One-way ticket, one bold life. Ophelia's journey.

When Hong Kong-born writer Ophelia Wu landed in Denmark with a one-way ticket in hand and no clear plan, she stepped into a world of uncertainty a year before the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded. What began as a bold move became a test of resilience, adaptability, and conviction. Six and a half years on, she’s not only made a home in Denmark - she’s shaping the cultural conversations in the international community.

Photographs: Maja De Silva Photography

Text: Lyndsay Jensen

In early 2020, just as the world began locking down, I put out a call for contributors to join The International writers team. Among the many messages I received, one stood out: a thoughtful and articulate email from Ophelia Wu. Her interest in contributing to our publication was unmistakably heartfelt, and her message immediately set her apart.

What struck me immediately wasn’t just her warmth or professional tone, it was her background in publishing, fashion, lifestyle, and communications. She brought with her an impressive global portfolio, a discerning editorial eye, and an instinct for stories that matter, which is what we are all about.

Fast forward to today: she’s not only in Denmark, but sitting on the team as our recently appointed Deputy Editor and Contents & Partnerships colleague, where we are working closely to grow The International and taking it to the next level. Her journey to this point has been anything but easy; yet, she has shown up time and again with a “never quit” attitude that’s both inspiring and humbling.

Now, after years of writing for The International and navigating life in Denmark as an international, Ophelia is more than a colleague - she’s an example of the complexity, grit, and grace it takes to build a new life abroad. This is her story.

If not now, when? The Leap and the landing

Six years ago, before Brexit, Ophelia boarded a one-way flight from London to Denmark with no safety net. Her story begins with a question she'd been wrestling with for years: “If not now, when?”

“It was a blend of pure excitement and sheer uncertainty,” she recalls. The practicalities of life: finding a flat, dealing with banks, navigating a foreign language - hit hard and fast. In London or Hong Kong, she had stability: a student Oyster travel card, English-speaking systems, and familiar routines. In Denmark, she fell into the unfamiliar.

She vividly remembers writing countless messages, “over one hundred” to landlords, often receiving little to no response. Without her Danish friends who had already embraced her, she might have stumbled entirely. They offered her not just a couch, but guidance, empathy, and the human connection that smoothed out some of the rough edges in her new life.

Emotionally, she was riding a rollercoaster: “At times, emotional anxiety overwhelmed me. But I also had blind ignorance - an optimism that things would work out if I prioritised properly.” Her spiritual practice anchored her. “The Universe has my back,” she says, a mantra that carried her through even darker days.

Integration: Practicality and emotional peaks

Denmark's path of integration, she learned, was a marathon. Finding a job, learning the Danish bureaucracy, and navigating the rental market tested her. Money was tight. Stability wasn't always there. But gradually, progress blossomed: a flat was found, friends were made, and networks were built.

“I still feel like I’m running outside the system,” she admits today. Though now more emotionally anchoured, she still hunts for that full-time job that will bring her the security she craves. Moving three times in a single year, each move driven by different circumstances, didn’t help. Those upheavals wore her down, but her support system kept her afloat.

Her boyfriend, Danish friends, and her broad international tribe provided her with an emotional stronghold when she needed it most. Some days resembled survival more than living. And yet, even on those days, she recognised her own resilience: “I feel I've made it somehow. I’m grateful and proud. But I still have more to prove to stay.”

"Learning Danish has helped me personally and professionally,” she says. Conversing - even imperfectly - feeds her a sense of safety and connection. It opens doors: employers demonstrate patience, and Danes offer more trust."

Language as a gateway, belonging, or something else

Ophelia’s Danish journey includes her seventh or eighth language. She approaches Danish not as a conquerable castle, but as a gesture towards understanding and integration.

“Learning Danish has helped me personally and professionally,” she says. Conversing - even imperfectly - feeds her a sense of safety and connection. It opens doors: employers demonstrate patience, and Danes offer more trust.

Yet, she still questions whether she truly belongs. Belonging, she believes, is “much more than a language.” Still, the line between belonging and cultural fluency seems to run through the language. It’s her “entrance ticket,” a signal that she’s trying, caring, investing in the culture.

