When I Was Young

From Voices

Today • Wednesday • June 25, 2008

Some aspects of a city cannot be appreciated unless you have lived there for a long time

Letter from CHIA CHENGZI

I REFER to “Stunning Copenhagen, or sunny S’pore?” (June 23). I am a Singaporean living in Copenhagen and have seen the faces of Copenhagen described.

However, it is not fair to make a comparison based on a few interviews and a week in Copenhagen. Although I have been living in Copenhagen for a few months, I do not feel I know the city enough to make a comparison. There are many aspects of a city that are not superficial and cannot be seen or felt unless you have lived there for a long time and really embraced the culture and history.

I completely agree that the Danish society is a very closed one. Many Danes spend a lot of time with their family and close friends. A foreigner might take this to mean that it is hard to break into Danish society but it also reflects the extent of its regard for family and upbringing which is essentially the base of Danish culture.

The crime rates are low, the education level high and the unemployment rates are very low — results of a very high value for family. This is something that is noteworthy.

Also, because of this regard for family, working in Denmark is very different. Work is intense during office hours, therefore most Danes work very hard, take very short lunch breaks (30 minutes at the maximum) and try to leave office as early as 4pm.

The working culture has evolved to a result-based environment with a “it does not matter how, where and when you do your work, as long as the work is completed to the best effort and is on time”.

Yes, you do not see mosques in Copenhagen or Chinese temples for that matter, but Denmark is not an immigrant country like Singapore.

Most Danes say they are descendants of the Vikings and they are very proud of their heritage and country.

A common scene at the arrival hall of the airport is that of families holding mini Danish flags as they welcome friends or relatives.

Yet, a very different feeling I get in Denmark — compared to other European countries — is that I do not get stared at on the streets of Copenhagen.

The Danes respect diversity and they also understand that for their country to compete globally, there is a need for foreigners.

Salaries are high and the quality of life is good, but a foreigner working here would need to give up the comfort and conveniences he or she would enjoy back home.

You cannot expect everywhere in the world to offer the same convenience, be it religious or otherwise.