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Moving to a new country means adjusting to a new cul-ture. Many things are done differently and what used to be the right way where you came from is suddenly, if not directly wrong, than at least not perceived as the thing to do in your new one.

In this issue special, we give you some useful insights both on how to understand your own cultural background as well as your new one. Read about the fascinating theories developed by Dutch researcher Geert Hofst-ede in the 1970s. I first came across his research about cultural values and his cultural dimensions as a young student. It was a real eye opener, having lived in sever-al different countries; I suddenly began to understand them, including my own, in quite a different way. His way of defining a set of values each culture possesses, that dominate or influence them to a larger or lesser degree, made a lot of sense to me. I had almost forgot-ten about his theories when I meet Pernilla Rorso a few months ago, and I was astounded that they were still such an important part of intercultural communication courses and studies. Pernilla agreed to an interview even though she is not yet finished with her PhD where she uses Hofstede’s theories to help understand how culture influences business performance.

Interestingly, at the same time, I had the pleasure of hearing Helen Russel’s lectures on her “Year of Living Danishly”, and the idea of combining cultural perspec-tives, theory and practical case stories in an issue special on cultural awareness, in order to share their insights with you, was born. It gives me great pleasure to bring them to you in this Autumn issue. Whether you are new to Denmark or have lived here for several years I think you will enjoy reading our issue special.

We also bring you inspiring articles about outdoor training and fitness possibilities as there has been an astounding growth (for such a bad weather country) of options available over the last few years - maybe an idea for you too this coming season. The season is also great for travelling – to South Jutland or Budapest – our travel articles give you tips about what to do. The flora and fauna of the Wadden Sea are definitely worth an autumn trip. Not to forget the great options to go out and enjoy live music – a must during the dark months to get your mood up. We have made a selection of venues to go to, to hear everything from classical to rhythmic music.

I hope you will enjoy reading our Autumn issue.

Bente D. KnudsenFounder & Editor in Chief

10 AUTUMN/2015 YOUR DANISH LIFE www.yourdanishlife.dk

ISSUE SPECIAL - CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES

AUTUMN/2015 YOUR DANISH LIFE 11www.yourdanishlife.dk

ISSUE SPECIAL - CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES

Coming to Denmark as an expat means having to deal with a culture that is not your own, and that

can be a puzzling experience – to say the least. Many Danes and other expats are more than willing

to help newcomers adjust, with explanations, how-to’s and personal experiences. But sometimes it

helps to take a step back and look at ‘culture’ from a broader perspective. BY INGER STOKKINK PICTURES: PR

Geert Hofstede offers such a perspective. He is a Dutch sociologist who has made it his work to explore

and compare different cultures. What started as a work satisfaction survey at IBM developed into a huge scientific research project comparing cultures with each other by ask-ing people about their values. His milestone scientific work, Culture’s Consequences (1980, 2001), also has a little sister aimed at a broader audi-ence: Cultures and Organizations: the Software of the Mind (1991, 2010 – the last edition with his son Gert-Jan and colleague Michael Minkov).

The interesting thing is that now, more than 40 years later, it is still

under construction: researchers who want to apply the survey to a country, organisation or group, are invited to do so, and they are invited to share their findings with Hofstede’s organi-sation, who shares it with the rest of the world.

Also, Hofstede has started to apply his findings about culture differences to organisations. While he and his son develop the scientific side of his work, they are associated with itim International (based in Europe) and ITAP (based in the USA) who do the more practical stuff: consulting and training companies on how to deal with cultural differences in the workplace.

Understanding cultural differences In Hofstede’s eyes, culture is the set of values people grow up with and, most importantly, is being taught in schools and organisations. These values determine a person’s way of thinking, feeling and acting – and in-teracting with other people. Typically, misunderstandings arise when people

CULTURES ARE NOT GIANT-SIZED INDIVIDUALS

with different value backgrounds interact. The first step in clearing up the misunderstanding and finding a solution is to realise that the cause may be cultural differences and find-ing out more about them.

Since culture is about values, people feel strongly about it. Everybody has an opinion about these topics, is his or her own ‘expert’, so to speak, and has been brought up with what is ‘right’. This is precisely what culture is about in Hofstede’s eyes. In some countries, for example, it is ‘normal’ that hierarchy defines the way people treat each other. In others, like Den-mark, hierarchy is of little signifi-cance. Likewise, individualism takes a front seat in Denmark, whereas in other countries collectivism is normal. Hofstede discovered that values, the building stones of cultures, can be clustered around five topics: pow-er distance (PDI), individualism (IND), uncertainty avoidance (UAD), masculinity (MAS), and long-term orientation (LTO) – see fact box ‘Dimensions’. Seeing cultural differ-ences as more or less of ‘the same’, instead of something alien, can be an eye-opener.

