American Update on Danish Gymnasium

[@EmilReiko]

It teaches you to function with people who are not like yourself, it teaches you to function outside a cultural or social ecco-chamber.

[@Melvynnielsen]

Couldn't agree more:)

[@mayaanastasiayoung6739]

The problem is you need to hope that you’re put in a class with people who ALSO want to function with people not like yourself. I’ve experienced in school here (outside of efterskole) that I seem to get pushed out for being a little different than everyone else. But if course this in happen in America as well

[@mattijoergensen]

Yeah the school was actually made for this purpose. To get rid of social divisions by equal opportunity, but also when you're with the same 30 people, you learn to be "content" - and as you're saying; to function with people, you wouldn't have functioned with or interacted with outside of the classroom. I've learned so much from being with people who are the opposite of me :D And the society has really got A LOT out of the Danes being better at understanding people, who are not the same as themselves.

[@TheNordicDK]

Yeah, it kind of prepare you to be able to function in a team at a workplace, where you might don't have anything in common with..

[@thebrujitito3531]

I went front 1st to 12th grade in Mexico and university as well as graduate school in the US. Mexico has the same system that Denmark utilizes. By the time one graduates, those 30 people end up being SUPER CLOSE. Those 30 people become your family. I always found very difficult to make REAL friends in the American system. I always thought that one makes acquaintances instead of real friends as one never gets to really hang out for long. Any way, It is just my opinion.

[@Darkenforcer]

about the extra curicular things, in denmark we actually have those, but they are not done in the school time, they are done after school in varius places like going to a sport like football, handball, gymnastics etc etc, or you can go to youth club and learn electronics, computer science, painting or lots of other things, when you are 18 you can switch to aftenskole, where you can take like cooking classes, language classes and all in between, so there are lots of ways to meet likeminded people in denmark we go to school in our school , everything else is optional and done outside the school

[@Chocolatepenguin]

It´s pretty to hear about Maya´s take on the whole "tight knit" classes, because that is probably one of the things I loved the most about the Danish school system. The fact that you get to know these people very well, since you end up sharing a lot of your developing years with them, was also a very comforting thought, since you had a sense of belonging while going to school. In my opinion there are also opportunities to meet other people, since you, at least in the later years, can choose more clases based on your interests. For example people from the same "main" class could go to different German or Spanish classes, or perhaps Psychology.

[@regitzeillum6713]

It’s funny how Maya prefers the American way, with changing people in your class all day. When I’ve seen it in American high school movies, it has always looked so unsettling and challenging. Like you had no safe space, where you belonged. It has always seemed to me that some people can fall through the cracks much more easily in the American model, if they aren’t good at making friends and don’t belong to a specific group.

[@dkexpat2755]

Agreed, also the teachers get to know you well in Gymnasium, they will be able to know how to tackle your issuses, know when you are slacking off etc.

[@Valjean666dk]

There are upsides and downsides. I for one got stuck in a class with people I had little in common with, and had a hard time till I found a peer group among the students that were a year below me. But in general I lean towards the Danish model.

[@nicolaichristensen4207]

@@Valjean666dk At first I was thinking that you might find it tough because you're a satanist. But then I realized that I have no clue if that would in fact make it easier for someone. I'm just guessing that you're a satanist because you have chosen a name for yourself that implies that you are. Then again.. who cares.

[@jimmybaldbird3853]

You probably shouldnt use movies as your source of information....

[@Valjean666dk]

@@nicolaichristensen4207 My peer group was nerds. Back then you were looked down upon for being into computers and fantasy and sci-fi etc. I'm an atheist, not a satanist. I find the superstitious meaning that some people give 3 numbers silly, and was extra contrarian when I picked the name, and you are often forced to add numbers etc. to your name, because everything is taken. I did have an ex who was a satanist, but that was just "commandments" about being egotistical, and putting yourself first. Obviously I didn't consider that a long term relationship.

[@Bonnesig]

I think this is an issue that Robe Trotting has encountered a number of times. Danes like small, tightnit social groups. We tend to make few close friends and keep them for life :) That corresponds easier with having the same class throughout school, because you get to know those people really well. You might not like all of them, but there are normally one or two that you really like. :) And if not, then there is there rest of the school to sift through ;)

[@vbiddle1111]

Thank you Maya for provide great insight in to high school in DK

[@maj-britt5756]

The one class is there so you feel safe to be who you want to be with people you know and not always sit with all new people. Also it teaches you to tolerate people you might not have anything in common with, because you have to be in the same class for so long. You might even find that everyone has some qualities. And at gymnasium you chose your line and so it is a class of people who choose the same subjects as you. So I think we look at it differently because we come from different cultures. The small talk is much more needed when you don’t sit with the same class every day and maybe that’s why Americans love it and Danes are not always so good at it.

