The Chinese Experience
As i am currently in China (and here for a while), i started a new blog. Go and check it out!
http://thechineseexperience.wordpress.com/
Info Package 3 – Living in Denmark
While you’re in DK, try to enjoy it, visit cities, go to parks and caress the deers in the deerpark 
get to know people, get out of your original comfort zone, there is a lot more to see and know outside of it!
Denmark is beautiful and great, treat it with respect and it will treat you well in return
I guess this is goodbye from this blog, it’s been a great year, and I hope to be back sometime in the future! thanks everybody and thanks DK and Aarhus!!!
balázs, over and out…
a little too late, but seasons change :)
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Info Package 2 – Initial things
It’s time for the second, and also second-to-last info package now. In this one I’ll try to give you some info on what to do when you arrive; if I forget anything that interests you, drop a couple of lines in the comments and I’ll get back to you.
A couple of things come to mind are residence permit, CPR card, bank account;cell phones and student id; so let’s take them in order shall we.
1. Residence permit
When you arrive, you will have to pick up an envelope from the International Office (B4) at ASB. With this envelope you can go to SKAT (danish tax authority and a lot of other stuff) – skat.dk – to request a residence permit. This is the first step you will need to take. If you arrive earlier than the start of the intro week at ASB, I suggest taking this envelope as fast as possible and going to SKAT to register – in order to avoid the busy period when all other start putting in requests, usually during the intro week.
The address of SKAT in Aarhus is: Lyseng Alle 1, 8270 Højbjerg. You can get there with buses 10 or 12.
Remember to take your ID with you.
So once you register, it will take about 3 weeks to get the residence permit. Please note that it might take longer (max around 2 months) but you can call or go there to ask them what’s up if it is really delayed.
2. CPR card
Once you have your residence permit, you will go to the town hall to request your CPR card (aka yellow card). This will take another couple of weeks to receive. The CPR card will be your health insurance card also (you will have to choose a doctor close to where you live when you request it), the card needs to be changed every time you change your address.
3. Banking
Once you have your CPR number and card, you can open a bank account. I am personally using Danske Bank and I find it great. There are no fees when you withdraw money at ATMs, no electronic wire fees, online banking is free, I pay all my invoices online as well as rent, etc. Everything is basically free (but you don’t get interest on the money that is on your account). I highly recommend using Danske Bank. Opening an account is very simple, takes about 15 minutes with them, they also issue you a mastercard and send you the token for online banking (for free).
Please note that some places only take Dankort and you will not be able to use MC there. For example: ALDI, shawarma places, etc. so also carry some cash with you.
4. Cell
There are a lot of operators in DK, the big ones are Telia, 3, TDC, Telenor.
And then there are operators ‘for students’ M1, Telmore, Lebara, Bibop, etc.
I have a Telia contract and an M1 card.
With Telia, for 70DKK per month (plus the initial 90DKK number fee) I get 120 minutes per month any time to any network in DK, it’s a pretty sweet offer. SMSes are pretty cheap too.
With M1 I get 50 minutes and 50 SMS per month for free, for lifetime. So you basically sign up and they send you a sim for free, and you can also use it for free. Some basic stuff is paid, like caller id, etc. So if you want these services you have to pay for them, but if you’re cool without seeing who’s calling you, then you have yourself a good deal. But even if you choose to pay for these, I think caller ID is around 10 DKK per month, so it’s really cheap.
5. Student ID
Once you have your CPR number, you can get you Student ID at ASB. You need to fill in a form and give them a passport size picture. It takes about a month to get it, but it’s pretty sweet. It can be used as a keycard to get into school in the weekends; if you buy the Studenterlauget – the main student union of ASB – membership (100 DKK per year), it gives you a lot of rebates in different stores around the city. Also, you will use this card to get in free to Klubben and to clubs like Social Club (otherwise 50 DKK entry), etc.
So this is it for now, hope it helps you all!
Info Package 1 – I got in, so now what?
Like the title suggests, after getting that wonderful letter that you got in to ASB, some questions might arise.
There are a couple that I can think of that are of immediate importance, I will try to answer them one-by-one:
1. What documents do I need to take with me?
It is important that you have a passport and/or an ID card with you when you arrive. Look at these and if they are fairly old and will expire in the next 2-3 years, then just change them to new ones. You never know how much you will stay here, or if you are thinking of going on an exchange in your 3rd semester (for master’s students) to a country that requires a visa, you might need to change your passport then. And it is a lot easier to change it at home, than it is here!
Other documents that you should have with you are you bachelor diploma (if you have one), or a diploma placeholder, if it is not ready yet. You do not need to bring the original one, just a copy. A copy of your transcripts, copy of all your relevant diplomas that you might have: Cambridge, TOEFL, ….
And, of course, start seriously updating your CV.
There might be some special requirements, so please make sure you also read the www.asb.dk website before coming.
2. Where do I search for housing?
Housing is a tough one; make sure you apply as soon as you can, and apply to many options, many many many.
And reapply often – preferably DAILY.
you can apply for housing at www.ungdomsboligaarhus.dk
You actually submit your application at: http://studenthousingaarhus.com/
and you also reapply there, but your standing on the waiting lists will be shown on the first site.
