From Arctic Dreams to Danish Work-Life Balance

Henry Henson’s Fulbright stay in Denmark in 2020-2021 turned his life upside down in many ways. In this interview, Henry shares his very personal story about moving to another country, pursuing his academic dreams in the Arctic, and finding love. 

I studied climate science during my bachelor’s and quickly became interested in the Arctic, the most rapidly changing region on our planet. While working on my bachelor’s project in Alaska, I became fascinated by the opportunity to study another part of the Arctic: Greenland.

Beyond that, my boyfriend at the time was studying medicine at Aarhus University. The Fulbright program with Aarhus University and the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources felt like it was made for me.

It allowed me to live in Aarhus for half a year, expanding my education, and seeing if this relationship was something I wanted to pursue, followed by a semester in Greenland, where I could continue learning about the Arctic.

What made me stay is a longer story (pandemic timing, rule changes, job opportunities), but in short, I found that l liked living in Aarhus, and even more so, I wanted to stay living with my partner and continue building a life together.

I had spent a semester in Copenhagen prior to my Fulbright experience, so I knew the basics of life in Denmark. However, during that four-month exchange, I didn’t really try to integrate or learn the language.

I assumed I would return to North America, so Danish didn’t feel necessary. That changed when I moved here for Fulbright.

Knowing I would stay longer, and with a partner and growing circle of Danish friends, I became motivated to learn the language.

Speaking Danish opened up so many opportunities, from social circles to clubs, and helped me feel more like a local.

It’s been long enough now that Danish life feels like my norm, but I do remember a few surprises. One of the biggest positives was the emphasis on work-life balance.

I felt much more relaxed in my Danish master’s program compared to my bachelor’s in the US. Instead of constant assignments, most courses focused on a final exam, which allowed for a lot more flexibility.

I was also impressed by the level of trust in Danish society: bikes left nearly unlocked, the strong belief in public institutions, and the general social cohesion. This makes Denmark such a relaxed and happy place to live.

One challenge, though, was the lack of casual interaction. In Minnesota, it’s normal to chat with strangers in everyday situations. In Denmark, public spaces, like public transport, are much quieter, and speaking to strangers can feel taboo.

This made it much harder to meet people, particularly during the pandemic. Making friends here as an outsider is hard!

I am currently a PhD student at Aarhus University, and I feel incredibly fortunate compared to friends pursuing PhDs in the US. Here, a PhD is treated much more like regular employment: you have a contract, a salary, paid vacation, and normal working hours.

In contrast, in the US, PhD students are more clearly “students,” receiving stipends and often working much longer. I think the work culture that you are surrounded by means a lot for how you approach your every day. When everyone around you works long hours, it is easy to get caught up in that culture.

Likewise, if everyone embraces their free time, it is much easier to do the same. This really stood out to me when I realized that my department is nearly empty by 4pm. When the work day is over, people go home, to their families, hobbies, and lives.

I think that I was always quite drawn by the idea of conducting research. I liked being outside, exploring the natural world, and had a deep curiosity for how things worked.

However, in the US, pursuing a research career can feel highly competitive. I remember telling an advisor early in my bachelor’s that I wanted to pursue a PhD and maybe become a professor.

He responded, “That’s a very difficult path. Make sure you have a backup.” While this was quite frustrating to hear, I think he was also right. Funding and opportunities in research are increasingly limited, making academia quite competitive. (Whether or not I was competitive enough is another story).

In Denmark, I’ve experienced a more collaborative academic culture. The flatter hierarchy makes it easier to share ideas and contribute meaningfully, even as a young researcher.

Over time, I’ve also shifted away from the idea that work should be the primary focus of life. I value immensely the fact that I can follow my curiosity and participate in science but also have free time to spend how I wish.

This is a hard one. I think I could answer this question in many ways.

I could talk about how I identify less and less as “only” an American. The past five years have been a tumultuous time, and I’ve often felt both concern for developments back home and appreciation for the life I’ve built here.

I could talk about how Denmark has made me more comfortable being openly gay in public. The liberal atmosphere has made it feel natural to hold my partner’s hand in ways that didn’t always feel as easy back in the US.

I could talk about how Aarhus is the place I fell in love. The place where I found my soon-to-be husband, where we nurtured our early days, holed up during the pandemic, and where we are putting down roots.

I could talk about how my time at Aarhus University has allowed me to feel more and more like a scientist, a writer, and someone who can contribute to global conversations about climate change and society.

But I could also share the challenges of being an immigrant. During my master’s, I struggled to find relevant work due to my short-term visa and ended up delivering food, cleaning apartments, and working in a warehouse.

Even as a highly educated, Danish-speaking person, navigating the immigration system can be difficult and expensive.

All of these experiences together have shaped my sense of identity and belonging.