Well it's only been 2 weeks, but so far I am really enjoying it.Originally Posted by FarligOpptreden
As I understand it, the weather is milder than the other Scandinavian countries. I was in København yesterday and it was about 10 degrees or so with the sun shining.
The people are very friendly in general and pretty much everyone speaks English. I've come across quite a few people working in hotels etc who do not speak Danish though. In general they are very open and positive towards the language, which makes settling in easier.
The Danish language.. It's quite difficult to understand. I can read quite a lot of it but spoken Danish is another story. It just flows and it kinda sounds like they are mumbling. As a germanic language, supposedly it will be easier for me to learn. Starting Danish classes soon, so time will tell.
Personally, it's not a culture shock at all. The main problem is the language barrier. Other than that I don't feel out of place at all.
So far, everything just works. Public transport is amazing. Bus stops are everywhere and they run until late. I don't see myself getting a car anytime soon. Oh and of course they are on time. Not South Africa's version of on time.
The population is about 5.4 mil, so there is more than enough space for everyone. Their houses, gardens etc are similar to what I'm used to in Cape Town. Really beautiful, lots of trees and forests etc. Really beautiful country!
It's very, very safe here. Even in the bigger cities, for the most part you can walk just about anywhere, anytime. Of course there are a few exceptions.
I take the bicycle to the shop, leave it outside without locking it, do my shopping and it's still there when I'm done. None of the houses that I've seen have burglar bars or any security fences. They sometimes have small fences for dogs and such. There isn't a big police presence in Århus, their second biggest city and where I live, but that might be different in København. From what I saw yesterday though, it's also not very big.
It's one of the most important reasons for leaving SA. We've become conditioned to think that it's normal the way things are, but it most certainly is not. I can't begin to explain how awesome it is not to worry about your own or loved one's safety all the time. Things seriously need to change in SA.
The internet. Oh my word, what a pleasure. The place I'm staying at has about 120/20 Mbps fibre connection with a ping of 7 to the local speed test server. 30gbs, 30mins more or less. Of course you can go a lot faster. A friend of mine has a 300/300 connection with a TV service included. Awesome playing Wildstar, ESO, heroes of the storm etc with a 20/30 ping.
I am certain I will miss the SA weather though.But the little to no violent crime here more than makes up for it.
Some negatives include the high taxes and high living costs. But then again salaries are higher and everything works. Health care is free and of a great standard. So your tax money is well spent. For a decent burger at a restaurant you can expect to pay about 130 Danish krone (R260). Alcohol and cigarettes are expensive.
If you've got specific questions just ask and I'll answer as best I can.
My gut tells me I'll enjoy living here and I'm really positive about the country. Will see how the next few months go.
