#VeryBritishProblems

[nanila]

So yesterday was my first day back in the London office since I went on leave. There were many pleased-yet-awkward greetings with my work colleagues, but this exchange took the cake.

Me: *goes for hug*
Him: *proffers hand*
Me: *already has left arm around one shoulder, but tries to proffer right hand anyway*
Him: *sees me going for hug, aims for kiss on cheek*
Me: *realises too late that kiss on cheek is option, kiss ends up somewhere in the air over my opposite shoulder*
Both: *give up on the attempt, step apart and carry on with embarrassed mumbly verbal greetings*

The best part: he's originally Polish and I'm originally American. Oh, Britain. This is what you do to your immigrants. We used to know how to greet people smoothly and confidently. And now we can't. THANKS A BUNCH

Comments

[cmcmck]

Hey! I'm a Brit and I do all the touch feely kissy . :o)

Mind you, I did live for some years in Belgium and am married to a Scot who lived for some years in France!

Bisoux! :o)

[nanila]

Wait, are you saying there's variation of cultural norms inside Britain? That Britishness is not monolithic? Oh my goodness! Has anyone told the Daily Mail? :P

[cmcmck]

It's the English who tend to do embarrassed at touchy feely.

It makes them unstiffen their upper lips and that will never do! :o)

Britishness is a concept a lot of people (self included) have issues with.

[chickenfeet]

There's definitely a big variation in Canada. Generally in the workplace a more or less firm handshake is as far as it goes but the opera world is very huggykissy.

[davidgillon]

I was sitting in Athens airport yesterday and watched two elderly men greet each other - smiles of delight, semi-hug, kiss right, kiss left, serious kiss right. Inhibition kinda sucks...

[nanila]

Awww. The Italians are the same. It's lovely to watch.

[recessional]

This is why I tend to preface hug attempts with presenting arms and saying, "HUG!"

It makes expectations for this interaction clear to all involved.

[nanila]

I like this idea!

Sometimes I postface awkward interactions with continentals with, "I'm American, I do handshakes or hugs. Your European kissy thing is confusing." Usually it makes them laugh.

[trascendenza]

Ahahaha, I can so picture this!

[nanila]

We were both smiling and trying to talk at the same time as well. It was all terribly garbled. :P

[omnipotent]

Am I the only one who thought this was kind of cute? LOL.

[nanila]

I'm sure it was hilarious to watch, though quite embarrassing to participate in. :P