Danish Culture Lecture
I decided when I write about something opinion which I have, I will write in English.
It is because I want to have more opportunities to express in English especially complicated topic or opinion about myself.
Let me start the first English blog with Danish culture.
I had an opportunity to visit Microsoft main office in Denmark.
There was a talk event called "Inspirational talk: Living in the Danish tribe" by Dennis Nørmark who is a Danish anthropologist, author, lecturer, and commentator.
I happened to find the talk event via Facebook, and I thought it would be a good chance to visit the office and join the event.
I haven't attended any of Facebook events by myself, so I was a little bit nervous.
However, the big cool office warmly welcomed me with coffee and danish cake(of course).
The talk was about 90 mins, but the time went so fast by his interesting speech.
He explained Danish culture in layers as onions have.
Objects and expressions
This is one perspective of culture where you can look it from outside.
He gave me an example of the Danish flag.
People in Denmark often use flags for everything.
They use them for supermarkets' advertisement posters or decorations for a birthday cake and so on and on. If you visit Denmark, you would easily notice.
In Japan, you only see flags when you are born in a traditional family who put flag when it is a national holiday (Unfortunately, not in my family) or in Olympic.
We won't sell milk with flags in Japan.
Norms
Many cultural characteristics of Danes were given.
It was really interesting for me that some examples he gave us as "wired culture examples" actually fit Japanese culture. I was almost nodding.
The one which really I agree with Danish culture was greetings.
In Denmark, people won’t ask “How are you?”
They don't greet like that in Denmark.
He said, "If you ask Danes, Danes might be serious about it, then they might start to explain about their condition, seriously. (smile)"
Some countries have the culture asking people "How are you" as a greeting.
I know it doesn't mean to ask how do you do, I just can say "Good", but honestly, I don't really be used to it.
Danes are really good at English, but they rarely ask me "How are you?".
I haven't noticed this until I heard the norm from him.
I hope you enjoyed my first blog in English.