Comments on: Culture shock http://www.speakdanish.dk/kultur/2010/03/culture-shock/ Notes on Danish culture Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:58:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark http://www.speakdanish.dk/kultur/2010/03/culture-shock/comment-page-1/#comment-3823 Mark Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:54:38 +0000 http://www.speakdanish.dk/kultur/?p=138#comment-3823 Hi John. It's more like The Borg in Star Trek. "Resistance is futile" :) Yes, acceptance is not a wake-up-one-morning-and-love-everything-about-Denmark experience. It's a long and rocky road (as you well know). It is easy to resign oneself to a certain notion (e.g. my favorite: the Danes are all the same); one has to be open to and enjoy those moments when they prove you wrong. Hi John. It’s more like The Borg in Star Trek. “Resistance is futile” :)

Yes, acceptance is not a wake-up-one-morning-and-love-everything-about-Denmark experience. It’s a long and rocky road (as you well know). It is easy to resign oneself to a certain notion (e.g. my favorite: the Danes are all the same); one has to be open to and enjoy those moments when they prove you wrong.

]]> By: John http://www.speakdanish.dk/kultur/2010/03/culture-shock/comment-page-1/#comment-3822 John Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:39:20 +0000 http://www.speakdanish.dk/kultur/?p=138#comment-3822 Mark! They've gotten to you too? You've become assimilated! It's like that moment in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" when you discover Donald Sutherland is one of THEM! Come back to us Mark; you can be de-programmed! ;-) OK, in all seriousness, this is a good (and well-written!) summary of culture shock as specifically applied to the expat in DK experience. As you know, I'm the worst integrated foreigner in DK, but I do recognize a lot of the final acceptance in what you've written that it's not them, it's me that has to adjust. As for going 'home', yes: that is not really an option anymore. On the other hand, you are fortunate to have lived in DK's nr. 1 or nr. 2 city the whole time where Danes are a good deal more embracing of outsiders. Rural DK is much like rural anywhere when it comes to keeping outsiders at arm's length, including "skide københavnere". But in many ways you've also grabbed the bull by the horns with your website (as I did with Wednesday Night Danish Club; remember that?), and you've taken that final, ultimate step to seal your commitment to the country (a step I'd never take). So it's mostly about maintaining a positive attitude and not falling into the 'me vs. them' trap, which your article illustrates nicely! Mark! They’ve gotten to you too? You’ve become assimilated! It’s like that moment in “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” when you discover Donald Sutherland is one of THEM! Come back to us Mark; you can be de-programmed! ;-)

OK, in all seriousness, this is a good (and well-written!) summary of culture shock as specifically applied to the expat in DK experience. As you know, I’m the worst integrated foreigner in DK, but I do recognize a lot of the final acceptance in what you’ve written that it’s not them, it’s me that has to adjust. As for going ‘home’, yes: that is not really an option anymore.

On the other hand, you are fortunate to have lived in DK’s nr. 1 or nr. 2 city the whole time where Danes are a good deal more embracing of outsiders. Rural DK is much like rural anywhere when it comes to keeping outsiders at arm’s length, including “skide københavnere”. But in many ways you’ve also grabbed the bull by the horns with your website (as I did with Wednesday Night Danish Club; remember that?), and you’ve taken that final, ultimate step to seal your commitment to the country (a step I’d never take). So it’s mostly about maintaining a positive attitude and not falling into the ‘me vs. them’ trap, which your article illustrates nicely!

]]> By: Jules http://www.speakdanish.dk/kultur/2010/03/culture-shock/comment-page-1/#comment-255 Jules Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:23:08 +0000 http://www.speakdanish.dk/kultur/?p=138#comment-255 Mark, Thanks for your commentary. Many of the things you describe in this article I too have experienced while I lived in Denmark. I really could relate to your comments on "reverse culture shock" upon returning to the United States after 8+ years. I felt for the longest time that I was on an extended vacation and soon I would be able to return "home" to Denmark. I still miss many things about my other home and believe that I will always hold Denmark and its people in high esteem. I feel as if I too am a Dane in many ways and will remain so, regardless if I ever have the opportunity to live there again or not! : ) -- Jules Mark,

Thanks for your commentary. Many of the things you describe in this article I too have experienced while I lived in Denmark. I really could relate to your comments on “reverse culture shock” upon returning to the United States after 8+ years. I felt for the longest time that I was on an extended vacation and soon I would be able to return “home” to Denmark. I still miss many things about my other home and believe that I will always hold Denmark and its people in high esteem. I feel as if I too am a Dane in many ways and will remain so, regardless if I ever have the opportunity to live there again or not! : )

– Jules

]]> By: seasonticket http://www.speakdanish.dk/kultur/2010/03/culture-shock/comment-page-1/#comment-102 seasonticket Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:10:58 +0000 http://www.speakdanish.dk/kultur/?p=138#comment-102 Ahh balls. The Danes who get upset when Denmark is criticised say "Either: shut up, do something about it or leave." If you're saying there is not "do something about it" then there really is no way of staying here, is there? Ahh balls. The Danes who get upset when Denmark is criticised say
“Either: shut up, do something about it or leave.”

If you’re saying there is not “do something about it” then there really is no way of staying here, is there?

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