etiquette and english

so, i was wondering this tonight while sitting outside with lasse, susanne, susanne's dad bengt, and his lady, anna: why is it more polite to sit and listen to their conversation, even if you can't understand most of it, than it is to sit and read a book? you're still out there enjoying their company, as opposed to sitting by idly and having a glazed look in your eyes. hmm... maybe it's just because a book kinda closes you off to the other people. i think seth would be the person to consult on this matter, since he reads all the time at gatherings :) and i was also just thinking of how interesting it is that so many people know english, or at least can understand it... it really astounds me! and i haven't decided whether it's a good thing or not- cos in some ways, it makes me lazier with learning to speak swedish, since they (anna) can ask me questions in swedish and i'll reply back in english (and why we didn't learn spanish as well as we could've growing up.. ama could understand us, even if she'd speak in spanish to us).... anyways, as i was musing these questions over, and trying to think up a polite way to excuse myself so as to come up here and write about it, i looked down and gasp! i had a big glob of pear jam on my shirt!! thank you blogging gods! x.