As US President Donald Trump refuses to rule out using US military to ‘acquire Greenland’, the Mirror takes a look at what life is really like in the beautiful and unique Nordic country
Mere days after ousting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, it appears US President Donald Trump has his eyes set on another country – Greenland.
Sparking a diplomatic crisis on the evening of Monday, January 5, President Trump told NBC News: “We need Greenland for national security, and that includes Europe. You know I’m very loyal to Europe. We need it for national security, right now. I think that Greenland is very important for the national security of the United States, Europe, and other parts of the free world.”
The White House later release a statement confirming that Trump wants to “acquire Greenland” and is currently “discussing a range of options” including “utilising the US military”. There has been significant pushback to this bold move, with Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warning that a US invasion would lead to the NATO defence bloc collapsing altogether.
With such high stakes, the eyes of the world are now on Greenland. But what’s it actually like to live in this vast and ethereally beautiful country?
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Where people live
Greenland has a fascinating architectural history, and visitors may be particularly struck by the charming, colourful houses, which stick out so vividly amid the snowy landscape. And there’s an interesting history behind these distinctive looking dwellings.
Back in colonial times, a colour-coding system was added implemented, which Greenland’s Technical Organisation (GTO) later opted to stick with this code, for ease of identifying a building’s purpose. For example, a yellow building signified either a hospital or the private home of the local doctor, while churches, schools, and the houses of teachers and ministers were painted red. Fish factories were blue, and the police station black.
Nowadays, this code is no longer enforced, but tourists can still enjoy a rainbow of quaint, colourful buildings. According to the Visit Greenland website: “Today, this system is no longer in use, and we paint our houses in any color we like. So now you will find purple, pink, and any pastel color on the houses. While walking around Nuussuaq, the large suburb of Nuuk, you sometimes feel like you’re wandering inside a candy factory, as there are houses of any colour.”
How residents spend their time
Greenland has a rich and intriguing culture, which will no doubt fascinate those with an interest in Nordic lifestyles. Greenlandic drum dance and drum song offers an insight into Inuit heritage, while arts and crafts also play an important role in the creative life of this beautiful island country.
For film buffs looking to keep up with the latest releases, there are challenges however. There are only a handful of cinemas in Greenland, in Nuuk, Illussat, and Sisimiut, however, smaller towns may set up screenings at community centres.
Foodie culture is also significantly different. There isn’t a McDonald’s to be found but visitors can enjoy a range of delicious delicacies, from famous Greenlandic shrimps to Nipisa, a type of pink caviar.
Dating scene
With such a relatively small population spread out across a vast expanse of land, those looking for love in Greenland often have to go the extra mile – sometimes quite literally – to find that special someone. Younger people living in remote settlements may head for trendy locations such as Nuuk to make connections.
In a Reddit thread on this topic a couple of years back, one singleton shared: “It sucks, two to three swipes on Tinder a day if you’re lucky. Long distance in Greenland is difficult too because it’s so expensive to fly and sometimes planes get cancelled. Sometimes as in frequently I’d say.” Another agreed: “I live in Sisimiut, dating here is like in the rest of the world, you can meet people on Tinder or at a party or anywhere. In the small villages and east Greenland, dating is very limited, most young people move out to the bigger cities, otherwise you have to work with what you got.”
Adding to this dilemma, it has also been reported that ambitious young women tend to leave Greenland for opportunities elsewhere, often in Denmark, sparking fears for young men looking to settle down in their home country.
According to a report by the Centre for Equality, Diversity and Gender (EDGE) at Aalborg University, young Greenlandic men in tended to have a stronger connection to their home region and the activities on offer there, while women felt city life provided greater opportunities.
As explained by the Nordic Information on Gender (NIKK) website, following a 2016 report on the mattter: “The smaller Greenlandic communities are very much centred around traditionally male-oriented occupations such as hunting and fishing. Vast distances and lack of infrastructure make it difficult to offer all citizens the services they may want. Those who dream of a different life move away. And when people move away to get an education, women in particular tend to never return.”
Free education
In what must surely seem like an extraordinary luxury to British graduates saddled with student debt, Greenland citizens pursuing further or higher education can do so free of charge. Many choose to study at one of the leading universities in Denmark, where they’ll enjoy the same rights as their Danish classmates.
