"When Swedes say something, they mean exactly what they say. No more, no less. There is usually no hidden meaning and they don’t have to read between the lines. There are few fantastic metaphores in daily conversation, and exaggeration, a string of vivid adjectives and enhancing repetitions are often viewed with suspicion. Try retelling something that happened and embroider a little to make the story more stimulating. After a while the Swede will correct you  as your version is beginning to stray from what really happened. ’And then there were loads of people who’, ’There were five people’ says Sven. ’And then after half an hour they came and’, ’20 minutes’ says Sven ’They came after 20 minutes’. Elaborate story-telling has never been possible in Sweden.

Swedes are extremely good listeners. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell whether they are thinking about what you said or if they have mentally gone  to lunch - but they are listening to every word. The marvelous thing is they don’t interrupt. Interrupting is a sign of bad manners. They patiently wait for their turn to express themselves concisely and precisely. Sometime they have to wait for rather a long time. Especially when meeting with foreigners.

Swedish women sometimes sound as if they have a breathing complaint. When they agree, they breathe in and say ’jahhhh’. Or they inhale and say ’nejhhhh’. They are not about to pass out in an asthma attack. They are just participating in the conversation.

Swedes have a tendency to state the obvious. If you meet an acquaintance in a shop he’ll probably say ’Oh, so you’re out shopping’. Or, if you meet somebody you know out strolling in the countryside he’ll say ’Oh, so you’re out walking’. The temptation is to say ’No, I’m playing the piano’ but don’t. Sarcasm doesn’t go down too well."