My Swedish Neighbour


Source: "The Swedish Toolkit"

Do not be surprised if your Swedish neighbour passes just in front of you

Without looking at you

Without greeting you

As if you did not exist

As if you were invisible

He is not rude, nor impolite

He is actually very polite

Scandinavian polite

He does not want to disturb

He will talk to you if there is a practical reason to do so

If something is wrong with the garden

If he is unpleased by something

If your neighbours, colleagues and acquaintances do not greet you and small talk, it does not mean they do not like you

They are just trying to be polite, Scandinavian polite

--

"The Swedes" and "Working with Swedes" present many of the unknown social rules in Sweden

By Julien S. Bourrelle

Book a lecture on www.juliensbourrelle.com 

Watch him on TED