Having grown up in Denmark I was actually in shock when I saw the portion sizes when I went to the US. We were 3 adults sharing 1 meal because we're not used to sizes that massive. That continued for the rest of the 2 weeks we were over there. And everything tastes sweet. Even the bread. I really, really missed my rugbrød when I was there 🤣🤣
If you didn't live in Copenhagen or cities like Copenhagen you would get the suburban feeling when walking around, it's quite normal in smaller cities around Denmark. Also, why does grocery stores in the US need to have so many of the same item on the shelves? Don't you have someone restock doing the day? 😅 Might be the reason stores here are smaller when we have most of the same items in storage and restocked doing opening hours.
Grocery stores: If you have humongous suburbs with *no* stores in them, stores are further away; it's actually difficult for yankees to just pop down to a store. This leads to fewer but bigger shopping-trips. A danish store gets more of it's business from walk-ins and bike-ins, thus it's catchment area is smaller, and the store becomes smaller.
"There's so many different types of people in the US" as the reason why there's a bazillion different flavors of Oreos doesn't really hold water, I think. For some reason, it just seems like Americans have placed pretty much all of their freedom of choice in the shopping experience - sure there's a million different flavors of soft drink, but when it comes to politics there's only two parties to choose between (I am aware that this is a consequence of the American first-past-the-post, winner-takes-it-all system).
Powder lemonade, both regular and pink, has actually been part of the field rations in the Danish army since before the 90s ~ not sure they're quite as yummy you make Country Time look, but those powder lemonade packets did make the chlorine tablets to sterilize creek/lake water a heckuva lot more palatable... 🍋 😙👌
Funny observation, I don't know any Danes who enjoy hanging out in their front yard. Front yards typically serves as a buffer zone between the house and the street, the action is out back in private. Perhaps it speaks of the more sociable nature of American culture. I don't know why we protect the inner circle like that in Scandinavia
I think this is true, also evidenced by the massive hedges blocking view into the front yards in DK. American houses are typically more open and welcoming as you drive down the street.
I totally agree. In Denmark the front yards only serve to move the house further away from the road, limiting the noise. Massive hedges, walls and fences make sure that strangers can't "invade your privacy", as may danes see it.
@@TravelinYoung In America: a mans home is his castle. In DK: a mans home is his fortress. 😆 It's what I like the best about Americans. You always have at least one friend, and you are never short of a helping hand
Very interesting observations. The only thing I agree to disagree on is the Country Time Lemonade. For me as a German it tastes incredibly artificial and not very nice. My personal preference when it comes to lemonade is: make it yourself, squeeze lemons and if you need to add some sugar, not sweetener, use real sugar and be aware of it, so don't use too much. In fact if it cold enough you might not even need sugar, the cold takes away a lot of the "sourness" and just leaves you with a refreshing taste.
Part of the appeal to me about country time is that it’s fake. Sometimes I just love the “fake taste”. I still love pop starts over all kinds of real pastries haha
Good to have you back! Ah yes, the reverse shock effect... 😱 Bigger portions, bigger cars, wider roads...etc DK doesn't have lawn, sidewalk, trees & road, bc we opted for 'bicycle' in between - garden/sidewalk and road 😉 Our roads would have had to have been extra wide to encompass everything! : and you know, DK is too small for that! 🤣 hello from Hundested 🌸 ❄
We rented a car when we were in Virginia and it was MASSIVE. It was a Ford Expedition XL or something like that. It was the kind of car you’d see in a presidential motorcade. All the room was great with all our luggage but, yeah. Im pretty sure that car wouldnt have been able to make it down 90% of the roads in Copenhagen with all the cars parked on the street 😂 - m
A curious and interesting observation how times change. I remember when America truly had all those great looking big cars 40-50 years ago, those huge monstrosities like dinosaurs on the road we all thought looked super cool except they ate up a heck load of gas. 🤑Now, in the US pretty much gone and Americans have quite smaller cars similar to those sometimes mocking Europeans for in the past. 🤗
You said you miss trees at the side of the road. When you drive in Sweden you have several places where there are trees at the side of the road. You could make a road trip in Sweden and see how you like the country and the nature.
