I’m Emma, a freelance journalist and film producer, working across Denmark and the U.K. I’m currently based in Sheffield after three and a half years in Copenhagen. I’m half Danish and have a Yorkshire husband and three daughters aged 8, 5 and 2.
In February 2017, my little family relocated from Sheffield, England to Copenhagen, Denmark.
The reason we moved to Copenhagen is because of my Danish genes. I had always wanted to try living in the country my Dad was born in and to learn the language. After our eldest turned one, Rich and I decided we were at the perfect stage of life to try this new adventure. We left our jobs, rented out our house and bought a one-way ticket to Copenhagen. Of course, it’s not quite as simple as that and I explain more in my first blog posts. But we took a leap of faith.
Our initial goal was to stay for two months, to try and find work in Copenhagen. We then extended it by another six months and then to another year when we had our second child. Three and a half years later, we came to a crossroads where we had to decide whether to set up more permanently in Denmark or return to our Sheffield home, a local school and a family business. It was the most difficult decision of my life. In the end, we decided to leave Denmark on a high, after more than three years of learning about my family’s Danish genes and gaining more than I could have hoped for.
This blog documents everything we learnt as a family in Denmark and everything we continue to learn, from our frequent visits, family connections, my freelance work and parenting the Danish way.
I hope it informs, entertains and most importantly, inspires. xxx
If you’d like more regular updates, please follow my Instagram page: @Danishgenes