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PODCAST

How to Live in Denmark

Kay Xander Mellish

Quick takes on life in Denmark, in 10 minutes or less. Life as an international in Denmark, one of the world"s most homogenous countries, isn"t always easy. In Denmark"s longest-running English-language podcast, Kay Xander Mellish, an American who has lived in Denmark for more than a decade, offers tips for enjoying your time in "the world"s happiest country" plus insights on Danish culture and Danish working culture. Whether you"re living in Denmark, thinking about moving to Denmark, or interested

society & culture places & travel

All Episodes

06:52

The Danish art of taking time off

How to Live in Denmark ·

2016/08/15

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 the United States, where I come from, even taking two weeks off is extravagant. You always have the feeling that if you’re gone too long, there may not be a job waiting for you when you get back. In Denmark, a long summer vacation is legally required. If you have a full-time job, you

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10:08

The Danish job interview

How to Live in Denmark ·

2016/05/22

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 they might hire you. Job interviewing in Denmark is a difficult balance, because the Jantelov makes all forms of bragging or self-promotion distasteful to the Danes. You’ve got to convince the person interviewing you that you’re skilled and capable without sounding like a used car

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07:48

Finding a job in Denmark: Cover Letters, LinkedIn,...

How to Live in Denmark ·

2016/04/21

I often give presentations to job hunters in Denmark, and I tell them there are two words you can add to your cover letter that will virtually guarantee that it will be carefully read. What are those two words? The name of someone you know who already works at the company. Of course, you should only use a current employee’s name with his or her permission, and ask each time you use it. There’s always the chance that your contact and this particular hiring manager may be bitter enemies, or that a

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08:39

Looking for a job in Denmark: Your Danish cv (And why...

How to Live in Denmark ·

2016/03/18

When you're putting together a cv for Denmark, titles and grades and long descriptions of examinations (unless they’re required for the job, as they are for accountants, architects and engineers) aren’t a golden ticket to employment, even if you’ve attended an excellent school. Your Danish cv should focus on projects you've worked on, and how your contributions to those projects relate to the job at hand.

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06:42

Getting a job in Denmark: Fine-tuning your approach...

How to Live in Denmark ·

2016/02/22

Foreigners in general are often trying to look for a job in a way that works well in their home country, not Denmark. Basically, this works as about as well as trying to tell your new girlfriend the same jokes that made your old girlfriend laugh. If the setting is Denmark, the approach has to be Danish. Danish jobs are all about independence and teamwork. It’s not like they need a red Lego brick and you have to convince them you’re a red Lego brick to get the job. The employer has a problem that

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06:35

How to date a Dane: The two-speed bicycle and the...

How to Live in Denmark ·

2015/11/01

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 events. There’s not much of a middle. And what there definitely is not is dating.

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07:14

Danes and Beauty: Miss Denmark, the empty museum, and...

How to Live in Denmark ·

2015/09/21

If you really want to get a Dane all hot and bothered, start talking about some thing that is beautifully designed. In Denmark, beauty is usually found in something practical that has been very well designed. Housewares, particularly kitchenwares, are a Danish design favorite. They don’t have to be from expensive materials, but they have to be simple, streamlined, and work flawlessly. The beauty is in the usefulness.

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08:29

Arriving in Denmark: Some tips from my experience

How to Live in Denmark ·

2015/08/23

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

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06:02

Danish babies: Rolling Royalty and Tribal Names

How to Live in Denmark ·

2015/07/14

Denmark is a small country, and Danish people tend to think small things are good. Small cars. Small homes. Small ambitions when it comes to international team sports. But one thing in Denmark is never small – a baby carriage. Danes seem to believe that a carriage (or pram) for a new baby should be roughly the size of a hotel room on wheels. Inside, baby will be wrapped up warm with a fat feather blanket – even in the summer. There will also be room for pillows, books, toys, snacks, diapers and

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07:19

Private-equity pastry and the decline of bodegas: How...

How to Live in Denmark ·

2015/05/31

Every country changes, and so does Denmark. When I hold How to Live in Denmark events, people often ask me how Denmark is changing, or has changed since I got here fifteen years ago. I could name a hundred things, but the first one that always comes to mind is food and drink. Shotglasses are out, snaps and Gammel Dansk is out, fine wine (almost always bought on sale at the supermarket) is in. The small food stores that used to be on every corner in Denmark – the ‘pålæg’ or sausage shop, the fish

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07:03

Danes and Fear: What is there to be afraid of in...

How to Live in Denmark ·

2015/05/10

In general, Denmark is not a fearful country. You could argue, what is there to be afraid of in Denmark? It seems like a safe little corner of the world. Tax-funded social programs make it unlikely you’ll go hungry or homeless, as long as you have that little yellow social service card that shows you're here legally. Your medical care and education is paid for by taxes – yours or somebody else’s. Even if you lose your job – and it’s very easy in Denmark for companies to get rid of workers they

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06:53

Spring in Denmark: Hot Wheat Buns and Highly-Educated...