An ongoing process Awareness of cultural differences and awareness of how your own values can bias your view is, in Hofstede’s eyes, the first and most important step. Knowledge about the other cul-ture is next. Finally, skills (which are awareness, knowledge and practice combined) to navigate through it are essential.

All in all, Hofstede’s approach is very much based on human curiosity, the willingness to learn, the willingness to communicate, and the willingness to step back and look at your own values critically. His dimensions are tools in doing so. Most importantly perhaps, it is an ongoing process – both for Hofstede and his scientific work, and for expats right in the middle of cultural differences.

THE FIVE (OR SIX) CULTURE DIMENSIONS OF HOFSTEDE BY INGER STOKKINK

PDI – POWER DISTANCE: HIGH OR LOWThis dimension measures equality – or inequality. In Hofstede’s words: “the extent to which less powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally”.

Denmark scores low: very egalitarian, informal, keen on equal rights.

IDV – INDIVIDUALISM VERSUS COLLECTIVISMThis dimension measures the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members. Do you imagine yourself in terms of an individual or as part of a larger group?

Denmark scores high: Danes treasure personal autonomy, they also commu-nicate very directly.

MAS – MASCULINITY VERSUS FEMININITYThis dimension measures values about motivation: task-oriented or interac-tion-oriented, wanting to be the best, or liking what you do.

This dimension also received a fair share of criticism because at first sight it reinforces the stereotypes about men and women – and superiority of men over women. But that was not what Hofstede was looking for. He is not inter-ested in what men and women do, he is interested in social gender roles and their underlying values.

Denmark scores low: making sure everyone is included, negotiation instead of confrontation, and insisting on consensus are all expressions of a ‘feminine’ society.

UAI – UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCE: HIGH OR LOWThis dimension measures how much members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations, and have created beliefs and institutions that try to avoid these. It also covers how people look at the future, which by definition is unpredictable. Technology, law and religion are very different ways of coping with different sorts of unpredictability: that of natural forces, that of other people and of all other things that cannot be explained imme-diately.

Denmark scores low: plans can change overnight, but it also shows in the social acceptance of saying ‘I don’t know’.

LTO – LONG-TERM OR SHORT-TERM ORIENTATIONThis dimension originally emerged from research on Chinese values. It meas-ures how a society maintains links with its own past while dealing with chal-lenges of the present and the future. Societies that score low here are those with more respect for traditions, more averse to change, less inclined to feel shame, and less inclined to save money. Societies that score high are more pragmatic, more responsive to change, more inclined to feel shame, and more inclined to thrift and saving money.

Denmark scores low: Danish culture is normative, with great respect for tra-ditions.

IVR – INDULGENCE VERSUS RESTRAINTThis relatively new dimension measures to what extent people try to con-trol their desires and impulses. It involves values on how children should be brought up.

Denmark scores high: Danish culture treasures having fun, enjoying life, and having leisure time in which you can do as you please.

POWER DISTANCE

INDIVIDUALISM VS

COLLECTIVISM

INDULGENCEVS

RESTRAINT

LONG-TERMORIENTATION

UNCERTAINTYAVOIDANCE

MASCULINITYVS

FEMININITY

CULTURALDIFFERENCES

Geert Hofstede

DEAR READER


AUTUMN/2015 YOUR DANISH LIFE 27www.yourdanishlife.dk26 AUTUMN/2015 YOUR DANISH LIFE www.yourdanishlife.dk

Caption

B eing an accompanying spouse in a new country is exciting, however it also often comes with some challeng-es, especially if you have a booming

career in your home country and do not know what your new “adopted home” will have in store for you. For Katrin Weisser, moving to Denmark was a well-thought out decision. “I met my Danish husband, Peter Lodahl, in Ger-many ten years ago, and we lived there until 2010, when he was offered a job as a royal op-era soloist at the Royal Opera in Copenhagen.” They were living in Berlin when the offer came, and staying there was also an option they debated, but ultimately Katrin suggested they should move to Copenhagen, since if they stayed longer in Germany, it would be harder for their children to start over later on.

