Robe Trotting | Dealing With National Stereotypes Living Abroad in Denmark 🇩🇰 #expat #expatlife #expats @RobeTrotting | Uploaded November 2023 | Updated October 2024, 4 hours ago.
🌎 If you’ve ever moved abroad, like we all did when we moved to Denmark, you can probably relate to this one. Even when you travel abroad or just surf social media you can be bombarded with stereotypes about where you’re from. Many are based in truth, but the other side of stereotypes is they don’t define anyone or any place universally - we should ALL be allowed to define OURSELVES.
One thing about chatting with @AdrianMackinder about this topic on What Are You DOing in Denmark is that we at least got a good laugh out of it 😂 This is one of the hardest things about living abroad, especially if your home country is going through some things.
For all three of us, expat life has been during a time when our home countries, the UK and the US, are a topic of discussion and quick assumptions about our nations of origin. As much as we love living in Denmark, we don’t always get the chance to define ourselves before being defined by the places from which we moved here 😩 This can be a tough thing for all foreigners in Denmark and anyone experiencing life abroad in any country. It’s hard to hear raw opinions that lack nuance about your home country - especially from those who have never lived there.
🔑 The key is to stay positive about it and consider the intent. Especially in Denmark, a little joke or ribbing can be meant as an ice breaker and a way to connect. For someone who doesn’t know you well, that can mean they rely on stereotypes or exaggerated impressions of your country or nationality. This may be uncomfortable, but ry to take it in stride and embrace the humor of Danish culture 🇩🇰 BUT if it goes too far - you can always let someone know that they’ve overstepped a boundary. Danes appreciate your honesty as much as they enjoy a self-detracting joke 😉
Have you experienced this in Denmark or elsewhere?
Listen to the full podcast here: linktr.ee/robetrotting or follow the link in our bio
#expatindenmark #expatlife #livingindenmark #denmark🇩🇰 #denmark #danmark #denmarklife #copenhagen #expat #abroadlife #danish
🌎 If you’ve ever moved abroad, like we all did when we moved to Denmark, you can probably relate to this one. Even when you travel abroad or just surf social media you can be bombarded with stereotypes about where you’re from. Many are based in truth, but the other side of stereotypes is they don’t define anyone or any place universally - we should ALL be allowed to define OURSELVES.
One thing about chatting with @AdrianMackinder about this topic on What Are You DOing in Denmark is that we at least got a good laugh out of it 😂 This is one of the hardest things about living abroad, especially if your home country is going through some things.
For all three of us, expat life has been during a time when our home countries, the UK and the US, are a topic of discussion and quick assumptions about our nations of origin. As much as we love living in Denmark, we don’t always get the chance to define ourselves before being defined by the places from which we moved here 😩 This can be a tough thing for all foreigners in Denmark and anyone experiencing life abroad in any country. It’s hard to hear raw opinions that lack nuance about your home country - especially from those who have never lived there.
🔑 The key is to stay positive about it and consider the intent. Especially in Denmark, a little joke or ribbing can be meant as an ice breaker and a way to connect. For someone who doesn’t know you well, that can mean they rely on stereotypes or exaggerated impressions of your country or nationality. This may be uncomfortable, but ry to take it in stride and embrace the humor of Danish culture 🇩🇰 BUT if it goes too far - you can always let someone know that they’ve overstepped a boundary. Danes appreciate your honesty as much as they enjoy a self-detracting joke 😉
Have you experienced this in Denmark or elsewhere?
Listen to the full podcast here: linktr.ee/robetrotting or follow the link in our bio
#expatindenmark #expatlife #livingindenmark #denmark🇩🇰 #denmark #danmark #denmarklife #copenhagen #expat #abroadlife #danish
