I lived in the US 🇺🇸 for several years and now I live in Denmark 🇩🇰
Here's a comparison of the two countries (based on my experiences):
1. Entering the country
🇺🇸 If you are a brown man like me, chances are you will be selected for "random screening.”
Here's a comparison of the two countries (based on my experiences):
1. Entering the country
🇺🇸 If you are a brown man like me, chances are you will be selected for "random screening.”
It may be followed by an "interview." And if you are not careful, you might even get an unwanted colonoscopy 😂
🇩🇰No random screening when entering the country.
The last time I entered Denmark, here’s how the conversation went at passport control:
Immigration officer: Hi
Me: Hi (presents passport and residence card)
Immigration officer: (stamps passport) Here you go.
Me: Thanks.
That's it. Took less than a minute.
🇩🇰No random screening when entering the country.
The last time I entered Denmark, here’s how the conversation went at passport control:
Immigration officer: Hi
Me: Hi (presents passport and residence card)
Immigration officer: (stamps passport) Here you go.
Me: Thanks.
That's it. Took less than a minute.
2. Banking
🇺🇸 If you want to open a bank account, you’ll need your social security number, address, (and passport).
You can get your account up and running the same day.
🇩🇰It took my Danish bank two whole months to process my application for opening a bank account. Two months!
If you are moving to Denmark for study or work, please keep this in mind.
🇺🇸 If you want to open a bank account, you’ll need your social security number, address, (and passport).
You can get your account up and running the same day.
🇩🇰It took my Danish bank two whole months to process my application for opening a bank account. Two months!
If you are moving to Denmark for study or work, please keep this in mind.
3. Language
🇺🇸When we moved to the US, my family and I already knew English (thanks to the 200 years of British colonialism).
If you know English before moving to the US, you won’t have any problems communicating.
🇩🇰Although most Danes speak English fluently, moving to Denmark without any knowledge of Danish can make things challenging for you.
All documentation (leasing docs, bank docs, official emails) is in Danish.
🇺🇸When we moved to the US, my family and I already knew English (thanks to the 200 years of British colonialism).
If you know English before moving to the US, you won’t have any problems communicating.
🇩🇰Although most Danes speak English fluently, moving to Denmark without any knowledge of Danish can make things challenging for you.
All documentation (leasing docs, bank docs, official emails) is in Danish.
4. Trust in Politicians
🇺🇸Most Americans don’t trust politicians, even politicians of the party they support. It appears as if most Americans don’t have a lot of faith in the political process itself.
This could be because most Americans don’t trust themselves that they will do the right thing if they come into power.
🇩🇰Most Danes trust their politicians and the political process.
(This was a cultural shock for me. Whenever I meet a Dane, I always ask them this question. Most of them say yes.)
Probably, because most Danes trust themselves that they will do the right thing if they come into power.
🇺🇸Most Americans don’t trust politicians, even politicians of the party they support. It appears as if most Americans don’t have a lot of faith in the political process itself.
This could be because most Americans don’t trust themselves that they will do the right thing if they come into power.
🇩🇰Most Danes trust their politicians and the political process.
(This was a cultural shock for me. Whenever I meet a Dane, I always ask them this question. Most of them say yes.)
Probably, because most Danes trust themselves that they will do the right thing if they come into power.
5. Individualism
🇺🇸Individualism, fueled a relentless pursuit of self-interests, is a defining American value. This is what makes America America.
🇩🇰One of the defining values of Danish and other Scandinavian societies is encapsulated by The Law of Jante, a term first used in the Danish-Norwegian novelist, Askel Sandemose’s 1933 novel A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks.
It’s not a law per se, but more of a social and cultural attitude that emphasizes collective well-being over individual accomplishments.
🇺🇸Individualism, fueled a relentless pursuit of self-interests, is a defining American value. This is what makes America America.
🇩🇰One of the defining values of Danish and other Scandinavian societies is encapsulated by The Law of Jante, a term first used in the Danish-Norwegian novelist, Askel Sandemose’s 1933 novel A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks.
It’s not a law per se, but more of a social and cultural attitude that emphasizes collective well-being over individual accomplishments.
6. Government and Digitization
🇺🇸Despite being the center of technological innovation, the US government agencies have not been digitized enough.
For example, the US social security card is still a piece of paper that feels like you are living in the early 20th century.
🇩🇰Danish governmental agencies seem to be completely digitized. Everything is online, which makes things very convenient.