[@TheJoergenDK]

Reaally good questions, great "interview"! Love you guys!

[@kennethbrdk]

I think when you have to fit into a group and just can't choose it will help you later on when you have to work - you can't choose your colleagues and it evolves you because you have to adapt and learn to work/deal with people you either don't like or just have nothing in common with - rather than just staying in your comfort zone all the time. Sometimes it's easier said than done :)

[@Lorentari]

The fact that we have these tight knit single classes from Kindergarden to 9th grade, then a new during high school (and then in some cases also during University depending on the major) may explain the tendency for Danes to have very intimate friendships. I personally know that I wouldn't have traded this structure for anything. Though that is probably an observation for another video

[@melanp4698]

That "having 20 friends" thing reinforced a few of my american stereotypes lol :) I have 5 really good friends that i got in Gymnasium (and i'm definitely no social butterfly) and a number of acquaintances that i like speaking with but on more rare occasions. I dont see how you can have 20 deep, involved friendships and keep them going for years. Also, you CAN obviously be unlucky and land in a bad class, but it's veeery rare that you end up with 30 kids your own age and dont find a few that you click with really well.

[@jimmybaldbird3853]

The US has 60x the population. It makes sense americans know more people.

[@melanp4698]

@@jimmybaldbird3853 That's not really how life works.

[@jimmybaldbird3853]

@@melanp4698 in your life

[@melanp4698]

@@jimmybaldbird3853 Yes, exactly, in my life, on planet earth where things work realistically. Not in the dreamworld.

[@jimmybaldbird3853]

@@melanp4698 you sound cynical and unaware of the fact that people have different experiences in different countries. Big to you is not big to others. Normal to you is not normal to others. Denmark is tiny. It is not the real world.

[@Valjean666dk]

If you find out that you picked the wrong "major", then later on you can "just" get an "overbygning", building on the classes you already have merit for taking, and get the classes you are missing for a different major. I flunked out of gymnasium, but was able to use the classes I had already passed, to massively cut down the number of classes I needed when going to business school instead.

[@monachopis6500]

I think that it is just fine and preparing youths to function with their working colleges later on. I'm 54 and when we still meet on different occasions feeling a brotherly/sisterly connection. though different eg. political opinions. Could that perhaps be the reason why our politicians don't yell at each other? Instead of pointing out differences, they have to negotiate compromises. Mind: before elections they are louder and telling the voters their opinions, but as soon as election is over, only their negotiation skills matter. As we don't have an only 2-party system there is no "winner takes it all". The many parties have to negotiate to get a majority for new laws. Individuals who "climb up in a tree" is mostly out of business by the next election. You praise good living in Denmark on your channel. These fine conditions are the output of the "social democracies" in the Nordic Countries. NB Spent much of my adulthood in other countries and now when I hear Danes moan about too many different parties to choose from before an election, I stress exactly this point.

[@a.b.3168]

Having attended a large highschool in the US for a year (+ 3.000 students), I get your point, BUT: Making/keeping friends in the "US-system" was a little tough, because I would change class all the time - hence constantly having to adjust to new people. That resulted in some friends, but mostly on a light level so to speak. Also we had both A, B and C lunch, so it was difficult locating/finding those friends. To sum it up, I still prefer being more together with the same people, like in the Danish system, and then build relationships from that base.

[@sebastianethan3156]

One tip that I would recommend for gymnasium and university is take notes for everything important for every subject and for gods sake save those notes for university. Don't throw them on a bonfire after you've gotten your student hat like me. Also, the thing that helped me find close friends during gymnasium was the fact that someone always knows somebody from a different class, just "use them" to get in touch with other people and build a network that way if you find it hard meeting new and different people

[@BlackSpiderPro]

Really not that important. Grades in Gymnasium barely matter. A better tip is to enjoy 3 years of Gymnasium without stressing over grades and such.

[@chrisbagge3129]

Thank you for providing these videos. It is, as a Dane, a good thing to see/hear how you, as a foreigner, experience the Danish society. I do agree with you, the "efterskole" time is a very valuable period for young people. I'm an old man but know a lot of young people and they all say "efterskole" was their best time. Living abroad for an extended period gives you a wider horizon. I tried that myself. I lived for ten years in Sweden. Belive me, Denmark and Sweden are more different than you think.

