Danish, Dutch, Deutschland: Confusing Denmark with its neighbors

FromHow to Live in Denmark

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Danish, Dutch, Deutschland: Confusing Denmark with its neighbors

FromHow to Live in Denmark

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Length:

8 minutes

Released:

Aug 15, 2013

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

It's a common mistake to confuse the Danish and the Dutch - all those healthy blond people on bicycles! - but if you really want to understand Denmark, look at Germany instead.

Released:

Aug 15, 2013

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

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 how to build friendships with Danes.

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Public nudity and the passion for privacy: Why I Google my Danish neighbors to find out who they are: They may appear nude on public beaches and in daily newspapers, but the Danes have a passion for privacy. by How to Live in Denmark
8 min listen
All the colors of the Danish landscape: The truth about Danish fashion: Danes dress to match the Danish landscape. This is why most Danish fashion comes in grey, green, blue and brown – plus beige for the adventurous. Hear it here, or subscribe for free on iTunes.Rather read? Try out the podcast tran[...] by How to Live in Denmark
5 min listen
White Socks and the Danish Tax Burden: The price of white cotton socks in Denmark is about five times as high as in the USA. I explain how the price of socks has a lot to say about the Danish economic system. Hear it here, or subscribe for free on iTunes.Rather read? Try out [...] by How to Live in Denmark
4 min listen
No planned hangovers: Ways I refuse to integrate in Denmark: More than a decade after moving to Denmark, there are still a few things I won't do to fit in. I won't cook fried fish balls, or watch Danish talent shows on TV. And I won't plan my hangovers in advance.The post No planned hangovers: Ways I refuse[...] by How to Live in Denmark
6 min listen
Summer in Denmark: Hear about summer in Denmark (or what there is of it) and why ‘summer herring’ sometimes wears a bikini, and sometimes nothing at all.Hear it here, or subscribe for free on iTunes.Rather read? Try out the podcast transcripts.[...] by How to Live in Denmark
5 min listen
Ørestad, Ørested and Øresund: Why I still get lost in Denmark: I still get confused about Danish place names. A lot of names sound so similar that I am constantly getting lost in Denmark. People's names are tricky, too.The post Ørestad, Ørested and Øresund: Why I still get lost in Denmark – Podcast #18 a[...] by How to Live in Denmark
4 min listen
Two-Wheeled Vikings and why I own three bikes: Danes and Cycling: For Danes, bicycle lanes are the Vikings’ last stand. These gentle blond people – these people who will wait two minutes at a ‘Don’t Walk’ sign instead of crossing an empty street – armed with a bike, turn vicious and [...] by How to Live in Denmark
5 min listen
More Snow Tomorrow: Surviving winter as a foreigner in Denmark: I’m looking out the window as I record, and it’s snowing again. It’s pretty, but it’s not a novelty any more. It’s been like this for the past couple of weeks, Danish winter weather. Nearly every day there’s fresh snow and ice. When I wake... by How to Live in Denmark
5 min listen
Gossip and Scandal in Denmark: While French or American politicians have sex scandals, Danish politicians have tax scandals. Only the Royal Family is permitted to be the subject of really juicy gossip and scandal in Denmark.The post Gossip and Scandal in Denmark – Podcast #[...] by How to Live in Denmark
6 min listen
Danish, Dutch, Deutschland: Confusing Denmark with its neighbors: It’s a common mistake to confuse the Danish and the Dutch – all those healthy blond people on bicycles! – but if you really want to understand Denmark, look at Germany instead.Hear it here, or subscribe for free on iTunes.[...] by How to Live in Denmark
8 min listen
Here come the dark times: Winter in Denmark: The dark days of winter in Denmark last from October to March. The sky is dark when you get up in the morning, and it’s dark when you leave work. If you are moving to Denmark and want your friends and relatives to visit you, don’t invite them to com[. by How to Live in Denmark
5 min listen
Painful hugs and Poison Gifts: When the same words mean different things in Danish and English: Danish words and English words can look similar, but some of the similarities are deceiving. A Danish hug is not comforting. And slut is not a slut. Hear it here, or subscribe for free on iTunes.Rather read? Try out the podcast transcrip[...] by How to Live in Denmark
4 min listen
Danes and Environmentalism: Why a country that loves green tech is the world's fourth-biggest polluter: 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... by How to Live in Denmark
8 min listen
Danes and Stereotypes: The superficial American and the Copenhagen cheater: As an American in Denmark, I get to experience Danish stereotypes about Americans on a regular basis: we are superficial, too outspoken and direct, and are apparently controlled by a small cabal of right-wing nutcases. But the Danes have... by How to Live in Denmark
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No food, only stuff to make food: My culture shock in Denmark: At every Danish dinner party, I’m asked a standard set of questions: How did you come to Denmark? Why did you come to Denmark? What type of culture shock did you experience once you got here? In part 1 of what is sure to become a multi-part se[...] by How to Live in Denmark
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Danish sports: Big handballs and lonely ping-pong players.: Denmark is a small country. It needs sports it can win. Team handball, team badminton, and team ping-pong are where Danish sports men and women shine.Hear it here, or subscribe for free on iTunes.Rather read? Try out the podcast transcrip[...] by How to Live in Denmark
5 min listen
The Deeper Meaning of Pigs: Hear about the role of significant cultural role of pigs – and we mean real pigs, not just people with bad manners – in Danish public life.Hear it here, or subscribe for free on iTunes.Rather read? Try out the podcast transcr[...] by How to Live in Denmark
4 min listen
How to survive the dark times, plus: Should I move to Denmark?: Sitting at my desk in grey, November Copenhagen, I received an email from sunny Portugal. Eighteen-year-old Bárbara asks: Should I move to Denmark?The post How to survive the dark times, plus: Should I move to Denmark? – Podcast #20 appeared [...] by How to Live in Denmark
7 min listen
Danish Design: From spaceship toilets to thieves that steal chairs: The dark days of winter in Denmark last from October to March. The sky is dark when you get up in the morning, and it’s dark when you leave work. If you are moving to Denmark and want your friends and relatives to visit you, don’t invite them to com[. by How to Live in Denmark
5 min listen
Just buy more insurance: Crime and Punishment in Denmark: Traditionally, there has been little crime in Denmark, which is a society based on trust. But when that trust is broken, Danes get confused about what to do. They don't like the idea of punishment. The post Just buy more insurance: Crime and Punis[...] by How to Live in Denmark
6 min listen
Voting at McDonald’s: Danish politics, and the posters that will last until spring: I like Danish politics, and I follow it, even though I don’t follow Danish sports or entertainment. I like Danish politics because it involves a lot of intelligent women running things, with men standing in the background to help out. The post Vot[... by How to Live in Denmark
6 min listen
Christmas in Denmark Part 2: Get Yourself an Elf Hat: Wearing an elf hat at Christmas time is a way to show you’ve got a sense of humor about yourself. You’re likely to see an elf hat on your boss, your professor or somebody else you’re supposed to respect.The post Christmas in Denmark Part 2: Get Your by How to Live in Denmark
6 min listen
The Two Months of Christmas: Holiday drinking in Denmark begins now: Traditionally, there has been little crime in Denmark, which is a society based on trust. But when that trust is broken, Danes get confused about what to do. They don't like the idea of punishment. The post The Two Months of Christmas: Holiday dri[...] by How to Live in Denmark
4 min listen
'Best of' Podcast: Christmas in Denmark Part 2: Get Yourself an Elf Hat: 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... by How to Live in Denmark
5 min listen
Danes and Vikings, plus: Two words to use to get Danish people to do what you want: I play a little game sometime when I look at Danish people. I imagine them as Vikings. It’s easy now that big beards are in fashion on young men. Sometimes on the metro I’ll look up at the hipster guy playing with his iPhone next to me and... by How to Live in Denmark
6 min listen
Salaam and Gooddag: Denmark for Muslims: There’s a new mosque opening down the street from me this spring, a big one. It will be the first mosque with minarets in Denmark, although the minarets are legally prohibited from calling to prayer. The people behind the mosque... by How to Live in Denmark
5 min listen
Dating in Denmark, Part 2: Dating Danish men, a guide for the foreign woman: If you are a romance novelist, the Danish man is not your dream man. He will not write poetry and pursue his beloved to the ends of the Earth. He won't send flowers, he won't buy chocolates. He won't even help carry packages. That said, if... by How to Live in Denmark
5 min listen
The 8:00 meeting is not an 8:05 meeting: Do's and Don'ts in Denmark: I did a little crowdsourcing for this week's podcast. I asked some of our listeners, and some people on Facebook - what were some of the small cultural mistakes - the dos and don'ts, the faux pas - you made when you first arrived in... by How to Live in Denmark
5 min listen
What I like about Denmark: I got an email a couple of weeks ago at howtoliveindenmark.com from a Danish woman who now lives in Germany. She says that this podcast helps her keep in touch with life back home, but that she doesn’t really like it. She writes:... by How to Live in Denmark
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Danish Names: Why Bent is not bent, and why It's bad to be Brian: Danish names are very strongly stratified by age. Ole and Finn and Knud and Kaj and Jørn and Jørgen and to some extent Poul and Per, are over 50. Their wives and sisters and secret lovers are Inger and Karin and Kirsten and Ulla. Or... by How to Live in Denmark
5 min listen

