Danes' self-perception and your perception of them: The truth behind.

One thing is how you perceive yourself and other thing is how your acquaintances perceive you. You think you are hardworking, generous and friendly. The rest of the world when looking at you they see someone lazy, stingy and unpleasant. But, what about the Danes? Last night, some people asked what they are like. That’s what I said.

Modesty

They are more than aware of the fact that Denmark is a small country. Nobody remembers Denmark due to a great historical hit. Even though you check the most famous Danish people in its history, you’ll only see some referents like Karen Blixen, Niels Bohr, Kierkegaard, but overall H.C. Andersen. But they are satisfied with that.

From a distance it seems that they have super big ego. When you break the ice, you’ll see they are pure love. But, don’t date to criticize their system, education or society. Then you’ll suffer their wrath full of explanations with a non-modesty stink.

Self-satisfaction

In the same way that they are modest, they are also really self-satisfied. Gosh, they are Vikings! They are so pleased with themselves, even if it’s not polite to think one is more than others and they love equality. There isn’t anyone better than anyone but nothing is greater than being Dane.

Swedes are the poorer neighbors, the Southern countries In Europe have the heat inside but they are unreliable and always late, the Germans are formal and too much precise. But being Dane means to have a great sense of humor and to know how to have fun, they are peaceful and civilized. I even heard, “we are the Brazilians of the Scandinavian world”.

How much is it true? Well, they are really peaceful and civilized but give them the opportunity and they’ll create biggest riots ever. I still remember a derby between FCK and Brøndby where the bonfires almost burned down the stadium. I cannot forget, only Danes are allowed to use irony no matter consequences, it’s just humor. If you aren’t Danish, not only they will not understand you, but also they will get offended, it’s not just humor now. But still… Their modesty brings self-satisfaction with.

Shyness

When someone says to me that Danes are fun and the friendliest people ever seen because they used to have a pal from Denmark I always ask “where did you meet him/her?” I can assure that in most of the cases, they answer “we partied together”. For sure there are many friendly and kind people in Denmark but the problem is they are very shy too. This fact is like this until they get a drink.

However, the biggest test comes next few days, when you see your party pal on the streets and he or she pretends not knowing you and doesn’t hail you. Moreover this shyness makes them so difficult to get known, but once you break the wall, you can have a good friend.

They are aware of this fact. They know so bad that they are shy, but how can you change your DNA?

Informality

Don’t expect to bring a Danish friend to a gala party in other European country and shine all over the guests. They know how to dress up, but a formal situation doesn’t not only mean good looking clothes. It’s attitude when talking to people and behaving, but overall manners.

Actually, I’m not sure if they know about this fact. Only the Danish representation in the EU Parliament can be seen with a purple shirt when the other members wear them in white or light blue. You never stretch up while you sit at the table.

However, this is something I kind of like. In my culture we are full of conservatism or pre-established rules of formalism that obligate us to behave in a fake way. They don’t. They are natural. We love them natural, like vegetables and fruits. If I have to choose, I wouldn’t change them. So, never trust on a very formal Dane.

You, Danes and the parties: A guide to survive. Ch. 1

Recently I read an article about Danish culture. I have to admit how much I love the Danish way of life. It’s full of paradoxes that enrich the everyday. “While in Denmark, if you are invited to a fairly big party where you know only the host and hostess, you might as well prepare for a boring evening” (Knudsen, 2002), it stated.

This is something that I observed but I didn’t realize till I got to read this article. I always saw something hard to describe in Danish social meetings but I couldn’t figure out what. It’s not a matter of feeling comfortable or welcomed; it’s a matter of understanding how social rules work. It’s well known the “help yourself” motto inserted in Denmark cultural background. I really love it. It is the lack of formality which make the social situation more realistic, instead of full of conventionalism.

This means that you only speak with someone you already know. Nevertheless, don’t expect to introduce yourself or others to anyone at all. It’s normal to be at a party and see that everyone laugh and have fun without you, unless you’re Dane and you know what they talk about.

