I always think about the friends thing as the difference between „making“ friends in America and „becoming or growing“ friends in Germany. And what you are describing seems to show that the Danes are more like we are in Germany. 😊
Such an interesting discussion and very insightful. I don’t live in Denmark but I’m half Norwegian and repatriated back to Norway. Many of the social challenges that are described are VERY similar (if not identical) to what expats (or those repatriating back) face here. Norwegians and Danes are very similar with their friends network being established pretty much since barnehage (kindergarten). I’ve lived in many cities, including Manhattan for almost a decade. The dynamics of making friends in the Norway is very tough, even if you do speak the language and conform to many traditions. I have a Swedish friend whom I met and studied with in London and when she moved back to Stockholm (after a decade of being away) she struggled to make friends. I remember so vividly having this discussion with her and we both realised that whether it’s Stockholm, Oslo or Copenhagen, bc of how kids go from kindergarten to secondary school pretty much as a tight knit group, these are the friend groups that are already established. It can be a tough circle to crack. But I do love ❤️ Oslo, and I absolutely adore Copenhagen. Both cultures have their challenges but both cultures are charming 😊 Just a side note: I have made friends with local parents through my kid’s school. So things work out in the end!
For Josh and others... Just be yourself. If Danes detect any falseness you're goung to have a hard time. The over the top Americaness can feel superficial and false (not saying it is). So be honest if you're in doubt of something. Ask. We might not be the ones to open up first but if you dare to that we will take you in. So ask if you're having problems with the humor (read sarcasms) or feel lonely. Join your colleagues for football is still the best advice I've ever heard (play or watch). It doesn't mattet if you like football or not. But it is very social.
Social clubs in general is a scoop - if you like kayaking, join the lokal place - any sport or creativity club, within what you like would do. That way you will have people around you, who have a common interest as you and from there you can get to know people. If you then are invited for a gathering (barbecue, fun at the beach etc.), just say yes if you have no other plans, there might be people there who you haven't meet yet and that you might kick it off with even if the one having the event might not be one who you could see as a potential friend, and that way you might get friends that you didn't originally bump into - but that you met along the way. This will take a while, but in the mean time you have social clubs with hobbies you like =)
I was flying home from AZ this weekend. I spoke to a perfect stranger next to me. I am 90 and have traveled the world. Born in Denmark and came to USA 64 years ago. You was saying that you may not do that in Denmark, I have forgotten so much what you can and cannot do in Denmark. I have been back many times and so much has changed in the last many years. Love your talks and how much you love my homeland.❤️🇩🇰🇺🇸❤️
My mother is 93 and I would be so glad if she would visit me in denmark. But although she is very fit, she doesn't like to travel any more. I love your mobility and wish you many more visits to your home country and everywhere you want to travel! 💖🤗🌻
And no matter how obscure your interests are there are common interest people for you, doesn't matter if you collect stamps, knit socks, do roleplaying in the dark forest, or play a sport at a hobby level, but it'll of course take time to go beyond that setting, but this common interest is a good way to get to know others so you can begin talking other stuff on the side, and just let it grow slowly naturally from there.
I like you mentioning the problem about being back in your own countries and hear too much english and such. Ibget that. But a recurring problems seems to be that we danes are hard ro meet and make friends with. Well soo many friendships are founded in your youth , at schools and at the workplace. But in my experience it is hard to meet foreigners in many danish workplaces. Off course some areas are different but I work at a city hall where danish is the work language. It's just my experience that I speak english about 40% of my work day. So english is really my second language but yes danes are rather good at english but it is our second language. But most of all, where to meet outside clubs and work?
About invitations. Yes we dedicate the time for the guest and that means be honest if you have another thing planned. So expect us to reject invitations when we have other things planned but you will cet us 100% when we are together
i’ve never been this early i love you and your vids helped my trip to copenhagen so much! you guys make me believe it’s possible to move over there for real!!🫶
@@spyro257 I appreciate the hospitality! We visited Aarhus as well, and despite getting in at 2:00 AM it was the safest i’ve ever felt. Hoping to get to visit all of the islands so i can actually understand all of the jokes and whatnot hahaha
@@stefankarlberg2433 nice... mainland Denmark, where i live, and Zealand (Sjælland), kinda have a rivalry, where they call us "farmers", and we call them "devils", or saying they are more like Swedes, than Danes... it's all in love tho, just like Danes and Swedes, talk shit about each other, but people that are not Danes, cant make fun of Swedes, like Danes do, and the other way around... u have to remember, Sweden and Denmark are the 2 countries, that has had the most wars with each other, EVER...
To be fair having odd interests is great for making friends in Denmark. Whatever your quirk is there will be a club for it. We like clubs. And in a voluntary association you have a common start.
To the questioner Josh: Aren't all Americans quirky? 😁Just kidding, you'll be fine...Most Americans thrive here, is my experience. Like commenter lohofa said, just be yourself.
