Reacting to Comments on How We View America After Living in Denmark 

Thanks for being so diplomatic, kind, and educated in your responses. I like the addressing of the viewer comments. I feel more YT'ers should do that. It's an important conversation.

I've never thought about how America and Denmark might have different views on what freedom means, and how in the US it might be more an individual freedom at the cost of the many and vice versa. Very good point and I feel like a lot of things about the US makes more sense to me now

Hi I’m a Dane and I really appreciate and enjoy these videos. It’s honestly amazing seeing Americans defending Denmark from American propaganda aka false rumors about Denmark. You guys speak the truth which is why you’re my favorite danish youtubers :)

I really appreciate you guys and your videos. With comment number 3, I relate to y'all a lot, about how freedom is viewed different. I think also that here in america, the 70s serial killer craze has affected our trust in others (in my opinion). I also agree with comment four; it's unfortunate that we forget we are humans. Creatures that exist here together on this planet we call home! We can disagree, but still be able to talk to others and not be rude🥰🥰

As per usual guys, a great video full of important information. I think I left a note with the video in question saying something to the effect of, ‘Oh boy, are you in for it now’ 😉 I wasn’t wrong but you both turned it into a learning for both Danes and Americans, making it into an opportunity to understand, if only in a small way, one another’s cultures. I think you guys are brilliant. Well done 👍🏻

My grandmother came to visit a few weeks ago, and I had arranged with my brother -who's done the reverse of you guys, and moved to the states - for them to Facetime. My brother has three boys, only two of whom have met my grandmother (their great-grandmother) in person yet. One of the things she said after the video call, is how amazed she is at their total and open embrace of her, even the youngest who is yet to visit Denmark (thanks, Covid). My oldest nephew, when he came to Denmark and met his great-grandparents for the first time, ran right to them, happily calling "oldemor og oldefar!" giving them a hug. And as I told her, that openness is because they're American. 🙂

Wait, what? I have to rewatch the entire video, cuz I was hypnotized by Derek's Katya T-shirt 🤩🥰🤩🥰🤩🥰

Love your Katya t-shirt!🤩 And keep up the good work!! 💪🥰

You are very reasonable and thoughtful. That's why I really enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work 👍👍

When I lived and worked in Canada I was the only American in my office and I would very often have to listen to people giving critical reviews of certain American things happening in the news. It was as if they felt I had a direct line to the White House and could sort out their complaint. Still I definitely agree with you on your original video and on what you had to say here. Living abroad is a great experience. I wish everyone could do it.

I think a lot of the relationship stuff, especially new ones or the new colleague type are somewhat rooted in Janteloven. In the sense of "don't try to make yourself interesting" - which works for both the inviting people out or showing them around, as you say, we're imposing ourselves on their time and filling it with *us* - or performing to keep them entertained; too thirsty for the Danish soul lol. We'd maybe suggest Tivoli but buggered if we'd take them.. They'd gravitate to us and miss out on all the other interactions that they rushed through to "not ignore" us. Or maybe it's just my adhd that over-thinks it lol but the smaller the group, the more in the moment we seem to be, the more we recall without needing to look at pictures or videos on our mobiles.

Spot on and nuanced as always. Americans welcome strangers in a more obvious way. Religion is no-go in Scandinavia. Political argumentation is no-go in the US. Etc. The world is nuanced. Unfortunately, fortunately

Great video. I love your thoughtful outlook.

I love you guys! You are always making my day even currently where i am in isolation due to CoVid! And Mike next time i stumble across you i will come and say hi! Last time i saw you, you got on the same "S-Tog" as i was on i just had to much school work (Life as a person in last year in "Folkeskole" aka. elementary school) to come and say hello.

Another great video 👏👏 also, I really like the soup strainer, Derek 😍

I don't feel religion is taboo at all.. I just don't think we're very religious anymore :)

Thank you for another thoughtful video... really enjoy hearing your fair-minded cultural insights. The "Wall" eye candy doesn't hurt either. Have a great weekend, D & M.

