The Filipina Mom in Denmark

my wallet

Sometime you can not believe that honesty still lies in the heart of many people especially among the danish people. Today I lost my wallet in a small shopping center I was about to pay for my cafe latte when I discovered that it was lost. I went back right away to the bakery inside a supermarket where i just bought a cake but it wasn’t there. Then my husband called me that the guards found my wallet who was actually calling me but I wasn’t able to answer it because it was on a silent mode. So I called the guard right away then he asked me to pick it up then he joked if I you missed something I said yes and he gave my wallet back.

This is actually my third time that I lost and found my wallet. The first time was at the National Museum and I was on my way to a restaurant when somebody called my mobile phone and it was the receptionist in the museum asking me to go back because somebody surrendered my wallet to him. I went to pick it up no question asked. I told myself I was lucky and it happened again but I forgot where it was but they called me again asking me to pick up. ( My phone was luckily on the list that’s why they were able to call me.)

Once I forgot to removed my 18 carat gold necklace and a big pendant inside my pants pocket (i put in my pocket after I took it off after I underwent a canning in the hospital) . I lost it when i washed my clothes and I didn’t even know about it until i have to wash 14 after days I found the pendant hanging in the bulletin board and I said it look like it’s mine then I took it and the necklace probably end up inside the washing machine.

When I was still new in Denmark i forgot 4oo dkk in Aldi a supermarket and the the funny thing is I discovered it 3 days after I left it wondering where is my money then I called my husband to pass by the supermarket and ask them If somebody just forgot 4 of 100 dkk folded and was still new. You will be surprised what their answer was” Oh we were very worried that she forgot it but we don’t know where you live” and give back the money to my husband. I thought it was a miracle.

I read somewhere that the Norwegians and the Danish have the highest percentage of Moral ground I think they meant was most honest people in the world by topping the people who return the wallets that’s been dropped (dropping wallets test). I can also remember a program on the danish TV testing people’s honesty by an actor who withdraw cash from an ATM machine and left it there and what will be the next person do report it to the bank or just keep the money. Most of them reported to the bank but two young ones tried to keep the money for themselves until the actor approached them.

By sharing my experiences to the others i found out and all of us conclude you the danish are very honest compared to the other nationalities especially th older people. Coming from populated and a developing country this is a bit odd and at the same time a breath of fresh air or should I say trusting the human species again when living in this country.

I even heard some people that they lost wallets but were returned thru mail sometimes with or without the cash in it. One of my friend has to pay the stamp because they sent it without putting stamps in it which it fine I think.

The danish people hates to do through any control i just to site some examples:

• There are no turnstile in the train or the Metro stations you just ride the train .
• Just show the driver you bus card or ticket with a machine stamp that most of the times they don’t really look.
• There’s no deposit counter in the department stores and supermarkets you can actually put your other bads or plastic bags you bought from the other store inside a new store.
• You don’t have to fall in line while entering a mall or store (that’s for security reasons in the Philippines)
• You don’t have to be check your belongings when going out for a mall or department store if you stole something.

BUT keep in mind if you cheat by not having the proper tickets in the bus and train (Note that here in Copenhagen area the fare depends on the zone minimum 2 zones and you can use the ticket in the Bus, Metro, the train and the ferry) when there is a control/inspector the fine is 600 Dkk (approx. 100 US$). That’s almost 2 months worth of 2 zones bus card.

But don’t be too relax you should be careful with your things because even if there’s a lot honest Danes there still some who aren’t and especially now Christmas shoppings in full blast there’s a lot of thieves in the malls, bus and in the walking street both local thieves but most of them according to the police are Tourist Thieves from the poor countries in Eastern Europe like the Romanians etc.

You can also experience honest people in the Philippines but it is very seldom isn’t because it is a poor country in relations to Denmark or is depend upon the individual’s values.

As a parent it will be our responsibility to teach or instill value formation to our children while they are still young. All the good characters and moral values like integrity , honesty etc. which they will take or practice until they become responsible adults.

Remember the saying Honesty is the Best Policy.

How about you did you happen to meet some honest people?