford?

form an organisation or society as a whole.

COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION When courage and hope are internalised, diverse collaborative efforts can flourish. Actively seeking out and bringing in different voices paves the way for organisational and societal transformation. Diverse collaboration can open a window into seeing life lived in a different way than our own, while also stimulating reflection into our own way of understanding and experiencing the world. This can draw attention to different needs, sensitivities and seemingly invisible barriers, while also creating empathy and breaking down preconceived notions. Diversity not only allows for enhanced collaboration, but also unlocks innovation. Innovation occurs when diverse creative potential is empowered through collaboration. It is where value can be created by combining seemingly unrelated things or ideas in new ways; by identifying new insights in patterns, aberrations, or by transferring knowledge from one context and applying it in another. Diversity has the potential to generate a spectrum of new perspectives, where organisations and society can gain intimate knowledge and insight into practices transcending national, linguistic and cultural boundaries. A recent study published in the journal Fi-

TEXT THOMAS MULHERN

nancial Management found that organisations and societies with policies that encourage the retention and promotion of workers across the race, sexual orientation, and gender spectrum were more innovative and productive. Thus, the gains that diversity oﬀers, can be translated into value, not only for individual organisations, but for Danish society as well.

DENMARK NEEDS DIVERSITY What is the spirit of Pride and why should it be celebrated? Diversity is the ethos of Pride and should be celebrated because it values and respects diﬀerence, while encouraging contribution and enabling empowerment for all members of an organisation or society as a whole. Why should a homogeneous country like Denmark, ostensibly one of the happiest countries on earth, care about diversity? Diversity as a practice and ideology requires courage and hope, which enhance collaboration and innovation. Denmark needs diversity! It allows for new insights into key markets and exposure to new ways of thinking. Diversity further promotes Denmark's position as a leading innovative, knowledge-based economy. It is time for all stakeholders to have the courage to leave their comfort zones and to be optimistic that properly empowered diverse voices can transform society for the better. THE-INTL

COURAGE AND HOPE Courage is required to step outside of comfort zones, to engage, to be open towards other ways of being and doing. It takes courage to confront and analyze one's own beliefs and attitudes. It also requires courage to intervene when others are engaging in behaviors that show bias, cultural insensitivity or prejudice. In addition to courage, diversity requires hope. Hope speaks to an optimism and belief that diverse voices can positively trans-

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THOMAS MULHERN MANAGING DIRECTOR, GLOBALLY LOCAL Thomas is the former International Department Head at Institut Sankt Joseph, where he led the first fully bilingual Danish/English educational program in Denmark. He is himself an expat, married to a Danish repat and father to a Danish/American. Thomas has experienced first-hand the barriers that make integration in Denmark so difficult, but has also learned the tools to breaking down these barriers and what it takes to integrate, and make Denmark a lasting home. Globally Local uses innovative services to internationalise organisations, and integrate ex-

DIVERSITY AS A PRACTICE AND IDEALOGY REQUIRES COURAGE AND HOPE, WHICH ENHANCE COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION.

pats and Danish repats.

www.globallylocal.dk

LEARNING TO MAKE

A DIFFERENCE

Emilia Sawa is an 8th Grade student at Copenhagen International School. She shares her impressions learning about conflict regions in the world, and how everyone, including her class, can make a peaceful difference.

PHOTOGRAPHS I-STOCK PHOTO

THE CURRENT CROP of 8th Grade students at Copenhagen International School have just completed a unit for their Individuals and Societies class called ‘Peace One Day’. “The objective of ‘Peace One Day’ is to equip students with the academic and interpersonal skills necessary to comprehend the global and regional conflicts facing their generation, and to inspire them to overcome these obstacles through a commitment to teamwork, honest scholarship, and the value of human rights,” says our teacher Mr Treadgold. I can safely say that this unit is one of the most interesting and heart-breaking units of Middle School. By the end of the unit, students were put in groups of four or five, and were given a country that has a certain conflict happening. They each had to write a paragraph regarding that country’s conflict, working together on an Action Plan to help people affected by the conflict. These Action Plans are to be put in ‘action’ on September 21, International Day of Peace.

