Personal Space in Norway by Julien S. Bourrelle blog post

In pairs, explain the expression “personal space”. How important is personal space to you?

THE SOCIAL GUIDEBOOK TO NORWAY

Julien S. Bourrelle, Mondå forlag 17 ● December 2017

Personal Space in Norway

NORWEGIANS NEED SPACE

A LOT OF SPACE

THIS IS WHEN YOU KNOW THAT A NORWEGIAN BUS STOP IS FULL

AND THAT YOU NEED TO STAND

WHEN I FIRST CAME TO NORWAY I WOULD GO AND SIT IN THE MIDDLE VERY OFTEN ONE OF THE PERSONS WOULD STAND UP AND TAKE A STEP ASIDE AFTER A LITTLE WHILE I REALISED THAT YOU CANNOT SIT ON SUCH A BENCH IT IS A FULL BENCH! I GREW UP IN CANADA I AM WHITE I LIVED IN NUMEROUS COUNTRIES BEFORE MOVING TO NORWAY THE EASIEST EXPLANATION FOR ME WAS THAT NORWEGIANS FELT UNCOMFORTABLE HAVING A STRANGER SITTING SO CLOSE THAT THEY NEEDED MORE SPACE BUT WHAT IF YOU LOOK DIFFERENT

About the author?

Search online numerous en rekke / ei rekke explanation forklaring social norms sosiale A full bench in Norway according to The Social Guidebook to Norway. GLOSSARY for background information. Vurderingseksemplar normer cultural glasses kulturelle briller

OR WEAR RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS HOW EASY WOULD IT BE FOR YOU TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE GO AWAY FROM YOU BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN OR YOUR RELIGION?

THIS IS THE TYPE OF MISUNDERSTANDING THAT BRINGS PEOPLE APART IN SOCIETIES THEY ARE BASED ON CULTURAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS DIFFERENT UNWRITTEN SOCIAL NORMS WE ALL SEE THE WORLD THROUGH CULTURAL GLASSES WELCOME TO NORWAY YOU MAY NEED A GUIDE Search online the phrase “How to hygge”. Why has this Nordic expression become so popular?

SPEAKING 7 Working in pairs, pretend your partner has not read the blog post. Take turns retelling the story to each other. 8 Do you agree that Norwegians need personal space? Explain why or why not. 9 Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Explain your answers. It is typically Norwegian to: ● have a house entrance that resembles a shoe store. ● not remember when to say excuse me, please and thank you. ● always be on time and find it unacceptable when people are late. ● not hold the door for people following behind you. ● not let people exit the bus or train before entering. ● think the meaning of life has something to do with the word “koselig/koseleg”.

ACTION WRITING 10 I n your own words, summarise the blog post in a paragraph by including the following sentences: ● According to the blog post, Norwegians need ... ● The author experienced ... because ... ● Misunderstandings could have happened, such as ... ● The author argues that cultural understanding is important to ... ● “Cultural glasses” means ... ● This blog post could be a useful reminder when I meet other cultures because ...

SOURCE Bourrelle, J. S. 2017. The Social Guidebook to Norway. Oslo: Mondå Forlag. Vurderingseksemplar