An easy adaptation process When Katrin moved to Copenhagen, she didn’t speak Danish. At first it was hard for her to deal with the language barrier when socialis-ing with Danes because she couldn’t respond quickly to them or tell a good joke or a story. “I was rather quiet back then and I felt people couldn’t get to know who I really was because I lacked the fluency.” However, she rapidly picked up the language by watching Danish movies and TV series with subtitles.

Unlike many foreigners living in Denmark, she didn’t struggle to make local friends. “I already had friends through my husband, since we had travelled to Copenhagen several times in the past,” she explains. In her opinion, Scandi-navians are friendly and open people. Over-all, Katrin feels integrated in Denmark and enjoys living close to the city and the sea. Her children attend the Danish-German school and they have positively adapted to their new life.

So what would she tell newcomers in Den-mark? “They should be wary of the high cost of living. Especially for those who arrive without a job, they should try to cut out unnecessary expenses and find ways of saving money. Be-sides, they should put money aside for the high taxes.” She also believes newcomers should integrate and not expect everybody else to integrate them, and think about how they can contribute.

Achieving her dream Since she was a little girl, Katrin’s dream was to become an actress, but she never thought that she would accomplish it at such a young age. When she was just 13, there was a big casting call for a German TV series called ‘Unser Lehrer Dr Specht’ at her high school, so she auditioned and got the part. The series was a great hit in Germany, and she suddenly

Following a successful career as a TV and theatre star in Germany, recognised German actress Katrin Weisser decided to

settle in Denmark with her Danish husband five years ago. She shares her insights as an expat and a professional player in the

performing arts. BY ADRIANA ALCINA PICTURES: ISAK HOFFMEYER, RUNOLFUR GUDBJORNSSON

A GERMANTV STARIN DENMARK

South Jutland, or Sønderjylland, stretches from the towns of Esbjerg, on the North Atlantic Coast, Kolding in the East, close to Lillebælt, down to the border with Germany, next to the

towns of Tønder and Padborg. The location has always been strategically important, with the areas having changed hands countless times. The latest being in 1920 after World War I, when the people were asked to vote to be part of either Denmark or Germany. The election meant that the island of Sylt, next to Rømø, became Ger-man, and interestingly, it has maintained and expanded its reputation as a jet-set hub attracting mainly wealthy

Germans all year round. Neighbouring Rømø is a more down to earth destination with affordable summerhouses and camping sites. In contrast, Sylt has five-star hotels, spas and Michelin starred restaurants.

The famous Black Sun South Jutland can be visited any time of the year, how-ever, if you enjoy combining unique natural experiences with cultural sights and activities for the whole fami-ly, the autumn season is not a bad choice. A particular phenomenon takes place in the marshes created by the Wadden Sea, Vadehavet. It is the unbelievable, but mag-

In the land of sea and marshes lies Denmark’s historic borderland, here the past is ever-present and experiencing this region will take you to places full of Danish character and charm. You can find well-preserved ancient towns, castles, cathedrals, and a multitude of exciting museums. South Jutland is also home to Denmark’s oldest town Ribe as well as to the country’s most visited national park, the Unesco World Heritage site the Wadden Sea National Park.

BY BENTE D.KNUDSEN PICTURES: VISITRIBE, RIBE VIKINGECENTER, KIM WYONG, JOHN JOHNSEN, LARS ØSERGAARD JENSEN, NICLAS JESSEN,

PIA BRILTON,TØNDER MUSEUM


TRAVEL - SOUTHERN JUTLAND

South Jutland

TAKE A JOURNEYTO HISTORIC

nificent sight, when millions of starlings gather at dusk to settle down and rest for the night. The starlings come from all Scandinavia, and gather there for several weeks to feed in the autumn before setting out on their long jour-ney to warmer lands where they spend the winter.

At sundown, the starlings start their descent into the marshes, where they gather in huge flocks, up to half a million strong, and settle on the rush beds for the night. At times they even block out the sun, hence the term ‘Black Sun’. It is a unique feeling to sit on the boarders of the marshes in the late afternoon, waiting for the sun to slowly set and watching these birds arrive in small and large flocks, the smaller ones joining forces with each other before settling down. People converge from far and wide to observe this remarkable and amazing sight. All of a sudden the “black sun” will start to dance, creating amazing formations in the sky above you. This happens when birds of prey arrive in search of easy pickings. A sparrow hawk on the prowl is noticeable from a distance because the huge flock will constantly change direction and shape to escape it; virtually dancing in tune, before finally settling down.

