Day 34 - Kissing
In Britain, some people kiss each other as a kind of goodbye-greeting. It has already happened to me twice this month. The first time it happened, it was quite a shock because I didn't know what it was! It's not like a family member kissing you in the middle of the cheek where your faces are perpendicular (like some family members do in America). This is like halfway between the cheek and the lips, and both people do it at the same time. I'm pretty sure it's only done between people of the opposite sex (if that's not true, I might start avoiding people from now on).I say "happened to me" because I didn't know what to do so I just kinda stood there. It's a little scary because I really don't know how to do it properly. I don't think faces are shaped quite right for it to be easy to do. And if you're not careful and miss a little to the right, well, that could be bad.
I'm not complaining, not at all. I think it's very nice actually. Other than the initial shock, it made me feel very welcome here.
3 Comments:
Very interesting. A girl from Puerto Rico began attending our church because UTA here has an english program that attracts students from all over the world, (and the Baptist student center is very active in welcoming them here). I was very intrigued by her because of my own ties with the little island. I remember first acutally seeing her in church after the service one morning and being greeted with this same "kiss". I knew that in some cultures it was an acceptable form of greeting, so I wasn't too shocked. But it did take me aback. I don't know if you should expect the same "greeting" from the same gender, too. Maybe it would be good to make an inquiry.
I don't think many people here do that.
I only do when I see old friends....Male and female..
Lynette
Intereting Lynette, .. both times it happened to me it was people who had just met me for the first time. However, it does seem less common among younger people (i.e., around our age & younger)
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