Of late, I\u2019ve been considering moving to Denmark for good. Why in the world would a city boy, used to the rush and bustle of city living, move to a far-too-quiet and cold place like Copenhagen, you ask? Well, we all know about the American Dream \u2013 I\u2019m going to share what I think, is the \u201cDanske Dream\u201d.<\/p>\n
Most of us are too familiar with the rat race of life. We slave away at school to get a proper job so that we can live a comfortable life. At home in Singapore, I find myself bound by the nagging expectations of realistic concerns and sometimes, just sometimes, I feel like I lose a sense of desire and passion for the things I do.<\/p>\n
Things are different here in Denmark. From what I\u2019ve experienced, with my housemates in particular, I get a sense of liberation from this stifling chain of motivations. The Danish world seems a happier place to me. A place where people are free to be who they want to be, without being overwhelmingly bogged down by the concerns of the material.<\/p>\n
One of my housemates, who is a brilliant student of architecture, decided to take a year off from pursuing his career as an architect to study in a business school. He wanted to explore what he was capable of being \u2013 even if that meant realizing halfway through his studies at the business school that he\u2019d rather starve than be a businessman.<\/p>\n
Another housemate, at the age of 19, travelled for almost half a year in Nepal for a ‘dannelserejse’<\/em> or a journey of learning, growth and personal exploration. To quote her directly: ‘Some people go on holidays during their break year, but I chose to go on a journey’. A dannelserejse apparently, is something quite common to Danish people, or at least my housemates. Almost every other housemate of mine has journeyed through Africa for reasons ranging from internships at human rights organizations to building homes for the poor.<\/p>\n I remembered sitting in awe at how courageous they were to just leave home and school and work and do what they knew they needed to do. I vividly remember how deciding to study in Copenhagen for half a year gave me several panic attacks – there was no way I could just pack my bags and leave my job, responsibilities and my beloved (and slightly crazy) dog! Take a year off from my studies to explore a completely different field of education? You must be insane. I\u2019d be broke trying to pay off my student loans! Journey for half a year in Nepal? As it was I could barely take leave from work for a weekend staycation.<\/p>\n And then it hit me. They didn\u2019t live with the same fears that I did. They didn\u2019t need to worry about student loans because education is free in Denmark. They didn\u2019t need to be overly concerned about employment because tertiary students here get a monthly allowance from the state.<\/p>\nRight to live own life<\/h2>\n