Denmark 101 with Alex Berger

Denmark 101 with Alex Berger

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Denmark 101 with Alex Berger episodes

  • Scandinavia vs. The Nordics

    So, is Denmark a Scandinavian country or a Nordic one? The answer is...both. In this episode of Denmark 101 I run through the relationship between the Nordic countries, Denmark, and the Scandinavian countries.

    Want more of a deep dive? Read my blog post about the differences here:

    http://virtualwayfarer.com/what-is-the-difference-between-scandinavia-and-the-nordics/

    If you're Danish hopefully you'll find this series interesting, a bit informative, and not too outlandishly offensive.

    If you're a foreigner coming to Denmark, I hope this helps you build upon observations and insights the rest of us had to find out the hard way.

    Topics that will be covered include the Danish approach to nudity, how to make Danish friends, how to meet Danes, Danish manners, and even a look at Janteloven.

    Stay tuned for future updates - this is just the beginning!

    Explore the stories behind this podcast at http://virtualwayfarer.com.

    Where you can find me:

    BLOG - http://www.virtualwayfarer.com
    FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/virtualwayfarer
    INSTAGRAM - http://instagram.com/virtualwayfarer
    TWITTER - http://twitter.com/AlexBerger

     

    6 min
  • Denmark's Service Problem

    Denmark has become famous for it's less than stellar service culture. While it's not as bad as what you'll find in some countries, apathy and a mild sense of buyer-be-ware is definitely quite often the case. This doesn't apply to service support and warranties, as these have been regulated by the government.

    If you're at a bar, restaurant, or shop though? Good luck. You're likely to find friendly but generally apathetic employees and a service culture that almost rarely goes out of its way to help the customer. The mantra that drives US service - "the customer is always right" - is anything but that in Denmark and might more aptly be called - "oops, sorry, I was texting and didn't notice you. I'll be done shortly".

    If you're Danish hopefully you'll find this series interesting, a bit informative, and not too outlandishly offensive.

    If you're a foreigner coming to Denmark, I hope this helps you build upon observations and insights the rest of us had to find out the hard way.

    Topics that will be covered include the Danish approach to nudity, how to make Danish friends, how to meet Danes, Danish manners, and even a look at Janteloven.

    Stay tuned for future updates - this is just the beginning!

    Explore the stories behind this podcast at http://virtualwayfarer.com.

    Where you can find me:

    BLOG - http://www.virtualwayfarer.com
    FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/virtualwayfarer
    INSTAGRAM - http://instagram.com/virtualwayfarer
    TWITTER - http://twitter.com/AlexBerger

    5 min
  • Lunch Culture & Lunch Restaurants

    A key part of many Danish workplaces is their unusual approach to lunch. While many larger workplaces offer Canteens smaller companies also often offer catered lunch. This is done through interesting lunch services that allow you to pay one fee and then pick and choose between 30 or 40 different restaurants at will.

    While some work places charge on a per-meal basis, the vast majority of Danish workplaces offer a subsidized lunch that usually costs about 360 DKK/month ($60 USD). It's worth noting that these are salary dollars and not post-tax dollars making the value an even better deal.

    The interesting side effect of this is that Denmark has historically had a very limited lunch restaurant culture. With many workers eating at work and students working at school, the demand for lunch venues you'd find in the UK, US, and elsewhere hasn't existed. There has, also, been a long-standing tradition of Danes taking their lunch to work, which further added to this.

    While there has been a surge in lunch restaurants over the last 10 years, it is a relatively new aspect of Danish culture. I delve into the topic in this episode of Denmark 101.

    If you're Danish hopefully you'll find this series interesting, a bit informative, and not too outlandishly offensive.

    If you're a foreigner coming to Denmark, I hope this helps you build upon observations and insights the rest of us had to find out the hard way.

    Topics that will be covered include the Danish approach to nudity, how to make Danish friends, how to meet Danes, Danish manners, and even a look at Janteloven.

    Stay tuned for future updates - this is just the beginning!

    Explore the stories behind this podcast at http://virtualwayfarer.com.

    Where you can find me:

    BLOG - http://www.virtualwayfarer.com
    FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/virtualwayfarer
    INSTAGRAM - http://instagram.com/virtualwayfarer
    TWITTER - http://twitter.com/AlexBerger

    6 min
  • Can Pant and Recycling

    Recycling cans and bottles is a huge issue in most countries. While major progress has been made, the vast majority of cans and bottles in countries around the world, particularly in the US, still end up in the trash. Denmark's solution? Make it financially worthwhile to recycle, and it's not just working - it's a stunning success.

    if you've ever seen locals leave bottles on the ground next to trash cans in Denmark, here's the reason why.

    If you're Danish hopefully you'll find this series interesting, a bit informative, and not too outlandishly offensive.

    If you're a foreigner coming to Denmark, I hope this helps you build upon observations and insights the rest of us had to find out the hard way.

    Topics that will be covered include the Danish approach to nudity, how to make Danish friends, how to meet Danes, Danish manners, and even a look at Janteloven.

    Stay tuned for future updates - this is just the beginning!

    Explore the stories behind this podcast at http://virtualwayfarer.com.

    Where you can find me:

    BLOG - http://www.virtualwayfarer.com
    FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/virtualwayfarer
    INSTAGRAM - http://instagram.com/virtualwayfarer
    TWITTER - http://twitter.com/AlexBerger

    6 min
  • Birthday Traditions in Denmark

    A look at how Danes celebrate their birthdays (part 2 of 2) and their use of the Danish flag.

    If you're Danish hopefully you'll find this series interesting, a bit informative, and not too outlandishly offensive.

    If you're a foreigner coming to Denmark, I hope this helps you build upon observations and insights the rest of us had to find out the hard way.

