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When Swedes are invited to an event, a meal or a meeting
They will show up exactly on time
If they happen to be more than 3 minutes late
They will call or send an SMS to inform about the situation
They also expect that events, meal and meetings start at the time they are supposed to start
This leads to funny situations abroad
Together with my Scandinavian girlfriend Elise
I was invited to a wedding ceremony on the Indonesian island of Lombok last weekend
In the invitation it was written that the ceremony started at 11h00
We were aware that time is more flexible in Indonesia then it is in Scandinavia so we asked two Indonesian guests when we should arrive
They both said at 11h00 or a little before
We ran late and arrive at 11h05 nervous to be interrupting the ceremony
When we arrived the room looked like this with Elise sitting in the middle
This situation is interesting
First the invitation stated a specific time which was not respected by any of the guests or the couple to be married
The couple arrived around 30 minutes later
And the first guest one hour later
That means that everyone knew that it was not expected to be there at 11h00
Yet the people we asked both confirmed that we should be there at 11h00 or a little before
That in turns means it was desirable that guests arrive at 11h00 or a little before
But that in reality everyone knew that no one would show up at 11h.00
In Sweden when you receive an invitation it is desirable and expected that you arrive on time
The only exceptions are when alcohol is involved
At a vorspiel, parties or late at night in a bar for example
Where time is more flexible
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"The Swedes" and "Working with Swedes" present many of the unknown social rules in Sweden
By Julien S. Bourrelle
Watch him on TED
