The Living Library
No less than 12 lovely 'living books' make up this year's Living Library - all ready to share their experiences and best advice on navigating and enjoying life in Aarhus! Meet them on September 14!
The concept of the Living Library is simple:
- Find the person you would like to talk to. A description of what you can talk to each 'living book' about can be found below or on the posters at the Living Library.
- Sit down, chat, and open yourself up to new inputs and perspectives.
The volunteers at the Living Library have called Aarhus home for a shorter or longer period.
Each has unique experiences, and you're very welcome to 'take out' all the 'living books' you'd like. Please note the timeslots indicating when each 'living book' is available.
10.15 - 12.30
Occupation: Jr. HR Change Management Consultant, Arla Foods
What brought me to Aarhus: My dream of living and working in a Scandinavian Country
You can talk to me about:
- Navigating the Integration Process: Tips on turning a new place into your home
- Housing Hunt: Finding a lovely house in Aarhus
- Choosing the schools and kindergartens
- Community Engagement: How to actively participate and support community development
- Building Connections: Effective networking strategies·
Occupation: Head of AI CoE at Vestas
What brought me to Aarhus: I came as a researcher to work at Aarhus University
You can talk to me about:
- Family life in Denmark: Kindergarten, school, renting/buying houses
- Navigating the job market in Denmark
- Danish language and integration
- Working in the public and private sector
Occupation: Customer advisor
What brought me to Aarhus: My partner got a position as a PhD student
You can talk to me about:
- Moving to a new country
- Making Denmark feel like home
- Job searching for internationals
- Job search struggles and not giving up
- CV, resumes, interviews, and workplace culture in Denmark
Occupation: Product Value Manager within offshore wind turbines
What brought me to Aarhus: Developing wind turbines brought me to Denmark - living in lively cities (Amsterdam, Hamburg, Mumbai) brought me to Aarhus.
You can talk to me about:
- "Closed people, dark winters". Learn to love Denmark and Aarhus
- Integration in your neighborhood
- Learning the language
- Small talk and friendships
- "The don'ts"
Occupation: Executive coach and Gestalt Psychotherapist
What brought me to Aarhus: We moved away from Hungary due to the political climate in 2022 and chose Denmark because of the society's core values. Our daughter also moved to Aarhus in 2020 to study at the university.
You can talk to me about:
- Relocation over 50
- Starting your own company
- Making Danish friends
- Joining sports clubs and racing
- Building network
- Volunteering in your profession
- Learning Danish
Occupation: Studying Cognitive Science and working as a student data analyst
What brought me to Aarhus: I came here for my BSc (full-time) in 2020 and stuck around ever since
You can talk to me about:
- Finding accommodation as a student
- Student life in Aarhus
- Finding student jobs
- Learning Danish
- The Danish culture (in my eyes) and why I love Denmark
- How to make friends
- How is it studying at Aarhus University
- Volunteering
- Studying Cognitive Science and its career opportunities
12.30 - 14.45
Occupation: Retired doctor - a specialist in internal medicine
What brought me to Aarhus: My wife is Danish
You can talk to me about:
- Healthcare services in Denmark
- Getting around
- Culture
- Exploring Denmark
- The Danes
- Politics
- The weather
- Music
- Volunteering
Occupation: Associate Professor at Aarhus BSS
What brought me to Aarhus: My husband started working at Aarhus BSS
You can talk to me about:
- Living in Denmark with children (from baby to teenager)
- Having a baby
- Vuggestue, kindergarten and school
- Working at the University
- Learning Danish
- The Danish Healthcare system
- Renting/buying a house in Denmark
- My favorite hobbies: Winterbathing and knitting
Occupation: L&D Coordinator at Vestas & a photographer
What brought me to Aarhus: My spouse's job
You can talk to me about:
- Job search
- Life in Aarhus
- Networking Avenues
Occupation: Researcher in Fish genomics at DTU
What brought me to Aarhus: I came to Aarhus as a part of my PhD at Aarhus University, and then I stayed
You can talk to me about:
- Life at the university (PhD)
- Working in Denmark as an academic
- Learning Danish
- Pregnancy and Birth
- Tourism around the country
Occupation: Data Scientist at The LEGO Group
What brought me to Aarhus: I came to Aarhus as an accompanying partner to my husband, who came to join Aarhus University as a postdoc
You can talk to me about:
- Living in Aarhus
- Job search in Aarhus
- Work culture in international companies in Denmark
Occupation: Software Developer
What brought me to Aarhus: My wife accepted a position at Aarhus University in August 2023
You can talk to me about:
- Placing a child in 'vuggestue' (we moved here when our daughter was 2 months old)
- Job searching
- Searching for a rental unit
- Buying a car in Denmark
- Paternity leave as an expat in Aarhus