CLASS VOX POP I went around to my fellow students, and asked them how work on their respective Peace Day Action Plans has helped them understand the world in a better way. This is what they had to say… “I think making an Action Plan and following it through helped me gain a better understanding of what’s happening in the world because I had to research what was hap-

TEXT

COPENHAGEN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

"I THINK IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND HOW THE DIFFERENT ACTIONS WE TAKE CAN POSITIVELY AFFECT THE WORLD." - JIHAN MUHITH pening in the country that I was assigned to, and how to best make a difference. By doing, this I learned more about what is going on around me.” – DOMA BLAU “I think my Peace Day Action Plan helps me understand conflict in the world because of not only the extensive research we have had to do, but also because we have to understand the conflict deeply in order to be able to explain it. When you understand something deeply, you can apply that knowledge to other situations, as well as analyse that and learn from the mistakes people in the past have made. After doing this, you can apply that knowledge to other conflicts and situations in the world, and this helps us understand other conflicts better. Not only can we also understand other conflicts better, but we can learn from mistakes made in the past to help bring a more peaceful future to this world.” – CECILIA HEIMANN LARSEN

world. How they unfold, what caused them to start, their complexity, and how hard it is to find a solution. In this world, everyone wants something, and as we have learned, at one point or another, not everyone can be happy; I think that’s one of the main issues in many conflicts. Many people don’t make compromises or think about other people’s lives, there’s no respect, there’s selfishness, and there’s lack of recognising each other as human beings with equal rights. The more you research and learn about certain conflicts, the more you can understand them, therefore understanding the world in a better way. For students interested in making a difference in the world, the amount of knowledge that you have on a particular issue can spark new ideas on how to change things. I am looking forward to learning and understanding more, as I get older. THE-INTL

“I think it helps us understand how the different actions we take can positively affect the world.” – JIHAN MUHITH

BETTER UNDERSTANDING In my opinion, I think that my Action Plan helped me understand the world in a better way because I had the opportunity to have a good look into certain conflicts in the

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

MAKING FRIENDS

AND FIGHTING ISOLATION True friendship can last a lifetime, but then it can also take a lifetime to make a true friend. Making friends in a new country can be somewhat challenging, but as Melanie Haynes explains, it’s a two-way street and definitely worth the effort.

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCKPHOTO

TEXT MELANIE HAYNES

ONE OF THE biggest fears that people have when relocating to a new country is finding and making friends. One of the benefits of being an expat is that you are likely to be – at least in the beginning – moving in the same circles as other expats, and this can help with making friends, especially in Denmark.

EXPAT VS LOCAL FRIENDS

There is a big difference between the types of friendships you will forge with expats and those with Danes. Let’s start with expats. In the main, many expats you meet will be living in the country for a shorter and specific period of time. If they are seasoned expats they will be used to making friends quickly. Seasoned expats are those who are not actually expats in the traditional sense, but people who have left their own country to settle on a permanent or longterm basis. These people will often already have strong groups of friends, but will be open to newcomers as they recall what it was like for them being 'new' to the country. They will take things a little slower but are great people to add to your circle as they will have long-term knowledge to share of the place, its culture and so on, and are less likely to be heading off to a new place any time soon. When it comes to the more short-term expat, you may find that they will share personal details about their lives much faster than you are used to. It is important to remember that this group of friends will be very transitional and situational, and you will get used to saying goodbye a lot. Making friends with Danes is a little more tricky – but certainly worthwhile. In some places, Copenhagen being a prime example, many Danes live close to old friends and family. They will already have a very strong network and groups of friends, and in fairness why should they go out of their way to make you their new friend? You are most likely to meet local people in your apartment building or street. By putting in the time to introduce your-

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

MELANIE HAYNES CONSULTANT, BLOGGER & WRITER Melanie is a relocation consultant,

"MAKING FRIENDS WITH DANES IS A LITTLE MORE TRICKY - BUT CERTAINLY WORTHWHILE."

blogger and writer based in Copenhagen, where she has lived for the past ten years. After experiencing relocation to Copenhagen and Berlin, she

self, say hello (in Danish), chat, help out (if applicable), say yes to invitations, extend invitations (but expect them to be politely refused) and be generally friendly, you will gradually make a few, but reliable Danish friends. It takes time, and you will usually find that these people won’t be your best buddies, but they will be fun and will help you out.

BEING HONEST ABOUT FRIENDSHIP Having said this, there is often a hierarchy when it comes to friendships, and it is important to manage your expectations of each level. At the bottom of the friend pyramid is anyone you have met more than a couple of times and with whom your paths cross a lot. These are people from your language school, workplace, school or daycare (if you are a parent). There will be many of them, and you will most probably have a chat when you see them, and get to know them on a superficial basis. It is a bit like starting university, when you make friends with everyone and find yourself asking and replying to the same questions over and over. This stage is important in finding your ‘tribe’. Next up are people from the first lev-

