As the days passed, we began learning more than the school and the town – we were starting to understand the Danish way of living. One of the earliest cultural differences we discovered was how quiet and peaceful everything was. Even in the center of the town, there is little to no noise. People give each other so much more space and privacy than we are used to in Slovenia.
Danish people can come across as distant at first, but once you’ve interacted with them, they are warm, polite, and forthcoming. It just takes a little more effort to break through the ice. We also noticed that they were very independent – everyone seems to cycle, shop, or sit in a cafe and read a book alone. There is a very strong culture of trust and personal responsibility here.
In our free time, we became acquainted with Sønderborg and subsequently Tønder. Both of them are peaceful towns, with numerous pleasant cafés, small shops, and parks. After school in the evenings, we enjoyed taking strolls along the coast, playing billiards in a local bar, or simply sitting in the dormitories and talking.
A few of the most entertaining experiences were trying Danish salty licorice. We had seen it in shops and were curious. The second we put it in our mouths, most of us wished we hadn’t – it’s extremely strong and salty, and not at all what we expected from candy. Still, it was a fun cultural experience and gave us a good laugh.
We took excursions on weekends. The Danish public transportation system is very efficient – clean, timely, and easy to use. One of our favorite trips was to Copenhagen. We were impressed with the city’s mix of modern architecture and old buildings. We walked along the canals, went to museums, and enjoyed the energetic atmosphere. Nyhavn’s brightly painted buildings were just as they appear on postcards.
The most impressive aspect of our visit was the priority Danes give to the quality of life. Everything is seemingly designed for comfort, practicality, and harmony – from urban planning to education, to how people spend their free time.
By the end of the third week, Denmark had started to become home. The cultural differences didn’t seem so strange anymore – in fact, we began to relish them. This part of the mobility wasn’t solely school-based learning; it was learning a new style of living, a new way of thinking, and a new way of being.
