Greeting differences or
“How I realised I’m a typical Swede”
By Anna Siitam, Sweden

I never felt as Swedish as I do when I leave Sweden. The first time I got kissed on the cheek I realised how unphysical and typically Swedish I am. I was used to shaking hands and having a rather large personal sphere around me.
Only in Europe there are several ways to greet each other. Every time I meet someone from another culture, I get confused; should I shake hands, hug or how many kisses should I do? And if I have to kiss on the cheek, which side do you kiss first? At the M100 Orange workshop, people from Germany, Poland, Hungary, Sweden and Switzerland met up in Potsdam. The Hungarians was used to kiss two times, the people from Poland and Switzerland three times and the Swedes and Germans none. They just shook hands.
The ways of greeting are a product of history, tradition and religion but what happens when people with different ways of greeting meets? Do you greet each other in two different ways or do you simply adjust to the country which you are in? Even though a Polish and Hungarian meet in Germany? I can’t be the only one confused about this. Maybe the European Union should think over some standardized guidelines?

Before I got used to encountering different cultures and traditions, I didn’t realise how Swedish I actually am. I thought I was not a typical Swedish girl. I was Anna. Simply Anna. But after several trips, discussions, misunderstandings and ways of greeting, I have to admit I’m affected by the culture that is usually surrounding me. Even though I am not blond, I don’t drive a Volvo or sing in a pop-band, I am a typical Swede.