el whom with you have more in common. Perhaps you begin to socialise with them beyond the initial meeting place. These are the people who will start to be your proper friends or your ‘tribe’. Some of them will make it up to the next level and be the people that you share more about your life, joys, worries and things you need help with. Finally, at the apex are the few good friends you have made, that you know you can call on for help at any time, who will be fun to go out with in a relaxed manner and just have a good time. The speed at which people get to the apex depends on a lot of things. You may find that you spend the first few months in your new home with just a ton of people on the first level, but that is OK. Lasting friendships take time, and good friendships are not made overnight. I often hear new expats moan that local people aren’t friendly and are not interested in making friends with them, but friendship is a two-way street. There needs to be a strong element of reciprocity in friendship, and even more so when you are the newcomer. Make sure you are not always taking and asking for favours with nothing in return. THE-INTL

runs a settling-in service aimed at expats, called Dejlige Days Welcome. Through her consultancy she helps people planning to move to Copenhagen or who are already living here. She regularly writes about expat life in Denmark in The Local Denmark and the Huffington Post as well as on her popular blog, Dejlige Days. She has also appeared in the press including the Guardian and The Sunday Times, and also in the Danish media talking about life as a seasoned expat in the Danish capital. She lives with her husband and son close to the beach in Copenhagen.

www. dejligedays.com

BOARDROOM BRAVADO Seasoned board member Lone Fønss Schrøder sits down with The International to share her wisdom when it comes to best business practices from the boardroom to operations on the ground.

PHOTOGRAPHS VOLVO CARS; MARIE HALD

TEXT CLAIRE ROSS-BROWN

LONE FØNSS SCHRØDER

is one of the most recognised business leaders in the world today. At just 28 she was appointed CEO of the A.P Moller-Maersk owned airline Star Air, and then went on to become the highest-ranking woman in Maersk, in the process founding Maersk Global Procurement. Taking good care of a family and a highly demanding career, Schrøder is an inspiration to many women all over the world. The current Vice Chairman of Volvo Car Corporation, Schrøder is also chairman of Nustay, board member of Ikea (Ingka), co-founder of fintech company CashWorks and has several other business interests. How does she keep up with it all and ensure she is across strategic challenges in each business? She says that a holistic approach is needed. “You can’t only be a director in a company, things are moving fast, you have to be involved in building companies from a more product or operational point of view as well and understand the cross-sector developments not least fostered by the digital development, or I think you risk not being sufficiently equipped,” she explains. She goes on to say that this was her thinking when she co-founded C a s h -wo r k s , “when we built the fintech company for regulated banks, I unLone Fønss Schrøder derstood that it

CLAIRE ROSS-BROWN BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR AND EXECUTIVE was going to be one of the most demanding environments I’ve ever worked in, and that I needed to be across all operation of the business. This has assisted me in remaining relevant and value creative in the other companies I serve as director.” The engaged business woman has had to deal with her fair share of challenges, especially when it comes to largescale structural changes in the businesses she had headed up. She says that it is vital the boards of these companies are equipped with directors who have experience with issues that affect ownership and control of a business. “It is important that I understand the tempo at which changes are necessary to develop and implement and have an eye for the unknown, and be able to develop ways to address various opportunities and risks,” Schrøder explains. “It’s also important to ensure that the company has values which are appreciated by the stakeholders and that the company is deemed attractive for the right candidates to join. It is not a given that a company can always get the directors and employees who best service the company. This is an eco-system which has to

be carefully maintained.”

BEING ACROSS THE BUSINESS I asked Schrøder for her best piece of advice for both men and women who want to achieve great things on their own company boards. She said there is one key element that she has experienced as being critical to her own success – understanding both the bigger and smaller picture. “It is necessary to build experience and understand the huge variety of elements which make up a company, as well as its risks and opportunities. It has worked for me to understand both the details and the big strategic picture,” she says. Although, she does admit that she is yet to master the finer details when it comes to understanding “each and every piece in a constantly changing jigsaw”. She says that this has allowed her to achieve great success with companies, “where I have against all odds either saved companies from bankruptcy or been part of a team which has created great wealth and lots of new jobs”. Making an early move and bold decisions in situations of uncertainty has allowed Schrøder to achieve the success she has. THE-INTL

DIRECTOR OF FINTECH COMPANY CASHWORKS Claire has over 26 years', experience working as both a business consultant and actress/ singer. She has worked as a Headhunter in London city with Investment Banks, produced an album and invests in companies. Claire is a true Londoner, yet considers Denmark her home, where she lives with her family. She loves to run, box, snowboard and wakeboard. Her column in The International is about Entrepreneurship, interesting businesses and key business people, board member of www. boernogungeinoed.dk/

www.cashworks.ch

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

TRINE BRANDTRYHEDE

AN INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM Roskilde, located 30km west of Copenhagen, is a beautiful city surrounded by living history, nature and unique experiences. Not only does it have a vibrant cultural and business centre, the city offers a fantastic educational experience in the form of Skt. Josef’s International School.