[@jensmllgaardjensen4150]

In Denmark you use the term “parallelklasse” about the outside your klasse. My friends to this Day are all from my parallelklasse or older then me. So you Will still have subcultures that get together but in School you only get together in frikvarter.

[@Nenvolk]

In my class in the Gymnasium I was lucky to get in the good class, with other nerds/closet nerds that shared to nerdy things I like, but one of my friends was unlucky to get into a class where he was kind of bullied. We had our 25th reunion last year, and, as far as I know, none of the other classes in our year held a reunion party

[@jonboesen7632]

Love the cabinet with all the bottle's in the background.. !!!!!! thats a Viking cabinet...

[@kris533d]

In 7th grade our school tried to mix up the classes for two months. They wanted people to find new friends and break up "bad groups", I guess. It worked really well! I loved it. I got to befriend one of my best friends twin brother and I was put in class with some nice people.

[@hmmmmmmm496]

I finished gym in 19 and Moved to another city for university. I’m happy to say that I still see my very close friends I have from gymnasium til today. (They moved to the same city a year later but still) We have three different classes in gymnasium and 1 of them is mixed because we have 4 major/line. So I would go back and forth between different classes sometimes for different lessons and when there’s elective, all three classes are mixed depends on who chose what.

[@Drescher1984]

Some schools allows you to swap classes within your line, if you're unhappy in the class you're in.

[@solfeggietto8306]

Interesting! It's also strange bc the Danish high school system changed, so what Maya is experiencing is very different from my high school experience. Back then, we had two 'streams': language or science. And even though you had a designated class, the school had intro week where you just met everyone at school (incl. upperclassmen) before you were assigned to your designated class. And we had a lot of electives, so eg. I, who was in the language stream, could still have classes with ppl from the science streams. I can't speak on what it is like now, in the new system, but in the system I experienced, it felt very holistic in terms of who you made friends with. What Maya says about the culture of the gymnasiums is also very important: choosing a gymnasium, at least back when I did it, was comparable (I imagine) to choosing a college in the U.S.. Lots of research and sitting in on classes while still in 9th grade to determine which culture was right for you.

[@ane-louisestampe7939]

I've certainly spent more time with my folkeskole class mates, than with my sibling. At 58, I still feel something like "unconditional love" for my class mates. We know each other's good and bad sides, seen ups and downs, and we've cried and laughed together for a decade. It feels "rich".

[@kinuuni]

If you end up really not enjoying it, you can do single courses instead. KVUC for example has somewhere between 2500 and 3000 students.

[@FlypperFlop]

Hope you become happy with your gymnasium choice Maya! I ended up swapping classes 3 times, and all three were very different. The fist one was 27 girls and 2 boys, and it was a very tight knit group where everyone were welcome. After grundforløb I switched to a different line, and my new class was a mixed line class (papegøjeklasse), where everyone was there to get good grades and nothing else. Really didn't like it, and dropped out of the school and started over in 1.g after some mental health issues. My last school was very good and I ended up making good friends there. I think you should look forward 3.g where there are more electives, and chance to interact with other lines. My favorite class was physics in 3.g, as it was an elective and we all really liked the class.

[@mayaanastasiayoung6739]

I’m currently in my third gymnasium and I’m actually switching my “linje” after the vinterferie. I’m really excited and I don’t regret any of the switches I’ve made!

[@nemecec01]

In my time at gymnasium, to be with one specific group helped my socialise with persons not excactly as me. At the same time, we had interaction with others at same and level above… and sometimes beneath🙂🙂

[@poulmadsen7969]

It's great to see how Maya has developed: It seems she feels very confident and naturel in front of a camera. That is a very useful skill considering the international environment in Copenhagen and educational institutions - I believe they need skilled presenters

[@leneiversen2638]

When you're in the older grades of folkeskole, you can take ungdomsskole for a lot of extra curriculars like photography or a language

[@christianbechhenriksen898]

This is such an american way to view it. Being forced to be around the same random chosen people for years is really good for social skills and cooperation. It’s good for “making the most of what you have”. And it should work as a safe space, and then life and new experiences can happen in your spare time. A lot of schools have social activities you can join after school hours, and otherwise you can join a “social club” hobby, cultural or sports etc. “Foreningslivet” is really a big thing in danish society.

