AVAILABLE NOW
Belonging is a Verb
Your Practical Companion to Living, Working, and Feeling at Home in Denmark
Small steps. Real connection. Belonging grows.
Who is this book for?
The International - Navigating life in Denmark after the paperwork settles
The Partner - Who followed and is finding their own footing quietly
The Organisation - That wants to support people beyond formal onboarding
The part of relocation no one really prepares for
Most internationals relocating to Denmark do everything right. The paperwork is in order. The job is good. Life should feel settled.
And then comes the dip.
Motivation drops. Confidence wobbles. Social life feels harder than expected.
Partners struggle quietly on the side.
Nothing is technically wrong, but something isn't working either.
This phase is common, predictable, and rarely supported.
For organisations, this is often the phase where engagement quietly drops, not because something failed, but because support shifted too early from "settling in" to "everything should work now".
What makes the book different |
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|---|---|---|
This is not:A motivational book A cultural checklist A "how to integrate faster" manual |
Instead, it is:Honest about the inner transition Gentle with nervous systems Practical without pushing |
The tone is realistic, sometimes lightly humorous, and always respectful of the reader's intelligence and capacity. |
What the book provides
Belonging Is a Verb is a practical self-help guide to integration in Denmark, focusing on the inner transition of arrival, the invisible process of building confidence, connection, and a sense of home over time.
The book does not replace existing relocation or integration services. It supports what official systems cannot do alone.
For Internationals
Language for what people are experiencing
Practical structure instead of pressure or quick fixes
Tools for everyday life, work, and community
A calm, respectful tone not motivational, not therapeutic.
For Organisations
A calm, practical support layer alongside existing relocation programmes
Something concrete to offer when motivation dips but nothing is "technically broken"
The method: simple, repeatable, human
The book is built around a clear framework: ACT Apply · Change · Teach
Short reflections grounded in everyday life
Micro-actions that fit real energy levels
Community prompts build confidence through practice
This makes the book usable, not just thoughtful.
Featured In
Copenhagen Post
"I did everything right. So why doesn't this feel like home yet?"
Featured article exploring the emotional journey of internationals in Denmark and practical strategies for building belonging.
Last Week in Denmark
"Small steps. Real connection"
Interview with Mariola Kajkowska about belonging, relocation and meaningful connection.
What early readers say
"Belonging is a Verb arrives at exactly the right moment for anyone navigating Danish life. It does not tell you to wait until belonging finds you. It hands you the tools to build it, one small act at a time. Pages 88-89 and 126-127 went straight to my spouse."
Emre Yarcı · Pharma Professional, Copenhagen & Better Half Partner
"Well-written, easy to read, and right to the point of what people actually experience. Many forget to consider the emotional aspect of a relocation - this does."
Louise Nielsen · Newcomer Service Guide, Vejle Kommune
Reader Story
From Self-Doubt to Confidence
"The book helped turn some of my self-doubt into confidence and gave me reassurance that I am moving in the right direction."
— Jittal Mehta · Quality Professional, 4 Years in Denmark
For organisations
"Belonging is a Verb is the book I have been missing for a long time. A book that validates experiences, provides practical tools, and reminds us all that belonging is something we build together – one relationship at a time."
— Maria Pelle Johannsen · Global Mobility & HR Professional
Relocating employees and families
Used as a practical supplement to onboarding and relocation programmes. Organisations use it as a low-threshold way to show care beyond logistics, especially for partners and families, where unmet needs often surface first.
Often included in:
– onboarding and relocation packages
– partner and spouse support initiatives
– retention and well-being efforts
– global mobility programs
Also used in connection with author talks, facilitated conversations, newcomer events, and partner programmes.
For libraries, International Houses, and company events
The book is also used in connection with author talks and facilitated conversations.
Typical formats include:
– newcomer events
– partner or spouse programs
– conversations for professionals supporting internationals
Popular Keynotes
Belonging is a Verb
How internationals move from simply living in Denmark to building connection, community, and a genuine sense of home.
Culture Shock in Denmark
From "What Have I Gotten Myself Into?" to Belonging
A practical and inspiring keynote on the emotional journey from arrival to feeling at home. Inspired by the Belonging Curve™.
Why International Talent Leaves and How Belonging Makes Them Stay
Helping organizations strengthen retention, inclusion and long-term success for international employees.
For individuals
Used as a personal companion by internationals or partners navigating life in Denmark, especially when everything works on paper, but belonging still feels unfinished.
Available formats
– Wire-O print edition: flat-opening, writeable, designed for active use
– eBook
– Audiobook
– Printable ACT tools (PDF) for listeners and group use
Pay with MobilePay
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Interested in using the book?
Early readers include newcomer guides, relocation professionals, and internationals across Denmark, all of whom recognised the gap this book fills.
Pre-orders and pilot collaborations are now open for organisations, libraries, and partners.
Buy Now
About the Author
Mariola Kajkowska is the founder of First Friend in Denmark and a trusted guide for internationals building a real life in Denmark, not just a relocation.
She knows the journey from the inside. After more than two decades in Denmark, she learned that belonging doesn't arrive from outside; it grows from within. That personal discovery, and the deep development work that followed, became the foundation of everything she teaches today.
A career coach, DISC behavioral analyst, Mastermind facilitator, salsa dancer, and long-time community builder, Mariola is known for the energy she brings into rooms and for her ability to see people's potential clearly, often before they can see it themselves.
Her trademark is the "quarter-turn", the small, practical shifts in behavior that create lasting change without overwhelm.
This book is her love letter to internationals and to the country that became her home.
Belonging is a Verb is a companion, not a prescription for building life, work, and belonging in Denmark.
Mariola Kajkowska
Founder, First Friend in Denmark