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT DOM MAHER

CENTRALLY LOCATED IN Roskilde, Skt. Josef’s International School attracts families from all over Zealand (Sjæland), including Copenhagen, Ringsted, Køge and Vordingborg. Half of the families in the international section of the school are Danish families returning from abroad with children who wish to continue and complete their international education. The other half of families come from all over the world (40+ nationalities). The school believes that this balance provides the perfect platform for integration into Denmark. Co mp a r e d t o o t h e r i nt e r n a t i o n a l schools, Skt. Josef’s has a very low turnover of students, around 10 per cent each summer. This is because most families call Roskilde and the surrounding areas ‘home’. Families that join our school are here for the long-term, either returning to Denmark for good or deciding to build a life in Denmark. This stability is excellent for the children and the culture in the classroom. The purpose of school is to prepare children for adult life, and Skt. Josef’s International School helps children learn the skills they need to be successful in their careers and relationships through 21st Century education principles. English, mathematics, science and history are complemented with exciting subjects, such as, Critical Thinking, Project X, and Global Perspectives. These subjects are aimed at teaching problem solving, creative thinking, independent research, reflection and communication.

CHARACTER EDUCATION Character Education is a specific set of skills or traits for students to learn and master in order to become better learners and citizens. There is an infinite amount of knowledge out there; one cannot learn

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

DOM MAHER SKT. JOSEF’S ROSKILDE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Dom is the Head of Depart-

THERE IS AN INFINITE AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE OUT THERE; ONE CANNOT LEARN IT ALL.

ment at Skt. Josef’s International School in Roskilde. He has over twenty years of ex-

it all. Students need to learn how to learn, and how to lead. The school allows students to develop these skills so that they become successful learners. Skills such as purpose, zest and curiosity will help students find their passion for learning, while growth in mind-set, social-emotional intelligence and self-control will help students to know themselves and get along better with others. The school’s set of character traits combined with the skills learnt in the classroom are implemented into all aspects of school life. These characters help students find the words to explain their thinking and reflect on their own learning.

LEARNING DANISH Skt. Josef ’s International School splits Danish lessons into two groups. A group

for those students who are beginning to learn Danish and another for those who are fluent in Danish. Students in the top Danish class learn Danish in accordance with the goals set by the Danish Ministry of Education, and are ultimately preparing for the Dansk FP9 afgangsprøve (Danish leaving exam). Beginners learn quickly in a fun, meaningful setting, and are eager to show off what they have learnt.

SPACES AVAILABLE Skt. Josef’s International School provides quality international education for children aged five to 16 (Year 1 to Year 11). There are limited spaces available in most classes for August 2018. Visit the school’s website, sktjosefs.com, or contact Rikke Holm, Admissions Officer, on +45 46 30 46 05. sktjosefs.com THE-INTL

perience in education in different countries and across various school systems. Skt. Josef’s International School is located in beautiful Roskilde providing quality education for children aged five to 16 (Year 1 to Year 11).

www. sktjosef.com

BACK TO SCHOOL:

THE BEST TIME FOR NEW BEGINNINGS Don’t let your kids have all the fun. Why not make ‘back to school’ an adventure for you too.

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT ED LEY

CREATE YOUR OWN SCHOOL WITH A SYLLABUS THAT EXCITES YOU. TAKE YOUR DIET AS AN EXAMPLE:

SO IT’S NOT New Year but the return to school at this time of year has been ingrained in us since we were little. We head out into the big wide world armed with a bouquet of fresh pencils and a new back pack venturing boldly towards exciting, new opportunities and experiences. The spirit of returning to school is all about possibility, learning, developing and connecting with new people and new ideas. As opposed to the spirit of the January New Year which is all about willpower and the determination to dig deeper so that you can finally overcome yourself once and for all. It is a mindset built around fear, so why not ditch the grown up New Year and get back in touch with the children’s one?