🇺🇸Despite being the center of technological innovation, the US government agencies have not been digitized enough.
For example, the US social security card is still a piece of paper that feels like you are living in the early 20th century.
🇩🇰Danish governmental agencies seem to be completely digitized. Everything is online, which makes things very convenient.
7. Healthcare
🇺🇸You (of your employers) have to pay for health insurance. The US is probably the only country in the first world that does not have universal healthcare.
🇩🇰Denmark has universal healthcare. As soon as you arrive in Denmark, you are required to report to the municipality office.
They give you a yellow-colored health card with the name of your primary care doctor. You can see your doctor at no charge.
🇺🇸You (of your employers) have to pay for health insurance. The US is probably the only country in the first world that does not have universal healthcare.
🇩🇰Denmark has universal healthcare. As soon as you arrive in Denmark, you are required to report to the municipality office.
They give you a yellow-colored health card with the name of your primary care doctor. You can see your doctor at no charge.
8. Taxes
🇺🇸Most Americans don’t really like the idea of paying taxes. They think the government misuses their tax dollars.
There is a kind of cognitive dissonance in this American worldview. They want to have civic amenities like roads and sanitation, but without having to pay taxes.
🇩🇰Even though Denmark has a very high tax rate, most Danes pay their taxes dutifully. When I ask my Danish colleagues, they say they are proud to pay their taxes.
Danes are very pragmatic in this regard. They want to have top-quality civic amenities, and they pay their taxes to get them.
🇺🇸Most Americans don’t really like the idea of paying taxes. They think the government misuses their tax dollars.
There is a kind of cognitive dissonance in this American worldview. They want to have civic amenities like roads and sanitation, but without having to pay taxes.
🇩🇰Even though Denmark has a very high tax rate, most Danes pay their taxes dutifully. When I ask my Danish colleagues, they say they are proud to pay their taxes.
Danes are very pragmatic in this regard. They want to have top-quality civic amenities, and they pay their taxes to get them.
9. Religion
🇺🇸Religion is a big part of American life.
🇩🇰Danes don’t care much about religion. They celebrate Christian holidays but that’s where their engagement with religion ends.
Danes have more faith in their fellow human beings than in a deity.
🇺🇸Religion is a big part of American life.
🇩🇰Danes don’t care much about religion. They celebrate Christian holidays but that’s where their engagement with religion ends.
Danes have more faith in their fellow human beings than in a deity.
10. Homelessness
🇺🇸You can find homeless people in almost every major city in the US. Given the kind of resources the US has, homelessness should be a solvable problem.
This is the flip side of American individualism, which guarantees the pursuit of happiness on the one hand and on the other treats structural problems like homelessness as an individual choice.
🇩🇰You will rarely find a homeless person in Denmark. Danish society works very hard to ensure no citizen is left on the streets.
This is one of the benefits of the Law of Jante that emphasizes collective wellbeing.
🇺🇸You can find homeless people in almost every major city in the US. Given the kind of resources the US has, homelessness should be a solvable problem.
This is the flip side of American individualism, which guarantees the pursuit of happiness on the one hand and on the other treats structural problems like homelessness as an individual choice.
🇩🇰You will rarely find a homeless person in Denmark. Danish society works very hard to ensure no citizen is left on the streets.
This is one of the benefits of the Law of Jante that emphasizes collective wellbeing.
11. Social Hierarchy
🇺🇸Even though it’s a democratic country, you can find strong social and organizational hierarchies in the US.
You make a certain amount of money, you drive a certain car, you live in a certain neighborhood. You follow the chain of command in your workplace.
🇩🇰Even though Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, it has a pretty much flat social structure.
If you are rich, you pay a lot of taxes and don’t show off your wealth.
🇺🇸Even though it’s a democratic country, you can find strong social and organizational hierarchies in the US.
You make a certain amount of money, you drive a certain car, you live in a certain neighborhood. You follow the chain of command in your workplace.
🇩🇰Even though Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, it has a pretty much flat social structure.
If you are rich, you pay a lot of taxes and don’t show off your wealth.
12. Free Education
🇺🇸K-12 education is publicly funded, but you pay a lot of money to go to college.
🇩🇰All education is publicly funded. Undergraduate students are even paid a small stipend to go to school. PhD students are considered employees like postdocs and professors.
Denmark has private schools too, which are also subsidized by the state.