Thanks for the video. I liked Mya commentary. The USA is so vast that that everything can be very different depending where you are in the country. It is also harder to get things perfect when your dealing such a large amount of people and country. I think Denmark looks amazing. Thanks for your videos
The only time I ever had real culture shock visiting the US was in Dallas/Ft. Worth when I visited a Walmart at 3 am with the guy I was staying with. The size of it. The fact that it was open at 3 am. The SIZE!!! of it. Couldn't compute. I am pretty sure the parking lot was bigger than some small Danish towns.
I get you missing the wider choises of products in the stores. I however get completely numb when stepping in to places like Bilka or Metro. I find it hard to find my way round and get completely overwhelmed by the choises😆
You can get something similar to the powder lemonade in Denmark - at least you could some years ago. I don't remember which chains carry it, and instead of powder it's tiny "pellets" that you have to stir in water.
Funny that you miss a store where you can get "every thing you want" When I shop, I almost always think of a shop where I can get "every thing I need" 😉😉
Hey, You never know what you dont need but can’t live without until you see it 😂. Just to be clear we are actually quite frugal and generally only buy things we need. Unless it’s Cheezits. We always buy Cheezits.
I love american supermarkets.. so many things we can get here... but it was a bit chock to see the aile of weapons in the local Wallmart - and the same for Out World. However its more expected to be weapons there. The sidewalks with grass you can find many places in Denmark... just go house areas from 1970. I am more surprised when visiting in the US that they dont have any bike lanes. I remember my friends daughter has to take the schoolbus because she has to cross a large road. If there was lights and a bike lane, it would take her 5 mintuttes to school and she would get the exersise.
While I was in outdoor world I was FaceTiming my boyfriend’s to show him some taxidermy animals and unknowingly walked right into the rifle aisle…I quickly got out of there
OMG!!! 🙊 When I was in the states in 2008, I brought a LOT of that lemonade home… It tastes SOOOO good, and I wish I could buy it here!!! 😩😩😩 I also brought home a lot of Rieses Pieces, Ranch dressing, Oreo Jello and kisses… And of course Hefty ziplock bags…. 🤷🏻♀️😁
I did my master's degree in Belfast and there were two yanks in the class. Both of them came to class in sweat pants and sweat tops, while everybody else wore shirts, trousers or skirts. It looked like the yanks had come straight from the sofa to class.
I’m envious of all the space large countries have. When you go to the US or Australia there is a ridiculous amount of space on the main roads. There’s a lot of space between houses. Sidewalks are wide (when there is one). Just space everywhere! And the deserts and outbacks of course, oh my! Just being able to go somewhere and see no signs of civilization or people is something I really miss in Denmark. Did I mention I’m an introvert 😄
Curious question: Do you prefer the "simplisity" of Denmark or the "Exagguration" of the US in everyday life? Like I know Target and Wallmart but as you said there is a lot of product where you're just thinking "Why is there a need for this". Or that the portion sizes are smaller in DK and bigger in the US. Is it good that Denmark has less/more condensed options or do you prefer the BIG selection and stuff from the US?
I prefer the simplicity of Denmark--especially in the smaller cities--and the food quality is outstanding. The only "complaint" I have about grocery shopping here is the lack of variety in their spices, but I'm originally from California and am used to having everything at my disposal. I've adapted somewhat by now lol
Some very interesting points of difference, which I have noticed too, living here in US: Weird condiments, soda sizes and power poles everywhere. Cool video as always.
Maybe Danes are more private. That would explain why Danes do everything in the backyard ;) A more realistic viewpoint would be that houses in Denmark goes back many years while houses in new countries like Australia and the US had space and willingness to enforce houseowners to have a big frontyard. Anyway I do envy it. As for grocery stores. Well I miss having a lot to chose from. Danish Supermarkets sell the same things and many times it is so boring to go shopping. The groceries you saw yesterday, is the same as the groceries you saw today and it will be the same tomorrow.