Solo international Maverick - A lens on independence

Her self-coined label - “Solo International Maverick” wasn’t contrived. To describe Ophelia as a calculated risk-taker is to understate her instinct-driven confidence.

She listens to her body and instincts. Approaches cautiously, yet without hesitation. Lives her own path, even when others don’t understand her. She learned not to defend herself to curious onlookers: “It’s my life,” she says. That doesn’t mean she’s lonely. Far from it: she has deep friendships wherever she goes and leans into her resourcefulness whenever life demands it.

Guided by purpose

Ophelia’s professional life is rooted in instinct, an uncanny ability to feel what stories the public is ready to hear, before they even know it. From anti-trafficking causes to sustainability and wellness, she’s always ahead of the curve.

“I started talking about mindful shopping back in 2012,” she says, “at least five years before COVID made it a mainstream concern.” She learned to listen to societal energy, to feel weak signals before they become headlines.

Now, her journalism anchors in value: in conscious consumerism, deeper narratives, and purpose, without being heavy-handed. Her ethos? “Reframe the narrative without forcing it.” Fashion stories become stories of certified beauty; tree planting becomes a daily act of kindness; sauna culture becomes a wellness trend. Everything sits at the intersection of intention, curiosity, and care.

Community and networking

If she was battling in practicalities of life in Denmark, Ophelia’s human networks compensated. Some days, it was encouragement from a friend. Other days, it was feeling seen by those thousands of miles away.

She describes her friends back home as “non-biological siblings,” whose messages keep her going when the struggle mounted: “I wake up to 104 WhatsApp messages sometimes - that's a big warm virtual hug.”

On the Danish side, a long-time friend once reminded her of her worth during her job-hunting low points. That message hit home: “Someone sees me, supports me. That is very heartwarming.”

Resetting as a ritual

For someone accustomed to living at “180 mph,” Ophelia learned that refuelling was not a luxury, but essential. Meditation, water therapy, silence, journaling, and even symbolic rituals, such as burning paper reflections, are among her practices.

When the stress becomes seismic, she goes inwards - phone off, alone, emotions welcome. “Resetting is not stopping, it’s strategic stepping back,” she reflects. It's how she protects her energy and returns stronger.

Silent battles

Two years ago, Ophelia’s life crumbled: eviction, job loss, bereavement, and bureaucratic hurdles. At her lowest, she felt emotionally and physically paralysed, living from balcony to couch, surviving more than thriving.

But slowly, through Danish classes, journaling, faith, and the support of her partner and friends, she began to resurface. “I’m still here. Living my life.” That mantra is both defiant and peaceful. Her Buddhist lens helps her detach from outcomes and find strength in surrender.

The therapy of giving

Volunteering is sacred to Ophelia. It has grounded her through personal storms. “It gives me perspective,” she says. “When you help others, you realise how much you already have.”

Whether it’s supporting trafficked communities, tree-planting, or writing for causes, her work serves a dual purpose: to uplift others and stabilise her own compass.

She’s candid about the contrast between the superficiality of the luxury industry and the grounding effect of humanitarian work. “You don’t save lives selling lipstick,” she quips. “But you do when you give your time to something more than you.”

What’s next? Integrity over influence

Looking ahead, Ophelia wants to expand her storytelling to underrepresented voices in wellness, spirituality, culture, and tradition. She’s not here for clickbait. She wants clarity. Substance.

She dreams of a global, city-wide campaign to connect NGOs, raise awareness, and turn impact into interactive storytelling. She wants to explore craftsmanship, culture, travel, and culinary history through the lens of meaning - and always, purpose.

A life built quietly, brick by brick

If there’s a lesson in Ophelia’s journey, it’s this: home is not handed to you - it’s built. Slowly. Brick by brick. With effort, vulnerability, and unwavering courage.

She may still be navigating life outside “the system,” but she's undeniably part of a much greater one: the one built on connection, kindness, and community. She's found her place not by forcing her way in, but by showing up with grace and never backing down.

And as we work together virtually, I see firsthand that the very traits that first blew me away - curiosity, purpose and resilience continue to shine even brighter. Denmark is lucky to have her. We all are.