The International - December 2019

international

the

ISSN 2596-5220

HO-HO-HO! HOLIDAY COCKTAILS

PET SAFETY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

EVENTS AROUND DENMARK

DECEMBER 2019 - THE-INTL.COM

FREE

FAMILY MAN NEDZAT ASANOVSKI PAPER

SHARES HIS JOURNEY FROM MACEDONIA TO DENMARK

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

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BLENDING TRADITIONS AT THE HOLIDAYS THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WE GET TOGETHER WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. BLENDING CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS CAN BE A BIT OF A CHALLENGE, SO DON'T BE AFRAID TO START NEW ONES OF YOUR OWN!

D

DECEMBER IS ONE of my favourite times of the year in Denmark. Coming from South Africa where you celebrate Christmas in shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops (South African slang for sandals), standing outside cooking meat on a braai (slang for barbeque) and spending your time standing under the air-conditioner while doing your Christmas shopping in a tropical shopping mall. Sounds lovely? Well, think again! So how have things changed since moving North? Now we are bundled up in several layers of clothing, cooking æbelskiver, and stand under the heating vents in shops to get warm. Oh how my life has changed...but change is great!

This issue is full of Christmas events, and great articles to see you into 2020. By now you should have survived the Julefrokost, and be ready to celebrate the family traditions of decorating trees and making decorations with the kids. Bailey inducts us with her article - A beginner's guide to Danish Christmas on page 12. Nedzat shares his story and celebrates the success of the International School of Hellerup's 10th anniversary on page 8-11.

Finding a job in Denmark can really be tough if you're an international, and sometimes you need help. Greete once again offers some sound advice with her article How to nail a job interview in Denmark on page 13. Learn about the biking culture of Denmark with Mariano on page 17. Did you know that Danes cycle an average of 1,6 kilometers a day! Now there is a new

resolution you should strive towards.

Judy interviews English stand-up comedian Conrad Moldan, who gives us a humorous insight into surviving life in Denmark, and how he's bringing humour across in his shows on page 18. We love Kathy's article on blending Christmas traditions in her article - 'Tis the season to be resilient on page 21. Carrying on that theme, Aarhus international community interview German-born Peter about living in Aarhus, and how he keeps his tradi-

tions alive on page 24.

Erin from The American Pie Company has cooked Ho-Ho-Ho holiday cocktails to warm you over Christmas. Be sure to try them out over the festive season on page 22-23.

If you've still got some Christmas shopping to do, our Beauty Editor Barbara has great tips on page 25 for his and her gifts that will be a huge hit.

The Pet-agrees gives us some great tips for pet safety during the holiday period on page 30. This is especially concerning around New Year, as there are so many fireworks being used, and Denmark has strict safety laws in places as well as when you can and can't use them.

If you haven't been to a Christmas market yet I would highly recommend Erin's article on finding unique holiday hygge all over Denmark - there is something for everyone on page 28-29.

Being an international is particularly tough at this time of year, missing all your "normal" traditions, and having to adopt new ones. If your family is visiting you in Denmark for the holidays, be proud and show off all your new traditions, there are so many to enjoy. We wish you all a blessed, safe and happy Christmas with family and loved ones. See you in 2020!

"It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving."

- Mother Theresa

Love,

LYNDSAY JENSEN - EDITOR & FOUNDER THE-INTL.COM

MEET THE TEAM CAR DISTRIBUTION (SEALAND) CONNOR is taking a gap year before continuing his studies in education. Born in South Africa and moving to Denmark at a young age, he realtes to internationl life. He enjoys meeting new cultures, music and hanging out with friends.

BICYCLE DISTRIBUTION (COPENHAGEN) EDITOR & FOUNDER LYNDSAY JENSEN has twenty years' experience in the advertising and publishing industry, and holds degrees in Business and Desktop Publishing (print and repro).

Born in the UK, and brought up in South Africa, she has the ability to understand different cultures, and is passionate about networking. She is a wife of twenty two years and mother to two boys aged 21 and 15. She loves travel, photography and art. lyndsay@the-intl.com

MANAGING DIRECTOR & PARTNER KENNETH MACALPINE is a Nordic Financial Manager in the Transport industry.

His degree is in Finance and business obtained in the UK. Born in Norway he moved to Denmark at the age of 22. He is of Danish Scottish ancestry and lives in southern Denmark with his large multi-national family consisting of Danish, Irish and Brazilian heritage. He is always interested in new challenges and loves to live life to the fullest. kenneth@the-intl.com

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

CAMILA is from Argentina. She's a free spirit who decided to leave her tourism job to explore the world. Landing in Copenhagen, she's exploring the city and taking on the Danish cold weather. See you around the city!

HEAD INTERN FOR SOCIAL MEDIA (COPENHAGEN) LARA is from Zagreb, Croatia. She lives in Copenhagen and is studying Constructing Architecture at KEA. She

SALES For advertising sales, please contact: sales@the-intl.com CONTACT The International ApS; +45 42676745 PRINT

Provins-Trykkeriet ApS, Vordingborg

COVER PICTURE Céline Martin-Pedersen - www.celinephotograph.com / info@celinephotograph.com

DISTRIBUTION

The International is available at a range of businesses, institutions, cafés and public libraries across Denmark

SUBSCRIPTIONS

For home or corporate delivery of the printed edition please contact: distribution@the-intl.com

enjoys interior design, architecture, literature, and photography.

INTERN FOR SOCIAL MEDIA (AARHUS) CATHY is from Estonian who just recently moved to Aarhus. She worked with EU policy topics at the European Parliament for almost 2 years before moving. Her passions include digital marketing and photography.

The International is published 12 times a year. This issue was published on December 3, 2019

CVR:

39118181

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WHAT’S HAPPENING

THE COPING IN CPH CREW FROM LEFT: MARIUS, WILL AND OWEN

IN DECEMBER

COPING IN CPH PODCAST TRENT COELLI Trent is the founder of Glocal, and explains how they make sure that their clients are guided in understanding culture in responsible and inclusive ways, whilst still acknowledging real differences.

MARIANO ANTHONY DAVIES Having over 30 years' global experience as a business executive, and holding over 100 official anti-Brexit speeches, Mariano shares his insights into Danish-British relations, and his thoughts on the future.

NEDZAT ASANOVSKI Nedzat, the head of school at International School Hellerup discusses the 10 year anniversary and the history of the school. He also shares the collaborative effort of a great team of educators and how they offer affordable, high-quality education in Copenhagen.

TO LISTEN TO THE COPING IN COPENHAGEN PODCAST, VISIT THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE: THE CIC SHOW PODCAST OR SEARCH FOR THEM ON SPOTIFY

COPING IN COPENHAGEN

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COPENHAGEN

ODENSE

ISTOCK PHOTO

UNSPLASH.COM

MY BEAUTIFUL GALLERY

RUNGSTED

6 DECEMBER

7 DECEMBER

12 DECEMBER

JINGLE AND MINGLE – ' FESTIVE FUN

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CONCERT

CHRISTMAS DINNER

Come and ‘Jingle and Mingle’ with a crowd of internationally-minded expats, repats, and …well, lovely people (and their kids) full of the spirit of Christmas, but maybe wondering where to share this festive fuzzy feeling.

NIC is celebrating the season of goodwill - a warm and caring international community brimming full of potential towards living a good life, in the moment, and located in Nordsjælland. Put something sparkly on and see you from 16:30 – 18:30 for this very special arrangement. Make sure you reserve your (free) ticket through the attached link (just so we have an idea of numbers for gløgg, yummy snacks and scissors for our special Juleklip competition)

FOR MORE INFO: WWW.MYBG.DK

Join us in the beautiful Sankt Jakobs Church in Østerbro for a beautiful start to the holiday season.

ADDRESS & TIME: SANKT JAKOBS KIRKE; ØSTERBROGADE 59, 2100 COPENHAGEN; 19:00-20:00 FOR MORE INFO & TICKETS: TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT TICKETMASTER.DK AND AT THE DOOR ON THE EVENING OF THE EVENT.

After the dinner we will be playing ‘pakkeleg’ - a giftswapping game commonly played in Denmark around Christmas. Please bring a small wrapped present (max. value 25 DKK) for the game.

We welcome all - internationals as well as Danes, singles, couples and families!

Ticket prices: Adult's buffet: 95DKK (regular price 159DKK) Vegetarians (same buffet, reduced price): 75DKK (regular price 115DKK) Children (4-12 years): 50DKK (regular price 79DKK) Drinks are not included in the price.

The dinner is organized and sponsored by International Community Odense and SDU International Staff Office.

We look forward to seeing you!

Please note that photos and videos may be taken during the event for publicity and marketing purposes. If you prefer not to be photographed, please inform one of the team members from International Community Odense present at the event.

UNSPLASH.COM

Does it get better than this? Yes, it does get better!

Jingle and Mingle 2019 will be set in the amazing ’My Beautiful Gallery’ at Rungsted Kyst station. At 20:00 on the 6th of December there will be a mellow evening of jazz, featuring Fie (from Jazz Child) with Mads Heide on piano. So send the kids on a sleepover, jingle, mingle, stay a little longer and have your own Christmas playdate with a big crowd of good people at My Beautiful Gallery!

My Beautiful Gallery is a contemporary art gallery, wine bar and in December is holding an exhibition called, My Beautiful X-mas. The exhibition will be open from the 22nd of November until the end of December from Wednesday to Saturday 15:00 – 18:00.

The Suoni Ensemble and Chorus together with the Copenhagen International Children's Choir present 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, a holiday concert of favourites old and new. Directed by Siobhan Lamb.

It's Christmas time! Join us for a traditional and ‘hyggelig’ Christmas dinner before the holidays.

We will enjoy a large buffet at Restaurant Den Grimme Ælling and have a taste of some traditional Danish Christmas specialties.

ADRESS & TIME: HANS JENSENS STRÆDE 1, 5000 ODENSE; 18:00-21:00 FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ EVENTS/741251026343729/?ACTIVE_TAB=ABOUT

H i g h Acad em i c S t an d ar d s C h ri s t i an E t ho s C onv e n i en t l y l o c at ed i n H el l er u p

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AARHUS

AARHUS

UNSPLASH.COM

UNSPLASH.COM

JUDY WANJIKU JØRGENSEN PHOTOGRAPHY

ESBJERG

12 DECEMBER

15 DECEMBER

15 DECEMBER

LADIES COFFEE MORNING GINGERBREAD DECORATION

KENYAN FOOD EVENT

INTERNATIONAL CAROL SERVICE

Kenya is world-famous for its athletics, majestic landscape and spectacular wildlife, but not enough for its food! You’re therefore invited to spend an afternoon at Hejmdal in Aarhus where you will indulge in authentic Kenyan food as you enjoy a presentation of Kenya’s rich culture and history. By the end of the event we can almost bet that Kenya will move up on your travel bucket list. We will share with you Kenyan recipes you can try at home.

You are warmly invited to join us for an International Carol Service! We will be celebrating this season together with an hour of beautiful music and a short reflection in between. Most songs and the reflection will be in English (Danish translation will be provided), so there is no language barrier.

Afterwards you are invited to stay for a time of enjoying Danish Christmas "hygge" with some local Christmas snacks for you to try.

Everyone is welcome - so feel free to bring along your friends, neighbors, colleagues!

Join us for good company with other International ladies to decorate gingerbread cookies. There will be a prize for the best decorated cookie.

Sign up by mobile pay 60 DKK to Debra @71617929.

The 60 DKK payment will include one coffee/tea and 2 cookies to decorate.

ADRESS & TIME: KAFFESMEDEN, SMEDEGADE 5, ESBJERG; 10:00-12:00 FOR MORE INFO: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ EVENTS/1232800070249879/?ACTIVE_TAB=ABOUT

ADDRESS & TIME: HEJMDAL, PETER SABROES GADE 1, 8000 AARHUS C; 12:00-15:00 FOR MORE INFO & TICKETS: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ WORLDFOODAARHUS/

FOR MORE INFO: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ EVENTS/1068489843576760/

Speak Hellerup Bernstorffsvej 20C 2900 Hellerup Speak Lyngby Klampenborgvej 221 2800 Kgs. Lyngby

hello@speakspeak.dk +45 3946 3050

speakspeak.dk

Learning Danish is expanding your horizon

Speak Frederiksberg Lindevangs Allé 8-12 2000 Frederiksberg

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ODENSE

ODENSE GLOW FACEBOOK PAGE

KLAMPENBORG

TELEGRAPH.CO.UK

COPENHAGEN JAZZ FESTIVAL

COPENHAGEN

18-22 DECEMBER 19-20 DECEMBER ALL DEC - 4 JAN After five fantastic and sold out shows last year, we’re thrilled to celebrate Christmas with this star-quartet again!