It’s important to be informal and figure out who is who at a party. The lack of formality during social events, the lack of introduction makes socializing more difficult for the newly arrived. I’ve attended different parties where there were many small groups of people instead of fewer of more people. The problem was they didn’t know each other and that was why they didn’t mingle. With this situation I don’t feel uncomfortable, completely the opposite, I feel myself less shy than in my homeland.

My Danish friends sometimes told me that I am a perfect host and I always make sure that anyone is introduced to others. It’s because I feel so stupid when I try to speak to someone and I don’t remember his or her name, so I have to use vocatives such as dude or guy or interjections like hey.

You’re not allowed to break the comfort zone made by the personal space. If you want to know who is who you’ll have to find out for yourself but be aware that it’s not appropriate to approach to someone that you don’t know. “These parties end up looking as a micro cosmos of already established groups of acquaintances” (Knudsen, 2002), the article said.

You are forgiven. You are just an outsider who doesn’t know the rules and tries to cross the line between those outside the groups and those who already know each and have a hyggelig moment. They know that it’s bad enough to be a foreigner and to know nothing. If you are foreigner, as an outsider, you’re allowed to ask. Ask as much as you want to but it depends on the person in front of you who decides the information given. So, the status quo of ignorance remains.

As a newcomer this is your way out. With the excuse of being ignorant, you could transit the social rites of Danish society. However, if your biggest desire is to be like a Dane, just follow the non-written clues hidden in the social event. Don’t ask, but just pay attention to the signs floating in the air to get to know who is who and perhaps, and only perhaps, you fit in like a Dane. Good luck.

KNUDSEN, Anne (2002). Pretend your are at home - and stay there!. Her går det godt- send flere penge. Gyldendal.

Dansk humor: a matter of mastery

If I had to say what it is the most difficult thing of living in Denmark as a foreigner coming from Spain, I would say the humor. Oh, yeah, it is easy everyone can make some fun using irony but it’s not the kind of irony Alanis Morissette sang about. Believe or not, you’ll never find such a way of twisting words and meanings as here.

Poster in Nørrebro (Copenhagen). Picture taken from pernille.typad.com

Is it bad? No, it’s other way of interacting. I must confess that sometimes is hard to realize if Danes are just trying to be nice or they are simply rude. It’s like a play-role. One takes the role of the joker and you, as foreigner, play the role of the stupid who doesn’t understand.

In the south we are more direct. Of course we use sarcasm but we are amateurs in front of that levels achieved by centuries of practice. My advice is, if you come to Denmark, to be yourself and try to fit in little by little.

I remember one night when a group of Spaniards we were having dinner with a Dane. In some moment he yelled “Arriba España” (Up Spain or long live Spain). It had been nice if we wouldn’t have these problems of identifying national pride with fascism in Spain. All of us stared at him in shock expecting that such a sign of inappropriate free expression was caused by his lack of awareness. The thing is that the Dane he did know about that and he made it on purpose. Days after, when we were informed about that, we yelled “what kind of humor is that? It’s not funny if you don’t share it”. Well, maybe it’s the Danish humor way.

Anyway, I think I’d like to know all the tips and keys behind this way of making fun and impress people around the world with such a humor. In the meantime I’m just trying to learn the grassroots in order to mingle with more Danish people. And, for sure, it’s not like to put foreigners on the line and make them to say rødgrød med fløde, the national tongue-twister.

The rotten apple in Denmark

One of the premises on which Danish society is based is freedom. It is the grassroots of the system. Freedom doesn’t mean to do whatever you want, but to be able of doing whatever you want. In order to fit in it is important to follow this principle.

Recently I was chatting in the kitchen of my dormitory with some pals, all of them foreigners as me, about how we perceive Danish people and Denmark in general. We reached different opinions. And I remember I explained and important concept in all the Nordic culture to my mates in order to show them my point of view. Janteloven or the Law of Jante, a non-written law very present in the northern countries minds.

