Saman teaches both Danish and Kurdish, and he himself has a Kurdish background. Saman says: “I grew up with Feylî (Southern Kurdish), which is closely related to Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish). At a young age, I listened to the popular Kurdish folk singer Şivan Perwer and his interpretations of Kurdish folk songs and protest songs. This made me more interested in my own Kurdish background and in modern Kurdish history. I began learning Kurmanji Kurdish in 2000 and have since used it for speaking and writing in Kurdish in my work and in opinion pieces.”

If you are learning Kurdish, you can read Saman’s recommendations here. If you are learning Danish, scroll further down to see his recommendations.

Places
“If you want to experience breathtaking Kurdish nature, the presence of history and the region’s many religions all in one place, you should visit the town of Amêdî (Amediye), one of my favourite Kurdish towns. It is located in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, on top of a 1,200-metre-high mountain overlooking a magnificent green mountain landscape and the nearby Sulav Waterfall. In addition to several mosques, Amêdî has a church and is home to some ruins from a synagogue. One of the mosques was originally a Mithraic temple. Mithraism is a pre-Islamic Iranian religion that shares several similarities with Yazidism, such as belief in the soul’s rebirth, bull sacrifice and seven divine angels/beings.”

Food
“My favourite Kurdish dish is kebab, which is minced beef and lamb on skewers, as well as pieces of lamb on skewers. If you prefer vegetarian food, Kurdish dolma (steamed or boiled onions, peppers and vine leaves filled with rice and herbs) is recommended.”

Music
“My favourite genre within Kurdish music is the dengbêj genre. It is a form of folk singing with very ancient roots. Dengbêj singers perform in a very high register, and their emotional singing style never fails to move me deeply. The most famous singers in the genre are Şakiro, Karapetê Xaço, and Evdalê Zeynikê, and you can find their works on YouTube.”

Here are Saman's recommendations for Danish:

Do you have a favourite place in Copenhagen?
”’Strøget’ is the name of Copenhagen’s pedestrian and shopping street located in the old part of the city. Strøget is my favourite place because it is a street that contains the past as well as the present, Denmark as well as the whole world. I am particularly fond of strolling down Strøget on warm, sunny days, when it is filled with people from all over the world. Seeing this long chain of different nationalities from all continents is part of the the reason why I am constantly curious about investigating new countries and go on adventurous trips in the whole wide world during my holidays.”

Do you have a favourite place in the rest of Denmark?
”When I get tired of the traffic and noise of Copenhagen, then I prefer the charming rock island of Bornholm, located to the east of Skåne (the southernmost part of Sweden). I like sailing along the impressive rocks that are located along parts of Bornholm’s coastline, such as its northwestern tip, and eating the speciality of the island – smoked herring. I also enjoy visiting the so-called ‘rundkirker’ (round churches) that function as churches but also have very thick walls and used to be fortresses! They are almost the only ones of their kind in Denmark. It is precisely the combination of different nature and unique church architecture that makes Bornholm my favourite place outside of Copenhagen.”

Anna recommends:

Do you have a favourite destination for an outing?
"I love living in the heart of Copenhagen, but I also enjoy getting out of the city now and then. So, when the sun is shining on a weekend morning, I’d recommend packing a thermos of coffee, picking up a delicious cardamom bun or a BMO from the nearest bakery, and taking the train to Klampenborg Station. From there, you can take a lovely walk through the forest to the Hermitage Palace (Eremitageslottet) in Dyrehaven - and if you go in autumn or spring, the forest is especially beautiful! In the summer, open-air theatre performances take place in Ulvedalene, which is in the same forest area - it’s a truly unique and spectacular experience for both young and old!"  

And what if you want to go further?  
"If you have time for a slightly longer trip, take the train to Fredensborg. I’m from that area myself and have walked around Fredensborg Palace more times than I can count. If you're lucky, you might even spot the royal family, as they reside in Fredensborg at certain times of the year. If you continue through the park down to Esrum Lake, you’ll come across Sørup Ice Cream & Coffee House, a charming little café. On summer evenings, there’s a great atmosphere and a long queue for ice cream - and don’t forget your swimsuit, as you can take a dip in Esrum Lake right outside the ice cream shop!"