If you don’t want to drive around in search of the best site to see these birds, guided tours are recommended. The tourist agency Sort Safari (Black Safari) is one of the larger companies organising guided tours to the marshes. They recommend travelling in September and October to see this event. The event can be enjoyed with children, but is not advisable with small children, as the waiting time for the starlings to arrive (about one hour) might be too long. Remember to wear rubber boots and warm clothes, as the autumn evenings can be quite cold.

Unesco World Heritage Site - Vadehavet Vadehavet, the Wadden Sea, stretches from the Danish coast, through Germany and to Den Helder in Holland. The Danish Wadden Sea was given the status of Nation-al Park in 2010 and is the largest in Denmark. Twice a year, nearly 12 million migratory birds pass through on their way to either their summer breeding destinations or the warmer winter ones. Also the largest population of harbour seals in Denmark live in Vadehavet. There they enjoy the sea banks regularly exposed by the effects of the tidal waters.


Thousands of starlings gather at sundown forming the famous “Black Sun”.

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CONTENTS

ON THE COVER10 ISSUE SPECIAL: Dealing with culture shock. Do you live Danishly?

32 SMART SHOPPING: Dress for outdoor life in the cold months

46 MUST-SEE GETAWAYS: Scenic South Jutland Epic Budapest

63 EATING OUT: Sample the authentic Danish Inns

67 GLORIOUS AUTUMN: Ideal for watching deer

ISSUE SPECIAL: CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES 10 Cultures are not giant-sized individuals

12 It’s not personal, it’s cultural

14 Danish Work Culture: Shepherding Cats

16 Culture Shock – beyond your Danish honeymoon

18 The Year of Living Danishly

LIFE AND FAMILY22 What a lucky potato 24 Royal Stables – 325 year anniversary

26 Portrait of an expat THE SPOUSE STORY: A GERMAN TV STAR IN DENMARK

30 CHILDREN’S CLOTHES – How to dress your preschool child during the cold months

32 Stay warm when it’s cold and grey outside

34 The Expat Wife Conundrum

ROYAL STABLES - 325 YEAR ANNIVERSARY24

PORTAIT OF AN EXPAT26

CHILDREN’S CLOTHES30

STAY WARM THIS WINTER32






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THE YEAR OF LIVING DANISHLY18

HOME SHOPPING38 How to create that homey

feeling in your new home-

AGAIN

42 Royal Copenhagen

Grandmother’s facelift

44 Storage TIPS

TRAVEL46 Take A Journey To The Historic South Jutland Region

52 Danube’s Most Enchanting Treasure

FOOD58 Danish apples

61 Nordic Cook Book

ARTS AND LEISURE63 Danish Inns No Longer Royal - But Still Worth A Visit

67 Hubertus Hunt

70 Outdoor training –staying on the move

73 Experience the entertainment side of Denmark’s Nightlife

77 Family Fun – Kid’s activities

HISTORIC SOUTH JUTLAND REGION46DANISH INNS63

ROYAL COPENHAGEN42DANUBE’S MOST ENCHANTING TREASURE52


HUBERTUS HUNT67

OUTDOOR TRAINING70

DENMARK’S NIGHTLIFE73

POWER DISTANCE

INDIVIDUALISM VS

COLLECTIVISM

INDULGENCEVS

RESTRAINT

LONG-TERMORIENTATION

UNCERTAINTYAVOIDANCE

MASCULINITYVS

FEMININITY

CULTURALDIFFERENCES

CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES10

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SPRING 2015 - www.yourdanishlife.dk

UNSPOILT: EXPLORE SAM’S ISLANDGO DUTCH: TAKE A SCENIC ROAD TRIP TO HOLLAND

Spring breaks

EXPAT CHILDREN:WHAT IT’S LIKE TO GROW UP ROOTLESS

DANNEBROG:WHY ARE DANES SO CRAZY ABOUT THEIR FLAG?

DANISH SUMMER HOUSES:FIND THE PERFECT PLACE FOR YOUR NEXT VACATION

NEW!How to have a good life in

Denmark

SAILING: GO WITH THE WIND

Insights • Information • Inspiration

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CYCLINGCULINARY TOUR OF WEST ZEALAND

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Summer destinationsBORNHOLM – THE PEARL OF THE BALTIC

NORWAY – NATURE AND ADVENTURE

EATING OUTSAMPLE THE BEST

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DURING SUMMER VISIT QUEEN’S RESIDENCES

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