Love to travel? With PKF One Week More (OWM), you can do your PKFSC work from another PKF office anywhere in the world! It’s a unique chance to explore new places, meet colleagues across the network, and experience a different office culture - all whilst staying connected to your role. Our latest team member to participate in OWM was James-Patrick McCrossan from PKF Infuse. We caught up with JP to hear more about his experience. 

Hi JP, can you start by introducing yourself?

Absolutely. I’m JP, that’s James-Patrick if you’re being formal. I’m a Systems and Data Developer here at PKF Infuse, but I’ve been dubbed ‘the AI guy’.

Why did you choose to do One Week More in Copenhagen?

Copenhagen is just an incredible city. I’m a fan of history and art, so the blend of architecture, museums and modern galleries was a massive draw. My girlfriend is also Danish, so I got to spend time with her as well.

Not to mention, the promise of amazing food, even better beer, and a chance to test my Duolingo powered Danish in the wild! The friendly locals were just the cherry on top.

How was your experience working there?

It was fantastic. The PKF Munkebo Eriksen Funch team made me feel at home from day one, which is easy to do when you’re being constantly supplied with chocolate, coffee, and my new favourite drink, Faxe Kondi - the king of Lemonade’s. Everyone from the partners downwards has been incredibly generous with their time. One minute I’m deep in conversation about industry trends, and the next, I’m having an unexpectedly great lunchtime chat about the UFC with a colleague. You can’t ask for a better welcome than that, as such I’m very grateful for this experience.

What was the most memorable part of your time working abroad?

Without a doubt, it was just immersing myself more in the Danish way of life. It’s one thing to visit as a tourist, but it’s another to feel the city’s rhythm. The highlights were a whirlwind: one evening I’m listening to a classical concert in the stunning Black Diamond library, the next I’m deep diving into early Danish history, golden horns and longboats at the National Museum. I wandered the city powered by incredible pastries and local beer, spent quality time with my girlfriend’s family, and even managed to meet up with some friends from Manchester for a meal. It was that perfect blend of culture, history, and great company.

Did you notice any significant cultural differences in the workplace? How did you adapt to them?

The pace of the workday is definitely the biggest difference. They work hard from 8AM to 4PM, and then they’re done. The Danish lunch break at noon is a protected thirty minute ritual. You don’t check your phone, you just eat (very) good food and talk to your colleagues (between mouthfuls of delicious rye bread and fresh and tasty toppings). It’s about that famous work life balance. I decided to lean into it and be present during those lunch chats (frokost samtale), with overall some fascinating conversations as a result.

How did you balance work and exploring the new city and country during your stay?

I booked the Wednesday to Friday off before my work week started, which gave me a solid five day block to be a full-time explorer. Once work began, the 4PM finish time was a game changer. It left huge chunks of the evening free to dive back into the city, go for a run, or just spend time with my girlfriend doing gardening, baking pastries, and playing some board games. The first Monday was tiring - meeting a whole new team and adjusting to the routine meant I was ready for an early night.

In summary it has been a wonderful experience! Tusind tak Danmark for minderne! (A thousand thank you’s Denmark for the memories!)