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Brooke Black

@brookeblackjust

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🇺🇸 / 🇮🇹 in📍Copenhagen
🇩🇰 Accidentally moved to Denmark.
Life abroad, language fails & culture shocks.
🎧 Co-host of @waydidpod
📩 [email protected]

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The seasons are changing and it’s time for a reintroduction 👋 ☀️🍂

I still can’t believe we accidentally moved to Denmark sometimes, yet I think about it in some shape or form every day. Six years in, I know more, but somehow also less. I am eternally grateful for having spent 3 years in Jylland in the Danish countryside and now 3 in Copenhagen, because Denmark is a lot of things and people and places, and they are all special in their own way. I am a mix of all of the best of these places and what I’ve learned so far, plus my Midwest, NYC and LA selfs. There’s a lot going on in here 😆

If you are new here, I’m Brooke, an American adjusting to life in Denmark with my Danglish family. Follow for fun cultural stuff, everyday life abroad, quirky fun locals stuff, a bit of real talk, travel tips, and whatever else I find.

If you are already here, tak for letting me share funny / weird / wholesome / educational things about life in Denmark and for sharing your own experiences and perspectives. What sort of topics would you like me to share more about? 🙏🇩🇰

🏷️ American in Denmark, Amerikaner i Danmark, Copenhagen life, Københavnerliv, Danish culture, dansk kultur, hygge lifestyle, hygge livsstil, Scandinavian living, skandinavisk liv, living abroad, bo i udlandet, family abroad, familie i Danmark, moving to Denmark, flytte til Danmark, culture shock, kulturchok, American mom in Denmark, amerikansk mor i Danmark, Copenhagen expat, Danmark hverdag, Nordic lifestyle, nordisk livsstil, countryside Denmark, dansk landsbyliv, renovated farmhouse, renoveret bondegård, raising kids in Denmark, opvækst i Danmark, international family, international familie, Danish traditions, danske traditioner, mor livet, mom life, American dream taken in Denmark by @brookeblackjust

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2 months ago

It’s officially October and I’m back on the case for all fall activities🍁

This gigantic pumpkin patch and corn maze in Denmark is our absolute favorite, and operates entirely on the honor system. We return year after year because of how cozy it is. I’ve seen many around the country that do this, but none at this size 🎃

The pumpkin selection is great, and the corn maze is great. In LA there would be a $30 entry fee for something like this! There’s also a giant witch this year as an added bonus (update: the corn maze is now 30kr entry. that’s new) 🧙🏻‍♀️

If you are in Jylland or planning to be for efterårsferie, it’s about 30 minutes outside Aarhus and one of the best fall experiences I’ve had since we moved to Denmark. Families make a whole day of it. Have you made fall plans yet? 🍂🍁🌽🎃

📍Gaardens Grønt - Åstruplund, Denmark

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Hej 👋 I’m Brooke, an American adjusting to life in Denmark with my Danglish family. Follow for travel tips, everyday life, fun cultural stuff and more 🇩🇰

#fall #fallvibes #autumnvibes🍁 #denmark #danmark pumpkin pumpkinpatch cornmaze spooky spookyseason family familyfun travel travelwithkids midtjylland jylland kids pumpkinpicking halloween love explore explorepage exploremore roadtrip efterårsferie østjylland Denmark travel taken in Plukselv Græskar, Gaardens Grønt - Åstruplund by @brookeblackjust

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15 days ago

Successful first time svampejagt / mushroom hunt in Denmark for us non-Danes! It’s a lot harder than it looks 🍄‍🟫🇩🇰

We had to phone-a-Dane for clarification so we would not poison ourselves, but we found a ton of Karl Johan (many near the highway lol) and rørhatte!

We celebrated by dancing to patron saint of forests and mushrooms Celine Dion and ate mushroom toast for breakfast 🤪🍞

I don’t know if I’ll have that good of luck again for another six years, and I also know that Danes don’t give up their secret spots, but wow was that exciting 😆

Have you been on a svampejagt? Do you have any tips for us first timers? 👇

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Hej 👋 I’m Brooke, an American adjusting to Denmark with my Danglish family. Follow for everyday (mis)adventures abroad, fun cultural stuff, and more 🇩🇰

#mushroom #mushroomhunting #svampejagt #denmark #explore forest friends, life abroad, living in Denmark, hverdagsliv I Danmark, moms gone wild, friends weekend, gals trip, girls trip, foraging, first time foragers, wild mushrooms, forest bathing, friendship, efterårsferie, fall break, autumn activities taken in Denmark by @brookeblackjust

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5 days ago

I wrote about my struggles with work-life balance in Denmark (and how I essentially have no chill) for @cnbc 🇩🇰

I moved to Denmark assuming I’d ease right into that work-life balance I’d heard so much about. Then spent years doing everything I could to avoid it. 🥴

Coming from American hustle culture, I thought being constantly available, working through vacation and filling every spare hour meant I was ambitious and a “good worker.”

