Entrevista a una persona de Dinamarca:(Filipa Cairncross)

Name and Surnames: Filipa Cairncorss

Job: English Teacher

Nationality: Argentina

1.Why did you immigrate to Spain? Did you immigrate alone or with someone/family?

-Well, I lived in Denmark for nine years but I’m not from there as I told you before. I’m a person who likes traveling a lot and I decided to go there because a lot of people told me that Denmark was a good place for living… and well [thinks], I have a cousin that lives here and she told me that I had to visit her one day, and [smiles], when I came to Spain I fell in love with Spain and Spanish people. So, I decided to start a new life in Spain. [Laughs]

2.Do you miss someone there? Why? 

-Oh yes,[smiles] I really miss all my friends that I have there. But I usually try to speak with them as much as I can via e-mail.

3.And changing to other things, what is the most famous Danish food? What it’s made of?  Do you like it?  

- [Surprised] Oh, it’s called “Smørrebrød”.

Can you write it down for us please? 

-Yes, of course -She wrote it in our paper and she continues talking-Danish has got different letters that don’t exist in Spanish or English.

Smørrebrød is a type of an open sandwich which is made of a piece of black bread that has got fish or meat inside in. It is usually eaten hot and[Laughs] I love it, I used to eat it three or four times a week.

4.Can you tell us what you think is the most famous Danish product (Like typical salad jam in Spain)? 
-Oh yes, It’s too similar as jam in Spain. Is called pork and it’s great, I promise.

5.Can you explain us a typical Danish party? 

-[Thinks] Yes, the truth is that, in Denmark people don’t have much free time. When I arrived here, I used to work for a long time, and for me, it was quite surprising seeing that Spanish people have a lot of holidays. In Denmark is completely different. I think they are more practical. They have one big religious holiday. It’s very important there.

6.How Denmark people celebrate Christmas and the New Year? Is it like in Spain? 

-Yes, it’s more or less like here. It’s typical to wear something red at the New Year and well,[Thinks and Smiles]  I think, there, they usually spend Christmas with the family and the New Year is more for having a good time with friends.

7.In Denmark, Is there any typical costume? (Like “Ramadan”) 
-[Thinks a lot] No, I don't think so.

8.And, in your town there is any specific costume?
-Oh, no… I lived in Copenhagen and the costumes were like the costumes in all of the country, well, you know, Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark. [Laughs] 

9.Are the timetables (starting a journey, etc.) similar to here?  

-[ Surprised] No, they usually get up so early in the morning and they finish working at 16.30 p.m. In winter, people go to bed earlier than in summer but, they don’t have the habbit to go bed latter. This is a very big difference with Spain.

10. And well, I want to talk about personal stereotypes… There is a specific stereotype for a Danish person? Is it true? 
-[She laughs a lot] No, there isn’t. It is said that they are so friendly and nice, and I think this too. When I arrived there I didn’t have problems for meeting people, and the same for when I arrived here.

11. Talking about culture, what can you tell us about the Danish sign “the little Mermaid”? 

-Sorry, [she excuses], but I don’t know many information about that. You should probably find more information on the net. [She laughs a lot]
  

12. Do you know what “The dance of 7 jumps” is?  Do you ever dance it before? Do you like it? 

-Well, I know what it is, but I have never danced it. I think, there, it's more common to listen to folk music, they like it a lot.

13. And talking about political terms, In Denmark is there any region like Catalonia (that produces a lot of benefits,it’s trying to be independent, etc.)? 

-I don’t think so.

14. Do you know what the actual economical situation in Denmark is? Is better or worse than in Spain? 
-I’m so sorry, but I’m not interested in economical problems and I’m very busy right now, so, this is another reason for don’t caring about that. 

15. Talking about geography, do you think Denmark is a rural or very urbanized country? 

-It’s like here, it depends on the side you are, but it’s true that Denmark has a lot of vegetation.
 

16. What is the religion that is more important in Denmark? Do/id you follow it? 

-Well, I think the Evangelical Lutheran followed by the Islam, but I think people from Denmark are not very religious and most of them are atheist. 

17. For concluding, do you think you will return to Denmark? Why or why not? 

-[Smiling] I don’t know!  I would like to go back another time, but first, I have to visit a lot of other countries before, you know, I love travelling.

Conclusions: 

To conclude, we chose this type of questions because I think they fit on very well with our needs. They weren’t  so much compromising for Filipa, and, I think, she was comfortable with us. Although she didn’t born in Denmark, she said to us a lot of interesting information that’s too useful for our project.

And, the conclusions to summarize the interview are, first, she thinks Denmark is a very beautiful country where there are a lot of interesting and friendly persons. Also, she said that she love the gastronomy and their habbits and culture. Finally, Filipa explains some other things related to Denmark.

We think this experience was so nice and very interesting because we learned a lot. We learned how to make an interview, how to find someone who is strange to meet, etc. We are so happy about all our work.