[@benjaminandersen8482]

To us Danes, it is VERY important that we mix everybody up in these small groups - so that the bright gets bores, the ones who struggle gets lost and the rest gets forgotten.

[@christian5941-e4o]

In Sweden you also have your class with 20+ (mostly) people but then you have some subjects you can choose and those you have with peoples from other classes to.

[@annemariecretyknudsen7201]

I’m currently in 3.g in my education and because of my class consisting of multiple different study lines, I don’t have that many classes with them. Maybe 4 out of 9, where as I have the rest with students from other classes who chose the same language as me or the same level of a class. This makes my everyday pretty diverse, because I have the safety with my well known class and then get to talk to new people in the other classes as well:)

[@TheJoergenDK]

When I was 14, I went to the greatest class in the world. Not because we were all alike and I loved everyone. But because there was a sense of inclusion and a will to get along with people who were not like yourself, not sharing your interests and not your dream of a peer pressure support demolishing company... ;-) We made sure to invite all 29 people to every party. If they said no, we tried to persuade them! I got to love everyone in that class. And nobody was talking about who was from a wealthy family. It was all about inclusion and communication and friendship - and even love, although that is another story. The revolving door of kisses and misses...

[@carstenselberg1255]

I went to two gymnasium 1½ year at Tårnby Gymnasium and when my parents moved to Padborg I finished the gymnasium in Aabenraa. My class from Aabenraa still have contact through Facebook, but we decided that we should meet every 5 years since we graduated in 1975 and around 80 % turn up to the gatherings even though we live all over Denmark and some of us lives abroad. The same goes for my folkeskole, were I went to the German Skt. Petri Skole in Copenhagen, and I still have contact to many of my classmates from that school although we had up 13 different nationalities in my class over time. I also think that you get a lot friends through activities outside your school, in my case I played soccer 14 years in Kastrup Boldklub and again I still have contact to my former teammates.

[@Ernoskij]

@Travelin' Young You talk about "filtering through people to find your social circle" in the school, but in Denmark that is mostly being done in clubs outside school. I am not saying there is no social bonding in school, obviously there is, but the majority of the social bonding is being done in clubs outside of school, from a very young age, and the school focuses on teaching you to work together with other people, even people you do not particularly like. This is a valuable lesson when you get out into a work situation, you might have to work with people you don't much like, and you are (often) working with the same small group of people for a long time

[@thomasbaagaard]

Here in Denmark we don't do sports or similar at school. It is done true our "foreninger" in the afternoon/evening.

[@MrDslacker]

My friend group (I graduated High School/Gymnasium in 1986) here in Denmark includes 1 from folkeskolen class 1-8 (Who then moved, but we reconnected 20 years ago) , one from class 3-7 who then switched classes but still was in the same school though Gymnasium (we also reconnected 20 years ago...) one from class 8-9 and one from senior year (12). I think this is pretty typical for a Dane as we do not move around as much as one does in the US.

[@sergiostockfleth823]

Thank you for this great comparison vid :-) After listening to your arguments, I would definately choose the american way of how the classes and system is organized. I finished the danish gymnasium 22 years ago, and I don't have contact with anybody from my old class. Actually the only ones I do see from time to time are the ones from another class, which we often where mixed with, during diffrente linguistic classes. I think I would have found a lot more friends and like minded people, if it was like Josh's experiences from his school days.

[@nemecec01]

Interesting to learn about your view. In my time I enjoyed being in a class with different people, with different upbringing. At the same time we interacted with others on same or another level.

[@jantimmerby]

I think it's a good idea to just be yourself, no matter how big or small your class / school / work / world is. I think it's the way to best friends, because you know they like you for who you are. I also think it's the way to become the best you you can become.

[@24Shigeru24]

As several people have said, the Danish way of doing it makes it so you have a "safe space", a place to return to. The first year I was in Gymnasium we stayed as one class, but changed classroom for every subject, and let me tell you, it was confusing to say the least. Teachers couldn't find their students, students couldn't find their teachers, and sometimes the classrooms were double booked. The two years after that we had a specific classroom. At the university, DTU in my case, my study line of 60 ish people stayed together the first two semesters along with another study line that had to have the same basic classes. Thereafter people kinda split up. Of course there were still classes that were mandatory to have in the specific line of study. Overall, I think it was about half of the required 180 ETCS points needed to pass your bachelor that was planned, the rest you could choose by yourself. Now that was a intimidating and scary time....

