A storyteller, a cultural explorer, and a writer forging her path across borders. Heather shares her experiences of life, love, and career in Denmark and beyond.
Photographs: Martin Macalpine / Bruno Castro / Westfjords Residency
Text: Lyndsay Jensen
Heather's story is one of movement, adaptation, and cultural curiosity. Born into a family with roots in Scotland and northern England, she has always been surrounded by a blend of influences. Switzerland and Germany played a significant role in shaping her perspective as well, leaving her with a sense of belonging that stretches far beyond national borders.
Unlike many internationals who long for home, Heather has never quite reached the point of missing a single place. Instead, she embraces the ebb and flow of travel, always looking ahead to the next journey. Her international lifestyle means she is rarely without the comforts of home—whether that’s Danish liquorice, Scottish whisky, or the familiar taste of Irn-Bru. Currently, she finds herself in Iceland on a writing residency, a place where she has the rare fortune of finding both her favorite Scottish chocolates, Tunnock’s, and a selection of Danish imports. It’s no wonder she jokes about moving there part-time.
Finding a home in Denmark
Denmark wasn’t Heather’s first experience living abroad—Switzerland and southern Germany came first. But the transition to Denmark was unique. She and her husband have always kept a base in both Denmark and Scotland, shifting between the two. The COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit added complexity to this arrangement, resulting in longer periods in Denmark. Now, her life is a whirlwind of locations - Denmark, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, and the USA, all within the first quarter of the year.
Her connection to Denmark is, unsurprisingly, her Danish husband. But beyond that, they share a deep interest in other cultures, always open to the possibility of new places. Switzerland is on their radar, though the absence of the sea might be a challenge for her husband, an avid sailor. Conversations about Copenhagen have surfaced, especially in the context of potentially raising a family. The thought is taken so seriously that, during a sentimental moment, her husband preemptively recruited their Copenhagen friends to serve as honorary aunts and uncles to their future children.
Adapting to Danish culture
Heather’s transition to Denmark was gradual rather than abrupt. The country tested her in ways she hadn’t anticipated. Like many foreign women, she initially felt a strong pressure to fit in. Learning Danish became a priority, and her determination paid off—she mastered the language at an impressive pace. Her knowledge of German helped, but it was ultimately her persistence that made the difference. When Danes switched to English, she would persist in Danish, explaining why it was essential for her to practice.
Her efforts had an unexpected ripple effect—her father-in-law, inspired by her progress, started speaking Danish to other internationals as well. For Heather, language was just one piece of the puzzle. She remembers the first time a friend complimented her on running a “good Danish home.” It felt like a validation of her integration, yet it also made her question whether she was losing a part of herself in the process.
Over time, Danish friends began telling her she wasn’t “really foreign-foreign,” or that she was “Danish-ish.” These remarks left her both amused and puzzled. If the Danes didn’t consider her an outsider, did that mean she had become part of them? In other Nordic countries, the assumption is even stronger—while visiting a small island in Norway, locals repeatedly referred to her as “the Danish girl.” No matter how many times she corrected them, the label stuck.
Heather remembers the first time a friend complimented her on running a “good Danish home.” It felt like a validation of her integration, yet it also made her question whether she was losing a part of herself in the process.
First impressions vs. reality
Heather’s first exposure to Denmark was during a holiday on the German border, an experience that initially left little impression. Over time, however, she came to appreciate the region’s cultural diversity, where people seamlessly navigate between languages like German, Danish, Frisian, and Sønderjysk. When she finally visited Copenhagen at twenty with her now-husband, it was a completely different experience - exciting, unpredictable, and filled with the charm of youth.
Her perspective on Denmark deepened with Brexit. Many Brits envied her for having an EU-citizen partner, unaware of Denmark’s strict immigration policies. The assumption that being married to a Dane meant an easy process was far from reality. Heather became increasingly aware of how Denmark’s system often fails to support the foreign spouses of Danish citizens, despite the country’s growing need for international talent.
Cultural nuances and challenges
While cultural differences exist, Heather finds that Scotland and Jutland are surprisingly similar. The reserved nature of Jutlanders, often described as gruff by outsiders, felt familiar rather than foreign. English writers often generalise British culture, but Heather understands firsthand that Scotland is distinct. In fact, she now feels more out of place in London than in Copenhagen or even Oslo.
Some Danish customs, however, took time to decode. Traditions, especially surrounding birthdays, follow an unspoken rulebook that no one explains to newcomers. Heather recalls scouring blogs like Keri Bloomfield’s Bilingual Backpack Baby and reading The International to make sense of these nuances. It was through these resources that she finally felt understood.
A writer’s path
Heather’s professional journey has always centred around writing and communication. With a degree in Culture and Heritage, she developed expertise in the northern world, spanning the Nordic and Celtic cultures. Her language skills - English, German, and Danish—became integral to her work.
Her first consistent writing platform was The International, where she explored everything from rural Jutland to Denmark’s vibrant bar scene. A passion for whisky writing developed naturally, leading her to cover Nordic distilleries, from remote Arctic locations to Jutland’s countryside.
She credits her career path to the international women writers who came before her, especially those at The International, who provided inspiration when she was still finding her voice. Creative friendships, such as her connection with musician Christine Kammerer, reinforce this sense of shared cultural exploration.
This year, Heather has fully embraced freelance writing. She is participating in a Nordic-German journalism fellowship, preparing to write more in German. She is also beginning work on a book—a daunting yet thrilling endeavour. The book follows Isobel Wylie Hutchison, a Scottish woman who travelled extensively in the Kingdom of Denmark in the 1920s and 30s. Heather aims to retrace her journey, focusing on Iceland in 1925, a time when the country was newly independent but still tied to Denmark. Her research will take her across Iceland this summer, retracing Isobel’s steps.
Love, family, and the future
Heather and her husband’s story is one of serendipity - she was the first local he met upon arriving in Scotland. Their connection was undeniable, even when they insisted they were just friends. A Danish newspaper once ran a piece about them titled, “In love the first day he landed in Edinburgh airport.” The only inaccuracy? He had actually taken the train.
Integrating into each other’s families came with its moments. Heather’s father was already fond of Denmark, frequently visiting Odense for work and immersing himself in Danish traditions. Her father-in-law, on the other hand, was initially unimpressed - until she learned Danish. They ended up with a close and supportive bond.
Looking ahead, Heather envisions a multilingual, multicultural household. When she and her husband first met, German and English dominated their conversations, later shifting to Danish and English. Their shared curiosity for languages ensures that any future children will grow up with a diverse linguistic foundation.
For now, she continues to travel, write, and explore, embracing the life of someone who belongs everywhere and nowhere at once. Her joy lies in the wild landscapes of Scotland, the rugged beauty of Iceland, and the cultural intricacies of Denmark—a life spent at the crossroads of nations, never truly standing still.
For Heather, the journey is never-ending. Whether in Denmark, Scotland, Iceland, or somewhere new, she embraces every experience with curiosity and resilience. And perhaps that is the essence of truly living an international life.