In general terms, it can be said that the Law of Jante is the biggest example of why Nordic culture is based on community behavior against individualism. Living in a country does not only mean to reside in a place of earth delimited by borders, but also to be part of the society. Here are the ten principles of Janteloven.

-          You're not to think you are anything special.

-          You're not to think you are as good as us.

-          You're not to think you are smarter than us.

-          You're not to convince yourself that you are better than us.

-          You're not to think you know more than us.

-          You're not to think you are more important than us.

-          You're not to think you are good at anything.

-          You're not to laugh at us.

-          You're not to think anyone cares about you.

-          You're not to think you can teach us anything

Basically it says, move your ass from individualism and rich yourself and do something for the community. But… Here is the problem. Denmark is a multicultural country where diversity is one its biggest appeals.  So, it is difficult to understand for the most of us who come here.

One would be observed as a newbie in the city. Because it’s not about only individualism, also about being different. It’s not a coincidence the fact that the big majority of Danish young students look alike. Same haircuts, brands, colors, expressions. Sometimes being different means being out of the loop.

Be quiet, dress as they do, behave as they do, drink as they do, say what they say, never critic their system, don’t do anything that can piss them off and try to learn Danish. Then, you’ll be, not a Dane, but a foreigner completely integrated. Otherwise you’ll be the rotten apple which spoils the whole country. 

Antiquity but with responsibility

I’ve always said that old is not a bad word. People can be old too; not only furniture or Greek temples have that right. And being and old tenant in a dorm is an experience. No, promise that this not about newbies, veterans and merciless punishments. In a Danish dorm or kollegium, as they say, being old, in terms of for how long one’s been living there, gives to one the possibility of behaving as Papa Smurf.

For sure, you can take a Kim Jong-il leading the dorm and imposing respect to the freshmen or even being as bitchy as Angela Channing in Falcon Crest but it won’t work. Danish dorms have an especial environment. So big and with so few activities to mingle that nobody gives a shit about the neighbor does.

There are some parties or some people get jealous because others do but that’s all. However, if you’re the veteran doesn’t mean that the rest are going to show respect to you but at least interest in your knowledge. “Where can I buy a bike?” or “Is there any place to scan?”.

God knows how much I would like to be like a TV-series character saying “you rock, you’re a pussy” but that’s not the Korallen style. Here in Denmark is still very present Janteloven or Law of Jante, which in basics tells society to be humble. Otherwise, you’ll be marginalized. It seems Roskilde University and Denmark in general still constructs their dorms and other residential places in the image and likeness of pretexts of the Law of Jante.

Why I love and hate Fakta at the same time: A sociological study of Danish society through analysis of supermarkets

I always thought that there’s nothing more representative of the culture of a country than its supermarkets. Well, maybe it’s not the most representative but it’s still good enough. And among all the supermarkets in Denmark (which most of them are under the same company), there is one on concrete. We could define it by its appearance, by its prices or even by the quality but that would be easy. Let’s name it: Fakta.

Faktas forsiden: www.fakta.dk

What we like: Atmosphere. Fast, kitsch and from the neighborhood. No time to talk, no compromise. Just get your products and go back to the ghetto, or the kollegium in case you live there. But that’s good because when one of the cashiers tried starting a conversation with you all your life seems to be fulfilled.

What we don’t like: Awkward range of products. If you suffer of alcoholism today is your lucky day, unless you don’t drink wine. So, I must say you’d better be a classy alcoholic because Fakta counts with a big corridor of this reddish gold. From South Africa to Spain, including cherry wine (is that wine?). But Fakta runs out of pasta, tuna or everything else.

