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
Why job titles aren't important in Denmark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:41
One of the most important words in the Danish language is "ligestilling" – equality. The belief that all (Danish) people are basically equal permeates every relationship and every interaction. Fancy job titles do not fit…
Danish union vs A-kasse: What's the difference? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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When you first arrive in Denmark to work or look for work, the last thing you need is another monthly expense. So many foreigners "save money" by not joining a union. And I was one of them. To be honest, joining a union…
The Danish art of taking time off [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:52
When I first began working in Denmark, people used to start saying around April or May, "So – are you taking three or four?" What they meant was, are you taking three or four weeks off for your summer vacation? Now, in t…
The Danish job interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:08
If you've been asked for a job interview at a Danish company, congratulations. Danish companies don't like to waste time, so they wouldn't be setting aside time to meet you if they didn't think there was a solid chance t…
How to date a Dane: The two-speed bicycle and the flexible word [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:35
In Denmark, romance is like a two-speed bike. Speed one is casual sexual affairs with someone you may never see again: speed two is a serious relationship where you'll be expected to go to all your partner's dull family…