1. Join a cookery class. 2. Commit to make one Jamie Oliver dish per week. 3. Set up a “Come dine with me” contest between friends. 4. Start asking your butcher about different cuts of meat and how to prepare them 5. Start asking your butcher about different fish and how to cook them. 6. Try a new vegetable once a week away from meal time. 7. Hire someone to come to your house and teach you to cook a few simple dishes. Whatever it is you would love to achieve, loosing the motivation - motivation is an indication that you don’t really want to do it. Instead choose inspiration, let curiosity and positivity fuel you. When a smile falls over your face and your pupils dilate at the ideas that your mind is generating. That’s when you have a plan that will change your life. When you know what you would like to achieve, forget the quickest route, and instead ask: What do I need to learn? And, what would make this more fun? THE-INTL

LEARN TO CHANGE The way that children live is one of the filters I like to use to guide me in human development both for myself and my clients. They show me that our natural human state is curiosity. We are learning machines. We don’t force our way to change, we learn our way to new perspectives and they in turn bring about the change with much less need for mental reserves. We do in fact change, we literally transform as our brains and rewire new pathways – that’s not just for kids. We believe that the goal we are forever chasing comes hard, but we look around and see so many people with less intelligence, resources and willpower than us who already poses what we are fighting to achieve. We are left with two possibilities, either we are different or they know something we don’t. Too often our ego convinces us it is the former. It almost never is. “You are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with,” says Jim Rohn, American entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker. And this is so true. Wealth, health, relationships, ethics, opinions - they are all subtly created by our conversations and the actions of those we most often interact with. The quickest, easiest and most enjoyable way to change your life is to bring someone new into it. Someone who has achieved the result that they wish to.

ED LEY HEALTH COACH, CONSULTANT, WRITER AND SPEAKER. Ed and his wife Christina have recently opened a clinic in Hellerup where they use neuroscience tools to help people solve health challenges that have struggled to solve alone. From fat loss, increased energy, pain and injury to stress, anf finding time for fitness, Absolute Health can help you too. To find out more visit our website.

www. absolute health.net

TIP 6: TRY A NEW VEGETABLE ONCE A WEEK AWAY FROM MEAL TIME.

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

FLAVOURFUL, COLOURFUL AND SPICY VEGGIES In celebration of Pride, Erin Chapman serves up colourful plates of veggies – ideal for simple, summer dining. PHOTOGRAPHS ERIN CHAPMAN

TEXT ERIN CHAPMAN, THE AMERICAN PIE COMPANY

LIVEN UP YOUR LUNCHBOX, PICNIC OR NEXT DINNER PARTY WITH THESE FRESH AND VIBRANT SUMMER SALAD RECIPES. GUARANTEED TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER DURING A SEASON DEVOTED TO SUN, FUN AND FAMILY, THESE SALADS ARE BOTH DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS. IT'S FUN CREATING DIFFERENT SALADS WITH A HUGE VARIETY OF THE WONDERFULLY COLOURED VEGETABLES (AND FRUITS) TO CHOOSE FROM DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. TAKE THESE RECIPES AS INSPIRATION FOR YOUR OWN CREATIVE CREATIONS.

BROCCOLI, BACON & CHEDDAR SALAD THIS COLOURFUL CRUNCHY SALAD HAS A PLENITUDE OF FLAVOURS. RAISINS ADD A TOUCH OF SUN-KISSED SWEETNESS, WHILE THE CRISP BACON ADDS A SALTY, SMOKED PUNCH THAT MAKES THIS SALAD A GREAT SIDE DISH OR A STAND-ALONE MEAL. SIMPLY OMIT THE BACON IF YOU’RE VEGETARIAN.

SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS: 8-10 slices bacon, fried and crumbled 2 small bunches of broccoli, separated into small bite-sized florets 100g sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 1-2 tomatoes, diced 1 small red onion, diced 100g raisins 1dl crème fraiche 1 tbsp mayonnaise Juice of half a lemon Salt and ground black pepper to taste

METHOD: Fry and crumble the bacon and set aside to cool. Clean and separate the broccoli florets from the stalks. Place in a large bowl and add the cheese, tomato, red onion, raisins and crumbled bacon. In a small bowl, whisk together the crème fraiche, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Add sea salt and ground black pepper to taste. Pour the prepared dressing over the broccoli mixture and gently stir until coated. Top with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese and refrigerate until ready to serve.

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ERIN CHAPMAN CO-OWNER, THE AMERICAN

EARTHY MASON JAR SALAD WITH YOGURT DRESSING THIS CRUNCHY, COLOURFUL ROOT “JAR SALAD” IS A PERFECT MAKE-AHEAD SALAD FOR A WORK BREAK OR LUNCH OUT IN THE PARK. THE DRESSING STAYS AT THE BOT-

TO REMAIN FRESH FOR A LONGER PERIOD

tele at both national and interna-

OF TIME. TRY THIS YOGURT DRESSING FOR

tional level.

