There are other Polish people here like me and the Danish people all speak English, so we speak English when we talk together. I started Danish school last year, so I’m looking forward to improving my Danish language!

I got into welding through a family connection and learned how to weld. After this, I started an apprenticeship at the same company where I worked for eight years. It was a big company that made trailer chassis for trains and all types of welding on trains.

When you see what you’ve made, it puts a smile on your face. Welding isn’t easy. It’s hard to get it right and to make quality work. So, when people here tell me “Wow – good job!” Then I think – “That’s my work!” I like to see all the wind turbines and power stations and everything that we make for the wind industry working in the real world.

Danish people are calm and accepting and I like that about living in Denmark – that’s why I feel good here. I’ve tried working in other places in Europe, but I’ve had the best experience here in Denmark. There is a level of trust I’ve experienced here – that people want to help you if you need it.

Before I moved to Denmark, I worked for three years here travelling back and forth to Poland to see my family. Sometimes it was too hard to go back to work when your family miss you and you don’t get to see them for weeks. My wife finally decided, saying, “We need you, so either we move to Denmark, or you come back to Poland.” That’s when I asked my manager how he saw my future at the company. My boss was very surprised and with big eyes said, “Why do you ask?”. I told him how my family miss me and want me to come home to Poland. He said to me “Bring them here! We’ll help you find schools for the kids and work for your wife. We don’t want you to leave – we need you and when you move your family here, we will take care of you.

After my managers told me this I called to my wife and told her the situation and she moved to Denmark! That was five years ago. My oldest daughter started in second grade and my youngest in kindergarten and after the first year they were both speaking Danish! After half a year I brought my younger brother into the company, who also lives here with his family now, and my older brother works here too.”

At work, my colleagues appreciate what I do and the quality of my work. I really like my position here; my bosses trust me, and I trust them. I’ve been here for eight years now, and I hope for many more.

 I think our future is here in Denmark. We live very close to Billund, Southern Denmark, near Legoland in a small village called Vorbasse. The kids are well settled in their school now. Three years ago, we took a loan and bought a house. It feels like this is our place. I have my family here – my brothers – great work – it’s home for me I hope!”