156 | “You’re Welcome… But You Don’t Belong” Life in Denmark as an International

About this episode

A conversation about identity and belonging in Denmark with guest Aurélia Durand.

A conversation about identity, moving abroad, and why belonging in Denmark isn’t always as simple as it seems. What does it really mean to belong, especially in a place like Denmark? In this episode, Derek sits down with French author and artist Aurélia Durand to talk about identity, moving abroad, and the often complicated reality of building a life in Denmark. Drawing from her memoir Belonging, Aurélia shares her journey growing up between Paris and La Réunion, and how living in Denmark forced her to confront deeper questions about who she is and where she fits. They explore: Why finding work and community in Denmark can feel harder than expected The hidden role of networks, language, and cultural “sameness” What it’s like to be included — but still feel like an outsider The tension between assimilation and staying true to yourself And how living abroad can reshape your identity in ways you don’t expect Aurélia also opens up about relationships across cultures, returning “home” and no longer fitting in, and how art became her way of processing it all. If you’ve ever struggled to feel at home in Denmark, or anywhere, this conversation will resonate. Aurélia Durand (guest)…

People in this episode

Host: Derek Hartman

Guest: Aurélia Durand

Topics covered

• identity
• moving abroad
• belonging
• cultural differences
• community
• assimilation

Keywords

• identity
• Denmark
• belonging
• moving abroad
• cultural assimilation
• community
• relationships
• memoir

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Belonging

Places: Denmark, Paris, La Réunion

More episodes of What Are You Doing in Denmark?

• 162 | Denmark Has a New Government. What Changes for Internationals? · June 9, 2026 · 31 min
• 161 | The Unwritten Rules of Drinking in Denmark · June 2, 2026 · 42 min
• 160 | Why So Many Internationals Leave Denmark (Even After Landing the Dream Job) · May 26, 2026 · 24 min
• 159 | Why Denmark Is OBSESSED With Summer Festivals · May 19, 2026 · 48 min
• 158 | How Denmark Became a Eurovision Favorite Again | Clara Sofie Fabricius on “Før vi går hjem” · May 12, 2026 · 37 min
• 157 | Why Does Everyone Hate Randers? Explaining Denmark's Most-Mocked City · May 5, 2026 · 30 min