Learning about Denmark on Fanö island

Billy says:

We spent a weekend in roughly idyllic conditions, visiting libby's cousins bente and soren on the island of fanö, off the west coast of denmark. We were housed in our own little cottage, given bikes to travel about, and fed scrumpuous meals everyday. Bente had asked us to bring some warm weather, and we brought unusually warm days indeed, with 30 degrees celsius full sun till 11pm. Still, we enjoyed running around the yard with their dog sisse - playing "tug of war" with her rope - walking, (and, for libby, running) along the beach, (where the yearly two week long kite festival with dozens and dozens of kites, was underway) and biking the 10km length of the island down to the small town of sonderhö for a few scoops of ice cream.






Despite Soren being shy with his english, Bente kept lively conversation going the whole time (and translated for Soren as well). She is a very attentive listener, fully and genuinely engaged, curious, and delighted to share. We had silly times, like when we made casual bets on the "speedway" motorbike races on TV, trying to solve Danish kids' word puzzles, and trying out incredibly hard to pronounce and giggle-producing Danish phrases. But we also had many important, serious talks.

Bente was very interested in us learning about the Danish political and social system, and she's a good teacher. Bente was raised by a social-democratic family and is still proud to be participating in a society that intends to care for the health and happiness of its members. She sees it as important that workers join unions and play an active role, thinks anyone that wants a bed to sleep in ought to have one, and is compassionate enough to realize that working doesn't make everyone happy. Personally, since both her and soren have slight disabilities, they are eligible for the "flexi" work program in Denmark. As such, they both work roughly 20 hrs per week, and, with funding from the state, are paid a full week's wages. She is quite grateful for this program because, in her 40s, she doesn't feel ready to retire and feels quite useful in her job at county hall. This is only one of many excellent provisions and rights within the Danish system, such as: all students in university receive a monthly living stipend, childcare is subsidized 75% or more, children 9 and older are heard in court regarding their parents' divorce (and at 12 their opinion is given full weight), and - as if it's cliche to say so - every aspect of health care - from the midwife to the nursing home, is totally free.

Bente doesn't feel that these values are being eroded in Denmark, but she wasn't too proud to note the down sides, such the recent election of a neo-liberal president and Denmark's role in West Indies slave-trading during colonial days. In short, her version of socialism is quiet, simple, genuine, and open to modification.

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from left to right: libby, sisse, bente, soren and mette, soren's daughter, in front of their house:

some extra photos:


the train across the german-danish border was only one car long, sort of like a bus. it had to honk and slow down at lots of little farm intersections!