At around 4 today, Rami sent a text message asking me to come meet him at his workplace. I obliged. When I got there, I saw two men lingering around the entrance, doing nothing in particular.
I sent him a message. "I'm here. Not coming in. There are weird dudes at the door," it read.
He emerged after a minute or two, laughing. "'Weird dudes' -- you're the weird one," he said. "Those two guys were just from the neighboring company."
"They looked as if they might talk to me. You know, ask me a question or something," I said. "'Weird dudes' was just shorthand for 'people I don't know.'"
"You've been in Finland too long," he said.
"Yeah, that must be it," I sighed. But that wasn't it.
I guess I need to spend a little less time studying and a little more time practicing being a normal person.
He he he he...when I spent so much time at home alone (no course, no työharjoittelu), I was surprised at how panicky I could feel when I went outside to shop or to find something in shops that forced me to ask the shopkeepers about what I needed/had to go to TE-toimisto - my heart started pounding and my hands felt sweaty and all that...it was crazy, but that was what I felt at that time.
ReplyDeleteToo much time alone will do that, I suppose. I've always been a huge grouch and have avoided unnecessary social interactions with people I don't know, but this was a little excessive. It was pretty funny, though. :P
DeleteYour Finnish accent is great, and now you Finnish introversion is great... yep, you are lready there: you are a proper Finn! ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou're already more Finnish than the Finns themselves!
ReplyDeleteI think it's a blessing to be a bit hesitant about social encounters, unlike yours truly, who tends to rush in where introverts wisely fear to tread... :)
I guess it´s high time to recharge your batteries in the US of A. Have a nice trip and enjoy! Oh, and thanks a lot for voting!
ReplyDelete"Weird dudes at the door" isn't Finnish. The trepidation may well be, but I think your "Finnish" reaction is based on an American interpretation of the situation.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure what was particularly American about it. I didn't regard them as a physical threat, if that's what you mean. I just didn't want to talk to them. Was it Finnish? It wasn't particularly that, either. It was just cowardly. I hoped to convey that with "I guess I need to spend a little less time studying and a little more time practicing being a normal person."
DeleteThat's as Finnish as can be! Not talking to people if there isn't a life-threatening situation forcing you to. Take any bus and ride it for half an hour; not a sound!
DeleteJean-Denis is of course right, but seeing as Finnish social customs allow plenty of shut-mouth in most situations, there was no need to talk to "weird dudes".
DeleteI don't dispute that Finnish custom is to be relatively silent, but, as you mentioned at some point, Blind, there ought to be a certain nonchalance. I lack the requisite nonchalance, and my avoidance tends to be a bit extreme.
Deletehttp://missinggalway.blogspot.ie/2012/08/liebster-blog-award-pt-2.html
ReplyDeleteTagged! :)
Thanks so much, Katri! I left a comment over at your blog, which first appeared and then promptly disappeared. I'm not sure if Disqus ate it or if it's waiting for approval. :)
DeleteTime for a break in practicing being a normal person - I'm getting withdrawal symptoms.
ReplyDeleteNormalizing has had mixed results, so I'm back.
Delete