[@mortimusmaximus8725]

Friday bar, on Gymnasium 😊

[@dianabialaskahansen2972]

I think both American and Danish models have advantages and disadvantages. In high school it was very much the Danish model, while University/College felt more like the American model, where you didn't really have classes, only lectures attended by whoever was studying that particular subject. For me the Danish model worked far better. I have never been a particularly outgoing and social person, but in the small class with the same people every day, I learned how to work with others that might be very different, and there was a feeling of people trying to include everyone. It might not have been my crowd and I didn't have much in common with my class mates, but still to this day I maintain my connections to them. Meanwhile in University/College I found myself feeling very alone, because I was never good at looking for those with similar interests. Without class mates to pull me in, I found myself growing more isolated and it was not good for my mental health. In the end I was unable to focus on my studies, started failing classes and dropped out. In my work life I have fortunately found that all the work reminds me more of the Danish model, though that may be because I haven't worked for very large companies. Instead it is a much smaller group of people, the only thing we have in common most often being our work. But even though we have different interests and opinions, in the end we still look out for eachother and help when we can.

[@BlackSpiderPro]

Maya talks about not being able to choose the people in your study programme - that's not quite true, you did choose the specific study programme (english/social science)! Back when I was in gymnasium, I chose the science oriented study programme, and found my self with a group of (30) very like-minded people, many of whom are still close friends with me today. Mind you, not every one was someone I could have as a good friend, but I got along with everyone, and being together in a group like that is also a good test of tolerance for diversity. Just my two cents :-) I hope you enjoy the rest of gymnasium, Maya, I sure wish I could relive those amazing years again.

[@AbsSolut]

It can't be happy happy here in little happy Denmark. Go for it Maya.

[@Lorentari]

Josh's point on knowing the people in his elective classes could kinda translate to how most danes know their high school friends still - Difference is that Danish students have a series ("linje") of subjects that they elect on their first year. In that sense the Danish high school class is an elective class, socially.

[@avejst]

great update 🙂

[@KHValby]

Maya! You could do a year as an "exchange" student back in the States. Why not try that out.., and experience both worlds? US High Schools have "Prom" 😎 ! I have friends that were exchange students. They totally loved it! And that was 40 years ago 😆 ! BTW. Shared your post on FB and with my close friend (David). He's a High School Teacher, outside Houston.

[@JakobSanvig]

That "forced" friendship with your class of 30 students, I think, is what creates those close life long friendships, that you have described as being typical of Danish culture. "We are different, but we are the class (the community)." Maybe this is part of the reason why Denmark is not divided in two like the US. In my case (almost 30 years later) I'm still close friends with one from my old gymnasium class and another two from "the class of '95".

[@bibliotek42]

This is really interesting. I wonder if we could adjust how we do things here?

[@TheAlkochef]

Maya, all that matters is that you are thriving. :) I hope u are. :) Sry bout the long dark winter months, it will get better, and this year there is always... ROSKILDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE (festival)

[@torbenpetersen8983]

Ind the old days the gymnasium ended with a "studentereksamen" meaning that you was fit for studing at the university when yoy have pased the "studentereksamen" ..

[@renosaurusrex5952]

3 years with the same group of people is nothing when you have spent 9 years with the same group of people. but it can also cause some issues, cus i was stuck in my class and i got bullied alot, it was only in 9th grade they made us switch classes cus we were not enough people to fill 3 classes (its normal to have 3 classes in the same grade in Denmark / wich is called for example 6.A 6.B and 6.C - wich correlates to the grade and wich class they are in) but i went to efterskole after 3 weeks in my 9th grade, cus i couldn't handle the people or school anymore, and it was the best desission of my life.

[@ThomasVSGyldborg]

I didn't fit in with my danish class in gymnasium. I found some likeminded people from other classes (both in the American and Danish terminology) and even found people from other gymnasiums.

[@JunkerOnDrums]

Fortunately you can make friends your hole life, also on University, work, hobbies, association life etc.. :D

[@Damsbo1337]

I’m 32, all of my closest friends are from Gymnasiet, none of whom from my own class. They are from different years even. You don’t have to narrow down you’re possibility to meet people, based on “who’s around the most” :). Go say “hi” to people..

[@twisterwiper]

I much prefer this more focused approach we have today. This wasn’t really the case when I was in gymnasium in the 90s. The education and classes were much more generic all the way up until the first two semesters of university which were also a general intro-period after which you would really select you major. I knew what I wanted to do and it was hard to keep the motivation at times through those years.

