The Living Library
No less than 14 lovely 'living books' make up this year's Living Library - all of them ready to share their experiences and best advice on how to navigate and enjoy life in Aarhus!
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, have a chat, a piece of chocolate, and new input
The volunteers at the Living Library have called Aarhus home for a shorter or longer period of time.
Each of them has their 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.
Occupation: Executive Assistant at New Power Partners
What brought me to Aarhus: My dream of living and working in a Scandinavian country
You can talk to me about:
- The adaptation process and culture clash
- Finding a house to call home
- How to make Danish friends
- Being a 'Headstart Ambassador'
- The benefits of being a volunteer
- Being part of the district community - such as the Family club
- Job search and adapting to Danish work culture
- Being an accompanying partner and international parent
- Choosing a school and kindergarten
- Learning Danish /language school
Occupation: Product Lead for EnVentus at Vestas
What brought me to Aarhus: Worked for Vestas in India, and was offered a position at Vestas in Aarhus
You can talk to me about:
- First impressions of Denmark
- How I felt when I moved here permanently
- How to adapt to changes
- How to be content and happy in Denmark
- Making Denmark home away from home
Occupation: Teacher/Researcher at Aarhus University
What brought me to Aarhus: Came to do my master’s degree and stayed to do my PhD.
You can talk to me about:
- Moving to the city and settling in
- University life
- Being an international PhD fellow
- Making Danish friends
- The benefits of joining a sports club, or other activities
- Coming to Denmark with your spouse
- Being an international couple in Denmark
- Danish culture and traditions
- What to see and do in Denmark
Occupation: Assistant Professor in Art History, Aarhus University
What brought me to Aarhus: The job at Aarhus University
You can talk to me about:
- First impressions of Denmark
- Job interviews and workplace culture in Denmark
- Education in Denmark
- Culture clashes
- Learning Danish
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: Customer Experience Consultant at Visma Plandisc
What brought me to Aarhus: I joined my partner after a 4-year long-distance relationship
You can talk to me about:
- Learning Danish
- Adapting to Danish work culture
- Finding a job in Aarhus while still living abroad
- Hiking in the greater Aarhus region
- Highs and lows of making new friends and feeling at home in Aarhus
Occupation: Sr. Efficacy & Learning Researcher at LEGO Education
What brought me to Aarhus: Postdoc position, Center for Computational Thinking & Design, Aarhus University
You can talk to me about:
- Living and working in Aarhus without your partner
- Moving from a temporary academic position to a permanent job in the industry
- Outdoor activities in the greater Aarhus region, e.g. hiking, kayaking, and gravel biking
- Highs and lows of making new friends and feeling at home in Aarhus
Occupation: Retired doctor - a specialist in internal medicine
What brought me to Aarhus: My wife is Danish
You can talk to me about:
- Health Services in Denmark
- Getting around
- Culture
- Exploring Denmark
- The Danes
- Politics
- 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
- Day nursery (vuggestue), kindergarten (børnehave), and school
- Working at the university
- Learning Danish
- The Danish healthcare system
- Renting/buying a house in Denmark
Occupation: Technical Project Manager at Cryos
What brought me to Aarhus: Husband (also British) got a job out here as a Gas Trader
You can talk to me about:
- How to make Danish friends – especially as a dog owner!
- Being an accompanying partner
- Being an international parent, giving birth in Denmark, and childcare
- How to navigate as an expat (SIRI, borger.dk, e-boks, MitID, rejsekort, etc.)
- Learning Danish
- Job hunting (especially in Tech/IT)
Occupation: Looking for a position in pedagogy
What brought me to Aarhus: Love! (So here I am, with my Spanish husband, a teenage stepson, a daughter and a dog... win-win!!!)
You can talk to me about:
- Pregnancy in Denmark
- Parenting and daycare
- Owning a pet in Denmark
- Practical day-to-day things
- Looking for a job in Denmark
- Learning Danish
Occupation: Project coordinator clinical trials at Aarhus University Hospital
What brought me to Aarhus: I followed my husband when he got a job here
You can talk to me about:
- How to make Danish friends
- Benefits of being a volunteer/joining local groups in the neighbourhood
- Finding a job
- Being an accompanying partner
- Being an international parent
Occupation: Looking for a job in the architecture field
What brought me to Aarhus: My boyfriend came here to study for a master's degree and I decided to join him
You can talk to me about:
- First impressions of Denmark
- Working in different jobs
- Meeting people
- Volunteering
- Dance culture
- Being an accompanying partner
Occupation: Psychotherapist
What brought me to Aarhus: My wife is Danish and when she fell pregnant, we moved to Aarhus to be close to her family
You can talk to me about:
- Integration into Danish culture
- Setting up a business in Denmark
- Overcoming cultural barriers
- Navigating finding a new support network
- Danish family life