Reality check.... Stockholm in November

How come we don´t talk to each-other? It always comes to mind after having spend time in Stockholm. We don´t communicate. It´s endlessly boring. I´m trying to figure out why this is. Could it be the weather? Maybe it is totally understandable that you are everything but cheerful when it´s dark outside at 2.30 pm and you constantly got the chills. You run from A to B in the fastest way possible, preferably looking down on the sidewalk, never to look right at a stranger unless you really really have to. Never, unless you just stepped on his toes, you might take a quick look, but  never to say "I´m sorry".

I have always said hello to people I don´t know. I don´t care. Maybe a simple salute can make a strangers day brighter? or maybe the stranger don´t care. The thing is....you don´t interact to much with people you do not know in Sweden. You stick to yours, because you never know....Better safe than sorry.  

I can´t recall all times I have greeted a stranger, just to get a surprised face and hearing "Do I know you?. My answer would be...."No, you don´t"  so this short conversation ends with a simple question  "So, why do you greet me?" End of communication. 

I was not made for this poor communication climate. I long for interaction. A little chat in the supermarket,  a brief conversation of a common interest on the bus, why not try to smile for a change? even though is 10 below zero. It actually works. You feel warmer in a second. 

The other day I met a group of kids on the underground. They were around 10 years of age traveling with their teacher. One of the kids, a girl, sat down beside me and greeted me with a happy " Hi!". I was just about to answer her back when the teacher, with a harsh voice commanded "YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK TO PEOPLE YOU DON´T KNOW" I was shocked. Not only by the words but by the way she expressed it. She sounded totally pissed off.

I just had to turn to her to get an answer of why???. Of course this made her feel very uncomfortable, having to explain herself in-front of the kids, but hey, what is that. To teach 10 year olds that it is a dangerous thing to say Hello to a stranger on a jammed subway at 11 in the morning. Her answer was simple " You don´t do it, because you don´t know who your talking to" In other words, fear was the ruler in her class..... Something might happen and it could be something bad. Could also been something good but that is not the first option. 

I take my daily power walk in a park in Stockholm. I greet strangers, I give compliments to something I like, I might pet a dog or 2. This is common behavior for me.I think people think I´m nuts. When I do my work out in Runyon Canyon, it´s common behavior, not only for me but for most people coming there. So....I forget I´m in Stockholm. Here we are not used to the "Hi" ´s and the "How are you" ´s.

 I have made a test this month. I´m counting how many people will say Hi to me on each power walk, without me having to do it first. Out of 7 walks so far not a single person has said a word. It´s awfully quiet.

I´m going on the 8th walk tomorrow morning. 

Wish me luck!