Norwegians abroad - negative experiences recently
As a proud Norwegian who’s lived most of my life abroad (Munich, Madrid, London, US), I’ve always felt strongly connected to Norway. I speak the language, both my parents are Norwegian, I have the passports, follow the culture etc. Honestly, randomly meeting another Norwegian abroad usually excites me instantly.
But lately, I’ve had surprisingly negative experiences with fellow Norwegians abroad. Most recently in Marbella, but also in London and NYC. In all three situations alcohol was involved, but instead of that “hey, another Norwegian!” vibe, I ended up feeling judged, antagonized, and in one case even got slapped.
What confuses me is that I genuinely go into these interactions with good energy. I’m not confrontational and have no history of violence or provoking people. I would’ve expected some kind of unspoken bond from meeting someone from such a small country far from home, but lately it’s felt like the opposite.
Has anyone else experienced this with Norwegians abroad? Or am I just incredibly unlucky?
I’m genuinely curious what people think causes this dynamic.