Extroverted Norwegian - July 2016

I’ve been riding the tram back and forth to work for the past several months (thanks to my shoulder which is still not right – those of you inclined to prayer could send some my way for that), and I’ve noticed a strange phenomenon. First you must understand that trams (streetcars) can be eerily silent, even when completely packed at peak hour (which is what they call rush hour here). People are reading, or listening on their headphones, or just sitting with their eyes closed or sleeping. This is particularly true on the newer trams, which run more quietly. Some people talk on their phones, which always seems strange to me since it’s so quiet a whole tram full of strangers can hear you. People who get on the tram as a pair will often make quiet conversation – and this is what I’ve observed. They do it facing each other. And often quite physically close to each other, if the tram is full (and sometimes if it’s not).  It seems quite reasonable, that in a closed space with others around, that you might face each other so you can get visual cues and not have to talk so loud. However, it seems quite an intimate interchange in a public space. I was surprised to find that just observing this type of orientation and proximity makes me kind of uncomfortable.

Then I remembered this joke from when I was a kid.   

The first part goes:How do you recognize two Norwegian farmers talking?  

Answer: They are standing side by side, looking out over their fields, exchanging the occasional phrase about the weather or crops while either looking at their own shoes, or looking out at the fields. Never at each other. 

(FYI, I have no idea if this is actually true about Norwegian farmers, I’m just telling you what I heard.) 

The second part: How do you tell if one of them is an extrovert? 

He’s looking at the other person’s shoes. 

Apparently I’m a Norwegian extrovert.