Turns out, moving countries doesn’t automatically change the habits you’ve spent years building. There’s pride, drive, identity, scarcity mindset…

It took me a lot longer than I’d like to admit to understand something the Danes seem to know already: you don’t need to “earn” rest.

I’m still figuring it out. My brain does not let me hygge, but it’s a very slow pressure release and calming of my nervous system, and I’m seeing the light, even if it’s when I accidentally have free space in my schedule.

I’m finally learning that slowing down doesn’t mean I’m any less ambitious. It makes me better at everything instead of feeling like I’m constantly dropping the ball either at work or at home or as a parent etc.

I shared the full story in my latest piece for @cnbcmakeit. Here are a few excerpts. The full article is linked in my bio if you want to see all the ways I perfected the art of self-sabotage 😅

Do you struggle to switch off from work, too? I’d love to know. 👇

Follow for more on life in Denmark, fun cultural stuff, (mis)adventures and everything else in between 🇩🇰

#WorkLifeBalance #WorkCulture #Denmark #AmericanAbroad #LifeInDenmark CNBCMakeIt american in Denmark, mom life, mor livet, working mom, Copenhagen, hverdagsliv i danmark taken in Copenhagen, Dennmark by @brookeblackjust

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8 days ago

This is just 6 of many things (big and small) that have changed for me in the time I’ve moved from the US to Denmark. I could share a lot more. If you’ve moved away from home, have you adapted any behaviors new to you? 🇩🇰

1. Mayo on fries. Never ketchup again.
2. Nå is truly the best all purpose word.
3. Leverpostej. Yes sometimes it can turn on you, but I still crave it when I don’t have it for a while.
4. I’m less chatty out in the world and I enjoy it. Doesn’t make me less friendly.
5. I will never cross the street even if there is no traffic because I am terrified to break the law. A tourist crossed when it was red and I audibly gasped 😆
6. I was shocked when I first moved here that Danes felt 30 minutes in the car was a long time, after my whole life spent driving for hours in the US. Now I’ve recalibrated. Biking 30 minutes to the other side of Copenhagen seems far 😅

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Hej 👋 I’m Brooke an American adjusting to life in Denmark with my Danglish family. Follow for fun culture stuff, everyday life, (mis)adventures and more 🇩🇰

🏷️ denmark, Danish, Copenhagen, København, Dansk, American, american abroad, living abroad, culture shock, culture, travel, hverdagsliv, everyday life, funny, millenial mom, mor livet taken in Denmark by @brookeblackjust

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17 days ago

If you are a parent or caregiver of small kids you’ll know this phrase. I didn’t. Or at least I never thought I’d hear it so much in Danish 😅

I am still waiting patiently for another phrase to overtake this one. In the meantime, you can find me in the bathroom, responding to bat call. How do you say this in other languages? 🚽 😆

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Hej 👋 I’m Brooke, an American adjusting to life in Denmark with my Danglish family. I share everyday life, parenting abroad, and whatever else I find funny/interesting if you want to follow along 🇩🇰

#parenting #livingabroad #momlife #morlivet #denmark taken in Denmark by @brookeblackjust

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2 months ago

Fun fact: Danish inventor Erling Vangedal-Nielsen patented the single-use plastic ice cube bag in 1978 🇩🇰

Un-fun fact: I still get surprised when I can’t find ice for drinks at major events or arenas (that I’ve seen in six years living here). I’m guessing because beer is more popular and also it’s cold most of the year? But Denmark invented the bag for this. When I ask, I get a look, so I do not ask anymore 🧊😆

I’ve started seeing ice machines at movie theaters, but only in recent years. I know we tend to go overboard with ice in the US. My friend argues better to have more soda than watered down soda. Where do you stand? 🥤😆

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Hej 👋 I’m Brooke, an American adjusting to life in Denmark with my Danglish family. Follow for funny culture and language moments, everyday life abroad, travel tips, and more 🇩🇰

#denmark #ice #livingabroad #danmark #fyp taken in Denmark by @brookeblackjust

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a month ago

Want to restore your faith in humanity? The Human Library was founded in 2000 in Denmark to break down stereotypes and prejudice, and has now spread to 80 countries around the world.