I definetly enjoy your views, on both sides, fresh opinions is important

You've spoken about the unwritten rules in Denmark a few times in your videos - curious to know more about what they are and how you've experienced them, maybe you could do a video about that? 🙂

Katyaaa! ... That is all. Ok almost, thank you for giving your opinion on my comment, I thought your general take on the comments section was interesting and it could definitely be fun to see more of in the future :)

I love how you ignored the comment on screen with the word "buffoon" in it... There's a big difference between being direct and being needlessly rude. Among people who cherish directness flat out ignoring someone is harsh punishment :P Also Derek: I absolutely LOVE your t-shirt! :D

Normally I don’t comment before watching the first 5 minutes, but hitting the like button before watching the video 👍🏻

Love the beard on Derek 😘 (and hope Mike agrees 😉) haha, great video as always

Love the facial hair, Derek! You've always been a couple of handsome guys, of course - but you just went from Will Riker in TNG season 1 to Will Riker in TNG season 2 😁

Regarding the social aspect, I agree, though the term I usually use is acquaintances, (bekendte), and even then people usually become offended here. I just find it shallow to call someone a friend if I just met them, and 100% sure on that I can't be there for them when they need me and vice versa. For the 3 people I consider friends, I would turn every stone in the world to help them, the rest is people I just can't give them that guarantee.

Hey :) I loved your point Mike about Danes not being as open and inviting as Americans because we also think kind of self-deprecating “why would you want to hang out with me for your limited time in Denmark”. I actually think if you mentioned in a meeting that you would love to met some Danes or have company or guidence navigating danish tourist spots or even just grap a beer or coffee after work - i really think Danes would be happy to do that.

We don't see the average American on tv .. i understand and is aware that. Most people outside Denmark think Copenhagen it the way things are in Denmark ... but it's so much more. ;o) You two guys are very good ambassadors for the US. And when i was in the US back in the days i experienced that getting out of the tourist-hot-zones that's where you meet the average Americans - kind and open people.

Good idea, to go back and review the reviews! Love the new 'scruff' Derek, looks great! I have experienced the US welcome wagon, it's a bit overwhelming! 😱 Must say, I prefer the, 'do it yourself/myself' route and have seen things off the beaten path, that I definately preferred, to the American Way of Life tour (even though it was meant, in the best possible way)🙄 I probably came off as an impudent, bad-mannered, isolationist, saying, 'No thank you, about 50 times or That's not necessary or I have made other plans even, I think, I'll stay in today...etc' all answers seemed a very difficult concept to outward-going US colleagues 😵😖 hello from Hundested 🌸 ❄

Lovin' the beard, Derek 👍🏾🤩

I’m sorry that this question is a bit off topic but I’m curious if you guys get a lot of requests to meet up from other Americans living in Denmark? And would you/do you actually meet up with any of them? Love your videos. Keep them coming. 😊

Have you seen Traveling Youngs video where they compare taxes? It is really good and easy to follow. Not to promote another youtuber but I remember you have mentioned them yourselves in the past

Hello couple, I'm gay, Brazilian and an English learner and I loved your channel 😍🤝🏻☺️

Most (adult) Danes are horrible at making new friends haha. I´ve thought about it often, after I moved from inner Østerbro in Cph. to a northern part of Odense, Fyn. When we are settled with kids, house and whatnot, it seems like life is just about work, family, sleep and maybe a hobby in the weekends if you're lucky. It´s not just frustrating for foreigners, it does hit our self pretty hard, if we ever move to another part of the country :D

Carlsberg LOL, love that very true comment :-) I was thinking about that thing, with a new co-worker or friend, and introducing them to your friends/family. I feel its a big responsibility, just like helping someone getting a job, where you work. If the person you dont know yet, behaves badly, its on ME. Its my fault, ruining other peoples day/evening, if I bring the wrong one... And sometimes even Carlsberg, can make everything worse :-D

