In a few days, we’ll be leaving Denmark. I can’t help but feel like this place is a little bit magical. It’s the hygge. That contented, coziness that is everywhere. It’s not that these aren’t people rooted in reality. Cancer is dangerously prevalent here. Just as anywhere else, alcohol and drug use are apparent. There are homeless gypsies who live outside of the museums and public buildings. There is definitely hurt here.
But I’ve found that the Danes are a caring people who really do work to eradicate this kind of thing. Healthcare for all. A chance to be part of society as long as you contribute equally. I talked with someone who attended the vigil for the DIS students without even knowing their names beforehand. I talked with a man who met the man who brutally killed several people years ago. He said he had looked him in the eyes and could see that he had changed. This is a country that believes in “life sentences” of under 20 years. They believe that people can change.
People are on time but rarely in a hurry, and they are always glad to see you — ready with coffee and pastries. They are well-educated and direct, but it always seems like they do what they do for the greater good. After all, as Claus likes to remind us, SMEs are primarily value-driven. It is the Danish way. I’m leaving on a jet plane, and unlike Dean Straughan, I am not sure when I will be back in Denmark. It’s been a pleasure to call this wonderful country home for six weeks of my life, and I will forever treasure the memories and experiences that will always be tied to this place. Tak, Copenhagen. Farewell for now. Hopefully I’ll make it up this way again someday.