About Oregon Girl

Welcome to Oregon Girl Around the World

Hej! Hello. I’m Erin Gustafson and I’ve been around the world, lived in many states, and accumulated a myriad of addresses, but Oregon is where I’m “from.” Something about the mossy green mountainous goodness out here that seeps into your soul and doesn’t let go. But after 7 years of living like a Scandinavian, it’s now a massive part of me too.

Photo credit: Rochelle Coote Photography

“Travel is life.”

– Hans Christian Andersen
LIFE LIVED ABROAD | COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Come to Copenhagen, she said. We did. Our family moved to the Danish capital for my husband’s position with Vestas Wind. The clean, family-friendly, and sustainably oriented city suited us. From 2014 to 2021, we gave up the car to adopt the Danish bicycle culture and efficient public transportation system.

I work to bring those sustainable lifestyle choices with us when we travel and believe that anyone can explore more thoughtfully when away from home. Respecting and supporting local economies and ensuring our impacts are positive are key tenets of our own family travel philosophy. And it’s the basis for most of what I share on this website.

I am a creatively minded explorer of life. I believe in continuous learning and growth. An aesthete at heart, I have an appreciation for design – as much in the natural world as in architecture and art. Call me a culture hound at heart.

When you are open to the world, the world opens for you. I adore meeting new people, discovering their “from” stories, and learning how that impacts their why and here and now. Here on Oregon Girl, you will find stories, images, and thoughts on connecting as humans, what living in Denmark was like, and ideas on how to travel more sustainably. Want to connect? I’d love it! Get in touch – let’s collaborate.

Photo credit: Rochelle Coote Photography
How to connect with Oregon Girl Around the World

Don’t miss a post, subscribe to the blog via email. Or follow along with 15,000+ other fans across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube. Or email me at erin@oregongirlaroundtheworld.com. Read more about working with me here.

Cheers from Portland/Copenhagen! Hej hej for now.
– Erin

26 thoughts on “About Oregon Girl”

  1. Pingback: From | Oregon Girl Around The World

  4. G’Day Erin. Nice to know you are a fellow WordPress’er. Makes it easy to follow. Look forward to the Scandi adventures. Catch you on #Travchat on Weds 🙂 Cheers Saxon

    Reply
    1. oregongirlaroundtheworld

      Hi Tevis! Thanks for reading and saying hej! That Danish for hi! Hope all is well with you and your family, cheers from Denmark for now! Erin

      Reply
  9. Marilyn

    Can’t remember what it’s called but our Danish exchange student cut paper into intricate designs to make Christmas tree decorations. Can you comment? Enjoy your blog.

    Reply
    1. oregongirlaroundtheworld

      Yes – we make julehjerter each year! Woven Christmas hearts to hang on the tree. Thanks for the comment and cheers from Copenhagen!

      Reply
  10. Linda Nielsen Schader

    I’m an Oregon girl who’s family (mom and dad) immigrated from Denmark. Hygge was always a part of my growing up! Thanks

    Reply
  11. Dave Worthen

    Hi Erin! Wow! Great blog. I am looking at visiting Copenhagen for the first time. I Googled what’s to like in Copenhagen. Found you. I’m glad it’s so personalized. Great sense of humor. Real.
    Maybe you can give me some tips or direct me to where I should go in Copenhagen that’s not just the usual tourist stops. The nooks and crannies of Copenhagen. I lived for awhile in Portland. Too much rain for me! I know others love it in Oregon. I’m curious. Where would I find out more about your own personal experiences living in Copenhagen? Read more of your posts? This is my first post. Keep up the great writing. Dave

    Reply
    1. oregongirlaroundtheworld

      Hi Dave! Thanks for reaching out! You should definitely come to Copenhagen – it’s all sorts of lovely in every season. Although some seasons are milder than others. There are wonderful neighborhoods to explore around the city and can give a bit more of a local feel – check out Vesterbro and Nørrebro and Frederiksberg and the area around the lakes that divides the old town from the rest of the city. Rent a bike for sure! If you come after May, there will be a new food market in the warehouse district Refshaløen that you should definitely check out. I’ve got lots of posts on the blog about living in Copenhagen and little towns around Denmark which I would recommend if you have the time to get outside the city – it’s a completely different feel than Copenhagen. Happy to answer any questions – find Oregon Girl Around the World on Facebook and send me a message there! Cheers from Denmark, Erin

      Reply
    1. oregongirlaroundtheworld

      Scandinavia is amazing! And each country offers something different – you definitely should! Cheers from Copenhagen!

      Reply
  13. Carsten Nørgaard

    Great to read anout being parents in Denmark. The same kind of chocks and desbelives my wife and I had when we moved to Florida. We felt kids had no rights and where controlled 24/7. The kids moved from classroom to classroom lined up and the lunch break was controlled too. The way the teaching was practiced was different too. It was more the remember than to learn. Very different from a Danish school. Not saying it was all bad but just far from the way we knew.

    Reply

    1. Hej Carsten – tak for stopping by and reading! We’re back in the States and reacquainting with US high school. Kids are definitely not afforded the independence here that mine experienced in Denmark and we all definitely miss that.

      Reply
      1. Bo Andersen

        Hi Erin, have you written about why you moved back to the US? What happend and what us your experience moving back?

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