#6: Explore the country
Denmark is more than Copenhagen, and this is a statement.
I rarely meet people outside of Denmark, who knows anything else about our country than Copenhagen and IKEA, but IKEA is actually Swedish!
But even though the country is so small it really has a lot to offer, and when you are able to hear the difference in the dialects, you’ll find out how many different languages and cultures we have in less than 4 hours drive.
While I don’t own a car myself we have a good network of public transportation and you can even rent a car from your neighbor via GoMore.
Last April when I had a visit from my good friend, Jamie, from Canada I borrowed a car and we made a roadtrip to the north-west part of Denmark, Thy Nationalpark. A trip where I learned some new things about my own countrys history and nature and a trip I will remember for a long time.
You probably already know about the vikings and our monarchy being the second oldest monarchy in the world (just after Japan), but did you know that most of Denmark was once covered with ice? And did you know, that almost every place in Denmark are less than 1 hour away from the ocean, except for the industrial city of Herning?
When traveling around in Denmark or any country for that matter, I can really recommend using the hospitality community called CouchSurfing. It is a great way to meet local people and get some insider knowledge about their area. I have stayed with locals in America, Europe, Asia and Australia and I have only had good experiences this way.
And just like anything else when traveling alone: If you are not a 2m tall viking, make sure to read people’s profile before you send a request. It’s all about trust!
#7: Learn the language
Even though 99% of all grownups in Denmark speak English in a more or less understandable tongue, I’m pretty sure this tip is very universal. To be able to speak the native language will help you in so many ways.
- You can communicate with everyone around you in you daily rutine
- You can actually understand formalities and legal stuff
- You will feel more at home
The last one is probably the most important part of this short list, since it is basically your own feeling of belonging, that is the essence of integration.
Again it cannot be stressed enough how important it is to mix with the locals, so you can try out and practice your new language. And again you MUST not skip the hard parts, just to make it easier. You can always speak English, but you will not feel the same connection without the native language.
In Denmark it is possible to get a free or cheap language course with 5-6 levels depending on the school and system. You can take a look at LærDansk.dk to see some options available.