Khafiluzzaman Ahmed from India

I met Khafiluzzaman ("just call me Zaman") in April 2010. Having recived an e-mail fom him regarding the International Network where he offerede his help, I thought it was a great opportunity to hear more about his story and how he ended up with an employment at the Region Hospital of Horsens. My first impression of Zaman is that he is a real Indian Gentleman with an outstanding English. Furthermore, he speaks a fair bit of danish, however, as this is in English - the following article will be in English. 

The decition to go to Denmark
India, 2007: In India Zaman saw an add where it stated that Denmark was in need of doctors. Having lived away from India previously and travelled a lot Zaman was tempted and decided to take up the challenge. The first step of the process was a four month stay in an Indian resort with 44 other doctors. Here the doctors were taught Danish and learned more about Denmark and Danish work life. After the four months Zaman decided to continue and was invited to Denmark to have a job interview at Jørgensens Hotel in Horsens. The job interview went well and shortly after the interview, Zaman was offered a job. Zaman moved to Denmark with his son, who is 18, and currently studying in Kolding. His wife is also a doctor, however, she has decided to stay in India. 

Moving to Denmark
Zaman accepted, however before starting the actual job, Zaman had to learn more Danish as well as more about Danish culture and customs. It is clear to me that Zaman has learned a lot as he reels of that he has learned to say "skål", that you get chocolate for birthday and gl. dansk for julefrokoster. "Dejligt, yes" he concludes. After two months of learning Danish and learning about Danish customs in Grenaa, he moves to Horsens to start his new Danish job. 
The hospital helps finding a place to live and Zaman tells that starting at the hospital, he was met with a friendly environment, there was time to adjust and he did not feel any pressure. However, the hospital has done a great job helping him with different practical stuff such as getting a place to live, getting a CPR number et cetera. The hospital uses a lot of ressources on this process - as does other local companies. 

Living and Working in Horsens

As Zaman gets his new appartment, it is not furnished. Zaman explains that he would have liked to pay somebody to do the furnishing as he would do in India. However, as this is not possible he goes to Bilka to buy knifes and forks and to the a furniture shop to buy furniture. As he was trying to get his new bed up the stairs to his appartment, a young man - Jakob - asks  if he needs help and they together lift the bed and the other furniture into his appartment. Jakob has now become a friend. Zaman says following " that is the hardest thing; I like to meet new people and that is difficult. Lonelyness is difficult".

Sparetime
When I ask him what he does when not working he says "reading and writing and participating in international forums online - telling other people about e.g. the Wellfare system and why it works or other things". Furthermore, he bikes a lot - as a matter of fact a bike was the first thing he bought.  He likes biking around and continues "Denmark has a great sense of history - as a matter of fact Glud Museum is one of the best Museums I have ever seen". As I ask whether he think he will stay he says "I am a man of Horsens - this is my city. I like the stressfree and structured way we live. "However, I would like to meet more people." Having finished the interview we pass the mayor of Horsens, Jan Trøjborg, and Zaman says "that´s our mayor - he welcomed me when I came here two years ago." 
 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Irina and Marat from Uzbekistan

Background
Irina and Marat from Uzbekistan have been in Horsens since 2009 and 2005 respectively. Marat came to Denmark in 2005 to study market economy at VIA, while Irina after studying Environmental Studies in Lund and European Studies in Malmo in Sweden since 2007 came to Horsens in 2009. They knew each other from back in Uzbekistan and in 2009 they married at City Hall in Horsens.

They now work at Bestseller – Irina as a sales support covering Eastern Europe, Middle East, Turkey and France, while also writing her thesis at the University in Malmo; Marat as a Business and Finance Controller in the retail department.

 

Living and working in Denmark
Living and working in Denmark Irina and Marat were at first surprised by the flat hierarchical structure. Having lunch at the same table as your boss is for instance not so common in their culture, they say, and also they had to get just to the fact that in Denmark even as a common employee you are given much responsibility at work.

 

Irina and Marat also quickly noticed that everything in Denmark is very well organised. People actually use calendars here in Denmark, Irina says, and you can count on people to show up for the appointments you make, saving you much frustration and wasted time.

And the ability to organise often goes on into people’s private lives, Marat says. In Uzbekistan it’s very common just to drop by at friends place, but in Denmark visits are often planned days or even weeks ahead, and people check their calendars to find a free day before making an appointment.


Social life 

Coming from a different culture this could make you see the Danes as reserved and not welcoming, but according to Irina and Marat this is not the case. Once you realize that this is how things work in Denmark, the Danes are generally very open and welcoming, they say, and Irina and Marat have met nothing but hospitality and kindness. It is a mutual ongoing process where both parties must be involved. One should make efforts and not sit and wait that Danes will come and become friends with you. Foreigners must also be proactive and take active part in the social life to build a network around them.

 

New possibilities and adventures in Denmark
Although being a foreign citizen in Denmark has become more troublesome in the past years, they both like learning and consider the more demanding politics as a wonderful opportunity to master Danish language, history and culture. Both Irina and Marat have passed citizenship test in 2010. Marat has completed level 6 of Danish Education 3, while Irina continues on her 5th level.

 

As of now, they have no plans of leaving Denmark. We came to Western Europe to get a better education, they say, and in Denmark we have found not only jobs and friends but also better life opportunities. We like it here, and we want to stay and contribute to Danish society. Life in Denmark is very interesting, dynamic and challenging at the same time, and we are looking forward to all adventures, they conclude.