I feel like the social clash between Americans and Danes, also just comes down to what you're used to. I'm fairly positive I wouldn't come off as open and inviting as an American to a stranger, but that most likely wouldn't be because of that person. Besides being really shy (😆), I wouldn't want to come on too strong by making plans or inviting them to my home, cos I wouldn't want to pressure them into doing something they don't wanna do. Maybe they don't have the time or they don't really want to come to my home, so it just feels more comfortable taking it slow and letting the friendship build from there if we're both showing an interest in staying connected and actually being friends. Personally I'm just very aware of not pressuring people to be a part of my life or making me a part of theirs 🤷 I will however say it would be nice to offer to take people who are new to the country out and show them around, which I think lots of Danes would do. Not all, but plenty of us are absolutely hospitable 😆

The beard suits you Derek :)

It is not the extremly religious people that stand out to me. They are every where. It is the fact that if a person does not stand by certain religious values, then it is a thing about them. And the fact that each chamber have a chaplain who is responsible for leading each days proceding with a prayer. It blew my mind the first time I saw that.

Love the beard, Derek

While I do acknowledge your comment to Danish closed-mindedness being partly due to a language barrier I would kinda think it's not. At least I know that I experience that same tightness and reservedness even though I'm well above decent in Danish (it's my native tongue and has been so for 40 years+) When you don't have you childhood friends, making new friends and/or close acquaintances as an adult can be quite difficult - and your workplace rarely change that

It could be fun to see you React to videos on “How America messed me up”. 😀

About the medical stuff. I have a friend. Born and raised Texan, now lives in Oklahoma. Recently he's had some stomach issues he thinks are related to a pre-existing condition. He's in a position where he can't get insured, so anything medical is out of pocket. Just to be looked at, and figure out what's wrong, is $7.000, that he's not likely to be able to accumulate. About a decade ago he broke his collar bone. Last i heard he's still paying that off, and will be for the rest of his life. Now my understanding is, his situation isn't all that uncommon, that it's part of everyday life that people don't get treatable illnesses treated because, where would they get the money?

Is that Katya on the t-shirt??? I love her!

I need to write more controversial comments to get into one of these videos 😅 That Guy speaking about how well Americans treated him when he Worked there and how they didnt do it when they came to Denmark.. that Guy should be the change he wants to see.. "i was surprised how WE treated Them".. he had every chance to take the Americans out for sightseeing or dinner.. if you get surprised by how you yourself treat others.. be the change you want to see. I really am amazed by that approach, sitting back not doing anything and then more or less complain about how you didnt do anything, when you could have changed it, dont blame other people if you are part of the same group that didnt do anything when you could have and should have, i just find it both sad and funny.. sorry. 🙂

Derek, love your new look

Derek, love the new look

just a question. can you have a car in the USA registered if you do not have a address ? Did change last year 1 july. that we could here if you have a conection person. But normaly you couldnt. and still difficult

I LOVE Katya SO much....She's my favorite neurotic mess....love her wierd mind and kind heart

"Who am I to invite you...." is so true.

LOL. The Queens last words on New Years Eve is - ALWAYS - "Gud bevare Danmark" (God Bless Denmark) 😊. Totally agree with your points about Freedom, and how they "differ" from culture to culture. As always.., good, informative and educational VLOG. I give it ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5. Always leave room for improvements 🤣 ).

The Katya T-shirt ❤️

👍

Derek, It suits you well with a beard

Hard to compare a country of 300,000,000+ inhabitants with one of a few million. A more apt comparison might be Denmark with North Dakota. ND has a small population, with a huge percentage of Scandinavian descent.

Hopefully people will soon realize that God has no religion, but if God had a religion it would be quite simple expressed by the Greek word "αγάπη" Edgar Cayce explained it so well when he said that it is all based on the law of love and the the karmic principle

On comment 3. Don't worry so much about it. In Denmark we have "Frisind". A word that doesn't really exist in english, but keep us free from making things controversial and abrasive.

