One of my original goals in Nobel-blogging was to help future laureates dodge those “if only I had known” moments. So, here in one handy location, are just a few:
- When the Nobel committee asks you to list each guest’s “title,” they don’t mean “job title” as in the US, they mean titles like Professor, Dr., Mrs., maybe HRH or even Duke of Earl. If you know this, you won’t end up with “Författare” (Swedish for “writer”) on your Nobel banquet place card, and I hate to think what they listed from my friend Naomi whose dual career I summed up as “Film director and hotel owner”.
- Laureates and spouses don’t have to figure out how to get to the Grand Hotel from Arlanda Airport–or how to get anywhere else, for that matter–because the Nobel Committee delivers a huge Volvo limousine with a great driver (thank you, Harald!) almost to the door of the airplane.
- When you arrive at the Royal Palace for dinner on December 11, don’t start shaking hands with all the people lined up in a huge reception line to the left of the door. Your job is to find your own spot because you have to stand in the same reception line they do.
- Don’t worry about making my mistakes, or new ones of your own, because your “Nobel attendant” (thank you, Cecilia!) or some other helpful Swedish person, will rescue you with good-humored clever kindness.