Cæcilie Norby is not only among the elite of Scandinavian jazz singers but also a leading and renowned artist on the entire European jazz scene with releases on both the legendary record company Blue Note and lately on the prestigious German record company ACT. She has time after time presented the audience for fantastic and versatile vocal music. At these five unique Christmas concerts, the audience is invited to world-class interplay and improvisation based on Norby’s personal, favorite Christmas repertoire. With her, she has an all-star trio deluxe: Ulf Wakenius is a jazz guitarist of God's grace, who among other things sat in one of the most soughtafter jazz seats for 10 years, namely in Oscar Petersons Quartet. Lars Danielsson has been awarded the "Best International Bass Player" of the German Grammy, "Echo Awards", in the past three years. Magnus Öström is a true master on drums and was one third of the legendary "Esbjörn Svensson Trio" from start to finish.

Paul Potts pays Bellevue Teatret an exclusive visit in the days leading up to Christmas, this is one concert you don't want to miss!

The Welsh-residing tenor, for whom singing has always been a haven and a source of joy, is living his dream. Bullied and taunted at school, singing in his local church choir proved to be a sanctuary from the playground abuse. Listening to La Boheme, aged 16, Paul fell in love with opera, a romance that was to set him on a turbulent journey that would eventually lead to him performing on, and winning, the first series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2007. Truly a life-changing event, he released his debut album ‘One Chance’ that year, topped the charts in 13 countries, appeared on Oprah (twice), brought Times Square to a standstill, announced a global arena tour and became a household name in cities from Seoul to New York and Sydney to Hamburg.

Paul is constantly touring, having now performed nearly 1,000 times across 44 countries. He recently appeared on America’s Got Talent: The Champions where he made it to the Grand Final beating out other previous Got Talent winners from around the world.

Paul Potts will perform with Danish Kirstine Bonde.

Kirstine is a classical singer, who has also starred in great musical shows and operas such as West Side Story, Evita, Die Fledermaus, Così fan tutte and Farinelli.

ADDRESS: JAZZHUS MONTMARTRE, STORE REGNEGADE 19A, 1110 COPENHAGEN FOR MORE INFO AND TICKET SALES: WWW.JAZZHUSMONTMARTRE.BILLETTEN.DK/

TWITTER

ISTOCK PHOTO

ADDRESS: BELLEVUE TEATRET, STRANDVEJEN 451, 2930 KLAMPENBORG FOR MORE INFO AND TICKET SALES: WWW.BELLEVUETEATRET. DK/EN/FORESTILLINGER/PAUL-POTTS/

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

ODENSE GLOW Glow is a Christmas market in a whole new way in Denmark. It will be big, it will be impressive, and it will be based on the North American, extravagant mindset, where neither adventure nor impressive lighting setups are spared, and where pure family fun is highest on the wish list.

As a guest, you will be guided through a sumptuous light adventure filled with illuminated trees, enchanting snow, huge luminous gifts, glittering and giant lollipops, stellar shots, and an adventure castle with thousands of glowing bulbs.

Glow is magic, presence, and adventurous winter experiences for the whole family. Here the children can play, sense and experience, while the adults explore our traditional Christmas market with food trucks, crafts, and fun delicacies.

Glow Odense will take place from 21 November to 4 January 2020 and will be held in heated premises at Faaborgvej 248 B in Odense SV.

FOR MORE INFO: WWW.GLOWGARDENS.DK/EN/

ODENSE GLOW FACEBOOK PAGE

CHRISTMAS CONCERT WITH PAUL POTTS

PURPLECROWNCREATIONS PÅ IG

CÆCILIE NORBY’S JAZZY CHRISTMAS

weekdays at 13 – also for groups Everything about the theatre was designed by Jacobsen, in 7 Booking: marianne@bellevueteatret.dk cluding the or +45 3963 4900gorgeous weekdays at 11-13 Bellavista condominium adjoining the theatre to the south.

COPENHAGEN FREDERIKSBERG

VISITS & GUIDED TOURS ARNE JACOBSEN’S

Get the entire story of the theatre. The roof can slide ope and we’ll open it for you if the sky is blue outside.

TOURS BELLEVUE TEATRET ARNE JACOBSEN’S

BELLEVUE TEATRET

SALSA LIBRE FACEBOOK PAGE

BELLEVUE TEATRET

DOMINIC MARTIN

BELLEVUE TEATRET

enborg St.

in collaboration with:

KLAMPENBORG

Klampenborg dk

VISITS AND GUIDED TOURS ON WEEKDAYS AT 13:00 BOOK AT MARIANNE@BELLEVUETEATRET.DK / +45 3963 4900 WEEKDAYS AT 11:00-13:00

ALL YEAR

31 DECEMBER

31 DECEMBER

VISITS & GUIDED TOURS

PARTY LIKE GATSBY

HAVANA NEW YEARS EVE PARTY

Arne Jacobsen’s iconic Bellevue Teatret, completed in 1936, lies elegantly on Strandvejen, Klampenborg. The theatre looks out across the sandy Bellevue beach onto the Øresund. Everything about the theatre was designed

by Jacobsen, including the gorgeous Bellavista condominium adjoining the theatre to the south.

Get the entire story of the theatre through our visits and guided tours. The roof can slide open, and we’ll open it for you if the sky is blue outside.

Can you keep a secret, old sport? Escape from everyday life and experience the most spectacular night of the year! Jay Gatsby invites you to his sparkling new tour - a lavish and extravagant affair assembled to bring you into the secret world of 1922 prohibition for one night only. Dress in your finest attire and visit a hidden gem combining a roaring twenties-inspired party with an abundance of showgirls, live music and circus, luring you into becoming part of the extravaganza yourself. Welcome to Cabaret Noir - the most extraordinary Arne Jacobsen (1902-71) was a Danish architect and FOR MORE INFO CONTACT: MARIANNE@BELLEVUETEATRET.DK establishment in Copenhagen.

Salsa Libre Copenhagen in cooperation with Havana Club Denmark invites you to celebrate the New Year's Eve Havana style!

The venue will be set for an evening with the authentic latin rhythms of Salsa, Merengue, Bachata & Reggaeton & Latin, delicious Mojitos, Salsa intro class, animation The evening is for EVERYONE – couples, singles, dancers and non-dancers.

ARNE JACOBSEN’S GEM

OR CALL +45 3963 4900

designer and a key figure in the Danish golden age of architecture and design in mid-twentieth century. He What is Party like Gatsby? is internationally famous for iconic classics such as the 3 continents. 19 countries. More than 100.000 guests.

Egg and Swan chairs as well as buildings like Danmarks Party like Gatsby combines show and party into a unique Nationalbank, Århus City Hall and SAS Royal Hotel.

THE BAR: Mojito & Cuba Libre will be the kings of the bar served with love by our skilled bartenders together with cold beer, long drinks and more!

HAPPY HOUR BETWEEN 20:30-22:00. 2 mojitos with 5 cl of rum, or 3 Coronas for 100 DKK!

experience for you and your friends. Expect world-class ARNE JACOBSEN’S GEM circus performers, an extraordinary Arne Jacobsen’s iconic Bellevue Teatret, completed inlive-band and GatsARNE JACOBSEN’S GEM

by's brilliant residence DJ. Joint on a mission to host Arne Jacobsen was a Danish architect andThe 1936, lies elegantly on (1902-71) Strandvejen, Klampenborg.

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Nationalbank, Århus City Hall and SAS Royal Hotel.

FOR MORE INFO & TICKETS: WWW.PARTYLIKEGATSBY.EU

ADDRESS & TIME: KEDELHALLEN, NYELANDSVEJ 75A, 2000 FREDERIKSBERG; 20:30-05:00 TICKETS CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED AT THE DOOR FOR 100DKK

Arne Jacobsen’s iconic Bellevue Teatret, completed in

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BELLEVUE TEATRET

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ARNE JACOBSEN’S GEM COPENHAGEN BACHATA FESTIVAL

theatre looks out across the sandy Bellevue beach onto the Øresund. Everything about the theatre was onto the Øresund. Everything about the theatre was designed by Jacobsen, including the gorgeous Bellavista designed by Jacobsen, including the gorgeous Bellavista condominium adjoining the theatre to the south. condominium adjoining the theatre to the south.

DOMINIC MARTIN

Arne Jacobsen (1902-71) was a Danish architect and designer and a key figure in the Danish golden age of architecture and design in mid-twentieth century. He is internationally famous for iconic classics such as the Egg and Swan chairs as well as buildings like Danmarks Nationalbank, Århus City Hall and SAS Royal Hotel.

Arne Jacobsen’s iconic Bellevue Teatret, completed in 1936, lies elegantly on Strandvejen, Klampenborg. The theatre looks out across the sandy Bellevue beach onto the Øresund. Everything about the theatre was designed by Jacobsen, including the gorgeous Bellavista condominium adjoining the theatre to the south.

ARNE JACOBSEN’S GEM Get the entire story of the theatre. The roof can slide

VISITS & GUIDED TOURS ARNE JACOBSEN’S

BELLEVUE TEATRET Strandvejen 451 · 2930 Klampenborg www.bellevueteatret.dk -train (C): Klampenborg St.

BELLEVUE TEATRET Strandvejen 451 · 2930 Klampenborg www.bellevueteatret.dk -train (C): Klampenborg St.

in collaboration with:

open Jacobsen’s and we’ll open it for iconic you if the sky is blue outside.

Arne Bellevue Teatret, completed in 1936, lies elegantly on Strandvejen, Klampenborg. The theatre looks across the and sandy Bellevue beach onto the Øresund.

Openout weekdays 12-15 / Visits guided tours on weekdays at 13 – also for groups Everything about the theatre was designed by Jacobsen, inBooking: marianne@bellevueteatret.dk cluding the gorgeous Bellavista condominium adjoining the or +45 3963 4900 weekdays at 11-13 theatre to the south.

in collaboration with:

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VISITS & GUIDED VISITS & TOURS GUIDEDARNE JACOBSEN’S

VISITS & GUIDED TOURS ARNE JACOBSEN’S

BELLEVUE TEATRET

Get the entire story of the theatre. The roof can slide open and we’ll open it for you if the sky is blue outside.

VISITS AND GUIDED TOURS ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, ALL YEAR ROUND WITH CAKE AND COFFEE! CONTACT: MARIANNE@BELLEVUETEATRET.DK OR CALL +45 4055 0752

BELLEVUE TEATRET

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

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FROM MACEDONIA TO DENMARK NEDZAT SHARES WITH US WHAT IT TOOK TO BECOME THE HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF HELLERUP

ISH TURNED TEN IN AUGUST. IT HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY ROAD, YET AFTER A DECADE OF HARD WORK, A GREAT TEAM OF EDUCATORS, AND A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, ISH IS OFFERING AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION IN COPENHAGEN. THIS DREAM HAS NOW BECOME A REALITY, SAYS NEDZAT ASANOVSKI, THE HEAD OF SCHOOL OF ISH. PHOTOGRAPHS CÉLINE MARTIN-PEDERSEN

Q: TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BACKGROUND? A: I was born in Macedonia. I came to Denmark when I was 7-8 years old. After I finished high school, I studied English Language and Literature at Copenhagen University. Before my current job, I worked at a private Danish school for four years where I taught Math, English, and History. I also took an extra Master's degree in Education at UCL. I am married and have three wonderful children aged 1, 5 and 10.

Q: SO, WHY DENMARK? WHAT ATTRACTED YOU HERE? A: We moved to Denmark, because of my father’s job, my parents then decided to move to Sweden, but I chose to stay in wonderful Copenhagen, and I do not regret that. I love Denmark, and I think it is a wonderful place to raise children. I do not have any plans on leaving Denmark for the next 2-3 years, but once the children are a bit older I could

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

TEXT GREETE ELURI

consider moving to a country that is slightly warmer – that is the only thing that I miss here in Denmark.

