Eastern European people in Denmark

Hey everybody!

This week I noticed that there are lots of eastern European students in Aalborg, for example in my class there are Hungarians, Bulgarians, Estonians, Lithuanians, Latvians and Polish people.

As you know I’m living with two Lithuanians, and yesterday I decided to ask them some questions about their life in Aalborg, their studies, and the reasons why they came to Denmark.

My flatmates are Ruta, Mantas

Hey guys, so first of all how old are you?

Ruta: 22 Mantas: 22

What are you doing in Denmark?

Ruta: I am on unemployment benefits, working at the part time job as a dishwasher and starting to learn Danish. Mantas: I’m learning Danish.

What are/were you studying?

Ruta: I was studying international hospitality management. Mantas: I was studying Economics and Business Administration

Why did you choose to come in Denmark to study?

Ruta: Because of free education Mantas: Because I liked Denmark and I knew a lot about it already.

How do you do to live in Denmark? Do you work? Do you receive a grant?

Ruta: Both at the moment but I just want to get benefits and learn Danish. Mantas: I receive unemployment benefits

What are your plans for the future?

Ruta: Go to live at Copenhagen but still not sure. Mantas:I want to find a job in Denmark.

Why do you think there are so many eastern Europeans in Denmark?

Ruta: Free education, good money, hard to find job but when you have one you do not see any problems, you can even travel, and also you get scholarship. Living conditions are better in Denmark than Lithuania. Mantas: Because Denmark is an attractive country to go to. Free education, good salaries, etc.

As you can see, the main purpose of eastern European people when they come in Denmark is to improve their life and find a job. Also, after some exchanges with different people lots of them want to stay in Denmark or Nordic country such as Sweden or Norway. Their main motivation is to get a better salary than in their own country.

My own opinion is that I think these people are very courageous, lots of my friends from eastern Europe work to pay their rent whilst managing to study and gain qualifications.

Ok, in France some students do that but here they are totally alone, I mean without their family and every day they are very generous, and even if they have some economic problems, they always offer to share their food or other things with you.

I’m very pleased to have met these people, I’m very impressed by them and I think I will change my way of thinking now because I learned a lot from them.

That's from me for today.

See you soon, for my last post. Martin.