I was thinking about the 5th comment. And it occured to me, that the way i see it is - Danes have a hard time trusting people they don't know. That is not something that's given, it has to be earned. You have to prove yourself worthy. And it has nothing to do with nationality. Even between danes, when moving to a new city and meeting new people, that can be kinda hard. - Where as it seems to me, from a Danes view point, that Americans welcome newcomers quickly, so they can gauge that persons values, especially politically... And if they don't align with that persons values, they get - at best - avoided. (Short term friendship, like you phrased it Mike). Or at worst - They will instantly see you as an "enemy" or someone to target. - Maybe in a sense, trust is either given more quickly, based on if the values align, or pushed away faster, if they don't... - Personally - That would make more sense, in why the left and right have such a hard time talking, in the States... But that's just my oppinion... Great video though. Love learning new things... I do plan to move to the States myself, within the comming year, to be with my girlfriend... Though i'm not sure of how to go about it ?? Oh well, Odin will light my path... (Yea, Pagan here... lol)

You to are so adorable with each other

I think, in Denmark your religion is private - sort of like your sex life. In the US people I don't know that well will ask me about my religion. And look at me weird if I tell them I don't have any. "But who guides you?", one woman asked. This was in Oregon. ETA: ROFLOL - I replied before I saw the last part of the video. I need to find my own comment and read the sub-comments :)

The beard looks good on Derek. 🧔🏻

Derek what ever you have changed about yourself, you look handsome!!! and have you lost weight?

The beard looks good

Yeah, I'm gonna need Derek to keep that beard

think you got the religion bit wrong. The reason we're are awkward around religious people, is that we *in a judgmental moment* think they're kind of coocoo. And I am not alluding to mental illnesses, but just delusions.

Danes don't know how much they pay in taxes. I pay top tax at sixty percent. But that is of the last krone and after some deductibles. So when I look at my tax returns and take the total amount paid in tax vs. income, it is more like 33% tax.

The question is: Are Americans outgoing and welcoming because it is about you (being the newbie) or is it about them (as everything else within their society) ?

Omg Is that Katya?! 😍

There's no doubt that Americans does the whole Welcome to our country, come and have a barbecue tomorrow.. Deal way better than Danes. But I do believe it can happen. Its not impossible here.. We might take a day ir two longer to make plans like that. But it can happen. I have personally been invited to stuff since i was 10 or so. Invited in in the Lake District in England by a family that found it insane that my mum was hitchhiking around UK at all hours. So came in around 8pm for later supper. Got taken in by a spanish family that had a giant party going on for days. I was hanging out with some English speaking guys from the basque country, at around 13 years old. My mum was in Bilbao at the time. So me and these 20 year olds had planted our tent in the mountains right outside thier moutain house without seeing anything. Got woken up at night and came in to a lot of food and music. Meat was haging down from the ceiling and whine was served in goatskin things. They looked like a bagpipe i remember. Went back to sleep a few hours later, but got up and joined in around noon again. This lasted all day so it was quite an adventure that my mum missed out on as she was far away from the village we was in. Also hang out with alot of spanish girls and went around the different villages and saw a turkey farm, and a mansion owned by the family of the two sisters i was hanging out with. Also met anither girl that lived above her parents bar. Bar Madras it was called. And we had rum and coke costing close to nothing compared to Denmark. So i seem to remember buying a lot of them before i realised that getting those drinks would be more money than i would be able to afford at 13. But there 1 Danish drink got you a lot of drinks in Spain. Also made a short cut on another night with a lot of danish adults. We got stopped by soldiers with machine guns. We had gone unto a military base with signs saying No Trespass. So, yeah... Not good 😅. A lot of making out with the local girls was done in the 3 weeks we where there. We all had girlfriends whilst there. I was just a bit all over the place as i loved all the attention. My fave girl was the girl from Bar Madras but her English was awful so hard to make plans with her. But she was amazing looking snd we did make out the last day i was there. But i feel she had bigger plans than that. She just couldnt understand me when I asked about it all. I remember she thought that my mum wouldn't allow me to stay at her place. But she would, but I was on about her parents might not allow it all. But she didnt get that. And what a shame. She was a 10 and looked better than any girl i knew back home. Even at 12. But there you go.. Last thing was me and my mum being taken in by an old 70 year old Norwegian man when skiing in Norway. Had tea and bread with him and his wife. This was the last skiing trip I was on. 16 I was. And again as always made a female friend also from Denmark. We hung out at the hotel. She was not as frisky as the Spanish girls. Bit of a let down.. 😁 But yeah, i think meeting people can happen everywhere. There might be an easier way in America. But you can still have adventures around Europe. It might just turn up differently. 😏