🇺🇸K-12 education is publicly funded, but you pay a lot of money to go to college.
🇩🇰All education is publicly funded. Undergraduate students are even paid a small stipend to go to school. PhD students are considered employees like postdocs and professors.
Denmark has private schools too, which are also subsidized by the state.
13. Polyglotism
🇺🇸Except for immigrants (and even then, mainly first generation), most Americans know only one language, English.
In some parts of the US, speaking a language like Spanish is looked down upon.
🇩🇰Most Danes are fluent in multiple languages: English, French, German, Spanish. Until a few years ago, they used to learn German in school. Now they learn English.
In Denmark, if you are able to speak Spanish, you are considered cool because Spain is the most popular holiday destination for Danes.
🇺🇸Except for immigrants (and even then, mainly first generation), most Americans know only one language, English.
In some parts of the US, speaking a language like Spanish is looked down upon.
🇩🇰Most Danes are fluent in multiple languages: English, French, German, Spanish. Until a few years ago, they used to learn German in school. Now they learn English.
In Denmark, if you are able to speak Spanish, you are considered cool because Spain is the most popular holiday destination for Danes.
14. Architecture
🇺🇸Most American architecture, especially in the cities, is like a block of steel and concrete. That’s it.
🇩🇰Danes have gone to extraordinary lengths to preserve their architectural traditions.
You can find cobblestone streets dating back centuries. My office is housed in a preserved building that was built in 1504.
🇺🇸Most American architecture, especially in the cities, is like a block of steel and concrete. That’s it.
🇩🇰Danes have gone to extraordinary lengths to preserve their architectural traditions.
You can find cobblestone streets dating back centuries. My office is housed in a preserved building that was built in 1504.
15. Work-Life Balance
🇺🇸American capitalism reveres overworking. Work is the single most important aspect that makes an American’s life meaningful, more than family, friends, or religion.
If you ask an American about themselves, they will start by telling you about their work. The American self cannot exist without work.
🇩🇰Most Danes don’t think about work outside their working hours. You are even unlikely to receive any emails outside working hours.
And almost all of Denmark takes a few weeks off in July to enjoy the summer.
🇺🇸American capitalism reveres overworking. Work is the single most important aspect that makes an American’s life meaningful, more than family, friends, or religion.
If you ask an American about themselves, they will start by telling you about their work. The American self cannot exist without work.
🇩🇰Most Danes don’t think about work outside their working hours. You are even unlikely to receive any emails outside working hours.
And almost all of Denmark takes a few weeks off in July to enjoy the summer.
Which countries have you lived in and what are some of your experiences?
16. Public Transport
🇺🇸The US was built for cars. I love driving in the US. You need to have a car if you want to go from point A to B.
You can understand the centrality of driving in American culture and the most common form of identification is one’s driver’s license.
Public transport doesn’t seem like an American priority. Probably it has something to do with American individualism.
🇩🇰Danes take their public transport very seriously. My language trainer told me she’d only vote for the candidate the promises more trains and better trains.
Denmark has great intercity trains equipped with free Wi-Fi and decently clean restrooms. Danish trains are quite punctual although not as punctual as Swiss trains.
Within cities, there are trams and metros that easily accessible.
🇺🇸The US was built for cars. I love driving in the US. You need to have a car if you want to go from point A to B.
You can understand the centrality of driving in American culture and the most common form of identification is one’s driver’s license.
Public transport doesn’t seem like an American priority. Probably it has something to do with American individualism.
🇩🇰Danes take their public transport very seriously. My language trainer told me she’d only vote for the candidate the promises more trains and better trains.
Denmark has great intercity trains equipped with free Wi-Fi and decently clean restrooms. Danish trains are quite punctual although not as punctual as Swiss trains.
Within cities, there are trams and metros that easily accessible.
17. Weather
🇺🇸The US weather is quite predictable. It doesn’t change much during the day.
🇩🇰Danish weather is quite strange. The temperature ranges from 0 Celsius (32 F) in winters to 30 Celsius (90 F) in summers.
But on a given day, you can have a bright sunny morning followed by a downpour followed by a windy evening. That’s why most people dress in layers even in the middle of summers.
Also, if you are stepping out, just assume it’s going to rain because it will.
🇺🇸The US weather is quite predictable. It doesn’t change much during the day.
🇩🇰Danish weather is quite strange. The temperature ranges from 0 Celsius (32 F) in winters to 30 Celsius (90 F) in summers.