Here in Denmark, soda sizes have changed too in recent years. Back when I grew up there were just 3 sizes: 25 cl, 35 cl. and 1 litre, all in glass bottles, and this was only for big brands like Coca Cola. Small brands were simply 25 cl or 1 litre. Later, the 35 cl. bottles were replaced by 50 cl., but that was it. The real upsizing started to happen when plastic bottles took over from the old glass ones, but 2- and 2.5 litre bottles would have been completely unthinkable even a few years ago. We used to have lemonade "powders" in Denmark too, many years ago - not Country Time but other brands. I don't even remember when they disappeared, but I think it may have something to do with the growing trends of "natural" ingredients in everything. These sugary granular "powders" started to seem very unhealthy, so I guess people stopped buying them. Regarding fashion, this highly depends upon where in Denmark you live. It's certainly a big thing in Copenhagen, Aarhus and north Zeeland, but not in the countryside of Lolland, Langeland or western Jutland, for example.
I have to tell - The Lemon powders are still here, it never left, just replaced to a place neer the floor, next time you go to a shop, standing around tea and coffee shells, then look down 😉
So amazing to hear you guys so excited when you do these videos. Welcome back home to sidewalk/road denmark. I can honestly understand what maya means by more trees needed like in the suburbs of america it would look Nice. 😉😊
In the rural Denmark, we got plenty of roads in the small cities and in the suburbs with trees and lawns and kids playing on the lawns... I guess , like with the fashion, the missing trees are a big city issue. Fashion wise : We are very casual where I live (just outside Viborg).
It used to be in the building regulations that every outlet must have a switch. I was taught as a child to always switch off on the wall before pulling out the plug. Wierd things in American houses: Round door knobs Up is on on electrical switches Garbage disposal in the sink Top loader washing machines, just like in the 1960's
I'm from New Zealand and live in DK. Supermarkets here in DK are terrible because they aren't really supermarkets, They are all weird mix of mini mart/ mini walmart type places. They all sell cloths and bikes and 10 tons of stuff you wouldn't find in a supermarket anywhere else which takes up space and means they can't sell a wide range. Also even the small places like Rema and Fakta always have large sections filled with random junk. Man I miss supermarkets.
I saw a film on TV about a Danish Chef trying to help a Chinese Restaurant in Denmark get more business, and the Chinese owner was very stubborn about only wanting to make authentic "Chinese food", though most other C. restaurants have realized, that something more like European taste versions does the job very well! Serving huge/enormous American portions in Denmark is a bad idea.
Remember when I went to a concert with my Danish friends people were gasping and pointing at us and were like “look! There’s rich kids!”. Got remarks like “you’re parent bought that clothes”, and so on.. I just know hot to dress! And that we’re my own clothes that I had bought for my own money 😂
We something like that lemonade drink.. Try some of these brands: Rexim citron instant ice tea or Kruger lemon tea 🙂 can used cold, hot or just eaten it whit a soon as dry.. pretty must all shop's have it.. Best Regards the Dane Jimmi Kasimir
I have to admit, I think the new intro looks good, but it has too many fast cuts. It's a bit much. My eye is shown new images and cuts before I really got to proces the previous ones. I like what is being shown (the choice of images), because they show a really nice variety and gives a great introduction to your content and channel, but it's just too fast paced. Just for fun, I ran it at 0.5 and 0.75 speed, and it just worked so much better (I realised Brisket was there, and I saw a smile in the sword fight). I know you worked really hard on it, Josh, so I wanted to provide some feedback. Hope it helps :)
I'm really surprised by the fashion thing .. I've always heard Danes described by foreigners as being really laid back compared to many other cultures. Many women in this country do not wear much makeup or jewelry or hair styling. Compared to Swedes, we generally seem to be quite relaxed. You have traveled a lot around Denmark, in the countryside aswell, what do you think? Is the formal, stylish way of dressing, more of a big city thing? Something, you would notice in Copenhagen, or is it a general thing for the whole country?
