culture shock
Friday, October 1, 2010 at 8:14AM I never really considered that I would experience culture shock in Denmark. I was convinced that I had been here enough times and knew and loved my Danish family so much that it'd be unlikely I'd experience culture shock or suddenly break down in hysterics wanting to go home. I am invincible Jillian, right?
Christian's uniform
Well, 3 major breakdowns later I shall finally raise above my pride to let you all know that living here and moving here has not gone without bumps in the road.
Don't fret, I am totally fine. I've just had maybe 3 times where I just cried for hours. Yesterday a series of frustrations culminated in me falling off my bike and cutting open my knee. I started to sniffle and all of the sudden I was crying and couldn't stop for an hour!
I think that my boss explained it pretty well, it's as though you're on auto-pilot but you can't be and you keep hitting walls when you try.
For instance, I have this bank card that has been the bane of my existence here. Firstly, it's ugly as hell. Secondly, it's not what normal Danes have. It's for people that can't handle their finances. But my bank said I didn't have a steady enough income to have what the rest of society uses.
told you, it's ridiculously ugly (and creepy)
Yesterday I was at the post office to send something and when I went to pay the beast of a postal worker crossed her hands in an big X and said "NEJ" - "NO!". Uhm ok beast. Clearly seeing she had a machine that took swipes (not just a chip) I asked if she could take my American credit card - she said "No, it must be from Denmark." I said, well the first card I gave you is from Denmark. She says "Yes but this is Visa electron, it is for small people." Uhm, &$^# you. I asked to speak with a manager, she said NEJ. $*%*&($# beast.
I went to the ATM to take out cash, the ATM was only open until 3:00 PM (?!?!?!?! Denmark, seriously???). By then I was already late for a meeting with my integration contract lady. Can't skip those and I don't recommend being late, either.
In the end the package got mailed 2 mins before the post office closed. I was livid. Then I fell off my bike. Then I cried, but not from the gash in my knee. And then I couldn't stop crying. HAHA.
Seems like such a silly situation but it's just been a series of situations like this over the past few months - including the time the taxi driver almost killed us both and didn't even ask if I was OK or step out of the car to help me with my luggage in the torrential rain.
BUT, there are just as many happy situations. And I absolutely love living with Christian and coming home to him (nearly) every day now. Work is getting busy and I feel some sense of control again. So I am GOOD. Just now finally admitting it's not a friggen fairytale every day. ;)
That said, we're headed to Oslo next weekend for a mini-cruise - our mini honeymoon from this year's wedding, haha. I'm super excited to wake up and look at FJORDS. :P
Woop woop.
})i({
biking, culture shock, denmark, travel in denmark
Reader Comments (5)
Hey :) mean and insensitive people suck (your postal lady) no matter where on the planet you are.
Your stories remind me when i moved to the US when i was 18; It was just me (my family remained in Sweden) and I was living with my then boyfriends family. They took really good care of me,but i certainly experienced many "culture shock" moments in the first few years; now 20 years later, and for better or worse fully assimilated, the culture frustrations sometimes occur on the opposite side-when i go back to Sweden :)
But don't worry, it will all be fine.
Hi Sylvia - you are so sweet, thank you! I totally know that these little situations are going to keep cropping... now anyway. :) Thanks for your thoughts! I hope you are doing well in CA with the new house! I am working for Experian EMEA now - let me know if you're ever in the area! I think CPH hosted a big international finance meeting last week - I was looking for you! :) xx
Hi Jillian - I have enjoyed reading your post very much! I am currently an exchange student from CA in CPH. I found your blog while trying to find where I can get pumpkin puree in denmark.... (seems like I may have to make my own from scratch!!!! no worries, google shall help..) I also had my share of falling off bikes, the horrible bank experiences, and crazy post office hrs... (been here almost two months and still haven't found time to get stamps...) Thank you for sharing your wonder stories.
Best of luck!
-Jess
Hi Jess - thank you so much! I'm glad you found my blog and it's always nice to hear when people can relate. Good luck with the pumpkin puree - I shall attempt the same at some point! Enjoy CPH and if you're ever desperate to relate to an American you can email me at jillian.als@gmail.com and we can always grab a cup of coffee or something. Take care :) - Jill
I get it on the culture shock... reminds me so much of Spain. (The ATM only open till 3 is so whacky though!) The other things is that we are women after all, and sometimes we have little meltdowns. This is what I tell myself anyways. haha :) I'm thinking of you here in Nashville! XO