Arriving in Denmark: Some tips from my experience

Arriving in Denmark: Some tips from my experience

Author: Kay Xander Mellish August 23, 2015 Duration: 8:29

August in Denmark brings the first signs of fall: a crisp chill in the air, the changing color of the leaves, the annual posters warning drivers to be aware of small children riding their bikes to school for the first time.

And foreign university students in the local 7-11, asking that their buns be warmed up.

I saw a newly-arrived young American student in my local 7-11 this morning, asking that her newly-purchased bun be warmed. The 7-11 clerk told her sorry, but there were no bun-warming services available at that branch.

She wasn't too pleased, but it's always a mistake to expect U.S., U.K., or Asian-level concepts of customer service in Denmark: in this egalitarian country, nobody serves anybody, and if they do they are frequently grumpy about it. You and the store clerk are equals, and nobody's going to warm anybody's buns unless it was agreed to in the original deal.

 

While I didn't dare approach the angry American bun-woman, I thought it might be useful to her and to others list a few tips for arriving in Denmark at any time of year. You know, random things I wish people would have told me before I arrived.


For anyone curious about or currently navigating Danish life from the outside, How to Live in Denmark serves as an essential, on-the-ground guide. Hosted by Kay Xander Mellish, an American writer who has made Denmark her home for over ten years, this conversation cuts straight to the heart of the everyday realities in one of the world's most homogenous-and often puzzling-societies. Rather than lengthy lectures, you'll find concise, ten-minute episodes packed with practical advice and cultural translation. This isn't just about travel tips; it's a deep dive into the unspoken rules of Danish social etiquette, the nuances of the local workplace, and the sometimes surprising path to feeling at home in a country frequently labeled the world's happiest. Mellish draws from her own long-term experience to explain everything from navigating the infamous Jantelov to understanding the Danish approach to business meetings and casual Friday night hygge. As Denmark's longest-running English-language podcast, it has become a trusted resource for internationals, whether they are planning a move, newly arrived, or have been settled for years but still occasionally find themselves wondering, "Why do Danes do it that way?" Each episode feels like a chat with a well-informed friend who helps decode the complexities of a fascinating culture, making your time there richer and a lot less confusing.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

How to Live in Denmark
Podcast Episodes
Nudity in Denmark: The naked truth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:29
The relaxed approach to nudity in Denmark can be a surprise for many newcomers. It's something they're often confronted with at the local swimming hall, where a very large and strong attendant insists that they take off…
Politeness in Denmark: Some thoughts on Danish etiquette [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:31
"Is there politeness in Denmark?" That was the question I was recently invited on a national TV show to discuss. The implication was that I was supposed to say that Danes were not at all polite, because effusive praise a…
What I say when I'm welcoming newcomers to Denmark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:58
One of my favorite types of speaking engagement is introducing Denmark to some of the smart, motivated young people arriving from around the world to study at Danish universities. Since the publication of my first book,…
Summer Vacation in Denmark: The Agony and the Ecstasy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:39
Planning your summer vacation in Denmark is like playing the lottery. You could hit it lucky, with golden days and long, warm evenings, when you can sit with friends in the soft light and drink hyldeblomst cocktails. Or…
April Fool's in Denmark, and the rough game of Danish humor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:08
April 1st is April Fool's Day – Aprilsnar in Danish – and each Danish newspaper will feature a clever but false story for the unwary to be fooled by. To some extent every day is April Fool's Day in Denmark, because Danis…
Motivating Danish employees: Tips for Foreign Managers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:27
Motivating Danish employees is very different than motivating other groups of people because there are two big factors missing – hierarchy and fear. We don't like to talk about the fear part in our various countries of o…
The sound of Denmark? Quiet. Very quiet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:57
Denmark is a quiet country, even within the cities. Especially this time of year, February, when it's too cold to do anything but scurry from place to place, when the street cafés are closed and no one wants to eat their…
Tips for Living with a Danish Family [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:56
As the new academic semester starts up, some of you may be planning to live in a Danish home. It could be you'll rent a room in a household, maybe you'll be part of a Danish host family, or maybe you'll just be staying w…