Culture Shocks / American in Denmark / Expat Life

When we were in the US visiting LA. it was so strange that the downtown was all deserted.

Wtf. We don't use knife and fork for a sandwich.. that super weird and I'm from a big city in dk

I have to say I agree with the swearing in English. I grew up in the 60s and 70s (CPH), and we swore a lot when we were without adult supervision, but we knew when not to do it. Even today, living in USA I notice when I watch Danish TV or Film, the use of (especially English F-word, not so much S word) swearing. In the end, they're just words.. expand their vocabulary with more decent adjectives and adverbs will solve the problem.
The thing about knife and fork, I can relate. My wife (American) was baffled the first few times I ate a burger with a knife and fork (my late brother ate rundstykker that way because of an injured jaw - you should have seen my wife when she saw that -) but also the smoerrebroed.
The nudity is during my lifetime - late 60s is when it started, but hey, it's just anatomy.

You could take a photo of what you're talking about (e.g. bread/open sandwiches) and actually show it.

I had to look up s bomb, once in the states I heard someone say 'the p word' to this day I have no clue

Mittle of Jylland is potatoland. The soil is perfect for potatoes.

The sandwiches that you buy are made by some who have been professionally trained and we call those who are making them are being called ( sandwiches Virgin. Smørebrød Jomfru) and its just all other jobs just the navn i a little Strange

Fun fact about the f word, it originates in South jutland, around the Sønderborg area. But you have to remember that the f-word and the s-word isnt always meant in a bad way, but as a way to strengthen what your saying. For example: "this is fucking good"

I lived in Denmark from 1986 to 1994. Speak fluent danish now, but, as you know, it can sound like an entirely different language from one part of Denmark compared to another part. To this day there are words and phrases that escape me in English but I know them in danish. I am fascinated by the teak sideboard behind you. It looks exactly like the one we had. Do the middle doors open to reveal pull out drawers and the sides open to reveal shelves?

I live in Woodridge IL now. Lived "pa Sjaelland", from 1986 until 1994.

I think the swear word issue is down to your upbringing.. I would not dare to use colorful language in front of my parents, I would suffer the consequences instantly. Another pet peeve of my mother was butchering the danish language. Correct pronounciation and not mixing in a lot of english words. A bit funny, because she is third generation living in Denmark, her family comes from landed gentry in Scotland, in contrast to my fathers family which has LOOONG roots in Denmark, several ancestors of his never left the parish. I love your videos, keep them coming. My own culture shock was when i was an Au Pair in North Carolina. I realized that people asked questions but did not hang around to listen to the answer.. For example if a person greeted me and said "how are you today " i was starting to give a brief summary and they just moved on. I learned to adjust to that, as it is just a polite saying, they really don't want you to break down your day so far. what was harder was when some people had that 1700 century religious puritan mindset, every sentence they made had to be filtered through the bible before it was served to you, that was the most difficult adjustment I had to make. It is just some cultural differences, which add to the richness of the world :)

Don't Danes eat rice and pasta as an alternate to bread.

I agree with you Kelly about the swear words, specially scatological words at the dinner table. Children should not use them because they can get picked up by the police in the US.

As a dane I must put my foot down and say, we usually don’t eat pizza with a knife and fork unless we’re eating in a restaurant, of course I can’t speak for everyone but it’s rare I have met someone who don’t just eat it with their hands. Otherwise I agree that we do tend to use tableware for most food items.

Edit: Also regarding nudity, we have a tradition where people graduating gymnasium go swimming naked wearing only their student hat, so it’s a really integrated part of our society.

Thank you for your video it is interesting to know about other cultures. The swearing words for kids to say them in front of Italian elders is a big no no😅.

I see so many people claim that Danes just swear a lot but that's not completely true. Yeah, many Danes will swear more than is common in other cultures, but not to such a degree that they seem very vulgar.
We do however swear a f**k-load in English. It might seem weird to English speakers, but the truth is that English 'is just words' to us. They don't carry the same seriousness and therefore they're seen as less bad. We understand that we're swearing, but it feels more like very mild swearing. You wouldn't hear many Danish children swear that much in Danish.

I don't get the socks in sandals either.. But then again I don't get americans wearing sweatpants in public 😁 I mean why would you go to the grocery store wearing what looks like pyjamas or something you slept in?

The grocerie store thing is so stupid cause dains haid going to them. There has been studies done.. and yet we do so often, don't know why. I live 5 kilometers from nearest groceries store. So now I only do it one a week, sometimes my naibo a I will shop for echeother. Also I've heard from other foreigners that we are so past in there... 🙂 maybe because there is so little space in end after you've bought what you need, there is little space to pack your stuff before the next one come along, so that you get stressed or at least I've heard that from Americans, I too feel. CAN ENYONE ASWAR WHY WE SHOP SO OFTEN

My kids were always reminded, that there were different ways of speaking and to whom
1. how you speak when you're with friends
2. how you speak with family
3. how you speak with grandparents
4. how you speak to fx: strangers/cashiers
Great video!