I think its just subtle things that add up. Examples would be people wearing casual faux leather ankle boots instead of clunky sneakers. Slacks instead of jeans. A blouse instead of a graphic t-shirt. A casual dress instead of leggings and an athletic top. It’s not that it’s super fashionista but it’s arguably more refined than the general everyday fashion you see in the US. - M
Yes, exactly my point. I often dress in recycled clothes or wear my own old clothes that are no longer in fashion (unless you wait long enough and then it's in fashion again :) And if I work in my garden or do other outdoor things, I will happily wear my old jeans or muddy work clothes. I don’t like to wear high heeIs, either. I would rather wear sandals all year round, if only the weather allowed it. However, when I had a job where I met a lot of people each day, I used to dress nicer and usually wear makeup, but as soon as I got home, I switched to something more comfortable.
Bigger portion sizes isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just different. But when it bleeds over into junk food and soft drinks then it probably becomes a bad thing.
Watching channels from around the world, it's clear that far more Americans dress casually out in the city than people in cities elsewhere. That's nice in one way, but I also like to see people well-dressed.
I have move from Denmark to Mexico city, From come a small city to one of the biggest citys in the world, and when it comes to food is more normal size as in Denmark, the few times i have be in US, the size way to big, to eat as normal.
Danes do not spend much on groceries compared to other countries. That explain the sad supermarkets in Denmark. Whereas in the u.s. you have much better selection.
You guys are simply some of the best ambassadors for Denmark👍 Than you so much.🤝 I am following another American X pat, who is making videos called " My Danish Life". One of my friends is American too. Please don't get me wrong🤔, but it seems to me that all the brightest and open-minded Americans have chosen to move to Denmark.😘 .
No wonder that "there isn't enough" in your lemonade @Maya, you only stirred it a little, when you look at the bottom of the glass when you take a sip you can see that half of it is still on the bottom, not dissolved :)
like & sub - vi har da børn der leger i haver med græs og træer ,men som i ved er danmark meget meget lille iforhold til usa.og det man for det meste oplever i danmark er storby .jeg har ikke set så mange af jeres videoer ,men er igang ;-)
In regards to portions/ drinks size... it is no wonder that USA is considered the most obese country in the world.... the amount of fast food / processed food that americans eat ,with all the bad things that follow with that,is simply stunning...... we have had alot of good stuff comming from America, but fastfood is certainly not one of them ........... Thank you for your content , keep it comming ...
@@gumzster again i point towards fastfood/ processed food and on top of that less exercise... but the main reasons are still fastfood/ soda/processed food.. and all that crap we got mostly from america.... and the new numbers are within the covid year range, where alot of ppl have put on a " few" extra kg's and that could be the reason for the relatively high % so in general i think the "real" % is way lower in regards to our way of living
I think it's that big buy in bulk spirit that's closing down all your ma/pa stores on mainstreets everywhere ... and sadly that eventually snowballes to the complete evaporation of nice smaller communities ... convenience
huge and (in my opinion) interesting debate ... but I completely understand it. It's just a shame driving through a "closed" empty city, here or in the US.
What I love about the US IS the sizes. :D I remember those oreo family packages. :D Always feels like Oreo is cheating me which these small baby size "family" sizes in Denmark. :P
I just really love these videos. As a Dane it’s really interesting to hear people from other countries wonder about different cultures. I just have a question for Maya: Since she goes to School in DK, does she speak Danish? I generally just really love your ethusiasm and motivation. Even when tackling as difficult a language as Danish. Greetings from an impressed Dane☺️
Do you ever read the content list of what you eat and drink?Have you ever watched an Eric Berg,Sten Ekberg video,if not I recommend.Thanks for the vid.