Don’t be discouraged, you will probably start out as 500-600th person on the lists, but you have a chance to get in!
Another option is: www.boligportal.dk -paid service
I would recommend starting with the first option and if all fails, move on to the second one.
3. If I get a contract offer for housing, should I accept it?
YES YES YES, if you get a contract offer, accept it. The system is set up that if you refuse 3 offers, you will be placed on the end of the waiting list again. But you might not get a second offer anyway, because there will be no time for it. So i would recommend accepting the first option, and then it is somewhat easier to find something new, once you’re here. Although, in the first couple of months it will be impossible, because there are a lot of people who come here without housing and they have to be taken care of first. Once everything settles down, it’s possible to find something new, just don’t expect for it to happen overnight.
4. How long does it take to get an offer?
It might take pretty long. In my case it was about 3-4 months, and I think we got lucky too. So expect for it to take a long time.
5. What are the general prices for housing?
Prices for housing offered on ‘studenthousingaarhus’ are not that different, in most cases, 1 room in a shared dorm costs around 2400 DKK and a 2-room apartment with own kitchenette and bathroom costs around 4800 DKK. These prices are regulated by law, so there is not much wiggle-room. The shared dorms are cool, you will have your own room with bathroom (shower+toilet), and there are 12 rooms and all of you share a big kitchen and a big common room with tv, hi-fi, sometimes pool table, fusball table, etc. If you are 2 friends coming here, for example, you could go for the 2-room apartment.
You might be tempted to live more people in 1 room to cut costs; it can be done, lot of people do this, but it depends on how your neighbors are. If they suck, then in a week or two, you might get a letter from the administrator that they’re terminating your contract. The best thing if you want to do this is to talk to your neighbors from the start, even if you don’t live in a common room dorm. Your name tags must be out next to the entrance, because the postman will not deliver mails otherwise, even though your official address might be that. – so your neighbors will find out anyway that you’re not living alone.
6. What are the areas that are OK to live in?
Basically, any area is good that is not too far – other small cities next to Aarhus.
Brabrand is regarded as a bad area, but I would say only the parts next to City Vest are bad, the rest is ok. So try to avoid kollegiums that are next to Bazar Vest or on Hejredalsvej, Emmasvej, Dortesvej, Sigridsvej, Gudrunsvej, Lenesvej.
Skjodhøjkollegiet is also in Brabrand, but it is full with international students, and it is acceptable. The only thing is that it’s 30 minutes from school. But it’s an OK choice. Other good places are Viby, Hasle, Åbyhoj, Aarhus C -of course , etc.
7. Is Denmark expensive?
Denmark is generally expensive. Housing is around 350 EUR per month, and expect to spend another 350 EUR if you keep things at an acceptable level. If you want to go to lots of parties, shop a lot, have an iPhone contract, ect, the sky is the limit.
If you can think of any other initial questions, please address them in a comment and I’ll answer as soon as I can.
The next info package will be about the initial things after arriving here.
Info packages
Next week i will start putting up the info packages for newcomers, so stay tuned.
Louis Nielsen
There might come a time for all of us to get glasses (or contact lenses).
This happened to me a couple of years ago, but now, i felt a need to go to the optometrist and check whether i need new glasses or not. And so i went, but before going, i asked people where i should go. And i kept receiving the same answer: Louis Nielsen.
The next day i went to Louis Nielsen (and yes, this is personal advertisement), and i made an appointment (which was 30 minutes later), so i walked around a little and checked some of the glass shops in the area, just to find that most of them offered free eye exams. At LN this costs 110 DKK, but when checking the eyewear prices, i was shocked, the prices for lenses in LN were less than half of some other stores.
So i did my eye exam, and it turned out i needed to change my glasses to stronger ones unfortunately, i also learned during this process how a proper eye exam should look like (compared to what we get at home)….
With my receipt in hand, i ordered the new lenses, and for them to cut the lenses to size, i had to leave my glasses there. No problem, they gave me temporary glasses until i get my own back (by the way, i could also keep the temporary glasses as well). Ok, some days pass by, i ordered special lenses, so it takes a little time to make them in the UK, but finally i got an SMS from the store that i can pick my glasses up.
Go in the store, they asked me for my birthday, and then i got my new glasses, they adjusted the fit a little and i could be on my way. But before that, just to be sure, i asked the guy if he needed some ID or receipt from me, he just smiled and said, no.
And after that, i asked him if he could give me a bag to put the glasses in, cause i didn’t have my case with me, instead of a bag, i got a tommy hilfiger case for free.
so, this is good service. for all you here already, and for those about to come, if you ever need glasses, just go to LN.
www.louisnielsen.dk
UPDATE – received from a friend – name omitted
Not quite Denmark 2 – Sweden
After the little trip to Amsterdam, came a conference in Sweden, next to Malmo, in Lund. Just a couple of pics.
Malmo is nice, although I’ve only seen the center and for just a short time, but still…
Not quite Denmark 1 – Amsterdam :)
After our exams in January, we went to Amsterdam to relax a little, so check out some pictures below.
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