Reacting: Friends 1. grade: Friends since childhood - 2. grade Friends since 20 years - 3. grade since 5 years

The tax always funny. Because looking up average monthly Pay, the dane still makes more after tax.

Yes and No. In Sweden, America is being held as extremely individualist. But I don't think that they really understand the American perspective. The issue is more culture in general, and what is perceived as individualism in each country. Yes. America individualism is about being self-made.But, the most overseen part of the US is that it also much centered around family and local communities that help their members. To many Americans this is an important aspect of the fabric of society and the nation. People feel compassion and are helping each other out more. Generally, to me it seems, that Americans have close emotional bonds and family connections than Swedes. Both the Danish and Swedish societies are based around nation as the base community. To most of us is individualism is reflected in the “freedoms” that the welfare state grants us citizens, like universal healthcare, public schools, daycare, paid parental leave - so that parents and grandparents can work and pay taxes. A Scandinavian is in general less dependent on family and community and more on the State. Not to say that we are not helping each other out in bad situations. And a lot of Swedes equate individualisms with "atomicity". Which is not true about American view on family-backed individualism. Thus, to a Swede, it is unthinkable to have to think about decisions delegated to the State that an American take for granted having to make themselves. That is just how it is. So we have different views on individualism, liberty, and freedom. Freedom is not having to do something. Not having the right to make certain decisions about ourselves. We defer those to politicians and bureaucracy because we believe they can make fairer decisions. But Scandinavians might feel powerless when the politics seem to fail.

The concept about freedom is so different in US an Dk, the mentioned comment doesn't really relate to freedom as such, but some more about security in your life, which gives you greater a sense of liberty and choice. In Denmark you can more or less be whatever you want to, just don't stick out too much or you'll be shunned socially, while in the US there's a greater tolerance to being and living in a different manner from others, you will most likely find an accepting community somewhere. But I must say that every time I've been in the US I've never felt so socially insecure in public spaces because there are so many unsaid rules you must follow.

you guys should look up the polls on what people in the us would vote for - something like 70% of the US refuses to vote for an open atheist.

On religion: George Carlin once said that there should only be 1 commandment: Keep thy religion to thyself

as a kid in denmark i thought America was Awesome. but when becoming an adult you begin to see how rotten it is behind the shiny facade.

Can you explain to me why Americans are not more up in arms over the fact that private companies in America are taking away their precious freedom (with censorship)? I personally have been put in facebook prison more times than I can count for comments that aren't nearly as harmful / hateful as what I hear daily from American politicians and off course some comments that are seen as normal in Denmark. And worst is that most of the times it has been the algorithms that completely got it wrong.

A like for Derek´s t-shirt :D

The beard suits you.

Beliefs has the cons. that they puts a "security button", between common sence and the power of faith towards some deity to blame

Katya t-shirt. I love you.

We have a love hate relation with the US here in Denmark. We love to point out all the thing things wrong with America. At the same time we love everything coming from america: Music, movies, food ect.

They always go after the taxes, huh?

The US president finishes almost every speak with "God Save America". If a swedish politician would say the same (but Sweden not America) people would go bananas.

To me, religion suxx BIG TIME. Love your videos.