Q: IS THERE SOMETHING YOU HAVE DONE/EXPERIENCED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DENMARK? (ANY HOBBY OR INTEREST OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT) A: Denmark is a country of voluntary unions (foreninger). There are many of them for whatever you can think of. I have been very actively involved in youth unions in the years I was studying in high school and university. What I am proud of is all the work that I did in these years to help hundreds of students with another ethnic background, other than Danish, change their mindsets about studying. I have been a mentor for several students, tutoring them in these unions, and doing various activities to get their inter-

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"WE HAVE MORE THAN 70 NATIONALITIES REPRESENTED IN OUR STUDENT BODY AND SEEING THE DIVERSITY AND HOW ALL THESE STUDENTS GET ALONG SO WONDERFULLY GIVES ME HOPE."

est in schooling. I would say that this is one of the best things I have done in Denmark in the years I was 16-25 years until I got married.

I still catch up with some of those people I used to tutor and mentor and I am constantly being reminded of how appreciative they are.

This is also the reason I chose to become a teacher and work in the education sector. I simply LOVE it. Nowadays, I have a more indirect impact on students considering my role. However, I still teach History to high school students at ISH.

Q: HOW DID YOU END UP AS A PRINCIPAL FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HELLERUP? A: I became a principal gradually. First, I started helping some businessmen. I did it to help them, and because I love being involved in new projects. I did not know that it would end up with them offering me the role of founding head. Initially, I was approached by some businessmen with this idea in August 2008. At first, I thought that it sounded like a very interesting idea and that it would be a very good challenge for me. I had no idea what this would mean in terms of the work that I was going to do concerning this.

We started doing some research and communication with the Ministry of Education. In January 2009, we had found out that this was possible, so we started looking for a campus. This was a very difficult part, but we managed to find a building that we could rent in May 2009, which gave us little over two months to find students, hire teachers, buy resources, etc.

I created a folder introducing the school, put together a website, and started doing house visits to expat families, visited embassies, universities and HR departments in larger companies. This was a very interesting experience, as I did this while I had a full-time job, as a teacher, and my wife in her 6th month of pregnancy for our first child. In the meantime, I did job interviews to hire staff, research to buy suitable furniture/resources to the school, ordered books, and many other things.

Q: CONGRATULATIONS ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF ISH! WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED, AND WHERE DO YOU SEE THE SCHOOL WILL BE HEADING TOWARD? A: So many things have changed in the past 10 years. I remember when we had the first day for students in August 2009. Honestly, I did not believe that we were going to manage to open the school in such short time. So many things were lacking due to the quick start. One thing that we struggled with most was to find students as people did not know how the project was going to end up being. I can mention two things that have changed significantly:  Quality of education at ISH is at a stage now that I am truly amazed by. We have such a wonderful, capable and professional team who have all grown tremendously in their roles. We have a great team of educators.  We had a dream when we opened the school. To be an affordable school in Copenhagen that would offer the highest quality of education. I believe that we are living that dream right now and I am so proud of the achievements of our staff. This is a collaborative endeavor.

Q: WHEN YOU COMPARE THE EDUCATION PROGRAM AT ISH AND IN A REGULAR, DANISH FOLKESKOLE – WHAT ARE THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES? A: I love the International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, and ISH is a full continuum school, offering Primary Years Program, Middle Years Program and Diploma Program. I truly believe in the IB Philosophy which has the students in the center and a strong focus on international-mindedness. This is truly amazing at ISH. We have more than 70 nationalities represented in our student body, and seeing the diversity and how all these students get along so wonderfully gives me hope. I hope that the world will become a better place where people will come together and not focus on national-

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

11

ABOUT OUR PHOTOGRAPHER

CÉLINE MARTIN-PEDERSEN Celine was born and raised in the French part of Belgium. She has always been curious about life abroad and when the opportunity presented itself she jumped at the chance of living in Florence, Italy. However, the journey continued and love brought Celine to Denmark 3 years ago. She is a wife, mom to 3 fantastic children (1 of them a lovely bonus daughter) and a business owner. ities but view themselves as world citizens and focus on solving everyone’s problems. Having said this, I am not saying that the Danish education system is not doing this. I highlight that this is more evident at ISH.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE DANISH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN GENERAL? A: I think that there are great aspects of the Danish school system. One thing I love most about it is that it focuses tremendously on developing students' critical thinking skills. This is vital for achieving success and also one of the reasons that Danes are good at developing systems and constantly improving these. If you accept things to be as they are you will not be able to achieve great results and it is therefore essential that students learn to question and challenge the status quo. The Danish school system encourages students to think critically, question things and think of alternative solutions to problems. Also, the focus on democratic thinking, equality and “dannelse” is what makes the system great.

Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE (FOR NEWLY ARRIVED PARENTS) BETWEEN AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AND A FOLKESKOLE? A: They are two very different products. I would say that parents find school

Celine received her diploma in Photography in 2005.

Photography has never been a job, it is a lifestyle. Living as an expat in Denmark has allowed her to make one of her big dreams come true and start her own photography business. Celine specialises in portrait, fashion and lifestyle photography.

"My goal is to create a beautiful portrait that will be treasured for life." www.celinephotograph.com info@celinephotograph.com @celine_portrait_photography https://www.facebook.com/ celinemphotograph/ www.linkedin.com/in/célinemartin-pedersen-60566458

culture the biggest difference between the two types of schools. THE-INTL

DID YOU KNOW? 9 OUT OF 10 EXPATS ARE OVERPAYING FOR RENT-CONTROLLED HOUSING. REDUCE YOUR RENT TODAY! VISIT WWW.RENTHERO.DK

EFFECTIVE, TRANSPARENT AND FRIENDLY.

RENTHERO RECOVERED MY ENTIRE DEPOSIT!

EXTREMELY HUMBLE AND HELPFUL GUYS

PROFESSIONAL, IMMEDIATE HELP

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12

VISITDENMARK PHOTOGRAPHER CREDITS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: RUNI PHOTOPOP; RUNI PHOTOPOP; RUNI PHOTOPOP; FOTOGRAF ANDERS TRÆRUP

A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO DANISH CHRISTMAS IF YOU ARE NEW TO DENMARK, THE HOLIDAY SEASON CAN APPEAR AWFULLY STRANGE AND CONFUSING. HERE IS A BREAKDOWN AND A GUIDE TO DANISH CHRISTMAS TIME FOR BEGINNERS.

T

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO

THE UNOFFICIAL START of the Christmas season is the beginning of November in Denmark, which is kicked off by J-Dag when the Christmas beer is launched each year. Each city across the country dives into the holiday spirit by hanging up glowing Christmas lights all over the town. You can smell the mouthwatering scent of pancakes and caramelised almonds oozing from traditional Christmas huts in the center of town. Grab a mug of traditional Danish Gløgg (mulled and spiced wine), while taking in the holiday spirit under the array of lights.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH

You may have heard people talking about Danish Julefrokost, which is an annual Christmas lunch with family members, friends, or colleagues. While it is technically a lunch event, it often begins in the early evening and ends in the wee hours of the morning. There is guaranteed to be traditional Danish food, while the main beverage served is snaps (aquavit). This strong liquor will be served the entire meal and usually leads to questionable late-night decisions. Don’t forget to say skål (cheers) each time you drink your snaps! Christmas lunch is a celebration of a successful year, a time to bond with others, and often results in an awkward Monday morning with your colleagues.

ADVENT AND COUNTDOWN CANDLES While Denmark is not a very religious country, it is common to countdown to Christmas through advent. Advent is each Sunday in December, where Danes get together with their family to enjoy some quality hygge (coziness). With each Sunday Advent that passes, it is tradition to light a candle on an advent wreath. The second Sunday you will then light two candles, and so on until Christmas. With my Danish in-laws, we always have dinner each Sunday during advent, light the candles, and open up a small gift. Danes also take their love for candles to a new level, by lighting a numerical countdown candle and it is lit each day until you reach Christmas. You can find these candles anywhere, even in the grocery stores.

CHRISTMAS EVE Finally, the grand finale event! Christmas Eve dinner is generally served with duck, boiled potatoes, pickled red cabbage, caramelised potatoes, and brown sauce.

The dinner always ends with the Danish dessert known as risalamande, which is a creamy rice pudding with vanilla and almond slivers, topped with a warm cherry sauce. The host of the dinner hides one full almond

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

TEXT BAILEY JENSEN

in one of the desserts. With this cheeky game, the person who actually receives the almond usually hides it underneath their tongue or keeps it hidden from the others to heighten suspense.

The winner of the almond game is immediately met with a present and smiles.

When I spent my f irst Christmas in Denmark, I was surprised by many things. First, instead of the string of Christmas lights, I was used to seeing on my American Christmas tree, Danes use actual candles. Once the candles are lit, all of the Christmas presents are put excitedly under the tree. Next is the quirky adorable tradition of joining hands and walking around the Christmas tree while singing songs and making sure not to catch your fire to your hair. For more of an insider’s look into Danish Christmas, my blog Dane In Training can provide some further insight! THE-INTL

DANES ALSO TAKE THEIR LOVE FOR CANDLES TO A NEW LEVEL, BY LIGHTING A NUMERICAL COUNTDOWN CANDLE AND IT IS LIT EACH DAY UNTIL YOU REACH CHRISTMAS.

BAILEY JENSEN BLOGGER & STUDENT Bailey Ann Jensen is an American expat in Aarhus, Denmark since 2013 and is from Helena, Montana. She originally came to Denmark as an exchange student at Aarhus University for one year, where she met her Danish husband. Now living in Denmark permanently, Bailey is getting her bachelor’s degree in political science and is an international nanny for families in Aarhus. In her free time, she makes sense of her multicultural life around her with her blog about becoming a Dane: Dane in Training.

For frequent new blog posts, check out her website and daily pictures on Instagram www.daneintraining.com @daneintraining

13

HOW TO NAIL A JOB INTERVIEW IN DENMARK There is no ‘perfect recipe’ that guarantees you an offer at the end of the hiring process.

There are many factors in which you, as a candidate, do not have any control over or cannot change. But what are the things we can control?

VISITDENMARK PHOTOGRAPHER CREDITS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: RUNI PHOTOPOP; RUNI PHOTOPOP; KIM WYON; RUNI PHOTOPOP

F

PHOTOGRAPHS VISIT DENMARK / ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT GREETE ELURI

FIRST OF ALL, being on time, having the appropriate dress code and being prepared are the ‘musts’ for an interview.

What else should you be ready for when being interviewed in Denmark? Do you know?

DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE

According to Ballisager’s recruitment analysis report from 2016, 72% of the employers consider “showing up unprepared for an interview” as one of the most irritating job-seeking behaviors – this is about many different factors, so let me get into it.

The preparation starts already with planning your commute to the company.

“Rather 10 minutes early than 2 minutes late” has always been my motto. Never take the latest bus or transport and make sure you have some buffer time for unforeseen activities/’shit happens’ moments. If the interview is in another city, consider going there the night before – it will give you peace of mind and one thing less to worry about.

Research the company – check their homepage and social media accounts and see, has there been any major changes in the company, a subject which you can bring to the interview to talk about.

You could also reach out to one of their employees to get more knowledge about the company – would they recommend it to you? How is the atmosphere? What is good, and what could be better?

The more you know about the company, the better and “being sharp about your motivation for this specific position and the company, can be the most important element of the interview “– 70% of the employers said that at Ballisager’s recruitment analysis report from 2016.

What about the dress code? Again, if you are reaching out to a current employ-

ee, ask them or analyse the companies’ website. Generally, black pants/skirt with a blouse for women, and dark, proper pants and a shirt for guys should be acceptable. Depending on the industry, it might be more or less formal. Remember, you should not be less dressed than the people interviewing you, so be prepared.

BE YOURSELF, SMILE AND BE CURIOUS

Make sure to always bring a folder containing your CV, cover letter and job advertisement, and your questions. This is the first signal you are giving the recruiter that you are prepared – not only mentally, but also physically. Also, having a firm handshake, in the beginning, is one of the ‘first impression’ moments – no one wants to say hi to a ‘half-dead spaghetti.’

Danish interviews are often conversations, not just a question-answer dialogue. Soft skills are just as important as hard skills meaning you should be able to laugh together and have good chemistry during the interview. You can often teach the person the needed hard skills,

but you cannot teach them to be a team player. So, do not be afraid to show your personality. At the end of the day, you should be a good fit for the team, and if the soft skills are not there, you might not be chosen.