Americans are prudished. We topless in France since forever, Idtill grocery shopping every other day even now I’m living here in Texas, and at 60, I dance, walk long distance beside exercise routine almost every day

Just love Your point of wiew 🤭👌😂

We are not pics. Ha ;-)

10 to 20.000 step a day. Remember US. ;-)

Jeg hader strømper i sandaler😂 Det giver ikke mening og det ser fjollet ud😂 Jeg har aldrig gjort det, kun i mine hjemmesko/klip klapper

Kelly I totally agree with you on the excessive cursing used by so many Danes.
I am Danish myself, but haven’t lived in DK for 40 years, I love Denmark and love to be there, but hearing all the “f” and “s” words really disturbs me. The language has enough words to express frustration, anger or whatever feeling you might have without resorting to cursing.
Unfortunately lots of movies (not least American) have plenty of these words, so you’re really getting “brainwashed” - no wonder it’s become part of daily speech 😱.
All this aside, the Danes in general are very helpful people and rarely rude, so my view on cursing is just an old fashioned

I am danish and absolutely hate rye bread and boiled potatoes. I haven't eaten rye bread since my parents took me on summer vacation in the US when I was 14 and I discovered you can actually survive without.

The rugbrød toppings depends entirely on the person making the meal and what they like...

Socks and sandals are funny together. 🥰

We may be used to changing rooms in denmark but if you go to hotels in germany they only have one unisex changing rooms for the swim area so you can shower and a whole family comes in. That is a culture shock even to danes.

I just read your trip to the Doctor post - OMG so funny! The underwear bit too much! I am laughing so much that my daughter calls down from her bedroom to ask me what is going on.

How can you go mountain biking in a country totally without a mountain. . .. to be fair a "hill" .. no mountains in Denmark . . ha ha :-)

A very fair and specific view of the country's differences! Very interesting :) I am glad to know you felt comfortable breastfeeding, too! I think comfort with nudity, oddly enough, ties in the scandinavian family values for that reason

I also live in Denmark

Ist for us not as bad to sware in another lang. Like some amerikan sware in spanish...

I liked your comments on nudity and I understand it shocked you - I, however, feel embaressed about using the American-style toilet stalls where your defaecation can and will be shared with several people. In Denmark we care so much more about privacy in those parts, and even - very often - include the washing facilities as part of each individual lockable toilet section so you don't have to meet the world before you have a had chance to wash up.

In Denmark english swear words are more soft ,while the danish ones are more hard. Thats why you hear english swear words more often (its more acceptable)
People also dont take swear word as seriously, we dont mean to be rude its just how we behave for some reason. if me and my friend are walking and one of us crack a funny joke (or something like that) its normal too react with "fuck off" so i do understand why people may feel uncomfortable when visiting. (from a Dane)

Yeah, I'm very much a meat and potatoes person, so I'd be at home there.

Eating sandwiches and pizza with a knife and fork???? WTF?????? I could never get used to that. Okay, maybe pizza, but still very weird.

Is that mud by the naked baby? Nope, that ain't mud. 😉🤣😂

Yeah, that's my biggest problem with the US is the whole negativity towards nudity and sexuality.

On another I totally want to see a toddler swear worse than a sailor. That'd be hilarious!!!!

I'm a 20 year old Danish guy, and I was in kindergarten in the mid 2000's in a small town up north, and I'm quite surprised hearing that some parents and teachers use the F-bomb and such around young kids nowadays.
When I was growing up, I was taught that those words were just as bad as any Danish swear words, might have been taught they were even more harsh actually. I don't think I ever heard a teacher swear in casual conversation until around I was around 12 or 13, so definitely a bit surprising to hear that language like that is used all the way down in kindergarten now.

That said, I do feel like English curse words have become more common as I've gotten older, it was definitely not something you heard as much 10-15 years ago, especially not English swear words. Might have just been because I was a kid at the time, but I don't remember anything like that from when I was starting in school or was in kindergarten, maybe from kids on the playground and such, but certainly not the teachers.

Go to Germany and it will be mixed in the changing room and mixed in the sauna too

Me: laughing about Danes yelling profanities
"My kids though the coach was mad at them."
Me: ✍️*Denmark Trip To-Do: Teach kids Danes Not Angry*

Very interesting hearing a fellow American describe the cultural differences. I’d struggle with the lack of lights. And there’s something to be said regarding modesty. I’d have to make other arrangements for showering before the pool. And I’d be seriously uncomfortable with the beach nudity and swear words. The swearing is definitely disrespectful. As far as seniors being more active that would be nice to see more of it in the 🇺🇸. TFS 🙂

Before 'The Muslims' came, 8 out of 10 women were Topless at the Beach. And 3 maybe 4 out of 10 was sunbathing Nude, at the Beach. 🙂😉

I’m sending all my love out to a very cranky lady today! Let’s hope it reaches her! I can’t imagine living in that darkness! I hope you all have a great day!