Orientation

I spent Friday, the 29th, in orientation activities for all international exchange students in the health sciences at Karolinska Institutet. We all sat and listened to the typical things that have to be mentioned at such orientations --- where to go if you feel sick, feel threatened, etc., how to navigate the city, where to make your student ID cards, how to sign up for free Swedish lessons, and the like. I was excited to receive a pink (bright pink, mind you) KI backpack (of which I will use only when I return home!), see the building where the annual Nobel prize in physiology or medicine is decided, and meet new friends, primarily Mads from Denmark, a former competitive ballroom dancer, and Roel from Holland, a lover of immunology who is not in love with the Dutch royal family. Some of the sessions were sleepers, but one on cross-cultural communication ended up being rather humorous ... for instance, these are some of the adjectives or concepts that supposedly describe Swedes:

1) Emphasize punctuality, planning, teamwork, and consensus.

2) Believe (staunchly, I must add) in equality and learning.

3) Tend to be neutral and avoid conflict.

4) Appreciate and protect nature.

5) Are often silent and shy, independent and single. (Apparently, Sweden boasts the single greatest percentage of single head of households in the world ... no wonder why I feel at "home" here!)

6) Support a socially conscious society and government.

7) Maintain a healthy work/life balance.

8) Pride themselves in Allemanstratten, which means widespread public access to records, lands, and the king himself.

These are a few DOs in Sweden:

- Form a queue.
- Be punctual (see the theme ... !?).
- Take off your shoes when entering a home.
- Be focused with conversation.
- Be informal with social interactions.
- Honor coffee breaks.
- Follow up with thank yous.

These are a few DON'Ts in Sweden:

- Ruin nature.
- Interrupt.
- Talk about money, politics, and/or religion when first getting to know someone.
- Speak loudly. (Hmm ... )
- Use too many hand gestures. (Double hmm ... I'm in trouble here!)
- Stand too close ... a minimum of 60 centimeters is highly recommended!