Also, be curious and ask questions that you have prepared beforehand. For example, “Who is my manager?/What kind of leadership style do you have” or “Who are my teammates? Are there also any internationals?” and “Which skills are there in my team – how can I contribute”? Make sure to ask all the important questions that you value as you will be spending many hours at work, so you want to be sure to find a good match. In the end, it should be a ‘two-way street’ where the company is interested in you and vice versa.

Be prepared, be on time, and be curious – then you are already on the right track having a successful interview. Remember to smile – this can also help you to relax and focus on the conversation.

Are you ready to kick butt at your next interview in 2020? THE-INTL

72% OF EMPLOYERS CONSIDER "SHOWING UP UPREPARED FOR AN INTERVIEW" AS ONE OF THE MOST IRRITATING JOB-SEEKING BEHAVIOURS.

GREETE ELURI JOB CONSULTANT Greete was born in Tallinn, Estonia and has lived in four countries and on four continents. After high school exchange year in the US, Greete caught a ‘travel bug’.

Since 2010, Denmark has become her second home. Her background is within international marketing.

Greete changed her career to work with her passion - to help international job seekers in Denmark. For the last two years, she has been actively creating content in Linkedin and organising different events for job seekers.

Greete believes that with the right mindset, skills and tools you can be successful in the rigid Danish job market. www.linkedin.com/in/ greeteeluri/ greete.eluri@gmail.com

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

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IT'S GETTING HOT IN HERE! IT’S BEGINNING TO FEEL A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS, BUT GET THAT BUCKET OF WATER READY!

PHOTOGRAPHS SASHA KNUDSEN / ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT HEATHER GARTSIDE

HEATHER GARTSIDE STORYTELLER AND TOUR GUIDE He at he r i s a s u cce s s ful storyteller; she’s also a tour guide, photogra-

I

IT’S A POPULAR myth that plenty of shagging goes on in Scandinavia. In the 1960s, British design guru Terence Conran capitalised on the concept that good-looking Scandinavians indulge in hot sex all year round. An advertising campaign featured a pouting blonde curled up, hot and naked in a downy double bedroll. Conran’s feathered offerings flew off the shelves in record time from his swinging London store. Sex sells but, to be honest, the humble duvet is warm and cosy rather than hot. Following this lusty train of thought, I was curious when my Danish mother-in-law told me about cooking rice pudding wrapped in a duvet. It sounded messy to my Anglo Saxon ears, but farmor patiently explained how the down helped to form a warm insulation that would effectively cook the saucepan of boiling rice and milk to perfection. ‘Just don’t jump on the bed with your scandi playmate,’ I idly mused. Rice pudding in a duvet is serious stuff though, it’s the base for your classic Danish Christmas dessert, ris à l’amande when mixed with copious quantities of whipped cream, chopped almonds, sugar, and a HOT cherry sauce.

pher, and mother of three.

All these ingredients are carefully blended togethilluminate those good looking faces, and quite often burn their houses down. Also, recent scientific study found the harmful effects of candle smoke included lung inflammation and toxicity, arteriosclerosis, and ageing effects on chromosomes in the lungs and spleen – råhygge!

COME HOME TO A REAL FIRE

Some of the busiest times for Danish firemen are in December and January, as Danes

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

SPONTANEOUS FESTIVITIES

Christmas trees contain some flammable compounds, as well as plenty of organic compounds (such as cellulose) that can serve as fuel for a fire; their needles provide lots of surface area that can come in contact with oxygen, and they’re often placed near sources of heat and electrical energy, such as electrical outlets, holiday lights, and (yes) those real candles on a Danish Christmas tree.

TOWERING INFERNO

Some seasonal alchemy: Fire is generally the result of a type of chemical reaction called combustion. This can occur when fuel in the form of an organic substance (that is, one that contains hydrogen and carbon) encounters an energy source (such as heat) in the presence of oxygen. If there is sufficient fuel, oxygen, and energy to set off a chain reaction, combustion will occur, producing heat, light, carbon dioxide, and water as a result. Here is the unbalanced, general combustion reaction:

LIGHT MY FIRE

Danish Christmas traditions are very lovely, extremely tasty, very traditional and often very bad for you. It’s that time of the year when the sun staggers up in the morning at around 9 am, puts in a yellowy grey appearance until around 3 pm and then gives up and lets the consuming darkness swallow us alive. But the Danes know all this, and by mid-morning are out with their Zippos lighting candles with such gusto that these candlewax world record breakers ignite 3.5kg of candle wax each annually! Miraculous firelight brings hope and strength for the darkest and coldest months and the Danes flout all health and safety regulations in their quest for the eternal flame to warm the soul, to

or Konfekt making in another room. After two or three Sundays of drying out, those sprigs of pine were ready to combust and make a glorious fire.

ORGANIC FUEL + O2 H2O + ENERGY

across the nation eagerly saw dinky rustic platters on scary bandsaws, and then stick four fat candles in a cradle of clay adorned with darling sprigs of spruce, holly, mistletoe and nylon ribbons. It’s the time-honored tradition of the adventskrans when a candle is lit every Sunday leading up to Jul. My half-Danish family and I love a Danish Christmas, and in the past nearly killed ourselves with our unattended candles while we happily set about some paper cutting

Come home to a real fire in Denmark?

I sincerely hope not, just keep a bucket of water handy! Be merry, be warm, and ever vigilant for naked flames and naked Danes curled up in bed around your saucepan of perfect rice pudding – in a Duvet!

You can find entertaining Heather’s first novel, Rice Pudding In A Duvet at all online book stores at ISBN: 1717159974, or signed copies along with some of her artwork at the Christmas exhibition at MY BEAUTIFUL GALLERY at Rungsted Kyst (See listings) THE-INTL

er, with a pinch of sea salt, to create her unique take on life in Denmark and around the world. You’ll find more vivid descriptions and bittersweet adventures in her novels, ‘Rice Pudding In A Duvet’ and ‘Middle Distance,’ which are available on Amazon. Heather’s hilarious walking tours of Copenhagen have become a hit with travellers from around the world, both in the summer months and with her new Christmas markets tours. More details on her website and at Airbnb Experiences. @timetravellingin copenhagen @gartsideheather @timetravellingin copenhagen Amazon: @heather-gartside/ LinkedIn: @heather-gartside Airbnb Experiences: @timetravellingin copenhagen and @time travellinginhelsingør

15

TIME-LIMITATIONS

AND TERMINATIONS LEARN ABOUT HOW TIME-LIMITATIONS CAN EFFECT YOUR LEASE AND IF IT'S LEGAL?

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT ALEX DAGIL

W

WHEN WE'RE HELPING expats reducing their rent in rent-controlled housing (all buildings built before 1992), it often occurs that the lease has a time-limitations. Due to this, we often get questions regarding that if they seek to get the rent reduced to the legal limit, then the landlord won't give them an extension of the time-limit. In nine out of ten cases we see, the time-limitation the landlord has imposed on the tenant is illegal. This is typically done for two reasons: #1 It makes it easier for the landlord to sell the property if they expect the

housing market to drop in value. You're not allowed to evict a tenant due to the landlord wanting to sell the property - if they want to sell, it has to be with the tenant living there on the same conditions.

ALEX DAGIL

#2 If the tenant causes too much hassle, they can find a new tenant that

FOUNDER OF

might be easier to deal with.

The danish rental law has tried to protect the tenant's right to build a life around their home by making it difficult for landlords to impose a time-limitation upon the tenant. But the problem is, that there's no real consequence for the landlord in doing so - the worst-case scenario is that the tenant challenges it through the legal system and get a lease on the terms it should have been anyway. But it is possible to challenge and get an unlimited lease through the house of tenants (huslejenĂŚvnet) and housing court (boligretten).

But some cases let the landlord make a time-limited contract - but a rule of thumb is that if your landlord owns more properties than the one you're living in, it's most likely invalid.

RENT HERO

JOAO'S STORY Joao checked his rent using Rent Hero's online calculator and found out he was paying too much in rent. This led him to sign

#1 Your landlord is out traveling/working for an extended period and is

going to return home, to live in the home. This also makes sense, as you should, of course, have the right to come back to live in the home that your own.

#2 The landlord has not been able to sell the home without taking a

significant loss. Right now, the market is at an all-time high, so timelimitations of this nature are very difficult to enforce.

Note that if you find yourself in a situation where you are willing to challenge the time-limitation to have the right to stay as long as you want you should know that the landlord always has the option to sell their primary residence and move back into the home you're renting. If this were to happen you have to be given one year's notice.

In Rent Hero, we specialize in cases like this, and we're happy to help you out seeking a rent-reduction and getting the time-limitation removed. Interested? Then check out renthero.dk THE-INTL

ra ise d in D en ma rk .

up for the service, and after he sent us his lease to go over, we

Since 2011 he has been

found out that the time-limitation imposed by the landlord was

working as an entrepre-

invalid. The apartment was owned by a company, and there

neur building new and

they had no legal reason to impose a time-limit.

innovative products pri-

We sent Joao's landlord a settlement offer that included an extension of four years, a cash settlement, and a rent reduc-

Here are the most likely scenarios for a legal time-limitations:

A lex was b or n and

tion of around 30%. After a few weeks of back and forth, we had a signed agreement, and Joao received his money plus a

marily in the real estate business. The latest project is Rent Hero which

new contract. Know someone in a similar situation? Have them

seeks to help expats get

visit renthero.dk.

a fair deal on their lease when renting housing in

LEARN ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS AT WWW.RENTHERO.DK

Denmark. www.renthero.dk alex@renthero.dk

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

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MY JOURNEY TO A NEW BUSINESS IN DENMARK A SETBACK WAS THE OPPORTUNITY...

A

AFTER MANY SUCCESSFUL years employed at a major global relocation company, I found myself out of work due to cutbacks. At an age when most people are in what they believe to be their permanent ‘forever’ occupation, I was back on the market in search of a new beginning. That whole scary process of creating a CV, searching for job openings, networking, and booking interviews began. Then hoping to secure employment where I could feel useful and productive and make a decent living, well, that is just plain terrifying at the age of 42. As I’m a ‘cup half full’ sort of woman, I decided to go for it.

Could I have the autonomy, do something I was passionate about and make money? Entrepreneurship seemed the logical way to go.

GOING SOLO I’d been self-employed in the past during my time living in the Cayman Islands, and I loved it. I was successful there, so what hurdles would I need to conquer in Denmark to do the same thing? I learned quickly that the practical side of starting up a business in Denmark was easy. CVR numbers and registrations, concept, and branding was fun and easy to implement. What I didn’t take into consideration at the time, was what ultimately is the key to starting a business. THE MARKET. Was there an actual market for what I wanted to do here in Denmark? I believed in my whole being that there was. Now I just had to convince everyone else. Change is hard, it’s excruciating for many. I embrace it. I love it.

I needed to convince a very resistant sector that the change I wanted to implement as necessary. So necessary if Denmark wants to continue to live up to the reputation of being one of the greatest countries in the world to live in, even if you aren’t Danish.

The company I created was the an-

PHOTOGRAPHS VISIT DENMARK / ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT LAURA WINTEMUTE

swer. Inclusion and comfort, support, and community. This is what Homestead offers. These are the ‘soft topics’ in the relocation industry that to date have been met with resistance. All the missing pieces from the purview of the current experts in Global Relocation. Companies typically cut costs in those areas, which I found to be the most important. I saw the gap between attraction and retention, and I needed to figure out how to convince companies who were bringing international hires to Denmark, that this “soft” topic was the answer to a successful relocation of their international employees. Why didn’t these companies see what I saw?

Then everything changed. The Expat Insider 2019 rated Denmark as one of the worst countries to be an expat in (again). Finally, companies started to feel the pain.

Attracting Internationals is not as easy as it had been in the past. The negative press was felt where it counted. Their pocketbook.

NETWORKING & COLLABORATING I spent the first year and a half drinking café lattes and networking with business owners, Human Resource Departments, International schools, and Municipalities. I shared my philosophy and vision with anyone and everyone I met. The consensus was that my idea was needed and necessary, yet I was met with a hard-wired hesitation.

Fast forward two years, and you may have seen me on the National Danish TV News, sharing my story. I was recently a guest on a podcast with Coping in Copenhagen, discussing the difficulties expatriates face when moving to Denmark and why.

I’ve attended events as a keynote speaker at the American Embassy, Copenhagen’s University, and the Odense municipality, all focusing on the ‘soft side’ of relocation.

September of this year, I decided to take my Homestead collaborations to the next level. Today, we are a large group of local professional entrepreneurs, all working with International hires, covering every aspect of relocation and transition.

