Agreed. We seemed to have lost a sense of restraint. Also, a sense of public decorum, although that is hard thing to talk about without sounding ancient!
I did a brief internship in Stockholm and was housed with a bunch of international students. Whenever somebody managed to make a Swedish friend, it would make rounds through the entire building and everybody would be like 'how did you do it?!'. The Swedes are friendly people, but only after you get to know them. My favorite joke that I picked up while I was there was about the Finnish, who are apparently even worse: 'How do you know a Fin likes you? When he looks at *your* feet instead of his own.' That kind of summed up making friends in Scandinavia for me.
Yes. It's uphill work, but one on one, they are really lovely. As for the Finns, as of yet, they have not warmed up to me, I'll just put it like that...
Agreed. We seemed to have lost a sense of restraint. Also, a sense of public decorum, although that is hard thing to talk about without sounding ancient!
I did a brief internship in Stockholm and was housed with a bunch of international students. Whenever somebody managed to make a Swedish friend, it would make rounds through the entire building and everybody would be like 'how did you do it?!'. The Swedes are friendly people, but only after you get to know them. My favorite joke that I picked up while I was there was about the Finnish, who are apparently even worse: 'How do you know a Fin likes you? When he looks at *your* feet instead of his own.' That kind of summed up making friends in Scandinavia for me.
Years back when I did accounting work, I heard that same joke levied about accountants.
There is only one sensible conclusion here. All Fins are accountants
Yes. It's uphill work, but one on one, they are really lovely. As for the Finns, as of yet, they have not warmed up to me, I'll just put it like that...
I think a dash of Swedish might be exactly what our (American) temper tantrums (over perceived slights) could use.