Source: "The Swedes"

I was in Brussels

I was sitting on La Grande Place

A beautiful square in the centre of town

Someone came to sit next to me

And started talking to me

I turned to the man and answered

I then turned back and asked myself

"Why is he talking to me?

Suddenly I realized

"Julien, you are becoming Swedish"

I turned back to the man and said

"Sorry, I live in a country where people to not speak to each other."

The man looked at me with a mix of surprise and astonishment

I had to explain

"In Sweden, people socialize much more within organised activities, you kind of need a reason to speak with others."

This whole situation was surprising in a way 

I come from the French speaking part of Canada

Where such un-frame communication is usual and normal

But for the last six years of my life I lived in the north of Europe

In a remote place called Scandianvia

And it has changed my expectations

I wrote a book about it "The Swedes"

It provides tools for Swedes to understand better how their own behaviours may be perceived

And for foreigners to understand better Swedes' behaviours and reactions

--

Source: "The Swedes" 

By Julien S. Bourrelle

Book a lecture on www.julien.tips 

Watch him on TED