But on a given day, you can have a bright sunny morning followed by a downpour followed by a windy evening. That’s why most people dress in layers even in the middle of summers.
Also, if you are stepping out, just assume it’s going to rain because it will.
18. Rooms in Apartments
🇺🇸In the US a 3-bedroom apartment usually means 3 bedrooms along with a living room. Even if an apartment doesn't have a living room, apartments are advertised in terms of bedrooms.
I am not sure if there are any federal laws governing the amount of deposit one needs to put down to move in a rented apartment.
🇩🇰In Denmark, apartments are advertised in terms of rooms. So, if you get a 3 room apartment, you will get 2 bedrooms and a living room because living room is also considered a room here.
Denmark has a rental act that allows landlords to ask for 3 months of rent as move-in money.
🇺🇸In the US a 3-bedroom apartment usually means 3 bedrooms along with a living room. Even if an apartment doesn't have a living room, apartments are advertised in terms of bedrooms.
I am not sure if there are any federal laws governing the amount of deposit one needs to put down to move in a rented apartment.
🇩🇰In Denmark, apartments are advertised in terms of rooms. So, if you get a 3 room apartment, you will get 2 bedrooms and a living room because living room is also considered a room here.
Denmark has a rental act that allows landlords to ask for 3 months of rent as move-in money.
19. Uber, Lyft
🇺🇸 You can use ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft in the US.
🇩🇰 Danish national taxi laws forced Uber out in 2017. There are no ride-hailing services, although you there are many app-based taxi services.
🇺🇸 You can use ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft in the US.
🇩🇰 Danish national taxi laws forced Uber out in 2017. There are no ride-hailing services, although you there are many app-based taxi services.
20. Cost of Dental Treatment
🇺🇸Dental treatment in the US costs a lot of money. When we were in the US, I asked an orthodontist how much dental braces treatment for my son would cost. He quoted $10,000.
A good job in the US is often considered the one that comes with a dental insurance plan.
🇩🇰The state takes care of your dental treatment up to 21 years of age. If you need dental braces, you can (theoretically) get them for free.
The only problem is the waitlist are so long that you may to wait for 1-2 years.
Interestingly, private dental treatment in Denmark is still more affordable than the US. For example, the same braces would cost $7,000 in Denmark.
🇺🇸Dental treatment in the US costs a lot of money. When we were in the US, I asked an orthodontist how much dental braces treatment for my son would cost. He quoted $10,000.
A good job in the US is often considered the one that comes with a dental insurance plan.
🇩🇰The state takes care of your dental treatment up to 21 years of age. If you need dental braces, you can (theoretically) get them for free.
The only problem is the waitlist are so long that you may to wait for 1-2 years.
Interestingly, private dental treatment in Denmark is still more affordable than the US. For example, the same braces would cost $7,000 in Denmark.
21. Small Talk with Strangers
🇺🇸Most Americans are big on small talk with strangers. Small talk plays a central role in almost all social and transactional interactions in the US.
On some occasions, getting down to business without prefacing it with small talk may even seem rude or impolite. Also, most Americans are likely to start a conversation upon meeting a stranger.
A couple months ago I went to a car rental in upstate New York. The wonderful sales associate there started telling me, a total stranger, her plans to go to graduate school. I played along and gave her tips on writing a statement of purpose.
🇩🇰Most Danes don't do small talk. If you meet a Dane on a bus or a plane, the chances that they will start a conversation with you are minimal.
It’s not that they don’t like talking to strangers, it’s just that small talk with strangers is not a thing in Denmark.
That said, if you start a conversation, Danes are much more likely to talk to you. In business and transactional interactions, Danes get to the point straightaway.
This may come as a cultural shock if you are not familiar with this aspect of Danish culture.
🇺🇸Most Americans are big on small talk with strangers. Small talk plays a central role in almost all social and transactional interactions in the US.
On some occasions, getting down to business without prefacing it with small talk may even seem rude or impolite. Also, most Americans are likely to start a conversation upon meeting a stranger.
A couple months ago I went to a car rental in upstate New York. The wonderful sales associate there started telling me, a total stranger, her plans to go to graduate school. I played along and gave her tips on writing a statement of purpose.
🇩🇰Most Danes don't do small talk. If you meet a Dane on a bus or a plane, the chances that they will start a conversation with you are minimal.
