Why Norwegians Can't Stop Being Humble (Until They Visit America)

Norway Has A Rule Against Standing Out — Then They Went To America In Norway there is a rule. It isn't written into law and nobody teaches it in school, but every Norwegian knows it: Janteloven — the Law of Jante. Rule one: you are not to think that you are anything special. Don't stand out. Don't draw attention to yourself. Don't talk to strangers — leaving people alone is a kindness there. Then this summer we sent thousands of them to America. To Texas. To the state fairs. To the loudest, most self-confident country on Earth. The Law of Jante did not survive contact with a Texan saying good morning. Ten parts — from the law itself, through the greeting, the dollar store, the candy aisle, Texas, the Norwegian parliament doing the Viking roar with a gavel made from a tree on George Washington's estate, Haaland, and what they took home. Norwegian-language clips have English subtitles.