We actually do eat pretty “clean” here and really did in the US too. i started cooking at 13 or 14 and learned by watching people like Julia Child so Ive never been too big on processed foods. I cook from scratch most meals and we drink a lot of water so we do know what’s in our food. That said when we go back to the US it’s hard to resist the clarion call of Taco Bell and who knows what’s in that 😂 - M
The YT channel "Not just bikes" speaks alot on the no sidewalk stuff you mentioned. You should check him out. He's also an American living in Holland I believe.
That intro still takes me back to the lighthouse last summer. I have dreams about the ares still and we’re going back soon to see it as a winter spot. It’s one of the most amazing spots in Denmark.
Jeg savner lidt "Crystal light" nemt at have på hylden. Små pakker med smag til ens vand. Også "Coffee mate French vanilla" den på flaske!!!! Jeg får af og til den i pulver form fra Kanada, men den på flaske er så lækker
I use like a lot in my everyday speech. It always gets bad when I’m in the US or around other Americans. If you watch our video when my parents surprised me, my friends abs I say like about 200 times
The word LIKE is something you quite often hear being "put in", even when it is not needed. I have noticed, that some danes and other nationalities have also started to use it more often, when they speak english. However, it is mostly the young people. In the, by the way, interesting video, it is said about 80 times in 10 minutes .. Count for yourself. 😊
Maya didn't play in the front yard because we were watching her 24/7, but because we had a nice front yard in both the houses we lived in while she was growing up in the US. It is also an easy way for kids to see each other outside and collect to play together, it is very welcoming. You made a bit of a leap on what you suggested there.
@@TravelinYoung im not saying you did that ... i just know the law in the US and some places in Canada can take your Kids if the play in the frontyard without you keeping a eye on them as long the under 14 ... Safety ... understand that ...
@@istrysii Just because I think it is important to clear up misconceptions, most states do not have such a law. The laws are typically written to say you should not leave a child 'at risk' which doesn't mean without supervision at all times...unless something happens that is risky. I would suspect the same is true elsewhere, if your child under 14 gets harmed or harms someone else because they weren't being supervised, a parent might bear the responsibility. When Maya was under 14 she would go to her friends on her own, they would go the library, do things after school etc. I think it's easy to hear about an edge case where someone is in trouble for neglect and apply that to the entirety of the US, but that isn't really the case.
Omg the lemonade thing! I just remembered we had something like that once and now I mis it. There was an ice tea version too. I wonder if you can get that stuff online. Pink lemonade powder sounds amazing and like something you could use in a cheesecake.
Thanks for sharing this - so interesting to hear your reflections :) Question: Is there a focus on food waste in the US. I know this is something that really is a big concern here in DK. But hearing you talk about these oversize drinks and seeing the (waste) of overproduction of food in the supermarket. So just interesting to hear if it is "normal" to throw out a lot of food - both at home or if the supermarkets donates food or do they just throw it out. Maybe they do sell all of this stuff, because the amount of citizen is so much larger than a Dane can comprehend?
I don't remember hearing much about food waste when I lived in the US, so it probably isn't as much of a concern. Which means I also don't know if it's an issue. But I will say as you suggest, there are far more people so I don't think grocery stores have issues with throwing a ton out. They are businesses built to make money, so it's in the best interest to have supply that best matches demand. I do remember some stores donating food from the bakery or fruits/veggies, but I couldn't tell you what ones specifically or how often.
The sheer quantity and sizes of soft drinks n sodas in the US has always been appalling and off putting to me - imo it comes across as greedy and childish to want 2 liters of coke for a burger - thank you for sharing these eye-openers :D
While I agree it is large (though it is not 2 liters with a burger), I also think you get ripped off in DK for what you pay for drinks. The cost to restaurants is extremely cheap and a spot where businesses are being greedy. Massive profit margins for soda in europe.
I was in Florida, i shop in a Walmart a few years ago. They had a lot stuff but it was poor quality. A lot fastfood in the freezer. People driving around in small electric. trolley.