[@meibing4912]

Both I and my children have tried both ways. Think there is a lot to be said for the high rotation rates in the US. However, Danes feel that being “together” creates a more safe space. They however forget, that it may works great for many but also locks some people into pre-determineret roles in the group that can be impossible to escape from - for years ands years. Remember clearly a Danish psychologist who during a parent orientation said that; if your child does not get along in class - move school - fast.

[@masselfur]

Some great observations in regards to Individualism Vs Socialism. I think both education systems reflect the difference in both cultures.

[@casbjoern]

Your critique of having all or most of your classes with the same group of people is interesting, as it is something we usually hail as an advantage

[@davidpax]

Well, in Folkeskolen it's the same 30 people too, so I guess we are more used to it being that way. Could be interesting to hear how they do in other European countries. Maybe in the UK it's like in the US. Anyway being kinda introvert, I only socialized with 2-3 friends.

[@Trebonds]

I think the way we have it here in Denmark is a great thing. That you have the same class 3 years, make it so you invest in that class. Because its this class the next 3 years. So its force you to accept our defferences. At my gymnasium we had 2 classes in my startin year, with 23 and 22 students, in my last year some have moved or stoped, so we ended up with 1 class with 31 students. And I had a small group of friends I played computer games with. An other group that I played board games with. A few friends I talked a lot of literature and politics with. And that I knew that: "Hey this people I have to be together with the next 3 years ... it forced us to accept our differences, because there was really no room not to. And it made us also realise: We don't lose anything as an individual, by accepting that other people isn't just "like us", or that they don't have they same 100% same set of values as I do. I'm what I personal christian, and its not really a plus to say and live like that in this time here in Denmark .. but because we was a small group of 4 people in my class, then well, the other student couldn't really do much else then accept that we, in some cases, had a slightly different set of values, and morals then they had, and we at same time, had to accept that just because we lived our lives by a christian moral, both for sex and drinking, then well... not everyone at the Gymnasium live by those same values .. and we ofcause had to accept it. And I see no problem in that ... on the contrary: I think that its a very important lessen here in 2022, and .. also at every other time .. to learn to accept that people live their life as they find best, and some times that is different then what you find is best for you, or your family. To learn to accept our differences, and tolerate each others differences ... and be confrontrated with our differences ... I think thats is something that is super great by the system we have here in Denmark. You cant just live in a bobble and just ignore all the difficult things here in life ... you have to confront it, or it will bring you huge problems later on in life.

[@Noblemand]

Hmm seems like Gymnasium changed since i attended it years ago. Back then the first year, all classes were mandatory and you had all lessons with the same group of people(Up to 28). 2nd year we choose 1 shcool subject of your choosing and it was a mix for all other classes. 3rd year there was 3 school subjets and possibility to mix up with even more students from the other classes. But you graduated with your the class you started out with the first year and had the majority of lessons with

[@SirSensitivity]

the yeea yea you guys picked up. you guys are danish now.

[@srenh.jrgensen1798]

Great episode, although we have to realise it might have taken blood sweat and tears for you guys to know what you now know … I think us Danes are villageRs, for good or bad. Some people say that Copenhagen is a web of villages, which sounds quite nice, but also has its drawbacks. But the further away you get from Copenhagen, the more of Smallville you encounter, that’s one of my pet prejudices - one I can safely put forward since I’m not from Copenhagen. But on the bright side, it seems to me that you Copenhageners (yes, you!) are good at insisting on your privilege of chatting to more strangers and making friends from every corner of “the woods” and so meeting many fascinating people with similar interests to your own?

[@elsebethgaffron-poulsen1576]

Well beeing with the same people easily gives you at feeling of having a family. You see your clasemates growing up and you form life long friendships. I soon became friends with 3 other Girls and we still are 65 years later. That goes for my brother and sister in law too, who are 5 years older than me. They even met and fell in love in school, not in the same class, but they met in the schoolyard during breaks. But maybe that is why wee tend to form narrow groupes of friends, which might make it difficult for foreingers to get friends when coming to work and live in Denmark. At least that's what wee hear all the time.

