The difference.
I was out to lunch yesterday with the whole ICS group, because the head of our program decided to treat us to an "end of the semester" meal. In various conversations we discussed how our finals were going, where we've traveled, how we liked the time in Denmark, etc. A couple times I was asked a question that surprisingly struck me as tough to answer: What was the biggest difference from the U.S. in my experience with Denmark? Now, this question wasn't tough to answer in the sense that I couldn't think of anything different between the two nations. As a matter of fact, there is too much difference to remember. Rather, I had a hard time remembering the everyday characteristics of my home and life in the U.S. I've become so accustomed and comfortable with Danish ways that they have begun to replace my previous niche. This isn't to say I do not miss Ory-gun, but that I have placed some roots in the little city of Aalborg.
Despite how difficult I found the question, I did come up with a few responses. One major distinction I've noticed between the two is this: I have learned through my interactions with Danes and through my studies that they are taught independence at a much younger age than the typical American. Even in their equivalent to elementary school, the children often decide what it is they want to do for class. Nap time? Take a walk outside? Learn the alphabet? What shall we eat today? Older Danes I've talked to about this tell me they want to give their children space to decide what it is they want to learn about life and how they will learn it. The results I've noticed are adolescents living on their own at a younger age, having the choice to drink at a younger age, less rebellion and less parental influence on their children's chosen path.
I came to realize during my time here that there are socially constructed ideas about one's home culture that is truly taken for granted. Some things I just assumed would be the same in Denmark, like walking down the street for example. At home (Portland, Salem, most places I've been in the U.S.) people seem to be fairly aware of their surroundings and the paths of those around them. When you walk down the street and someone is walking towards you, one or the other moves. When you open a door to walk through, those on the other side wait their turn or for you to hold the door for them. In even better situations, someone will hold the door for you. In Denmark, I walk down the street and I am always the one to move and if not the other will barely move enough for me to squeeze by. I open a door and even if I am halfway through, someone on the other side will just push their way through as if they are oblivious. No one has held the door for me (something I really noticed when I went to Scotland and gentlemen were constantly letting me pass first) and people in grocery aisles will stand in the middle to think about what they want..leaving no room to pass. At first this custom was very frustrating and I felt like everyone was just rude. However, it's now obvious to me that just as our way of moving around people in the U.S. works for us, the Danish way works for them. I can't judge I suppose, but adapt and learn.
These are only a few examples of the difference in cultures, of course, but I'll leave it here for now.
After I used these answers to the question posed, I told the inquirers that I would be more able to answer once I returned home and began remembering the aspects of my life in the U.S....which I will be back to soon! Weird.
Ciao!