DRESSING AND SALAD FOR 1 JAR:

150g cream cheese 100g parmesan cheese, grated 100g sundried tomatoes, finely chopped 2 tbsp chives, finely chopped ½ tsp salt ½ tsp ground black pepper 12-15 small mild sweet peppers (red, orange, poblano) 2 tbsp olive oil

METHOD: In a mixing bowl, stir together the chopped chilli pepper, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, sundried tomato, chives, salt and pepper until smooth and thoroughly combined. Cut off the tops of the peppers, reserving them. Remove any seeds and membranes with a small knife or spoon. Brush the peppers with a bit of olive oil. Fill each pepper evenly with the cheese mixture. Reattach the tops. Grill the stuffed peppers on aluminum foil

in has specialised in brand buildlifestyle, food and fashion clien-

2 SMALLER SERVINGS)

1 tbsp fresh chilli pepper, finely chopped

ing both in Denmark and USA, Er-

TOGETHER, ALLOWING THE INGREDIENTS

MAKES 1 LARGE JAR (1 LARGE SERVING,

INGREDIENTS:

the advertising industry, work-

ing and image development for

OWN DRESSING!

THESE SPICY LITTLE NUMBERS ARE NOT ONLY COLOURFUL, BUT A GREAT WAY TO KICK OFF A PARTY. ADD EXTRA CHILLIES IF YOU ENJOY A BIT MORE HEAT, AND DOUBLE THE RECIPE IF YOU’RE SERVING A CROWD. SERVES 4-6

With over 20 years’ experience in

TOM UNTIL YOU’RE READY TO MIX IT ALL

A SWEET, SMOKEY FLAVOUR, OR USE YOUR

CHEESE AND CHILI STUFFED GRILLED PEPPERS

PIE COMPANY

2 tbsp plain yoghurt 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp white or red wine vinegar 1 tsp dijon mustard 1 tsp honey ¼ tsp paprika Sea salt and ground pepper to taste

SALAD INGREDIENTS: ¼ cup dried cranberries ¼ cup sunflower seeds ¼ cup pecans or walnuts 1 large carrot, shredded ½ parsnip, shredded 1 beet, shredded 1-2 cups kale or other hearty greens, chopped

Erin attended DIS, Denmark’s Study Abroad programme in 1996 and made a connection with Copenhagen. She moved to Denmark permanently in 1998 with two suitcases and a pocketful of change. Working in the advertising industry she worked her way up as a senior creative, as well as a voiceover artist, and then began her own brand and design business in 2006. Merging her love for food and art direction, she began food styling and cookbook design for other authors, and then proceeded to continue with recipe development, publishing two cookbooks in Denmark. While living in Los Angeles, Erin worked with several US brands on image and

METHOD:

recipe development and upon re-

In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients until combined and smooth. In a large mason jar (with lid), begin by pouring the prepared dressing into the bottom. Then layer the cranberries, sunflower seeds, pecans or walnuts, carrot, parsnip, beet and top with the chopped greens. Seal and refrigerate. When ready to eat, shake all salad ingredients into a bowl, toss and enjoy!

turning to Denmark, she partnered with Dorte Prip in 2015 to introduce The American Pie Company in Copenhagen. Erin is happily married to her Danish husband and is the mother of a sassyfive year old daughter who speaks fluent “Danglish”.

www.theamericanpieco.com

brushed with oil, until lightly charred and the cheese filling is melting and hot – about 8-10 minutes. Serve and enjoy as an appetizer or side dish.

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

TECH GADGETS FOR THE HOTTEST SUMMER As the long, sunny summer days continue, Suzaan Sauerman shares what tech gear she will be packing for a delayed summer vacation in August. PHOTOGRAPHS VARIOUS

TEXT SUZAAN SAUERMAN

QUIP TOOTHBRUSH This is just about the most stylish toothbrush we've ever laid eyes on. It's slim and lightweight but also uses a AAA battery to create vibrations and pulses to make the most of your brushing time. No need to rely on those tiny toothbrushes provided by your hotel, as it comes with a travel-ready holder that suctions repeatedly to bathroom surfaces. You can also sign up to a subscription service and get a new brush head, toothpaste and battery every three months. FROM 499 DKK.

ZEPP TENNIS KIT The Zepp attaches to your tennis racket, is compatible with both Android and iOS devices, and measures a whole bunch of data, in-

GOPRO HERO SESSION

cluding power, sweet spot, shot type, spin and time

What good are the memories

on court. One especially neat feature is the

if you can't record them while they're

way it displays a three dimensional real-

happening? Whether you're going on

time analysis of your stroke that can be

an action holiday or just to swim in

viewed from various angles.

the sea, capture the great outdoors

The Zepp is charged via USB and runs for up to eight hours. And that's

and some solid memories of your trip with a GoPro.

longer than any tennis match in the

This GoPro HERO Session Full HD

history of tennis, bar the most re-

Action Cam is the smallest, lightest

cent men's semi-final at Wimbledon

GoPro yet, with the same profession-

this year. For the record, Zepp also

al image quality that made GoPro so

produce similar sensor packages for

famous. If you want the best at the

golfers, footballers and baseball players.

most reasonable price, this is the one

FROM 999 DKK.

to go for. FROM 1499 DKK.