This collaboration of like mindsets in our new shared office space has provided us with the opportunity to co-create Denmark’s newest, much-needed gem, the International Headquarters. THE-INTL

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

LAURA WINTEMUTE OWNER, HOMESTEAD Laura is Canadian. After years of living abroad and travelling the world, she moved to Denmark in 2007 and started her new life as an expat living in Denmark.

Laura’s experience working in the Danish relocation industry, encapsulating both her experience as an ex-pat and her desire for helping people, which is WHY she started Homestead.

Homestead offers Settling in Services and Workshops focusing on the day to day challenges of expats, as well as the cultural differences in both their work and daily life.

“In House” consultations for International employees are also one of Homestead’s specialties. Customized, personal consultations focusing on the individual employee.

Homestead. We are You’re Settling in Experts.

www.homesteaddenmark.com

17

THE BIKE IS A DANE'S

BEST FRIEND

NO DANE WOULD ADMIT TO NOT OWNING A BICYCLE!

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO

D

DANES USE BICYCLES for pleasure, commuting, transport of goods, family travel and sport. Consequently, throughout Denmark, there are extensive networks of bike lanes and bike highways to assist Denmark’s biking culture.

OVER 100 YEARS OF BIKING Bikes were first introduced to Denmark in the 1880s when this two-wheeled form of transport was first introduced as a novelty. The new bicycle trend increased into becoming a household transport item in the mainly agricultural Danish society of the 1920s and 1930s. It soon became a symbol of equality and freedom of movement.

In the 1950s, as Denmark developed into a streamlined industrial society, mopeds and automobiles replaced many bicycles as a primary method of transport.

However, the oil crisis of the 1970s resulted in many more Danes once again choosing to bike to work. Combine this with the twenty-first century growing concerns about air pollution and the need for desk-bound people to get more exercise and it is easy to see why the bicycle made a huge comeback across Danish society.

BIKES IN DENMARK Did you know that only four out of every ten Danes own a car, whereas nine out of ten Danes own a bicycle? Approximately half a million bicycles are sold in Denmark every year.

TEXT MARIANO ANTHONY DAVIES

ON AVERAGE, THE DANES CYCLE 1,6 KILOMETRES A DAY AND CYCLING ACCOUNTS FOR A QUARTER OF ALL PERSONAL TRANSPORT FOR DISTANCES OF LESS THAN FIVE KM.

MARIANO ANTHONY DAVIES PRESIDENT & CEO BOSS CERTIFICATION OXFORD BUSINESS SERVICES Mariano has over 30 years'

Biking is now one of the primary forms of transportation in Denmark. Sunshine, rain, hail and snow are all weather conditions in which you will see Danish bicyclists on their way to work, going shopping, or attending a social event.

The Danes ride many different types of bikes, from racing cycles to the large boxlike cargo bikes used to transport goods and often young children. The most famous of these is the famous Christiania bicycle with a box in front.

The Christiania bicycle has become a cultural symbol of, particularly, Copenhagen. It all started more than 30 years ago when Christiania’s blacksmith, Lars Engstrøm, secretly made a cargo bike as a birthday present for his girlfriend, Annie. It had only been intended (and built) as a practical aid for her, but Annie had hardly unwrapped her gift before their first Christiania neighbour had ordered one too - and so the production of the Christiania bike began.

This unique practical cargo bike also drew the attention of those outside Christiania Freetown and increasing demand prompted the relocation of production to larger premises on Bornholm in 1990. Since then, the bike has become popular all over Denmark and is currently exported to more than 20 countries.

The latest bike trend is the electric bike – a conventional bicycle with a battery and built-in electrical assistance.

The electrical assistance can be turned

off and then it just becomes a regular bike. The market for these and other two-wheel variations (electric scooters) is growing very fast.

global experience as a business executive. He spent ten years with KPMG, twenty-one years with British Chambers

CYCLE SUPERHIGHWAYS Denmark is now building national cycle superhighways. To serve the large number of cyclists, contemporary urban planners are working to develop a new physical cycling infrastructure all over the country. This includes wide cycle paths and cycle bridges to increase safety, and these ‘cycle superhighways’ are being expanded in the greater urban areas to increase access and reach.

The main purpose of the cycle superhighways is to create better conditions for cyclists. This form of transport infrastructure is safer and makes it a lot easier for commuters to bike to and from work instead of taking a car. Furthermore, the cycle superhighway infrastructure connects with railway stations - making it attractive to combine cycling with public transportation.

A 'cycle superhighway' is designed to comply with a set of quality measures such as air pumps, footrests, safer intersections, green wave infrastructure and traffic lights timed to average cycling speed. They are now even marked by road signs as well as orange sign spots in the asphalt to ensure better visibility for cycling commuters. You simply follow the orange C. THE-INTL

of Commerce (while also running his own companies) and now BOSS Certification. He is a British citizen, who grew up in Kent, went to boarding school in Sussex and has a British university education.

He has been married to a Dane for over 43 years and has held over 100 official anti-Brexit speeches. He both speaks and writes Danish without difficulty. www.boss-register.com www.oxford-business.com

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

18

LAUGHING ALONG WITH

ENGLISH STAND-UP COMEDIAN CONRAD MOLDEN BRIT CONRAD MOLDEN, HAS BEEN LIVING IN DENMARK SINCE 2012. HE IS CANDID ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF LEARNING AS WELL AS SPEAKING DANISH. ADMITTEDLY, DANISH, IS NOT AN EASY LANGUAGE TO MASTER. CONRAD, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAS FOUND A WAY OF TURNING THE FRUSTRATION OF LEARNING DANISH INTO COMIC RELIEF.

PHOTOGRAPHS GREG MCQUEEN / ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT JUDY WANJIKU JØRGENSEN

Q

Q: WHAT HAS BEEN SURPRISING ABOUT THE SELF-EFFACING NATURE OF DANES? A: The retired and modest nature of Danes is sweet, humbling, and definitely frustrating. When I teach at Aarhus University, it can be hard to get students to speak up about their ideas. A lot of people blame the miserable Aksel Sandemose, the Danish author responsible for creating "the Law of Jante." His legacy is still strong, as he wrote: "You're not to think you are smarter than we are." But the modest nature of Danes is definitely exciting for stand-up comedians. Much like the British, Danes don't take themselves too seriously, that's great for comedy. The boundaries are distant, like the shores of Bornholm.

British comedy is concentrated around the absurdity of everyday life. When we step outside ourselves and remember how abnormal the 'normal' is, we get a good laugh and a big dose of self-reflection. Reminding Danes and internationals that thanking others with 'tusind tak,' literally 'one thousand thank yous,' is an exceptional number of thanks in most situations definitely brings a smile to their face. I mean, the frikadellers were good, but were they really one thousand thank you good?

Q

JUDY WANJIKU JØRGENSEN JOURNALIST, WRITER, PHOTOGRAPHER Judy is a journalist and writer, fuelled by a passion for bringing words to life.

She has also been a photographer for 11 years.

Her hunger for knowledge first led

Q: IN WHAT WAYS HAS YOUR DANGLISH COMEDY ACT MADE YOU FEEL AT HOME IN DENMARK? A: Without stand-up, I doubt I would have stayed in Aarhus,

it's the friendships that have kept me here. The scene is vast in scale but small in community, and you always meet new and inspiring people. A lot of stereotypes have been broken for me. There are Danes who run late, who don't always wear black, who aren't concerned about healthy eating, who are extrovert and who don't drink (I know!). Comedy can often attract misfits, but I've found those oddballs to be just as Danish as the Dannebrog stuck in a big pile of rugbrød. Stand up is an influential art, a raw experience of jest: comedian and microphone. It's a pleasure to watch other comedians, perform with them, and be in a place where anyone, from anywhere, can make a room full of people feel a little less alone in the absurdity of life.

Q

Q: HOW ABOUT AUTHENTICITY AND FINDING YOUR PURPOSE (AND BALANCE) IN DENMARK? A: There's a mood amongst Danes that: Danes are cold people.

As a foreigner, I'm some kind of 'exotic,' and my experience

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

her to Denmark on a scholarship for has never been this way. Many Danes I meet are incredibly friendly, kind and thoughtful people. Although their politeness and trust may simply be 'normal' to them, they should know that it makes internationals feel welcome. However, I do feel that I will inevitably always be the outsider, always wondering: "exactly, what are these people talking about?"

Q

Q: ANY PLANS FOR MAKING COMEDY YOUR DAY JOB? A: From March 2018 to May 2019, I toured with my sold-out one-man show Danglish: A Hyggelicious Comedy Tour. This November, I'll be back with Danglish 2. It's been many shows, and the support from fans has been overwhelming. The dream is to live comfortably as a comedian. I know many who do it, although their version involves a lot of oven pizza and drinking discount supermarket beer! With a new family and a career in teaching, I'd love to continue exploring Denmark through comedy but also teach my passion for history to a new generation of historians. THE-INTL

an MA in Journalism at Aarhus University. Love made her stay. She is now a mother of two Afro-Viking boys.

Judy is currently working as a freelance journalist and photographer and is always interested in a challenge. Reach out on judysimon2002@ yahoo.com www.judywanderi.net

19

WIDEN YOUR HORIZONS WHY I HIT THE BEACH TO BEAT THE WINTER BLUES PHOTOGRAPHS LINDSEY SCAIFE / ISTOCK PHOTO / CATRIONA TURNER

TEXT CATRIONA TURNER

CATRIONA TURNER

I

I’VE REALISED I

need more horizons in my life. Literally.

Metaphorically, sure, my horizons are pretty broad. The world is my Wadden Sea oyster.

But I literally cannot see the horizon from where I live. Our inland Esbjerg suburb hunkers low to the ground. The bungalows, with low roofs, are interspersed with green areas, and cushioning grassy mounds that conceal the busy roads beyond.

The surrounding bike paths are softened by woodland and a canopy of foliage. It’s certainly a comfortable and hyggelig neighbourhood.

THE WINTER BLUES When I’m looking for a remedy to the Danish winter blues, though, taking the prescribed walk along those paths is no longer enough. Denmark’s flatness is partly to blame, and it’s taken a lot of getting used to for someone from hilly Scotland.

What I’m suffering from this winter is not just lack of light, but the lack of an open outlook. Even at my most indoorsy moments, I like to have that connection to the world beyond. So sometimes I need to leave our suburban hobbit-hole and break away from the Shire for an adventure.

DISCOVERING DANISH BEACHES Luckily for me, Esbjerg is on the West Jutland coast, where the beaches are vast, wide, and breezy, and the horizon is everywhere!

On a clear winter’s morning, when I need a serotonin hit, I turn away from the school drop-off and drive west, the familiar skyline of platform jack-up legs and the power plant chimney in my sights – still lit up, if it’s early enough. I stop in the empty car park beside Mennesket ved Havet (Man Meets the Sea – Esbjerg’s iconic sculpture).

In the car, I still have that foggy feeling – you know the one.

WRITER AND BLOGGER Catriona is a writer and blogger The feeling of having had to get up in the dark, in a closed-up, too-warm house, of being not quite ready for the day, and being weighed down by too many woolly layers.

As I walk down to the sand, the perspective is boundless. I can immerse myself in the fresher-than-fresh cold sea air, and my grumpy mood is washed away. I’m invigorated by the closeness of the industrial harbour’s dramatic skyline to the natural haven of the Wadden Sea and the beach. Plovers along the shoreline have their own industrious concerns, pecking for shellfish at the water’s edge, and they scurry along to pick off another stretch as I get closer. I relish being at the edge of the land, open to the elements, all overlooked by the iconic white statues.

Honestly, the beach on summer days? With sticky ice-cream and sand-filled picnics and bikini-body torment and UV protection? You can keep it.

I’ll take this beach on a cold winter morning. A beach in winter is so much more dramatic: the surf, the skies, frost on driftwood, the contrast of solid ice, and shifting sand. My northern soul and my mental health are soothed.

This is just the closest beach to us, but there’s even more of this dramatic refuge along the coast: at Fanø , Blåvand, or Vejers, with more wilderness to enjoy; an even greater escape.

FINDING YOUR HAPPY PLACE Maybe it’s what you need, too, if you’re feeling the winter blues in wooded suburbs or city canyons – that horizon. There are more than just west coast beaches, of course, around the 7,400km of Danish coastline.

