BookStudyDigest

Saturday, 10 February 2024

A cultural question

Read on blog or Reader
Site logo image Janet Carr posted: "My biggest treat every day I am in town in the cold is a large extra-hot latte to take away. I savour every sip. When I popped into the coffee shop, I saw this sign encouraging people ordering in to choose the green cup. If you chose a green cup it was" https://thisbugslife.com Read on blog or Reader

A cultural question

Janet Carr

February 11

My biggest treat every day I am in town in the cold is a large extra-hot latte to take away. I savour every sip.

When I popped into the coffee shop, I saw this sign encouraging people ordering in to choose the green cup. If you chose a green cup it was a signal to others in the coffee shop that you were open to conversations with strangers. I asked the barista how many customers have chosen the cup and she said very few.

This was totally in line with what I expected her to say. And exactly what all my students said when I asked them the same thing in different classes.

Swedes don't do small talk with strangers or chit-chat in shops, queues, and public transport. You don't talk to strangers. When I lived for a brief time in Ireland, people would bend my ear on public transport, in shops, and at the till during transactions. In Sweden it is all conducted in silence. You also sit or stand as far away from other people as possible.

The exceptions are often elderly people or people from other countries. I often chat to elderly people if they make the opening move, like the wonderful 98 year old man in the café, who I will never forget. I know a lot of elderly people are lonely and like to chat to people in stores. The cup campaign above was aimed at reducing loneliness.

Maybe the next time I am there I will request a green cup.

A small smile:

I read this on Quora about how to behave in Sweden:

  • Keep your distance, don't stand close to strangers when for example waiting for bus. Also, you should not sit beside a stranger in bus or a bench if there are other empty rows/benches available.
  • Do not initiate small talk with people you don't know, it is just not a thing in Sweden. People would think you are weird.

  • Do not invite for lunch or dinner to people you just met to "know them more". Know them enough 1st and then you may do that.

  • Do not invite people to spontaneous plans, swedes like to plan ahead. Way way ahead. They plan their summer vacations at start of the year in every detail. Most of the time they have fully booked 3 weekends. So, if you plan on inviting them to an event, do it well in advance, preferably 4 weeks in advance.
  • Don't sit on a bench if it means having to sit close to someone who already sits there.
  • Never attempt to talk to Swedes in trains, trams and buses. Respect their private space.

Are there any other nationalities outside the Nordic countries who are similar to this?

Comment

https://thisbugslife.com © 2024. Manage your email settings or unsubscribe.

WordPress.com and Jetpack Logos

Get the Jetpack app

Subscribe, bookmark, and get real-time notifications - all from one app!

Download Jetpack on Google Play Download Jetpack from the App Store
WordPress.com Logo and Wordmark title=

Automattic, Inc. - 60 29th St. #343, San Francisco, CA 94110  

at February 10, 2024
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

No comments:

Post a Comment

Newer Post Older Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

The Consecrated Eminence: Reflections on the Objects Collection

...

  • PLDT Home honors mothers on their special day with a heartwarming video titled Backstage Moms
    Motherhood is definitely one of the hardest endeavors a woman can take in her li...
  • [New post] Mackintosh — Beyond the Swelkie (2021)
    peterson10 posted: "Mackintosh, Jim, and Paul S. Philippou, eds. Beyond the Swelkie: A Collection of Poems and Writings Cel...
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4HzWQvkVWY&list=PL3yuCT4HAt-cxd8mbfqU-9oN6bsd4YOzmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4HzWQvkVWY&list=PL3yuCT4HAt-cxd8mbfqU-9oN6bsd4YOzm
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4HzWQvkVWY&list=PL3yuCT4HAt-cxd8mbfqU-9oN6b...

Search This Blog

  • Home

About Me

BookStudyDigest
View my complete profile

Report Abuse

Blog Archive

  • April 2025 (1)
  • September 2024 (859)
  • August 2024 (946)
  • July 2024 (879)
  • June 2024 (843)
  • May 2024 (875)
  • April 2024 (1018)
  • March 2024 (1239)
  • February 2024 (1135)
  • January 2024 (934)
  • December 2023 (923)
  • November 2023 (818)
  • October 2023 (743)
  • September 2023 (712)
  • August 2023 (722)
  • July 2023 (629)
  • June 2023 (566)
  • May 2023 (584)
  • April 2023 (629)
  • March 2023 (551)
  • February 2023 (399)
  • January 2023 (514)
  • December 2022 (511)
  • November 2022 (455)
  • October 2022 (530)
  • September 2022 (418)
  • August 2022 (412)
  • July 2022 (452)
  • June 2022 (467)
  • May 2022 (462)
  • April 2022 (516)
  • March 2022 (459)
  • February 2022 (341)
  • January 2022 (385)
  • December 2021 (596)
  • November 2021 (1210)
Powered by Blogger.