Grace Edwards

October 30, 2021

Dear Mr. Ausland,

During my time studying in Copenhagen, Denmark, I have found myself reflecting on your

“Staying for Tea” article. While my study abroad experience does not contain a service element,

I believe the five principles you describe in the article still apply to the cultural exchange that I

am participating in by living in Copenhagen for four months. To analyze how your principles

apply to my experience, I’d like to focus specifically on one recurring topic of conversation that

has come up continuously during my time here: the Danish welfare state.

When many people think of Denmark, they may think of socialism. While Denmark is

not actually a socialist country, it is true that they have a very generous welfare system that

includes free healthcare, free education, and substantial unemployment benefits. Danes pay very

high taxes, but most are happy to do so. Denmark’s cultural history has evolved quite differently

from the United States’; where the U.S. has a strong sense of individualism and freedom from

government intervention, Denmark has a tradition of trust among its people. The stark contrast

between the U.S. and Danish political landscapes leads to many interesting and sometimes

sensitive conversations.

For the most part, I prefer the Danish system to the U.S. system and I think that the U.S.

should adopt similar policies. Even though I agree with most Danes with whom I have political

conversations, there can be an interesting dynamic if we have preconceived notions about one

another based on our home country. This is where staying for tea comes in. In your article, you

said that when you stayed for tea you noticed that “[your] simplistic stereotypes were melting

away; they were becoming real to [you].” I have also noticed that when I spend more time

talking to Danish people, their political views about Denmark and the U.S. vary much more than
stereotypes led me to believe. Obviously, you wouldn’t expect for every American you speak to

to have the same political views. It is strange then to expect this for citizens of another country.

This brings me to another point from your article that has resonated with me during my

study abroad experience. The idea of “checking your filter” has changed the way I think about

the people of Denmark. I had not considered that by failing to immerse myself in Danish culture

and “staying for tea” with Danes, I may be accidentally dehumanizing them in my own eyes.

When cultural differences eclipse people’s humanity in our perception of them, it’s easy to

reduce them to stereotypes. So much of the purpose of my experience this semester is to learn

from experiencing another culture. This does not mean spending time in Denmark observing

things that I already presume to be true. It means really meeting people and knowing them

deeply. I would like to start doing a better job at this point by committing myself to fewer, more

substantial relationships with Danes instead of many interesting yet brief political discussions.

I interpret the overarching themes of your article to be humility and compassion. I am not

coming into a country where I interact with many people who are at a disadvantage. In many

ways, there is nothing I can offer them that would be of any value. However, just as I am

benefitting from immersing myself in their culture, I can give them the experience of interacting

with someone from a different culture. Cultural exchange can be a wonderful thing if it is done

with humility and in a non-judgmental setting.

When I return home this winter, I will bring back so many lessons from my time abroad.

I already feel as though I have a more complete view of the world than I had before I came here.

The world feels so much bigger but at the same time, so much more seems possible. I feel that I

have benefited greatly from learning about a completely different type of political model as well

as the varying opinions about that model. My leadership style will be influenced by the
conversations I have had with people who carry different beliefs from me and have different

cultural backgrounds. I have learned to appreciate how multiple perspectives can illuminate an

issue and lead us closer to common understanding. I will be sure to stay for tea any time I travel

outside of my American bubble in the future.

Sincerely,

Grace Edwards