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Do you have to speak Danish to work in Denmark?: If you’re only in Denmark for a few months, it might not be worth the investment in time to learn much more than the basic pleasantries in Danish. But you plan to stay in Denmark for more than a year or so, it’s a good idea to learn... by How to Live in Denmark
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How to Handle a Conflict in Denmark: If you are an international who lives in Denmark, or someone who wants to, you have to learn the Danish way of dealing with conflict. This might be with a colleague, or your upstairs neighbors, or the authorities at the commune. In these cases, it’s... by How to Live in Denmark
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Drugs in Denmark: Denmark is getting rich selling pharmaceuticals to other countries, but within Denmark itself, the approach is inconsistent. Getting illegal drugs doesn't seem to be too difficult, but getting legal drugs can be. by How to Live in Denmark
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Denmark and Butter: A Love Story: The hottest competitive sport in Denmark over the past year hasn’t been handball, or football, or badminton. It’s been chasing cheap butter in the supermarket. Recent inflation has doubled the price of butter – in some places, up to 30... by How to Live in Denmark
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Randers is not a joke: It seems as if every country has a city or region that it is the butt of jokes. The rest of the country makes fun of the locals’ unattractive accents and supposedly low-end behavior. In Denmark, that city is Randers. Randers is a city in Northern... by How to Live in Denmark
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On returning to Denmark: Swimming in Copenhagen harbor, picking wild blackberries, and admiring Danish law and order: After some time out of Denmark, Kay returns and finds a whole new list of things to love. Swimming in Copenhagen harbour is a delight - the once-industrial waterway has been cleaned up enough to become a giant swimming zone. The wild blackberry... by How to Live in Denmark
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Ballad of the Danish Royal Teenagers: It’s hard to be a teenager no matter who you are or where you live, but spare a thought for the two teenagers of the Danish Royal Family. 16-year-old Christian - the future King Christian XI - and 15-year-old Isabella have to deal with family photo... by How to Live in Denmark
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Danish, Dutch, Deutschland: Confusing Denmark with its neighbors

Danish, Dutch, Deutschland: Confusing Denmark with its neighbors

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from How to Live in Denmark