The silent Swede or why Swedes don’t talk to strangers
Very often when people meet us Swedes for the first time, their first impression of us is that we are quiet, distant, and maybe even unfriendly. And that is partly correct. But that is just until you get to know us I a little better.
In this upcoming episode, I will talk about how we can be perceived in different scenarios, and how we look upon these situations ourselves. I will try to explain why we have these common traits and give you some tips on how you can get to know us a bit better
Background
I am using a lot of generalizations and stereotypes. And of course, this is not universal for all Swedes. If you are a Swede please don’t be offended, this is from the eyes of non-Swedes and doesn’t necessarily describe you in person. But as in most stereotypes, there is a grain of truth behind them.
One of the main reasons behind this behavior is something called the law of Jante, which I just mention in this episode. The law of Jante is something that needs some more detailed explanation so I will use my next episode to deep dive into that.
Today I will just touch on the surface and give you some practical tips and ideas to what to think about when interacting with Swedes, especially if you are visiting Sweden, but this can also be useful to be aware of if you for example should run into me over here in the US because I have to admit that this is something that still very much applies to me personally even after 18 years in the states.
My personal reflection
A lot of these traits are deeply rooted in me, which has led to some difficulties when trying to adjust to my new country and how people, in general, are here. I now can see how a mix of the two countries social norms would be ideal, but I must admit that it has been somewhat handicapping to try and do the things I do, like starting a YouTube channel and starting this podcast with the Swedish mentality of “Don’t blow your own horn” as baggage.
I am always a bit hesitant to do anything that would make me stand out in any way, or draw attention to myself, not a great way to be when you do YouTube videos and podcasts. But I am learning, even though it is very slow going, to put myself out there a bit more. But it takes time.
I hope that this episode will create a wider understanding of how we Swedes, and most of our Scandinavian neighbors (Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland), function and give us the time we need to finally express who we are.