[@DominusRexDK]

come to think of it.... this being part of that 1 class throughout your time in a large part of the educational system, and not being so in the US educational system. actually think it kinda ties into how culturally we develop social circles. Since, as has been stated many times before, Danes tend to have smaller/tighter social circles and Americans, at least are seen too, have wider and maybe shallower social circles. with how Danes tend to get to know the same smaller circle of people for an extend period of time and Americans have to navigate this larger sphere of people, and find their own social group within. Might also tie into why Americans tend to be more open, out there and sociable, while Danes tend to kinda mind themselves and keep to themselves, at least initially.

[@mayaanastasiayoung6739]

I definitely agree. I think this is why Americans are so known for talking to strangers. We do it all day at school!

[@BigAndTall666]

The rum is not gone, i just bought a new bottle of Pampero today, PAMPERO ("1938" or "Anniversario" is highly recommended!!!). 🥃

[@TravelinYoung]

This was Ron Zacapa XO, so good. I do have more, just not in my glass at the time :).

[@teddybearpotato2087]

as a viking blood born dane lol, i find this a very great view from someone who I assume isn born in danmerk? I'm sorry if I miss understood that but just stumbe upon this looking for arican danes for a social study in Samfundsfag

[@steffensegoviahelbo5065]

Having mostly been in classes of 20 people or less I don't really feel the diversity is as big of an issue as you seem to make it. Growing up with a class at the size of 12 people wasn't even an issue. I developed my interests and personality regardless of what the class liked. I guess the difference here is that you go out to an activity that you like and make friends there the activities are dependent on you so higher chances of meeting someone with similar interests.

[@madsmller4030]

Good People

[@klausolekristiansen2960]

I would have been totally lost if I had not had a class I belonged to.

[@jlj8177]

why is the rum gone? :)

[@Darkenforcer]

LOL that was my exact thought when he said it 🤣

[@Julleisa]

When I started i gymnasium in 1978 I didn't know anything eather.

[@Drescher1984]

Many that can't figure out what to become they end up at VUC and get a HF

[@peterhansen8594]

Hej Maya. Et tip du sikkert kender: Husk at danske vokaler ofte strækkes meget lange...efterskooole, baaade, spiiise, låååse men at de samme vokaler skal udtales meget kort i andre ord som feks ost, nem, is, båd, æg (personer med sjællandsk accent udvider dog alle vokaler)

[@allanbolvig2890]

To konsonanter giver en kort vokal og en konsonant giver en lang vokal, som f. eks. hele og Helle. :-)

[@CodeZhifty]

Is she getting/buying a drivers license, now that she is 18?

[@mayaanastasiayoung6739]

There’s a lot of things going on right now so I’m waiting for a better time to start my lessons :))

[@CodeZhifty]

@@mayaanastasiayoung6739 Great choice, i think im waiting a while too

[@flemmingkristensen359]

Where is your hat?

[@katrine6294]

Up untill University The danish eddiucation system will keep kids in the same class. One of the resons for this is becaus danish teatchers keep an eye out for thiere students. Its deffintley more in preschool but still alot in gymnasium. I Work at a kindergarden and we do it to. We look for the students progression in learing, we keep an eye out for there mental health and social interaktions with other kids, in kindergarden we spicifik look at motorik skills - crawl, Walk, eyecontact, and also behavour. Its all about the danish idea of a safety net. Adults have to catch Youngerst who fall or need help. Event if its a small problem or maybe problems in thiere famaily. We try to ensure Every kid is god and gowing the way they shoud

[@TheJoergenDK]

I know someonee whos friends from high school still keeping contact are as diverse as a taxi driver and an actuary. (one "who deals with the measurement and management of risk and uncertainty." Wikipedia)

[@Caelle95]

Maya please dont let the whole “this gymnasium is better than the other”-talk get to you! It’s just near the bigger cities this is a thing. We don’t have these issues in smaller cities in Denmark. It’s just posh and stupid …

[@DKFX1]

Generally you want to avoid gymnasiums with a lot of middle-eastern people if you want good education without disruptive classmates and uncomfortable atmosphere. That's just a fact.

[@Caelle95]

@@DKFX1 I do not support this message at all!!! Wtf, that's super racist.

[@DKFX1]

@@Caelle95Genes are important. Biology is a real thing. Didn't they teach you about DNA and genetics in Gymnasium? Silly girl.

[@denmark39]

I think in second year you mix with other students… maybe they have changed it. I was MAT FYS and had chemistry with students from other classes in year 2.

[@PLF...]

