My Experiences of Living in the US and Denmark

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

US: If you are a brown man like me, chances are you will be selected for "random screening” followed by an “interview.” If you are not careful, you might even get an unwanted colonoscopy.

Denmark: 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.

2. Banking

US: 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.

Denmark: 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

US: 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.

Denmark: 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

US: 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.

Denmark: 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

US: Individualism, fueled a relentless pursuit of self-interests, is a defining American value.

Denmark: 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 book A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks. It’s not a law but more of a social and cultural attitude that emphasizes collective well-being over individual accomplishments.

6. Government and Digitization

US: 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.

Denmark: Danish governmental agencies seem to be completely digitized. Everything is online, which makes things very convenient.

7. Healthcare

US: 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: Denmark has universal healthcare. As soon as you arrive in Denmark, you are required to report to the municipality office. They issue you a yellow-colored health card with the name of your primary care doctor. You can see your doctor at no charge.

8. Taxes

US: 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.

Denmark: 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

US: Religion is a big part of American life.

Denmark: 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

US: 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.

Denmark: 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

US: 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.

Denmark: 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

US: K-12 education is publicly funded, but you pay a lot of money to go to college.

Denmark: 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 also has private schools, which are also subsidized by the state.

13. Polyglotism

US: 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.

Denmark: 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

US: Most American architecture, especially in the cities, is like a block of steel and concrete. That’s it.

Denmark: 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 building that was built in 1504.

15. Work-Life Balance

US: 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.

Denmark: 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.