Katya!

Yikes! Way too many ads for me. Interesting channel though…

According to religion and politics: there certainly has happened a few things in the meantime....!

I think it is interesting that Denmark and the other Nordic countries are some of the most secular societies in the world, but our high level of trust, low corruption, equality, human values, social security and so on, show how we have integrated the Christian values in all aspects of our daily lives. Most of us may not be Christians (anymore) in a religious definition, but we still strongly uphold the Christian values. Afterall our ancestors have been christians for a 1000 years. On the other hand, American Christians are often fundamentalists and churchgoers, but they are also often pro death penalty and fight for their right to own weapons. They are also against immigrants (although they themselves are descended from immigrants) and all in all they just do not seem to have a particular Christian mindset and sometimes I wonder how they can read the Bible and interpret it this way. .?

Spontaneous were laughing when told integration works good in US.

The polarization in US has gotten completely out of hand.

In regards to religion, yes it is not something we talk about. I think the 40ies did something to our society. See in Denmark when Germany walked in over our borders we got other peoples value showed down our throat but there's more to it. Shame. A lot of shame. Not many know this, but even though our government helped Jews escape, in Denmark books who taught antisemitism was huge bestsellers before second world war. People here actually agreed with it. It was the most popular books. Though we luckily didn't take it as far, the government after the war, made a huge deal out of hiding that, out of pure shame and there came a huge focus on how much we did good, almost propaganda like, to hide the fact that we had a lot of antisemitism being very popular. I think that shaped our society. When a government and whole country tries to forget something so embarrassing, it has consequences for society and shapes how future generations think because of how we behave. So religion and those topics have turned into some sort af taboo. I'm raised in a Jehovas witness family, and to be honest, I like that religion get smashed to pieces. I actually think religion gets to much kredit and aren't criticized enough even, but I of course have a huge bias there.

Every time one of your (top-end) leaders, religious or not ,ends a speech, they go "For God and country" or "God bless America".

So I didn't comment that video.. so I comments this one: ohhhhhhh new bead ......zooooo masculine

Well... Even on the money bills and coins of US, the words "in god we trust" are printed.. ;-). And for a Dane (as me), i'll see americans always "using" god as an excuse for almost everything... Sorry.. And.. In the american national anthem, there is writen: ""In God is our trust". :-), so god is everywhere.. Proud to have you guys here ;-) Yes.. A little harder to get a freind in DK, but when you got a friend, is is often for life... We are maybe more appreciating of the friend we have and getting.. ? Funny, that if an american ask: "how are you", you are not supposed to answer... But just carry on speaking...

Really Derek ??? Your T-shirt!!! WHY?!!

Everything gets better with smoked and bacon. Just a tip.

A lot of things in denmark is also based on Faith.. like burials, hollydays, and the system in general.. 😅 if you really look there is so manny things that we have from a very christian socity that are still in funktion today. What the us does better is that they are more open towards other faiths, which i think we could learn something from 😉

We know what religion stands for, so not a good idea to tell if you're religious, better to tell how important you think Human rights are. Freedom to die alone on the street, or freedom to die alone in your apartment, same same. Personally, i would think it was exhausting to go do a lot, when working abroad for a few weeks, much prefer to stay at the hotel, but would have difficulty saying no thanks.

Hmm as a natural born US citizen, Mike and Derrick, I think you have some big blinders on. Considering your comment “extreme examples” is actual reality. “Smaller safety nets” are almost nonexistent in the US and available to repeat abusers that work the system. Politics, religion and crying racism for EVERYTHING is causing a horrible change. According to your timeline of moving, you left when agendas took root. I stumbled across your channel because I am so fed up with the decline in the US and considering a new country. I ❤️💕 your channel but this video does not represent current US. Religion, politics, race, sex and lack of common sense is destroying USA.

As a Dane, i dont trust people who rely in a god.

Tabu to talk about religion in DK thats nonsens, we just dont care so much about it .. its not a topic ..