Others may choose to attend the University of Greenland, the Nordic country’s only uni, which is located in the strikingly beautiful and vibrant capital of Nuuk. Here, students may well be able to see icebergs and snowcapped mountains from their bedrooms, while a thriving cultural scene, complete with famous street art and foodie gems, makes this an exciting place to begin adult life.
Dramatic weather shifts
According to Visit Greenland, “Greenland’s weather is unpredictable and can shift with no notice”, and travellers are advised to “always dress in layers”. While strongly associated with breathtaking snowy vistas, weather in Greenland can vary from north to south, and even where you’re situated in a valley can make a difference.
The website reads: “The country has an Arctic tundra climate with average temperatures that do not exceed a mean of 5.6°C (42 °F) in the warmest summer months but can plunge down to a mean of -18°C (-4° F) in the north during winter. In the southern part of the country and the innermost parts of the long fjords, the temperature can, however, rise to more than 20° C (68° F) in June, July and August.”
As per AFS USA, Greenlandians celebrate a National Holiday on June 21, a date known as Ullortuneq, or “the longest day,” as it has the most sunlight of any other day on the calendar.
‘The Polar Night’
Residents of Qaanaaq, Greenland’s northernmost town, live through what is known as The Polar Night, whereby the sun sets, and does not rise again for months, from October 24 to February 17. This phenomenon, also experienced in the northern towns of Upernavik, Uummannaq, and Ilulissat, may seem extraordinary to those of us who can’t imagine a day without sunlight, but for locals, it’s simply a fact of life.
Freelance nurse Ivalo Egede Lund, who has frequently worked in Qaanaaq during this fascinating time of the year, previously spoke with Greenland Travel about what it’s really like to endure, and even enjoy the darkness. Ivalo revealed: “When the sun set for the last time this year, we went to the town hall. There were events for kids in the afternoon and music for adults at night. The coming of the time of darkness is not celebrated; we say goodbye to the sun. It’s different in February. On February 17, there is a celebration because the sun is back.
“It’s not like it gets pitch dark all at once when the sun stops to appear in the sky. In October and November, it is still light for a long time in the day, even though the sun is hidden behind the mountains. Right now, the fjord has frozen. It’s too early to go out with heavy dog sleds, but you can walk on the ice. It’s fun to look out at the ice when it gets really dark during the day in December. The hunters go on dog sleds, make holes in the ice, set nets, and fish with their longlines. Then you can watch their headlamps moving around out there on the ice.”
There are some dangers that come with this time, and Ivalo makes sure to stick within the town’s borders to avoid any passing polar bears, which may go unseen until it’s too late. There’s also the matter of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) to consider.
Ivalo continued: “I like the time of darkness because I know it will be light again. It’s nice to sit at home, light candles, and read a good book in winter. I also walk around in the town, as there are street lights. “People coming from the south…Well, we are not used to NOT seeing the sun. For some, the loss of sunlight is traumatic. They feel bad. For others, it’s just an experience.
“Seasonal affective disorder most often occurs when there is a change from dark to light or vice versa. Fortunately, you can get light treatment with light panels, and it helps some people. They come to the hospital for their treatment, because there are two big lamps there. It would be good if we could find some sponsors who can help with smaller lamps so that people can get light therapy at home.”
Politics
Greenland is known to be a socially progressive country committed to championing LGBTQ+ rights, free healthcare and forward thinking environmental policies. As as self-governing island, Greenland’s government is responsible for its own internal policies, while foreign, defence and security policies remain the remit of Denmark’s central government.
Although in many ways a positive place to live, there are challenges, with climate change taking its toll on livelihoods. In a 2020 article published in Global Asia, Sara Olsvig, then a a Ph.D. fellow at Ilisimatusarfik, the University of Greenland, wrote: “Traditionally, hunting and fishing helped supplement food supplies and these practices are integrated into the everyday lives of many families as part of the culture and traditions.
“Yet climate change affects the behaviour of sea mammals and has made it perilous to travel on sea ice during parts of the year. As a result, some families and small communities face extremely high food prices and food security issues.”
Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com
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