Gustav and Anezka

Gustav and Anezka came to Aalborg in early March 2014. Gustav is a trained
psychiatrist and currently works at Aalborg University Hospital.
Gustav comes from from Slovakia and Anezka the Czech Republic. They both came to
Madrid, Spain in September 2013. With them they had their 11 month old little
daughter Berenika. Gustav was to study Danish at Medicarreras intensive Danish
course, but Anezka did not attend the intensive course, as she was pregnant with the
couple's second child.
Today the couple does not regret that Anezka did not attend the intensive course, and
she is sure that she will learn Danish in Denmark. Among other things MediCarrera
offered her a short course in Danish via Skype after the arrival to Denmark, while she
waited for little Kristian to be born. Her first job in Denmark will be to learn Danish,
and then she is sure that she will find a job herself.
The couple lives in Aalborg, and after 3 months they moved into a small house in
Visse, Aalborg.
"It was actually my contact person, who helped me getting the house," says Gustav.
"The apartment we had been provided by the psychiatry department was a little too
small for our family when our second child was born in May."
The family's child number 2 has been given a Danish-sounding name, Kristian. His
little sister Berenika is almost 2 years old and has started in the nursery school and
has integrated amazingly well. Our daughter Berenika has very quickly become
accustomed to living in Denmark and communicates well with the staff in the
nursery. Although their daughter still does not speak Danish, there is no problem
communicating in the institution. "In particular, it is very positive that the teachers let
the kids do what they want. You may eat when they want, sleep when they need it
etc., "says Anezka. "I really like the approach towards the children.
Visit to Denmark
The Study trip with the interview at the hospital in Aalborg was, according to Gustav
and Anezka, well organized. At that time, the couple's daughter was only 9 months
old, so they all went to Denmark. We got a really good impression of Denmark and of
the region where Gustav was to work. We were especially impressed by the beautiful
scenery. We did not get as much information about the job itself and the various
working conditions and it might have been nice to know a little bit more about that,
but we did not know at the time, "says the couple.
"When we later came to Denmark, we were a little surprised that it is not so easy to
move to a new country. There were more different challenges than we expected
Therefore, both Gustav and Anezka agree that it was a great help for them that
MediCarrera took care of all the practicalities of the move to Denmark.

"I was really surprised how easy it was to sort out all the official papers for example.
To get my specialist proof, "says Gustav and continues.
"The staff in MediCarrera was very precise in their instructions to me about the
documents I needed and from then on it went really fast to get the necessary papers"
"On the other hand, it took a long time for my wife to get the very important CPRnumber. You really are "lost" in Denmark without a CPR number. This 10 digit number
is the key to EVERYTHING in Denmark Without that you cannot get a bank account, a
mobile phone etc.
It was not an easy decision.
We talked about it for almost 2 weeks. For us it has never been a question of money,
for example. In contrast, we were looking for a country where there was time for the
family, a good education and health care. We found all that in Denmark. Here we can
work less and earn the same. This means that we have more time for each other and
for our children. This is very important to us.
Learning the Danish language
"First I had to go through the E-Learning course. And frankly, I was actually about to
drop out 2 times. I really think that it was hard to have to study and work at the same
time. "
... "The language course in Madrid was very intense. It was actually a little harder to
learn Danish than I had expected, "said Gustav, who already spoke English and
French, and of course, also Czech. Danish is very different than, say, French, and it
took me a while to accept that each language has its own way. Especially the
pronunciation is difficult
At the beginning of March 2014 Gustav began at his new workplace. The first 2 days
were spent fixing various practical things. CPR-number etc.
The introduction at the hospital went well, even though there were many new things to
learn. Such as for example dictation and how to log into different parts of the system.
Gustav contacted one of the other doctors on the ward, and he became Gustavs
contact on their own initiative, and it has, according to Gustav been a great help to
him, and he stresses that it is important that the recruited physician has a contact
doctor assigned for the first few months. Some of his colleagues were not so lucky,
and it can be seen today on their integration at the workplace.
"The contact person may well be a young newly qualified doctor, as in my case," says
Gustav. The most important thing is that it is one that has had its usual time in the
hospital, in Danish hospitals and who have the time and desire to help. For me it has
been essential to have a contact person assigned.
Is your professional life different after you have come to Denmark?