What we like: Varieté. Visiting once a week is an adventure. You never know what to expect. Today may be protein whey powder, tomorrow a sewing-machine and the next day a costume-set. There so kitsch small treasures that when you see them you understand the Stendhal’s syndrome. Sometimes clothes. I don’t need them at all but I need all of them at the same time.

What we don’t like: Varieté II. Yes, it’s funny to have all these small things which increase your frivolous shopping mind but it’s not that good when the product you’re looking for, and you saw yesterday, today it’s not in Fakta anymore. Mouthwash which comes and easy goes, rubber gloves seeming to vanish or no rice when last week there were plenty. As Larra said once, “come back tomorrow”.

What we like: Child-friendly. I’m not a child anymore but I still envy when I see those infants pulling a small trolley with a Fakta flag on the top. Don’t misunderstand me, I don’t like children, actually I hate them, but I think all the supermarkets must have these kind of entertainment things. I would use them if society wasn’t so conservative.

What we don’t like:  PAN system. I know, it’s something common to most of the supermarkets in Denmark. But I still can’t pass around without smell a mix of wine and beer. I want to do my grocery shopping in a store, not in a highway bar taken from a cheap film. Now I understand Denmark has a problem of alcoholism. Kids accompanying their parents to buy sniff that since their childhood.

From a sociological point of view, a research about population’s tastes, lifestyles and consume can be taken in a supermarket. Read this before coming to Denmark.

PS. Be careful with the expiring date. Sometimes out of date.

PS2. Pay attention to two words that can save your life or at least your shopping: Bazar and tilbud.

Odense y su catálogo de peripecias

Recién vuelto de Odense, no puedo decir otro fin de semana en Odense. No es otro. Es uno nuevo. Siempre algo distinto cada vez que voy. No existe una rutina porque encuentro miles de cosas que hacer y, gracias a los cielos, no es solo turismo. Cuando estás en una ciudad los primeros días son turismo, los siguientes cosas más habituales, a continuación fiesta y finalmente la vida diaria. Así es como uno vive los lugares que visita. Haciendo de la rutina de otros algo nuevo.

No, todavía no he perdido la cabeza y ni padezco algún tipo de demencia. Odense es más que Andersen y su hermoso teatrillo al lado de la casa. He estado investigando con células y proteinas en un laboratorio, he estado a la hora de cierre de Tommy Hilfiger, he ayudado en una pizzería.

He descubierto una parte de Dinamarca que no conocía. Con mi altiva mirada observaba la fiesta danesa. Vale, yo vengo de Madrid y soy una generación consecuencia de valores desarrollados tras La Movida y la sensación es diferente cuando eres un estudiante de intercambio en tu burbuja internacional. Así todo es más light. Es bajo en calorías de fiesta. Se necesita un nativo al que no le importe que seas estudiante. Se necesitan amigos daneses que te muestren la verdad. Y lo cierto es que puedes quedarte hasta las 7 am celebrando un sábado. Pensaba que era algo de la calle Huertas de Madrid, de Malasaña o de Tribunal. Sin embargo, el tono de la fiesta todavía sigue siendo un poco distinto.

Ahora, atención al dato, lo que más me sorprende es algo tan normal y corriente, incluso insulso para un español, como es la bolera. Me dijeron "vamos a la bolera a las 11". Pensé que era un poco tarde para un plan así. También pensé que la bolera la dejé atrás cuando yo superé la preadolescencia. Pero no, es un lugar bastante variopinto. Música a todo volumen, luces de discoteca, copas y un ambiente festivo. Nada que ver con lo que estoy acostumbrado a ver. Yo sólo recuerdo a las entrenadas señoras mayores de mi barrio derribar bolos con movimientos aprendidos durantes años de experiencia, a niños que empiezan a salir y los cumpleaños celebrados en la bolera con perritos calientes y hamburguesas. Curiosa forma la de Dinamarca de reconvertir el concepto ocio sano en algo aún más lúdico.

Y es que los daneses, hacen del deporte y del ocio indoor algo más festivo y loco.