For many, the appeal of the beach is the water itself, its gentle slapping rhythm against the sand, and the fluidity of it, creating calm and inspiring creativity. But look up too, for the light, and the open outlook, and the horizon. THE-INTL

currently living in Esbjerg, Denmark. In the decade since leaving Scotland, she’s also lived in France, Uganda and the Republic of Congo.

At her blog, The Frustrated Nester, she writes about Danish living, travel and the expat life. Her writing has also been published in the anthology Once Upon an Expat, and its follow-up Life on the Move, published in June 2019.

She’s currently working on a memoir of place and home, and is also a freelance copy-editor and proofreader.

Follow The Frustrated Nester: www.thefrustratednester.com www.facebook.com/thefrustratednester @thefrustratednester

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

20

WHY GO GLOBAL WHEN YOU CAN GO LOCAL? Glocals, expats, repats and Danes have joined forces to create the first local headquarters for international foreign hires.

PHOTOGRAPHS CÉLINE MARTIN-PEDERSEN / ISTOCK PHOTOS

TEXT LAURA WINTERMUTE

ATTRACTION & RETENTION Danish companies are competing on a new battlefield for international talent. Highly skilled, educated profes¬sionals, scientists or researchers have their choice of countries in this global day and age.

Despite Denmark being the happiest country in the world (2nd) for work-life balance and excelling in areas such as health and wellbeing, Denmark was ranked 63 out of 64 countries in the Expat Insider Survey 2019 for both Ease of Settling in and Friendliness.

THE HUMAN SIDE OF MOBILITY Most companies hiring internationals use global mobility companies to streamline the processes and keep scopes aligned across borders, mostly focusing on the practical side of international transfer.

LOCAL EXPERTS HELPING GLOBAL CITIZENS International Headquarters is a colorful collaboration of local experts, specializing in the relocation and transition of internationals in Denmark by offering local knowledge and expertise in a friendly, hospitable, and professional way.

Relocation and transition services including recruitment & onboarding, contract and salary management, immigration, tax compliance, rental housing, registrations & settling in services, dual-carrier & spousal support for the accompanying families, pet relocation and help with the Danish language.

LOCATION Located in Copenhagen, International Headquarters is a colorful collaboration of like-minded entrepreneurs. We share a working environment, combine our expertise, knowledge and networks to provide a more human approach to relocation and transition.

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

To learn more about our services, settling in programmes and events, check out www.inthq.org.

International Headquarters, Fruebjergvej 3, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

"WE BRING THE ‘HUMAN’ BACK INTO MOBILITY BY FOCUSING ON THE HOLISTIC SIDE OF RELOCATION AND TRANSITION." - LAURA WINTEMUTE, FOUNDER HOMESTEAD DENMARK AND INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

21

'TIS THE SEASON TO BE RESILIENT NUMEROUS INTERNATIONAL COUPLES COME FROM 2 DIFFERENT HOME COUNTRIES, AND TOGETHER WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THEY LIVE IN A 3RD HOST COUNTRY. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE HOLIDAYS ROLL AROUND? WHICH TRADITIONS STAY, AND HOW DO WE BLEND AND INCORPORATE NEW TRADITIONS FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES? PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT KATHY BORYS SIDDIQUI

KATHY BORYS SIDDIQUI FOUNDER, ACTIVE ACTION

I

INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES - just as quilts - are made up of patches that represent cultural experiences, traditions, and countries they have lived in. These types of cultural blending are undeniable during festivities.

TRADITIONS OF OUR OWN Resilience is a go to skill of all Internationals. We all have it and use it at times, even subconsciously. It allows us to deal with change, challenging situations and bounce back. Celebrating holidays abroad requires resilience. As multicultural families, we also need compromise and communication. The reason why I mention resilience is that our past ways of celebrating will undergo change and that requires us to be open and aware of what will come. When we focus on what is important to both ourselves and our spouse/partner, it is easier to create new traditions. Keep in mind that it is alright to have unique ways of celebrating if they work for your family and bring you joy!

THE SACK OF GUILT

to balance life abroad and family ties in our home countries.

Preparing everyone in good time for what will happen during the Holidays can make life easier. When family members are aware of challenges ahead of time, it can make accepting certain decisions easier.

The only thing we can do is go for compromises, communicate our feelings and needs, know that we can not be in two places at once, and finally that our hearts are with our loved ones. OH yes - we can also be thankful for all the possibilities we have to connect, see one another and at least be virtually present during the celebrations.

DOWN THE NOSTALGIC MEMORY LANE Holidays often allow us to take a walk down memory lane, reflecting on our childhood and the traditions of our families.

This nostalgic trip can give a lot of important information as to what we would like to implement and celebrate in our own international families. By asking ourselves which traditions are important to us, and more significantly why are they important, we gain insight. This information allows us to emphasise the importance of our cultural heritage and initiate a conversation about creating our blended family traditions. There is no doubt that our cultural identity is very important to all of us living abroad, and in multicultural families, it carries great significance. Each spouse/partner has the sole responsibility to carry on and pass on to their family members the traditions. The wonderful aspect of this is that when two people from different cultural backgrounds come together they can create a rich and open-minded environment that calls for celebrations each day. THE-INTL

IT IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT DECORATIONS, FAIRY LIGHTS, AND COSY BLANKETS DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON.

It is not always all about decorations, fairy lights, and cosy blankets during the festive season. At times we might be faced with the burden of carrying the sack of guilt over our shoulder. This particular one deals with going back home for the holidays.

For various reasons, many of us have had to make a decision not to go back home, and this can be a difficult pill to swallow for all. For us there is immense guilt that we are letting our loved ones down and that we will miss out on family celebrations, catching up with family members and friends. For those back home, it is often a feeling of being left behind and not being as important to us as they used to be. It is not easy

Kathy was born in Poznań, Poland and has lived in four countries and on two continents. Growing up as an immigrant and a cross cultural child she was able to discover a multicultural world that shaped her into the person she is today. As an adult she experienced life as a re-pat as well as an expat and she is not a stranger to the challenges and opportunities that life abroad offers.

Just when she least expected it, she met her Danish husband and once again packed her life in boxes and set off to live the happily-ever-after life in the land of the Vikings and Hygge.

Over the span of 10 years she has lived on Fyn, in Jylland and currently in NordsjĂŚlland.

Kathy has a background in Cultural Studies and also a degree in American Studies. She has been able to combine her passion and profession as a Cultural Transition and Expat Spouse and Partner Specialist at Active Action.

A firm believer that if you are lacking something - create it. She is the founder of two International Mom Groups in Denmark, a running enthusiast, active lifestyle advocate, wife and mom. www.activeaction.dk kbs@activeaction.dk

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

22

HO-HO-HO! HOLIDAY COCKTAILS It’s time for parties and treating ourselves to a bit of good cheer. And to that, I say, Cheers!

Here are two holiday-inspired cocktails that will not only treat your guests to something unique but are quick and easy to prepare ahead, so you can enjoy the festivities.

PHOTOGRAPHS ERIN CHAPMAN

TEXT ERIN CHAPMAN

OLD-SCHOOL EGG NOG MAKES APPROXIMATELY 8 SERVINGS – PREP TIME 20 MIN EGG NOG IS A SWEET, BOOZY “EGG AND MILK PUNCH” THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR CENTURIES, SUPPOSEDLY STEMMING FROM GREAT BRITAIN, WHEN MONKS AS FAR BACK AS THE 13TH CENTURY WOULD MAKE A DRINK WITH CREAM, EGGS, AND LIQUOR – ALL FOODS OF THE WEALTHY – TOASTING TO GOOD HEALTH AND PROSPERITY. THE DRINK BECAME SYNONYMOUS WITH CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY TIME, ONCE IT CROSSED OVER TO AMERICA WITH EARLY SETTLERS OF THE 1700S. IN THE USA, YOU CAN BUY CHEAP GROCERY STORE VERSIONS OF EGG NOG DURING HOLIDAY TIMES, BUT ONCE I TRIED MAKING THIS FROM SCRATCH – THE OLD-SCHOOL WAY – I WILL NEVER GO BACK! IT’S RICH, SPICED, SWEET, AND A LITTLE BIT NAUGHTY – LIKE MELTED ICE CREAM IN A COCKTAIL GLASS. INDULGE YOUR GUESTS, AND YOURSELF, THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

INGREDIENTS 4 egg yolks 100 g + 1 tablespoon sugar 475 ml whole milk (sødmælk) 225 ml heavy whipping cream 1 to 1½ dl bourbon or rum* 1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg ½ teaspoon cinnamon 4 egg whites Freshly grated nutmeg for garnish

TIP 1: I recommend purchasing pasteurized egg yolks and egg whites that have already been separated. It’s cleaner, safer and easier.

TIP 2: Nutmeg is a key ingredient, so for the fullest fragrant flavor, try finding the whole nutmeg and grating it fresh.

TIP 3: This recipe serves about 8. Expecting a crowd? Double or triple the recipe. Egg nog can store in the refrigerator for →

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

23

METHOD: 1. In a mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks with an

electric- or stand mixer until starting to lighten in

color. Add the sugar and continue to mix until the

sugar is dissolved. Add the milk, cream, bourbon

(or rum), ground nutmeg and cinnamon, and mix

until thoroughly combined. Set aside.

2. In another mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with

→ a couple days, so you can make it a day ahead of time, then give it a shake or stir before serving.

TIP 4: Rum or brandy was probably the original liquor used in early egg nog recipes, but for the most flavor-

an electric- or stand mixer until soft peaks start to

ERIN CHAPMAN

form. Add the tablespoon of sugar and continue to

CO-OWNER, THE AMERICAN

beat until the egg white mixture until stiff peaks form.

PIE COMPANY

3. Fold in the egg whites with the prepared cream

mixture and stir until thoroughly combined and

With over 20 years’ experience in

smooth. Chill for 1 hour or up to overnight.

the advertising industry, work-

ful egg nog, I recommend bourbon. Start with 1 dl, and

4. When ready to serve, give the mixture a quick stir

ing both in Denmark and USA, Er-

if you prefer it slightly boozier, add another splash, and

and pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a little

freshly grated nutmeg and enjoy!

in has specialised in brand build-

whisk.

ing and image development for lifestyle, food and fashion clientele at both national and interna-

CRANBERRY MOSCOW MULE

tional level.

Erin attended DIS, Denmark’s

MAKES ???

Study Abroad programme in 1996 THIS IS A HOLIDAY TWIST ON THE CLAS-

and made a connection with Co-

SIC FRESH AND BUBBLY MOSCOW MULE,

penhagen. She moved to Den-

WITH TART RED CRANBERRY, AND A ROSE-

mark permanently in 1998 with

MARY-INFUSED SIMPLE SYRUP THAT’S

two suitcases and a pocketful of

REMINISCENT OF THE PINE BOUGHS DEC-

change. Working in the advertis-

ORATING THE HOMES AND STREETS THIS

ing industry she worked her way

TIME OF YEAR.

up as a senior creative, as well as a voiceover artist, and then began her own brand and design busi-

ROSEMARY SIMPLE SYRUP:

ness in 2006.

200 g sugar

Merging her love for food and

200 ml water

art direction, she began food styl-

2-3 sprigs of fresh rosemary

ing and cookbook design for other authors, and then proceeded

CRANBERRY MOSCOW MULE:

to continue with recipe develop-

½ oz. rosemary simple syrup

ment, publishing two cookbooks

1½ oz. vodka 1½ oz. cranberry juice

in Denmark. While living in Los

juice from half a lime

Angeles, Erin worked with several

crushed ice

US brands on image and recipe de-

quality ginger beer

velopment and upon returning to

fresh rosemary & fresh cranberries for gar-

Denmark,

nish

she partnered with Dorte Prip in 2015 to introduce The American

PREPARE AHEAD (CAN BE QUICKLY PREPPED THE DAY BEFORE):

Pie Company in Copenhagen.

