REINVENTING YOURSELF in Denmark - Part 1

Headline image composition by Sofia Malveira with the following pictures: (Blue Ocean, 2018) & ((DTCC)) & (Hergenrother, 2016)

Last month I caught myself reading this article about real-life changes at '40s. #Cristina Nobre Soares, could not say it better than she did. And what was left untold, I will try to reveal in the following two-part text with my own experience.

REINVENTING YOURSELF in Denmark - Part 1

When you state to your pears that you will change your life at 40's they will either fear for you or envy you. Moreover, they will be divided over considering you brave or stupid! 

"Why?" will be the question that you will hear the most. And you will find that there is not a specific reason, but a number of them that led you to that decision.

People who reinvent themselves are not dumb. Or stupid. They are just restless, in a good way.

They are the kind to be look at with a different mindset, as they give up their comfort to embrace uncertainty.

Some think they will change the world and others just want to feel (really) useful. Both of them, in my perspective, will eventually "change the world" and touch someone's daily life. Especially if you keep learning throughout life and keep willing to share knowledge with others. That was what I always tried to do in my home country, and afterward in Africa and that I hope to achieve here, in Denmark. 

Danes are a hard nut to crack. But a sweet one, when you can get through.

The majority will not go abroad long-term wise to work and live – although they love to travel – so it will be difficult for them to understand what you are doing here.

I must say, that I was not fully prepared for all the times that I've been asked to explain "Why" am I in Denmark. But because I am “truthful to my cause”, always end up explaining that I've admired the Scandinavia countries organization model all my life and that I respect their work-life balance above all things. For me, those two ingredients seemed enough to bake a great family recipe.

So, I am a dreamer! "But I am not the only one…" ?(Lennon, 1971)

With this been said, we planned ahead and moved as a family, with the idea of going back to studies, so that we could experience what type of knowledge are we dealing with nowadays in our academic fields. Simultaneously, going back to UNI would allow us to understand the local culture, labor market and people in general. And so, we step in Aalborg. And we never stopped until now. Not once!

Danish people have this huge and busy agenda. When work time ends, a whole new life begins! Either you are doing sports, or going out to meet someone, or doing volunteer work, or gathering in groups for activities. And Thursdays can be overwhelming! Mark my words: events will come to you, my friend! So, don't be alarm if someone tells you that they've already planned family vacations for the next couple of years or if you can only set dinner with a month in advance.

For newcomers, it's not only the ability of handling which events will you attend but also managing your new student life. That's the point where you'll find out that there's no such thing as a part-time master's degree! It's a full time one that will fall heavily on you if you are serious about it. On top of this and in my case, I was still relocating with my family: finding and learning my way in the city, through documentation, law, transports, shopping… and language.

Could you say 'r?dgr?d med fl?de'?

Dansk can be challenging! It feels like you are curling up your tongue inside the mouth and carry some small stones in it at the same time! And I'm not being detrimental. I am pretty sure that the other way around isn't easier. Most people will give up just by facing Portuguese grammar or verb tenses…

Unaware of language defiance, Sir Foster our Boston Terrier dog – that failed the semester by sleeping in most of the day – did not anticipate that on week 10, we would receive our little man, baby Diogo. And that's important to state as I did because at this point you should be proficient with the year-weekly calendar. Everything around here is thought in weeks, and if you are not used to, it could be a battle at the beginning.

So, with “birth week” 13 anticipated to the 10th, after moving abroad, while embracing a new life and culture, and still keep studying throughout all this, we had two insane semesters! 

I started my examinations few days after getting out of the hospital and sat almost every day with my newborn right beside me and my UNI project group.

Nevertheless, we survived and ended successfully, with the greatest joy of all – becoming parents. 

Furthermore, there is no harassment to work late, or closed faces every time you need to stay home with a sick child. Family is the foundation of life and children are motivated to be confident through socialization and self-awareness - the opposite of being measured by grades.

That’s what makes you feel that you are in the right place - a country for families ?.

Lessons learned I: "You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give.” (Wilson)

References

(DTCC), D.-T. C. (n.d.). About Us - Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce. About Us. Retrieved 10 14, 2019, from https://dancham.or.th/danish-thai-chamber-of-commerce/about-us/

Blue Ocean Strategy: Thesis and Antithesis in the Political-Economic Systems. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.apn.report/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Blue-ocean-strategy-1.jpg

Hergenrother, A. (2016, 10 21). Reinvent Yourself – Becoming Who You Need to be for the Next Step in Your Journey. HERG LIFE - Personal growth through business success. Retrieved from https://herglife.com/2016/10/21/reinvent-yourself-becoming-who-you-need-to-be-for-the-next-step-in-your-journey/

Lennon, J. (1971). Imagine. Imagine. Ascot Sound Studios & Record Plant Studios, Tittenhurst Park & New York, EUA.

Wilson, E. O. (n.d.). You are capable of more than you know... Retrieved 10 08, 2019