あすりーじょ

(国立理系大学→留学→就職→国際結婚→移住→大学入学)*トライアスロン

header

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.

 

 
 
He concluded that it is really hard to know implicit cultures.
 
 
 
 
But he added, you can ask questions in order to know them, but you shouldn't ask "Why"
 
 
“Why” sounds critical.
 
 
you should ask like; 
 
What are you doing?
When are you doing it?
What happens if…?
 
Those expressions might help to get to know their culture milder.
 
 
Values
 
This is the last and really important, core part of the culture.
 
According to him, the key Danish key values are
・Trust
・Egalitarianism
・Collectivism
・Rationality/pragmatism
・Freedom
 
 
There were some values that can be shared with Japan, but also there were "some" which is completely different from Japan.
 
 
The biggest difference culture shock for me was how equal people are!
 
 
They never call their boss with titles like "Ms" "Dr"
 
 
People call by their first name each other.
 
 
Not only names, but they are also looked really equally when they are talking with whoever.
 
 
Danes don't think that they should change their attitude to people on sex, rank, nor other occasions. 
 
 
At first, this value surprised me pretty much, but now I understand how important this value is in Denmark as they discuss a lot until they agree and make a group decision.
 
 
 
Interestingly, Denmark scored "gelotophobia"  the lowest in the world, which means they won't fear to be laughed at.
 
 
This can be explained by the value of Egalitarianism. That they all know that people are equal. So they say black jokes, they are less sensitive to race, religion, gender.
 
 
 
Now it really made sense to me why the discussion happened in the middle of the party about race.
 
 It was a great chance to know Danish culture in a well-structured presentation.
 
 
 
There might be something that you cannot understand only from culture, but I think all of the facts from the country can be explained by culture.
 
 
 
I really like to know pieces of cultures and make sense to me how they are related to one fact.
 
 

 

 I hope you enjoyed my first blog in English.