I think I’ve come up with a reasonable explanation for why
the Swedes appear a little glum at times. My perception of them has now altered
and I don’t think they’re glum at all. I was musing on people like Bergman and
Garbo, and also the serial
Black Lake
and cop dramas like
Wallander, and
came to the tentative conclusion that Swedes are simply more aware of the human
condition, with all its faults and frailties, than most people are. It’s
probably their forte, and probably why 72% of Swedes have Masters degrees in
psychology.
(OK, I made the number
up, but it would probably be about right if only they’d put their mind to it
instead of making Volvos and flat pack furniture and singing about the Battle
of Waterloo.)
So, dear people of Sweden, I retract my earlier
suspicion, apologise unreservedly, and applaud you. I might even consider
coming to live there if only I could learn to say ‘OK’ with the correct
inflection.
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