Some interesting cultural experiences
It's common knowledge that Scandinavians are more direct in their manner than people from many other nations. So, in the spirit of directness, I thought I'd share a couple of interesting experiences I've had recently.....
We were in the airport in Treviso getting ready to catch our flight back to Stockholm. There was an Italian couple spread out on the floor nearby, desperately trying to repack their luggage so that they could fit in with Ryanair's hideously stingey baggage restrictions. The Italian guy got up to weigh his hand luggage and found it was within the limits. Yeah! But then, a very 'helpful' man, just a bystander, possibly Swedish, waiting to check in his own luggage, kindly pointed out that the Italian man should measure his backpack in the special handluggage measuring place because, really, it looked a little big! I must say, this shocked me. I mean, what business was it of the Swedish guys whether the Italian guy's luggage was not correct? Who was he to tell the Italian guy what to do? A stickler for rules perhaps?
My second interesting experience happened not an hour after arriving in Denmark. I was on the train on the way up to my accomodation. The carriage was reasonably full. Just near me, a Danish person called over to some English guys who were on the opposite side of the carriage and asked one to stop clicking the buckle on his bag because it was really annoying! Call me reserved, but I was a bit surprised. And especially at the abrupt manner of the Danish person.....
Interesting event number three occurred this morning at work. I brought my lunch, wrapped in a supermarket bag as I had nothing else. At lunch time when I went to go and get my lunch there was a little note on it. A woman in the kitchen kindly informed me that we weren't allowed to put plastic bags in the fridge because they were dirty! Instead we were supposed to use some little lunch boxes which were provided..... another stickler for rules??
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about these things, I just am very interested in the different ways in which people interact here. It keeps me well entertained!
We were in the airport in Treviso getting ready to catch our flight back to Stockholm. There was an Italian couple spread out on the floor nearby, desperately trying to repack their luggage so that they could fit in with Ryanair's hideously stingey baggage restrictions. The Italian guy got up to weigh his hand luggage and found it was within the limits. Yeah! But then, a very 'helpful' man, just a bystander, possibly Swedish, waiting to check in his own luggage, kindly pointed out that the Italian man should measure his backpack in the special handluggage measuring place because, really, it looked a little big! I must say, this shocked me. I mean, what business was it of the Swedish guys whether the Italian guy's luggage was not correct? Who was he to tell the Italian guy what to do? A stickler for rules perhaps?
My second interesting experience happened not an hour after arriving in Denmark. I was on the train on the way up to my accomodation. The carriage was reasonably full. Just near me, a Danish person called over to some English guys who were on the opposite side of the carriage and asked one to stop clicking the buckle on his bag because it was really annoying! Call me reserved, but I was a bit surprised. And especially at the abrupt manner of the Danish person.....
Interesting event number three occurred this morning at work. I brought my lunch, wrapped in a supermarket bag as I had nothing else. At lunch time when I went to go and get my lunch there was a little note on it. A woman in the kitchen kindly informed me that we weren't allowed to put plastic bags in the fridge because they were dirty! Instead we were supposed to use some little lunch boxes which were provided..... another stickler for rules??
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about these things, I just am very interested in the different ways in which people interact here. It keeps me well entertained!
posted by anna at 2:35 am
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