An actual story told to me by an American who had visited Finland. He was standing at a bus stop and noticed three Finns conversing. The thing was....none of the three were facing who they were conversing with. They were all pointing about five to ten degrees in a different angle. My associate then began to notice that almost all Finns speak to others in the same fashion...never face-to-face....but always at an angle so they aren’t looking at the guys face.
There was a belief (dating back to the Age of the Sagas) in the scandinavian countries that wishing ill about another person could actually cause ill to occur (it’s mention in old folklore and literature). This is kind of like the scandinavian version of the “evil eye,” and people were considered justified in brutal revenge against those that had caused them such ill. Imagine what that kind of belief (especially the retributive part) can do to social relations...
There was a belief (dating back to the Age of the Sagas) in the scandinavian countries that wishing ill about another person could actually cause ill to occur (it’s mention in old folklore and literature). This is kind of like the scandinavian version of the “evil eye,” and people were considered justified in brutal revenge against those that had caused them such ill. Imagine what that kind of belief (especially the retributive part) can do to social relations...
Like said, in the central and northern parts of Sweden, people are known for being rather “mute”. Is there any such place in/part of America?
In Gothenburg, where I live, people in general are quite the opposite. If you're the social type of person, It's hardly a place that will make you cry out of isolation and loneliness. In fact, to talk a lot, “tjôta” (don't try and pronounce it), is a sort of cultural institution in my city. Maybe it has to do with the fact that we are a large port city and that the places of work in Gbg typically are assembly lines, harbor environments and such places where people are dependent on each other and on communicating even if everyone doesn't know everyone else.
I've noted the same differences between different parts of a country when traveling abroad. For instance, in Florence, Italy, people are polite, yet very reserved. In Rome and especially in Naples people are completely different. In one way it's a bit amusing, but sometimes it's annoying when strangers intrude on your privacy.