Rosemary Simple Syrup:

Erin is happily married to her Dan-

In a small saucepan, add the sugar, water,

ish husband and is the mother of

and fresh rosemary sprigs. Bring to a light

a sassy seven year old daughter

boil, then turn down to low heat and allow

who speaks fluent “Danglish”.

to simmer for about 30-45 minutes. Allow to cool completely. Store in refrigerator until

www.theamericanpieco.com

ready to use. yone??) If you don’t have copper mugs, place some pretty tumbler Chill the mugs: Moscow Mules are usually served in cop-

glasses in the freezer for an hour or overnight.

per mugs. These are a great addition to

ASSEMBLE THE COCKTAIL:

any cocktail- or entertaining collection be-

Fill a chilled copper mug (or tumbler glass) with crushed ice and pour

cause not only are they beautiful to look

over the rosemary simple syrup, vodka, cranberry juice, and squeeze

at, they chill quickly in the freezer and keep

in the lime juice. Stir briskly, and top off with ginger beer. Garnish with

your drinks frosty! (Christmas gift ideas, an-

fresh cranberries, rosemary sprigs, and a twist of lime. Cheers!

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

24

JUTL AND

INTERNATIONAL

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT AARHUS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

masks - who rummage through the streets making loud noise. In the old days, people would bring hot coals with scents and spices to all rooms, to keep the spirits away. Nowadays, we would have a candle in the windows burning all through the night. Only when we please the Perchten, will the good spirits eventually prevail, and the nights shall then get shorter again, and the light and warmth shall come back. In my youth, many of my generation all over Bavaria and Austria really took to this old tradition and revived it, as it chimed with the spirit of punk, rebellion, and opposition in the 1970s.

So, some Percht spirits all of sudden began to play on E-Guitars, and their hair became quite colourful.

WHAT TYPE OF FOOD DO YOU USUALLY EAT?

but how do you balance traditions from two countries? International Community has asked Peter M. Boenish about traditions from his home country Germany, and whether he is familiar with any of the Danish traditions.

C

On Holy Night, there is typically just a light meal (usually potato salat or kraut and sausages, that’s why all German Christmas markets sell these) as we are all busy waiting for the Christ Child. Then, for the big Christmas feast on the 25th, in Bavaria, we would usually have a Christmas goose. However, most of our family have turned vegetarian – yet, we still enjoy the Knödel (dumplings) and Blaukraut (red cabbage) that usually come with the goose.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY LOOK LIKE?

WHO WILL YOU BE SPENDING YOUR CHRISTMAS WITH?

In principle, it’s very similar to Denmark, although the Catholic south of Germany, where I am from, has different traditions to the protestant North of the country. It’s much more visual and embodied down south: there would be real-life nativity scenes on the main town square, often on each of the four advent weekends before Christmas. And in every home, under the Christmas tree, we also would have a miniature Weihnachtskrippe with very ornate and expensive figures, certainly no toys, which were often passed from one generation to the next and real treasures in craftsmanship. But for all of us in Germany, like in Denmark, the “Holy Night” of December 24 is the main event, when the Christ child (Christkind), and not Santa Claus, brings presents.

Over Christmas, we will go back to Bavaria to spend the holidays with our families. It’s just the time of the year to go back and see everyone at home for a few days, especially now, as some new babies are being added somewhere in the family virtually every year.

CHRISTMAS IS A holiday full of traditions,

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

WHAT ARE SOME TRADITIONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN GERMANY? AIn the rural parts of Bavaria, towards the Alps, where I grew up, many age-old traditions are still alive, especially around Christmas. I particularly remember the “Raunächte,“ the twelve nights that follow Christmas, as really special and actually more exciting than Christmas. During these darkest and coldest nights, the Perchten would visit every night, some evil spirits – usually the village youth wearing spectacular and often very old, handcrafted wooden

WILL YOU INCORPORATE SOME OF THE DANISH TRADITIONS INTO YOUR CHRISTMAS? We might give the dancing a try, the many young children in the family would certainly be in favour! Personally, I’d fancy having a go at trying risalamande, I’m a big fan of desserts anyway.

Merry Christmas to all of you from all of us at International Community! THE-INTL

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY We offer a wide range of events, seminars and online activities that help internationals get settled in Denmark.

Learn more on our website or follow us on: @internationalcommunityAarhus @internationalcommunityaarhus

www.erhvervaarhus.dk www.international community.dk

25

B e s t BEAUTY BUYS CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS FOR HIM AND HER! There's nothing quite like receiving a gift set, grooming set, or advent calendar to bring out the inner Christmas spirit. Choosing a gift for loved ones can be quite daunting. So here are a few ideas to get you started. I have selected a handful of affordable Christmas gifts for best holiday season of the year for both Him and Her.

1

BARBARA MENSAH BEAUTY EDITOR & MAKEUP ARTIST

5

Barbara was born in England, London and relocat-

7 3

ed to Copenhagen, Denmark in 2017. She has

6

been a professional International Makeup Artist

2

for 11 years and a professional Lash Stylist for 3 years. After moving to Copenhagen, Denmark, Barbara became the owner of

8

Barbara Mensah Beauty Studio. Her stylish, cosy

4

and chic studio provides a welcoming, comfortable space for clients to spend their time getting glammed and pampered for those special moments and occasions.

All bookings for Lash Extension and Makeup can be made via her so-

GIFT IDEA'S FOR HER

cial media or tel: +45 53564504

#1 ELEMIS MEN'S DYNAMIC DUO SET - 306DKK - LOOKFANTASTIC.DK

#5 NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP CHRISTMAS LIP PARTY 12 DAY ADVENT CALENDAR - 262DKK - LOOKFANTASTIC.DK A lady can never have too many lipsticks, so if you want to gift a makeup lover, this could be it!

#2 JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER LE MALE GIFT SET - 386DKK -

#6 PACO ROBANNE LADY MILLION GIFT SET 50ML - 395DKK FRAGRANCE DIRECT Body cream and perfume comes in a beautifully packaged gold luxury box.

GIFT IDEA'S FOR HIM A fabulous gift for any man. Hair and body wash with matching face wash.

Perfect for the man who travels.

FRAGRANCE DIRECT DENMARK A classic fresh fragrance with matching deodorant stick.

#7 ACQUA DI PARMA PEONIA NOBILE GIFTS SET - 798DKK -

#3 CLARINS MEN'S ESSENTIAL'S - 189DKK - COCOPANDA.DK

PARFUME-KLIK.DK A great choice for the lady who likes a touch of luxury. Beautiful packaged and will most definitely get you some browny points.

#4 FEEL UNIQUE MEN'S GIFT SET - 157DKK - FEELUNIQUE

#8 BAREMINERALS 24 DAYS OF CLEAN BEAUTY ADVENT CALENDAR - 995DKK Limited Edition that gives 24 reasons to celebrate the season. The Perfect gift for any lady in your life this Christmas.

This cute kit has the essentials that every man needs - Deo roll-on, shampoo, and moisture balm.

Handpicked travel sizes of some of the most favoured brands, like L'Occitane and Bulldog Original.

barbaramensah. beauty@gmail.com @barbara.mensah.beauty @barbaramensahbeauty

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

26

WHAT'S HOT IN AARHUS Merry Christmas and all the best to you and yours this holiday season!

On this last month of the year, take in a concert, splurge on your special someone, and bust open that bottle, because now’s not the time to save champagne.

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTOS / VARIOUS

TEXT BARBARA BALFOUR

BUBBLES AND BITES

BARBARA BALFOUR

TELEVISION HOST, PRODUCER, PUBLIC SPEAKER, AND INTERNATIONAL PRINT JOURNALIST. KUPÉ FACEBOOK PAGE

SALLING WEBSITE

Think of it as a dress rehearsal for New Year’s Eve. On D ecember 9 from 16:0018:00 and again from 18:30-20:30, Salling is bringing in their best suppliers for a tasting on the rooftop. Enjoy 8 different varieties of bubbly libations, tapas, and dessert, plus 20 percent off anything you buy that night. Tickets are 199DKK and can be purchased online.

■ SØNDERGADE 27, 8000 AARHUS C ■ WWW.SALLING.DK

CHECK OUT SOME NEW SHOPS OR NEW-TO-YOU RESTAURANTS Just in time for the holiday season, luxury shoe retailer roccamore has arrived in Aarhus. You may also want to check some of the 2019 winners of Aarhus’s best eateries on your list; this year, Peder Wessel nabbed the prize for the best tavern, while Mefisto was crowned the best overall restaurant in town.

STAY WARM BY GETTING YOUR SALSA ON Break out a sweat and pretend you’re on a tropical island at a Christmas-themed salsa dance party hosted by Cubanismo. Live entertainment, guest DJs and bachata, salsa, and reggaeton played all night long are sure to wipe out any trace of winter blues. Tickets are 50DKK, and the party starts 20:00 on December 21.

■ KUPÉ, EUROPAPLADS 10-14, 8000 AARHUS C ■ WWW.KUPE.DK

CHECK OUT A GOSPEL CONCERT TELEMARK WEBSITE

If you love gospel, you won’t want to miss one of the most well-known choirs in the world, in town from Harlem, New York, on December 9. Anthony Morgan and his Harlem Spirit of Gospel Choir have collaborated with Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Diana Ross – just to name a few. Don’t miss the real deal; get your tickets before they sell out.

In addition to hosting a live talk show, she writes regularly for BBC World News, The Globe and Mail, and ELLE, to name a few. She has published two children’s books, contributed to tourism guidebooks on Iceland and Chile, and co-edited an anthology of essays on Canada-European Union relations.

Her work has taken her to over 40 countries, but she currently calls Aa rhu s home . W he n she’s not curled up with a good book and a hazelnut hot chocolate, you might be able to find her spinning away on the dance floor of a salsa club, or nestled in a window seat on a plane, en route to some exotic new destination. www.barbarabalfour.com

■ LANGENÆSKIRKEN, KIRKEDAMMEN 2, 8000 AARHUS C ■ WWW.BILETTO.DK

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RISALAMANDE:

A DISH TO BRIDGE TWO WORLDS Whether you’re traveling or staying put this Christmas season, consider embracing this rice pudding as part of your own holiday tradition.

PHOTOGRAPHS GINA LORUBBIO / ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT GINA LORUBBIO

A

AT NO OTHER time of year do I feel my dual-country-ness more than Christmas. If I spend the season in my home state of Ohio, I find myself missing the cosy rituals Denmark practices to survive the darkness. If I spend December in Denmark, I long for my family’s Christmas Eve feast of homemade fettuccine and seafood.

No matter what any of us does, there is simply no way (currently) to be in two places at once. But food traditions stand right behind teleportation on the list of tools that can transport us from one place to another in an instant. I propose Denmark’s risalamande as one of those dishes that can easily cross borders.

Risalamande, if you’ve not yet had the pleasure, is vanilla bean rice pudding, folded with whipped cream and slivered almonds, and topped with warm cherry sauce. On Christmas Eve, the cook hides one whole almond among the slivered ones. Whoever finds it wins the ‘almond gift.’

Though it sounds French, this dish is wholly Danish. Stemming back to a time when it was a rare luxury to make rye, barley, or oat-based grød (porridge) with milk, the dairy version was re served for parties. After 1900, rice became more widely available, and thus, risengrød (rice porridge) became an everyday staple. When wealthy Danes introduced almonds to the dish to distinguish it from peasants’ food, risalamande was born.

The first time I came to Denmark, everyone eagerly put their favorite tastes on my plate. With my Italian-American palette conditioned more for olive oil and pasta, I filed most of these new flavors under the ‘learn to love’ category. But after working through pickled

GINA LORUBBIO ARTIST & WRITER Gina is a food illustrator and storyteller in Copenhagen. Upon arrivherring, pungent cheeses, and licorice so salty it stung, I encountered a light at the end of the tunnel, the crown of the Christmas celebration: risalamande. The dish was foreign enough to be novel but familiar enough to feel like a hug as I spent this first Christmas away from my family.

Fast forward a year, and it was my Danish husband’s first time joining my family for Christmas in Ohio. I wanted to make sure he could contribute a piece of his own tradition to the table. Since risalamande is quite likeable – the familiar comfort of vanilla, indulgence of silky cream, warm cherry sauce, and the playful joy of searching for the whole almond – it lends itself well to sharing. My family loved it so much they requested it the next year, too.

CONSIDER WHIPPING UP RISALAMANDE FOR YOUR FAMILY OUTSIDE OF DENMARK It can be a window into your world for those family members who may never make it to Denmark to experience your

life here. Who knows – maybe they’ll even adopt it as a new tradition like my family did.

al from the U.S., she made an art

EMBRACE THE TRADITION IF YOU’RE SPENDING CHRISTMAS IN DENMARK

100 Days.’ She’s now creating art

If you live in Denmark without Danish family or friends to cook for you, risalamande could draw you closer to the land you reside upon – maybe more easily than learning to commute by bike or say ‘rød grød med fløde.’ If you find yourself at a table surrounded by Danes this Christmas Eve, enthusiasm for this dish could knit you more tightly to your comrades.

