Denmark 101 with Alex Berger
by Alex Berger
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 report back the cultural insights that result.
Episodes
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Shoe Etiquette and Danish Homes
When you visit a Danish household, apartments in particular, there tends to be one hard and fast rule....the podcast title probably gives it away, but give this episode a watch and weigh in with your own stories and experiences. If you're Danish hopefully you'll find this series interesting, a…
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Danes and Doggy Bags
The meal was amazing. The portions were bottomless. You're ready to go home but feel guilty about wasting food. You're also feeling a bit lazy - why cook tomorrow morning? So, you ask for a doggy bag. What's a doggy bag? It's a to-go bag for your leftovers and while it may eventually find its way...
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Scandinavia and Fur Fashion
Yikes! It's a hard topic. What's up with all the Danes wearing fur and working it into Danish fashion? Why is it still so popular in Nordic and Scandinavian fashion when most other regions have abandoned it? I encourage everyone tow atch the full video for commenting, particularly as I know it's…
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Famous but Controversial Licorice Pipes
They may be delicious and a simple candy, but that does not mean they're not noteworthy and are without controversy. Tune into this episode of Denmark 101 for a look at one of Denmark's most iconic candied treats! **I opted for the American black licorice spelling, but yes, I'm aware you probably...
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Julefrokost: Danish Christmas Lunch Parties
Starting in late November, the Christmas Lunch / Danish Julefrokost season starts and it is a wild and crazy time. With charming dinners, fancy clothing, wonderful food (and not so wonderful food) as well as inappropriate flirtations and more than one or two frisky encounters - it's quite the...
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Danish Snaps vs Akvavit: What's the Difference?
WTH is Snaps? Is it the same as Akvavit? Do you spell it snapps, schnaps, akvavit, or aquavit? In this episode of Denmark 101 I take a shot at explaining how Danish snaps is made and its cultural significance in preparation for next week's julefrokost video. If you're Danish hopefully you'll find...
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The Danish Export Economy
At the heart of understanding Denmark, Danish history, and Danish culture is the Danish economy. To do that, I've put together this video summarizing and discussing a number of statistics that serve as a great insight into where Denmark's job market is centered, where the country's economy is...
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Boobs and Danish Beaches
For my 50th Denmark 101 episode it's time to circle back around to the topic of Danes and Nudity, this time, let's focus in on beaches, breasts, and general nudity. Is it legal? Is it true that Europeans run around beaches naked? Are the men naked? Do people still go topless? Tune in and find out...
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Copenhagen's Neighborhoods
Do you know the difference between København V, Vesterbro, Nørrebro, Østerbro, Christianshavn, Christiania, Amager and Frederiksberg? Each is widely different with very distinct with their own unique personalities. I do my best in this episode of Denmark 101 to give you a quick crash course...
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Danish Bodegas
There are few things more Danish than the Bodega. Far from a local corner shop which might share the same name in other countries, a Bodega is the name for the traditional Danish corner bar. They're small, they're gritty, they're a bit rough, and they're overflowing with charm. In Today's Denmark...
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Candles and Hygge
Hygge? You bet, but don't forget your candles! In today's episode I dive into the differences between how Americans deal with and view candles (especially southwesterners like myself from warmer regions) and how Danes view and use candles. Five years in, I've got to admit the Danes have won me…
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Danes Hate Root Beer
Root Beer. As an American it's a classic cornerstone of American culture. Even though it's not as popular these days, it's still the definition of iconic for many Americans right there next to a Hamburger shop or Drive in Movie. For Danes though? Whew. Not so much. So, which side of the Root Beer...
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Danish Hard Alcohol
Experiencing Danish culture means experiencing Danish alcohols. From Gammel Dansk to Aalborg Gold and Fisherman's Friend in-between, this episode is dedicated to exploring many of the most common Danish hard alcohols. Just writing this description and thinking about how horrible a lot of it is...
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Trying to Find and Buy Condoms
Without fail one of the things most non-Nordics find captivating about the Nordic countries are their liberal approach to sex and the stunning beauty of their populations. It doesn't take long looking for information about Denmark before the beauty of Danish men and women comes up. In the last…
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Danes and Religion
You requested I share observations about religion, religiosity and related considerations in Denmark, including some comparisons to what I was exposed to growing up in the US. In this episode, I attempt to dive into a very complex topic while still trying to keep things fairly brief. As usual…
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University Graduation Ceremonies
When I graduated from Arizona State with my Bachelors there were three separate ceremonies all of which required I purchase and wear a maroon robe. I was initially skeptical of it all, choosing to only attend one, and thinking it was overhyped, a bit tacky, and ridiculous. But, later, I came to...
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Studenterhue and Graduation Wagons
Remember the incredible experience that came with graduating from High School or Gymnasium? The Danes know how to kick things up a notch with their Studenterhue and "wagon" ride around town. It's a crazy fun tradition that involves white sailor's hats denoting a recent graduate combined with a…
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Searching for a Job
This is the final part in my sub-series of videos looking at lessons learned during my time looking for work in Denmark and shares lessons garnered from helping friends go through the same process. Searching for a job in Denmark was something that ended up being deeply educational, humbling, and...
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Creating a Danish Resume
This is part two in my sub-series of videos looking at lessons learned during my time looking for work in Denmark and shares lessons garnered from helping friends go through the same process. This episode is dedicated to the subtle (and not so subtle) differences in how Danes write their resumes.…
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Neck Ties and Job Interviews
This kicks off a series of videos looking at lessons learned during my time looking for work in Denmark and shares lessons garnered from helping friends go through the same process. This episode is dedicated to ties, neck ties more specifically. Sound like a strangely specific topic to focus on?...
