Source: "The Social Guidebook to Norway"
Norwegians are pragmatic people
They want to have their hands free
in case they need to climb a mountain
Or pick up wood for the fireplace
They also make sure to have good shoes
In case they need to jump over a stream
Or cross a snowfield
While a man in a suit wearing a backpack
and a woman in a dress wearing running shoes
is common sight in Norway
It may be slightly unexpected in other places around the world
In many countries
those who carry things on their shoulders
are either students
Or workers doing manual labor
Women are judged by the elegance of their shoes
In societies where social classes are more present then in Norway
(This is more or less the rest of the world)
Locals may have difficulties to know how to relate to you
Not give you the credibility you deserve
Or sit you at the wrong place during a reception
When I see one of these men in a foreign airport
I go straight to him and say
“Hei, hva heter du?”
Try it, the man will give you a deeply surprised look
There is a long silence
And the usual answer is
“Korsn skjønt du æ var norsk?”
And then I usually give them a book
I made great business contacts that way
God søndag!
--
Source: "The Social Guidebook to Norway"
By Julien S. Bourrelle
Watch him on TED
Book a lecture julien@monda.no
