Rahul and his wife moved from India because his wife got a job in Denmark… It has been an adventure with both ups and downs.
Rahul, where are you from, and what brought you to Denmark? I was born and brought up in Jaipur, Rajasthan (meaning “Land of Kings”) state, located in western part of India. I moved to Denmark with my wife Kanika Oswal because she was offered a position at Novo Nordisk’s headquarters in Copenhagen.
Have you considered moving as a special challenge you will face together? At a professional level it was a tough decision for me to leave a great, stable job and accompany my wife. At a personal level it was a daunting task for both me and my wife to leave our families and plunge into uncertainty, but because it was a great career opportunity for my wife and it offered better life prospects for both of us, we mutually decided to relocate to Denmark.
Did you have thoughts on how the moving could challenge your relationship? We knew that it would be challenging and testing for us being in a new country with a different culture, language and food, away from friends and family, acclimatizing to the climatic differences and most importantly for me to find a job. Initially it was very difficult to find right engagements, make friends, get a network, identify job prospects but we never gave up. We supported each other, overcame challenges and bonded, even better than before, so it came as a blessing in disguise for us.
Would you say that moving to another country affects your relationship? Moving to another country - especially when one partner is not working - is really challenging and requires a very accommodative mindset. Some days have been good - we have been happy and enjoyed our new life. Some days have been bad when we felt homesick, depressed and negative. Then we reminded ourselves of the famous quote by José N. Harris: “To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did. When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.” Today, when we look back to our move to Denmark, we have come a long way and sailed through the storm and it has affected our relation in a positive way.
Has it been a good thing for you and your wife to come here? Indeed! When we were in India we had great jobs and earned well but we moved to Denmark in search of a better quality of life. Earning more money was never a criteria. Both of us are very happy to be here. We don’t agree with the common notion that Danes are not friendly and don’t mix up with foreigners. Danes are kind, nice, friendly, helping and make efforts to support and integrate with foreigners. We have great neighbors, my wife has a great job and amazing colleagues in Novo Nordisk and I hope to soon find a job myself.
What challenges do you think international partners face? I think once you move to a non-English speaking country language is the first barrier. You cannot read labels or letters received from various government authorities. Among other challenges are extreme climatic conditions, lack of friends and family, cultural differences, loneliness, job insecurity, depression and uncertainty.
What are the positive things for a couple moving around in the world? I think moving to a new country is a great opportunity to explore, learn and grow. You experience new culture, food, friends etc. It is challenging to come out of your cocoon but once you do, you create joyful times and memories to be cherished for life.
Do you have good tips on how to face the challenges a life in a new country may bring without damaging your relationship? It is challenging in the beginning but it gets better. My wife and I are closer and our bond has strengthened. My suggestions for other people are: Be open and take initiatives to interact and connect with locals. Be proactive to
learn new things, do not hesitate to approach and interact with local people. Be patient and positive. This might sound clichĂŠ but it is true. You will get opportunities and meet people but you have to be patient and positive. It may come early on or take a while but it surely comes for all. If you feel depressed, watch motivating videos, read inspiring stories and most importantly believe in yourself. Create your network. Involve yourself in volunteering opportunities. Join a club/ association, and engage in small talk with your neighbors. When you take initiative to talk to someone you get important tips, guidance, support and contacts. It will help you more than sitting behind a computer finding a job. You never know where your next job opportunity is coming from. Most importantly: Take Danish lessons very seriously. This helps you to better integrate. It is tough but also fun and it will help you get a job and make local friends, and you learn one more language! If you have decided to stay in a country it makes sense to learn and speak the local language.
THANKS SO MUCH, RAHUL!