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Danish Summer Homes
Summer homes are a key and common part of Danish culture. In this episode of Denmark 101 I delve into what they are, how they fit within culture and how I've typically seen them used. When I first arrived in Denmark I found it particularly surprising just how prolific summer homes/summer cottages...
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Taxes and the Tax System
The Danish tax system is relatively simple (for a tax system). However, it's still quite different than what most of us are used to in our home countries. In this Denmark 101 I discuss what people get wrong about tiered tax systems, discuss how the Danish tax system works, and hit upon how much...
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Wedding and Reception Traditions
Denmark is a country with a long and rich history. So, it only makes sense that they'd have equally rich wedding traditions. In this episode of Denmark 101, I delve into Danish wedding traditions, things to expect at Danish wedding receptions and discuss some of what you'll find when couples in...
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Biking Like A Local (Rules and Advice)
You've asked repeatedly for a video covering biking rules, norms, and suggestions for Copenhagen (and the rest of Denmark). After debating recording a traditional Denmark 101 video it struck me that it would be far better to go out and recruit some locals to tell you a bit about their approach to...
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New Years Traditions
What are Danish New Years celebratory traditions? I dive into several of the major ones and describe the series of events that make up a typical Danish new year in this episode. If you're Danish hopefully you'll find this series interesting, a bit informative, and not too outlandishly offensive.…
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Leaving Danish Babies Outside
Have you heard the stories about Danish parents leaving their young children in strollers outside while they enjoy a coffee or do some light shopping? Those stories are true and the focus of this episode of Denmark 101. The NY story I mention: "A 14-month-old girl who was taken away from her...
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Bike Riding Danish Mailmen and Women
Danish mailmen and women often ride bikes - regardless of the weather or time of year. Rain? Snow? Wind? No problem. You'll find Denmark's stalwart bike mailmen and women making their rounds. If you're Danish hopefully you'll find this series interesting, a bit informative, and not too…
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NemID and Using Credit Cards in Denmark
Visiting Denmark? There are some things you should know about how their credit card system works. This includes the incredibly cool and secure Nem ID security code system used for all secure Danish logins (think taxes, city services, your doctor, etc.), passwords, and credit cards, as well as…
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Life Lessons from the Multi-Lingual Homeless
Denmark's homeless population has taught me a very humbling and important life lesson. In today's Denmark 101, I delve a bit into the topic and the humbling realization that virtually all of Denmark's homeless are better linguistically educated than I am. This is a touchy subject, so I invite you...
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A Look at Christiania, Copenhagen's Freetown
The Freetown of Christiania is famous the world over as a fascinating cultural experiment. In this episode of Denmark 101 I attempt to combine a mixture of the history, with my own experiences/observations and commentary that has arisen during conversations with Danes. The result is a look at…
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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:...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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Dating Danish Women
Denmark, dating, and Danish women are always a popular topic. While this isn't a deep dive, in it I quickly try and share some of my observations, experiences, and the conclusions that have come from dating in Denmark, conversations with peers (Dane and International alike), as well as…
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Drinking and University Culture
I did my BA at Arizona State University. In addition the the US' nonsensical drinking age, which is set at 21 our campus was also a "dry campus" which meant that even after turning 21 drinking on campus or in the dorm rooms was prohibited. I did my MA at University of Copenhagen, one of...
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Are the Danes Similar to the Germans?
They may be neighbors, but just how similar are Danes and Germans actually? 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…
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Are Danes Easily Offended?
Danes are famous for their directness and their open-mindedness. But, how does that translate into how easily (or difficult) Danes are to offend? When navigating the pitfalls of cross-cultural communication this is a highly relevant topic to be aware of. Enjoy =) If you're Danish hopefully you'll...
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Danes and Nudity
The Danes are famous for their Nordic beauty. They also have a reputation for being quite liberal in their approach to nudity and sex. The genders in Denmark enjoy a level of equality that is, perhaps, the most equal in all of the world. One expat, married to and living with a Dane, remarked that...
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How Are You Doing?
Coming from the west coast of the US "How are you doing?", "How's it going?" and other similar questions are used less as questions and more as alternatives to hello. For internationals in Denmark these types of questions can cause problems leading to all sorts of confusion. I delve into the…
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The Hamburger Rant
I'm a huge fan of hamburgers. In truth, I could eat a different type of hamburger for lunch and dinner non-stop for a week and be completely happy with my meal selection. So, it is with a not-insignificant amount of passion that I weigh in on how hamburgers are eaten in Denmark. Is this the grand...
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Janteloven
The Law of Jante defines the Nordic societies and is particularly prevalent in Denmark. To understand Danes and the Danish society it is essential that you understand the Law of Jante. What is it? In this episode I explore the topic, my observations, and share a bit about what you can expect when...
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Talking to Strangers
There are rumors that I am constantly terrorizing Danes throughout Copenhagen - from the metro to the line at the super market. What am I doing you ask? Breaking the social norms and talking to strangers. Luckily, I'm American which gives me a get-out-of-jail free card ... and of course, I'm...
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Danish Fashion Sense
Danish design and fashion is famous the world over...yet, it isn't exactly what you'd expect... I'm far from a fashionista, but in this video I discuss some of the characteristics that shape the Danish fashion sense with a particular focus on 20-30 something Danes. Denmark and its residents are a...
About this show
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 report back the cultural insights that result.
Hosted by
Alex Berger