# @adela__hussain on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C7ERVd1oXOi
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/17611764-adela-hussain-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/afba5ebe84.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-05-17T10:46:10.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** ADELA | Media & Business Consultant (@adela__hussain) — https://gondola.cc/adela__hussain

## Caption

5 weeks ago I felt very discombobulated.

I moved to Copenhagen after 22 years of living in London and it was a shock to my system, but here’s what I’ve learnt along the way:

🌍 🌍 ✈️ ✈️  5 things I did to settle into a new country 🌍🌍✈️ ✈️

1️⃣   Volunteer.  I volunteered at my kids school and stopped wallowing in my flat full of boxes. Seeing the toddlers get curious reminded me that we should lead with curiosity and inquisitiveness.

2️⃣   Begin conversations - I started chats with people working in the local cheesemongers, coffee shops, pizzerias, tea houses. This every day connection felt grounding and allowed me to identify my new favourite spots fast.

3️⃣   Be a kid - Go to the funfair and just be a kid. Moving to a non English-speaking country is mentally exhausting. Tivoli has been a welcoming respite and swinging off a merry go round has reminded me that we should stop taking life so seriously all the time.

4️⃣  Flip the script – I stopped moaning about what I couldn’t find in Denmark (my beloved copy of the Sunday Times Style!) and looked for the beauty in Danish culture. The design, fashion, style and bakeries are unbelievable.  I now know my Louis Poulsen from my Tom Rossau. I’ve worked my way around all the Danish bakeries and can spot a Juno pastry in Atelier September without being told it’s a Juno one!

5️⃣   Less judgement, more open-ness – There is a sense in Copenhagen that expats struggle making friends with Danes. I found the opposite to be true! In fact in week 2 I went on my first lunch with a Dane from the gym. That would never happen in London. Everyone was always rushing somewhere but here people feel more relaxed, rather than overscheduled. The key is to lead with your hobbies. Do things that interest you and you’ll begin to connect with people who like those things too.

🙋🏽‍♀️  What would you add to the list for navigating a move?

✍🏽  Comment below and help others who are planning big moves!

PS – Check out my pics to for Cph highlights!

#expatlife #expatincopenhagen #expatindenmark

Photo = charlottegrayphoto

## Stats

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- **Likes:** 26
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 3

## Tags

expatlife, expatincopenhagen, expatindenmark

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