Report from Denmark (2)
Living in Denmark
Do you know the conception of Nordic countries? It includes Denmark, Sweden and Norway. I suppose that you must know Scandinavia. Yeah, if you add Iceland, Finland to Nordic, they form Scandinavia countries. It is said that Nordic countries have much more things in common, such as similar language, similar culture and geographic characteristics. Nordic countries are a close group in North Europe.
Denmark is the smallest countries in North Europe. There are 5,300,000 population ( it is equal to that of Dalian), 43,000 square kilometers land. And it is formed of hundreds of islands.
Denmark is a welfare country like other north European countries. Every Dane generally may gain good welfare since he/she is born. They not only can get free education since primary school till they no longer want to study, but also they can get free medical and good pension. In addition, government will give each mother some allowance according to the number of children. And each student can also get allowance when he/she is a student.
On the other hand, behind good welfare, it is high tax. Almost each Dane who earn salary has to pay Denmark government half or plus of his/her salary as income tax to support their welfare system. The principle is that the more you earn, the more you pay. Therefore, it is not easy to find a big difference between the poverty and the rich. In this system, the price of goods is very high. I remember that I told you that price of London is regarded as the highest in the world. When we came Copenhagen, we found that the price of Copenhagen is higher than that of London to some extent. The price of fruit and vegetable is extremely high.
In Denmark, the unemployment rate is lower than that of UK and America. I often met some beggars in all places that I traveled. But I still have not met one in Denmark. I suppose that it may be because of its nice welfare system. Even a citizen is unemployed, government still can secure him/her to survive in such high price environment.
If let me describe some distinguish prides of Denmark, the followings may represent Denmark: It is said that Garlsberg beer抯 quantum of sale is ranked the fourth in the world. They are also popular in China.
Hans Christian Andersen, whose fairy tales have been translated into more languages than any other book except the Bible. I believe that there is few children who did not heard his fairy tales nowadays. Little mermaid, Snow queen, Empiror抯 new cloth, A little match girl and so forth. I am even lucky enough to view some manuscripts of them in Andersen抯 museum.
If you know marine transportation, you must know the biggest shipping company in the world, Maersk Shipping company, the pride and joy of Denmark. Maersk has set foot in the door of airline. It may not be good news after 911 attack and airline enterprises are experiencing their hardest days.
It is said that every Dane may have at least three times of marriage in one life. Divorce is as popular as marriage. Nowadays, young Danes prefer single life rather than marriage.
Danes pride themselves on being thoroughly modern, so the wearing of folk costumes, the celebration of traditional festivals and the clinging to old-fashioned customs is less prevalent in Denmark than in other European countries. We find Danes to be fairly relaxed, casual, not given to extremes and tolerant of different life styles. In deed, in 1989 Denmark became the first European country to legalise same-sex marriages and offer gay partnerships the same rights as heterosexual couples. Perhaps nothing captures the Danish perspective on life more than the concept o hygge which, roughly translated, means cosy and snug. It implies shutting out the turmoil and troubles of the outside world and striving instead for a warm intimate mood. Hygge affects how Danes approach many aspects of their personal lives, from designing their homes to their fondness for small caf?and pubs. Danes can give their hosts no greater compliment than to thank them for a cosy evening. Actually, we enjoy Danes?hospitality in many ways. The treatment we get in Denmark is the best next to in Germany.
Another thing impressed me is that almost every Danish can speak good English. English is just like a dialect for Danish. I was told that Danish is small nation. Danes have to learn English if they want to communicate with more people. So all children begin to study English when they are ten years old till they end their studying in senior school. Due to Danish is very close to English, it is not very difficult to study English. Actually, Danish?pronounciation is very close to German. No wonder Germany can also speak good English. Another important reason that there are quite rich English sources, for instance, two third of TV channels are English programmes, English movies, magazines and even music. That sounds reasonable why Danes can speak English so well.
Danish are very friendly nation. They are more straightforwardness than British. If they dislike you, they won抰 pretend to like you just like they like you, they will show you. Danish seem not to be interested in religious. So the church is not as splendid as other European countries.
Finally, I have to tell you that Danes are not diligent nation. Obviously, the most important reason is that they enjoy a welfare system. This system seems not to encourage diligent people. I often am told by Danes that Danes are very lazy.
That is my primary impression with Denmark and Danes. Do you like it?
Dove, in Copenhagen
