Would you know what to do with the products in each of these cartons? Sure, the tomato soup, probably. But after the milk, on the left (at 3% fat) and then the next one at 13% fat. If you were looking for half & half, wouldn't you imagine that the one in the middle, at 12% fat would be a good choice? I did.
Until I poured a cup of coffee and tried to use it. Instead of the expected half & half, a glump of sour cream plopped into my cup! What?!
It was the container on the right, with the picture of the pepper grinder, that was what I should have chosen. I'm guessing maybe Swedes don't put as much milk or cream in their coffee as I do. But I'll thank them not to judge me by labeling the half & half as though one could only cook with it. Shopping by this picture did help me not make a mistake when I needed a refill, though.
Apparently Swedes are known as being standoffish. Some say its that they don't want to invade someone else's privacy. Others say it's from being raised in groups in school, where everyone is encouraged to maintain the group, so it's hard to break in.
One of the professors joked that Swedes were so happy for COVID two feet of distance rule to be lifted ... so they could return to five feet of distance, instead!
I recounted getting on the bus and commenting on a small tree that they driver had by the farebox. She looked at me like I was crazy (but she was the one with a tree on her bus!). I also waved at her, when I got off, because I’d seen an elderly lady do that. The bus operator did not acknowledge my wave!
My friends did tell me that in rural areas, everyone says “Hey hey,” on a hiking trail, in a village. But not in Stockholm! I do find this to be true. I feel almost invisible when I'm on the sidewalk. I also sort of offended a new friend by saying that I didn't love ikea. Luckily she was born an American, so she couldn't be too indignant. I was thinking mostly of my dislike of everyone everywhere having the same things. But she pointed out this works for Swedes who wouldn't be embarrassed, at all, to see a lamp at a friend's house exactly like the one they have in their's. Instead, it's validation that they bought the right lamp.
In some ways, this goes against my American independence. However, I still can't get over car drivers, and also bicycle and eScooter riders, watching out for the other road users. So, I am all for looking out for each other. And I do own some things from ikea, so maybe I'm not independent.
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