How to Live in Denmark ·

2015/04/19

It’s spring in Denmark, and spring is by far my favorite season here. The wonderful white Scandinavian sunlight is back after the dark days of the winter, the flowers are coming out on the trees, and everybody’s in a good mood. The outdoor cafés are full of people again – sometimes draped in blankets to keep warm, but outside all the same. April and May are often the best months for weather in Denmark, along with September. Summers can be rainy. And April is when Tivoli opens in Copenhagen. (Side

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08:05

Danish Birthday Traditions

How to Live in Denmark ·

2015/04/12

It has been said that Danish birthdays are the most important in the world. Adults, children, even the Queen of Denmark make a big deal about birthdays. And there is specific set of birthday rules and traditions for every age and role you play in life. Let’s face it, Danish birthday traditions are a minefield for foreigners. Get it wrong and you could make some serious birthday faux pas. For example, if the sun is shining on your birthday, you may find Danish people thanking you. ‘Thanks for the

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06:00

Danes and Singing

How to Live in Denmark ·

2015/03/08

There have been very few international singing stars from Denmark, and that’s a surprise, because Danish people love to sing. Joining choirs is very popular, and Danish schoolchildren often start the week with a song – in my daughter’s school, all the grades get together and sing something from the school’s common songbook. There’s actually a kind of common songbook for all the children of Denmark, called ‘Det Små Synger’, where you can find classics like ‘Se Min Kjole’ (See my dress), Lille Peter

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09:07

Danes and Inequality: Private Schools and Migrants...

How to Live in Denmark ·

2015/01/25

I was on Danish morning TV recently, which isn’t really something to boast about. In a country of 5 million, 10 guests a show, 365 days a year – you do the math. Just about everyone gets on TV sooner or later. Some of my friends and colleagues mentioned that they had seen me, stumbling through with my imperfect Danish, trying to promote my book, How to Live in Denmark. But just SOME of my friends and colleagues, not all. Specifically, it was my friends and colleagues who work in trendy

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06:11

Cat Bites and Dental Vacations: The ups and downs of...

How to Live in Denmark ·

2015/01/11

I've just arrived back in Denmark after a couple of weeks in the US and the night I got back, my cat bit me. This was not just a little affectionate peck - Fluffy used her sharp teeth, her fangs, to create four bleeding puncture wounds in my leg. I suppose it was partly my fault – I put a call on speakerphone. Fluffy doesn't like speakerphone, because she can hear a person, but she can’t see one, so she assumes I’m some evil magician who has put a person inside a little glowing box, and she bites

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05:04

'Best of' Podcast: Christmas in Denmark Part 2: Get...

How to Live in Denmark ·

2014/12/05

I’ve been living in Denmark so long I sometimes lose perspective. I forget what it’s like not to live in Denmark. Specifically, I forget that in most countries, adult men and women don’t want to walk around in an elf hat, even if it is Christmastime. In Denmark, the red and white elf hat is part of any Christmas activity where alcohol is involved, and a few where when alcohol isn’t involved. Children occasionally wear elf hats, which are called nissehue in Danish. But you’re more likely to see an

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06:01

Don't mention the flag: What I learned when I studied...

How to Live in Denmark ·

2014/11/29

There was no How to Live in Denmark podcast last week, and I apologize for that. I have been busy studying for my Danish citizenship exam. As some of you may know, Denmark is allowing double citizenship as of next year. That means you're are allowed to keep your home country passport - in my case, USA - while also becoming a Danish citizen. Personally, I'm a little concerned that this may be overturned if a right wing government takes power next year. Danske Folkeparti, which is now the

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06:31

Donald Duck, Anti-Depressants, and the Myth of Danish...

How to Live in Denmark ·

2014/11/16

Hello, and welcome to the How to Live in Denmark podcast. I'm Kay Xander Mellish. Whenever I hear that Denmark is the happiest country in the world, I think of Donald Duck. Donald Duck is extremely popular in Denmark, as he is in all Nordic countries. He is much more popular than Mickey Mouse. He even has his own Danish name - Anders And. Which means, basically. Anders the Duck. I don't know how much you know about Disney characters, but Donald Duck - or Anders Duck - is kind of a second-class

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07:43

Danes and Environmentalism: Why a country that loves...

How to Live in Denmark ·

2014/11/02

It's been a beautiful autumn here in Denmark. Warm, with golden sun, blue skies, red and yellow and orange leaves on the trees. Just gorgeous. And unusually warm for Denmark. It's always exciting when, instead of wearing your winter coat every day from October to April, you can wear it every day from November to April. But this unusually pleasant weather can’t help but spark conversation about global warming. So far the biggest impact climate change has had in Denmark are some severe

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147 results

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