July is around the corner, and there is still no job offer in our household.
Every day, my wife and I ask ourselves the same question: did we make the right decision by moving to Copenhagen?
Even with all the uncertainty, I still believe we made the right call.
Since moving here, life has had many ups and downs. Some days feel exciting. Other days feel heavy. But one thing I know for sure is that we are spending more time together as a family. I get to spend more time with the kids, think more deeply about what I want in life, and reflect on who I am outside of work.
Recently, I have noticed that I feel bored at times. Every day can start to feel like a routine, and I find myself looking for something more. After many conversations with my wife, I realized that I have been going through more of an emotional roller coaster than I expected.
I used to think I was not the kind of person who would be affected by emotions like this. But moving countries, leaving my previous job, and trying to rebuild a life in a new place has made me feel more vulnerable than I expected.
In some ways, I feel like I am losing part of my identity.
For a long time, my identity was tied to being a working person, especially in Japan. In Japan, work often becomes a huge part of who you are. Your company, your role, your schedule, and your responsibilities can easily become your identity.
Now, without a job, I have been forced to ask myself a different question:
Who am I as a person, not just as a worker?
That question has not been easy, but it has also been useful. It has pushed me to explore new habits, new routines, and new ways of living.
One of the biggest changes recently has been getting a cargo bike.
I found it through DBA, which is like the Danish version of eBay or Mercari in Japan. It is a platform where people buy and sell second-hand items. I liked the idea of buying second-hand, and the platform felt quite secure because users are connected to Danish identity systems.
I had wanted a cargo bike for a while because of school drop-offs, pick-ups, and moving around with the kids. Once I start working again, it may become harder to manage everything without a good transport setup. So, when I found a good second-hand deal, I decided to buy one.
In Denmark, there are different types of cargo bikes. Some are electric, and some are non-electric. Electric cargo bikes are convenient, but they are also more expensive and probably more attractive to thieves. Since I wanted something practical, long-term, and easier to maintain, I chose a non-electric cargo bike.
The structure is simpler. It is lighter. There is no battery or motor to worry about. If something breaks, I expect it will be easier and cheaper to fix.
Since buying it in early May, I have been biking almost every day.
Honestly, it has been a game changer.
Now I can take the kids around the city whenever I want, while my wife can bike on her own. We can go to parks farther from home, explore different neighborhoods, and move around much more freely.
Denmark is known for being flat, but there are still some hills that feel tough when you are carrying two kids and the weight of the cargo bike. At the beginning, there was one hill near my child’s school that made me completely out of breath. It is not a long hill, maybe around twenty meters, but with the extra weight, it felt difficult.
Now, after biking every day, I can go up that hill much more easily, even with the kids and the bike. My legs feel stronger, and biking has become part of my daily exercise.
I probably bike more than ten kilometers a day now. Instead of seeing it as a chore, I have started to see it as a form of training and a way to enjoy the city.
Even though I do not have a job right now, I genuinely enjoy biking around Copenhagen, finding new roads, and slowly learning how the city works.
One thing I really respect about Denmark is the cycling culture.
Compared with Japan, biking here feels much safer and more integrated into daily life. The city is designed around cyclists, pedestrians, and cars in a much clearer way. Bike lanes are wide, people use hand signals, and there is enough space for different types of bikes, including cargo bikes.
In Japan, cycling can feel more chaotic. Here, I feel that cycling is part of the culture. People respect the bike lanes, and the infrastructure makes everyday cycling feel natural.
Sometimes I ride quite fast, especially when the road is straight. Even on a regular non-electric bike, I feel my legs getting stronger, and I enjoy passing through the city with confidence.
In a small way, maybe this is part of integrating into Danish life.
I may still be looking for a job. I may still be figuring out who I am in this new chapter. But I am also learning how to live here, how to move through the city, how to spend time with my children, and how to find joy in ordinary routines.
So maybe the answer is not only about finding work.
Maybe it is also about slowly building a new identity.
One bike ride at a time.