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

✱

EDITOR'S TOP PICK! THIS COLOURFUL NEW NYLON BAND WILL HAVE YOU STYLING AT THIS YEARS CPH PRIDE!

GOOGLE CLIPS Google Clips takes pictures and videos for you, by using facial recognition to learn what faces and moments are most interesting to you to record. Hold it, clip it to your jeans, or leave it literally anywhere, and suddenly you have your own personal videographer. The motion photos are private since you don't need an internet connection for it to work, and you can choose to upload them wherever/whenever.

FROM 1299 DKK.

GET YOUR PRIDE FACE ON WITH APPLE WATCH And last, but not least, let’s not forget about Copenhagen Pride happening this month. Apple is celebrating Pride with an-all new nylon band. The company typically introduces a Pride Ap-

LOGIC UV Now for something a bit different. If you like your wearables invisible, LogicInk will keep you safe in the sun with its Logic UV temporary tattoo. So how does it work? Well, you stick the tat to your skin and keep an eye on its two rings throughout the day. There's no phone or smartwatch involved, simply keep your eyes on the tattoos. The smaller, inner ring tells you how harsh the sun is by changing from white to purple. The outer, larger ring will turn bright pink from purple when you're getting close to actually burning your skin. These limits are determined by medical research on minimal erythemal dose, which is a super fancy and scientific way of saying how much

ple band every year, and this year the company has gone ahead and redesigned the band with slimmer rainbow stripes. What's more, the profits will go toward LGBTQ advocacy organisations. But that's

SUZAAN SAUERMAN LIFESTYLE TECH ADVISOR

not all, Apple is also partnering the new band with a new Pride watch face with a similar design. The

Suzaan has over 18 years’ expe-

watch face is simple, showcasing the pride rainbow

rience working for various tech-

with the time.

nology brands and leading global

It'll be available to download from the face gallery

marketing organisations, develop-

on the iPhone's Watch companion app. The Pride

ing innovative product portfolio’s,

band is available on Apple's website. In addition

driving digital transformation and

to the Pride Edition nylon band, Apple is debuting

creating unique user experiences.

several new sports band colours, including marine

Currently, she focuses her time on

green, peach and sky blue.

wearable and hearable tech, help-

FROM 399 DKK FOR THE BAND.

ing various brands to create unique

UV radiation will cause a skin rash or burn. This

product experiences to enhance

number is different for people based on skin tones,

lives. She is also an active key-

and LogicInk says the alerts will be customised

note speaker and panellist at vari-

for different skin tones. It's available to buy now in

ous global technology and lifestyle

packs of two or 20. FROM 30 DKK FOR A PACK OF 2.

events. Suzaan, a self-confessed tech geek, has travelled extensively, having worked and lived in all the continents of the world. In her spare time, she loves to keep fit by running and training at The Wolfpack Gym. She has a passion for food and wine, always scouting the best cup of coffee in the city, and enjoys art galleries. Suzaan lives in Copenhagen, was born and raised in South Africa, and is a British citizen.

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GOING WITH THE FLOW Jason Heppenstall explains how getting money and energy into Denmark could be a whole lot easier. PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCKPHOTO

TEXT JASON HEPPENSTALL

O ONE HAD TO feel

a certain amount of sympathy for any Danish politicians watching the recent FIFA World Cup in Russia. It seemed as if almost every pitch was surround with flashing adverts for Gazprom. Yes, that would be the same Gazprom that owns the Nord Stream 2 energy company which aims to build a second pipeline across the Baltic to supply Europe with natural gas – something the continent is running out of. It’s not something the average member of the Folketing wants to be reminded of when they’re trying to relax watching the football. All of the countries along the route of the proposed gas pipeline (except one) have agreed to its construction through their territorial waters. When it comes into operation in 2019, the new pipeline would supply 55 billion m3 of natural gas every year. Gas would arrive at a terminal in Germany and enter the European transmission network from there. So far, Sweden, Germany and Finland have agreed to the pipeline, but Denmark is proving to be an obstacle. The government has objected to the project on ‘security grounds’, although it is under a lot of pressure from Russia and others to get over its objection and approve the route. The timing of the new pipeline is critical to European energy supplies. With oil and gas output in the North Sea faltering, Europe could potentially be facing energy shortages before long unless it finds a means of securing a new supply. Currently it seems to be caught between Russia and the US, with the latter very keen to supply gas in liquid form via super-refrigerated tankers from its vast network of fracking operations. Naturally, such liquid gas is likely to be priced much higher than gas arriving from Russia in a shiny new pipeline from just across the Baltic, So what’s stopping Denmark from signing off the permits to allow the Nord Stream 2? Well, in a word: politics. Gazprom doesn’t seem too bothered. If Denmark doesn’t agree to it, they say, it’ll

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

JASON HEPPENSTALL CURRENCY ANALYST AND

RE-ROUTING YOUR FOREIGN MONEY CAN BE THAT SIMPLE. simply be re-routed slightly.

