Can something be more crystal clear? I don't think so!One thing that amazed me in Sweden was how badly equipped Stockholm city is for foreigners! All signs are in Swedish –and that’s not always easy to understand. Like, how is a non-Swedish-spoken person going to understand that “utgång” means exit?! I’m so used to China where there are signs for a lot of things in both Chinese/English, and sometimes even pictures.
Fortunately Swedes are pretty nice if you ask them for directions… if you are a foreigner. If you’re a Swede asking the wrong kind of Swede though… naaaah, not so much! So, sometimes when I’m in Sweden and get lost I ask people for directions in English. Works like a charm!
Speaking of getting lost, I have to admit that I feel a bit out of place when I am in Sweden. For instance, I never know how to order food in restaurants. You’re supposed to sit there and wait, and then discreetly give the waiter a meaningful look that says “yes, I’d like to order now!” and then the waiter is supposed to come up to your table and take your order? But what if the waiter never looks your way? Then you have to sit there and look hungry and meaningful for an hour because god forbid, you cannot put your hand in the air!
I have to say I prefer the Chinese way where you can call for the waiter or simply make a small wave without it being considered a rude gesture.
it's funny you mentino restaurants. When I went home I really wanted to call to the waitress to come over to our table. My friends where like "Relax!" She'll come, what's the rush? But I'm so used to just shouting to the waiter in Korea instead of waiting for them to see you...
ReplyDeleteAre they still blocking Facebook in China? I just tried Facebook your name on it but second thought you may not be there since the "Great Wall" of China... but it turn out there are an empty page with your name falls under the category of "Public Figure", congrats on that Jonna, lol, I think I am the first one to Like it. Mind making a friend? I am quite a fan to your blog along with all other foreigners' saying about China when they are living in it. Jason
ReplyDeleteI love the picture--an outdoor staircase with three people standing on it staring at a sign (apparently) showing them how to walk up the stairs. Even if it was set up for this photo it is still funny.
ReplyDeleteNi hao!
ReplyDeleteÄr ny läsare av din blogg och ramlade hit genom från en annan länk.
Bloggen verkar spännande, så jag ska fortsätta att läsa...
I found it funny you prefer to ask for directions in English in Sweden rather than using your mother tongue. I guess being appearing foreign has its advantages sometimes
ReplyDeleteI have felt frustrated several times in Irish restaurants. Sometimes the waiter or waitress comes to take the order too quickly then if you send them away they don't come back for ages then you have to wait and feel hungry.
Other times in Ireland you finish your starter, main course and dessert and You want the bill it's often impossible to attract anyone's attention. So i can see how the asian way is a bit more handy for the less patient people lol
조안나 -hehe, yeah, I'm the same. I get impatient and frustrated. I'm the same with a lot of things. Take taking a train back home for instance. I get so stressed when I see the train standing on the platform that I wanna run, resulting in my near ones pretending they don't know me...
ReplyDeleteJason -yes it is still blocked here. I don't use FB that much, but if I do, it's only to stay in touch with my friends and family from back home. I don't see it as a place where I would make new friends, so I don't accept friend requests from people that I don't know/have not met. This blog is a better platform for that! You can leave comments or send me an email :)
ewaffle -it wasn't totally set up. We were walking up the stairs staring at the sign and then my little brother thought it looked so funny he decided to capture it...
Madeleine -välkommen! Hoppas att du hittar ngt intressant att läsa :)
Sarah -yeah well I got kind of despo once when I asked 3 people who completely ignored me. In the back of my head I heard the voice of a Brazilian friend, going "oh, Swedes are soooo nice and friendly when you ask them things!" and so I decided to try his way: asking in Eng, playing the part of a lost tourist. Jackpot!