Some of my earliest and fondest memories come from spending countless hours in my grandmother’s library, a space filled with thousands of books from all corners of the world. As a small child, it felt like a magical world of endless possibilities and stories to explore. I would get lost in those books, traveling to places I had never seen and discovering stories I could never have imagined. Looking back, I guess that’s where my fascination with different cultures and ways of life really began.
I can still remember at the age of eight writing my first short story, set in Victorian England, a place I had never been and knew absolutely nothing about. Little did I know, that would be just the beginning of a lifelong curiosity for the world beyond my own, for different lives and for different cultures.
As I grew older, my curiosity expanded, but I never could have imagined that one day, I would find myself explaining both the beauty but also the complexities of Danish culture, its language, humor, and quirks, to someone who didn’t grow up here. After all, I was the one who sought knowledge from the outside world, not the other way around. Yet, life has a funny way of surprising us. Today, with an international partner, a language degree, and a career focused on international and global collaboration and knowledge-sharing, I find myself constantly reflecting on what it truly means to be Danish, and what it means to belong and feel connected here, in Denmark.
From my earliest writing experiences, I have been drawn to the nuances of language and culture. Holding a master’s degree in English, I have spent countless hours analyzing linguistic structures, idioms, and the way languages shape our worldviews. But no amount of academic study prepared me for the small, everyday moments of translation, not just of words, but of meaning, humor, and social cues and norms that come with being in a cross-cultural relationship. What does it actually mean when a Dane says, “det går nok” (“It’ll be fine”)? What is the true essence of the untranslatable sounds “nå” and “pyt”? Why do we love candles so much? And why does every conversation, no matter how trivial, end with a discussion about the weather?
This curiosity is what led me to Last Week in Denmark. Every Sunday, my boyfriend and I sit down together to read the latest edition, using it as a way to bridge the gap between our cultures and spark conversations about life in Denmark. It’s become acherished ritual, one that not only helps my partner navigate the quirks of Danish society but also makes me reflect on the things I’ve always taken for granted.
It is this experience, the process of discovery, explanation andconnection, that I hope to bring to this column. I want to create a space where internationals in Denmark can gain insight into the country that they have now chosen to call home. Whether it’s demystifying the Danish workplace culture, decoding the unwritten rules of social interaction, or offering practical advice for navigating the labyrinth of bureaucracy, I want this column to be both informative and relatable.
Beyond my personal life, my professional life also revolves around internationals. In my work, I welcome professional delegations to Copenhagen, helping them learn about Copenhagen’s pioneer work in sustainable urban development – or at least that is the picture many other countries hold of Copenhagen, something I find myself reflecting on a lot, how my city and country is perceived worldwide versus how it actually appears and feels to someone living here.
This new chapter has been a rewarding way for me to strengthen my cross-cultural communication skills. It has also deepened my understanding of life in Denmark and how the rest of the world sees this small Nordic country. At the same time, it has reinforced how valuable it is to be able to share different ways of doing things in this world. That’s one of the reasons I love learning about other cultures because it expands my own horizons and gives me a deeper understanding of this world, that goes way beyond the small borders of Denmark.
In this column, I will be sharing stories, insights, and reflections on what it means to integrate into Danish society. I hope to explore everything from the hidden rules of hygge to the intricacies of the Danish tax system, from why Danes love discussing “arbejdsglæde” (work happiness) to how to survive the long, dark winters with your sanity intact. Some topics will be lighthearted, others more serious, but all will be written with the goal of helping internationals feel more at home in Denmark.
If you have ever found yourself confused by a Danish expression, struggled to make friends in a country where people seem to have known each other since kindergarten, or just wondered why Danes are so oddly specific about their types of rye bread, I hope this column will offer some clarity, and maybe even a laugh or two.
Welcome aboard, and I look forward to sharing this journey with you!