"Your tribe" is everything that's wrong with the US though. If you don't get along wit the people in your classroom in folkeskolen or your class in gymnasium, you are taught to learn how to understand them and (more often than not) get to see how people are different. Shallowly just finding like-minded people is not "embracing your individuality", it's a lack of ability to empathize with the ones you don't understand. Being forced to interact with your classmates in a small group of 30-ish people is a HUGE deal. School is about teaching you a lot of different things. It's not about your bubble, it's about becoming a better person - which includes getting to know other people, like them or not. Then you can get together with your closer friends between classes or after school (as you do) but entirely skipping people you don't understand is truly a horrible way to go through life. I was an exchange student between 9th grade and gymnasium in the US as a senior in a mid-size suburban high school, and I was truly astonished how the cliquey stereotypes you see in bad high school movies were indeed very real. People in general were divided into groups and knew nothing about each other. Even to the extent that kids pick classes that their friends take, for that single reason. Waaay too early to mess up your life like that. At least there wasn't any singing and choreographed dancing in the cafeteria. It's very interesting you feel like it's a good thing to be able to just ignore people in this way. "You're only there for 30 minutes" is a chilling sentence to hear. Friends are not "found" let me make that abundantly clear. Friends are (to a much larger extent) _made_ and at the very least molded. Like in a relationship. It takes effort. And this also gives you the ability to change alongside them as you grow older instead of just being compatible at that one random arbitrary point in time. You're not supposed to just pick and choose people like clothes, otherwise you won't get anywhere as a person. What you are describing here is just so deeply narcissistic it's almost absurd. But I'm not gonna lie, very American though.

[@Morlock1943]

Nice to read all those comments in english by danes.

[@TheJoergenDK]

It is a little bit weird to hear people from the land of the free talk about wanting to fit in 😊

[@TheCoolkedde]

To me having that many peole would just make me feel so much more lost and alone for I've had a hard time to make friends. and just so many people is scarey. I love my 10 people class in folkeskole :D

[@midsue]

🙂

[@MsMissX]

You expect to have the same access to people in a country having 5.7 millions as to 350 millions.

[@Noblemand]

♫Why is the rum gone♫

[@UltraSuperDuperFreak]

No sacrifice needed at all ... i was never bothered in school , same class for 8-9 years. There was one trouplemaker in class, but he was kinda mean to everybody tho ...and he got expelled. So problem solved ..rest of the group worked together ...sure i never talked to 90% of em unless asignment required me too ..but it didtn matter .... i was there for one thing ... to learn math, danish, etc etc ... not to find friends . Those i found AFTER school. Same goes for edution .... i was there to get an education ..not to find friends. I talked to like 2 or 3 people often only the entire time.

[@olexxr8503]

Why is this such a interesting topic, I don't get it .. I think Danes meet thier friends other places than school ..

[@jipersson]

Perhaps Maya is trying to hard to "fit in", I as a boy when I a gazillion years ago went to school, never tried to fit in, rather I just did my own thing and actually kinda loathed groups and a need to "follow the leader" or become a "leader" with an entourage of "yes sayer's". I know it's different with girls that tend to have a greater need of group acceptance, but try to be yourself instead of trying to "fit in" Maya, I think your classmates would respect you more for that!

[@mayaanastasiayoung6739]

I never try to be like other people. That’s one thing I’m really proud of, I’ve always just done “me” and if people don’t like it, oh well. It can just be somewhat hard to find people that accept that and accept me! But the people that do really like me for me are there for life!

[@diegeferenbach8065]

I thought gymnasium was 2 years

[@MazzOfMazzeroo]

STX at gymnasium = 3 years, HF at gymnasium = 2 years. HHX and HTX are also 3 years. There are a few Studenterkursus school where you can get the STX in 2 years though

[@istrysii]

Better to have Few good friends then alot of friends ... and if you dont like the ppl in your class ... and you can not work with them ... how will you work with anyone on a workplace as you dont know .. you can not like all ppl in the world ...

[@melanp4698]

Well said.

[@IvanKashperuk]

Wait till she starts work and finds out it's the same bloody few people, often much less than 30, every day :D

[@TheJoergenDK]

I have a friendship with a religious person, a member of Jehovas Witnesses. And I am against religion, because I believe God is imperceptible, unconceivable and as mysterious as "The Big Question" which is: What is consciousness? So you can be friends with people who are totally different from yourself. In this case, my friend is kind and understanding, and I think I love her, at least quite a bit of a little bit ;-)

[@caythorgrimson]

and a a dane education last for life he /she is allways a student

[@Theeldanes]

If U cant make friends inbeteween 30 folks U need to look inside 🙂