ON GIVING AWAY MONEY TO THE BANKS I wish that re-routing my foreign money could be that simple. Don’t you sometimes wish that – just like Cher – you could turn back time? I know I certainly do, and one thing I’d do differently would be to manage my financial affairs better when I moved to Denmark. At the time I first set foot in the land of bicycles and icicles (memorably, on September 12th 2001) myself and my wife had to set about finding somewhere to live. Luckily for us, her brother had just vacated his Copenhagen flat to travel round the world for six months, and graciously allowed us to live there in his absence. But really we wanted to buy our own place. We had just sold our house in England and so had a pot of money sitting in our UK bank account, ready for when it was needed. In fact, it wasn’t too long before we found a house to buy, situated not too far from the beach on Amager. That’s when we made the mistake, that, if I could turn back time, I would change.

At the time, I went through the process of doing a transfer of the money for the house purchase from our UK bank to our Danish bank. Big mistake. Had I known about using a currency broker, such as TorFX, I’d not only have saved money in fees, but I would have got a much better exchange rate too – so I could have been thousands better off. What’s more, they would have handled the whole complex saga for me, saving me a few gray hairs in the process. The fact is that high street banks can get away with adding on additional charges because most people don’t realise how easy it is to simply use a currency broker – perhaps assuming that such services are reserved for businesses or billionaires. They’re not. In fact, there are even apps now, meaning you can do transfers on your phone in your lunch break. If only I’d known… This column was brought to you by TorFX, a leading currency exchange provider. To find out how TorFX can help you save money with fast, free currency transfers and excellent exchange rates visit www.torfx.com THE-INTL

ECONOMICS WRITER, TORFX. Jason spent almost 10 years living and working in Denmark as an English teacher and news editor. With a degree in economics and years of experience writing for publications including The Guardian, Jason also has a thorough knowledge of expat life in Denmark, and can convincingly say rød grød med fløde to the satisfaction of the average Dane. He is married to a Copenhagener and they live together in Cornwall, UK, with their two children.

www. torfx.com

FOR THE LOVE OF A GOOD READ In all its splendor and many forms, what would literature be without love? There is no better way to journey a mile in another’s shoes than by reading, and the titles below suggested by Susan Jessen Spiele, will take you on a scenic route. 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 Horror, a club dedicated to scaring the town.

AN EPIC COMINGOF-AGE MIDDLESEX BY JEFFREY EUGENIDES The Greek-American Stephanides family has an old secret, one that has direct physical consequences for young Calliope. Born a girl but becoming a boy as a teenager, her story is a story of the American dream for several generations, and of gender identity.

FIRST LOVE, FIRST OUT CALL ME BY YOUR NAME BY ANDRÉ ACIMAN A powerful romance blossoms between an adolescent boy and a guest at his parents’ mansion on the Italian Riviera. During the summer weeks the two verge toward the one thing both fear they may never truly find again: total intimacy.

GREAT PLOT, BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN FINGERSMITH BY SARAH WATERS In Victorian London, young Sue is drawn into a plot to rid an heiress of her wealth, by becoming her maid and helping in her seduction. But things go very differently from the plan, and Sue's world is turned upside down.

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The author relocated twice, first an easy one to Copenhagen, then a really hard one to Berl i n . B a c k i n Cop e n hagen, she wondered what made the two so different. Her book is a hands-on guide, full of the friendly advice she wished she had. To purchase a copy, visit: www.dejligedays.com

er of your local library you have free access to audio and just the Danish books on ereolen.dk, but ereolenGlobal.dk with its selection of books in English. You can get a wide selection of e-books suitable for kids, teenagers and adults on your phone, tablet or computer.

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

Wait, what!? You didn’t choose Studieskolen?

Learn Danish at a school that is not laughable Studieskolen has been teaching Danish for 40 years – and we’re not going to stop now! The price is the same as you will find in other language schools. Go for the best. Go for Studieskolen. In the centre of Copenhagen Find our new courses on studieskolen.dk/dansk

AUGUST 2018 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM