“If you were Swedish, this would all be so much easier.” When we first moved to Stockholm, I think I said this about every other day to Robert. Since neither of us is Swedish, it felt like we were continually getting things wrong. Neither of us knew the customs and basic expectations in terms of behavior. From going to a dinner party to the doctor, we didn’t know how things were done.
I hadn’t thought about this again until recently, when I’ve again been wondering what to do about something. Since before Christmas, there have been pine branches in front of the steps into our apartment building. (For my non-Swedish readers, putting the pine branches down is a holiday tradition. You can wipe the snow off your boots on them.) For quite some time, they were buried under the snow. But now that some of the snow is melted again, they are exposed. And at this point, they are dry, messy and not very attractive looking. They annoy me.
I would like to pick up the blasted things and put them in the trash. But as my building is full of list makers who like to leave passive/aggressive notes about the trash contents, laundry rules, etc, I fear a reprimand. We’re subletting. Will I offend someone if I remove the branches? Or will I “get in trouble” for putting compostable branches in the trash? I have no idea. So for now, I keep stepping over the stupid branches. I need a Swede…
{ 3 comments }
wait until it’s dark outside.
Swede or not Swede. Just Do It! The trick is not to bother so much about what the note writers think. They will not be in sync anyhow. Some will like you doing it. Some don’t. Sometimes it could help, you, if you just leave your own note and explain your rationale and reason for doing whatever it is, like removing a dry/rotten piece of birch as in this case. I think will be a good assimilation exercise for you. Good luck and do report back how it went!
Thanks for the tips Maria and Sankta Lucia!
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