Norwegians like to keep their distance with strangers
They also avoid eye contact
And tend to be a little reserved and introvert in their social interactions
But when it comes to sitting right next to strangers in a very small hot room
They feel so comfortable that they may well sit completely naked
And it feels normal
I wish I knew in advance
So I could prepare mentally
Sometimes they will separate genders
But not always
After the sauna session
You may be asked to roll in the snow or to jump into a river
While this may feel a little weird
It does fit very well within my understanding of Norwegian socialization
Do something physical first
Suffer together
And then it will be confortable to eat and talk together!
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