How Do You Like It Here in Sweden?
It’s a trick question. Paul Jackson tries to get it right.
By the way, I have similar experiences from my years in Amsterdam. Every time I pointed out that I wished the Netherlands wasn’t so overwhelmingly bureaucratic, I felt I hurt the Dutch person who asked the question. My years abroad made me realize how difficult it is not to offend people’s sense of national pride. I’m sure this knowledge helps me when I talk to foreigners.
Hey I can relate to how the Swedes feel there. When I used to live in New York City, I used to try my best to show my visiting guests all the nicest sites. But almost all of them would always say to me after all that effort, "I could never live here!", which I thought was rude.
First of all, it is hard to judge living in a place just by visiting. For instance if you lived in NYC and had your own routine and your own place and knew where to go, it's different than the hustle and bustle of just visiting and going around to tourist places all day.
Second of all, all places have their flaws. So I think when someone only says something negative about where you are living, it's a way to make themselves feel better about where they are living. It's becomes like a competition. So I always try to say something positive about where I am visiting. Then after I say lots of positive things, I can maybe say a couple negative things too without seeming too rude.
Spot on!
And just the fact that the question I mind only concerns people from "more" civilized countries (especially Anglo-Saxon countries) then Sweden is so true.
Swedes have the strange combination of arrogance and always looking for self confirmation.
What was reported just after the murder of Foreign minister Anna Lindh? The number of papers around the world that reported the story.