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