I’ve never claimed to be graceful, but it seems that Copenhagen has amplified that issue. Cobblestone streets, uneven bike lanes, steps up and down and of irregular size, all tripping hazards aimed at bringing me to my knees. Being in a new place seems to put you on uneven footing, making navigation and even walking a challenge. Luckily, Copenhagen seems to move a bit slower and I definitely feel more relaxed than I anticipated.
Copenhagen seems to move just a little bit slower, especially for a major metropolitan city. My first experience in Europe was this February, in the city of Paris. I was surprised how much slower the pace of the city was, but the crowds and the noise were prolific. Foreign tourists filled the city, creating a cacophony of sounds and cameras flashing, and crowds galore. I was told this was Paris’ least busy time of the year but I often found it hard to move through the crowds in my arrondissement. Copenhagen, on the other hand, has been quiet, peaceful, and very orderly, if not predictable. The Danes definitely make more of an effort to keep quiet in public spaces, as the roar of our group appears to have been disruptive on multiple occasions. Everyone seems to move slower here too, either planning their time more effectively or simply not feeling the need to rush. I seemed to be outpacing most of the locals, but I am always feeling the need to rush. Rushing around is typical for the American cities I am accustomed to, and more of what I expected for the major city. Where there does seem to be rushing is the bike lane, with individuals whirring around in a methodical yet death-defying manner. Being entirely incompetent on a bicycle, it’s terrifying but everyone I have seen has been laser focused on the road ahead of them and given the quantity of bikes I have seen, have yet to witness an accident. This is where the order seems to come into play, where everyone seems to follow the rules and ensure the city is running like Swiss clockwork. Everyone seems orderly in their walk and their composition, and the tourists and visitors are easily identifiable by the natives. Uniformity among the natives seems to be key and one can quickly tell a Dane from the foreigners. Many of the foreigners are a mixed bunch, lacking primarily the uniform of dark, solid colored clothing. American cities are so much about individuality and dressing a way that represents yourself, versus a dark uniform which is so popular in European cities. European cities are certainly different than what I expected, but having only experienced two, I have a lot to learn.
Copenhagen surprises have been plentiful yet my first few days have felt comfortable and relaxing. As work begins and we are baptized by fire, I am sure I will have plenty more discoveries about what this Scandinavian paradise has to offer. Although, as much as I hope I will acclimate, I was told that foreigners are never fully acclimated to Danish culture. I will be sure to report back.
Danish and American cultural norms are not too different . . . Or at least not as different as those of many other developed economies. There are, however, some diffences that have been observed in a number of cultural studies that measure national-level cultural norms.
While both American and Danish cultures tend to be monochronic (focused on one thing at a time, prone to a rigid schedule, view time as a commodity to be saved/spent/controlled), Danes tend to take a more long-term orientation. Stated differently, Americans are more monochronic than their Danish counterparts. This might account for the sense that Denmark is a bit more “relaxed” than the US.
Among the greatest cultural differences between the two countries is what cultural theorist Geert Hofstede labeled cultural “masculinity.” This is a culture’s views on those traits often associated with more male-oriented views (e.g., competitiveness, assertiveness, materialism) vs. female-oriented (e.g., cooperativeness, nurturance, consensus). In fact, Scandinavian countries, in general, are among the lowest on Hofstede’s masculinity dimension. This might also add to the sense of a more relaxed pace, as Dane’s are far less likely to view life as a series of zero-sum outcomes. For more on Hofstede’s views on culture and a sense of Danish vs. US culture, see https://geert-hofstede.com/cultural-dimensions.html