"Yes, very. My work looks quite different today than in the past. Today I have time to
consult theory and the internet. I never had time for that before. I have more time for
patients, and I feel that I can be a better psychiatrist for my patients. I do not need
take a lot of extra shifts to earn more money either. "
How is the Danish language? Do you feel well enough prepared for the job?
Yes, definitely. I can both talk to my colleagues and with patients. After about 7
weeks I had my first patient, and in fact I have only experienced once that there was a
patient who said she could not understand me. In fact, she said it after our
consultation to one of my Danish colleagues, but then I had to make sure the next
time I had consultation with her to emphasize, that if there was anything she did not
understand, then it was important, that she told me. Language should never be a
barrier between me and the patients
An important aspect is that it can be hard not to confuse lack of language skills with
lack of professional knowledge.
Perhaps it is also cultural, reflects Gustav, but it is very important to understand that
it is not rude to ask questions. Actually in a Danish job as a doctor, you are expected
to ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
Linguistically, it is hard, but professionally it's ok, says Gustav
Sometimes, of course, I still lack words, and then I have to ask a colleague or check
the dictionary. So it will probably be quite a while yet. But it's not because I did not
know it academically. I just cannot remember the word in Danish, or I have not come
across it yet, and it's important that things are being said properly to the patient, to
avoid misunderstandings. Sometimes it can be difficult to prove that you are a skilled
and professionally competent physician although the language is not always in tune.
I also continue attending Danish classes in Aalborg a few times a week. I'm glad,
though it is also hard to have to study Danish while I've got a new job, a little boy and
we have also moved twice in almost 4 months. But its ok, says Gustav.
Moving with his family to Denmark
Moving to Denmark has certainly been the hardest for Anezca since we had our little
daughter Berenika and she was pregnant with our second child. In the Czech Republic
it is normal to spend the first 3 years at home with the child, and in the beginning it
was hard for Anezka to accept that our daughter will go to a nursery school. But now
she has started, and she's already settled in well. She goes to sleep like any other
Danish child, and we bought as part of a first balaclava and rainwear for her, laughs
Gustav. He had been told by his Danish teacher, that this was essential equipment for
children in Denmark.
Something that also came as a surprise for the couple was that the challenge was not
over when they came to Denmark. In Denmark new challenges awaited the couple.

How to buy a new apartment or a house? And also the registration of the couple's car
turned out to be significantly more difficult than expected.
The Danish weather
"It is much warmer than I had imagined. Right now (July) is, for example, 30 degrees. I
had not imagined this. "
Dont worry, I said. Im afraid it'll soon end. You have not yet tried the Danish
autumn.
As a Dane, we know that the weather and conversation about the weather takes up a
lot a time also at work - in the summer, we think it is hot and winter cold - yes the
Danish weather is a big topic of conversation.
They have a small bathroom without a bathtub and then the washing
machine in the basement ...
One of the things that really surprised me was, that Denmark was so different. I had
not expected it.
For example, in my country there is almost always a dishwasher and washing machine
in the apartment. The Danes share a washing machine, most often in the basement.
That was really strange to me. And there is almost never a bathtub. In fact, we
discovered that it was very difficult to understand the housing market, something
which I had not expected, tells Anezka.
And then it took me a while to find the products I wanted to buy in the
supermarket. Several times I bought the wrong thing. But now it's better, she laughs
As Gustav at the end of the interview is asked if he has any advice for doctors who is
to face the same challenge as he and his wife did in the fall of 2013, he says:
It is very important to be positive, look to the future with confidence, and accept that
it takes time, also in Denmark, before everything falls into place.
You need to arm yourself with patience and accept that it takes time to get through
the first phase, for it will soon be much better!
Anezka agrees "It is very important that you are positive and motivated. The whole
process is lengthy: visits to Denmark, intensive language course and then the move.
But the main thing is that you should keep in mind that it also takes time to settle in
Denmark. It is also important that you are not shy, but you can always ask if you are
unsure about anything. It is a different culture, and it can sometimes be hard to know
what to ask for, and it can also be difficult for Danes to help, because they also do not
always know what is different in their country, ", comments Anezka.
Now almost 4 months after their arrival in Aalborg, they feel that they finally fell into
place and enjoy their new life as a family in northern Jutland, and they plan to stay in
Denmark for many years.