It’s not that they don’t like talking to strangers, it’s just that small talk with strangers is not a thing in Denmark.
That said, if you start a conversation, Danes are much more likely to talk to you. In business and transactional interactions, Danes get to the point straightaway.
This may come as a cultural shock if you are not familiar with this aspect of Danish culture.
22. No “Please” in Danish
🇺🇸Not just Americans but most English speakers, in general, use the word please a lot in their everyday conversations.
Could you please do this? Please help me with that. Etc. It’s considered a mark of politeness.
🇩🇰This may come as a surprise to some, but there is no word for “please” Danish language.
If you go to a coffee shop and say “En kop kaffe” (A cup of coffee), it would be considered a polite request even without “please.”
If you want to appear more polite than this, you can the word “Tak” (thanks) at the end of your request, “en kop kaffe, tak” (A cup of coffee, thanks).
🇺🇸Not just Americans but most English speakers, in general, use the word please a lot in their everyday conversations.
Could you please do this? Please help me with that. Etc. It’s considered a mark of politeness.
🇩🇰This may come as a surprise to some, but there is no word for “please” Danish language.
If you go to a coffee shop and say “En kop kaffe” (A cup of coffee), it would be considered a polite request even without “please.”
If you want to appear more polite than this, you can the word “Tak” (thanks) at the end of your request, “en kop kaffe, tak” (A cup of coffee, thanks).
Since a lot of people found this thread interesting, I have built a custom GPT based on it.
You can chat with it and it answer your questions based on the content of this thread.
chatgpt.com/g/g-HZoLhV1Kv-…
You can chat with it and it answer your questions based on the content of this thread.
chatgpt.com/g/g-HZoLhV1Kv-…
23. Sense of Inclusion
🇺🇸As an immigrant, it's easier to feel a sense of inclusion in the US. Most people will assume you are an American unless you tell them otherwise.
You live there long enough, you can become an American, or at least a hyphenated American (Asian-American, Indian American, etc.).
🇩🇰It's very challenging to feel a sense of inclusion in Denmark as an immigrant, especially if you come from a non-Western part of the world. The biggest factor in this regard is the language.
As soon as you start speaking English, you will be considered an outsider. But if you speak Danish fluently, things get a little easier.
🇺🇸As an immigrant, it's easier to feel a sense of inclusion in the US. Most people will assume you are an American unless you tell them otherwise.
You live there long enough, you can become an American, or at least a hyphenated American (Asian-American, Indian American, etc.).
🇩🇰It's very challenging to feel a sense of inclusion in Denmark as an immigrant, especially if you come from a non-Western part of the world. The biggest factor in this regard is the language.
As soon as you start speaking English, you will be considered an outsider. But if you speak Danish fluently, things get a little easier.
24. Pronunciation of Foreign Names
🇺🇸If you have a foreign (or non-Western) name, especially one with multiple syllables, some people in the US may say to your face (condescendingly) that your name is difficult to pronounce, or things like what kind of name is that.
Many immigrants from China and East Asia adopt an American name to fit in.
🇩🇰Danes struggle with foreign (non-Western) names too, but nobody has mispronounced my name here yet. No one here has told me that my name is difficult to pronounce.
🇺🇸If you have a foreign (or non-Western) name, especially one with multiple syllables, some people in the US may say to your face (condescendingly) that your name is difficult to pronounce, or things like what kind of name is that.
Many immigrants from China and East Asia adopt an American name to fit in.
🇩🇰Danes struggle with foreign (non-Western) names too, but nobody has mispronounced my name here yet. No one here has told me that my name is difficult to pronounce.
25. Public Restrooms (Gender Neutral)
🇺🇸Most public restrooms in the US are gender segregated. The most bizarre thing about US restrooms is the huge gap between stalls.
One explanation could be it discourages inappropriate behavior. And the gap makes it difficult for criminals to hide from the police.
🇩🇰Most public restrooms in Denmark are gender neutral. The stall doors shut completely with no gap. In some places, you will even find a water faucet/sink within the stall.
🇺🇸Most public restrooms in the US are gender segregated. The most bizarre thing about US restrooms is the huge gap between stalls.
One explanation could be it discourages inappropriate behavior. And the gap makes it difficult for criminals to hide from the police.
🇩🇰Most public restrooms in Denmark are gender neutral. The stall doors shut completely with no gap. In some places, you will even find a water faucet/sink within the stall.
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