My survey on doors is complete

My survey on doors is complete. Every American I asked confessed to having trouble with Finnish doors, but no one admits it willingly because they feel that this issue is unique to them. My comprehensive research has proven that the capability to easily open a door can often be culture-specific. In brief, Americans struggle in Finland with ingress and egress. Those terms make our inability to go through Finnish doors sound a bit more worthy of understanding rather than deserving ridicule.

So, in conclusion: On some doors you push. On some doors you pull. And then on some doors....

I encounter doors that open automatically for me when I approach. And they look exactly like the doors that do not open by themselves but rather force me to think (Have I been through this door before and perhaps can remember? Are the hinges visible to supply a hint? Is there a button I push to engage the door? Do I really need to go through this door?). And then there are the doors in public places you are sure will open by themselves when you approach, but…which…don’t (doors for department stores, train stations, etc.). Then you try to pretend that you really stopped before that door for a reason other than the royal expectation that doors open upon your approach. But wait...I also encounter doors that appear to be normal because handles are present -- but you need to press a tiny button cleverly concealed on the door frame. And then the door may just open for you! No need to touch that useless handle.

My most embarrassing door moment thus far this time in Finland: I came to a door to enter a quiet work room. I tried to pull the door handle. The door would just jiggle a bit. I tried then to push the door. More jiggling. All I ended up doing was rattling the door enough to alert the people in the quiet work room that there was someone at the door who could not figure out how to get in (because the room was all glass enclosed, there was no anonymity afforded me, and the Finns inside were certainly thinking what they would never actually say out loud). Of course, a moment later, a nice Finn on the outside with me came over and slid the door open for me without a word before walking away. Because there was really nothing to say at that point, and I hope that is all I have to say on the topic of doors for awhile….