1) Who are you?
Kelly Kristensen
2) Where are you from?
Originally from the American Midwest
3) Where have you moved to and how long have you been there?
I moved to Denmark in March of 2016, so that would make it 4 years.
4) Why did you move abroad?
I met and married a man from Denmark, and though we had lived for 9 years in the USA together, he decided to get a new job. We wanted to try something new, and it turned out to be where he found a job. We actually don’t live where he is from. We are 2 ½ hours north, where he knows no one.
5) What challenges did you face during the move?
It was very hard to give up my teaching job, since I had been at the same school for 13 years. It was also really sad to say good-bye to my family, since we were very close. Moving to a very small town in the middle of nowhere didn’t make things easier, and I have had a hard adjust with not just the language but with also making friends.
6) How did you find somewhere to live?
My husband’s job connected us with a local apartment company, who helped us find an apartment. We had to take it unseen, since we didn’t have anyone nearby to look at it first. It was an interesting experience to go from a very large home to a very small apartment. Luckily, it was only for 6 months until we bought our house.
7) Are there many other expats in your area? Was it easy to make friends?
Not really. I know of a few women from China and one from England who also married Danish men and moved to Denmark. We are all friends, but we don’t spend much time together. Having kids makes our lives very busy. If I want to spend time with other expats, I would have to drive out of my town.
What is your relationship like with the locals?
I like my neighbors, but they don’t speak English. It makes it hard to have strong relationships with people because I struggle to get my point across in Danish. It is a very difficult language to learn/understand. If I could speak the language better, I am sure that I would have stronger relationships. No one talked to me at first. It took a few years for them to warm up to me.
9) What do you like about life where you are?
I like the nature and how it never gets too cold. There is always green lawns, trees, etc. It is like living in a garden. I also live in a small town, so it is nice to be able to walk everywhere, but there are so many buses and trains to go pretty much anywhere.
10) What do you dislike about your expat life?
It is very lonely being an expat in a small town. My strongest relationships are with other expats, and since many don’t live close, it is hard to have much of a social life. There are also pretty empty streets on the weekends and at night, even in bigger cities. Not much in the way of excitement at times.
11) What advice would you give to anyone following in your footsteps?
I would have to tell people two things. One: learn the language. If you are following your spouse to Denmark, like I did, don’t worry so much about getting a job. Focus more on learning the language and making connections to add to your network. Communication is so important for foreigners. Two: move slowly. Don’t try to rush your integration. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Expect the language and the adjustments to the culture to take lots of time. Try to go slowly and not put too much pressure on yourself. Feel enjoyment in the process and chill out!
12) What are you plans for the future?
I don’t really have any big plans. I am hoping to change careers and get an education in Denmark to learn some new tricks. I would love to have a job writing for a company that shares my values. I will always love teaching, but I think I would like to explore different parts of myself, much like how I hope to explore new parts of Denmark. I’m hopeful that I’ll like all the new things I discover!
Kelly Kristensen’s blog is called “My New Danish Life” where she talks all about her experiences as an American in Denmark and what fun things she has experiences since moving to Denmark.
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