I always think about the friends thing as the difference between „making“ friends in America and „becoming or growing“ friends in Germany. And what you are describing seems to show that the Danes are more like we are in Germany. 😊
Such an interesting discussion and very insightful. I don’t live in Denmark but I’m half Norwegian and repatriated back to Norway. Many of the social challenges that are described are VERY similar (if not identical) to what expats (or those repatriating back) face here. Norwegians and Danes are very similar with their friends network being established pretty much since barnehage (kindergarten). I’ve lived in many cities, including Manhattan for almost a decade. The dynamics of making friends in the Norway is very tough, even if you do speak the language and conform to many traditions. I have a Swedish friend whom I met and studied with in London and when she moved back to Stockholm (after a decade of being away) she struggled to make friends. I remember so vividly having this discussion with her and we both realised that whether it’s Stockholm, Oslo or Copenhagen, bc of how kids go from kindergarten to secondary school pretty much as a tight knit group, these are the friend groups that are already established. It can be a tough circle to crack. But I do love ❤️ Oslo, and I absolutely adore Copenhagen. Both cultures have their challenges but both cultures are charming 😊
Just a side note: I have made friends with local parents through my kid’s school. So things work out in the end!
For Josh and others... Just be yourself. If Danes detect any falseness you're goung to have a hard time. The over the top Americaness can feel superficial and false (not saying it is). So be honest if you're in doubt of something. Ask. We might not be the ones to open up first but if you dare to that we will take you in. So ask if you're having problems with the humor (read sarcasms) or feel lonely. Join your colleagues for football is still the best advice I've ever heard (play or watch). It doesn't mattet if you like football or not. But it is very social.
Social clubs in general is a scoop - if you like kayaking, join the lokal place - any sport or creativity club, within what you like would do. That way you will have people around you, who have a common interest as you and from there you can get to know people. If you then are invited for a gathering (barbecue, fun at the beach etc.), just say yes if you have no other plans, there might be people there who you haven't meet yet and that you might kick it off with even if the one having the event might not be one who you could see as a potential friend, and that way you might get friends that you didn't originally bump into - but that you met along the way. This will take a while, but in the mean time you have social clubs with hobbies you like =)
I was flying home from AZ this weekend. I spoke to a perfect stranger next to me. I am 90 and have traveled the world. Born in Denmark and came to USA 64 years ago. You was saying that you may not do that in Denmark, I have forgotten so much what you can and cannot do in Denmark. I have been back many times and so much has changed in the last many years. Love your talks and how much you love my homeland.❤️🇩🇰🇺🇸❤️
My mother is 93 and I would be so glad if she would visit me in denmark. But although she is very fit, she doesn't like to travel any more. I love your mobility and wish you many more visits to your home country and everywhere you want to travel! 💖🤗🌻
And no matter how obscure your interests are there are common interest people for you, doesn't matter if you collect stamps, knit socks, do roleplaying in the dark forest, or play a sport at a hobby level, but it'll of course take time to go beyond that setting, but this common interest is a good way to get to know others so you can begin talking other stuff on the side, and just let it grow slowly naturally from there.
Greetings from one of the locals ❤. Loved it and 🤣🤣🤣
I love these colabs with Annie =)
I like you mentioning the problem about being back in your own countries and hear too much english and such. Ibget that. But a recurring problems seems to be that we danes are hard ro meet and make friends with. Well soo many friendships are founded in your youth , at schools and at the workplace. But in my experience it is hard to meet foreigners in many danish workplaces. Off course some areas are different but I work at a city hall where danish is the work language. It's just my experience that I speak english about 40% of my work day. So english is really my second language but yes danes are rather good at english but it is our second language.
But most of all, where to meet outside clubs and work?
About invitations. Yes we dedicate the time for the guest and that means be honest if you have another thing planned. So expect us to reject invitations when we have other things planned but you will cet us 100% when we are together
I have one plan today. I need to focus. That's likely nok introvertion. More like ad(h)d. 🥰
i’ve never been this early i love you and your vids helped my trip to copenhagen so much! you guys make me believe it’s possible to move over there for real!!🫶
u are very welcome here, and hope u make it a reality! but do get outside of Copenhagen, if u visit again, or move here... ♥ from a Dane
@@spyro257 I appreciate the hospitality! We visited Aarhus as well, and despite getting in at 2:00 AM it was the safest i’ve ever felt. Hoping to get to visit all of the islands so i can actually understand all of the jokes and whatnot hahaha
@@stefankarlberg2433 nice... mainland Denmark, where i live, and Zealand (Sjælland), kinda have a rivalry, where they call us "farmers", and we call them "devils", or saying they are more like Swedes, than Danes... it's all in love tho, just like Danes and Swedes, talk shit about each other, but people that are not Danes, cant make fun of Swedes, like Danes do, and the other way around... u have to remember, Sweden and Denmark are the 2 countries, that has had the most wars with each other, EVER...
To be fair having odd interests is great for making friends in Denmark. Whatever your quirk is there will be a club for it. We like clubs. And in a voluntary association you have a common start.
To the questioner Josh: Aren't all Americans quirky? 😁Just kidding, you'll be fine...Most Americans thrive here, is my experience. Like commenter lohofa said, just be yourself.
Making friends in Denmark: Fight a common enemy.