    Topics that will be covered include the Danish approach to nudity, how to make Danish friends, how to meet Danes, Danish manners, and even a look at Janteloven.

    Stay tuned for future updates - this is just the beginning!

    Explore the stories behind this podcast at http://virtualwayfarer.com.

    Where you can find me:

    BLOG - http://www.virtualwayfarer.com
    FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/virtualwayfarer
    INSTAGRAM - http://instagram.com/virtualwayfarer
    TWITTER - http://twitter.com/AlexBerger

    6 min
  • Birthdays and the Danish Flag

    A look at how Danes celebrate their birthdays (part 1 of 2) and their use of the Danish flag.

    If you're Danish hopefully you'll find this series interesting, a bit informative, and not too outlandishly offensive.

    If you're a foreigner coming to Denmark, I hope this helps you build upon observations and insights the rest of us had to find out the hard way.

    Topics that will be covered include the Danish approach to nudity, how to make Danish friends, how to meet Danes, Danish manners, and even a look at Janteloven.

    Stay tuned for future updates - this is just the beginning!

    Explore the stories behind this podcast at http://virtualwayfarer.com.

    Where you can find me:

    BLOG - http://www.virtualwayfarer.com
    FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/virtualwayfarer
    INSTAGRAM - http://instagram.com/virtualwayfarer
    TWITTER - http://twitter.com/AlexBerger

    3 min
  • Talking While Inhaling

    Every culture has its interesting linguistic quirks.  For the Danes, an expression similar to "uh-huh", "yes", and "yup" is of particular interest.  In this video I delve into their use of the word yeps/yips and how they manage to express it while simultaneously in-haling. Watch the video for an in-depth look at it and a few examples. 

    If you're Danish hopefully you'll find this series interesting, a bit informative, and not too outlandishly offensive.

    If you're a foreigner coming to Denmark, I hope this helps you build upon observations and insights the rest of us had to find out the hard way.

    Topics that will be covered include the Danish approach to nudity, how to make Danish friends, how to meet Danes, Danish manners, and even a look at Janteloven.

    Stay tuned for future updates - this is just the beginning!

    Explore the stories behind this podcast at http://virtualwayfarer.com.

    Where you can find me:

    BLOG - http://www.virtualwayfarer.com
    FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/virtualwayfarer
    INSTAGRAM - http://instagram.com/virtualwayfarer
    TWITTER - http://twitter.com/AlexBerger

    4 min
  • College Sports

    If you're from the US, you've grown up with a College and University system where sports are fully integrated into the University system. Each school has a variety of school teams spread across a mixture of sports. In many cases some of the students also likely are attending the University explicitly because they have received University scholarships to play in these sports programs.

    If you're not from the US - this may seem like a pretty crazy concept. As an American moving abroad, I was surprised to learn just how different the relationship between athletics and University programs are outside of the US.

    If you're Danish hopefully you'll find this series interesting, a bit informative, and not too outlandishly offensive.

    If you're a foreigner coming to Denmark, I hope this helps you build upon observations and insights the rest of us had to find out the hard way.

    Topics that will be covered include the Danish approach to nudity, how to make Danish friends, how to meet Danes, Danish manners, and even a look at Janteloven.

    Stay tuned for future updates - this is just the beginning!

    Explore the stories behind this podcast at http://virtualwayfarer.com.

    Where you can find me:

    BLOG - http://www.virtualwayfarer.com
    FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/virtualwayfarer
    INSTAGRAM - http://instagram.com/virtualwayfarer
    TWITTER - http://twitter.com/AlexBerger

    4 min
  • Cake Day in the Danish Workplace!

    Most Danish workplaces have a half hour set aside every week where everyone gets cake. Sounds delicious, right? Tune in to learn more about this long-standing Danish tradition and what it means for the Danish workplace. Feeling inspired? Let's see if we can't help this tradition catch on outside of Denmark.

    If you're Danish hopefully you'll find this series interesting, a bit informative, and not too outlandishly offensive.

    If you're a foreigner coming to Denmark, I hope this helps you build upon observations and insights the rest of us had to find out the hard way.

    Topics that will be covered include the Danish approach to nudity, how to make Danish friends, how to meet Danes, Danish manners, and even a look at Janteloven.

    Stay tuned for future updates - this is just the beginning!

    Explore the stories behind this podcast at http://virtualwayfarer.com.

    Where you can find me:

    BLOG - http://www.virtualwayfarer.com
    FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/virtualwayfarer
    INSTAGRAM - http://instagram.com/virtualwayfarer
    TWITTER - http://twitter.com/AlexBerger

    3 min
  • A Look at Danish Universities

    Danish (and European Universities in general) take a very different approach to education, specialization, and curriculum than those in the US, UK and various other countries that fall more in line with the US/UK approach to education.

    If you're Danish hopefully you'll find this series interesting, a bit informative, and not too outlandishly offensive.

    If you're a foreigner coming to Denmark, I hope this helps you build upon observations and insights the rest of us had to find out the hard way.

    Topics that will be covered include the Danish approach to nudity, how to make Danish friends, how to meet Danes, Danish manners, and even a look at Janteloven.

    Stay tuned for future updates - this is just the beginning!

    Explore the stories behind this podcast at http://virtualwayfarer.com.

    Where you can find me:

    BLOG - http://www.virtualwayfarer.com
    FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/virtualwayfarer
    INSTAGRAM - http://instagram.com/virtualwayfarer
    TWITTER - http://twitter.com/AlexBerger

    7 min

About Denmark 101 with Alex Berger

From the publisher's feed

Tips, tricks, and cultural observations about the Danes and life in Denmark. From Copenhagen on the island of Sjaelland to Aarhus, Alborg and beyond on Jutland I aspire to explore Denmark and to…