And that feeling – that my American family knows the flavors I’ll be tasting on Christmas, whether we’re eating from the same bowl, or digging in six time zones away — stitches my crossocean life together in such a comforting way. Perhaps a bowl full of creamy rice and cherry sauce can offer the same to you. THE-INTL

series called ‘How to Fall in Love with Denmark through Food in in 2019 that inspires us on the adventure of everyday home-cooking. To buy artwork, commission an illustrated recipe, or follow her series, visit:

www. HeirloomFood Project.com @heirloomfoodproject

Source: dr.dk/ligetil

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FIND UNIQUE HOLIDAY HYGGE ALL OVER DENMARK THIS DECEMBER

WHILE COPENHAGEN AND AARHUS ALWAYS LIGHT UP A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS, THIS YEAR, WHY NOT STEP OUTSIDE THE BIG CITIES TO EXPERIENCE A DIFFERENT KIND OF DANISH CHEER. PHOTOGRAPHS ERIN GUSTAFSON

TEXT ERIN GUSTAFSON

Denmark, oh Denmark. You happy little hyggeligt country you. World leaders in design, fashion, bike-riding, sustainable city-planning, and annual happiness rankings, Denmark is stylish and cosy even come dark December. Get ready to fire up your calendar candle, it is definitely Jul (Christmas) time. Grab a julebryg (Christmas beer) or a glass of gløgg (spiced wine) and warm your inner Christmas spirit at any of these off the beaten track Julemarked (Christmas markets) around the country. From modern Danish design to old school Jul like Vikings used to do, find something new to add to your winter wanderlist this season.

KOLDING SCHOOL OF DESIGN CHRISTMAS BAZAAR As a breeding ground for some of Denmark’s best new designers, Kolding School of Design offers opportunities to get your hands on cutting edge Christmas gifts. Over 125 current and former students will be on hand to offer creative gifts and goods. The annual Julebazaar conveniently falls on the same weekend as the Kolding Festival of Light with Installations and illuminations all around town, sure to brighten the dark Danish nights.

Dates: Friday 6 December - 14:00-20:00; Saturday 7 December - 10:00-18:00 Entrance: 20DKK Address: Kolding Design School, Ågade 10, 6000 Kolding

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MAGISK JUL (MAGIC CHRISTMAS) On the wild west coast of Denmark sits the summertime town of Blokhus, well known for its wide swaths of windswept sand, tall grass-covered dunes, and white beach huts come warmer weather. But when December descends, the sand here soon mingles with the twinkly white lights of a Danish Christmas. Make your way to the northwest coast of Jutland for Magisk Jul (Magic Christmas) and wander the illuminated lanes of the

ERIN GUSTAFSON

town’s sand sculpture park. Boasting Denmark’s largest holiday light and sound display - you are sure to experience a unique sense of the season.

Enjoy traditional holiday fare and find fun gifts at the Christmas market next door.

Dates: 1 November - 22 December Tuesday - Sunday 11:00-21:00 Weekend Entrance: Adults 100DKK, Children (3-12) 50DKK. Weekday Entrance: Adults 90DKK, Children (3-12) 45DKK. Address: Skulpturparken Blokhus, Vesterhavsvej 6, 9492 Blokhus

WRITER & BLOGGER

THE LAB CHRISTMAS MARKET While many of Copenhagen’s independent design markets might have happened last month, you can still nab some unique and creative gifts at The Lab Christmas the second Sunday of

Erin is a travel writer and culture hound exploring a

December. Lots of local artists and designers will be on hand,

life across borders in Co-

so you can look for one of a kind ceramics, textile art, photog-

penhagen, Denmark. She

raphy, graphic design, and more. The adjacent Lab Kitchen will

is the creator-in-chief at

offer warm drinks and good food. Occupy the littles with activities geared just for them.

Oregon Girl Around the World, a blog that focuses

Dates: Sunday 8 December - 10:00-16:00 Entrance: Free Address: The Lab x Lab Kitchen, Vermundsgade 40A, 2100 Copenhagen

on sustainable travel for the whole family.

With a background in graphic design, photography and art history, Erin has a creative way of seeing a destination and believes that travel choices can have positive impacts for both the traveller and the communities visited.

A local in Denmark since 2014, Erin has embraced

ENGESTOFTE GODS CHRISTMAS MARKET On Lolland-Falster, along the southeastern side of Denmark,

the green city of Copenha-

you’ll find the largest regional holiday happenings at the sceni-

gen and loves to share her

cally situated estate known as Engestofte Gods. A classic Danish Christmas with live music, aebleskivers, and other holiday treats to enjoy while you peruse the wares. Don’t miss the Julemanden

dinavian travel inspira-

(Santa Claus) on hand to listen to your kids’ wishes. Or witness the

tion and Copenhagen cul-

wonder of traditional Saint Lucia procession.

ture, follow Erin around

Dates: Saturday, Sunday 7-8 December - 10:00-16:00 Entrance: Adults 40DKK., Children up to 12 years 10DKK Address: Søvej 10, 4930 Maribo

KRONBORG CASTLE MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS MARKET Walk the halls of Hamlet’s castle as Christmas histo-

insider tips. For more Scan-

the world here: oregongirl aroundtheworld.com

TRELLEBORG VIKING MUSEUM WINTER MARKET

@oregongirl_

Get a feel for how Danish Vikings celebrated the season with a

ry comes alive at this beautiful Julemarked at Kron-

aroundtheworld

special Vintermarked (Winter Market) at the Trelleborg Ring For-

borg in Helsingnør. Your ticket gives you entrance

tress and Museum in Slagelse. Wander through the Viking village

@oregongirlworld

inside where local artisans will be selling unique

stalls selling traditional crafts. Step inside the reconstructed long-

crafts, design goods, toys, and clothes. Don’t miss

house decorated distinctly for Jul, a truly historic and Scandina-

the elegant ballroom with the grand Christmas

vian way to celebrate mid-winter. Listen to costumed storytell-

tree and festive decorations.

ers recite tales, then taste the mead and sample festive Viking

www.pinterest.dk/

fare. Crafts and games will keep your little Scandi villagers en-

oregongirlworld/

Dates: Sunday 1 December - 10:00-17:00 Friday 6 December - 11:00-19:00 Saturday, Sunday 7-8 December - 10:00-17:00 Entrance: 75DKK, Children under 4 are free Address: Kronborg 2 C, 3000 Helsingør

www.facebook. com/oregongirl roundtheworld/

tertained.

Dates: Sunday 8 December 10:00-16:00 Address: Trelleborg - Museum of the Viking Age, Trelleborg Alle 4, 4200 Slagelse

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PET SAFETY DURING

THE HOLIDAYS

In this issue, learn how to navigate around dangers for your pets during the holiday season.

W

PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK PHOTO

TEXT TAREK ABU SHAM

WHEN THE HOLIDAYS roll around, it's an exciting time for everyone, and our pets are no exception. There are new sights and smells, lights, and often even a Christmas tree going up. You might bring home plants such as poinsettias and hang boughs of mistletoe in the doorways. It's important that you take extra precautions at this time of year, however, to ensure that your dogs and cats stay healthy with so many things for them to get into.

TAREK ABU SHAM OWNER, THE PET-AGREES

PLANTS Many of the plants we bring home during the holidays are toxic to our pets. Eating the needles off of Christmas trees can cause blockages, while the sap from a live Christmas tree can be irritating for your pet's mouth. Poinsettias would have mild toxic potential if your pet were to eat them.

Some plants are especially toxic that your dog or cat might find interesting.

Christmas lilies can cause acute, or rapid onset, kidney failure in cats, so you should consider seriously if you want to bring one or more into your home. Artificial ones can be just as lovely and not have the hazards posed by a live plant.

Other plants that can be toxic to your pet include mistletoe and holly. These plants can cause mild gastrointestinal signs, such as drooling and abdominal pain when ingested in small amounts. If consumed in large amounts, they can cause ataxia, low blood pressure, and even death.

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS Many people go all out for the holidays, putting up decorations all over the house and yard. Your Christmas tree can pose a problem for some pets, especially if they are inquisitive. Ribbons and tinsel are sometimes played with by pets, and these can cause serious intestinal obstructions if swallowed, often requiring surgery.

There may be lights on the Christmas tree or strung up around the house. If

DECEMBER 2019 - WWW.THE-INTL.COM

Tarek was born in Amman, Jordan and from an early age has had a love for animals.

He met his spouse in Amman and then soon embarked on an your pet chews on these, it can get electrical burns and be severely injured. Chomping down on ornaments or Christmas lights can cut their mouth or cause foreign body issues within your pet's gastrointestinal tract.

HOLIDAY MEALS If you're like most people, it's tempting to give a little bit of your holiday meal to your pet. Unfortunately, doing so can lead to health issues such as pancreatitis. Common culprits for causing issues during the holidays are holiday hams. This foodstuff is often linked to cases of gastrointestinal upset, with some leading to pancreatitis.

Other foods can be problematic during the holidays. Foods like fruitcakes may contain raisins, which are linked to kidney failure in dogs, even by just eating one. Foods that contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener, are also toxic and have been linked to hypoglycemia, or a drop in blood sugar, as well as liver failure.

Cocoa is also a common ingredient in holiday dishes and treats. A component of cocoa is theobromine, which can be toxic

in small amounts, leading to hyperactivity and gastrointestinal problems. In large amounts, it has been linked to seizures, heart arrhythmias, and even death.

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU The holidays are a wonderful time to spend with family, friends, and of course, your pets. It's important that you exercise caution with the plants and decorations that you put up around the house or the food that you serve to your pets.

Book our services to hire a knowledgeable sitter to look after your pet this holiday season. Our team is comprised of current and future veterinarians. The Pet agrees knows how to best look after your pet. THE-INTL

SOMETIMES, PETS PLAY WITH RIBBONS AND TINSEL, AND THESE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTIONS IF SWALLOWED, OFTEN REQUIRING SURGERY.

expat lifestyle that took him to Dubai, Prague, and now Copenhagen. Originally a veterinarian, Tarek reinvented himself professionally and decided to launch his own company.

With The Pet-agrees, Tarek has combined his veterinary experience with his entrepreneurial spirit. The Pet-agrees cares for pets in the Copenhagen area, offering services including pet-sitting, walking, and more to come soon. www.thepetagrees.com

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THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT This is the best and the worst time of year; dark most of the time, but so many lights around us and hopefully good company.

Also, a great time to read, so here is a mixed bunch for you.

SUSAN JESSEN SPIELE LIBRARIAN Susan is a librarian at Roskilde Library, and in charge of the English section. She does English events all year; everything from expat dinners and pub quizzes, to karaoke nights and book talks. She is also busy with Roskilde Horror, a club dedicated to scaring the town.

RELENTLESS, EMPATHETIC AND CLEVER

SEARING, GOTHIC AND BRILLIANT

THE CHAIN

BY ADRIAN MCKINTY

THE CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON

BY SARA COLLINS

W h a t wo u l d yo u d o if your child was kidnapped, and you not only had to pay a ransom b u t k i d n ap a n o t h e r child to have her back?

Rachel, a cancer survivor and single mom is now part of The Chain and must do the unthinkable.

A servant and former slave stands accused of murdering her employer and his wife in Georgian London. Brought from a Jamaican plantation where she was born and worked for a deranged scientist, Frannie tells her own story in court.

A BOLD NEW RETELLING LANCELOT

BY GILES KRISTIAN Lancelot’s story of love and betrayal in a postRoman Britain in the 5th century. A brutal time when Saxon invaders threatened and a charismatic leader tried to unify a divided land, but Arthur’s wife and best friend fall in love and wreck the dream.

SOPHISTICATED, INTELLIGENT AND TOXIC FALLEN ANGEL

BY CHRIS BROOKMYRE To new nanny Amanda, the Temple family seems to have it all.

But beneath the smiles lurks darker emotions.

Sixteen years earlier, little Niamh Temple disappeared while they were on holiday. As the family reunites she suspects one of them might be hiding something terrible.

DID YOU KNOW? Danish public libraries are not just book palaces; they are also lively meeting places where everyone is welcome at events year-round. December 13th, we have an International Karaoke Night at Roskilde Library at 19.00, and you don’t even have to sing to join us! You can bring your own beverage or buy at our bar.

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