There are things I do not quite understand about the USA and it is ALL the telephone poles / wires in even wooden poles, I think it was the late 60s or the beginning of the 1970s we here in DK removed them and dug our cables down. Why do they still have them in the US it is "old fashioned and when you get a little storm they are on the" ass "because they saw no power and telephone etc. Thought the US was modern and innovative, but no Sorry not to blame yours home country BUT
This was actually one of the things I was thinking about when I said it’s a lot to look at because you are right. There are poles EVERYWHERE and it looks almost cluttered. - M
Because Denmark is 43000 square kilometers and USA is 10 million square kilometers. It would cost billions upon billions to do it in the US. It wasnt cheap in DK, but it was affordable. Furthermore, the politicians can just decide it to do it in Denmark because of our infrastructure, but the US doesnt have a shared infrastructure across the country, it's all states, countys etc that'd have to decide to do it. The US is very innovative in a lot of places, especially technology, but when it comes to infrastructure it's several decades behind. Also, while the country overall is very rich, it's very poor on a per capita level.
@@melanp4698 Again with the size strawman argument. The price of digging a hole for a pole is the same, regardless of it being in the northern, southern, eastern or western hemisphere. It's not a CENT cheaper for Denmark to take down a telephone pole, than it is for america to take one down. If anything were to be cheaper, it would be in the US, because the diggers could bury more electrical lines for the same wages. America lives and breathes the medieval dynasty post war era, half of the country wishes they'd never left the beginning 1950's. The country overall is not rich at all, certain areas are, and for as long as 95% of the wealth is held by the top one percent of the top one percent, the country as a whole is in really bad shape. Wise people leave before it's too late. As to cables hanging in the street. It's no longer than 10 years ago Denmark finally dug down the laast electrical wires. No more "mastesikringer" being blown, when little marcus or mads played soccer on the street and accidentally hit two of the wires.
@@eidodk The size of digging ONE hole is the same, yes. But if you truly are naive enough to think that infrastructure cost-to-landsize scales 1:1 then there's not really any reason to discuss further, because that is very far from the truth. Besides, "affordability" covers many more aspects than simply the cost of the materials and manual labour.
@@melanp4698 With some exceptions, cables are layed underground in Germany (and neighbouring countries) as well. Our streets are better maintened also. The US has an infrastructure of Moldova. When I think of innovations, I think of Japan but not of the US. The US is marketing and more marketing. So what are you talking about ?
The larger the population, the wider the variety and amounts of consumable products you'll find in stores. This particularly pertains to the US, as they are over-consumers compared to the majority of the rest of the world.
@@jimmybaldbird3853 I read a study somewhere a long time ago that claimed that Americans were over-consumers when compared to the majority of the rest of the world, but I can't reference it and I can't provide evidence for the legitimacy or the scope of the study either. But enough about my anecdotes. What are your explanations behind the fact that countries like, the US, China and Russia have an abundance when it comes to their selection of consumable items, compared to countries with smaller populations? What was your issue with my initial post, anyway? Was it the over-consumer claim?
The ketchup and mayo things are actually something i could use here in Denmark. When making homemade burgers, fries, hotdogs and the like. We have a few variations, but they arnt that good, and since there is no competition on that market, its too expensive. Its true that kids dont play in front yards here. Its more of a backyard thing, because its more private. Danes in a nutshell. When it comes to trees between pavement and roads, i havnt really seen it here. We have lots of small pathways between houses. Often with hedges, trees, grass. Small parks, playgrounds, football fields (every plain grass area is a football field). But again. Its more secluded.
On the lemonade powder, I remember while growing up we had something like it --> it was marketed as "Ice Tea" though, with Peach or Lemon taste. Powder-ish stuff in a jar you then mixed with water :-) ( +/- 20 years ago by now in Denmark, so I don't know if it's still around - or if it counts as being "the same" :P )
@@mayaanastasiayoung6739 Lidl had a brand called "Lord Nelson" Iced tea in granular form with either peach or lemon taste to mix with water. Came in big clear plastic jars - I still have an empty one, expired in 2017 and I don't think I've seen them in recent years.