We were nervous at first, but it turned into such a meaningful and eye-opening experience that we wanted to borrow all the “books.” If only more conversations like this could happen. It will enrich your life.

If you’re in Copenhagen, after five years at The Reading Garden (pictured), The Human Library is going on tour in pop-up cafe form this year, with a handful of “books” on loan to residents, made possible with support from local committees in the different neighbourhoods. The stops will include open square events, public libraries and culture houses. Check @humanlibraryorganization for dates.

Would you visit The Human Library? 📚

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Hej 👋 I’m Brooke, an American adjusting to life in Denmark with my Danglish family. Follow for fun cultural stuff, everyday life, and everything between 🇩🇰

human, connection, empathy, library, listening, social, book, Copenhagen, Denmark, Danmark, København, travel, prejudice taken in Denmark by @brookeblackjust

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a month ago

Celine has entered the chat….now you know it’s real 😆

Making friends in a new country is hard. There’s so many factors: where you’re at in your life, what you have time for, who you want to spend it with. I’ve had a lot of false starts over the years in Denmark, and also some really lovely friends I’ve made, that I then had to leave, and find again. I miss my friends back home. I talk to them constantly, but the days are pretty quiet.

But when you have those rare moments you find yourself in your current place, and can truly be yourself with people, I don’t take it for granted. Tomorrow is not promised, so if you get a chance, or the odd summer house invite and you can invoke some woodland spirits, find mushrooms that don’t kill you, and rage to Celine Dion, take it 🍄‍🟫🍄

How’s it been making friends for you if you live abroad or moved somewhere new? It came up on our @waydidpod podcast over the weekend at International House Odense. We have all had our ups and downs ❤️

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Hej 👋 I’m Brooke, an American adjusting to life in Denmark with my Danglish family. Follow for fun culture stuff, everyday life, wins, mishaps, and more 🇩🇰

#livingabroad #friendship #women #celinedion #fyp millenial, 90s, making friends, life in Denmark, hverdagsliv I København, wood spirits, mushroom hunting, female friendship taken in Djursland by @brookeblackjust

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20 days ago

I know we’re not the only people dancing to these bangers at the store when we need to pick up some lip gloss / scrub daddys? 💃

A trip to @normal_dk is also a trip to the club. We remember where we came from. Do you also do this? 🪩

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Hej 👋 I’m Brooke, an American adjusting to life in Denmark with my Danglish family. Follow for everyday life, fun cultural stuff, and everything in between 🇩🇰

#millenial #millenialmom #dance #shopping #funny fyp mor livet, mom life, normal, pharmacy, parenting, mols, Ebeltoft, Djursland, getting older, club bangers, 90s hits, technotronic pump up the jam, girls trip, moms trip, moms gone wild taken in Ebeltoft by @brookeblackjust

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a month ago

I was feeling emboldened after summer to snak dansk all over town, and snak dansk I did, from accidental unwanted advances to a teen at the grocery store, to calling the furniture man rotten, I’ve got it all! 🇩🇰

I also got a massage recently, and when they asked me a question I started telling them about my whole day. When I realized that’s probably not what they asked they said again “what’s wrong with your body?” And I said “min krop er ude af drift.” My body is out of order. Like an elevator. I’m just out here trying!

Everyone’s been so nice though. I just get a funny look or a little smile and I know I’ve made a fejl.

Have you had any good language fails? Please share so we can laugh at ourselves and keep going 👇

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Hej 👋 I’m Brooke, an American adjusting to life in Denmark with my Danglish family. Follow for everyday life, fun culture stuff, language fails, travel tips, and more 🇩🇰

#danish #livingabroad #fail #funny #denmark fyp, dansk sprog, fejl, hverdagsliv i Danmark, learning Danish, learning new language, bilingual taken in Denmark by @brookeblackjust

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a month ago

Expressing gratitude for Danish gratitude today 🇩🇰

I know everyone has their own ways of saying thank you, but when everyone here says “thanks for today / tak for i dag” at the end of every meet, it’s just a very cozy cherry on top of the time spent together 🍒🥰

What are other ways you say thank you in Denmark? I’m told there’s a lot 😍

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Hej 👋 I’m Brooke, an American adjusting to everyday life in Denmark with my Danglish family. I share travel tips, language fails (and wins!), and whatever else I find fun/funny if you want to follow along 🇩🇰

#danish #dansk #livingabroad #denmark #scandinavia taken in Denmark by @brookeblackjust

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2 months ago