Are you wondering what a queue is? You know, the LINE you form when you are waiting for something. This concept seems to be foreign to Europeans. We routinely notice in Denmark that the Danes don’t like queues. Chuck was the first one at the kommune, arriving at 9:45am, 15 minutes before they opened. He took a seat and waited. About 20 Danes arrived just before 10:00am. The door opened, Chuck stood up, assuming that because he was the first to arrive, he’d be the first to enter the door. Nope. Not the case, the Danes swarmed the door and he was the last one to enter!
We are also accustomed to a little personal space. I like to leave about 1 foot of space between me and the next person, as does Chuck. This one foot personal space cushion, to Europeans, is a welcomed invite that they may occupy that space, thus making us take one step backwards. Before we know it, everyone has made their way to the front of the ‘mob’ as we gently move backwards.
Interestingly enough, in one of my guidebooks on Vienna, it says that "it is every person for themselves." Queues are unfamiliar in Vienna!!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
To Queue or not to queue
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Yes, I totally understand that one! I am this nice, mannered southern girl... who has been pushed more than once by people who just arrived to the line! I was AGHAST the first time! But I have learned..it is not just DK.. the worse place to witness it is Schipol Airport in Amsterdam where ALL cultures meet!LOL
ReplyDeleteUg yes, in total agreement. My children stood aghast the first time we experienced a Danish 'queue'. Basically us being pushed out of the way in an aggressive manner. Then they all get in (or on if it's a train or a bus) and are quite cheerfully satisfied and unperturbed.
ReplyDeleteWe won't be drawn into it though, and maintain our own polite and respectful queuing standards. Our kids have learnt an excellent lesson here: just because the crowd are doing it, it doesn't mean we have to join in!
MAE