Getting to Know My New Hometown (Part 1)

It has now been a week since we moved to Denmark. We are still getting to know the town, people and area, but let´s recap of what I´ve gotten to know so far.

First, we moved to a small town. Not many people live here, so there isn´t much in the means of entertainment. I feel that I take my kids to one of two places almost daily. The first is the library. Here, my kids enjoy playing in the playroom or reading some of the kids´ books that they have in English. We particularly like the series about Tom and Alan, who have been taken prisoners by pirates! 🙂 I, on the other hand, mostly use this time to use the computer. We haven´t gotten internet at our place yet, and even if we did, I don´t have a computer to type my blog or check my email. It is best to do the typing at the library.

The other place we go is the local sports hall. They have a small play area there where the kids can play with Duplo Legos or with a large tumbling mat that is in the shape of a small playhouse. Again, I can use the WIFI, which helps me stay connected to people, again, since we don´t have the internet, but also because I don´t have a phone or a TV. I really am cut off from the world! 🙂 I have to say that it has done wonders for my stress levels. Though I´m very bored at times, I am very well-rested and not stressed!

I have to give a brief shout-out to the Genbrugshuset (second-hand store) for being one of my kids’ favorite “play places”. It sounds ridiculous, but the kids like playing with the toys in there while we shop. We have only been there twice, but apparently the toy section had made a lasting impression on my kids. Hilarious!

I have also checked out the local church the first Sunday we were here. I suggested to my husband that it might be best for me to go alone, since it might be too boring for the kids. We are used to taking them into the playroom at our church in the states. After the service, we all go as a family to have a donut, which is the highlight of my children’s weekend. 🙂 Our old church was great. They had so many family activities and they were really friendly. They really knew you! I hope to find something like that in Denmark, but I have to be realistic. The Danes aren´t into going to church. I spoke with a priest (Lutheran pastor) after the service, and she even seemed surprised that I went for no other reason than to go to church. Apparently, that Sunday was one of the days that the confirmation students had brought friends and family. I was a bit bummed to realize that the large group in the church wouldn´t be there every Sunday. I guess I can just keep trying to see what I find out. They took our phone number, so I hope to hear more exciting news about church stuff.

The other, not too glamorous, place I have seen in town is the grocery store. I should say stores, since there are four grocery stores within the same block. It is weird, but it makes shopping easy. Imagine, the days of driving around town to go to different grocery stores for different things is over. I can use the same parking lot for all four! Nuts!! I haven’t gotten a grasp of which is best for what, but we are keeping receipts to remember where we can buy what. I tend to buy lots of vegetarian or vegan items, which aren’t usually found everywhere, but I have been finding an easier time locating things. I still need more time to see if one of the four places is best for me, but that will come later.

The stores are:

Fakta (Similar to the American version of Aldi. We need to put a coin in the cart to use it in the store. They have limited food choices, produce, frozen foods and pantry items. They also have the center filled with miscellaneous items like toys, clothes and home items.)

Super Brugsen (I would consider this to be on the higher end. There are more fresh items like meat and breads. This is also a very large store compared to some of the others.)

Netto (Same as Fakta.)

Meny (Closer to what Super Brugsen is like, but they have a person who works the liquor section, who gives out samples. You can’t beat that!)

There is also Aldi, but it is small. However, it is a god-send. This is my go-to place for veggie meats and hummus. They even sell Trader Joe’s peanut butter. Though I don’t foresee myself buying all of my groceries there, it is definitely a place I plan to visit for these selected items. Aldi is also close to the other stores, which is funny. There is also a mini grocery store called Spar that I didn´t mention, since I probably won´t ever go there either. It isn’t in the town center, but instead, it is located on the southern part of town.

Other than these places, we have driven a few times to Viborg to do different things. Check out an upcoming post on Viborg to learn more! 🙂

At these different places, I have started talking to people, which has helped. I am no longer a stranger in my little town, but I am not quite a resident yet. I still feel like a visitor. Perhaps after a few more weeks, I´ll start to feel more like a resident! Time will tell.

Would you like to hear more about my thoughts on living in Denmark? You can find other posts HERE or you can stop by my YouTube channel where I have many videos on expat life. 

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