- I chose Denmark, not England

They often come here, Christian Henne from Germany, Bruna Afonso from Portugal and Evelina Boiko from Lithuania, who all study the Master programme Development and International Relations at Aalborg University along with more than 2500 other International Students.

- The Student House is the only place, where you are adressed in english. In all of the other restaurants and bars they start to speak danish and you have to ask them to switch to english, Bruna says.

Like her classmates she came to Aalborg largely because of Scandinavia’s good reputation in terms of education, and the three students are alle having a good time. But how are you greeted by the Danes, when you are a foreigner in Aalborg? How about the social life and danish friends? How about information about the City? And how about the Language?

Bruna appreciates the fact that most danes speak english at a high level. She, Christian and Evelina all agree that you have no problem handling life in Danmark without knowing how to read or speak danish.

Christian, however, has a different view on language than Bruna. He is not unconditionally happy with the fact that Danes immediately switch to english when they find out that the person, they are speaking to, is not fluent in Danish.

- In nine months I have only met one person who didn’t know how to speak english. That is a problem if you want to learn danish, he says.

He tries to speak a little danish with his danish friends and like Evelina he takes danish lessons. Partly out of respect for the Danes and partly because they both can imagine to stay in Denmark after they have finished their education.

- I chose DenmarkBruna on the other hand has quitted her danish lessons. She finds it difficult to find time and energy in a busy everyday life.

- You really have to make an effort if you want to improve your danish skills, she says.

She does not expect to stay in Denmark when she graduate but even if she did, it would not encourage her to learn danish, she thinks.

Christian, Bruna and Evelina all thinks that they got a good amount of information from the University about Aalborg, when they arrived. They were also taken on tours around the city.

Bruna, however, misses more information in english about what is going on in Aalborg, including local news. Cultural events for example you have to hear off from friends, she says.

Bruna arrived last year during the annual week in which Aalborg dresses in red under the name Aalborg in Red.

- But there was no explanation in english, so we just thought: what is going on here? If you want to attract people from alle over the world, you could do more in terms of information in english.

The three students takes a look the wall, which are filled with posters and notes with informations of different events. Most of them are written in danish, a few in english. One of the notes is written by an International Student, who is looking for a Dane to teach her the native language.

Christian again disagrees with his portuguese friend. The ”Danish” is a big part of why he is here.

- I chose to go to Denmark, not England. The cultural heritage is important, and language is a part of that, he says.

He thinks that you may miss something, if you cannot read or speak danish, but then again it is nothing compared to Italy, where he formerly lived.

Few danish friends

Neither Christian, Bruna or Evelina had any problems meeting other people, when they arrived in Aalborg. But even though it is easy to communicate with the locals, it is generally easier to socialize with other international students than with Danes, the three says. They have all made more international friends than danish.

- It is not easy to get in contact with Danes. Denmark is not Mexico, where you are invited to dinner right away, Evelina says.

Bruna continues:

- They need to trust you, before they invite you.

According to Christian, who have met several Danes through his football club, the Danes already have their friends, whereas the international students come with a wish of making new friends.

The lack of contact is not, however, entirely the Danes’ fault, as the international students also tend to seek their own, he continues.

He, Bruna and Evelina agrees that once you get in contact with a Dane, it often leads to a close friendship. According to Christian it is easier to get in contact with Danes who have been abroad themselves. But generally the Danes are not introverted, but focuses more on a few and close relations, Christian thinks.

- As soon as you see Danes on a steady basis, it is fine, he says.